Friday shopping trip

This was a loopy week. I was really trying to stay on a healthy path. The carrot stick, celery stick trick helped. I even made some really good sweet/savory roasted cashews that were a hit with Phil. I think it is important to eat nuts. The oil satiates. The crunching satisfies. And was a snacking hit!
The recipe came from What Can I Bring? by Elizabeth Heiskell. Page 81.

The weekend weather was foggy and cold. I had to make beef stew, that we ate for a few days. I think I can get closer and closer to making the stew with no meat. I had purchased 5 pounds of stew meat at Costco. I had frozen it in 1 pound packets 

I have to think back, but I made split peas soup one evening that we ate for a couple of days. I froze the rest and oddly brought it out a few days later, forgetting we had just eaten it. It was very good served with popovers one night and I think a salad the second.

Then...I finally caved to my cravings and made tostadas. I am having a love/hate relationship with Mexican food. Normally it includes cheese and meat; lots of meat. I need to try to rework recipes to be meat free and using minimal amounts of cheese. Tostadas seem to be one of these recipes. Such simple, delicious food. I had pinto beans frozen. I defrosted those and heated in a small frying pan. I used a potato masher to smash, slowly heating and reducing to remove some of the moisture. A little salt and pepper, they were smooth and tasty: no grease! Yes, we sprinkled a little cheese on top of the tostadas, but I don't think a little will hurt me. Besides, I still have cheese in the refrigerator and I hate to waste.

I bought Phil some sliced beef lunch meat. He was happy. I also bought some bagels at Costco and gave in to some cream cheese. I do admit fudging and having a half a bagel and cream cheese a couple of mornings. Also, I forgot to mention, I saw a recipe on Pinterest and also in What Can I Bring? that I decided to try. Overnight Oats. A hit with me! I particularly liked adding the chia seeds, shredded carrots, dried cranberries. It really helped make breakfast easy and nutritious.