Spring, Asparagus, and Ditalini… What???

This is ditalini…..

Everybody is talking about spring.

Wondering if winter is ever going to let go here in Virginia. Looking forward to warmer weather and longer days. I think I’ve mentioned spring in all my blogs this week.

It’s also asparagus season. I haven’t heard anyone talking much about that.

I know I haven’t heard anyone talking about ditalini.

Well, I love asparagus, and I want to start an asparagus bed this year. Which means I want the ZMan to start an asparagus bed this year.

So, in the spirit of celebrating spring, asparagus, and ditalini and looking forward to warmer weather, I made this lovely asparagus ditalini pasta salad this week.

Asparagus Ditalini Pasta Salad

1 box of ditalini pasta
1 bunch of asparagus – chopped
¼ cup of good olive oil
1 can of dark red kidney beans – drained and rinsed
1 can of artichoke hearts in brine – drained and lightly chopped
2 red bell peppers – chopped
1 can of large olives – sliced in half
1 ½ cup of feta cheese – crumbled
Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil pasta by box instructions. Don’t forget to salt the pasta water. In the last 2 minutes of the boiling time add the asparagus. Drain and let cool. Transfer pasta and asparagus to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

I like using ditalini pasta for this salad because the chopped asparagus is the same shape and size as the pasta.

This is a great summer salad for entertaining as it does not have mayonnaise to worry about spoiling.

The measurements don’t have to be exact (it’s a salad) and you can add more or less of any ingredient if you choose.

This is another recipe where I have to suggest using a really good olive oil. It really makes a difference.

Serving this with some grilled lemon chicken…. Well, YUM!!!

I suppose this is my attempt to will warmer weather our way… As I look out the window and the snow is falling and we already have about 3 inches on the ground.

Oh well, let them eat ditalini.

Y’all Take Care!

Lori

Wednesday Waste

I have a confession to make…. I haven’t done a very good job at taking pictures for our blog when I should be. I find myself breezing through recipes or the fun things we do and forgetting to take pictures.

I’ll do better I promise… ’cause I know our lifestyle is of the utmost importance to you 🙂

I did have a few things I had to toss this week.

A few salad greens. I had bought a “huge” container of them on sale and we did really good at eating them up, but didn’t finish all of them, obviously.

We also tossed some leftover spaghetti sauce with 3 meatballs and about 1 cup of mexican dip. (no picture, sorry) It got pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about.

I have been focusing lately on waste outside of just food related waste. What I mean is I’ve been trying not to use disposable items when I can very easily use something more sustainable.

For example when I’m packing our lunches, even if it’s just granola or chips, they go into a reusable container instead of a plastic baggie. Although, I will admit that I have no problem washing crumbs out of a plastic baggie and reusing it, but at some point it has to be tossed out.

Or if I’m baking a dish that needs to be covered, instead of using foil I use one of my aluminum baking sheets.

Less waste and saving money. By the way, have you noticed the price of aluminum foil lately? WOW!

I love these storage containers and have a few sets of them.

About a year ago I decided that I was sick of all the stained and melted plastic containers falling out of the cabinet when I opened the door, so I’ve been gradually switching to the glass Pyrex containers. I love them! You don’t have to worry about the microwave melting or staining them and they should outlast any other storage containers I’ve had… ok, provided that I don’t drop them.

I do still use the hard plastic storage containers (like these) for freezing foods, because I don’t like to freeze a glass container.

So, it’s not just about the food being tossed in the trash. I’m really trying to cut back on all the waste in our lives. We have a long way to go.

Like everything else, it’s a process.

Y’all take care.

Lori

Looking Forward…

I love our wood stove, but I have to tell you that when I was spring cleaning this weekend, washing curtains and wiping down the walls I wasn’t feeling the love….

I was thinking about this…

I think we are all ready for some better weather, flip flops, grilled dinners and relaxing in the warmth of summer.

Yep, I’m looking forward to it!!!

Don’t forget about my giveaway… check out last Friday’s post and enter to win.

Y’all take care!

Lori

Monday Money (week 4)

We have established our foundation. We are now keeping our checking account balanced, we are tracking our spending regularly (which means daily), and we are making sure our bills are getting paid on time by following our budget that we made.

Very Cool! Right?

Now we need to talk about savings. I’ve always saved money a little bit here and there, but I’ve never been serious about it the way I should’ve been.

And, when I think about all the money I’ve wasted over the years on stuff that meant nothing or even worse, on stuff that I don’t even have anymore, it honestly gives me a sick feeling.

I follow the same plan that I told you about in weeks 1, 2 and 3 of Monday Money. I make sure my checking account is balanced. I track my spending. And, I write down all my bills, when they are due and for at least 3 months in advance. I even write down on my budget each week how much I need for groceries and even gas for the car.

Now, let’s get back to saving money. As I said, I never took it serious. I mean I participated in the retirement plans at my jobs, but that was about it.

I’m more serious about our financial future now…

Every pay period I have a percentage of my gross income directly deposited into 2 separate saving accounts.

Savings #1: This saving account is for catastrophic events such as a job loss or illness.

The goal for Savings #1 should be 6 months worth of living expenses. Don’t forget to include groceries and gas in that amount.

Savings #2: This savings account always has a rotating balance because it is for those expenses that tend to sneak up on you, like auto insurance, personal property taxes, Christmas, or vacations.

The plan for Savings #2 is to make a list of those expenses that you know are going to come. Then take that list and determine each one’s due date. Divide the amount due by the number of pay periods you have left until that due date.

For example. If I plan to spend $1000 at Christmas (which is 8 1/2 months away) and I get paid monthly then I know I need to save about $118 a month in order to have that money for Christmas.

I also know that if I don’t save that money monthly that I will not have $1000 for Christmas. Because last time I checked I did not have a money tree in the back yard and I’ve never seen $1000 just fall from the sky into my hand in December.

Planning and saving for those expenses through the year keeps us from running up credit card debt or any other debt.

I believe the 4 steps for taking control of our financial future are:

Knowing exactly how much money you have
Knowing exactly how much your monthly bills and living expenses are
Tracking your spending regularly
Paying yourself FIRST (saving as much of your money as you can)

One of the most important factors to saving your money is creating the habit of saving. It didn’t matter that I had to start out with a small dollar amount going into savings. What mattered was that I created a habit of saving.

And, yep you know it…. that’s one habit I have no intentions of quitting!

Y’all take care!

Lori