Today I set out to make a grocery list and a menu that reflects a tighter budget. I think I have come up with some good recipes that will please the budget and palate. One goal is also to make a few new recipes each week. Another goal is to make at least two recipes that make a lot so that they can be frozen and stored for later meals. These frozen meals are to be used for lunches and when I don't feel like it or can't make a meal. So far these meals have also served the purpose of helping out the food budget in giving me some nights off from making dinner since we can not go out to eat while on this tight budget. This paycheck I finally stayed on my food budget and got a well deserved pat on the head from my hubby who now sees all the hard work that goes into planning and cooking these meals. I think all these years he took me for granted: but, now that we are not only on a tight budget, a restricted diet, and trying to loss weight, he sees that trying to plan healthy meals and have them cooked and on the table when he gets home every night is a gift to him. There was a period of about seven years when my shoulders and back where injured when he had to come home and help cook the evening meal after a tiring day of work. He soon learned that what I had done for him all those years was something special, but he had never ever thanked me for it much less helped with the dished with out complaining. Then he had to do it all because I couldn't. Suddenly, he saw my value I guess because now he comes home and says thank you for cooking dinner and helps with the dishes after dinner and even enjoys it. He now even talks to others about my cooking and how proud of me he is that I come up with meals for him. I asked him why the change ? He pretty much told me what I thought. The Lord did a work in him when he lost what he had. When I started to lose weight and get off the pain killers and go the physical therapy my life started to change. I began to get my life back and so did my husband. I am now back in the kitchen cooking up creations like last nights vegan straganoff which he took to work and bragged about. My life has changed a lot in these past three years because I was willing to see I needed to change. Somehow, my changing myself, has changed my husband who is now on a diet and has now faced his demon, our finances. Today I am so thankful that the Lord has changed me both in my body, but also in my mind, my soul, and in my heart because look at the other people in my life who have benefited from this change. Today, look at the change in your life and how it has effected the people around you. Let it be an encouragement to continue your diets and the jobs you are doing today.
Have a good day.
PS> The mashed potato recipe is on yesterday's blog