Menu Plan Monday

The tomatoes in our garden have slowed a bit, but they are still coming in pretty heavily. Today (Monday) marks day 40 of eating tomatoes every single day. And, we're not talking a slice on a hamburger! Tomatoes have been a huge part of at least one meal every day of the last 40. It's a fabulous time of year to live here!! We have a few straggly cucumbers coming in, a little bit of okra here and there, and the chard is loving our cooler weather. My husband has planted lots of goodies for the fall, so I'm looking forward to turnips and mustard, plus a couple of new varieties of lettuce. Bring on the greens!

I'm having trouble fitting in all the food that I want to cook... So many possibilities and so little time. It really is a fun time of year. When people ask me my favorite time of year, I always answer "harvest time." It's that elusive, no-name time between summer and fall, when the tomatoes are bountiful, and the days start getting shorter. It's a great time. I just wish people didn't look at me like I had three heads. Good opportunity to edjimicate them, I suppose.



Friday: take-out!! a spur of the moment suggestion, made possible by a little bit of lingering birthday money; it was fabulous and well worth it!!

Saturday: out (lunch), nachos with homemade pico de gallo(supper)

Sunday: tomato sandwiches (lunch), carbonara, tomato caprese salad (supper)

Monday: roasted chicken, tomato tart, cucumbers in vinegar, fried okra, cabbage

Tuesday: eggplant parmesan, spaghetti, tomato salad, cupcakes (birthday dinner for my oldest)

Wednesday: tomatillo chicken stew, rice, tomato salad

Thursday: frittata with chard, biscuits, spaghetti squash with roasted cherry tomatoes

As always, check out orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans to puruse!

Bristol Date Night

I've said it before, but as embarrassing as it is, we love some Nascar. Fast cars, loud noises, wrecks...really what is there not to love?? My inlaws are forever trying to get my husband to watch golf, but what the man loves is racing. And, my family, well, that's the redneck side of our marriage. Every person in my family has a favorite driver.

We choose to embrace the red. And, one of our favorite races is the Bristol night race every August. The kids of Nascar sing the anthem, Bristol is always exciting, and it's always on a Saturday night. Definitely a highlight of the Nascar season.

So, last week, I made tailgating food. Starting with boneless hot wings.

Spinach artichoke dip with chips.

A family favorite, dried chipped beef dip. It's supposed to be a cheese ball, but I'm lazy.

And, to wash it down? Well, a nod to the Coca-Cola family of racers, of course.

And, as always, I was pulling for my very sentimental favorite. I don't even care that he doesn't win. Go Bobby!!

Dinner and a movie

This week's date night was a simple one. Nachos with homemade salsa. Salsa is always a favorite in my house, and I'll bet that, in my years of marriage, I have made hundreds of gallons of the stuff. Nothing says "I love you" to my husband more than tomatoes and hot peppers.

So, here's to you, honey!!

We also enjoyed some Ben and Jerry's as we watched a fabulous Clint Eastwood movie. If you haven't seen Grand Torino, go get it today! It was a really good one.

Sometimes the best things in life are the old familiars.

Kroger Bargain Meal August 30

This week's Kroger meal is a new recipe that we tried last week. I was reading my Everyday Food (a wonderful little magazine that I--gasp--paid full price for), and this one jumped out at me. This meal is very, very simple. I was unsure about it, right until I took the first bite. It was so very good. The flavors really, really work. So, I know, I know... But give it a chance. It's definitely worth a try.

Thai Beef with Basil and Peppers
Everyday Food, September 2009

1 can coconut milk--$1
1 1/4 cups jasmine rice (I just used regular)--$0.25
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp coarse salt
2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp fish sauce (my bottle is old, and it lasts forever)--~$0.20
2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce--maybe $0.20
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp canola oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped--$0.05
3 long hot peppers, seeded and sliced into matchsticks--$0.20
1 pound ground beef--on sale $1.79/lb--$1.79
1 cup loosely packed basil, torn or sliced--garden!!
lime wedges for serving--$0.25

In a medium saucepan, combine rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes.

When rice is almost done, combine fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar in a small bowl; set aside. Heat a cast-iron skillet or wok over high heat. Add oil and heat until shimmering; add garlic and half the chiles. Cook, stirring constantly, 15 seconds. Add beef and cook, breaking up meat until completely browned, about 4 minutes. Add soy mixture and cook 30 seconds. Add basil and remaining chiles and stir to combine. Serve beef over coconut rice with lime wedges on the side.

Total cost for this meal--$3.94

I also served ours with a stir-fry of zucchini, scallions, and eggplant. I shop at an Asian market for most of my vegetables, so the prices are from there.

1 zucchini--$0.50
2 Asian eggplant--$0.79/lb--$0.75
1 bunch of scallions--$0.20

Total cost of this meal plus veggies--$5.39

For more bargain meals, check out $5Dinners gathering of bloggers with the specials from their local stores!