Scattered Sundays
Phew, we survived a road trip with both kids! Which is a miracle considering how bonkers three-year-olds are and how irrationally upset Jack gets about Bennett’s bizarre preschooler behavior.
Jack’s moral compass is quite rigid. Unless it involves his own actions…
We got to Canada on Monday, and then promptly got lost when Google maps decided to take us to the ferry via a walking route. Yeesh.
It was totally worth it though when we finally got to the coast and met up with Katie. Niko, her three-year-old and Bennett were initially like dogs sniffing each other out, trying to determine domination.
By the end of the trip, however, they bonded and I believe they have both made friends for life.
With all the strife going on in the world these days, let us all look to three-year-olds for how to handle true international diplomacy. 🙂
Speaking of kiddos, my baby-crazy 10-year-old was a favorite of Katie’s little guy. Jack was pretty much Odin’s baby sitter while we were busy cooking.
The second night we were there, Troy made his world-famous hamburgers for Katie’s family. She had a chipotle black bean burger because she is vegetarian.
While Troy was busy grilling, Katie made me vegetarian poutine! She made these Crispy Potato Wedges, using cheese curds called Squeakers (which made me laugh each time I saw it) and drizzled this Vegan Gravy over everything. It was amazing! And I can’t emphasize enough that I don’t actually like gravy, so saying it was great is high praise.
While cooking, we snacked on local cheese, Buffalo Hummus, and our favorite salsa that we brought along.
Katie’s mom opened her deep freeze for me and let me have a tiny version of the Pantry/Freezer Challenge. I scavenged a gallon of blackberries (related: How to Freeze Blackberries) and made a blackberry version of this Gluten Free Crisp for dessert. Which leftovers were turned into breakfast the next morning.
In hilarious irony, I brought her mom these silicone freezer bags as a hostess gift. Their community doesn’t have curbside recycling, so they’re very aggressive in reducing their waste (yay!), and those freezer bags are the star of my Zero Waste Food Storage options.
Jack LOVED his new Kindle for (free) library books and a few downloaded movies. The price is still really low and they’re still offering 3 Kindle Fires for $110. Check back tomorrow for Prime Day sales to see if they drop the price even more!
This week I noticed that Thrive Market is now offering 1% cash back with ebates (now called Rakuten). This is new and of course, it was added after I placed my last order. Always the way things go, huh?
What happens when you tell your firefighter husband you feel dizzy.
Bennett starts his new preschool this coming week for summer camp. I’m sending him three times a week for a full day. He still naps, so we’ll see how this all goes down.
He’s super excited, and as always, the biggest “cool” factor about it is bringing his own lunchbox (we bought this Yumbox for Jack in 2014 and now Bennett uses it). As it is a Montessori school, Bennett also gets to bring his slippers to school and he thinks that is hilarious.
et tu Bennett?
When I was at the Everything Food Conference in May, I talked with the Mealthy people during a brand discussion. You guys, these people came out with a lid that turns your pressure cooker into an air fryer. Hand to God.
If you already have a pressure cooker and want an air fryer but don’t want one more appliance, this lid will solve all your problems! It was so cool to use and I joked it was like a safe little tanning bed for my food.
They’re going to be offering the lid on Amazon only for Prime Day (check my storefront tomorrow) but you can also buy directly from Mealthy.
They’ve graciously agreed to offer my readers a $5 discount of purchases over $94.95. Use coupon code: sustainablecooks5 and get your lid here.
Anyone excited about Amazon Prime Day(s)? I already feel sorry for our UPS guy because I’m sure he’ll be busy in the next few days.
I’m tracking all the deals that I think you’ll like, and I’ll be posting them throughout the next 48 hours on my Amazon store. Many Instant Pots are already 50% off. I guess Amazon is pre-gaming?
If you don’t already have Amazon Prime, they let you sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out. You can sign up for that free trial here.
I’m not really shopping for anything this year, but am keeping an eye on the Fit Bits to see if there is a crazy sale that I can’t pass up. I have an older Fit Bit Alta that I still like, but it no longer syncs to my texts and the face is so scratched I can’t see it in the sunlight. Given how much I love to walk, being able to see the watch face is kind of important.
An Apple watch isn’t in my budget, but I’m looking to kick the tires on some new tech if the right sale presents itself. Do you have a fitness tracker that you recommend?
What I’m Listening To This Week
This week I’m listening to a new business podcast called Eat Blog Talk, and episode three features my girl Cassie from Cookitrealgood.
I love business podcasts so much I even wrote a post on 17 Podcasts About Blogging.
Reader Spotlight of the Week
Martha left this five-star review on our Buffalo Hummus:
The buffalo hummus checked all my yummy snack boxes! Salty, spicy, and healthy! Every time I opened the fridge to eat more, I realized my husband had eaten some of it. It was a race to finish the batch!
On Sustainable Cooks This Week
This week brought an end to the 2019 jam-jamboree with our final jam recipe (peach). I’ll be back in 2020 with more jam recipes IF you all want more. Any requests?
Avocado Ranch Dressing – Smooth and creamy, you’ll flip for this Avocado Ranch Dressing! Great as a dip, dressing, or sauce, this dairy-free ranch dressing is seriously addicting. With adaptable ingredients, this can be a Whole30, paleo, and/or vegan dressing.
Peach Freezer Jam {Low-Sugar Peach Jam} – An incredibly fresh tasting jam, this Peach Freezer Jam is beyond simple to make. Just four ingredients and 20 minutes, and you’ll have a low-sugar peach jam made by your very own hands. This no-cook and no-can peach jam recipe is perfect for beginners or for anyone without canning equipment.
The Ultimate Homemade Peach Ice Cream – Like a bowl full of summer, the Ultimate Homemade Peach Ice Cream will blow your mind with flavor. This easy homemade ice cream recipe can also use frozen or canned peaches, giving you that summer flavor year round.
The Five Most Popular Posts This Week
I’m leaving the Mojito Mocktail and Trader Joe’s Shopping List off the top five again this week because frankly, we’re all sick of seeing them!
- Canning Peaches {Pin this recipe}
- Homemade Peach Ice Cream {Pin this recipe}
- Zero Waste Food Storage {Pin this post}
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips {Pin this recipe}
- Removing Rust From Cast Iron {Pin this post}
Meal Plan
If you’re looking for some help with meal planning, we highly recommend Momables! Momables emails you a weekly meal plan, shopping list and prep list for $10 a month. It rules.
Monday:: Breakfast dinner (Make Ahead Scrambled Eggs, Whole Wheat Waffles, Whole30 Breakfast Sausage)
Tuesday:: Crispy Gnocchi and Veggies. We’re having a friend over with two kids and this is one of those meals that freaking everyone can agree on.
Wednesday:: Steak salad thingy I found on Eating Well. We already have frozen corn, steak from Butcher Box and I snagged some tomatoes at the farmer’s market.
Thursday:: It’s legit going to be frozen Trader Joe’s mac and cheese with baby carrots. Busy day and I’ll be gone all day.
Friday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and movie night
Saturday:: TBD
Sunday:: Family dinner
What we Bought THis Week
Butcher Box: $129. We switched to delivery every other month because we just don’t eat enough meat (TWSS) to make it feasible for a monthly order.
Butcher Box’s current offer is six free burgers in every order through fall.
What are you having this week?
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I proudly bought an Apple watch through your store! Â I sure hope you made a little somethin’ !
Awww, thank you friend! I hope you love your watch.
We had opted for the every other month with Butcher Box, but I’m thinking of going back to monthly so we can start filling up our freezer. Have you tried any of their seafood?
Squeaky cheese is the best! Growing up in NH we use to camp in Canada. We ALWAYS stopped for Canadian cheese and it was always the best part of the trip.
As far as I can tell you can switch the box back and forth as you see fit. So maybe do every month for 2 months and then every other month once you have a good stash going?
I think cheese is the best part of any trip! 🙂
just chiming in that I got their salmon for the first time and is some of the better wild caught salmon I have had! Very flavorful and conveniently cut/wrapped into individual portions.
Mmmmm, I love salmon but have never ordered theirs. I’ll have to change that!
As a fellow acne sufferer, may I just say your skin is beautiful!
Awwww thank you Eileen. As you know, those kinds of comments can mean so much.
It’s so funny to me to watch how your boys get on because it is so similar to my nephews, who have the same age gap! The eldest was so excited to have a little brother, until the little brother started to get opinions of his own! Ol’s also has the same rigid moral code about his brother’s behaviour and because I’m an elder sister, I get it and, as you say three year olds are peculiar!
This week I am mostly eating from the plot, so some kind of meat or fish with salad and veg from the garden. Work breakfasts are an egg thing with veg, lunches are roasted veg and slaw with goats cheese, fruit and yoghurt for snacks. I really need to eat more food from the freezer, if only so I can put more of the produce in it!
Yep, sounds like your nephews! I constantly tell people that Jack was obsessed with Bennett until Bennett had his own opinions. It’s probably why J loves babies so much – they just laugh at him and don’t try to direct the activities.
Your summer meals are sounding delicious and super plot-driven!