Castle in the Mud

I have just realised that I have come to the end of the week of meals I had planned so now it is time to put my thinking cap on and come up with some more ideas so that the title of this post does not come true.

Pay day is not until next Thursday so I don't want to have to buy much until next weekend.

Saturday - Vegetable casserole with dumplings
Sunday - Zucchini Slice with salad
Monday - Sausages with vegetables & gravy
Tuesday - Omelettes & salad
Wednesday - Tuna patties & salad
Thursday - Chickpea loaf with & vegetables & gravy
Friday - Pita bread pizza

"Live simply so that others may simply live"

I read this again today and am reminded of what a powerful message it is.

By living simply we can reduce our ecological footprint, share the resources of the planet more equitably, leave a better world for our children and grandchildren as well as saving money.

Like a jungle! I finally made time this afternoon to do something in the vegie garden. I pulled out all of the old climbing beans from the trellis and cleared heaps of weeds out of that bed.

The chickens then got into the bare earth and had fun catching all sorts of goodies.

Today's harvest was worthwhile - 3 cherry tomatoes, 2 Roma tomatoes, 1 large zucchini and 15 cucumbers. Now, what to do with the cucmbers? I will be making some pickled cucmbers and may look for a recipe for chilled cucumber soup. I guess they will be some of tomorrow's chores.

I slipped up yesterday and did not post anything but I worked and then went shopping - proper grocery shopping for the first time in about 3 weeks.

I went to Aldi and stocked up on basic items such as cracker biscuits, pasta, cheese, butter, toothpaste and lots of canned goods - fruit, pineapple, tuna, corn and tomatoes. Then it was off to Simply Good where I can buy dry goods from bulk bins. I re-use my own paper bags so this means NO packaging. I bought chickpeas, kidney beans, almonds, sultanas, red lentils, arborio rice, bran flakes, wheat flakes and mixed herbs.

The evening was spent packing everything away. I put the month/year date on all packaged goods using a texta and the bulk goods are all rotated so that the new product goes in the bottom of the container.

I am not 100% sure but I think that we could eat well for at least 6 months on the supplies we currently have. There are so many reasons for having a supply of food and miscellaneous items and I did test my supply a little towards the end of 2008. I was so busy at work I simply did not have time to shop and went for 7 weeks and only bought a couple of lots of fruit and veg. Everything else came from the pantry, freezer and garden.