Last week I set some pretty lofty goals for myself to push off on my quest to become an All Around Hot Momma. I think that I actually did a pretty decent job of following through on some of my ideas and I think I’ve started off on the right foot.

One of the best things I did this past week was either cook dinner or heat leftovers for dinner every single night. Even Friday night, when Tim was gone and it was just Aric and I, instead of going out for burgers like I’d originally planned, we stayed home, make a pizza, and had a picnic in the living room while watching Tangled. WE MADE MEMORIES!! YAYZERS!!

But seriously, it ended up being a really fun night, and we didn’t even leave the house (never mind that it was also below zero and I lost all desire to do anything but curl up on the couch and watch TV).

I will admit that this past weekend we had fast food twice: Mickey D’s breakfast on Saturday and Chipotle on Sunday. However, I paid for it with a surprise $80 check that came on Friday. So thank you, stupid oral surgeon’s office, for making me pay my ENTIRE bill up front before even charging my insurance. That extra money was super neato!

I also cooked up some tasty new meals! One night (I think it was Tuesday, but I honestly cannot remember) I made breaded chicken cutlets.

So crunchy, so yummy!

These were SUPER easy! I just a couple tablespoons of melted butter and mixed it with some garlic herb bread crumbs I found in the pantry. You know when you make a graham cracker crust with the graham cracker bits and butter? Same concept for this. I then coated some boneless, skinless chicken thighs with it, then baked it at 400* for about 20 minutes or so. I’m sure this would have tasted just as awesome with chicken breasts, but I had thighs available, and thighs I used!

The last night I made chili for the first time ever! I know, I know. It’s completely crazy that I have never in my life made a batch of chili. But I did it. And I mixed it with crushed Fritos, sour cream, and lots of shredded cheddar. It was the greatest bowl of warm happiness I have ever had!

…… until I ate a bean.

I must have a sensory disorder or SOMETHING when it comes to food. I cannot eat food that feels weird, so matter how tasty it might be. Mushrooms? Nope. Oysters? Hellz no. Any kind of bean? Kill me.

So when I took a bit with few Fritos, I felt the bean mushing itself through my mouth. And it was all over. I picked my way through the rest of the bowl, but it was ruined for me. Which really REALLY sucks cause it was SO GOOD for so long. Then that one, tiny bean had to come and ruin the party.

Jerk.

On a completely unrelated note: I made a discovery this week. Actually, saying that is like saying Columbus discovered America even though he didn’t and the vikings were there before him and the native Americans were there even before that. But that “discovery?”

Trader Joe’s.

I’ve long heard tales of this “Trader Joe’s.” The organic food. The ease in which one could find vegetarian, gluten free, and even vegan food. I’d heard all about it. There are several in the Twin Cities area, and lots of people in my office bring lunches from Trader Joe’s that look and smell so darn yummy.

But my brain went like this: Trader Joe’s = Whole Foods. Whole Foods = $$$$$$$$$$. Thus, Trader Joe’s = $$$$$$$$$.

But Friday afternoon, I’d had enough with all the talk. I had to see it for myself. I let Tim know of my quest. His response? “Isn’t that place really expensive?”

But I went. And oh man. Man oh man oh man. I must have looked like a darn FOOL in that store! I think I went up and down every single aisle three or four times, picking things up, looking at ingredients, then picking my jaw up off the ground when I saw the prices. I could not believe my eyes.

After loading up my cart with about a week or so worth of groceries and lots of snacks I went to the check out. The damage??

LESS THAN THE NORMAL COST OF A WEEK OF FOOD FROM OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE.

Let that sink in for a second.

Less. Than what I normally spend. For a week. Plus lots of snacks (which I don’t usually buy that much of). Including meats. And produce. And several “heat and eat” dinner choices for quick meals. (Though to be fair, I chose the non-organic options, although the organic options of everything weren’t really all that much more expensive)

I’m pretty sure I left brain matter at the check out from my mind blowing into a billion pieces.

Trader Joe’s? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?!?! I’m so, SO sorry I misjudged you so. I’m sure many people have the same common misconceptions that I once did, so can you find it in your heart to forgive me?

Judging by the taste of this Joe Joe I’m cramming down my face hole, I’m thinking he HAS forgiven me.

With one, simple trip to Trader Joe’s, I’ve worked on both my “STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY” goal and my “COOK MOAR FOODS” goal. I call that a win.

How was your week? Make any cool discoveries or cook any yummy meals?