I ate so poorly yesterday that I can only blame the stress of pre-AIMS testing! Honestly, I just want my students to show they have learned something this year. All of my test-prep planning has drained me and I did not prepare a menu for the past two weeks. The result - I ate junk for lunch because I didn't have adequate fresh food in the house. Back to planning menus before I grocery shop. Knowing I will be drained during this week of keeping my rambunctious munchkins quiet while testing, I have planned 2 slow-cooker meals. (Can I still call them munchkins if most of them are now taller than I am?)
Last week I shopped at the new store in N. Phx, Winco. It is a big box store like Food 4 Less was with no shelf displays, just cases cut open. I have been very conscience about shopping local and trying to stick to Basha's (except for fresh produce from Sunflower because theirs seems to be good and much less expensive). I was not impressed with the quality of produce at Winco, but the prices on items like cereal were killer. This is most likely just for their grand opening month, I bet. I'll have to check it out again when there isn't a 10 minute wait for a cart (ha -- I took one from the lady unloading her's into the car next to me in the lot) and a police officer monitoring the line to get in. (REALLY! Apparently while I was shopping with said cart I pinched in the lot, a fight broke out in the line to get in....geeeze, people. It is a GROCERY store for cryin' out loud -- there is one on every corner in this town -- next to or housing a Starbucks of course.)
Did anyone else check out Winco? Has anyone else browsed at Kitchen Switchin', my new favorite place to pop into? Kitchen Switchin' is a re-purposed house on 7th St around Northern. It is a consignment-type store for kitchen gadgets with new and gently used small appliances, dishes, etc. I picked up a top of the line Foreman for Sawyer to make burgers after school -- for $12!
If you have tried either Winco or Kitchen Switchin' let me know what you think. Have you tried any other new places or restaurants? I need someplace good to go to on Friday night. Russ and I tried Upper Crust last weekend and I wasn't impressed.
This week's meals starting with last night:
Friday - udon noodle low mein with beef strips, bean sprouts, carrots, peas & onions (Winco does carry a great variety of ethnic foods - inexpensive GOOD udon noodles in the produce section)
Saturday: lunch – Panini with deli meats & veggies
Dinner – (host Shannon after her interviews) gnocchi w/ butternut squash &
kale, something decadent for dessert from AJ's (owned by Basha's so
I'm still shopping local, just upscale for a few items)
Sunday: lunch – Trader Jo’s Orange chicken? Whatever is in the freezer because it is
full!
Dinner – pistachio chicken w/ grilled asparagus
Monday: spinach ricotta pinwheels (prep on Sunday afternoon and refrigerate) & mixed
green salad
Tuesday: slow cooker lentils, pork & sweet potato stew
Wednesday: fish tacos w/shredded cabbage
Thursday: slow cooker chicken and green chiles unless one of the kids has a better idea
Friday: Celebrate end of AIMS week – GO OUT TO A Delightful Dinner!
