Day 46: Some Thoughts On Rice

Day 46 Vitals:

Weight:  271 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: Chocolate 2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Lunch: Yogurt, Apple, Tuna on Crackers
Dinner: Potato, Chicken Wing, Jalapeno Cheddar Scones
Hangry Thought of the Day: Raising a Toddler is like a prescription for a daily dose of F#$% You!

First off just a couple of quick notes about the project.  My large quantity grabs from Wal-Mart and COSTCO are starting to dwindle.  Flour is running out, and for the first time since day 1 I am out of eggs.  Also I am down to my last two pack of chicken wings, and last stick of butter.  I should be okay, but man I had it easy for the last couple of weeks.

Today I want to talk about the versatility of rice:

Rice is one of those foods that helped to cultivate human culture as we know it.  When hunters and gatherers started settling down in one area and abandoning their nomadic ways, people needed a crop that could be cultivated, stored wells, and added nutrition to their daily diets.  Rice was one of those early cultivars.  Domestication of rice accord between 8,200 to 13,500 years ago according to Wikipedia.

Part of rice's longevity is it's flexibility.  It's ability to absorb various liquids means you can adapt rice for any meal, even dessert.  It can be used as a base for liquor like sake or even beer.  It is a staple in the cuisine of many cultures including China, India, Japan, and several others.  Imagine a world with no rice and there is no sushi, fried rice, jambalaya, chicken and rice soup, and rice cakes.  That is a pretty bleak world is you ask me. 

Here is a pic of Felix and I making a large batch of Rice Pudding (which we divided into two batches, chocolate and coconut):

This starchy goodness is a staple in many communities across the world.  One key aspect that should also be noted is the cost of rice.  I bought a large bag of rice at Aldi's for $1.79.  And there is a good chance this will last me to pretty darn close to the end of the project.  Here are some possible uses I can make of the rice:

•  Rice Pudding:
• Milk, Sugar, Salt and some additional season can make for a surprisingly tasty desert.
• Fried Rice:
• One can of mixed veggies, an egg, and some soy sauce.  You can't go wrong with this simple side dash.
• Soups:
• Chicken soup with rice in place of noodles might be on a future menu.
• Jambalaya
• Sausage, canned tomatoes, and some other seasonings can come together to make this Cajun inspired dish.

And those are just what comes to the top of my head without any research.  In fact I am more amazed by the fact that I haven't used rice sooner then this!  So the next time you are donating to a food shelf think about donating a bag of rice.  It will last the family a lot longer then a can of salted veggies will, and it's usefulness cannot be understated!

So what do you like to cook with rice?  Leave a comment below, and thanks for reading!

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en

Day 44: Just Another Journal Post

Day 44 Vitals:

Weight:  271 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: Chocolate 2 Hard Boiled Eggs, Blackberries
Lunch: Yogurt, Sweet Potatoes, Oatmeal Bar
Dinner: Sweet Potato, Chicken Wing
Hangry Thought of the Day: Okay, seriously, pooping in your bed is not cool, even if you have a diaper on!

For today's post I just want to capture some of my thoughts in my head.  I suffer from depression.  I have been in a depressive funk for a the better part of the year now, and I'm not sure what it will take to get me out of it.  It's silly stuff on my mind like vacation time, work, kids, health.  You know normal stuff.  I know this is all normal everyday stuff that people world wide deal with, but it still feels like the weight in on my shoulders.  

I have a couple of outlets that help me get by.  One of them WAS food, then this project came along, and I don't have the food available.  It shows in my weight, and my physical build since I started this project.  Funny enough other things have started to take it's place. A couple of my hobbies have sort of taken the place of eating.  One of them is blogging.  My post count at Beerploma has been up in the last few weeks, as well as keeping a regular blog here.  The other outlet I have is sorting cards.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love collectible card games.  And even though I haven't played a game in over a year, I still find sorting cards to be extremely relaxing.  I know, weird, huh!  Maybe it's the fact that it gives me a sense that I am putting some sort of order to what would otherwise be just a random pile of cardboard.  Perhaps it's time to pull out the homebrewing kit...

I guess there could be worse habits to have...

Me in my heydays playing Magic.

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en

Day 43: My $30 At Aldi's

Day 43 Vitals:

Weight:  270 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: Chocolate Zuccini Muffin
Lunch: Apple, Burger, Sweet Potato
Dinner: Sweet Potato, Brat
Hangry Thought of the Day: Can someone explain to me the difference between Vacation Time and Personal Time?

All right, we made it to week 7, almost half-way through the project.  This week brings us to Aldi's. This week was guided by two major factors.  I have another big cabin Weekend coming up in the near future.  So my focus was on some items I could grill up, restocking my frozen veggies, and I picked up some rice to make rice pudding.

So here are some of my big wins:

• Steamable Bags of Asparagus ($2.29 ea.):  Yeah, this was a little spendy for a bag of frozen asparagus that yields one or two servings, but they were SO tasty, and perfect to steam in the microwave, or grill on the grill.
• Blackberries (.99):  Maybe I should have picked up a second one of these, but I am always weary of berries going bad, especially when they are so budget friendly.  They are going in my breakfast tomorrow, so far they have held up.
• Sparkling Water (2.99 12pk):  Yeah, I have been graving this for a LONG time, and this was my treat for the week.  I hope I still get treats once my chicken wings run out!
• Froen mixed veggies (.99 ea):  These have been my go to for veggies on this project.  Very affordable, and you don't have to worry about spoilage.  While these are a little heavy on the cauliflower, you can't beat the price!

Overall, shopping Aldi's should be a GREAT experience for the budget minded.  They have a great selection of organics, there produce is not so shabby, and the meat department had several fresh looking options.  Everything seems to be about 25% cheaper then their name brand counterparts found at more traditional grocery stores. Also Aldi's brings in a lot of products from their home country in Germany.  So you will find some highend mustards and chocolates and bargain basement prices.  Milk was by far the cheapest I have seen (beating COSTCO by .10, and eggs where on the cheap end as well.

(Yes, I know I went a little over on this receipt, but I returned some of the yogurt to get me back within budget, hence the markings)

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en

Day 40: Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Day 40 Vitals:

Weight:  270 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: 2 Hard Boiled Eggs, Chocolate Zuccini Muffin
Lunch: Orange, Peanut Butter Sandwich
Dinner: Chicken wings, sweet potato, green beans
Hangry Thought of the Day: Whoever stole my wife's phone, you can go f#$% yourself!

All right, day 40 is here!  We are quickly approaching the mid-point of the project.  Today we will be looking at another recipe from Leanne Brown's Good and Cheap.  Today we will be making a batch of Chocolate Zucchini Muffins!

Ingredients:

• butter or vegetable oil, for the muffin tin 
• 2 cups grated zucchini (start with 1 large or 2 small zucchinis) 
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour 
• 1½ cups rolled oats 
• 1½ cups sugar 
• ½ cup cocoa powder 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda (I used 6 teaspoons of Baking Powder)
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 4 eggs 
• 1 cup plain yogurt

Instructions:

Pre-heat the oven at 350 F

Oil 24 count muffin tins, or line with paper liners

Grate the Zucchini

Combine flour, oats, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda in a large bowl.

Mix the grated zuuchini, yogurt, and eggs.  Slowly add the dry ingredients.

Poor into prepared muffin tin

Bake in over for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.

So if you are on a restricted budget and need your chocolate fix, this is the perfect recipe to try.  They have a nice texture, and make for a GREAT breakfast treat!

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en

Day 39: An Interview with Salvation Army, Northern Division

Day 39 Vitals:

Weight:  270 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: 2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Lunch: Tomato Soup, granola, orange
Dinner: Chicken wings, sweet potato, green beans
Hangry Thought of the Day: Can you explain orbital resonance?

The Salvation Army Northern Division has been helping out communities in Minnesota since 1887.  That's a LONG time.  Now we are all probably familiar with their stores and bell ringers, but you probably don't know that this is just a small part f what their organization does.  I got to have an interview with Julie Borgen, to learn more about what their organization does for the Twin Cities:

What is the Salvation Army Northern Division's Mission Statement, and how do you help citizens in need here in Minnesota?

The Salvation Army Northern Division’s mission statement is:
Motivated by the love of God and led by the Holy Spirit to be the hands and feet of Jesus, the Northern Division is called to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity through intentional outreach and innovative programs.

The Salvation Army’s International mission statement is:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

·         The Salvation Army is a safety net for thousands of people in the Twin Cities. We provide food, housing, financial assistance, youth programs and more, to anyone who needs them, without discrimination. With help from our generous donors and volunteers, we serve about 187,000 people in the 10-county metro area. The Salvation Army is a global Christian organization founded more than 150 years ago in London, England.
Six Services
Our six areas of service include:

·         Basic needs  Including food, clothing, shelter, financial assistance and transportation·         Youth services  Everything from day care, summer camps, after school programs, sports and music, Bible study·         Disaster relief·         Housing We provide both temporary and long-term  housing for youth and adults·         Rehabilitation We offer free or low cost drug and alcohol rehabilitation in our faith-based programs·         Counseling  We provide assist with everything from learning life skills, to finding a job or connecting with needed resources. We counsel in prisons, assisted living facilities and in all of our centersMany of us are familiar with Salvation Army store fronts, but can you tell us about some of your other programs? What area foes Salvation Army North cover?
1)    The Salvation Army Northern Division serves people throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. We have over 800 employees and nearly 68,000 volunteers who help.
·         We provide food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance, counseling, free or very low cost drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Christmas toys and winter coats for children, school supplies and more. The Salvation Army also provides disaster assistance locally and around the globe, supporting survivors with food, water, shelter and emotional and spiritual care.
·         When you give to The Salvation Army throughout Minnesota and North Dakota, 82 cents of every dollar goes directly to help people in need.
Locations in Minnesota & North Dakota (including the Twin Cities)
·         Worship and Service Centers: 26·         Housing/shelter facilities: 50·         Food shelves: 22·         Salvation Army Stores: 31
Services we provide
·         Hot meals served annually: 771,780·         Bags of groceries given: 186,000·         Nights of lodging: 381,508·         Items of clothing given: 204,014·         Christmas toys given: 148,919·         People given disaster assistance: 28,923·         Inmates visited: 1,147·         People attending Northwoods Camp in Finlayson Minnesota (for free) : 946·         Total people served: 375,514 in 2015

Can you tell us about the history of Salvation Army North?
The Salvation Army began operations in the Twin Cities in 1886, six years after coming to America. The organization was founded in London, England by William and Catherine Booth in 1865 and now has centers in more than 120 countries.


What are some of the challenging aspects that you everyday working with an organization like Salvation Army?

·         Helping people is an increasingly complex task. Many of the people we serve face challenges like having enough food, a stable home, keeping their lights or cell phone turned on. It is very difficult for people to work on building a better future, when their immediate needs are not met. We seek to help provide the safety net they need, while encouraging them to work with our social workers to solve some of the underlying problems in their lives that keep them in crisis.
·         The lack of affordable housing is a real issue facing people in the metro area, in particular. As we work to help move people into stable housing, that is a huge challenge.
·         Generating the resources required to meet the needs of the people we serve is an ongoing task. The Salvation Army’s Northern Division has an annual budget of $68 million. That’s money we need to raise each year through donations and government funding.

What are some of the biggest wins you have had in the last year?

The Salvation Army is celebrating a new program called The Pathway of Hope that encourages families to sign up for intensive case management with a social worker. The idea is to encourage people to invest their time in a program that connects them with resources and helps support them on a path to a more stable future for themselves and their children. 

·         Another win we enjoyed this year: We received a $500,000 check in one of our red kettles in Rosemount, Minnesota during our Christmas Campaign. It was from an anonymous donor and it was the largest check ever dropped into a red kettle in the history of The Salvation Army. It made national and international news and gave us a much needed boost to our most important fundraising season.

Are there any upcoming events you want our readers to know about?

The MOST Amazing Race returns for the 11^th year in a row. This time the event is moving from July to September 24^th. It’s modeled after The Amazing Race on TV and it’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy a day of physical and mental challenges, compete for big prizes ($5000 is the top prize), all while raising money for a great cause. 


Can you tell us a little bit about your Youth Services?  What does it cover, who does it help, and what does the program look like?

We provide youth services ranging from licensed child care to after school programs, athletic teams and summer camps. The Salvation Army operates a youth shelter in St. Paul, and offers a youth-only food shelf, as well. In areas of outstate Minnesota and North Dakota, The Salvation Army delivers meals to children during the summer months through the Mobile Outreach Meals program. http://salvationarmynorth.org/community/mankato/community-news/free-or-low-cost-summer-meals-available/ In St. Cloud we have partnered with St. Cloud State University to help children who are homeless. The S.M.A.R.T. Kids program (Support and Mentor through Arts, Recreation and Tutoring) helps children talk about the realities of homelessness and helps to give them the skills to learn and thrive.  http://salvationarmynorth.org/2016/03/new-program-to-help-youth-of-homeless-families-cope/


Where can I find out more about the Salvation Army?

[The best way is to join us on the web]:   www.SalvationArmyNorth.org

How can I support Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army relies on generous donors and volunteers to serve the people of Minnesota and North Dakota. There are volunteer opportunities in every community all year round, you can find those here, or you can make a donation to support your local community. 

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  For more information about Salvation Army go to click here!  Thanks for your help!

You can also find out more about Salvation Army Northern Division on Social Media at

Facebook:  Salvation Army North

Twitter:  @salarmynorth 

Please help spread the word of this project!

Day 37: Odds and Ends

Day 37 Vitals:

Weight:  270 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast: 2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Lunch: Tomato Soup and Toast
Dinner: Tomato and Sweet Potatoes
Hangry Thought of the Day: Do not EVER nominate me for your Facebook Challenges!

We are now rapidly approaching the half-way point of Project Table for One.  So far so good.  I went looking through my pantry the other day and I actually have quite a bit of odds and ends that I should find some use for.  Here are some of the items I have in abundance:

• 1/2 bag of Flour (Week 1 Cub Foods)
• Possible Uses:  I would like to take another stab at baking bread.  But right now I tortillas, bread, and am making scones this week.  So I will take this venture on in the near future
• 1 full bag of black eyed beans (Week 0 Pantry Stocking)
• I have a recipe for these, but the last bunch of stores I have been at did not have ham hocks.  I will keep trying!
• Soy Sauce (Week 3 Wal-Mart)
• I picked this up as a flavoring agent based on the advice of the book Good and Cheap.  but I am trying to be mindful of my salt intake, so I have been avoiding it's use.  It's not that this is a BAD thing to pick up, I just don't need it.
• 1 LARGE pack of Hot Dogs (Week 4 COSTCO)
• I picked these up for cabin weekends.  So I will get to these shortly.  I think I just burned myself out on hot dogs the first few weeks.
• Baking Powder (Week 1 Cub Foods), Vanilla (Week 3 Wal-Mart), Brown Sugar (Week 0 Pantry)
• And lastly I have some odds and ends from Week 0 Pantry Stocking like a jar of Vindaloo sauce, some canned beans, a can of spicy corned beer.  Lots of fun stuff still out there.  

So what would you cook with these odds and ends?  Leave a comment below!

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en

Day 36: My $30 Budget At Trader Joe's

Day 36 Vitals:

Weight:  269 lbs.
Mood:  Exhausted
Water Consumed:  2 Nalgenes
Breakfast:Granola Bars
Lunch: Orange, Peanut Butter Sandwich
Dinner: Tomaote Soup and Toast
Hangry Thought of the Day: Just go the f%#@ to sleep kid!

Hey gang and welcome back.  Sorry for the long absence but I was up at the cabin again this week, with no internet.

So for today's articles I would like to talk about my trip to Trader Joe's.  

We are still good on proteins thanks to our Week 3 trip to COSTCO.  So for another week I get to go veggie heavy.  I also picked up ingredients to make some chocolate zucchini muffins.  I also got a couple of treats for the cabin, namely the bacon ends and the sparkling water.  So let's talk about the big wins for Trader Joe's!

• 2lb Bag of Sweet Potatoes $1.69:  I had the option of potatoes or sweet potatoes.  I went with the sweet potatoes just for a change up.
• 4 bags of frozen brussel sproutes $.99 ea.  Trader Joe's offers up a lot of great selections for frozen veggies and fruits.  I found these ones on sale and can't wait to stir-fry or grill these up!
• 2lb Gala Apples for $2.99.  While not the cheapest I have bought apples, I could still fit this into by budget, and they had a much better flavor then most of the other apples I have eaten in the past weeks.
• Small jar of Peanut Butter $1.99:  TJ's is known for pretty great peanut butter, this will make for some great convenience lunches.
• 1 dozen eggs $.99:  I didn't NEED eggs this week, but I picked them up because they are about $.29 cheaper then most other places.

Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi's.  Its pricing and business model show.  There are a lot of great deals to be had.  I had a BLAST shopping at Trader Joe's.  Not only did I get a lot of food, but I also got a lot of veggies for my dollar, and even a few treats.  It is hard to go wrong in a place like this.  It will be very interesting to to compare my experience with Aldi's next week.

With this weeks purchases I am hoping to make some of the a fore mentioned  muffins, another batch of scones, and stir-fried veggies.  Yum!

Don't forget, if you like this blog please help us in trying to end Childhood Hunger here in the Twin Cities.  Click the link the FINNEGANS logo in the right hand panel, and donate what you can.  Every dollar helps to reach our goal of $2,500 for this GREAT cause where 98% of your dollar will go back to the community!  Thanks for you help!

You can find us on the web at the following places:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tableforoneMN/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TableForOneMN?lang=en