For some reason we are struggling to get our feet under us this school year. Everyone is getting fed and has clean clothes, but that is about it. This week I told the kids we are having sandwiches for lunches while I figure it out.
This week I cooked a pork butt roast and we are using it several ways. Here is a link to the original post about cooking a pork butt roast. We will be making sandwiches with it, serving it on mac and cheese and serving over baked potatoes. I have found that our menu has just gotten so monotonous and I really need to break out of the rut. It just feels so hard to spend money on anything, I'm sure you all can relate. I have been trying to figure out how to keep stretching and stretching our meat, which will start to get easier as the temperatures are cooling down here. Casseroles and soups are the easiest way, since they can use smaller amounts of the cheaper cuts of meat. Summer has been hard as quick cook stir fries need more expensive meats like boneless skinless chicken breasts or cuts of steaks. I found thinly sliced pork chops to be the best to use for cost. And we ate a lot of hot dogs and sandwiches and watermelon.
We are having a labor day picnic on Monday and inviting family. I've spread the word that it will be potluck and we are planning to grill hotdogs, have condiments, tea and lemonade and make a big batch of Homemade Baked Beans. So far people have committed to bringing buns (someone who doesn't really cook was happy to claim this job), cole slaw, watermelon, a couple salads, cookies and chips. I'm sure other randomness will probably show up and I am so excited to be hosting a picnic! The hotdogs will be the most expensive for our part, but the homemade baked beans will be a big batch of good filler for not a lot of money. If need be, I can also put out carrots and celery and ranch as we always have those on hand for lunches. I am lucky that no one in our circle bats an eye at potlucks. Usually we take as an inexpensive dish as I can possibly make to other people's potlucks, but this time I am hosting my own, and I'm so excited! It is more expensive for me to host than to bring a dish to someone else's, but it is really nice to be the inviter instead of the invitee for once! Besides, the best part of a potluck is that if someone doesn't like what you are offering, they can feel free to bring whatever they like and no one cares!
I hope you all have a very nice weekend and week ahead. Feel free to hit me with any tips you've got to make the school year go more smoothly!
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