Food For Thought

Grocery shopping. It is not the easiest task with my three. It's a "two man job" because I can't push the cart (or buggy as we say in the South) and the double stroller, and there is really no way to secure the boys in the buggy and still have room for the groceries! I have thought about using a hip carrier for Ashton and fastening Anderson in the front seat of the buggy, but I don't know if that would work well or not.

Well, yesterday Grandma Joyce and I went shopping at ALDI. I love me some ALDI! You can save so much money shopping there. And I get in and out so quickly; I don't get "sucked in to the vortex" the way I seem to at Wal-Mart. Maybe it is because they don't have an abundance of brands competing for your attention? I'm not a "brand-aholic". There are a few things that I prefer to have name-brand. Heinz ketchup, Diet Caffiene-free Coke, Dunkin Donuts decaf coffee, Colgate toothpaste, and my various hair and beauty products; pretty much everything else I buy the cheapest I can find! And ALDI is pretty doggone cheap!

Anyway, I bought our basic breakfast and lunch items, plus everything I need for dinner for the next week or so. I am constantly trying to think of new things to cook for dinner. It seems like I always do the same ol', same old! The fall weather has inspired me to cook some new/old dishes that we haven't had in a while. Thought I'd share in case someone out there was thinking "What should I do for dinner?" like I often do. So, here's our upcoming meals, in no particular order:



Chili beans and Cornbread muffins

Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Spaghetti with Italian Sausage, Salad, Garlic Bread

Loaded Potato Soup and Salad

Baked Pork Chops, Rice and gravy, Green Beans

Vegetable soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Seasoned Fries

Chicken and Dumplings with Salad

(Did you notice that Green Beans and Salad are my usual vegetable side? My husband is a picky eater, hates most veggies. Those are the two he will eat. I do sneak some extra veggies in sometimes , like adding pureed carrots to my spaghetti sauce. Anyone got anymore sneaky recipe ideas?)

Another thing I plan to make this week is Apple Crisp. We've got some leftover apples from our trip to the apple orchard, that if they don't get used soon will be completely inedible. Apple Crisp just has that great "fall taste" to it!

And my last food for thought...I think food occupies my thoughts far more than it should! I have been trying to eat better. I really want to lose some weight, but I am lacking in the self control department! I try to eat lean during the day and have a typical meal with the family at night. Having a picky husband, I can't cook "diet meals". Well, during the day I pick at the kids food too. If they don't finish their PB& J sandwich, I will. If there are a few goldfish crackers on the table, I won't let them go to waste. And then there are the fun treats we make or get that I know they'll enjoy...the pumpkin face cookies with icing, the jell-o jigglers with whipped cream and the soon-to-arrive Halloween candy, well, I share in the fun. I'm just going to have to get my "mind over matter" attitude when it comes to eating.

So, there is my food for thought. Random, I know.