Three Frugal Things -- Library Holds & Flying Cars
1) We hosted another "Family Dinner" with the kids, which I used as an opportunity to bake some potatoes that my husband picked up at Costco last week. (Or was it the week before?) I joke that my husband was an "army cook" in his past life, as that man is unable to cook or shop for less than twenty people.
So many potatoes in that bag!
Anyway, a perfect opportunity to assemble a baked potato buffet!
Potato + leftover black bean chili + grated Tillamook cheese + sour cream + scallions = frugal/healthy/delicious! Comfort food, baby. Comfort food.
Dessert was an apple crisp, made with both Fred Meyer $1.50 clearance shelf and urban windfall apples. The topping was nothing more than oatmeal with melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger and ground cloves. Not too sweet and we even had the merest hint of some vanilla ice cream in the freezer.
I'd guess that this entire meal set us back less than ten bucks. It was gluten-free, high fiber and 100% hit the spot. I sent my daughter home with two "baked potato kits," comprised of a baked potato, with sour cream, shredded cheese and a pat of butter on the side.
She's been strongly encouraged to bring back any and all leftover containers. Or else.
2) I snipped those scallions from my windowsill farm. Scallions in water are pretty much an infinite free food hack. These ones have been going strong for around three weeks.
3) I put three more books on hold based on some Instagram recommendations:
- The Bright Years, by Sarah Damoff
- Cleo Dang Would Rather be Dead, by Mai Nguyen
- Retro, by Jessica Goldstein
As you can see, it's a favor to my future self. Faaaaar into the future! Maybe I'll take my flying car to the library when it comes time to pick it my holds.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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1) I borrowed The Calamity Club on audiobook from the library. I’m really enjoying it but it’s a long book and it returns in a few days and I’m only at 70%. Frantically trying to get through it as the wait is so long, I’ll probably forget what was going on by the time I get to check it out again!
2) I also got a physical copy of our October book club read from the library, The Haunting of Hill House. I’ve barely started it (because of needing to finish Calamity club) but it’s good so far.
3) I had an eggplant from my produce box that looked like it wasn’t going to last much longer. I tried out a new recipe for an eggplant farro bowl. It was fine but needed something a little more so I made a vegan tzatziki sauce from some cashew yogurt that I already had. Delicious!
4) I made a vegan mushroom risotto in the instant pot for dinner last night that everyone enjoyed. It was so creamy for having no dairy in it, the starch from the rice certainly helped as did the miso paste.
5) I cooked a bag of dried garbanzo beans, I plan to make hummus with some of them and I put the rest in jars and froze them for some later use.
I am often on long wait lists like that, but it seems like there's always something coming in. I was surprised recently when The Great Mann became available in one day. It's a retelling of The Great Gatsby from a Black perspective, and I'm looking forward to reading it. However, I have two books to read first!
I went back to Goodwill today, having decided that two bras I saw yesterday were worth checking out again. I ended up buying them. At $6 apiece they are much cheaper than retail. And they are new, apparently donated by a store. I was taking a chance, because I didn't try them on, but they fit well enough and they will be fine.
The store was much quieter than it was yesterday so I was able to get a better view of what was on the shelves. I bought some gifts for a friend who likes thrifted items, and for myself I bought a Pyrex bowl, two little bottles I think I'll use to make vanilla, a Paula Deen griddle in great shape, a spring wreath, and a small tray that coordinates with larger trays I already have.
I also stopped in at the auto rebuilders and verified my appointment next week to get new carpeting.
I have turned off all electricity for the next few hours in order to get a credit on my bill. It's always small, but it's something.