Recalculating

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Today's thinking is that I might be able to eat out a bit more than I previously thought.  Certainly nothing like I have been doing, but more than once a week.  The idea is that I really can keep my other meal expenses in check which would allow me to go out to lunch a couple times a week.  I know I can't kick that habit completely - it's social, not just food.  But there is no reason whatsoever for me to drive through for breakfast or (except on the rarest of occasions) dinner.  If I can keep my grocery bill under $40, that would leave $35 a week for eating out, which would be at least 3 meals, 4 or 5 if I'm super thrifty.  Dunno if it will work - it may be that weeks where I restock meat and eggs that I have to cut back, but it is nice to know that it is a possibility anyway!  On track so far this week.

Breakfast:  2 slices Kraft Big Slice sharp cheddar.  Coffee

Slept a little later this morning after staying up too late again.  It wasn't quite as egregious, but I still figured after how I felt yesterday I should get a bit more.  Didn't cook anything for unrelated personal reasons, just cheese was fine.

Lunch:  3 egg omelet with bacon, cream cheese, avocado, onion;  2 slices sourdough toast, coffee

My favorite omelet.  I really need to ask if they use butter or margarine on the toast, I suspect it is the latter because it seems ... oily.  I wonder if they'd change it for me.

Dinner:  More of the homemade stew, 2 garlic cheese biscuits

I think I like stew even better than soup.  Maybe.

So very tasty and just exactly what I wanted.  If I can do this -- make something that I anticipate even before getting home, that's not too hard, that tastes delicious -- I'll eat at home instead of getting a pizza.

Drop biscuits are just ridiculously easy and these were the best yet.  To make two (2) biscuits, I just stir 1/2 cup self-rising flour (or the equivalent made from flour/baking powder/salt), a pinch sugar, a shake of extra salt, a sprinkle of garlic powder (yeah, real garlic would be good, I'm going for fast) with a fork in a large bowl.  In a microwavable bowl, mostly melt 2 tablespoons butter.  Let it sit for a moment, stir it up with your fork just a bit then add 1/4 C buttermilk and stir it.  The butter will probably clump up some but don't sweat it if not much.  Add the butter mixture to the dry stuff, gently stir it together with a rubber spatula until just combined.  Add some shredded cheese (I used colby jack today because it was what I had, cheddar is great), up to 1/2 C or so.  Gently stir it in.  Spoon (or use spatula/fork) out into two piles on a piece of parchment paper (greasing might work too) on a cookie sheet.  Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Exercise:  Nothing official.  As I mentioned, I slept in.  Then again I had to shovel out the end of the driveway from what the plow left me, and I overdid it.  Felt pretty terrible afterward.  I need to whip myself into better shape, my heart says so.

---