Making lunch from (basically) nothing
Once upon a time, Darling Husband and I used to grocery shop with abandon! We’d fill the cart with whatever the hell we felt like getting, without much of a plan.
This resulted in a lot of wasted food, as we wouldn’t be able to use/eat everything before it went bad.
Now that we are older and wiser — or is that poorer and smarter? — we have a two-part plan. I sit down every Saturday morning and fill out a handy-dandy sheet that lists what we will eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner Sun. – Fri.
Once I know what we’re eating, I make out a grocery list, and Darling Husband skips off — well, drives off in a very manly way in his big SUV — to the store and buy it all. He is a great grocery-shopper, because he sticks to the list and isn’t distracted by pretty packaging like I am.
Editor’s note: I used to grocery shop, too — until I was overtaken with severe Cart Rage.
So Part One is the menu-planning/list-sticking. Part Two of the plan means not wasting food. I never, ever, ever, EVER just stick leftover food in the fridge in a casserole dish or pan. Because it never, never, never ever would get eaten.
That is because leftovers look disgusting. Period.
My new kitchen BFF is these little prep bowls from Pampered Chef. If I have leftover rice or meatballs or anything, I scoop it into these cute little bowls, and BINGO: instant personal serving for tomorrow (or whenever).
This makes it easy for Darling Husband to grab a serving of something on his way to work, because he is far too lazy (truly) to take out a big casserole dish, cut himself a piece of something, and package it up.
So speaking of my newfound Leftover Love, I decided last night (Thursday night) to root around in the fridge and try to use up what we had — since we’ll be buying new stuff on Saturday.
The pickin’s were slim …
A couple of slightly-bruised apples, a handful of blueberries, some sad-looking watermelon and pineapple in watery containers, some brownish green beans, some wilted green onion, some tomatoes. All of it looked past its prime, and definitely not appetizing. The old me would have tossed it all …
I threw it all on the counter and started washing and slicing — still not sure what I would do. We didn’t have any meat in the fridge, and since Darling Husband is such a freaking carnavore, I tossed some frozen chicken breasts in the oven.
I got to work on the fruit first. After everything was taken from its grody, watery containers and chopped up nicely, it made a lovely little fruit salad for Darling Husband’s lunch …
The apples were next. Once they were washed and sliced, I sloshed them with lemon juice — to prevent browning — and they looked great …
Then I tackled the green beans. Once I scrubbed them and cut off the gross ends, they looked crisp and bright …
For Darling Husband’s main course, I spread some wild rice on the bottom of a lunch container, and cut the chicken breasts into strips. Once I added some BBQ sauce for dipping, I had a lunch I knew he’d like …
By the time I got to my main course, I still had tomatoes and green onion to use up — plus chicken and rice. I didn’t have lettuce or spinach to make a salad, so I decided to “invent” something and just mixed them all together: chunks of tomato and chicken, slices of green onion, and some wild rice …
Once I was finished, the fridge was pretty much bare — which means no waste, and I don’t have to feel guilty about loading it up again on Saturday.It’s a good feeling to know you used what you had, and it’s amazing how nice food can look when it’s divided and conquered.
My Husband Rocks
Dear Darling Husband,
You didn’t get one of these posts last week, because we were away on a mini-vacation. It was the first trip we ever took that was totally spur-of-the-moment — very unlike us!
Although getting there was a bit rough — and may or may not have resulted in tears at the airport — we got there eventually, and I’m really glad we went through with the trip.
Everyone says travelling is harder once we have kids, so I like that we are taking advantage of our “travel freedom” now.
But when we do have kids, I don’t want that to stop us from travelling — as a family and as a couple. I want to show our kids our favourite places. I want to explore new places with them. Think of the water park/amusement park possibilities! 🙂
But I still want us to plan little trips where the two of us can get away for a night or two. Because as I keep reading in all of the parenting books, the best gift you can give your children is a solid marriage.
And I intend to give them that gift.
Love, your wife
xoxo
xoxo
This letter is part of “My Husband Rocks Fridays”
Back in the saddle
I have a feeling …
… I just don’t think it worked this month.
Editor’s note: This is the portion of the blog where I launch into TMI (too much information) territory …
I am still not totally sure I understand the ins and outs (hee hee) of this whole ovulation thing. But from what I can tell, we did it at the beginning and the end of the “good time.”
In between those times? Well, I don’t want to name names — cough, Darling Husband! — but Darling Husband somebody was sick. Quite sick, actually. And so it prevented action from happening in the middle of the “good time.”
I’m counting on that “sperm can live for up to 72 hours” thing, and hoping that the second time wasn’t too late. But really, I have no idea what happens down there. It feels like a secret I can never truly understand.
And so I feel like it probably didn’t work this month. Of course, this is the opposite of last month’s “feeling,” which was “I am totally pregnant. It totally worked. Look how bad I feel!”
Maybe I am trying to reverse-psychology myself? Meh, whatever works.
I am feeling so doubtful, in fact, that I’m already thinking already to September. The trouble with July, I think, was that we didn’t do it enough during the supposed “good time.” And now we had the same issue in August.
The answer? Much, much more sex. I mean every single day that I even suspect is a “good time.” I want to be confident that we tried our darnest. Are you reading this, Darling Husband? Every day!
P.S. Never, ever do a Google images search for “back in the saddle,” when trying to find a photo for your blog. You will find inappropriate photos, for some reason, of “Little Oral Annie.”
Wedded Wednesday: Pizza and compromising
com·pro·mise (kmpr-mz)
n. 1. Adding pepperoni and ground beef to your vegetarian pizza, to keep your Darling Husband happy.
2. Not grumbling about the pile of veggies that have invaded your pizza, to keep your Lovely Wife happy.
* Wedded Wednesday posts originated at Marital-Bless *
Barbie takes on Pottery Barn
Our future little girl would love the new Barbie collection at Pottery Barn!
Actually, I want this in my bedroom! Don’t think Darling Husband would agree …
As featured on …
Heather's Handmade Life 