Is there really anything more I need to say?
All posts by NerdMom
How to Carve a Turkey
Since this is Turkey Day I thought I should post this great hot to set of pictures from a NY Times article. This endorses taking off the whole breast and then slicing it, which I agree with.
Thanksgiving: A Celebration of Individual Rights
NerdDad found this great article by John Stossel over at RealClearPolitics about Thanksgiving. It point out that communal living spelled disaster for the Pilgrims and that it was only through individual land (and therefore production) that the Pilgrims were able to survive.
“So as it well appeared that famine must still ensue the next year also, if not some way prevented,” wrote Gov. William Bradford in his diary. The colonists, he said, “began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length after much debate of things, [I] (with the advice of the chiefest among them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves. … And so assigned to every family a parcel of land.”
If only they pointed that out in school.
Buying Meat, Size, Bones, etc
Since we are having the family Thanksgiving on Sunday, the NerdDad and I decided to have ham tomorrow. So today I went to the grocery store to buy a little 2 1/2lb ham to feed my little family. Man was it a shock! The little little boneless ham was $5/lb. Compare this with the shank ham that was only $1.49/lb but the smallest one was almost 10 and 1/2 lbs. Well, even counting the bone I got 7 1/2lbs of ham for only $4 additional. While it is more meat than I wanted, I will be able to freeze it and use it at other times.
Now looking at the price per pound doesn’t always equal a better deal. Previously I have looked at chicken breasts with ribs for $1.79/lb versus $1.99/lb for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Now comparing those the boneless, skinless breasts actually are a better deal. Not only do you get them already to be cooked, you don’t pay for the bone and skin. That actual cost of the bone and skin may be greater than the price difference.
Separately, bigger and cheaper doesn’t always make a better deal either. When given the choice between the size you can use versus a bigger yet cheaper per pound package, you need to analyze yourself. Are you over all paying more? If so do you have a plan for the leftovers? Is there enough for another complete meal? If not, that extra meat/cost is going in the garbage and you would be better off buying exactly what you need.
So there you have somethings you should look at when spending your meat budget at the grocery store.
Weird Al Hilarity
Faithful readers will remember when I posted the actual “White and Nerdy” Video last year but here is the first take. As a childhood Donny Osmund fan I found this extra funny. He is very white but I would probably use Dweeby more than Nerdy as a descriptor. I don’t know how many other Donny and Weird Al fans are out there but I know at least my girl Sue would get a kick out of it. So Sue, here it is for you!
Greatest Political Ad Ever!
Meal Plan Monday
Here it is! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.
Monday: Breaded Chicken, Fried potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine, Broccoli
Wednesday: Cube Steak, Beer Bread, Broccoli
Thursday: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Broccoli
Friday: Spaghetti, Broccoli
Have a great week!
This Makes You Both Look Bad
I guess Brittany Spears is a wiser mother than someone. Sorry, just typing that line gave me chills. Heidi Klum, in an interview, said that Brittany Spears told her about the tabs on the side of the diapers (or the little sticky things). Before that she was tying string around her kid. Now they had this conversation when Spears crashed Klum’s Halloween party.
So who looks worse in this exchange?
(HT: Rocks in My Dryer)
Freezer Friday: No Boil, Ready for the Freezer, Spinach Lasagna
Welcome to the first Freezer Friday. Basically, I am looking for make ahead food that is cooked, frozen, then reheated. Please include freezing and reheating instructions. Come back each and every week for this new feature!
This recipe is a crowd favorite. It makes a huge lasagna that it great for left overs. It is easy and quick.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 qt. spaghetti sauce
1 lb. ground beef (cooked)
1 c. water
1 (15 oz.) container Ricotta
1 egg, beaten
16 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese(divided)
1/3 c. water
3/4 c. Parmesan cheese (divided)
1 tbsp. parsley flakes
Dash nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
1 lb. Frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
1 box of lasagna noodles(I usually only use 2/3rds)
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Mix meat, 1 quart of sauce and water in a saucepan and heat to boiling. In a large bowl mix together Ricotta cheese, beaten egg, 8 oz of Mozzarella cheese, 1/3 cup water, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, spinach and nutmeg. Add salt and pepper if desired. Rinse your lasagna noodles in hot water. Then prepare to assemble.
Assembly:
In a 9 x 13 pan place a little sauce to cover the bottom. Then place enough noodles to cover (usually 3-4). Then some of your cheese mixture. Then sauce, noodles and cheese again until you have used all your cheese mixture (usually 2 layers of cheese). Then pour extra sauce over the top (since your noodles aren’t boiled, they need plenty of moisture). Then sprinkle 1/2 of parmesan and a generous amount of mozzarella (you may not use all of the remaining 8 oz.) over the top. Make sure you don’t see edges of the noodles poking out to avoid hard edges.
The cover with aluminum foil and bake 40 minutes. Then uncover and bake another 15 minutes. Then remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 -10 minutes.
Freezer Option: After assembled wrap in aluminum foil and freeze. Thaw overnight in fridge and then cook for 50 minutes at 350 degrees, uncover and cook for another 15 minutes and let sit 5-10 minutes.
This is a great make ahead dish! Go enjoy!
Aloha Friday Question
So An Island Life has Aloha Friday. To play you post a question and people answer it for you in the comments. So here it goes…….
What is your favorite junk tv show (ie no learning shows)?