Our non-existent summer continues here in Seattle. It's been gray and gloomy this weekend until late afternoon hits, and then the sun decides to come out. The garden is not loving this routine. Last year was also yucky, and I didn't eat my first ripe tomato until August 11th. I highly doubt I'll get a ripe tomato any earlier than that this year. In fact, it will probably be much later. The few green tomatoes I do have on the plants aren't even big enough to start ripening.
Le sigh. Here is hoping to a late summer heat wave to give the garden a kick in the pants that it desperately needs.
While I watch the sky for sunshine, here is what we'll be eating this week. Fruit this week will be yellow watermelons (can't remember the actual name) from our local fruit stand (they bring them in from Eastern Washington, which unlike Western Washington has loads of sunshine), kiwi and pineapple from Costco, and clementines from Trader Joes. Yeah, I know a lot aren't local, or heck even in season. After Wednesday night, our repertoire will include local organic cherries as we pick up our first of five deliveries from the fruit CSA we bought in to earlier this year.
Monday:: Frittata with caramelized Walla Walla sweet onions, salad, and fruit. I'm going to caramelize the onions this afternoon. I use the crockpot method from this recipe because it's so simple!
Tuesday:: Chinese chicken salads, the world's second best baked potatoes, and fruit.
Wednesday:: Peanut sesame satay (never made these before, but they look delicious!), salads, grilled zukes and eggplant, and fruit.
Thursday:: Troy's delicious grilled burgers (sans buns), grilled zukes, salad, and fruit.
Friday:: Popcorn night! Popcorn, veggie sticks, cheese, and fruit on the couch and a library movie on the TV. Favorite night of the week!
Saturday:: We're going to a 3rd birthday party for my godson.
Sunday:: Dinner at my parent's.
This week I spent $12 at the fruit stand, $63 at our local butcher (they have the best chicken and it's always rare when they have any in the coolers. I happened to get there right as they were packaging it up, and decided to buy enough for a few months. I also bought a flank steak for Troy to grill for salads for the week. I spent $7 at the grocery store for Udi's hot dog buns (Princess Troy insisted on buns with our hot dogs last night) and Hansen's soda. I did most of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's this week because I was there and it was convenient. That bill was $48, and my Costco bill was $40. I also accidentally spent $13 on eggs because I forgot to cancel our milkman order even though I purchased 2 dozen from the local farm. Drat!!!!! Total spent this week: $183. Yikes, seems high, but it was a stock up week on certain items that I don't get a chance to buy every week.
Also, since I was by Trader Joes, I hit up a few stores too. I've kind of hit a wall with my wardrobe, and needed a few items to spruce it up. Goodwill is a really hard place for me to find clothes because I'm wicked tall and I know that only about 3 brands will fit me. I got some great clearance tops at Target, a few items at TJ Maxx, and another few items at Old Navy.
Sweet baby Jesus lord in heaven, I found myself purchasing a pair of black leggings, AND a pair of skinny jeans. These are two items I tend to make fun of. A lot. The leggings came about because I fell in love with this adorable dress at TJ Maxx, but it clearly was designed to be worn with leggings. I tried a pair on and hot damn those are comfortable! I was texting my friend Anne through my shopping trip, and towards the end she said "leggings and skinny jeans? Wow, it's like 2008 for you up there. Next stop, a personal Facebook page". What can I say, my fashion has been stuck in a rut for quite a few years!Labels: Meal plan