Our annual block party was a success. I had everyone bring their own plates and cups. We practice zero waste. I also didn't want the cleanup. I set up a booth with face painting. I set out jacks, jump ropes, hula hoops, and bubbles.
Breakfast
We served quiches, french toast, and sausage patties. I also served fruit salad. Coffee and juice
Lunch
chicken salad rolls
veggie burgers
beef burgers
coleslaw
green salad
sheet cake
Drinks: Iced tea, lavender/mint lemonade
We had 20 families for both meals. Everyone brings chairs. I have the wireless speakers blaring. The cost was 125 dollars. The courtyard was a flurry of children playing, adults gossiping, etc. Of course, our new neighbors stopped by. Our new neighbor couldn't resist saying multiple nasty things. Mind you I didn't say a word when her children and husband came to the activities. A gentleman named Jim who works on the police force set her straight. His wife and I didn't get along at first. I couldn't stand their son or their dog. They had a German shepherd that was pretty mean. I marched both of them home more than once the first 6 months we lived here. He was working nights and they had newborn twins. She needed help. I happened to be very annoyed one day because I had a ton of schoolwork to get through before I picked up our children. His school had a 4 day week, and he was messing with stuff my husband had left out. I walked him home and informed him that I didn't want him in our yard. She started sobbing and the rest is history, we have been friends ever since.
Jim tells her that maybe just maybe she should remove a certain stick. He goes on to tell her that I am the one that keeps the neighborhood in check. I always know what is going on. We have a few rental properties that have needed to be kept in check. Property taxes have risen dramatically in Colorado.
You would think this new neighbor would check a clue. But, no, she began nitpicking every little thing about our party. I told her to go home and she is not invited to any of our functions. We have greater problems in this world than to draw attention to her pettiness. I smiled at her and left her with this, "Learn to be better and you will be better. " After she left, each one of our neighbors told me how nasty this woman had been to every one.
We had a problematic rental that our dear neighbors told me to go luck in getting anyone to do anything. We My husband told Bob to consider it done by the end of the day. I called the owner of the rental property in that voice I have when I want things done yesterday. The property was cleaned up. It was ridiculous how bad it was. Trash all over the place. People living in sheds and garages. The noise in the middle of the night. Their dog trying to get our bedroom window. I could go on and on. I had enough. I have an authoritative voice that I have called the voice equivalent of a resting bitch face.
I was back in the kitchen by 3 pm to complete my meal prep for the week.
pasta and couscous
roasted root vegetables
roasted a whole chicken
cooked lentils, chickpeas, and white beans
boiled a dozen eggs
made a gallon of soup
Meal plan for the week:
Breakfasts for the week:
Overnight pumpkin oats 2x
Green smoothies 7x
tofu scrambles 2x
breakfast burritos 1x
French toast casserole 1x
Everyone has the main breakfast dish, green smoothie, and sliced fruit.
Lunches:
Monday:
egg salad sandwiches
raw veggie tray
green smoothies
Tuesday
soup and sandwiches
Wednesday
pita pizzas with roasted vegetables
fruit smoothies
Thursday
Broccoli and cheddar soup
breadsticks
green salad
Friday:
pasta salad
apple slices
raw carrots and celery sticks with hummus
Saturday
Leftovers from freezer
DINNERS
Sunday
roast chicken dinner(roasted potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts)
cranberry sauce
Monday
loaded green salad with chicken, beans, and eggs
apples slices with yogurt dip
Tuesday
chicken and dumplings
fruit salad with coconuts, cherries, and almonds
Wednesday
lentil and pearl couscous salad(loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and red onion
shredded pork sandwiches
melon slices
Thursday
Lentil meatball marina pasta
green beans
green salad
Friday:
Cottage pie
green salad
oranges
Saturday:
Quiche
fruit salad
green salad
Totals for 21 meals for 4 people 117.00 This is for fresh produce, home canned items, bulk pantry, and spring garden items.
Snacks for the week:
homemade yogurts
popcorn
vegetable crackers
cheese and crackers
almonds
no bake cookies
price for snacks 8.50
I often use leftover protein from the freezer to cut down kitchen time. Colorado is sweltering in the late Spring, Summer, and into the Fall. I make it a point to get the hot work out of the way early.
We are blessed to have a full, beautiful life. Yes, we have unpleasantness at times with family members, neighbors, and typical stressors. At the end of the day, the unhappy moments, chapters never overshadow the joyous moments in life.
