Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: April 23 -- April 29, 2003

[nomifyle]

DH had that second beautiful butterflyed pork chop for dinner this evening with half of what was left of the mac and cheese. I was not tempted at all. I had a stir fry of broccoli, half of a red onion and some seared sweet potatoes fries with dark meat chicken. I seasoned with spike and coconut aminos, stir fried in olive oil. It was tasty and very filling.

I've decided to count calories and the total for today is about 900. Doesn't seem like a lot for two very filling meals. Golo says their plan is 1300-1500 a day. I just can't eat anymore today. I do need to drink some more water tonight and I'm thinking about making a cup of herbal tea, I have a ginger tea that I really like.

I still have a couple or so things I forgot at the grocery store the other day. DH has to go to the VA tomorrow and said I didn't need to go with him. I might do a walmart pick up tomorrow, I'd be hesitant to actually go in the store by myself. Although I'm feeling pretty good. A friend was telling me about an olive oil infused with garlic, but I'm having a hard time finding it.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Nothing "prepping" going on here today. It rained all night, so no outside work. It's cloudy out, still, and looks like more rain today.

Those bacon wrapped chicken breasts turned out great last night. Cary even commented on them being so good. We had plenty breasts left for supper, tonight. I'll make some scalloped potatoes for him to go with the leftover breasts. For myself, I've got frozen broccoli with cheese sauce in the freezer that I can microwave. I buy those steamable veggies that you nuke in the microwave a lot. They are so handy to have on hand.

I had some ironing to do this morning, so that's done. I also made another cake for the freezer. When Cary gets ready for another cake, I'll just pull it out, thaw, and frost it. Works great. Mom taught me to do this years ago. Sometimes, she has up to 5 cakes and pies made and in her freezer at a time. He loves his sweets/desserts. Of course, he never has to worry about weight gain! I keep a good stock of cake and cookie mixes just for him.

I still haven't done my canning. The meat is still in the freezer. I'll get around to it when I get in the mood to do it.

 

[nomifyle]

I baked a sheet cake back in the mid 80's and didn't know it had to be cooled before icing. It was a mess, although they ate it anyway. I never tried again. I do have a recipe for cobbler without a mix, I think I'll either do that or bake DH a pie today while he is at the VA.

I had forgotten just how much I like red onions. I put some thin slices in my church salad and again in my lunch salad yesterday. I had some of that onion left over in the freezer so I sliced it up for my first meal. I sauteed it in a tiny bit of olive oil along with a half a bag of zucchini blend and added some Spike seasoning. Then I dropped two eggs on top and stirred around. That and a slice of ezekiel bread with some avacado on it was my first meal. I'm full as a tick. I knew there was something else I wanted to toss in the skillet, tomato, well next meal.

I just looked at the price of the frozen zucchini blend at walmart, 1.94 for 10 ounces. That's enough for two meals, egads. Looks like we will be trying to grow some of our own, both yellow squash and zucchini. We've had poor luck with them in the past.

 

[kyrsyan]

Spent this morning doing the grocery run. The freezers are too full again. I have to get a mental grip on how much space I have in them. I had cleared what I thought was enough space. I think some things are going to have to go through the dehydrator or the canner.

AT&T has not yet fixed the frag they created with my decades old email account. The screwed up the primary account, which is my Dad's, which led him to discover that they had removed all the security questions and contact info for his account. So he fixed that for him. And then told my Mom and brother to check and make sure theirs hadn't been deleted either. I just spent 2 hours getting more important accounts switched over to my other email address. What a headache.

Otherwise - working.

This weekend? Get food put away. Mow the lawn. Get the pool connected. Generally deal with early spring stuff. I'm hoping I can move the vegetables outside tomorrow morning and leave them outside.

Been aggravating friend. This is a normal pass time. He's finally realized that his girlfriend and I both care enough to try to get him to eat better. He's been fighting this tooth and nail because he's not used to people helping him. Note, he doesn't have a problem with eating healthier. He has a problem accepting that people care enough about him to take care of him. He is slowly starting to accept that it is going to happen. And it's freed up some of his normal food budget so that he's starting to look at and buy healthier microwave meals. Because yes, he insists that they have to be microwave meals. And he just conceded that he will go with one skillet meals as well. I think the current argument lull is because it stunned him when I told him that we were already planning to start making extras of our meals and freezing them for him. But that is going to take a bit longer to get up and running. I have the containers now. And he's agreed to save the steam containers from some of his purchased meals. Those will be helpful for some of the meals that will actually reheat better if somewhat steamed.

I'm doing this because I know him. If he starts to run short of money, he buys yuck foods that make his body act up. And make him grouchy. And he has been known to just not eat if he doesn't have the money. And with the current price increases, he didn't increase his food budget. He just started buying the $1.25 microwave meals instead. Or ramen. Or eating the pile of MREs that someone gave him. And whether he wants to admit it or not, he's tight on money because his job has been cutting hours. So I'm filling his freezer and pantry, a little at a time.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We've decided to put our gardens out in the morning rain or shine. Cary said he would dig holes in the mud if he has to. I may be wearing a coat while doing it, too. Hopefully, we'll get enough of a break in the rain to get it done, but we'll do it in the rain if we have to. All this rain is getting very old......

We've got a lot of important dates coming over the next 2 weeks. Out and about more than what we're used to. Monday is shopping day. Wednesday, May 3rd, I have a doctor's appointment, and we plan to pay for our new vehicle, so it will be ours when it arrives. May 9th, I have a dental appointment to check to make sure my surgery went well. May 10th, we pick up our new vehicle, fingers crossed on that. May 13th, we travel to Florence, AL to pick up Mom from her sister's house. Then, May 23rd I have to take Mom to her doctor's appointment. All of that, plus trying to go into small town to shop on the days we don't have somewhere else to be. It's all making my head spin trying to remember "where" on "what day".

Even with the Losartan, my BP is running high, and I have no idea what my PC doctor will say about that and the peripheral artery disease I have recently been diagnosed with when I see him, Wednesday. More appointments will be scheduled, I'm sure, with more specialists.

 

[Toosh]

I've decided to count calories and the total for today is about 900. Doesn't seem like a lot for two very filling meals. Golo says their plan is 1300-1500 a day. I just can't eat anymore today.

What exactly is golo and is it working for you? I've seen it advertised.

 

[nomifyle]

Golo is a diet plan using only natural unprocessed foods and they have a pill they say is for your metabalism. The food is great, my preferred way of eating. I've lost a few pounds but I don't expect to lose fast, which is fine. I'm eating very healthy. You can do some research on line.

They suggest that you don't have to count calories, I'm just doing it out of curiosity.

I'm 76 and don't have diabetes or high blood pressure or any autoimmune issues.

 

[kyrsyan]

An hour and a half to get half the lawn done. Ugh. I'll do the balance tomorrow. I'm wiping out. I think I'm going to actually grab some caffeine to boost me. Something I don't normally do but I just have too much to catch up on this weekend.

And boss is on vacation next week, so that's a toss up as to how much insanity will occur. One of our trouble makers decided to go overboard on Friday, trying to create problems. It backfired when I proved that the only problem was because she had incorrectly reported someone's hours. Oops. She's already not looking good to her boss. That stunt made her look worse because all the information that she was claiming was wrong was correct, except for her mistake. Oh, and she waited until the very last minute to "report the error". I guess she was hoping to cause the boss to have to stay late and stress out.

And this particular troublemaker is why I am way over hours this week. I had to spend hours hunting her mistakes and fixing them. Payroll mistakes. Not my area at all but I seem to have to golden touch with tech support at the moment.

Boss has already warned her that I will only respond to her emails once a day. Period. And boss did not give this woman my phone number. (Wise woman) Her other clients have both my email and phone number in case they need it.

So I have piles of laundry and dishes to get a handle on. And food to breakdown into smaller sized containers for the freezer. And then the rest of the groceries to get put away. But geez, the body really wants a nap.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Praise God and Hallelujah! We got our whole garden out this morning without any rain! Part of the big garden was still too wet to till, so we didn't get that part planted. That's where my green beans are going, once it dries up enough to be tilled. Cary started even more tomato, banana pepper, and watermelon seeds in his mini greenhouse after we finished with the gardens. I also set out marigold plants in the raised beds with the tomatoes. I cut the babies off the walking onions and planted another row of them. Lots of loose rich soil to work with, after all the composting we've done to the raised beds. So, we now have 20 tomatoes and one cherry tomato, 8 green bell peppers, a row of cucumbers, a long raised bed of yellow summer squash, 2 rows of walking onions, and a long fence row of knee high garlic, plus all the seeds Cary started, today, along with the green beans that have yet to be planted. All of this should be enough to keep me busy all summer.

Forecast is for rain this afternoon, and I'm not going to complain. Everything needs a good watering in now. I may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning, cause my back is already screaming at me, LOL. It's good to finally get it all done, and we are thankful.

 

[nomifyle]

Yesterday I went out to the camper porch/summer kitchen to get some frozen vegetables to bring in and the I noticed the door to the upright freezer was open about 4 inches. Of course this freeked me out. I check the food and only a few things were soft, the door would not stay closed so I pushed some heavy things in front of the door to keep it shut.

DH got home from the VA shortly after that so we both went out there to check it out. The door would stay shut at that point. This freezer had all the wild game that DH had processed in the last few months. It was all still very cold so I pulled it out and put it in another freezer. Some things at the front that were soft we tossed. Just checked on it a few minutes ago and it was fine and all was frozen solid. I'm not afraid of the meat as I have put things from the grocery store in the freezer that was partially frozen and it was all fine. In the next few days I'm going to cook all that meat and either vacuum seal it again and freeze it. And I may consider canning it (probably not) or I may dehydrate it. I've dehydrated meat in the past and its been fine, just never in so much bulk. It has to be cooked to dehydrate anyway.

I'm not at all hungry today, just could not face having a meal, so I had some plain cottage cheese and it actually was not bad that way. I've never been much of a cottage cheese eater though. I did take a golo pill after I ate the cottage cheese..

I did take some frozen vegs out for a meal, but at 2:30 I still don't want anything to eat. Just drinking water and maybe another cup of coffee.

One thing that I've eaten this week has been the chicken we cooked a day or so ago that I really don't care for. We are not big chicken eaters, except fried and I can stay away from that. I don't fry chicken, ever.

I did get a pie baked for DH yesterday and he was greatful and enjoyed it.

 

[ginnie6]

Did my grocery run yesterday...didn't need a lot of stuff thankfully. Our big thing this coming week will be home repair. Our hvac died last night. Dh went to turn the ac on since it wanted to be summer yesterday and it made a loud noise and cut off. We went out with a flashlight and found that the blade on the top apparently warped and hit the side. He's got it torn apart and will have to call Monday and order a new blade. He rebuilds turbines for a living so as long as the freon is good and nothing leaking he should be able to fix it. Good thing today feels like a cool fall day lol. Spring in the South....you need flipflops one day and warm boots the next!
The new chicks are doing well and as long as we can keep Rufus and the cat away from them we'll be swimming in eggs when they start laying. Right now they're just too "squeaky" to trust him around them.

 

[nomifyle]

We have to replace our central a/c unit, its going to put a huge dent in our savings. There was a time I think DH could have repaired it but he's almost 80 and some things have gotten more difficult for him.

 

[kyrsyan]

Need to get a new mower blade. Hit a hidden large tree limb. Just thankful that it didn't bend the shaft. It didn't bend the blade either but it's time. And then I'll get the old blade sharpened.

New anchors for sun sail in. And brother went home with a dehydrator and a pasta maker. His girlfriend was in heaven. Oh, and two dozen eggs, six of which were duck eggs.

He is going to get a pickup bed load of soil and bring it up to fill in the area washing out from the change in the drainage pattern. And he's willing to help girlfriend grow the hot pepper plants that I bought him. This is a first. Normally I grow them and make him outrageous things with them. But she wants to learn and is apparently putting some real effort into things this time.

She made the "coming to your house if apocalypse" comment. My reply was "only if you're willing to work". Brother laughed. He knows I mean it.

We ended up having a discussion about my one error that ended up with him having some dangerously hot Everclear. I told him about the idea of using it for so defense spray or to fill paint balls. He thinks that it would definitely work. And be very effective. Apparently just opening the jar is enough to clear someone's sinus and burn the pathways.

I don't know how long open communication will last with my brother. It's one of those things that comes and goes. But fingers crossed for it lasting for a while. I miss him but he keeps drifting.

 

[kyrsyan]

We have to replace our central a/c unit, its going to put a huge dent in our savings. There was a time I think DH could have repaired it but he's almost 80 and some things have gotten more difficult for him.

You should check with your utility company. When we had to do it, they had a program which covered the replacement, with a 10 year parts and labor warranty, for $100/mo. You do have to pay for the yearly maintenance but it has already proven its value.

 

[etdeb]

Yesterday I went out to the camper porch/summer kitchen to get some frozen vegetables to bring in and the I noticed the door to the upright freezer was open about 4 inches. Of course this freeked me out. I check the food and only a few things were soft, the door would not stay closed so I pushed some heavy things in front of the door to keep it shut.

DH got home from the VA shortly after that so we both went out there to check it out. The door would stay shut at that point. This freezer had all the wild game that DH had processed in the last few months. It was all still very cold so I pulled it out and put it in another freezer. Some things at the front that were soft we tossed. Just checked on it a few minutes ago and it was fine and all was frozen solid. I'm not afraid of the meat as I have put things from the grocery store in the freezer that was partially frozen and it was all fine. In the next few days I'm going to cook all that meat and either vacuum seal it again and freeze it. And I may consider canning it (probably not) or I may dehydrate it. I've dehydrated meat in the past and its been fine, just never in so much bulk. It has to be cooked to dehydrate anyway.

I'm not at all hungry today, just could not face having a meal, so I had some plain cottage cheese and it actually was not bad that way. I've never been much of a cottage cheese eater though. I did take a golo pill after I ate the cottage cheese..

I did take some frozen vegs out for a meal, but at 2:30 I still don't want anything to eat. Just drinking water and maybe another cup of coffee.

One thing that I've eaten this week has been the chicken we cooked a day or so ago that I really don't care for. We are not big chicken eaters, except fried and I can stay away from that. I don't fry chicken, ever.

I did get a pie baked for DH yesterday and he was greatful and enjoyed it.

I have bungee cirda around every upright freezer. Only took one loss fir me to learn my leason. The new ones stay locked.

 

[nomifyle]

You should check with your utility company. When we had to do it, they had a program which covered the replacement, with a 10 year parts and labor warranty, for $100/mo. You do have to pay for the yearly maintenance but it has already proven its value.

The a/c unit is mostly original to our late 80's mobile home. We have been surprised its has lasted this long. We bought it 9 years ago.

I have bungee cirda around every upright freezer. Only took one loss fir me to learn my leason. The new ones stay locked

Dh has it strapped together, no more taking a chance.