One Hundred Dollars a Month

It pretty much felt like the HH and I snacked and nibbled our way through last week. With the weather being so hot and humid, popping something quick and easy into our mouths between working on projects {the chicken coop, and rug hooking} just seemed a lot eaiser than preparing a real meal. Some weeks are like that I guess.

I did manage to make Ritz Cracker chicken one night though….

And the HH made a batch of Rice Krispie treats… Or a half of a batch to be exact. 😉 If you’ve been reading this silly little blog of mine for a while now then you know my husband doesn’t really cook {with the exception of maybe, ONCE a year}.

For basically the last 25 years, he was busy working 70-80 hours a week. Which, in my book is pretty much the best excuse ever for not cooking, cleaning, shuttling kids around, running errands or performing any sort of household task other than setting rat traps, lifting heavy items, fixing the cars, and mowing the lawn.

Because you know, there are only so many hours in the day. Sure, there was the occasional small building project every 5 years or so, but for the most part of the last 25 years…. I’ve run the household. Cooking included.

Well, the HH recently retired from his job of 25 years, and is taking the summer off before he starts his new {work from home} job in the fall. Which is so AWESOME in so many ways. He’s growing a beard! Sleeping in. Building stuff. His phone isn’t ringing or pinging every 20 minutes. His stress level has gone from 100 to 10 {because you know, c’mon, I have a honey-do list about a mile long}. He’s happier. I’m happier. We are talking more, exploring more, EATING more and getting to live the life of a somewhat normal couple again. Something we haven’t done since our 20’s. It’s lovely.

Except when we try to cook {or shop} together.

Yada yada yada… what does this have to do with a pan of Rice Krispie treats?

It’s the end of the month… the pantry staples are running low… I was craving something sweet {and I was busy} so I asked the HH to make a pan of Rice Krispie treats… 3 ingredients… How hard can that be? Right?

HH: {halfway thru melting the butter in the pan} “Where is the other bag of marshmallows? The recipe says you need 2 bags of marshmallows and you only have one on the counter.” {Clearly, looking in the pantry for another bag is not an option, but shouting upstairs is.}

Mavis: {after walking downstairs and looking in the pantry} “Oh, I guess we only have one bag. Just cut the recipe in half.” {Duh!}

HH: BUT I’VE ALREADY STARTED!

Noticing that the butter was melting and my husband was looking around frantically as if the house was on fire and he didn’t know what to grab first, I quickly got took a spatula out of a drawer and scooped half the butter out of the pan and into a dish.

Mini cooking crises averted. Until the next one arose.

HH: “You need to come look at this… it’s ALL WRONG… THE PAN IS TOO BIG… LOOK AT THIS! It’s like you are setting me up for failure or something.”

I almost fell on the floor in hysterics.

Mavis: “Umm, here’s a thought. Smoosh all the Rice Krisipe treats to one side of the pan?”

Good grief. Re-entering the real world. The learning curve, it must be a steep one. Bahahahahahaaa! 😉

Random frozen pizza. Not a bad lunch when all you have to do is take off the wrapper and pop it on the oven.

And then their was the day trip to the camp my friend Heather from Massachusetts was staying at in Maine. Looking for a shotgun wedding package? Hussey’s General Store in Windsor, Maine has got you covered. And, they have chocolate Necco wafers in stock to boot!

Amish Charcuterie in Unity, Maine $38.50

While we were in town we also stopped by a small {and Amish owned} smoked meat shop. The owners {husband and wife} were gracious and offered free samples. I would have liked to stayed a little longer but we’ll be back in the fall so maybe I can linger a little longer then and glean a few recipes ideas.

• $7.50 a pound for smoked sausage {the jalapeno was our favorite}
• $12.00 a pound for extra sharp cheddar {the best I’ve ever tasted}
• $3.00 a pound for home grown organic green beans

It’s funny, when I’m in a grocery store, I’m always cautious about food prices. But I have absolutely zero problem paying the asking price for real, quality made food from the person who makes or grows it. Why is that?

Smoked sausage, it tastes great in a quiche.

And last but not least…. We tried out a new lobster shack with Heather and her husband. Gee… I wonder who ordered the chili fries. 😉

How about YOU? Did you buy anything exciting this week? Do tell.

~Mavis

Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.

Total Spent in July $276.56
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