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Monday, March 23, 2020

Food this week

I had planned a menu based on things I had on hand and had every intention of staying away from the grocery store.  But as usual my intentions and actions seem to play against each other. Mom's sitters would tell me something critical Mom needed every single time I was at her house. The pad I have on her kitchen table long with a pen for keeping an ongoing list is virtually ignored and instead I receive texts asking for 1 or 2 things daily. I have her stocked up on groceries, for now, as well as non food supplies she requires and though I am timing any grocery visits to the hours when fewer people are there, I am still having to go much more often than I would have to for just me.  Anyway when I was shopping for her, I did pick up a few things we could use too, so my menu changed based on that and also on a few things I found when I was inventorying  my upright freezer.

  What was planned:
1. Stuffed bell pepper, caulitato salad toasted bread (keto or regular) keto strawberry pound cake with whipped cream
2. Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes  and carrots (or no potatoes and carrots) keto chocolate mint truffles
3. Crustless ham frittata, tossed salad, brussels sprouts, keto coconut flour cookies
4. Chicken something or the other with mashed potatoes or caulimash, carrots, sliced tomatoes, crustless coconut pie
5. BLT on real bread or chaffles , tossed salad
6. Chili (probably the last for the year. Not what I really want but it is extremely portable) keto cornbread, coleslaw
7. Sausages with kraut and potatoes (or not) green beans.

What really happened:
Monday: I began cleaning out the freezer one shelf at a time. I found some chicken that had been frozen for a bit and needed to be cooked, so I thawed it and it became the main event for dinner.
Oven BBQ chicken, caulitato salad, leftover asparagus,  toast or keto cornbread

Tuesday:  Well I suppose it was a happen enough St Patrick's Day with no fanfare at all. Fortunately I had bought 3 corned beef briskets when Aldi had them on sale so all I really had to do was take one out of the freezer in time to thaw. As cabbage is a mainstay here and so are potatoes, throwing a St.Paddy's meal together was non big deal. We did make it somewhat festive by eating in the dining room by candlelight. 
Corned beef, cabbage and potatoes (or none)  forgot to make the keto truffle (oh well)
Wednesday: I have no idea what happened Wednesday, except for my usual morning at Mom's, followed by more work in the freezer. I did find a zip lock bag of chopped ham I didn't know I had, so I used it rather than the sliced ham I had frozen and knew about. 
Frittata with cheese, ham and asparagus, tossed salad

Thursday: One of the last days prior to everyone knowing we were going to have to self isolate, my local Publix had a vendor offering bites of turkey and sausage. I don't even remember the brand, but it was tasty so I bought the polish sausage and bacon. then when the panic buying started and the canned foods aisle was wiped out except for turnip greens and kraut I bought a couple of cans of both. (yep, we are southern and I can gussie the turnip greens up so they are tasty, and kraut, well it's kraut and we eat it)
Polish sausage with kraut, green beans, sliced tomatoes.

Friday: TheHub stopped by the grocery store on his way home from work. He works in the Health Care industry and he is considered essential. Anyway, there is no chicken to be found in the meat department, but Publix was roasting chickens. He brought one home, I guess it is our solution to our usual Friday night restaurant meal.
Grocery store rotisserie chicken, tossed salad

Saturday: While I was cleaning and inventorying the freezer I found a big ham bone so I made a big pot of ham broth and chopped all the meaty bits into pieces. I added an onion, some cauliflower and a bag of Trader Joes cruciferous mix (it was about to ruin) and called it soup. I intended to freeze it in individual serving sizes but TheHub said it sounded fine for dinner. Sold!!!
Ham and veggie soup, garlic bread or none.

Sunday:  I had planned on Sunday being a non-keto day, and had planned on grilling out hamburgers, but the morning was rainy so I never took the patties out to thaw. Then the day because gorgeous and would have been perfect for grilling after all. Oh well, they will stay frozen until another day.
I had cleaned out all of my baking supplies earlier in the week and knew I had a half bag of chocolate chips. Non- keto day+opened chocolate chips meant only one thing__cookies!
Grilled cheese sandwiches with pickles, chocolate chip cookies

Because I have an accurate count of what is available to eat and what needs to be used first, I have a baseline for what we will have for dinners during the week, but the actual dinner may change with my mood.
1. Keto Turkey casserole, tossed salad, garlic toast or none
2. Hamburgers, tater tots (or none), coleslaw
3. Mac and cheese or keto "Mac" and cheese, turnip greens, keto cornbread
4. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes  or cauliflower mash, brussels sprouts, sliced tomatoes
5.  Soup, salad and rolls 0r keto rolls.
6. "Out to eat" take out from a locally owned restaurant
7. " Out to eat" take out from a locally owned restaurant

I do not need to go to the restaurants, but I feel morally obligated to buy things from some of the local places to hopefully sustain them during this time. I am afraid so many small businesses will not be able to recover from this. I wonder of Cookie Fix and Pastry Arts are doing take out?!?!?!

28 comments:

  1. I love your detailed plans - even if they don't come to fruition.
    We have most things that we need, but will go out later today to try and track down some fresh fruit and vegies.
    Stay well.
    We are slow to the party on the self isolation front. Some businesses have been ordered to shut (pubs, clubs, restaurants) but most are open. For the moment.

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    1. I am not sure how long I am going to be able to find enough fresh produce. Right now it is pouring down here (but it will help with the pollen) but when it quits later this week I can get some beds ready to plant veggies.

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  2. That's a bit worrying that you have to go shopping as often for things needed for your mother. I hope you manage to get everything that is needed and still stay safe and healthy. Your menu plans sound good. I am having a hard time deciding what I want to eat!

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    1. It is certainly not what I want to do and I do take precautions when and where I can, but I understand every time I am out I am at risk.

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  3. Well, I suppose I had better suck it up and go get a cookie from Cookie Fix. Where is Pastry Arts? I will be glad when this rain ends.

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    1. Pastry Arts is in downtown Homewood. I need the rain for some pollen relief.

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  4. I too have to go out today to the pharmacy - I have placed an online order for groceries for Mom and us - but first pickup slot was Thursday. I will do this once every week to 10 days. Fortunately we can add/edit it right up until the pickup date. They won't put pharmacy type things in though so no option. Mom ran out of distilled water to clean her cpap machine so that is my mission plus flonase for hubby as we realized we were on the last one and allergy season is upon us. Hugs

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    1. I think I am going to start having a delivery to Mom's house to keep my sister and I form having to go to the store more than absolutely necessary.

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  5. We're cobbling together meals. I also have to pick up Sam's prescription this week, whenever his doctor finally calls it in. Who knows, maybe Rite Aid will have bags of flour? We are out, and I've tried to order online. I'll keep checking. My sweet neighbor offered me her bag, as she doesn't bake at all. I will bring her some homemade rolls as a thank you.

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    1. I have tons of food here and TheHub and I could eat for about 3 months. It would not necessarily be what we wanted but we could do it. I found an old bag of yeast in the freezer today so I pout some in warm sugar water and was surprised to find it is still active. I see rolls and French bread in the future.

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  6. We, also, found empty canned veggies shelves except for turnip greens at our local Food Lion. We were happy to get them as they are a staple here.

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    1. I prefer fresh turnip greens but have nothing against the canned ones.

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  7. I'm sorry your getting your system of having a ready list upended by the carers. I should only need to get milk through the week and maybe Saturday do a quick inventory of what we have, particularly fresh food, and see what can be replaced. Oddly, fresh fruit and vegetables have not been a problem, just pasta and toilet paper it seems.

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    1. Some stores here look like a bad post apocalyptic movie.

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  8. So sorry you are dealing with the list not being taken advantage of. I am trying not to go to the stores. I will send Bill out later this week to get milk and pop and ice cream. I resubscribe to Misfit Markets box for fresh veggies delivered to the door. I think that is supposed to get here tomorrow.

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    1. I had suspended my Misfit Market subscription until May but I might need to reconsider.

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  9. Tell the caregivers exactly what you have told us. They will have to understand that you cannot risk getting ill yourself. If you decide to order in for your mother (which I heartily agree with), then they need to help you by making the list you have already provided. Good luck.

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    1. I have their list for the week, bread and paper towels. I have both of them on hand so I am not going to the store tomorrow after all.

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  10. Isn't it sad that people are actually stripping stores! If everyone were reasonable we would all benefit. When I went out to the store last week the Fresh store (they only sell fresh stuff, hence the name) was fully stocked with fruit, veg, meat, cheese etc. The regular grocery store was a little light on some shelves but you could still get everything, including TP. I guess it'll be interesting to see if/what has changed this week. Times aren't easy but can you imagine how it must be where people aren't so prepared (or maybe can't be). Stay safe.

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    1. I feel so sorry for those who cannot prepare in advance

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  11. Our governor encouraged us to order food delivery from local restaurants, but I suspect some will go out of business.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I see a lot of restaurants closing their doors permanently too!

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  12. I really want to buy from some of my favourite cafes and other businesses I have frequented over the years but I just can't afford any extras right now. Its frustrating.

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  13. We're ordering pickups from restaurants just to give them business, too. SO afraid many small businesses won't be able to survive. :-(

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    1. My cousin has a restaurant and this is probably the end for her

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