Kroger - 5/4/11

I didn't need a ton this week, but there were a few staples I ran out of today and will the first day of a Mega Deal sale, it made sense to go!

Bananas
*(2) Freschetta Pizzas, $2/1 coupon + $1.50/1 coupon (not pictured)
*Minute Maid OJ
*Crystal Light Drink Mix
*Dannon Yogurt
*(2) Blue Diamond Almonds, $.50/1 coupon (doubled to $1 off)
*Reach toothbrush, $1/1 coupon (made it FREE)
*Sponge pack, $1/1 coupon
*Silk Almond Milk, $.75/1 coupon

*$5 off order when you buy 10 participating items

Total Value: $42.52
Total Spent: $18.89
Total Saved: $23.63 (57%)

Bon Ami

Bon Ami is French for "good friend," and good friend we had at there Sunday for lunch. This weekend, our family friend, Medea, came in town and stayed with my parents for a wonderful weekend. After church on Sunday and going around and around about where to eat, I suggested we just go to a place I know the food is always good, Bon Ami.

Why, you say is the food so good or what is it that's out of this world? This, my good friends, is why:

Southwestern Ravioli 

Black bean and corn ravioli, served with an oven-roasted chicken breast in an ancho chili black bean sauce

I'm a die hard fan of this dish. Since I was in middle school, this is the dish I crave and almost single-handedly, the only meal I order.

While Mississippi Magazine readers always choose some dessert at Char as the best dessert in the state (and I refute is one of the most uninteresting desserts I've eaten), this, to me, is the best out there. It says it best in the description as "rich and sinful."

Caramel Brownie

Served with a scoop of coffee ice cream and topped with toasted almonds

While I don't see a single almond on the plate, it was fantastic.

Now, you see, the food is good for my soul, but I will say the service is touch and go. At one point it almost looked like we had two waiters trying to do damage control when soup and salads never arrived. Where service is lacking, the food comes back and reminds you why you're there. It'd be great if they'd put in some acoustic tiles while they're at it.

But for all intensive purposes, it's one of the best meals you can get around town, whether you're in the "ladies who lunch" set or just going with your bon amis.

Two for Two

I am two for two on the no grocery shopping on Sunday front. I think I may have had dinner at home once last week, so I've still got a fridge full of groceries! But, I'll show you a little of what I've had going on this past week...

 Friday night, I went to an event at Erin's church, which was really cool and right up my alley- a coffee tasting! Erin is going on a mission trip this summer to Guatamela to help La Armonia Hermosa and will actually be helping the coffee farmers. She is selling the coffee at her church and it is ridiculously good. Their direct trade is also another huge component to the mission. When I say it's some of the best coffee I ever had, it really is. 

We got a good coffee lesson and I can tell you there are two types of coffee beans: robusta (grown in lower elevation, grow more abundantly, grow faster) and arabica (grown on the mountains at higher elevation, takes years longer to grow). As you can probably tell, robusta is what is sold by your big box stores because it's produced so cheaply. These farmers grow arabica and there's no question it tastes better!

 Probably the most interesting part was the decanter that Paul, the owner of Bean Fruit Coffee used. I wish I had taken photos, but I was too busy watching!

Erin did an awesome job with the flowers. I've been obsessed with these tulips in jars since I took this photo.

Yesterday, Erin and I had a meeting at my church to attend and when we got out at 1:30, we were starving. Surveying our options, we choose our good old friend, Julep. Sometimes you just need that Rosemary Fried Chicken, right?

 And that goat cheese. Oh, the goat cheese.

When we were eating, I told Erin this was probably the biggest meal I've eaten in three weeks.  I have to admit, that my body just can't handle the fried food anymore. It makes me miserable. Let's just say that two pills and a few hours laying around my parents' house later, I was still miserable.

This morning, I felt so much better. I wish my gym was open on Sundays, because with a new work out playlist (created when I got home Friday night and could not sleep because of that coffee) I was motivated to get out the door. So, I took an awesome walk/run (and I mean 5% run) around the neighborhood.

I even saw a Kitty Gang!

 Love my neighborhood. It's full of historic homes (it's one of the more intact historic neighborhoods in the city and state), so I love walking around, looking at all the homes. I got home just as it started to mist outside.

Now I'm at home enjoying my Pig in a Poke (or Egg in a Hole for all you weirdos). Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

The Boys Are Back In Town

Guess who's in town for a few days?

The Rhodes boys (and Whitney, too)! I had to work, but I kept getting photos all day from my mom. They went to the zoo...

Tapirs, my favorite

Yesterday they even went to Babalu! Liam was the guardian of the chips. I heard that he ate a lot of them himself.

Last night, we got together for dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. (Cary, this photo's for you. RJ and Sally Kate say hello!)

We had Mexican Quinoa Casserole, which was a HUGE hit. It serves so much!

It was all so good! I'm so glad they got to come here for Spring Break. There's really a lot to do in Jackson once you start looking. (If you don't know what to do, that's my job, so you come to me and I'll show you around!)

Easter Review

I honestly had a great Easter. Between getting settled into my new old church (I have started going back to my grandparents' church, if you didn't know) and seeing family, it really made the holiday that much easier. This was the first holiday we had without my Papaw, but he was really there in spirit.

Somehow, I have been able to keep the Yarrow alive since the funeral, so I took it to put on the cross at the church for Easter. It was really sweet to see it all up there. 

After church, I headed to my parents' house to grab the dishes of food to take to my aunt and uncle's house and to see what the Easter Bunny left me!

He was extra generous this year...

Festive tables

 Lots of good food. Ham, Chicken Tetrazzini, Green Bean Casserole, Red Hot and Blue Potato Salad...

 Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar, Peas

 Two recipes of Deviled Eggs

It's making me hungry just thinking about it! It was wonderful to have family in town.

Now, we've got more family in town for the week. More on that later!

Kroger - 4/25/11

I have to say, days off right after a holiday are the best. Granted, I'd like to say I had the day off for Civil Rights Memorial Day instead of Confederate Memorial Day (that measure died in committee this legislative session). But, my body just can't accept holidays and still gets up at 6:50, so I've gotten a lot done already today. Worked on a freelance piece, went to the gym (so I technically went to work because I parked in my space at the office, right?), and made my way to Kroger.

(2) Cans Dole Pineapple, $1/2 coupon
(3) Green Giant frozen veggies
Ground turkey
Cantaloupe
Tresemme Dry Shampoo, $1/1 coupon (for the gym, since I work out during lunch and hate the sweat!)
Jiffy corn muffin mix
Sweet potatoes
Bananas
Pillsbury Sugar-Free Brownie Mix, $.35/1 coupon (doubled to $.70 off)
Tidy Cat Litter, $1/1 coupon
Spinach
(4) Yogurt
Glade Candle, FREE coupon I received in the mail

Total Value: $35.77
Total Spent: $23.87
Total Saved: $11.90 (35%)

Easter Sunday

Normally right about now you'd be seeing a grocery trip for the day, but because it's Easter, I've got the (grocery) day off! I have to say, I'm a little excited about it. Usually there's a big rush on Sunday for me to get out the door, shop, photograph, blog, shower and eat breakfast all before church at 10:30. It's been fun to just enjoy the morning (which I normally don't get to do because of work and opening at the Drip most Saturdays).

So, right now I'm enjoying my breakfast on the couch with the latest Pottery Barn catalog that was sent to a previous tenant. Eating a slice of Great Harvest Whole Wheat Goodness with mashed banana split because I couldn't decide which nut butter to use (if I were on Twitter, this is where I would say #firstworldproblems)... so I did a teaspoon of peanut butter and a teaspoon of almond butter on their respective halves. 

Off to make a green bean casserole for Easter lunch! Hope the Easter Bunny was kind to you...