This post is #2 in a series. Click here for the previous post, Getting My Groupon On. On the heels of my successful initial Groupon order of the GoodFood weekly meal prep kit, I ventured back into the world of discounts and deals to find my next one. With the swift help of the Groupon customer service department, I am able to log into my online account once again, and so I spent a little (who am I kidding? A lot) of time perusing the deals available. The app is pretty easy to use (for more on the app, see my first post), but I find the website has more to offer. There seems to be a plethora of choice online, however, there is one caveat: the US only deals are mixed in with the Canada only or North America-wide deals. So, you may see something that looks great, only to find it is not available to you. Further to that, I mentioned in my first post that I didn't appreciate USD pricing when I am very clearly purchasing within Canada, but at least the app tells you right away which currency the pricing is in, whereas when you're online you only find the currency once you click on the item to be taken to the description page. Not cool. The same hotel, listed as US$100 per night on the app, no currency listed on web. Take a look at the hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). Since I am looking at a hotel in Canada, and I am accessing the site from Canada, I would assume that if there is no different currency listed that I am purchasing in CAD. What is even worse about this particular example is how far down I have to go to find the fine print that informs me that I am, in fact, paying in USD. I most likely wouldn't find out until I looked at my credit card statement. I am not okay with that. For the sake of research, I was considering purchasing an item I knew would not ship to Canada, but clearer heads prevailed. I did not really want to have to deal with any run around today, so I am going to leave that for another time (perhaps). I did, however, Google the question, but I didn't find any real answer, even three pages in. So I looked through the FAQs on groupon.com, again, no real answer. So I sent an email to customer service to see what they had to say. Customer service is probably going to hate me soon. The closest answer to my question. This seems to be telling me I better read ALL the fine print before I buy anything. I send the question to customer service. I got an answer from customer service the next day - not a good answer, but an answer nonetheless. Basically the same thing I learned from FAQ - Buyer Beware. So I will remind anyone using Groupon to READ THE FINE PRINT. All of it, before you make a purchase. I will mention that their FAQ section is pretty easy to navigate, and as you type in your query, the suggested topics that pop up are pretty relevant. It is also helpful that it is really easy to send them an email if you can't find what you're looking for. I am finding more and more online companies these days are either doing away with the ability to send an email (WHY?) or making it really difficult to even find a contact email for them. In other words, you have to have the fortitude and ability to jump through numerous hoops and really, really want it. I prefer email because I am not the quickest typist (online chat), and I also prefer to have as much information as possible upfront before I start asking questions, or answering them, for that matter. And so, I didn't actually purchase anything today because I got so hung up on the issue of shipping. Stay tuned for the next installment, I promise I'll spend some money! New to Groupon? Use this link to sign up today! Available to Canadians and Americans, great deals on one site. Click here for my review of GoodFood.
Do you have a product or service you'd like me to review? Click here to send me a message (use "REVIEW" in the subject line) or DM me on Twitter
0 Comments
Last week I started a new series where I will order different goods and services from Groupon and let you know how the order process goes and how good the actual items/services are. My first order was a 51% discount on my first order from GoodFood, a recurring subscription for a meal prep kit delivered weekly. (You can read the initial post here.) I signed up for the family box, which consists of four meals that each feed four people and will cost me $140 per week. Each meal will have all the ingredients, washed, measured, and properly portioned, along with a recipe card. The price is surprisingly fair - it's about $35 a meal. Yes, I can absolutely make dinner for less than that, BUT I will have to figure out what I'm making, go to the grocery store to pick everything up, then wash and measure it all prior to cooking. There's also waste to consider. We're pretty good about using up what's in the fridge, but that has only been a recent change in this household. As recent as six months ago I was throwing out a whole lot of spoiling food every week. Even with the recent change in habit where I try to use up everything fresh we buy, I still end up with a decent amount of scraps and odds and ends that I have to throw out because we just can't go through it quick enough. Especially if I need a quarter cup of heavy cream and I have to buy a carton of it. Since things like cream, spices, vinegar, etc., are sent in the exact portion I will need for the recipe, I don't have to throw it out, or have it sit in my cupboard until I'm sure it's no longer any good. Since I am an exceptionally curious person, I wanted to know how the options and pricing available to me through GoodFood compared to other companies offering a comparable service. Mind you, I did some preliminary research before I even signed up because I need to know I'm getting the best bang for my buck, along with the best service on offer. So here are some companies (that deliver to my area), and how they compare:
GoodFood offers two family sized options, The Classic which can be ordered for 2 or 4 servings and offers "unique ingredients... for a culinary adventure" or The Family, which has family friendly fare which can be prepared a little faster. The Classic will run you $150 per week, at a cost of $37.50 per meal and The Family is $140 per week, which is $35 per meal. I would love to try out The Classic, but I have a very picky eater, and little time for cooking most nights during the week, so The Family it is. Also, of note, I found the GoodFood website very easy to navigate, and quickly found all the information I was looking for. The same cannot be said of 3 out of 4 of the 'competition' - Chefsplate wanted my email address right away, Fresh City was not user friendly, and Prepd looked like an eleven year old used a free website builder. Only the HelloFresh website was as easy and informative as GoodFood. My first box arrived on Tuesday February 28th. I received an email the day before letting me know what to expect in my box and that it would arrive at some point before 8:00pm. Since their box is lined and contains ice packs, you do not need to worry about being home when it arrives. Our box arrived at some point between 4:00 and 6:00. I say at some point because although there were two cars in our driveway, no one rang the doorbell or knocked on the door to let us know we had a delivery. I found that a little odd. If I hadn't happened to look out the front door around 6:15, I wouldn't have known it was there. I probably would have only gone out to look around 8:00, wondering where my food was. That aside, I was excited to bring in my box and check out the contents: There was a whole lot of goodness packed into that box, it was difficult to get it all into one shot. Just a quick glance assuaged my fears of portion sizes, this looked like a decent amount of food. First up, Shrimp Al Ajillo with Patatas Bravas. From my research I have learned that all of the aforementioned meal kit deliveries come with recipe cards. As you can see from the photo above, GoodFood sent me beautiful, full page recipe cards that were exceptionally easy to follow and will definitely find their way into a binder with two sections: "Make Again" and "Nope". GoodFood also has a link to each recipe on their website, so if you spill something on your card, or if the dog chews it up, you're good. Shrimp Al Ajillo will make it into the Make Again section. I hate green beans. Hate them. I haven't touched a green bean in over twenty years. These green beans were so good I actually wanted more! The shrimp were also good, but the real star of this meal were the potatoes. Simply roasted, but with the addition of the smoked paprika mayo - a delicious surprise. The recipe card states 35 minutes for prep time, but it took me just under an hour from start to plate. Maybe I'm just slow at cutting the ends off of the beans or pulling the tails off of the shrimp. Day two was Chana Masala. Hubby really enjoyed this dish, but the rest of us weren't too keen. Since it's an East Asian dish, I expected really bold flavors, but I found it really bland. I don't care for chickpeas or kale, so I was hoping the spices would make it worthwhile. The spiced naan was quite delicious, even if there was too much vinegar on the salad. My older son only ate about half of his meal (that has probably only happened a handful of times in his 18 years on this planet), and I had to make the younger one a peanut butter sandwich because he took one bite and said nope. The recipe card states 40 minutes for prep time, and that time was pretty much bang on. Day Three was Pork Chops with Onion Gravy and Parmesan Broccoli. I was the least excited about this meal because we eat pork chops all the time. However, this meal was even more enjoyable than the shrimp meal. The parmesan on the broccoli was a nice, sharp contrast to the sweetness of the gravy on the chops and barley. Definitely keeping this recipe! The recipe card states 40 minutes for prep time, but once again I took almost an hour. There were a lot of components to this recipe, and a lot you had to pay attention to. It was worth it, though. And we come to Day Four: Loaded Ground Beef Nachos with Fresh Salsa. My kids were looking forward to this one all week. Unfortunately, with all the stuff on it, my picky youngster would only try one chip. That was okay with the rest of us, because we really enjoyed dinner. Even with all of the fine chopping, this meal was on the table in an hour (The card said 40 minutes). It seemed like every meal this week featured an ingredient I am not fond of, so I give a whole lot of credit to GoodFood for designing meals that made me enjoy these foods! Today's ingredient was the radishes. Truthfully, I almost didn't use them. I am really glad I stuck to the recipe because they were a delicious addition to the nachos, along with the red pepper ketchup. There was a lot going on with this nachos, and yet every flavor shone through and it was a harmony for my taste buds. I work nights. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but lately I just can't find the energy to plan my meals, do my grocery shopping, then actually get into the kitchen and get it all together. Yes, it's the nights, but it's also the fibro, and the long, cold winter. By mid January I was already done with it. GoodFood has been an absolute lifesaver this week. Our family ate delicious, fresh, home cooked meals and I didn't have to put too much effort into it. I was able to wake up on my worst day, pull my ingredient bag out of the fridge, and be sitting down to a simple, yet wonderful, meal in less than an hour. I am extremely happy that I signed up for this service. The ingredients are fresh, perfectly portioned and pre-washed. The recipes are relatively simple but full of flavor. The price is very fair, and the portion sizes are perfect - no one is going hungry in this house. We put our meals in order of preference and here it is: ME: 1- Shrimp 2- Nachos 3- Pork Chops 4- Chana Masala HUBBY: 1- Shrimp 2- Pork Chops 3- Nachos 4- Chana Masala 18 YO: 1- Pork Chops 2- Nachos 3- Shrimp 4- Chana Masala 13 YO: 1- Shrimp 2-Pork Chops 3- Nachos 4- Chana Masala
All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise.
Over the last few months I have been diligently working to get the recipes I either moved over or posted to UnusuallyDelicious onto sonjarants. I'm finally done, and that blog is no more. If you'd like a little refresher, here are those recipes for you to enjoy again:
Do you have a product or service you'd like me to review? Click here to send me a message (use "REVIEW" in the subject line) or DM me on Twitter
Originally posted on July 1st, 2015 on Unusually Delicious. I know, I know. Every other recipe on the internet is "the most amazing", "the best ever", or something to that effect. What makes these so amazing is not just the taste (which is pretty darn good), but also that they're really really versatile. The first time I made them I served them in pitas cut in half (better than the wrap, actually), and this time around I made them into wraps. You can also do the classic burger bun or even as a 'meatloaf' with mashed potatoes - you cannot go wrong with this beauty. Anyone who had read any of my recipes knows that 'quick and easy' is not my style when cooking. Usually because that means opening packages, cans, and boxes, and that is definitely not my thing. Real food takes time. Chopping especially, and there's a whole lot of chopping going on here. There are three parts to this recipe: the sauce, the topping, and the actual patty. Make the sauce first and stick it in the fridge while you do the rest. It will give the flavors a little while to meld together. As always, I recommend using premium sour cream - it's thick and just more delicious than the regular kind. These are fantastic for a Sunday supper or your family BBQ - trust me, your family and friends will love them. I always gauge a recipe by whether my little guy will eat it. I did make a batch without the peppers for him this time around, but he did eat them with last time, he just wasn't too crazy about it. The recipe below makes a LOT of patties, about 16 really large ones or 25-30 medium or smallish ones. I do this on purpose whenever I'm making something that can keep. That way we have leftovers for the next day. You can always freeze half of the meat also - just load on the toppings or halve the recipe for them. First we start with the sauce: Then make and cook the patties: While the patties are in the oven (I did it in two batches - the second batch was baking while we were having our lunch), make the topping: And there you have it, a very versatile chicken recipe. Go all out and make all three parts the first time - trust me, it's fantastic. After that, just hang on to the patty recipe, it's so versatile and can definitely hold it's own without the sauce and toppings. I do have to give props to thecafesucrefarine.com, as that is the recipe I adapted for the one that you see above. It looked delicious (their pictures are phenomenal - thanks for nothing iPad) and definitely delivers on taste.
I’ve been spending some time perusing Groupon lately, and there are some pretty interesting things to buy and places to see listed. I haven’t used Groupon in quite a while because the last time I used it I had a bit of an issue. Not with Groupon, mind you, but with Urthbox. The short version is that I bought the deal through Groupon, but when I signed up at urthbox.com they did not honor the discount code and charged me full price. It took quite a few angry emails to get any action from them, and in the end all I received was credit to my account, not a full refund. And so, I thought maybe I would give it another chance and do a Groupon series. I’ll buy some stuff, order some services, see some Ontario attractions, and let you know how smoothly it all goes, from start to finish. My first real issue is occurring as I'm trying to write this post. I have always used the app, and it's one of those things where you sign up, click the 'remember me' box, and don't really give it a second thought. Right now I'm attempting to get my password reset because I'd like to log in from my laptop but don't remember my password. I have (so far, the night is young) sent seven password reset requests, both from my laptop and from the app. A definite snag. I'm not sure where they're sending the reset email, because it's not showing up in my inbox or my spam. I even added them to my address book. Still nothing. After an hour and I lost count of how many requests, I sent Groupon a direct request. Fingers crossed. Let's move on. The first Groupon I decided to get is one I’ve been eyeballing for a few days: goodfood.com. It’s a meal prep subscription box. I love cooking & I have a real soft spot for subscription boxes. There’s just something fun about getting a mystery box of goodies delivered to your door. If I had the funds, I think I’d be up to my ears in subscription boxes! The discount looks pretty good: $69 for a $140 box. Yes, it says $150 for the regular price, but I selected that one on the website and it was listed at $140. Even at regular price, on its face, it looks like a fair trade for four family meals. So enough fresh ingredients to feed four hungry mouths. I say on its face because I haven’t seen the portion sizes yet, so I’ll have to reserve judgement. Anyone trying to eat real food knows that $140 does not go very far nowadays, so I’m curious to see what kind of bang I get for my buck. I'll do a full review on the actual box once it arrives. After I purchased my Groupon, but before I redeemed my voucher, I visited the goodfood.com website to confirm that I am actually getting a special deal. In other words, I don’t see the point of purchasing a voucher from Groupon and taking those extra steps if all I’m getting is the standard ‘new customer’ discount available to anyone direct from the site. You do get a discount directly from the site with your first order, but it’s $30 off, so your first week costs $110 instead of $140. I paid Groupon $69, and a strange (but wonderful) thing happened. When I entered my Groupon code, I received a discount of $150! So it looks like I have a credit of $10 towards next week. Bonus. (This must be because the Groupon stated $69 for $150) New customer discount vs Groupon discount The goodfood.com website is easy enough to navigate. Although I do have an option to switch out 2 meals, I decided to go with what they chose for us. I also got to choose my delivery day, which is nice, and a bit unusual. Most subscription boxes show up whenever they decide, especially with fresh food. Understandable, they’re grouping orders to each location to save time and cut down in costs. Goodfood.com did, however, give me the choice, and I went with Tuesdays because if I decide to stay with them awhile I figured it made sense to account for holidays and family stuff on weekends. As with all subscription services available at a discounted price (on any site, not just Groupon), I did have to enter my credit card information. However, the website is upfront... you’re entering your card number right above the disclaimer that clearly, in regular sized font, tells you that you are signing up for a service that will charge your card $140 every week unless you say otherwise. So, other than the password thing, it was pretty smooth sailing. I found something I liked on their main page (within the app), I purchased it, immediately received an email, and was signed up with the service with no issues with my discount code. Now I am on my way to some yummy meals next week. **UPDATE** Groupon customer service got back to me very quickly. Although it doesn't explain why I couldn't get a password reset through the app, it seems that I was attempting a reset with groupon.ca, while my account and purchases have been with groupon.com. (groupon.ca is for residents of Quebec) So top marks for customer service so far. A word about navigating the Groupon app; Even when I enter a specific city in the search bar, it shows me a whole lot of attractions and events that are not all that close. For example, I live in Oshawa, and when I enter that, I am also getting fun things to do in Downtown Toronto, which is an hour drive. I can tell you right now that I am not interested in driving for two hours just to have dinner or learn to salsa. An easier way to hone in on your actual area is to use the map feature (which you can find in the upper right hand corner on the app) and only things in that specific area will show up across the bottom of your screen. Now you can just scroll through them and see what is actually available in your area. Finally, a pet peeve for all us Canadians... pricing in USD. Wagjag is famous for it, and that is largely why I don't really even look through their offers anymore. Groupon is pretty good, most things are priced in CAD, but it is disappointing to see what you think is a great deal and then see that the price is say, US$72 for a concert in Toronto. With the current exchange rate, it isn't really a good deal anymore because it's actually costing me just over $91, and that doesn't take into account the exchange fees my credit card will charge. I wish they'd do away with that and just show pricing in the currency of the country that I'm shopping in. So that is it for my inaugural Groupon post. I'll give you an update on how quickly my password situation is resolved, and expect a new post either Tuesday or Wednesday when I review my GoodFood box. Stay tuned to see what I buy next! Click here or any green Groupon to use my personal referral link! It won't cost you anything extra, but I'll get a small credit to help me buy more from Groupon and deliver more honest reviews for you! Thanks for stopping by and supporting my blog.
To say I like to go into some form of brumation* during our long, cold, Canadian winters is an understatement. All but essential tasks are put on hold for me. I get up out of my warm bed only to go to work, keep my husband and children alive, and (kind of) keep the house looking like a house and not an episode of hoarders.
Brumation is an example of dormancy in reptiles that is similar to hibernation. They often wake up to drink water and return to "sleep". The brumation period is anywhere from one to eight months depending on the air temperature and the size, age, and health of the reptile. Brumation is triggered by lack of heat and the decrease in the hours of daylight in winter, similar to hibernation. Source: Wikipedia
As you well know if you visit here more than once, blogging is also something that doesn't happen with any sort of frequency during the winter. Yes, something that catches my fancy will make it here (The Black Panther Movie, cracking the code of feeding a family on a budget, a mockumentary I thought was real, and an updated book review because The Terror is coming to AMC). Four posts in a month and a half is kind of sad.
So when I got an email from Ashley Lipman from Seed Needs offering up a guest post for my blog, I jumped at the chance. Okay, I had to come out of my semi-conscious state, be reminded that the offer was there, sleep on it some more... you get the idea. But, I was happy to have something fresh and someone with a new perspective get a voice here at sonjarants.
Stock up on seeds at amazon.com
So, although it's February, and no one in Southern Ontario would even be able to dig a hole to start planting anything, it's warm somewhere, and this is a good list of veggies you can start thinking about now, so that you can enjoy them when the fall weather comes around.
And so without further ado, I bring you...
Photo credit/site www.pexels.com
6 Fall Veggies to Plant Now
Guest post by Ashley Lipman from Seed Needs
Many of us think of gardening as exclusive to late summer, and spring. However, there are many places on the planet where summers are cool and winters are harsh, and go on for months. Nature never leaves us on our own. There are many veggies that are grown in colder months.
In the following list of vegetables, you will find a variety of plants. Some have leaves that are editable, and some have roots that provide food for humans, and animals. Most will survive minor frosts. All are nutritious, and delicious.
Arugula (rocket)
Beets Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Collards Carrots Cauliflower Celery (mild winter climates) Chard Fennel Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mizuna Mustard greens Onions (bulbing) Onions (bunching--standard onions harvested before they form bulbs). Pak choi (Bok choy) Peas Potatoes Radishes Spinach Coriander (cilantro)
Photo credit/site: pixabay.com
Tips and Hacks for the cold-weather garden
There are some things that you can do to ensure a good cold-weather harvest. We have put together a list to help. If you are confused, there are many free apps you can download to your smartphone to help.
Prepare your soils well
Make sure you clean the soil, removing ant debris from your spring, and summer gardens. Turn the soils well, and add compost or manure to fertilize the ground. Frame your garden Using boards, build a small frame around the garden. If the garden is large, frame sections. This is to help your garden have room to grow, and to allow you easier access to protect the plants from harsh weather. Use slow release fertilizer This is important. In the fall, and winter months, you need a constant supply of fertilizer to your garden. Do not over water your crops You want moist soil, but not heavy, and damp. Too much water can allow freezing to destroy your plants. Protect from frost This is where the frame of the garden comes in handy. Attach a clear shower curtain to the frame of the garden to protect the plants from frost. If you are concerned that it will be a heavy frost, string a string of Christmas lights under the shower curtain. This will generate just enough heat to protect the plants. Experiment The fall crops may not grow as large or exactly the same way you expect in warmer months, but they can still produce. Try planting potatoes. You may not see leaves but dig anyway. Sometimes there will be a bountiful, new potato crop under the ground
Herbs
Herbs are a great way to give your food fresh flavor year-round. The best thing about herbs is you can grow them in almost anything. Use small, plastic coffee cans (with a few nail holes for drainage) or small flower pots. Use lengths of rope to secure them to your fence or grow them on a rolling cart. When the temps drop, just bring them indoors. A few herb plants are a great addition to your cold-weather garden. They make soups, stews, and other foods spring to life.
When you are finished with this garden, repeat the soil preparation that you began with. Cover your clean, and prepared garden with mulch to keep the nutrients in the soil. You will have little work to do on the earth when spring arrives.
Thank you very much Ashley for your great tips! Looking forward to the warmer weather so I can implement some in my own backyard garden.
As always, thank you for stopping by, see you next post!
This post may include affiliate links inserted by the guest author. sonjarants.weebly.com is not affiliated with any company or product that may be mentioned or advertised, nor do I necessarily endorse them.
2018 is going to be a fantastic year for those of us who love the Marvel Universe. This year we are blessed with Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and Venom. [Click any of those titles to open a new window where you can see the official trailer.] And the very first one out of the gate is definitely setting the pace. Black Panther officially opens in Canada and the US today, and it is a force to be reckoned with. I am lucky enough to live near a Cineplex theater that shows blockbusters starting the night before, so our family always goes to see superhero movies on the Thursday before official open. Last night we went to see King T'Challa show us the wonders of his beautiful Wakanda. As I say with all of my reviews... I am really weak at writing a succinct synopsis, so I give you this one from google.ca: The Black Panther movie stars Chadwick Boseman as King T'Challa/Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Winston Duke as M'Baku, and finally, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue. To say that this movie is packed with talent is an understatement. We have some big names like Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker, Oscar nominees like Daniel Kaluuya, fan favorites like Danai Gurira (I am so in love with her as Michonne on AMC's The Walking Dead), and some up and coming talent like Letitia Wright (she's done mostly TV until now). It's a wonderful cast and the chemistry between the characters is spot on. I would be remiss not to point out (if you haven't already noticed), the predominantly black cast. I feel like Marvel released Black Panther in February not only to warm cold Canadians, but more importantly to celebrate Black History Month. This cast is strong, talented, and as if you needed more, there are so many strong black female characters, you could say they carry the story. Black Panther gives so much to its audience. There's so much action, you definitely know you're watching a Marvel Studios movie. It's an origin story, because although we were introduced to the Black Panther in Avengers: Civil War, we know little of this character so far. But it is so much more than just an introduction to King T'Challa; we are told the lore behind the Black Panther and taken on a tour of the beautiful hidden city of Wakanda, a place the outside world knows as a third world farming community that is in actuality the most technologically advanced society on the planet, thanks to their mountain made of vibranium (the stuff that makes up Captain America's shield). Marvel Puzzle Quest screenshot Aside from loads of action, this movie packs sadness, happiness, beauty, and duty to country in equal parts to give us an extremely well-balanced film. I was absolutely in love with the way the director, Ryan Coogler, blended the traditional look of African Tribal Elders, farmers, and royalty with technology. The "coronation" of King T'Challa was fantastic, wild, and visually stunning. The soundtrack is nothing to sneeze at either. Available on Spotify, it boasts talent like Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Khalid, and The Weeknd. You can also download for free the February issue of Cineplex Magazine here, where you can read a short interview with the King himself, Chadwick Boseman. There's also a short intro to the timeline of Black Superheroes in the Marvel Universe (in the comics). Whether you're in to superhero movies or not, Black Panther is worth a watch. It has a great story, is visually stunning, boasts some stellar acting, and shows off some pretty imaginative technology. I give this movie 5 movie passes out of 5.
I'm sure you've pinned and clicked through many of these on Pinterest. I'm a big fan of them myself - the only problem with the vast majority? They're not realistic. I have yet to find one which would actually feed my family - 6' 2" hubby, 6' eighteen year old son, thirteen year old son, and myself. The taglines are so enticing... "How I Feed my Family of 7 on a $85 Weekly Budget", "How to Feed a Family of 5 on $200 a month", "How I Feed my Family of 6 for $200 a Month", and my personal favorite, "Real Food Meal Plan: Four Weeks Four Mouths $330". I could spend this entire post breaking down the feasibility of each of these four examples, but I'm here for a better purpose today. Let me just point out that what these posts, along with the hundreds like them have much in common; they're only counting dinner, the meals are pretty much chicken, rice, and some canned stuff thrown in for good measure, and often they are talking about feeding small children who eat like mice. If these families are making this work, good on them, but not even one of them would work for my family. First off, we need to eat actual food. Secondly, we're not that fond of chicken. We like it, don't get me wrong, but if I served chicken on Monday, chicken soup on Tuesday, chicken rice on Wednesday, chicken tacos on Thursday (you get the idea), my family would revolt. Yes, you cannot be too choosy when you're eating on a budget, but food is not just fuel, it should be flavorful, nutritious, and delicious. That is what we are used to. Which is probably why our grocery budget was absolutely out of control. I was spending my (pathetically sad) $300 weekly paycheck on food, and when you do that , there is not much left over for things like bills, or heaven forbid - fun. Which is why I decided to take a good look at some of these and come up with a plan that can actually be used on a large scale. Another thing I'd like to mention is that I have yet to come across a Canadian budget meal planner. I'm sure they're out there, but I've only clicked through American ones. Why does that matter? Because I cannot go to the grocery store and pay .89 for a dozen eggs, nor can I get a whole chicken for $3. My cost could be double some of these in some cases. So I had to tailor it to my food prices. Now, if you're living in the States and you're reading this, you could possibly shave about a third off of my cost, just because your prices are lower in many areas, which is just an added bonus for you. Before I get into the meal plan - three meals a day, every day, for one week - I'd like to share some pointers that will make this so much easier for you. What I'm about to tell you is no secret - many of the links and posts widely available offer much of the same advice. Actually, a large number of these "Feed your family on a budget" posts do not actually contain meal plans, they just give you pointers like 'clip coupons', 'buy in bulk', 'batch cook', and 'love your crockpot'. All fine suggestions, but we don't have a whole lot of coupons here in Canada (not like in the States), and I have yet to find a coupon for anything in the produce section. Buying in bulk means you need a place to store all of your bulk (and it means cans and boxes, which I am not fond of), no one wants soup or stew every night, and don't get me started on batch cooking. Tried it once - no thank you. So here are my pointers: Plan Out Your Week. Whether it starts on a Sunday or a Tuesday doesn't matter. Get a pen and a piece of paper and find a comfy chair. I write out the days of the week, and the first thing I do is make a note of which days I'm working. Nights, actually, I work 11pm-6:30am, which should make this whole cooking three squares a day even more difficult for me, so if I can do it, so can you. The reason you're doing this is so that you do not plan a complicated dish on a day you're going to be excessively tired or busy running around. Use leftovers or simple dishes on those days to make your life easier. Write Out Your Meals Write down seven breakfast dishes, seven lunches, and seven dinners. You'll trim this down as you decide because some dishes are 2-day deals, i.e. oatmeal, chili, or soup. But writing down three for each day gives you a variety of choices. Whatever you decide to take out can always be pushed to the next week. Now trim your list. My list includes two different kinds of oatmeal, donuts, and muffins, and that covers my week. My lunches are tuna melt pie, scones, and sandwiches. My dinners consist of chili, soup, pizza, sliders, and pasta. More on all of these later, but you can see a wide variety of food - actual food. I highly recommend Pinterest for this exercise because you can just search "cheap dinner", "budget friendly meals", etc., and you'll get a ton of ideas. Draw on your own experience also. There's nothing wrong with meatloaf, spaghetti, or whatever your family has always loved. So trim your list by making notes of which meals will have enough leftovers for a second day, you'll see what I mean in my plan. Write Out ALL The Required Ingredients. You mean even things like salt or pepper? Why? A couple of reasons. First, you're going to make one trip to the grocery store. You heard me. One. Can't do that if you missed something. Second, you may think you have an ingredient, but when you go to the cupboard to get it while you're cooking you find that you are out of it. That sucks and has happened to me more times than I like to admit. Third, you may think you need an ingredient, but guess what? You have four of them in the back of the fridge because you keep buying it. Going once and getting everything you need and only what you need saves you time and money. If you're like me this will be very strange. I am used to shopping 2-4 times per week. I am also used to throwing stuff out because I forget I bought it because I had no actual plan for it, and now it went bad. More money wasted. And I work at a grocery store - so if I can limit my food purchases to once a week, you definitely can. Trim Your List Once you've written everything out, go through your cupboards, fridge, freezer, pantry, and everywhere else you house foodstuffs and cross off anything on your list that you have on hand. Most likely you have things like salt (I was almost out of pepper, so that will stay on the list next week), baking powder, or flour. But you may be surprised at what you do have sometimes, tucked away in the shadows. Now you have your basic list. I whittled a list of over 60 items to less than 30 - sweet. This is what you will venture out to buy. If you are a coupon clipper, now is the time to go through your coupons and see what you have that will help you with your list. I am not into coupons, not because I don't want to be, there just isn't much that I purchase in the coupon world. I do suggest 2 apps here that will help you immensely. If you are not using the flipp app to shop, you're nuts. I absolutely love it. At this point I pop in my basic list and look for sales on the items I need. I usually only shop at two stores, FreshCo and Real Canadian Superstore, the first because the prices are great (but the selection is meh), and the second because although the prices are a bit high, I can often find anything FreshCo doesn't carry here (plus I work there so I get my [truly mind boggling, how do they stay in business] 10% discount). Both stores price match, and I can do that right from the app. The second app I suggest is Checkout51, which saves you a little bit here and there. You just look to see if anything you bought is offered, take a pic of your receipt, and you're good. You won't get rich off of it, but it's easy and it helps a little. This week I got $1.00 cashback for buying the Eggo waffles, which I was buying anyway. *NOTE* I don't know how widely these apps are distributed, I live in Ontario, but I'm sure you will have something similar in your area. Go Shopping And buy ONLY what is on your list. Yes, those strawberries look so delicious. Sure, that cake is on sale. Oh yeah, the chips are 2 bags for $5. Do not give in. You are on a budget. Whatever reason got you here, you must think of it and buy only what you see on your list. And only make this one trip. It may be to two or three stores, but do it in one go. It's a time saver in the end, but it also cuts down on the temptation to impulse buy. The only time I encourage you to go off list is if it is an extremely good price and it is something that can keep for a bit. Maybe you only need one can of romano beans, but they're on sale for .88, and that's a good deal. I would buy maybe four or five cans (all different), and possibly use them the next week. Okay, enough about all that. I'm sure I'm not really telling most of you anything you don't already know. Here is the part that made you visit here in the first place: 7 Day Meal Plan for a Family of 4 for about $100 Day One Breakfast: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day <$2, my cost was $0) Lunch: Tuna Melt Pie + Salad (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day ~$7, my cost was $5.50) Dinner: Beans & Pasta (approximate cost <$5, my cost was $3) Day One Notes: I made the muffins and pie the day before and the salad was simple, I bought a big bag of organic mixed spring greens for $5 which will make about 6-8 servings, a great addition to a smallish lunch and easy enough to take to work. The beans & pasta is a staple dish in our home and very simple: 1/2 pkg elbow macaroni 2 cans romano beans (do not drain them) 2 strips bacon 1 tsp oregano 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp paprika 1 onion, chopped salt & pepper to taste 1] Boil pasta 2] While pasta boils, chop bacon & fry until crispy, do not drain. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add spices and stir. 3] Add beans and liquid to bacon/onion mixture and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and stir once or twice. Let cook another 5 minutes. 4] Drain pasta and add to bean mixture. Remove from heat. Stir until all pasta is covered and serve. See? Simple. Day one cost about $14 if you purchased all the necessary ingredients. My cost was about $8.50. Day Two Breakfast: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Lunch: Tuna Melt Pie + Salad Dinner: Southwestern Style Chili (3-day recipe - approximate cost per day $5.50, my cost was <$4) Day Two Notes: A pretty easy day with two meals consisting of leftovers so no need to cook. The chili can be made stovetop (as I did) or in the crockpot, as the recipe calls for. I froze the third day's serving as it is actually a little less than what would feed all of us and I think it would be great for chili cheese dogs next week. The chili pricing includes the toppings: cilantro, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. Day two cost about $14.50 & my cost was about $9.50. Day Three Breakfast: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day $2. My cost was $1.50) Lunch: Bacon, Cheddar, and Chive Scones + Salad (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day $6. My cost was $4.50) Dinner: Southwestern Chili Day three notes: The oatmeal cooked overnight and was hot and ready to go in the morning. I baked the scones the day before and froze half of them for next week. Day three cost about $13.50 and my cost was <$10. Day Four Breakfast: Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Lunch: Cheesy Frittata + Salad (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day $6. My cost was $2.) Dinner: English Muffin Pizzas (Approximate cost $9.) Day four notes: The pizzas are another fun staple in our house, and so simple to make! 2 packs (of 6) of english muffins 2 small cans pizza sauce (you can get away with one but we like a lot of sauce) 1 can mushroom pieces and stems 1 snack pack of mini pepperoni 1 onion, sliced 1 sweet pepper, sliced 2 cups shredded mozzarella Halve the muffins, spread pizza sauce, top with cheese, then all other toppings. Bake at 350deg for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Feel free to add or remove any of the toppings, put whatever you like on them, they're quick, easy, and delicious. Day four cost about $17, with my cost about $13. Day Five Breakfast: Donuts (Approximate cost is $3.50) Lunch: Frittata + Salad Dinner: Golden Coconut Lentil Soup (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day $2.50. My cost was $0) Day five notes: Yeah, I know you got all excited about the donuts, then clicked on the link and got weirded out when you saw what the donuts were made of. Trust me, it's okay. It's just a little cheat and we are not a bunch of snitches, so our secret is safe. Day five cost about $14.50 and my cost was $8. Day Six Breakfast: Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (2-day recipe - approximate cost per day is $2. My cost was $0) Lunch: Reuben Stromboli + salad (approximate cost $12.50. My cost just over $11.) Dinner: Coconut Lentil Soup Day six notes: Remember when I told you to write out EVERY ingredient and then go from there? I did not write the dressing down for the reuben recipe because I really just glanced at it and came to the conclusion that it was only for the dip, and I was not going to make the dip, so I did not need the dressing. So I did not put it on my list at all. Boy was I wrong, and I don't even know how I missed the necessity of the spread on the bread. Anyway, I always have mayo in my fridge, so that was a quick save. Day six cost about $17 and my cost was about $11.) Day Seven Breakfast: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Lunch: Chicken Nugget Eggo Waffle Sliders (Approximate cost $12) Dinner: Sausage & Egg Sliders (Approximate cost $14. My cost about $13.) Day seven notes: Today turned out to be slider day, I don't think I planned it, but I didn't hear anyone complaining. I have to give you the link to Chicken Waffle Sliders because that's where I got the idea for my chicken nugget sliders, and I like to give credit when credit is due. I took their idea but made it easier by just buying a package of Jane's chicken nuggets and topping each one with a little mayo, lettuce, and 1/3 of a grape tomato. Yum! Day seven was the most expensive day by far at $28, with my total around $25.) The approximate total cost for 3 meals a day which actually, realistically, feed a family of four for 7 days turned out to be about $119. My total was a little lower at $84.50. Your total would also differ depending on what you already have in your home. However, even if your fridge is empty and your cupboards bare, I have shown you how to keep your family well fed on about $120. One last thing I would like to comment on before I send you off: drinks. We drink a lot of water in our house. (Real) juice is a weekly treat, and pop is a rarity, really only when we have company and we all indulge, a few times a year. We also drink coffee (the adults) and tea, both hot and iced. If you're trying to wean yourself or your family off of pop and juice, try squeezing the juice of a lemon or orange into a pitcher of water. Maybe some fresh mint (slightly muddled), or even a few chopped strawberries. Ease your family into it. I won't judge, it's your family, you can ingest what you like, but I feel like if you just give good old H2O a chance, you may find you enjoy how refreshing it can be. And it's also a heck of a lot cheaper ;) I thank you for sticking around, I know, this was a really long post, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible because the very simplicity of the other posts made me feel it was a waste of time to click through. Comments are always welcome - let me know if you've tried my plan, or if you have any inexpensive but delicious recipes I can add to a future plan. Bon Appetit!
Yesterday, as I set out to do some laundry, I went through the usual motions: turn on the TV and search Netflix for something to play in the background as I flit around. I searched for the usual fare: documentaries, true crime shows, alien mysteries, historical stuff. Usually you don't have to watch very intently to get the gist of what's going on at any given moment, and I usually end up watching it a second time if its interesting enough. As I'm browsing through the fare on offer, the picture above catches my eye in the "Trending Now" section. I thought it may be a documentary about the underwater sculpture park in Grenada, and that sounded interesting, so I dove right in (pun intended). As soon as the documentary began, I realized that it was not, in fact, about the sculpture park, but something even better: a search for lost treasure. I love shows about lost treasure, but I often find them highly unsatisfying. Usually the only thing they find is that they're on a wild goose chase with nothing to show for their efforts, or they do find something interesting, but we end the movie or series with the crew wrapping up their find while they await proper approvals and fight over who owns what. There's also the case of "The Curse of Oak Island", a show, I'm embarrassed to admit, I have been watching now for five seasons! And all they've found is some bits of bone, pottery, book binding, and a coin. Basically, nothing I've watched yet has given me any satisfaction. Until I watched Treasures From the Wreck of the Unbelievable. I watched the story unfold. How they came upon a video and decided they had to find that spot and search for more treasure. How they found the perfect person to fund the excursion (a bored artist not sure what to do next), and suddenly, miraculously, treasure! Not just any treasure, either. Magnificent Objects D'Art were surfacing at an unbelievable rate. Sculptures from all over the world, coins pointing to the time of Nero, a piece of the ship hinting that the vessel could rival anything Noah may have built. And then the gold. Stunning pieces of art glinting on the bottom of the ocean. Millions (billions?) of dollars worth of golden sculpture. When the first piece broke the surface of the water, it took my breath away as I stood in front of my television, mouth agape, like a five-year old child. Not only was there satisfaction in the sheer number and beauty of the artifacts steadily breaking the surface, but there was a fantastical theory about who these treasures may have belonged to, and why they were all on the same ship all at the same time. Legend tells us of a freed slave named Amotan, from Antioch in north-west Turkey. He amassed an extraordinary fortune and spent it on glorious treasures from all over. He loaded 100 of his most precious onto a colossal ship called the Apistos and sailed away to build and furnish a lavish temple to the sun god Apollo. Amotan's ship sank and lay undiscovered for almost two millennia, his treasures and story lost to time. I also found great satisfaction that about three quarters of the way through the documentary, we are shown not only oceanic shots of the treasures, but also the sculpture, cleaned (but not excessively, I loved that corals and other marine life were left in situ on the pieces), and on display at a museum in Venice, Italy. I was so entranced by this movie, that after dinner I put it on again, so my husband could also enjoy it. He marveled at everything right along side me. However, he does not watch anything with the child-like innocence that I do, and he did bring up some questionable material. But I shushed him, and we continued to watch. When I woke up today I decided that I had to a) find out more about this treasure; and b) blog about it. I'd like to say that I was not surprised when I found out that Treasures From the Wreck of the Unbelievable is actually a mockumentary to compliment Damien Hirst's (the aforementioned 'bored artist') new collection. I'd like to say that, but I really can't. There were signs, for sure, but I think I didn't want to notice them. I wanted to believe. For example, I was wondering why they were able to whisk away all the treasures to a foreign country. I've watched enough actual documentaries to know that a whole lot of it has to stay in the country where its found, for various reasons. I was concerned when they were bringing up all the gold pieces in broad daylight without any cover, to me that just screamed dangerous. In that respect, I figured they just did re-shoots after the fact, so that they could get the maximum emotional response from the audience. Then there was the demon statue, which came out of the water at a height of about 4 feet. Once it made it to the museum, it had grown substantially to about 60 feet. Then there were the three busts, the camera pans across the back and the word "CHINA" is clearly visible... I was confused by that one. And of course, the one that bothered my husband the most, Mickey Mouse. As I googled this subject, I found that many (within and without the art world) were incensed that Hirst would dare do something like this. How could he possible have duped everyone and filmed this fake movie about a fake ancient legend (Amotan's full name is Cif Amotan II, which is an anagram for "I am Fiction", and his ship, the Apistos, translated to "unbelievable".), and filled it with unimaginative art to bring crowds to his new exhibit? Those in the art world were outraged and screamed that this was the end of his career. Lay people were angry at being tricked into believing it was all real. I thought the sculpture was beautiful. There was no rhyme or reason to the collection, and I loved that about it. I liked the fact that he took these art forms that have been done and redone, polished them, then added the sea life to breathe new life into it, so to speak. And I love that I was tricked - that I did believe. That is what makes a mockumentary great, when you believe that it is real, and say "you got me", when you find out that it was not. Not only did he create the art, but also a fantastic mythos to go with it. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, from beginning to end. I recommend you watch it if you haven't already, even if you now know that none of it is real. Visit artsy.net if you're interested in seeing more from Damien Hirst or perhaps thinking about purchasing an original piece of his art.
Do you have a product or service you'd like me to review? Click here to send me a message (use "REVIEW" in the subject line) or DM me on Twitter As far as books I'd recommend, the Terror is at the top of my list. This is my third go at this one, as I often read books I love more than once. I've actually purchased this one twice because my first copy got damaged and fell apart. The Terror has been made into a series which will air on AMC at the end of March 2018. If you've read the book and this is news to you, or if after reading my review you're intrigued about this book, you can take a look at the 'Discover More...' section at the end of this post for links you may find interesting. It's the late nineteenth century and the British Royal Fleet is trying to find the north-west passage. Frozen in the arctic ice for almost three years, this is the story of two ships, the flagship Erebus and her sister ship, the Terror, and the horrors the officers and crew endure while trapped with no way out and no hope of rescue. Between life on the ships and out on the ice with spoiling food, scurvy, near-mutiny, a strange mute Esquimaux woman and a terrible beast methodically stalking them, Dan Simmons weaves an engrossing tale mixed with fact and fiction of terror, madness and survival. At almost 1,000 pages, The Terror is not something you can get through in a weekend. That being said, it is incredibly difficult to put down. I'd like to take a moment here to remind everyone that this story is based on actual events. Simmons uses all the tools in his literary arsenal to paint us a vivid picture of his idea of what horrors befell the crews of the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror as they were trapped in the Arctic. And none of it is pretty. Every page oozes bone chilling cold. Every page turned pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the terror filled and continuously more desperate fight for survival. Dan Simmons masterfully weaves a tale of the human condition. The desperate fight for survival against all odds. He tells us that we will often do the most terrifying things to survive - and sometimes we'll put our foot on the necks of our fellow men to raise ourselves up. The ending is quite surprising and hopeful - a real departure from the rest of the novel. I wasn't too sure about it the first time I read it, but it matters and it fits, and that is what's important to a good story. If you enjoy period pieces, nautical stories, thrillers or just a well-written novel, The Terror is a must read. Simmons brings history alive in the most fantastic way. His prose is almost poetic as he forces you to sympathize, to love and care for his characters - and then he rips them away from you in the most terrible of ways. I give this book 5 out of 5 bookmarks. Author's Website: www.dansimmons.com AMC The Terror Teaser Trailer: www.amc.com AMC The Terror Official Website: www.amc.com AMC The Terror Newsletter: www.amc.com Follow AMC The Terror on Twitter: @TheTerrorAMC Beginning in 2008, Parks Canada embarked on their own expedition: to find the lost HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Thankfully, their efforts have been much more successful. The HMS Erebus was found in September of 2014, followed by the discovery of the HMS Terror two years later, in September of 2016. You can follow Parks Canada on Twitter @PCArchaeology for updates as they continue to dive to the wreckages.
|
AuthorHi! I'm Sonja and I'm glad you're here! I'm happy to share some recipes and gardening tips with you while I let you know about great (or not so great) products, services, and media I encounter. Visit my online shop at MysteriousDragonfyre.com
for Crystals, Herbs, Incense, and other Witchy things! Categories
All
Hey look! You're visitor #
Visit my online shop at MysteriousDragonfyre.com
for Crystals, Herbs, Incense, and other Witchy things! |