Omaha Farmers Market Starts this Weekend

The first weekend to get fresh local produce in the Old Market is tomorrow! Lettuce, asparagus, spinach, herbs, rhubarb and strawberries look to be the early stars. The harvest calendar shows you what is available when. You can also check out the Omaha Farmers Market blog for recipes and other information.

Proud Mommy Moment

I made a big batch of sundried tomato hummus last night. My 7 year old actually got excited and asked if he could take some for lunch today. :::Sniff:::: My formerly picky child made a healthy choice, on his own. I had to photograph it as proof before he goes and does something 7 year old-ish :)

Wow!

Welcome to a typical day at the office. Me. At my desk. Eating lunch. Today I didn't really feel like eating the lentil soup I brought, so I grabbed one of the frozen meals I keep stashed in the office freezer. Eating Right Chicken Poblano. I don't think I've ever had a frozen meal that has as much flavor and spice as this. Pretty darn good.

Calorie Count only gives it a C for nutritional value, but I guess you can't have everything, right?

Keeping extra food at work is a great way to make sure that your daily cravings and mood swings don't put a dent in your grocery budget. Or your weight loss goals. I use my coupons and sale ads to stock up on freezer meals, cans of soup, boxes of crackers, microwave popcorn etc., and keep them here. Then, if I forgot to pack lunch or was running late or just didn't want what I brought, I won't be tempted to eat out.

Just make sure you put your name on anything you put in the community fridge or freezer. I learned that one a long time ago.

Menu Plan Monday Week of 4/26

I did a pretty good job of sticking to the meal plan this past week, with the exception of Thursday. I used part of the ingredients I had set aside, but we were tight for time with football practice, so I made skillet nachos.

Our favorite meal was the Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Really glad I tried this!

On to this week! 7 dinners works out to $32.50. We'll be eating the soup for lunches this week. I will also have extra pork steak to freeze for fried rice.

Monday 4/26
lentil and turkey sausage soup $2.50
grilled mozzarella and tomato sandwiches $1.50
apple slices .50
$4.50

Tuesday 4/27
lemon rosemary crockpot chicken (using fresh rosemary and a whole chicken) $3.50
buttery noodles .50
glazed baby carrots .75
$4.75

Wednesday 4/28
bbq grilled pork steaks $3.00
baked beans $1.50
salad .75
$5.25

Thursday 4/29
roast beef melts on hoagies $3.50
fries .50
$4.00

Friday 4/30
tacos $3.50
corn .50
$4.00

Saturday 5/1
Hearty Chicken Noodle Casserole (using leftover chicken from Tuesday) $2.25
broccoli and cauliflower $1.00
salad .75
$4.00

Sunday 5/2
Pizza Night $6.00

Enjoying the silence

I really should be waking up children right now. I got up, showered, got dressed, came downstairs, made coffee, loaded the dishwasher, and now I sit. Hubby is asleep. Boys are asleep. Even the dog is crashed out next to me. Heavenly. So I am enjoying some time at the computer (like my fancy set up? Ha. Please note that even with that tall cup of coffee I'm not awake enough to take a straight picture yet. Please forgive me.)

Hope you have a wonderful day, and at least a moment of heavenly quiet like this yourself today. Amazing how fleeting it is, and how much you come to appreciate it.