Sandwich Making, Fruit & Garden Update

A while back, something like 2 + months I saw this idea on a blog and now I can't remember what one is was. So if you read my blog and this was your idea it is ingeniousness. When we went up to Coco's she had already taken the idea into action. I have had it done for a while now and this is an amazing time saver.

I keep the mustard's, mayo, miracle-whip, jelly, jam and lunch meat. This way when you want to make a sandwich it is all there. 

 This is it in the refrigerator. One of the biggest things I have noticed is how it frees up room from the door and keeps things nice and organized. 

Recently I finished reading this book "Fit For Life NOT FAT For Life"

Really good book. Very motivating to eat healthier, information about nutrients in food and how our bodies work in simple form to understand.

I have been eating clean but fell off eating enough fruits and veggies as I was before. 

My body was feeling it so I started pushing to get them back into my daily eating.

 Went to Sprout's today for some yummy fruits and veggies. 

I spend almost half of the weekly grocery budget on these. 

Today I got the following: 

Romaine lettuce (5 heads), black plums, 2 bags if red grapes, plum tomatoes, 

nectarines, Gala apples, 2 avocados  but wait there's more

 Small package of blueberries, 2 containers of strawberries, cantaloupe, 

cauliflower, navel oranges, onions, 2 English cucumbers and 4 cucumbers.

All of this for $52.70. Pure yummieness ! 

 Now onto the update on my garden.

SNIFF SNIFF I am sad to say that my garden is soooooo sad.

The squash bugs killed, yes killed all of my cantaloupe, spaghetti squash, zucchini, and all of my pumpkins

except for this sweet little one that was rescued. 

 On a brighter note my loofah is going a little crazy. This one is on the side of my raised bed.

 The yellow blossoms are all loofah. The vine has crawled all over the fence.

 Another one that is huge. To the right is my first sunflower that died, yet there are a bunch growing at the base of it. 

Even though my garden didn't flourish the way I wished it had it was a 

growing (excuse the pun) experience for me.  

If anyone has any idea of how to deal with the squash bugs I would love to hear. 

My garden is fully organic. I used the organic powder to take care of them and the soap spray but it didn't do the trick. 

A little late getting my winter garden in but it is still in the 90's here so I think 

that I still have time to get it in. 

So glad it is Friday today. Ready for a relaxing evening and watching Blue Bloods.

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Request In Comment Section

 On Saturday May 26Th I posted about the Bountiful Baskets and my sweet friend Megan requested that I post about what I will be using all the veggies and fruit . I will do my best with this.
 I serve at least 2 veggies with dinner, cooked or raw depending on what we are having. Trying to add more colors to get the maximum of all the nutrients into my families diet.
 I have made a huge salad with the lettuce. I chop it, put it in a salad spinner and then add all the goodies to it. I place it in the refrigerator with a moist paper towel and cover with foil. It will last for almost a week this way. If I want it to last longer I would leave out all the added goodies (nuts, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs). Also since this is a darker green leaf lettuce I will also use these in my juice.
 Oranges I like chilled, skin cleaned off and then cut in sections in the fridge for snacks or put on the table for lunches & dinner.
 The cantaloupe cut up and ready to eat. Same with the pineapple.
Pineapple is great in smoothies or use them with Hawaiian Haystacks.
I use at least 2 apples a day in my juice, plus snacking on.
The artichokes will be boiled and eaten with dinner, dipped into some butter with a little garlic. Cooked and put on pizza or added to pasta .
Orange peppers are so yummy to be grilled, chopped and added to omelets, or my favorite is just cut up with a  little salt and dipped into ranch. I have some pre-cut for the week for snacking on. You could also stuff these with a meatloaf filling and cook. Alan doesn't like peppers so I don't make them for us.
 Potatoes will be used for home made fries. 1 potato per person is usually enough. Cut up in to wedges, dredge in oil, placed on a cooking sheet season or salt very well then cook at 450 for about 35 min. or more till done to your liking.
 I cooked up some of the corn for our cook-out on Memorial Day. I will be grilling the rest for dinner this week.
 Tomatoes I LOVE! I enjoy adding these to sandwiches when I have them, slicing them for salad, you can hallow these out saving the insides, make a chicken salad, add the insides to it and stuff the tomatoes with it. YUMMY! I like sliced tomato with a little sea salt and just munch on for a snack.
 I know this is a lot of basic things but I love having the fresh veggies and fruit.
 I have cut WAY back on having pre-made snack garbage in my house with more fruits and veggies. The family is getting use to having to make things to eat instead of just getting something from a box then being hungry 10 to 15 min. later.
 All of these micro nutrients that are in the fruit and veggies are so important.
 I suggest of those who have Netflix watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. It is a great documentary. Now I am not a vegan but I am limiting my meat intake upping my veggies and fruit to a good portion of my daily intake.
 If anyone has any question, thoughts or suggestions I would love to hear from you. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Fruit and Veggies Galore

Today I went to the Ranch Market and got some veggies and fruit. I have been eating mostly oranges and feeling a little deprived on the fruit front. I got all of this wonderful fresh and mostly organic food for $32. The potatoes are 20lbs. for $3.99. What a smoking deal ! This should get us through this next week. I am working on my menu for next week so I better go. Have a great evening! Hugs, Bobbi Jo