ONE reason i hate grocrery shopping is because it is always cold. But only some places. So you either have to wear a sweat shirt and be HOT in the pasta aisle or shake in the meat department. #2 Is because I have sweet littles. Littles who I love dearly but drive me to lose my ever loving mind in a grocery store. "MOMMY CAN WE HAVE THESE AWESOME COOKIES? WHAT ABOUT THESE? I THINK THEY ARE GLUUUUTEN FREE." "MOMMY, SIS JUST JUMPED OUT OF THE CART WHILE YOU WERE READING LABELS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS." MOMMY, CAN I GET SOME COFFEE? MOMMY, SIS IS EATING THE AVACADO. AND ON, AND ON OF THIS MADNESS.
So you can only understand my delight when I realized both children would be at school for the first time tomorrow. Meaning MOM WOULD BE GROCERY SHOPPING ALONE for the first time in a long time BY HERSELF. Which also means I can't make the excuse that I ONLY can go to WHOLE FOODS and spend half of my mortgage there, because they help me take my bags outside and when I realize my kids have swiped the "organic" candy from the checkout line they never make me go back and pay for it. I'll spend the extra money for that reason right there. No judgement from these people. Well, they probably talk about me after we leave, but let them talk, just get me out of there in one piece. Everybody needs a little something to laugh about. I am happy we can provide that for someone. I can't imagine going more then one place with these crazies. So in my mind I had made my menu for the week, happy to share it, and happy to have a blissful shopping experience. I thought of how I would grab a coffee, a real hot one, that stays hot because I am able to drink without distractions. I would get some fresh cut daisies and make my way to the veggie aisle and maybe buy that cactus leaf that seems to always be calling my name in the weird veggie department. I am sure I can find a recipe to make with ALL my new free time. But then my dreams were shattered when my little joy Carter Mae started to get cranky the last couple of days. Like super cranky. Not just girl cranky, like when Holden asks why sister is so moody and crying for no reason. No, real cranky and whiney. The cranky and whiney every mom knows. The crank before the sick. So yes, brother is getting over his cold that he got from ONE day of school, yes ONE day. (Those grubby little kids) And now Carter Mae has fever and this ridiculous congestion. So much so that we actually face-timed our pediatrician at 10:30pm to make sure she could breathe. Yes, our pediatrician is better than yours. So my hopes and dreams of actually loving grocery shopping are crushed this week. My experience will probably not look anything like I imagined. It might actually look like we will be eating rice and beans, because that's all we got. (don't judge we were out of town) But here are the recipes I dreamed of making this week. Thanks to those who wrote theirs in the comments. I basically stole yours for this week! Please post more.
Tuesday: KATIE B'S CHILI (mondays are busy days and since I since the crockpot hates me this will work)
http://stupideasypaleo.com/resources/shopping-and-cooking-guides/
Wednesday: PASTA WITH BACON AND GARLIC (ADDING SHRIMP)
This is our go to super easy meal:
We use brown rice pasta. While pasta is boiling. I fry up some bacon, and throw about 3 cloves of minced garlic at the end in the skillet. After I drain pasta. I cut up bacon. Add bacon, garlic, and about a TBS or 2 or 3 of olive oil to pasta. Season with salt and pepper or Mortons natures seasoning. Mix everything together and there you have it. I am adding shrimp this week.
Thursday: ELYSE'S ROSEMARY/THYME CHICKEN AND VEGGIES
Rosemary & Thyme Roasted Chicken
1 3-4 lb organic chicken
3 carrots
2 small red onions
2 stalks celery
1 large sweet potato
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
1 large sprig rosemary
4 oz butter, melted
salt and pepper
Either the night before or morning of cooking chicken, pat chicken completely dry and place on a paper towel lined tray or large plate. Generously sprinkle salt all over the chicken and let dry out in fridge uncovered. This will ensure really crispy skin!
Once ready to make, preheat oven to 450. Chop all veggies in big chunks, throw in a large cast iron skillet or a roasting pan. Sprinkle veggies with salt and pepper and throw the sprigs of thyme on top. Place the bird breast side down and slather with half the butter and sprinkle half the chopped rosemary. Bake for 25 minutes then flip the chicken over to breast side up. Slather the rest of the butter and sprinkle the rest of the rosemary on top and salt and pepper the top and bake another 20-30 minutes or until the juices run clear or until a thermometer reads 150 degrees. If the bird looks too brown before done, you can tent it with foil.
Friday pizza out: yay no cooking
Saturday: HAMBURGERS/SWEET POTATOE FRIES
The only special thing I do with my Hamburgers is add 3 minced cloves of garlic and probably 2TBS Worchestershire sauce. And then before I put on grill I brush patties with olive oil. I may also add some feta cheese stuffed in the patties.
For sweet potatoe fries I cut up 2-3 sweet potatoes. Cover them in olive oil and if I want SPICY I will add 1 tsp of cayenne or chili poweder, salt and pepper. I like kosher salt. If I want SWEET. I sprinkle them with cinnamon and salt and pepper.
Sunday: BREAKFAST SANDWICHES (pics and recipe on instagram) Too lazy to cook something else for the week.
DESSERTS:
Katy's flourless chocolate cake http://www.ameessavorydish.com/2013/06/paleo-flourless-chocolate-cake.html
Papa's cookieshttp://khop.weebly.com/clean-eats.html
Shopping list:
Veggies:
Peppers
Cucumbers
Avacado
Spinach
Tomatoes
Onion
Thyme
1 can chopped green chiles
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
Fruits:
Oranges
Grapefruit
Apples
Pears
Plums
Peaches
Lemons/limes
Dairy:
All milks (coconut and almond)
Yogurt for kids
eggs
Ghiradelli dark chocolate
Peanut butter
Walnuts
maple syrup
coconut oil
Meats/poultry/fish:
Turkey
Chicken
Ground beef
Shrimp
(some grocery items I already have in pantry so didn't need to get them for recipes so double check)