How is everyone doing with less frequent grocery trips and less eating out? I have been able to get by with one big trip per week to the store. I am definitely spending even more on groceries than I typically do but we are eating at home for every single meal and I haven’t done takeout since getting sushi once at the very beginning of all of this.

Since that stay at home restrictions went into place, I have been to Whole Foods once and ALDI three times. ALDI has felt kind of like my safe place because the one near my house is less crowded and I can buy multiples of things we use a lot at lower prices (for example, Finn’s organic whole milk). I always wait until Finn is with his dad to do my weekly shopping tip and I get in and out as fast as possible.

So far, I haven’t had any issues finding things like fresh produce, eggs, milk, flour, fresh meat, etc. Hopefully that continues.

Here’s a look at all the things that I’ve been cooking and eating over the last week or so.

BREAKFAST

Blueberry pancakes made with Kodiak pancake mix. I stirred frozen blueberries in before cooking them.

Mashed sweet potatoes with some butter, cinnamon and raisins mixed in and topped with peanut butter and granola. (this is reminiscent of the sweet potato breakfast bowls that I used to eat all the time!)

Smoothie bowl topped with granola. I think this one was frozen banana, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries with some frozen cauliflower rice thrown in there too. Also, a date, peanut butter, plain greek yogurt and oat milk.

LUNCH

Tuna melt with avocado on homemade sourdough. I used Blue Harbor tuna and mixed it with plain greek yogurt, mayo, lemon pepper and some chopped bread and butter pickles.

My Italian sausage, roasted potato and roasted veggie egg bake topped with avocado and served with fruit.

Have eaten a few of these turkey sandwiches that I ate SO many of while I was breastfeeding Finn. I don’t know that I’ll ever really understand how this became such a staple meal for me. The bread and pickles were the most important ingredient…and I’d never put pickles on a sandwich in my life before this!

This salad was so good! It was an ALDI sweet kale chopped salad kit and to it I added avocado, fresh mozzarella, strawberries and leftover salmon.

Peanut butter, honey and banana with some of Finn’s cheddar bunnies.

DINNER

I received a promotional box with wild salmon and cod from Sitka Salmon Shares and I have been LOVING their fish. Look how beautiful this salmon is! If you’re in the market for a delivery service for high-quality, sustainable seafood, definitely check out Sitka Salmon Shares.

This dinner was just roasted salmon, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Super simple but delicious.

This dinner was awesome! Cast iron seared bone-in pork chops with my braised red cabbage and apples and roasted potatoes. I put the chops in a simple brine of kosher salt, brown sugar and smashed garlic for about two hours before cooking. I pulled these out of the freezer last week. I had bought them many months ago at the market from a favorite farmer.

This dinner was a Trader Joe’s shrimp burger and a stir fry of broccoli, baby bok choy, mushrooms and garlic over steamed jasmine rice. A squeeze of sriracha on top.

This honey balsamic chicken recipe is one from the archives but it is so tasty and easy. It’s a great way to add some flavor to chicken breasts. I served it alongside leftover braised red cabbage and roasted potatoes with ketchup.

I don’t do a ton of dinner salads but one night I was so in the mood for a big chopped salad with protein so I did a blend of romaine and spring mix with cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, avocado, carrots, fresh mozzarella and roasted salmon with a creamy Italian dressing.

Finally, leftover honey balsamic chicken breast over rice with roasted Brussels sprouts.

And that wraps it up. After a long and crazy day of balancing motherhood with teaching and work, it’s time to get this little one in the bath and off to bed.

QUESTIONS

Have you been going to the grocery or doing delivery service? 

Are you having issues finding certain things where you are? 

Are you enjoying cooking at home more or feeling burnt out? Are you doing takeout?