Search This Blog

Saturday, March 30, 2019

The Best of Everything

Such a spring day. Promise in the air. Bulbs sprouting, pushing greens up through the ground. I bought a pot of pink tulips for the living room. I walked to and from my morning support group [I treasure connecting with many friends there, especially one I catch up with after the meeting] and to and from the grocery store, since Dan had the car w Punch. I also filled a leaf bag in the backyard and hauled it to the curb. Lots more to do there.

I'm going to a women's group tomorrow afternoon and the hostess, my friend, remembered a savory quichelike tart I made years back and when I offered to bring something, she asked gently about that. Tonight I'm going to make the dough, and I got enough ingredients to make two Tomato & Goat Cheese Quiches with fresh basil from The Joy of Cooking, so I can leave one for my family.

I also made Yolos [#youonlyliveonce, or Rolos knock-offs] from the The Oh She Glows Cookbook

Here is the link to the recipe, but I didn't put chia seeds on top. These treats are excellent. My food processor broke, so I used the blender to puree the sticky dates and added a little pure maple syrup so the blades could do their job.
Yolos photo from ohsheglows.com.
Punch loves Yolos, so does Figgy and everyone else, including Punchy's two pals today. They are pretty simple, though Medjool dates are pricey and I also splurged on high-quality bittersweet chocolate for dunking the little spheres. You add a bit of flaky sea salt to the filling, and it really does something.

But having to walk to the closest store means I go to Kings. I gain the exercise and lose on some prices but I think it balances out.

Good night to you.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET
  • Kings, but for some things that will last a while, such as the large clay pot of tulips [can replant bulbs outside], $9.99; 3 lbs. organic Granny Smith apples, Figgy's favorite, $7.99, sale; Falksalt natural sea salt flakes [crumble a pinch for the Yolos], $6.69; lb. of butter and 3-stick pack of Crisco, some of both ingredients needed for the quiche dough. Plus expensive ingredients to make Yolos and quiches, including Medjool dates, 10 oz. for $8.99; excellent Guittard bittersweet chocolate, $6.99; 2 half-pints Organic Valley heavy cream, $5.98; 10 oz. log goat cheese, $8.99; basil, $3.99; 2 lb. plum tomatoes, $6.01--and 2 rolls Bounty paper towels, $5.99. $99.90. 
RUNNING TOTAL FOR MONTH AS OF MARCH  30: $4,128.41.
SO FAR, THAT'S AN AVERAGE DAILY SPEND OF: $137.61.
IN FEBRUARY, AVERAGE DAILY SPEND WAS $112.83, BUT MONTH OF MARCH SPEND INCLUDED HAIRCUT, HAIR COLOR, PUNCH BDAY BIKE, PUNCH BDAY PARTY AND 
5-CLASS YOGA PACK.
MONEY THOUGHT: I love to cook. I love food magazines, cookbooks and food websites. I like making the best of everything. I could have purchased cheaper chocolate, for sure [though some of those brands contain milk fat, so Fig won't eat them] and I could have skipped the sea salt flakes but I’m an epicure at heart. I couldn’t find less expensive Medjool dates at Kings. I am pleased that everyone liked the Yolos and hope the quiches are good. 

6 comments:

  1. A job in the city would be so much more than a job! I commute suburb to suburb, though I get gorgeous views of DC when the train crosses the river into VA. But early in my career it was downtown, and I loved that, both in Boston and DC. Fingers crossed for you! I have pussy willows on the dining room table, and our pink magnolia tree has blossomed. Spring here is sspectacular.
    Off to swim and Mass.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz, so great that you are swimming so much. Excelsior, in your words--or congrats. [I still love to think of you congratulating me on a new sweater.] I love pussy willows...wow...and a pink magnolia tree! Yeah, this job hunt is surely a winding road...we shall see. Love, Alice

      Delete
  2. Ooooh, the Yolos sound amazing! I just finished a work trip and am out of the loop of cooking, and especially baking/making treats. It'll probably be another week or so before I can get my groove back … I'll have to start with some basic dinners. ;) But I'd love to try making these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Eileen. The Yolos are really good, and I just found dried, pitted organic dates in CVS for a fraction of the price I paid at the grocery store. The CVS label doesn't say Medjool, but same thing. Where did you go on your work trip? Love Alice

      Delete
    2. P.S. Eileen, forgot to say that I added a little pure maple syrup to the dates to help blend them.

      Delete
  3. Thank you for the tip! I was in Atlanta for our annual meeting. It's the main event for my organization. :) I don't get to go every year, but when I do, it's a huge education, and very inspiring.

    ReplyDelete