Better than Chocolate--Kinda sorta

Telling someone you love them everyday just because.
Valentine's day excluded.
Too commercial.  Too expected.

Give me a plant I can nurture and watch grow.
Flowers?
They just die after a few days.
Is that how you see me?

Help out in the kitchen.  Load the dishwasher and wipe the counters and stove.
Going out to eat we do every so often so how special can it be?

Hold my hand and snuggle.
A card?  Do I need any more clutter?

Burn some yummy smelling non-toxic candles and use that lotion/cream/oil sitting on the nightstand and make me feel special.
A gift card to a spa?
And let someone else do this?
What is that I feel on me?
Put it away.
It's not the weekend.

A Break From Cooking? Yes Indeed!

I was ready, this morning, to get my shopping list together for next week's dinners when I decided to check the freezer first.
I am happy to say that my freezer was full of leftovers from the past couple of weeks that I think I can pull off NOT cooking this week.
Yay for me!
Or maybe I'll try some breakfasts/lunches in the slow cooker.

Frugal Living--Living on the Cheap

Since we are in semi-quarantine because of my sick teen, I was able to sit down and watch the 4pm news.  Usually, at that time, we are at the Y for the kid's acting or dance class or somewhere in Hollywood for an audition or filming.  

A family in Davis, California vow not to spend money during the month of February. The mom talked about going to Costco buying lots of rice, butter, and frozen meats and only spending money on milk.

She opened her refrigerator and there were about a dozen sticks of butter.  Who does she think she is?  Paula Deen?  

Here's the thing.  

There was no mention of fruits and vegetables.  

None.

Sure you can definitely have a nutritious meal with rice and beans; spaghetti and pasta sauce and, if you must, a serving of animal flesh but nothing gives you a happy ending like a juicy orange or a nice serving size of steamed broccoli, or some raw carrots dipped in tahini or hummus.  

Here at home, I make weekly trips to the store and buy enough fruits and vegetables to last us a week.  

For our family of four I buy 10 lbs a rice and that can last us a good 2 months.  10 lbs of dry pinto beans lasts us even longer because just 2 cups turns into 6 cups of beans!  That's a lot of tootin'!  And more than enough protein to fill the daily requirements.  

Unless those kids are getting their fruits and veggies in school or the mom didn't mention buying them, those kids are going to miss out on some very important nutritional needs.

I will just keep doing what I'm doing.  

We don't go to the movies often unless we scored free tickets for previewing and rating movies or we take a mile walk to our local library and pick up movies (I picked up Spy Kids 4,Veggie Tales Bob Lends a Helping Hand, Harry Potter 7.1 and 7.2).  About every 2 months or so I go to the warehouse store across the street from us and buy a huge box of popcorn.  

I stick to a list at the grocery store.  Unless, of course, there is a really good sale.  Ralphs had guacamole for 50% off and I had a coupon for 50 cents off and because Ralphs doubles their coupons under 75 cents.  I paid less than 40 cents for guacamole.  Word.

We do spend money on gas because the hubs has to go to work.  The girls and I walk to just about every where here in town or take the bus to the big city when we have to.  

Once in a while we do eat out.  I confess.  On those really tiring days I don't feel like going home to cook because I didn't know what time I would be home or just know I do not have enough energy to pull a meal out of the freezer and defrost and heat up.  We do take advantage of kids eat free deals or I always have coupons to some local restaurants around town, in case we are out.  

I don't go to the nail salon or do my hair every week or so because, frankly, I do not find it relaxing inhaling fumes.  I try to do a spa day with the girls when we are home on the weekends.  Non-toxic fun nail polish and mami pampering is how we roll.    

We haven't had cable in 5 years.  Sometimes I miss it when I hear that Dexter and Weeds are airing a new season but I just wait a year and watch the whole season at home for an entire weekend. No big whoop.  

I remember when the hubs favorite radio personality was no longer on the traditional radio station and moving to a subscription radio station.  I stood firm and said no.  Too much money the whole family couldn't enjoy.  Not like Disneyland.  So not like Disneyland.  After a few months of not listening to his favorite radio personality I felt a surge of guilt for denying something he loved.  I asked him if he wanted to get the satellite radio installed he can go ahead and do it. His reply?  Honey, I don't even miss him because I found someone new to listen to on the radio.

Hallelujah!

Living frugally is not very hard if you plan it.  I don't feel it is a big deal.  I guess if you haven't done it and see it on paper, it looks nearly impossible but you will be surprised that cutting corners isn't a big deal.

No recipes today.  I'm defrosting a past meal. 

:-)

Photo: 3 Bean Chili w/Chive-Flecked Cornmeal Dumplings

Teen's 1st Public School Year

Is not going very well.
Don't get me wrong.  She has A's and B's and is one of the top 10 students in her class, but she has been sick twice within the first 100 days of school!  I don't know about you but I really don't like sick kids.  They are whiny and demanding.  They are not functional.  Today we are going to our friendly neighborhood family doctor to see what's wrong.
So today, for the second day in a row, dinner is in the slow cooker.

Three-Bean Chili with Chive-Flecked Cornmeal Dumplings
from the Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Chili:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped
1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsps tomato paste
1 tbsp chili powder
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 15.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper

Dumplings
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp minced fresh chives
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup soy milk
2 tbsps olive oil

to make the chili, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, cover and cook until softened about 5 minutes.
stir in the tomato paste and chili powder and cook about 30 seconds longer.
transfer the mixture to a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
add the tomatoes, beans and water, season with salt and pepper, cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
to make the dumplings, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, chives and salt in a medium size bowl about 45 minutes before serving time.
stir in the corn, milk, and oil until just combines.
do not over mix.
turn the slow cooker to high and drop the batter by the spoonful onto the hot chili.
cover and cook on high until the dumplings are cooked through 30-40 minutes.
serve immediately and
ENJOY!

P.S. notice the absence of meat?  not needed with all the protein the beans carry and not an overwhelming amount of veggies that carnivores won't turn their nose.