To
Market…
©
“The ants are not a strong folk, but they prepare their food in the summer … “ Proverbs 30:25
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© Pretty Prairie Designs 2015 Published by Mennonite Press, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-9963474-0-2
Welcome to the world of organized shopping! I n the busy lives we lead these days, organization can make all the difference; even in the task of meal planning and shopping! This shopping tool is designed with you in mind. Life holds enough tasks and clutter - efficiency and simplicity are golden! If you utilize the layout of the grocery lists, you will likely spend less time backtracking through the store for overlooked items! And as you review each category when making out your list, you may be reminded of an item you need to add. Using a working “weeklyâ€? list, can save you a significant amount of time spent on remembering and jotting down those everyday consumables that you shop for on a regular basis. It is also a good idea to maintain a list of staples that you like to have on hand in the pantry and freezer. May these pages bring ease to your shopping experience, and spare you some time and frustration! Look for additional tips in the next section ‌
Happy Shopping!!
T he “Skinny” on Weights & Measures ... 1 fluid oz. = 2 tablespoons (T.) = 30 milliliters (ml.) 2 T. = 1/8 cup (c.) = 1 fluid ounce (oz.) 1 T. = 3 teaspoons (t.) 1 cup = 8 fluid ounce 2 cups = 1 pint = 16 fluid oz. 2 pints = 1 quart (qt.) = 32 oz. 4 pints = 1/2 gallon = 64 oz. 4 quarts = 1 gallon 1 liter = 1 qt. = 4 cups 1 pound (lb.) = 16 oz. (dry measure)
(Note: Next time a recipe calls for 2 cups of canned fruit, you’ll know what size of can you need!)
Fresh Take on Grilling … These Mediterranean-inspired burgers have become a summer favorite of ours on the grill. Fresh herbs, including basil and mint, make the flavor pop with freshness!
“Grillers” (affectionately named by my daughter and me) 3 lb. ground beef 1 medium onion, finely chopped 3 medium garlic cloves, minced ½ - ¾ c. bread crumbs (I estimate a scant ¼ c. per pound of meat.) You may also use oats or rice krispies.
2 eggs ½ c. milk Salt and pepper, ½ t. each, approx. One handful of the following fresh herbs, finely chopped: - Basil (or sage) - Mint - Italian Parsley (You may substitute 1 T. dry herbs) (Optional: 1 T. balsamic vinegar, or 2 T. tomato paste or ketchup and 1 T. Worchester sauce) Mix ingredients into ground beef, carefully, so as not to overwork the meat.
Tip: If you have everything measured into prep bowl before handling meat, it will be easier to add beef at the last and do your mixing. Divide into about 12 patties or sausages. Grill for 14-15 minutes over medium flame, turning patties after 7 minutes, or sausages every 3-4 minutes, until all sides are browned and the middle is cooked through. Kid Duty: Employ the youngsters to pour in ingredients. Then they can don some disposable plastic gloves and have fun mixing it all together. They can form the shapes; if you have to modify a little, that’s okay. It’s a sort of play dough! Here are a couple of suggested sides – fresh and light for a hot summer’s eve!
Sweet Potato Fries Preheat oven to 450 degrees (or roast on the grill in an outdoor grill pan.) 3 large sweet potatoes, cut into wedges, desired length 1 t. garlic powder 1 t. paprika or chili powder 1 t. dried oregano (or 1 T. each of a chopped, fresh herb) 1 t. dried basil Salt and pepper, ½ t. each (depends on preference) 2 T. olive oil In large bowl, sprinkle seasonings and oil over sweet potatoes, and lightly toss to coat. Spread onto a cookie sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes, turning once.
Fresh Melon and Berry Salad with Mint Just sprinkle mint leaves over a bowl of fresh melon pieces and berries, i.e. honeydew and watermelon along with blueberries and blackberries. For a tangy finish, lightly drizzle with balsamic vinegar, regular or raspberry! Cool off with a refreshing limeade and a hint of mint!
Fresh Minty Limeade 1 c. sugar 1 c. water
10-12 limes (or 1 ½ c. bottled lime juice) 4-6 mint sprigs
Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a low boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar so it doesn’t burn. Once sugar is dissolved, remove from heat, and add two or three mint sprigs to infuse flavor into your simple syrup. Remove sprigs after 10-15 minutes, and allow syrup to cool. Meanwhile, cut limes in half and juice; pour juice into a pitcher for serving, straining to catch seeds. Spoon any leftover pulp into pitcher if you’d like. Add 3 cups cold water along with 3 cups ice, then slowly add simple syrup. Be sure to add your simple syrup last, if it is still rather warm; otherwise, you could crack your cold pitcher (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything!). When ready to serve, add a few sprigs of mint to the pitcher for appeal! In each glass, you can add a mint sprig that you’ve muddled or rubbed together to release flavor. Just rub enough to release fragrance, not bruise the leaves. You can also add about ¼ t. baking soda to each serving for a little fizz and an ever faint saltiness to your drink. It’s good, trust me!
Menu Ideas I
find it helpful to keep a working list of menu ideas. It
saves time and brain power!
Breakfasts:
(Tip: For a great start to your day that will carry you through the morning, include a protein, whole grain, and fruit!)
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(Tip: Nice time of day to eat higher calorie foods,
i.e. pastas)
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Dinners:
(I keep a seasonal working list, such as grilling ideas for the summer; soups for the fall; hearty comfort foods for the winter; dishes for the spring that involve early vegetables like asparagus, potatoes, peas, etc.)
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Snacks/Appetizers:
(Tip: A favorite Sunday evening meal in our home is a big bowl of guacamole and cheese quesadillas; or a meat and cheese plate with crackers and fresh veggies.)
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Grocery Tip... Summer Produce Prep When you bring fresh summer produce home from the market, wash it, so that it’s ready to eat and less likely to go uneaten and rot in the crisper drawer – I’ve learned: “Out of sight out of mind”, and the poor things expire! I used a simple mixture of ½ vinegar, ½ water to wash my produce. If you place your munching fruits and veggies in pretty bowls or colanders front and center in the fridge, they won’t go ignored! Reserve a few of your older kitchen towels for drying your produce – ones that you don’t mind absorbing a few raspberry or spinach stains; and you won’t have to waste so many paper towels!
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Herbs … All the Benefits! Herbs are wonderful multipurpose plants.
They are beautiful, delicious, and healthy! What more could you want in a plant?! An easy way to grow them is in a big planter in a sunny spot, just outside your kitchen door – for easy access! Fertilize with left over coffee or tea (liquid or grounds), keep them watered, and you’ll have tasty herbs to harvest all season long!!!
A Garden for the Kiddos … Help your kids create a fairy garden of their own in a spot in the garden or in a container. My favorite is a galvanized tub – drill some holes in the bottom for drainage. Let them pick out some herbs and other small plants for trees and shrubs in their garden; then they can have fun creating all kinds of fun miniature décor for their fairy world! Show them how to water and fertilize (with coffee or tea) like you do your own herb garden. A fun project to keep them busy! Buy some ready-made mini pizza crusts, pizza sauce, and cheese. With their little scissors, they can clip some herbs from their garden, and make their own personal pizzas!
Other Tips... Use the following pages as a reference guide for your favorite products, such as a preferred brand of an item or a certain flavor you would like to remember; it may be a list of your favorite wines or sauces. Perhaps you want to make a note of where a certain item is located (that you never seem to be able to find when you’re in a hurry!) Another idea is to maintain a list of other errands you need to run; then, you have all of your “on-the-go” lists in one spot! This would be a great place to keep a record of paint colors or window measurements, of battery sizes and quantities needed for cameras, toys, clocks, etc., and sku numbers of printer cartridges! You may find a portion of these pages a convenient place for listing gift ideas or other sundry items to keep in mind while on the go. If you note the products you see or ideas you pick up while you are out, then you are able remember what specifically you saw and where to find those items when you are ready to make a purchase! For instance, I keep a working list of birthday and holiday gift ideas in this section. The sections are listed as such: * “My Favorite Things …” * To Get and Gift * Errands (Complete with shopping strategy tips!) * Mileage Record Charts on the final pages
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