I did something for the first time in 31 years yesterday. In light of the big changes coming up in my life, I mentioned that Dear Hubby and I would be tightening our belts a bit, sticking to a strict budget (until we figure out exactly how one income is really going to feel), and simplifying things. I also told you about our mail organization - every item on a daily basis either goes in the "To File" container, the "To Pay" container, or in the recycle. So in the mail yesterday came the usual - a couple of important things, but mostly junk... including all the various sale papers for local grocery stores. Did you catch that? I called them junk! And for 31 years, that's how I've treated them. But yesterday I felt differently.
I perused the sale papers.
So for the first time in 31 years, I actually looked through the sale papers. Then I took it a step further and got out a Sharpie and circled the items I wanted to buy.Shocking, I know. I was surprised I'd never done it before. All of a sudden it made so much sense to plan meals and buy what was on sale rather than just whatever I felt like as I walked through the store! Red peppers - 33 cents each?!? Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries - 1 dollar?!? Organic Chicken - 40% off?!?! YES!!!
Waste not!
I also feel I can save some money by not wasting as much food: eating leftovers for lunches more, repurposing leftovers into new meals, being more creative, etc. Which brings me to today's recipe...for Watermelon Bacon Salad. I realize you probably just took a double take (or did when you read the blogpost title). The same thing happened to me when I saw the recipe on my friend Gina's blog! Say what?!?! Watermelon and BACON?
After the initial shock, I got excited!! Because I had a huge watermelon still sitting in my butler pantry, a few pieces of bacon leftover from Dear Hubby's Fathers' Day brunch, and some strawberries leftover from the Strawberry Pesto Grilled Cheese I made earlier in the week! Cha-ching!! What a perfect way to not waste these leftover ingredients.
I am extremely happy with how it turned out. Again, a seemingly strange combo, but delicious!! I served mine with corn on the cob and bbq chicken. All the flavors really complemented each other nicely. And my mouth may have been extra happy when a little bit of the bbq sauce on the fork mixed with the watermelon bacon salad (kind of like getting syrup on your scrambled eggs...yum!!).
You can find the recipe here. Oh, and you can see Gina's pretty turquoise photo board that I love too :) The only "changes" I made were: I subbed balsamic vinegar for the red wine vinegar (which I had none of) and I left out the arugula (DH HATES it!). And I promise there's corn kernels in there somewhere. They must've all migrated to the bottom of the bowl though! Camera-shy I suppose.
As for my shopping trip, it was a grand success! I got soooooooooooo many things (meats and tons of fresh veggies/fruits included) for $46.25. I had a huge smile on my face while the cashier rung everything up! Great food, great prices. YES!!!!!
Questions:
What's the weirdest thing you've put bacon in/on?
Are you good at using leftover items and/or eating leftovers? Any good tricks?
I did something for the first time in 31 years yesterday. In light of the big changes coming up in my life, I mentioned that Dear Hubby and I would be tightening our belts a bit, sticking to a strict budget (until we figure out exactly how one income is really going to feel), and simplifying things. I also told you about our mail organization - every item on a daily basis either goes in the "To File" container, the "To Pay" container, or in the recycle. So in the mail yesterday came the usual - a couple of important things, but mostly junk... including all the various sale papers for local grocery stores. Did you catch that? I called them junk! And for 31 years, that's how I've treated them. But yesterday I felt differently.
I perused the sale papers.
So for the first time in 31 years, I actually looked through the sale papers. Then I took it a step further and got out a Sharpie and circled the items I wanted to buy. Shocking, I know. I was surprised I'd never done it before. All of a sudden it made so much sense to plan meals and buy what was on sale rather than just whatever I felt like as I walked through the store! Red peppers - 33 cents each?!? Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries - 1 dollar?!? Organic Chicken - 40% off?!?! YES!!!
Waste not!
I also feel I can save some money by not wasting as much food: eating leftovers for lunches more, repurposing leftovers into new meals, being more creative, etc. Which brings me to today's recipe...for Watermelon Bacon Salad. I realize you probably just took a double take (or did when you read the blogpost title). The same thing happened to me when I saw the recipe on my friend Gina's blog! Say what?!?! Watermelon and BACON?
After the initial shock, I got excited!! Because I had a huge watermelon still sitting in my butler pantry, a few pieces of bacon leftover from Dear Hubby's Fathers' Day brunch, and some strawberries leftover from the Strawberry Pesto Grilled Cheese I made earlier in the week! Cha-ching!! What a perfect way to not waste these leftover ingredients.
I am extremely happy with how it turned out. Again, a seemingly strange combo, but delicious!! I served mine with corn on the cob and bbq chicken. All the flavors really complemented each other nicely. And my mouth may have been extra happy when a little bit of the bbq sauce on the fork mixed with the watermelon bacon salad (kind of like getting syrup on your scrambled eggs...yum!!).
You can find the recipe here. Oh, and you can see Gina's pretty turquoise photo board that I love too :) The only "changes" I made were: I subbed balsamic vinegar for the red wine vinegar (which I had none of) and I left out the arugula (DH HATES it!). And I promise there's corn kernels in there somewhere. They must've all migrated to the bottom of the bowl though! Camera-shy I suppose.
As for my shopping trip, it was a grand success! I got soooooooooooo many things (meats and tons of fresh veggies/fruits included) for $46.25. I had a huge smile on my face while the cashier rung everything up! Great food, great prices. YES!!!!!
Questions: