This Week on the Dining Table

The "Swamp Soup Anyone?" Edition................

I found the recipe for that Swamp Soup we had at that restaurant in Alabama in January.  I hope you can embiggen this image enough to read it.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning-

This is what was planned for last week.......

1. Sunday--Baked Ham, Deviled Eggs, Corn Casserole, Green Beans
2. Monday--Leftover Beef Stroganoff, Rice and Green Beans
3. Tuesday--Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms, Salad

4. Wednesday--Fajitas

5. Thursday--Burgers, side dishes TBD

6. Friday--Tuna Noodle Casserole
7. Saturday--Pork Teriyaki Stir-Fry w/Veggies

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Baked Ham, Deviled Eggs, Corn Casserole, Green Beans
2. Monday--Leftover Beef Stroganoff, Rice and Green Beans
3. Tuesday--Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms, Salad

4. Wednesday--Take-out Lunch from Applebee's, dinner was FFY

5. Thursday--Chicken Marsala, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies

6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Pork Teriyaki Stir-Fry w/Veggies

Last week saw 4 nights of home cooked dinners, 3 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 night of Take-Out(for dinner, 1 Take-Out for lunch).

I used the leftover asparagus from last week and put it into the Risotto.
The Teriyaki was a disaster.  I made it a couple of weeks ago and it was marvelous but I added too much teriyaki sauce this time and it was so salty I couldn't eat it(and didn't want to eat it).  I've just become so sensitive to salt in the last 8 years.  There are things I just can't eat anymore(mostly fast food and junk foods)due to the sodium/salt taste that is overpowering.  

What got put into the freezer last week....
* 1/2 the leftover ham from Sunday
*  a free boneless ham
* 3 bags of frozen veggies
* 2 small boxes of frozen veggies
* 2 frozen manicotti meals

What got taken out of the freezer and used.....
* 4 pork chops
* 1 boneless ham(1/2 got used)

1 trip to Weis(PMITA)Markets by Hubs this past week & a run into Malacari's for produce and lunch meat brought spending to $65.34 and brings my April Total spending on food so far to $88.00.
The spending would have been less but I had Hubs pie a $7 Key Lime Pie for Easter dessert(but he's the only one who ate any).

I've earned $6.20 in Ibotta rebates in April so far(mostly at Rite-Aid on allergy meds).

My savings percentage last week was 40.5%(without Rite-Aid trips)and April's monthly savings total comes in at 33.71% so far(w/out R-A).  Getting a free ham at Weis with my points and a few items were on sale so that helped bring the savings rate out of the 0% toilet it was in during Week 1.

I have 17 more food shopping/spending days in April.

Leftovers going into this week.....Rice, 2 large Turkey Enchiladas, Pork Teriyaki Stir-Fry, Green Beans, 1 helping of Corn Casserole, Chicken Marsala(2 helpings), Mashed Potatoes.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Cheese Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread
2. Monday--single serve Devour frozen dinners or Potatoes au Gratin and Roasted Carrots
3. Tuesday--Cheeseburgers on buns, sweet potato fries

4. Wednesday--Sweet and Sour Chicken w/Broccoli

5. Thursday--Leftovers or FFY

6. Friday--Fajitas
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY

What needs buying for this menu?
Some milk and OJ are needed this week, not necessarily for dinners.  And I want strawberries but Weis was out when I sent Hubs there.  Weis now has sales ads again and they were BOGO there but they either hadn't arrived yet on the truck or were cleaned out of them already. boohoo
I'll go into the restaurant supply store this Wednesday when I drive Hubs to his eye doc appointment since I can't go into the doc's office and it's nearby.  I'll see what veg/etc. is a good deal there.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy

Happy Weekend, Easter, Passover, Etc.

I hope you are having the best sort of Holiday or Weekend you can considering the current state of the world.

At Chez Sluggy it's a low key day here today.  No relatives eating up my yummy Easter dinner this year because we had it last Sunday and well......social distancing!

There will be salad, lasagna and key lime pie here today.

Chester and I have walked the yard three times already and picked up enough sticks/branches from the trees to do a little fire in the pit later.

I'll lift my weights later too.  Who says I don't get any exercise?

Speaking of Chester his birthday was Friday and he turned 3.

This photo is from February with both of them in it.  The only time I can get a photo of Dixie is when she is sleeping, otherwise it's a blurry partial because if she is awake, she is a perpetual motion machine. lol

I still love this one of Chester with his head in the yogurt container trying to lick it clean.

Here's a photo of the granddog sleeping.........

Daughter and Hubby moved into their own house beginning of March before all hell broke loose.
Both were still reporting to work and Cinnamon was left alone for the first time ever. 
Before someone was home with her or she had 10 cats for company at one time if no hoomans.

Well she didn't do well.  Daughter sent me video from the nanny cam they set up and Cinnamon would pace back and forth and howl, even if they left music or the tv on for her.  Daughter was coming home for lunch each day so the dog was only left alone at most 4 hours at a stretch but was still doing her business in the house and agitated

Last week Daughter's hubby, J, was told to work from home so now Cinnamon is one happy pup again!

Today's musical interludes are as follows........

One of my favorites, Christopher Walken from the 1981 film "Pennies from Heaven".
He is a marvelous dancer.



This film never got the attention and laurels it deserved back in the day.

Another number, the title number, "Pennies from Heaven" was wonderful, even taken out of context of the show.  The dancer is Vernel Bagneris who is also a playwright and author, a real Renaissance Artist.

Vernel had a full career in the arts but I don't think he ever get his due either.
And notice Vernel's derriere in this clip.....IMHO he had a fine dancer's butt.... ;-)



And speaking of Vernel Bagneris, he also wrote a musical revue called "One Mo' Time" which opened in 1979 and was nominated in 1980 for a Grammy for Best Original Cast Album(I have that album.).

The revue was set in a 1926 New Orleans theater and was a collection of skits and musical numbers from 1920's African American Vaudeville of that day.

Two of  my favorite songs from this show-a song performed and made popular by the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith, called "My Kitchen Man"....



And this song which was recorded first in 1924 by Virginia Liston.
Singer Catherine Russell performs it currently in her cabaret repertoire of classic old songs....


That's all I got today.
What's a favorite song of yours from the 1920's or 1930's?

Sluggy

Can I Return It?

It freaking snowed here yesterday, like heavy to light flurries all day.
And that was after waking up to snow overnight which was still on the ground. bleh

And all the trees are budding out for about a week now.

Here's a photo of my forsythia bush I took last Sunday.

I went into Rite-Aid yesterday to pick up an Rx.

After visiting the Pharmacy area, since my pals in the front of the store weren't busy ringing anyone out I went to the register and said in a raised voice, "I want to speak to the Manager! I have something I want to return."
Said R-A employee gave me a smile and said, "Ok ma'am, what did you want to return?"

I said, "I wish to return 2020.  I believe it is still under warranty and within the return window time limit.  It has NOT lived up to expectations!"

What can I say, I am just a funny funny gal.
We all had a good laugh.

But seriously, can I return 2020? ;-)

Sluggy

Today's selection in the sewing room is "Carnival" the Broadway cast album.

Here is Anne Hathaway playing the Lili part played by Anna Maria Alberghetti on Broadway.



Kaye Ballard starred in the show as Rosalie and here is one of her numbers........




Jerry Orbach played Paul the crippled puppeteer and sang a couple of ballads.  This one was a favorite.  Couldn't find a clip of Jerry performing this put this guy does a very good job with it too.


This youtuber has a mix of selections from the show.

Frugal Friday......the April 10th Edition

Well, staying at home seems quite frugal, does it not?
Don't go anywhere so you can't spend money and don't need to buy gas for the car because it's now just a lawn ornament.
Frugal but oh so boring......

* Here's a photo of Chester to cheer y'all up.  I trimmed his fur and gave him a bath after this photo.  No grooming bills is frugal, right?

* There are no Friday Freebies for the duration nor Fantastic Friday deals.  I see that Weis(PMITA)Markets does now have a weekly ad again. hurrah!

* I found no money this week.  *whomp whomp*  You have no idea how sad this makes me.
Found Money This Week...... .0¢
Found Money This Year so far....$44.65

* Hubs and I drove to Applebee's on Wednesday and got meals to-go.  We sat in the car and they brought them out to us.  I used $25.63 in gift card credit so only paid OOP $12.73 for 3 meals.
There was a note in the bag from Applebee's(no picture because Hubs threw it away before I tried to snap a pic)about how they appreciate our supporting them during this time, as they are a local franchise so this lockdown in hurting what is essentially a small business.

* We were out on Wednesday because Ocean State Job Lot was giving away tablecloths and napkins so folks can make masks for themselves or others.  I went in and picked up some napkins/a tablecloth for the mask making I'm doing here.  I also needed plastic coated wire(for the bridge of the noses on some of what I am making)and 1/8" cording so I bought that there. We also were out of pig ears for Dixie so I picked those up too there.  That's about the only thing that keeps her busy....she blows through any other type of chewy treat fast!

* While we were nearby I went into Malacari's for some produce, bread and lunch meat.

* I bought 2 containers of Allegra at Rite-Aid last Saturday.  I had to go in for Rxs anyway and Allegra was on sale plus I had Qs and $20 in BC to spend.
That $20 prepaid Visa I earned in February that never came?  I called last Friday and it was an outside vendors offer at Rite-Aid and there is no way of getting my long lost Visa card so they gave me Bonus Cash.  I much would have preferred that prepaid Visa car I earned but pandemic yadda, yadda, whatcha gonna do?
So I needed to spend that BC and allergy meds were the best thing I could think of and there was Zero OOP after adding in some Rite-Aid gift card cred too.
And I'm $24.75 short of earning $15 on SavingStar now for buying Allegra.

* There's a thing I can mention.....I earned $6.10 on Ibotta this past week for buying that Allegra(2 x $3 Allegra, .10¢ on any item). lolz

* Since my allergies(pollen, hay fever, ragweed)are kicking into high gear I tried to order off of Walmart online some generic Claritin.  The only containers they have were small amounts(with larger prices)but they had a third party seller on there selling an Irish made brand of generic Claritin for much less.  I ordered 2 x 300 tablet bottles and added 2 packs of Great Value sensitive type band-aids and got free shipping for it all even though it shipped separately.

* I sat down after going through what I've got in the freezer and came up with a list of meals I can make without having to buy anything else(well maybe a veg or two).  I came up with 24 meals.  That should empty out the chest freezer(except for a smoked ham and a turkey breast).

* We got Domino's again last Friday using already paid for gift cards.

That's about it from Chez Sluggy.

And

Anybody have any frugal wins this past week?

Sluggy

The "Stay Home" Giveaway.....Come Enter!

Time for the Fifth  Sluggy's Boring Blog Giveaway for 2020!

Since pretty near the whole country is on a "stay at home" order and most businesses are closed(outside of life essential ones)lets give away a box of stuff for staying busy at home.
Card games, coloring time and candy is the order of the day!

Here is what is in this Pandemic Time box o' goodies..............

1 x Phase 10 card game
2 x colored pencils
2 x 24 box of Crayola crayons
1 x large bag of Skittles
2 x Reese's cookie dough PB cups
1 x Rolo's candy roll
6 x Kit Kat single bars
2 x Kit Kat lemon single bars
2 x Snickers snack size
2 x Snickers almond snack size
3 x Snickers peanut butter snack size
2 x Heath bar snack size
2 x Reese's peanut butter cups snack size
8 x Reese's peanut butter single size
3 x Whoppers milk balls  snack size
11 x Hershey's Gold snack size
12 x Jolly Rancher cinnamon candies

Close up shots of these goodies..........

Depending on where you shop the winnings have a reg. retail value of approximately $35.00.
I'd have put in coloring books for the colored pencils and crayons but didn't want to go to the store so you'll have to make your own coloring pages. ;-)

From all the VALID entries I receive I'll pick a winner at random.

* This Giveaway Box of goodies is open to all readers!

There is a limit of ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER DAY for this Giveaway.  Come back every day and enter though!

In your entries I'd like to hear about what you are doing to stay positive during this lock down time. 

If you are on my Giveaway emails list just leave a comment and your name to enter. If you aren't on the Giveaway emails list make sure you leave your email in your comment OR email me your email privately after you leave a comment(my email is in the side bar area under "About Me").

I'll leave this giveaway open until Monday, April 13th  at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time. On April 14th, Tuesday, I'll draw the winning entry and post who won.

*Please note these rules*
I'll post the name/ID of the winner on this blog on  and that person has 48 hours from the time stamp on that post to contact me privately via email(my email addy is listed on my "About Me" page, as well as on my side bar).

If I am not contacted via email, I'll attempt to contact the winner via the email they supplied with their entry(or gave me to add to the Giveaway Data Base)and if that email is not responded to within another 48 hours I'll pick another winner.

Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US only.  As the cost of postage to foreign countries has gotten too high I am sorry to say I can no longer afford to mail boxes outside the US.  These giveaways are not sponsored by any companies.  I pay for it all(the cost of items given away and the postage to mail it all)out of my own pocket.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.

If you're not a registered Blogger User with YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get a hold of you. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one make sure your email info is linked to your profile.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I am still having to disqualify entries due to this issue and I sure don't like doing that.  Thanks!


So let's get this Giveaway started. Good luck to everyone!!!

Sluggy