February 12, 2012

Grocery Shopping and the Recipe Round-Up

I do my grocery shopping on a two-week schedule. Every other Saturday I take my list of groceries that coincide with the 14 dinners I have planned out, and make the grocery run that fills my cart to overflowing.

I found this really cut back on what we spent since I wasn't replenishing the snacks every week.

On the rare occasion that Hubby comes with me, we always end up with really nasty food, like corndogs and fish sticks.  *gag, heave, bleh*

When I go by myself, I usually end up grabbing a few teensy little "extras". You know, an "extra" bag of chocolate chips... or two... or four. An "extra" bag of whatever holiday candy happens to be out to tempt the poor unsuspecting, delicate little souls to break down and ruin any diet or healthy eating scheme that the sweet, innocent little creature happens to be determinately trying to do, effectively killing any sense of self-esteem that person may have developed over having achieved this goal for a new record of 16 hours and sending them on a down-spiral of chocolate binge eating and candy hogging! And there's no one to blame but the stores!

*huge intake of breath*

Or not.

The more likely scenario is that that person is really a hardened choco-criminal whose veins bleed brown and they understand that grocery shopping every two weeks is for one sole purpose.

To replenish the chocolate supply.

But sometimes circumstances turn out such that I miss that other Saturday (not that I was actually talking about myself back there you know *cough*) and by the time I get around to going, it could be any day of the week. You sure learn to be creative during those extra days and the bright side is that you eat up everything. Any leftovers, all the least favorite fruit.... the celery.

Well this week I had missed that last Saturday and didn't go until late Tuesday night. Then I had the cooking lazies and only bothered to make a real dinner a couple times this week. Because I'm Super Awesome Mom.

So here are the few new recipes I tried out this week.

Spinach Artichoke Pasta


We love spinach dip around here, and on occasion, we may or may not actually make that a whole meal.
Mostly because I don't make anything else. But meh, who keeping tabs?

Still, I thought this recipe sounded interesting so we gave it a try. Hubby and I liked it and the kids didn't seem to mind it. They ate some anyway, so that has to count for something! Right?

My Alterations - The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of hot sauce and red pepper flakes. Knowing how much my kids detest spicy food, I only put in one teaspoon of hot sauce and no pepper flakes. It was just the right amount for us. So beware, if you don't like spicy food, don't put in the whole tablespoon! Oh, and I didn't use any white wine. 

Taste: 4 out of 5 stars
Ease: 4 out of 5 stars
Time: 3.5 out of 5 stars




What's so funny about this recipe is that I didn't really pay attention to it! I just did a quick look-over of the ingredients and jotted down what I needed. It wasn't until I was in the process of actually making it when I realized something. The recipe was almost exactly the same as another dish I make fairly often - because it's easy and that all my kids will eat it - Baked Pasta. The only difference with this recipe is that it uses egg noodles instead of penne pasta, and you stick pepperoni on top. That's it!

So in this house, it was already a tried and true meal, especially for the kids.

Taste: 5 out of 5 stars
Ease: 4 out of 5 stars
Time: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Chubby Hubby Truffles

Okay. So I confess. One of the main reasons I wanted to try this recipe was because of the title. I laugh every time I say it. I mean seriously, "Chubby Hubby Truffles". Hahaha! I could say that ALL day long! And I have. I don't know why. I just think it's awesome.

Anyway, this was a pretty simple recipe and yes, it was delish. I told Hubby I was making them for him; they are called Chubby Hubby Truffles after all. Hahahaha....... eh hem, sorry. But he didn't believe me. He said I had ulterior motives.

Pish, what kind of a girl does he think I am!!

And the fact that was right has nothin' to do with it!

Chubby Hubby Truffles.... tehehehe.....


My Alterations - I read in one of the reviews that theirs was a little dry, so I took half a cup off the crushed pretzel amount. I also used regular, salted butter and just skipped the "pinch of salt". And last, instead of drizzling with melted peanut butter, I used leftover Dulce de leche. (Fancy carmel sauce, it comes in a can and you can find it at your local Walmart. But wow is it tasty!) 


Taste: 5 out of 5 stars
Ease: 5 out of 5 stars
Time: 4 out of 5 stars


Oh, and one last thing. HOW COME NO ONE TOLD ME THE LINK TO THE SNICKERS PIE WAS WRONG???


I can only be perfect for two days out of the week you know. And clearly the day I posted that recipe was not one of them. So I fixed the link from last week's recipe roundup and here it is again. Just because I'm sorry, humbly and deeply so if it caused you to miss out on gaining the ten pounds from eating this whole thing yourself. Snickers Pie

Your welcome.

Now, get to telling us what yummy recipes you've tried lately and link up the ones from your blog. Even if they are old ones!

4 super cool people speak:

Sarah said...

I never said anything because I was avoiding temptation! Get thee hence Snicker Pie. :) Start that thing and there will be NO STOPPING ME! True story.
Man, this spinach salad looks really good and I LOVE reading your 5 star ease and time recipes. So encouraging to me!
And one last thing, those shopping trips done every two weeks, you are GOOD! What kind of budget are you working with? We can save that for a phone call someday. :)
Love you!
Oh, and, HOORAY for a Sunday Post. I love stocking you:)

Rob said...

The spinach pasta looks great. Super easy to make and cheap, too. All positives in my book. Do you think using the white wine makes it taste any better somehow? I've never understood that...

Susan Anderson said...

That pizza casserole looks like something my kids would have LOVED.

And I would love the spinach artichoke pasta.

=)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

LOL, thanks Sarah!

Rob, I've never used the white wine and whenever recipes call for something like that I usually just skip over it. So, I have no idea! I did read somewhere once that you can substitute a few of those cooking wines for chicken broth, if that helps at all.

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