Comfort food, things like lentils and rice, homemade chili, hot soup and fried cabbage with bacon and sausage filled our bowls this past week. With the sun going down around 4:20 these days, we seem to be eating dinner much earlier too. Sometimes as early as 3pm! How crazy is that? And the weather. Man oh man it’s been chilly around here.
Fried cabbage with bacon and sausage. Not the best picture, but it’s delicious.
Last minute soup. 1 can white beans drained, 2 chopped carrots, 1/2 cup frozen corn, about a cup of precooked leftover chicken from the freezer, 1 can of Rotel and about 4 cups of water. Simmer for an hour and voilà ! Dinner is served! 🙂
Another really super technical recipe: Fast chili. 1 pound taco seasoned hamburger meat {drained} 2 cans chili beans, 1 can Rotel, a little water and then all you do is simmer for about 15 minutes and you’re ready to serve. 🙂 A sleeve of Ritz crackers is a must. Easiest dinner ever if you ask me {the HH thought it was strange I added a spoonful of sour cream to my chili}.
Have you been to Shake Shack? We were in Boston last week and stopped for lunch. I think the burgers were good and I liked the size {you didn’t walk away feeling stuffed}. The shake and fries though, Five Guys has them beat in my opinion. Actually, I think I like the burgers from Five Guys a little better too because you can load them up with everything under the moon {I always add raw onions, relish, and extra tomato}. The only downside to a Five Guys burger is the size… even the baby burger is huge. But they’re so gooooood!
Market Basket $43.41
The HH went to Market Basket by himself with instructions to buy 6 pounds of tart apples and 4 pounds of sugar and this is what he came home with. He and The Girl have been experimenting with different brands of almond milk {gag} and so far they like the ones that are flavored with vanilla. Are there any almond milk drinkers out there? Do you have a favorite brand?
And last but not least…. Last night we attended a neighborhood cookie party up the road and it was lovely. The house was filled with peeps ranging from 4 months old to neighbors in their 70’s and I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t think we could have picked a better neighborhood to live in if we had tried. Everyone is so normal, and kind, and welcoming and it feels like such a big extended family here I just love it.
I told the HH that we should have some sort of soup and bread party in February {apparently that’s when cabin fever begins to kick in around here} and he likes the idea of a get together but is slightly uneasy about it because we still need a few pieces of furniture and things on the walls.
I’m like…. PEOPLE DON’T CARE….. Did you have a good time last night? Were you looking at the things on their wall? You are being a dork. When I go over to someone’s house I’m there to hang out and have a good time. I highly doubt someone is going to notice we don’t have a coffee table in the sitting room or a proper tv stand yet.
Whateva. Husbands they can be funny like that sometimes.
And in case you were wondering, we ended up baking 2 batches of double chocolate biscotti to bring along to the cookie party {although I did hold a few slices back to munch on!}. If you are looking for a good biscotti recipe, this one is the delicious.
Are you planning on hosting any get-togethers this winter? Do you have any pro tips you want to share? We’d love to hear them. 😉
~Mavis
Total Spent in December $126.36 <– $83 on cheese
Total Spent in November $250.09 <– I blame it on the cheese and grapes!
Total Spent in October $218.57 <– Stocked up on cheese {Because cheese is life}
Total Spent in September $180.97
Total Spent in August $259.90 <– $30 on salami splurge in Boston
Total Spent in July $276.56 < – $38 Spent on Amish meat and cheese
Total Spent in June $206.47 <- Attempting once a month grocery shopping
Total Spent in May on Groceries $216.50 <- Included a stock up trip to King Arthur Flour
Total Spent in April on Groceries $169.98
Total Spent in March on Groceries $306.75 <– Apartment life, moving across the country and settling into a new house
Total Spent in February on Groceries $259.81 <- Living in an apartment and buying a lot of ready-made meals
Total Spent in January on Groceries $240.15 <– Packing mode and not cooking from scratch as much
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
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Barb says
I go with Blue Diamond or Simple Truth (Fred Meyer brand) unsweetened or unsweetened vanilla almond milk. I use it every day in my breakfast protein drink. If I’m cooking something that needs a little milk, I’ll use the unsweetened. I tried the unsweetened vanilla one time, and I really don’t know if I could taste the vanilla flavor, but since I knew it was there, I did.
Paula says
We like Califia Almond milk (in round bottle). It is the only one without sugar. We buy the unsweetened. We use it to make oatmeal. (We just found out we can’t do dairy). However, we like soy milk for coffee. We use the silk brand of soy.
Beth says
This one is my favorite too, I like Califia unsweetened vanilla- I think it’s so much better than the almond breeze but I will say my son loves the Silk chocolate almond milk better than regular chocolate milk – I was shocked!!
Kari says
I prefer Silk unsweetened or Califa Farms. I use it on my granola, in my coffee, and in some smoothies.
Kristina says
Homemade almond milk is also easy to make if you have a good blender. Have the party! People are always just happy to get together and thankful that someone is willing to host. You’ll be a great host, with all of your yummy recipes!
Wendy Clark says
Have the party! And I put sour cream and cheese on my chili every time. I love how it adds a little creaminess to it.
Rebecca in MD says
A dollop of sour cream on chili is perfectly normal.
You should definitely have the party. Your house is beautiful just the way it is.
Regarding tips for parties, I like to serve at least one dish (sometimes two) in a crock pot. It makes things easier, especially if you are having a lot of different dishes. A buffet set up is always easier.
Kim says
We like the Almond Milk from Aldi’s. I couldn’t make it there one time and bought the expensive stuff (I think Silk’s) and my son wouldn’t drink his smoothie because of the taste difference (I agreed, but drank my smoothie). I mostly use it with smoothies and baked oatmeal.
Lynn Y says
I also buy the almond milk from Aldi’s. However, take notice that they offer it in various forms: Unsweetened, sweetened, vanilla, and no vanilla. I usually buy a combination of vanilla and no vanilla, but I never buy the sweetened … too many carbs per serving for me.
The popularity of almond milk is one of the reasons that traveling beekeepers are in high demand in California.
Magen says
Sometimes I HAVE to have a spoon of sour cream in my chili, especially when the spicy level is higher than I can tolerate (I’m a wimp).
Tammy says
Try throwing some perogies in when you make your bacon sausage cabbage dish.
Cookie party sounds great and I love the soup and bread idea.
Sour cream and chili is excellent.
No one is going to notice on the furniture or maybe if when you have it yountil can post whathe your looking for and maybe a neighbor is selling just what you need.
Brenda says
It is amazing how much she gets done..send her a pierogi recipe and I bet she will be a perfect pincher!
Helen in Idaho says
Try Smash Burger smash fries. They use rosemary, garlic and olive oil on their fries. And, we love their burgers there too. Five Guys use Idaho potato product, so that is good, but their fries were just OK.
Christine says
If you are looking to find another great hamburger, “Wahlburgers” in Hingham, Massachusetts, was fabulous! The onion straws were unique and amazing, and the staff was super friendly.
Glenda says
The only almond milk that I use is Califia Farms unsweetened in the refrigerated section. I do think they have a vanilla flavored, also. It is carrageenan free and has a wonderful taste.
Michele Palmer says
I too buy the Califa Farms Unsweetened almond milk. It is the best option with the least amount of added junk. I make cocoa with it mixed with canned coconut milk and melted dark & semi-sweet chocolate. YUM!
Michèle Crawford says
Ohhhhh YES! SILK Almond Unsweetened Vanilla is the bomb dignity, as someone I know is fond of saying. YUMMM!
Gail says
Regarding a soup party: How many different soup in crock pots would you have for 40 people? We’re hoping to do it in February also.
Mel says
I don’t know what Mavis has planned, but it depends partially on what else you have. An oven full of baked potatoes, for example, or a griddle full of grilled cheese. But I’d think that 4 Crock-Pots and two more large-ish pots on the stove would probably do it. If some soups are extra dense (like a beef stew) you could probably scale back a bit, especially if serving with something like mashed potatoes. I did a smaller scale soup party, so these were the factors I considered.
Ronda says
We did a fill your freezer soup party. Everyone brought 5 quarts of soup and we swapped so we would have all kinds in our freezer for the winter. Served some chili and baked potatoes and everyone had a good time and went home with some soup.
Michèle Crawford says
Mavis! The best book ever with all the “pro tips” for giving a soup party is SOUP NIGHT by Maggie Stuckey. It all started in a neighborhood in Portland, Oregon! Fantastic book.
Michèle Crawford says
I swoon over SILK Almond Unsweetened Vanilla. It’s so creamy…and SILKY!!
SAAK says
Costco’s almond milk is good and a great price too!
Elise in the SF Bay Area says
AMEN sister!!! We’ve been in our house 11 years, and have only had one open-house party, our house-warming 11 years ago!!! “We don’t have enough room” “Our table isn’t big enough” “we don’t have enough chairs”!!! 11 years… So this summer I uni-laterally decided we were going to have a party! I just started telling people in September that if they were going to be around the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to plan on coming to our house for a party. That was a specific date that people weren’t going to forget!!! So we were committed 🙂
We had 46 people in our 1400 sq ft house (really just 800 sq ft because only the teenagers were in the bedrooms), it was a little dark and chilly to use the back yard much, but EVERYBODY had a great time! My husband is an AMAZING cook, so some people who were just going to drop in and eat later stayed FOR THE FOOD 🙂 It was just fantastic. Plastic plates (hubby was told paper (compostable), but came home with plastic), plastic cups, but nobody cared. We’ll get washable ones some time soon, because we will be having another party in less than 11 years!!! (we need one for just neighbors, this was families that we’re friends with from schools, mostly) If not now WHEN!?!?! (that’s literally what I named our party!)
Cindy says
I like Full Circle market almond milk best, and go out of my way to the store that carries it. My hubs prefers cashew milk. He says it’s creamier. Silk is the only brand I’ve ever found, and of course it’s more expensive than almond milk. Husbands!
Whateva. 😉
Helen in Meridian says
I just read on another site that Aldi’s has spiral hams for .95#. We don’t have Aldis here in Idaho, but thought you could want to get on at that price.
Helen in Meridian says
My typing looks like I have been drinking. I like your pretty china you used this week.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Helen, Aldi’s is on our list for this week. 🙂
Lissa says
My favorite almond milk is YOUR recipe. I think it was from a make-up artist.
Mavis Butterfield says
Oh that’s right!!!! The lady from CNN. https://www.stage.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/recipe-how-to-make-almond-milk/
BeckyM says
I’ve been drinking almond milk for 7 years now and my favorite is Aldi’s store brand, unsweetened, Vanilla.
Marybeth says
I drink cow milk but my kids like the Aldi almond milk.
D in Moneta says
Mavis,if you haven’t tried it, Silk makes a dark chocolate almond milk that is amazing!
Deborah says
So, sour cream is kind of it’s own food group at my house, we put it on and in a lot of things, but the first time I saw anyone put it in their chili was at a friend’s ‘soup and sandwich’ party. BTW, she pulled some furniture to open up space so maybe, Mavis, your just ahead of the game.
Chili, itself, can become an event at my house. We always do shredded cheddar and saltines, sister and her fam like it with rice, son in law and his fam add corn chips and grand babies like it over mac and cheese. Oh and DH had to have a peanut butter sandwich on the side (they served them together in the school cafeteria?).
Laura says
Funny, for my family growing up, we did saltines with peanut butter. I prefer cornbread, but my dad still does the saltine sandwiches. Something about the peanut butter?
Loralee from New Mexico says
Hi Mavis! I noticed that you like to use Rotel in your recipes. How about canning your own!
Stacey says
Every winter (February/March) we have a soup exchange. Everyone makes their favorite soup and brings enough for everyone else to take home a mason quart or pint jar. Just enough to share. Some people also bring home made bread and muffins to share. We started this when I was in college in the Adirondacks. And now I live in Ohio and we still do it every year.
Gail says
Stacy, Do you have a soup meal when you get together, or just share to take home?
Blair says
Ok dumb question but what comprises a soup and bread party?
Mavis Butterfield says
Crock Pots filled with assorted soups…. and rolls, breads and crackers. 🙂 In the middle of winter, they can be fun. But really, it’s just an excuse to together.
Michelle says
I know I’m a little late but here’s my input. My favorite milk is the almond coconut blend. We aren’t picky on brands ( unless it’s Albertsons unsweetened vanilla. It’s the only one I’ve taken back) If you are going to drink it by itself, it has to be unsweetened vanilla for us. With four of us drinking it, we drink whatever is on sale. Keep searching. It takes awhile to get used to.