Food Waste Friday

Inspired by FrugalGirl, I have started tracking our food waste.

Food waste wasn't terrible this week, but I could have done better. I bought these whole grain boxes on sale - 4 years ago. We hardly ever eat prepared food and I just plain forgot about it. The greenbeans went slimy before I remembered to freeze it. Since I'm seven month pregnant I wasn't about to risk it.

This week, we'll try to clean out the refrigerator before we travel for Christmas - hopefully I won't have anything to post on Friday.

Every day is all new

Those of you who have been pregnant probably know what I mean... every day I read something new about my little boy, every day I have new sensations to wonder (and sometimes worry) about, and every day what I learned about my body before doesn't apply anymore. I am 26 weeks pregnant today, and I am getting more excited every day!

Let me give you an example. On Sunday, my husband and I were sitting in church, and when he looked towards me, he noticed that I had tears in my eyes. "Are you okay?" he asks, probably thinking that I'm feeling emotional. Gee, what ever would give him that idea. I try to answer him, but I am completely breathless like Mike Tyson punched me in the stomach. Truth is, my little boy kicked just wrong and I actually got tears in my eyes because it hurt! Up to now, he has not been that strong, but since Sunday it has happened several times!

My guy is making his presence felt a little more every day... from refusing to let Mommy sleep through the night, to the cute punches he throws until my stomach starts moving like an alien is trying to escape. What an amazing journey, and what an amazing blessing.

Every morning, His mercies are all new.

Fun with Food

I'll receive the last of my CSA deliveries this week, and boy am I glad! There is only so much potatoes, butternut squash, and kale a girl can eat. It was my first year doing a CSA and unfortunately it didn't work out the way I thought it would... it is so much more expensive than shopping at the local farmer's market where I can pick what we will actually eat in reasonable quantities. For example, the two tomatoes a week I received from the CSA would last us a day, but we received so much kale that I gave oodles and oodles to neighbors, filled half my freezer with kale soup, and am still eating kale!

I tried a few new recipes this week - some with more success than others.

First, I tried making yogurt (fantastic post at www.thefrugalgirl.com) but it didn't work out so well... maybe I'll try again, but in the meantime, all my very watery yogurt is good for is mixing into smoothies. (Not that there is anything wrong with smoothies - yum).

Kale, oh kale. I made a wonderful recipe with bacon, red onion and cannellini beans. I have been eating it as a side dish with dinner and as a main dish for lunch all week.

My favorite though was an improvised recipe for butternut squash and apple salad. I saw this in a deli counter, and didn't know what went in it so I just made it up - wow was that good! I roasted the butternut squash, and mixed with chopped apples and some parsley, dressed with a combination of champagne vinegar, a little olive oil, and some orange juice. Yum.

I may not subscribe to a CSA again next year - with a new baby I doubt that I'll want to figure out forty tricks with kale next summer! There is a farmer's market near my house on Friday's on right in front of my office on Thursdays. That should meet the local and delicious criteria easily.

Menu Plan and Food Waste for last week

Doing food waste Friday didn't work for me since I didn't clean out the fridge until this morning... the report is as follows:

• 1/4 container of black bean soup (didn't like it that much and it has now been open for 4 weeks - better waste than get sick me thinks)
• Hubby's leftover pho from a restaurant (2 weeks old, and I think it has seafood...)

Menu for this week:

Monday:
Kale with bacon and beans
Butternut squash and apple salad

Tuesday:
Leftover cacciatore with mashed potatoes
Butternut squash and apple salad

Wednesday:
Chicken stirfry

Thursday:
Salmon burger on roll with sliced tomato and cooked veggies(likely roasted squash)
Butternut squash and apple salad (if there's still leftovers)

Friday:
Burgers or meatloaf (depends on my energy level)

Breakfast: Oatmeal, or eggs on toast, or peanut butter and bananas on toast or some similar variation
Lunch: leftovers from previous night's dinner or soup
Snacks: Crackers and cheese, fruit, yogurt

The start of something new

Seems like I've said that many times before... but never as new as this time! I am currently four months pregnant and embarking on mommy-hood and what I hope will be a somewhat creative, sane and green way.

I have a few goals for this blog - first, I am trying to keep a budget and plan our meals more regularly.

Right now our food budget is something like $450 per month at Costco and $75 per week at the grocery store/farmers market/other. We probably spend $300 a month eating out. My goal would be to get Costco to $300, weekly expenses to $50, and eating out under $200.

I'm hoping to accomplish this through regular meal planning, and having cooked meals in reserve for the days I get home too late to start cooking. I have a big freezer in my basement, so there is really no excuse.

Secondly, while I'm not brave enough to do a "compact" pregnancy or anything like it, I am also trying not to fall for the baby industry. Thus, I will try to document my preparations for our little person, and hopefully have something valuable to add by the end of this process. I have been helped by the many people who are willing to document their experiences, and this is my way of contributing.

Lastly, I follow the renewable energy (and green living in general) with some interest, so I may post a few tidbits on that as I have a chance!

Welcome to my journey.