It is time, once again, to compile the monthly menu. These last few months I have found some great recipes, but it is time consuming pulling out the cookbook and making an elaborate recipe with lots of steps and ingredients every night. What do you make for dinner on a regular basis? Or do you have a favorite summer recipe that doesn’t heat up the house? I am looking for some basic meals for our busy summer. Crock-pot recipes are fine too, just as long as the prep time is short. Friday is grocery day, so PLEASE get me your ideas quick! Thanks in advance!
Homeschool Convention
Last week was the Homeschool Convention. I was able to go both days and I feel quite rejuvenated. This past week we have gotten back in gear to be able to finish our school before summers end. Geography has been a huge interest of Andy's and this past year we have really dove into it. I purchased some atlases and maps to further our study next year. We still have Europe, Antartica, and Asia left.
We are reviewing our algebra book for the next few weeks before we move into our new geometry. We use Math-u-see and love it!
Wordly wise, an audio of the lion, witch and the wardrobe, and a new typing program(typing instructor delux...Love it!) are some of my purchases.
Stop and smell the...Daisies
This summer has been quite busy as most of you know. Yesterday we had an evening to ourselves. We took a drive up in the forest behind our house and then a short hike. It was beautiful. The sunset was simply awesome. It was so nice to just walk along and take it all in. There were wild daisies growing everywhere! We grabbed several and I brought them home and made a nice bouquet for the table. It is a great little reminder of our family time together.
A list makers nightmare!
As you all know, I started a new journey a few months ago trying to find new and interesting recipes. I have been very successful on this quest, but it means that my grocery list is quite intense. I like to purchase the bulk of my groceries only once a month, with a few trips to my local grocer a few times in between for produce, milk and bread. Town is about 45 minutes away, so I can save gas this way.
On the first of this month I sat down with my recipes to plan a months worth of meals. This took some serious planning time to go through each recipe and make sure I had all the ingredients, then I pulled out my staple list that I keep at the back of my better home and gardens cookbook for easy access. It is a 4 page front and back list with 2 columns per page. It includes most everything I buy anywhere from spices to shampoo, to make sure I don't forget anything. The end result is a massive list that is worth about 3 hours of my time.
I usually hit costco and walmart in a big way, then swing by fred meyer to pick up a few soy specialty item. This is exhausting all in one day. This month however was able to ride along with some friends who were going to fred meyer a few days earlier than my planned grocery day. I was excited at this oppertunity, it would make the actual "grocery day" a lot easier, so I thought. I was going through the aisles with my beloved grocery list. I vaguely remember setting it down to help one of the other ladies with some bulk food. Ok now I will cut to the chase, Yes you guessed it, I left my list on the fred meyer shelf. I didn't even realize it until the next day, I thought about calling in but I don't see a store clerk saving a grocery list they found laying around on the shelf and I'm sure they would have thought I was a little crazy for asking! I knew deep inside what the fate of my list had been. All of those hours of work just trashed!! It's hard for me to bear even now!
