Publix Review

Publix is new to our area and still in their grand opening.  Even though I am not officially buying groceries, I had to be out that way for an appointment this morning.  I walked in to see what they had.

Unfortunately the first thing I smelled when I walked in was their seafood department.  I should have known to turn around and walk out.  Instead I told myself I would just avoid that counter and be fine.  I hadn't made it out of the store good before I was having difficulty breathing.  I've spent the day in a drug induced haze and 9 hours later still am having some respiratory issues.

Needless to say Publix is off of my shopping rotation permanently. However, I did buy some cereal and some crackers that were B1G1.  The cereal was my daughter's favorite and the cracker stores I had in the pantry were pretty much depleted.  I toyed with baking my own, but it is just too hot.

The store is beautifully arranged and the prices are a little on the high end, but everything seemed high quality.  So all in all, I would say if you have one near and try to shop on a budget -- definitely do cherry picking of their sales.

Birthday Girl (and Recipe)

I cannot believe my baby is 20 years old today.

The years are flying by so quickly.

She's swamped with school work as her summer semester nears it end.

As a result, we aren't having an official family dinner, but everyone is gathering for dessert.

This is our first attempt at a brownie swirl cheesecake.

(Full disclosure, I buy brownies mixes for somewhere around $1 each.  My boxes are about double the size called for.  I simply baked the other half of the batter in muffin tins while I baked the crust.  I let the muffins finish while the crust cooled since they took longer.)

Brownie Swirl Cheesecake

(With my notes in parentheses)

1 (8 oz) package of brownie mix -- see comment above photo (I used a mocha brownie mix)

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese, softened (I used one reduced fat and one full fat.)

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup of milk chocolate chips, melted (in the future, I will drop this to 3/4 cup)

Prepare brownie mix according to the package.  

Spread into a greased 9 inch spring form pan.

Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.  (Will not test done.)

Cool for 10 minutes on a wire track.

Meanwhile, mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla well.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Pour over the brownie crust.

Top with melted chocolate and swirl through the cream cheese filling.

Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set.

Run a knife around the edge to loosen.  

Let cool completely on a wire rack.

When cool, refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Serve as is, or with your choice of whipped cream and fruit.

Weekend and Watermelon

Over the weekend, we went to visit family and had a wonderful time.  We managed to keep the trip pretty frugal so that was an added bonus.  

 My week is shaping up to be quite busy, but I had to take time today to process a few items for the food storage.  We bought a huge, home grown watermelon this weekend.  1/2 of the rind made 3 quarts of pickles.  (I canned the other jar of brine to use either with dressings or perhaps to make some refrigerator pickles using cucumbers.)  Then I used 6 cups of the flesh pureed to make watermelon jelly.  I ended up with 10 jars.

July Goals and June ReCap

I just realized I didn't formally write down my July goals or recap my June.  I'm blaming it on not feeling well, but in part I've just been busy, too.

 June -- I didn't finish the blue and white cardigan....I am close, but still not there.  I didn't keep to the food budget due to life changes.  I didn't sew the dress....I know, but I have been productive...lol.  What I did do was pack for road trips, keep the electric bill down, and finish my library book.   At first, I felt like I hadn't accomplished a lot.

In hindsight, I did do a lot of things that were not on my list.  I did some canning.  I traveled with my family.  I attended some events.  Celebrated birthdays.  

However, I have a project in the works.  I managed to complete the reading and notes on 7 research books.  That is where a lot of my time went.   I pretty much did all the things listed 4 days a week because this is the month that my husband has Friday's off....and I've spent every weekend with him.  So while not perfect, I am call June a success.  

 July's goals are pretty simple:
 1.  Try to keep the electric bill down as much as possible and still have air conditioning.
 2.  Continue to do some selective canning and dehydrating.
 3.  Work on using the freezer storage down.
 4.  Celebrate two birthdays -- my daughter's and my husband's.
 5.  Continue my research and the online course I am taking.
 6.  Continue to perfect using the sun oven.

July Challenge Meals (July 1 - 8)

We have all agreed that we absolutely must eat down the freezer supplies.....so July is the month. 

Saturday July 1
 Breakfast -- homemade chocolate chip waffles with syrup
 Lunch -- leftover pulled pork on brioche buns with cole slaw
 Supper -- barbecued chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, cole slaw
 Snacks -- brownies, popcorn

 Sunday July 2
 Breakfast -- cereal with soy milk/milk
 Lunch and Supper -- clean out refrigerator day
 Snacks -- graham crackers, brownies

 Monday July 3
 Breakfast -- egg, cheese, flour tortilla wraps
 Lunch -- yogurt
 Leftovers Supper -- fried chicken (cooked enough for lunch for the next day), string beans with potatoes
 Snacks -- graham crackers

 Tuesday July 4
 Breakfast -- blueberry pancakes
 Lunch -- fried chicken, squash with onions, cucumbers in vinegar, string beanss with potatoes Supper -- homemade pizzas (one pepperoni and cheese, one veggie with mushrooms, bell pepper, etc.)
 Afternoon tea -- tea and biscuits as a nod to our British heritage
 Snacks -- popcorn, cookies, ice cream  

 Wednesday July 5
 Breakfast -- don't laugh....I pulled out a hodge podge of leftover veggies from the day before.  My daughter had cereal.
 Lunch -- homemade pizza leftovers
 Supper --  everyone fixed a plate of hodgepodge leftovers.

Thursday July 6
Breakfast -- eggs with cheese
Lunch -- cereal (long story)
Supper -- crockpot barbecue meatballs, string beans, potatoes

Friday July 7 (Road trip)
Breakfast/Lunch -- I baked 8 biscuits and fried ham to go in them.  Extras are for on the road.  I also packed snacks from food storage.

Saturday -- We will be out of state and I have allotted for at least one meal out during the trip.

Adding to the Stores

Mama gave us some fresh produce.  

I canned 8 pints of string beans -- one didn't seal and is in the refrigerator.

I also canned 7 pints of corn.

(I had enough string beans for 10 pints, but saved some out to go with our supper with plans for leftovers the next day.)

She also gave me squash, okra, avacados, and cucumbers.

All of those became part of our 4th of July celebration.

The Last Week of June (Frugal Happenings)

Sunday -- I wasn't feeling well.  Fortunately I had cooked extra hamburger steak the day before.  We mostly used it for meals.  The extent of my cooking was to bake a cake.  My husband and daughter had been hinting for some time that they would like one.  I wasn't ill enough to sleep so I spent most of the day reading.  I actually finished reading one book and read two other history books. I woke up about midnight feeling a little better and I did pay the bills.  I'm excited to say that even with summer heat I've been able to keep our utilities below $200.  They were just below $189.  Of course, we have not hit our hottest months yet.

 Monday -- I picked up a Sam's Club order.  There was only one food item -- a package of beef for the freezer.  All the rest was cleaning, pet care, and household supplies.  I try to do this twice a year if possible although some things I do have to look for quarterly.  By timing it with sales I was able to save over $79 on things we normally buy and use.  Running two households either requires duplicates or items big enough to split in half.  Sam's Club works well for us on that.  I also make a point to order online and just do pick up at the store whenever it is possible.  This helps me make certain I don't do any impulse purchases.  

 Tuesday -- I spent the day down -- with a migraine combined with a stomach virus.  We kind of ate whatever we could find.  I didn't do a lot of anything.  

 Wednesday -- I was feeling some better.  I bleached all the surfaces I could bleach, washed my bedding, and stayed in.     

 Thursday -- Perfect day to test the solar oven again.  I baked brownies and made a batch of beans and rice.  We went to the thrift store and I bought 1 skirt, 4 blouses, and a purse.  $21.34. The blouses are all neutrals and will go with anything.  The purse was $1.99.  I had been using a backpack because I have to carry so many epi-pens, sugar testign supplies, etc.  This bag even has a pocket that is perfect for my epi-pen pouch. 

 Friday -- We had to go to Aldi to pick up milk and soy milk, while I was there they had chicken breasts (large packages) marked $4 off.  I came home with four packages for basically the price of two.  We also went to Ollie's, and I picked up a few household items.

 Saturday -- Company over for supper.  Kept it simple.  One crockpot with BBQ chicken and one with mac and cheese.  A hot day and I would have normally grilled out, but they were calling for early evening thunderstorms.  I'm serving leftover slaw, a veggies, and some homebaked brownies.....that we baked early in the morning while it was still cooler.