Don’t feel like a slacker if your mom helped you out with canning! That is a valuable gift to have parents that are close to help you out! I think it’s so sweet that she could do that for you!
My husband and I are empty-nesters so just the two of us, but this has worked for us a long time. I "shop my pantry and freezer" first to see what we have and can use....then on Fridays I meal plan for two weeks based on what we have available and add items to the grocery list that we need to complete the meals. We shop early on Saturday morning. After shopping we always go out for breakfast after putting away our groceries. Our reward! We do pick up some produce on the week between our 2-week shopping trips. No more wondering what to cook and stressing over whether we have the ingredients. We do have an upright freezer we use for meat sales, etc. And yes, Friday night is still "date night" for a good dinner out! Enjoyed your podcast!
Out of all the ladies I follow I'd love to meet you girls! You've brought so much encouragement and I'm just so interested in how beautiful of a community you have in the Mennonite culture. And you're only like 4hrs away!
I live in the country in Brittany, France. We have a big grocery store half an hour away, which we go to at the beginning of the month. In between, we go to our local smaller store, maybe once a week, to fill in the gaps. We keep a running grocery list according to the two stores. We have a chest freezer and we raise sheep, so there is always lamb in it. Since moving here, where the food regulations are quite strict, we eat much healthier than when we were in Canada. But prices are rising here, just like everywhere else! I really enjoyed this episode!
Back in the day,, living in Venezuela I shopped every 2 weeks with all 4 kids. I had a list that went with the store aisle. I always got them to “help” my putting things in the cart. As they grew a bit older we’d separate. One liked ordering from the deli part, you had to order what you wanted at the deli, & meat departments. So another liked doing that. One of the girls got shampoo and bath items as you had to pay for that in the department, the other one helped me with veggies and fruit. They did this even as they were 6 & 7. So we shopped quickly
We live only a few minutes from Aldi, Giant and Walmart and it’s so convenient to run to when hosting last minute. We’re a small family so it’s hard to always have everything on hand for a bigger group. My husband usually grills and that’s a huge help when hosting last minute.
I use the app “Plan to Eat”. I plan all my dinners every Saturday/Sunday then the app creates a grocery list for me. I then mobile order what I need for pickup at Sam’s club, Walmart, or Aldi. Then I pick it up Monday morning with my 2 non-school aged kids. Works so great and keeps me from impulse buying inside the store. I go to Sam’s club every week for produce because it truly is the best and my kids eat fruit and veggies like crazy. Then I pick one other smaller store for the rest.
I am not an intuitive preparer of food for my family. I like recipes as a loose guide and give and take with the spices. As far as the grocery list I just keep a running list on the refrigerator and grab it on my way out the door. I need to take a picture just in-case. I am a great host after I get over the nervousness.. I really enjoy you two..thought provoking subjects.
Thanks for all the handy tips ladies! On the note of chicken nuggets- my husband brought home an entire case of dino nuggets from work. What to do with all those nuggets!? I got creative and made sauced and tossed nuggets to change up the flavor. Air fry them, then toss half in one flavor sauce and half in another. We have used garlic parmesan, honey bbq, buffalo, Polynesian, and sweet and sour.
We have a small grocery store in town. Which is 20 minutes. But to get to a Walmart we gotta go 1½ hours. So those shopping trips happen every few months and we spend SO much to stock up everything 😊 Definitly put things on my list before I'm totally out. Cuz sometimes I might be out for several weeks before I get a chance to buy again!
You asked for tips for last minute hosting: If you live a few minutes from the grocery store, you don’t have to always have a bag of buns sitting around, if you always have patties in your freezer, just run to the store, buy the buns, and you’re ready to invite someone. That’s how I do it. We have people over fairly often like that.
Trying to not struggle with envy. 😂There is no way I could afford to pay even 50 dollars on anything just for me😜 but on the other hand I am really glad there are beautiful days like these for beautiful ladies who can afford it. And I bless for choosing to spend your money on something that would encourage and edify you and in turn your family! I also enjoy the content where you show bits and pieces of the day! I can live vicariously through others❤
We are with a food service for our frozen foods. If we know someone's coming over last minute and we're able to we just run into town and then grab what we need at the time. Air fryers cook food from frozen, which helps a lot for last-minute plans.
I agree with jayna- taking two toddlers is way harder. My first two were 14 months apart and it wasn’t until they hit toddler years I hated going to the store. I do Walmart delivery and it’s so worth it… especially when potty training. I save tons of money that way too
I had to laugh when Jayna said, "They had to eat "SOH-im" when you were talking about the granola bars.😂 Now I know I'm not the only one who enunciates words funny because of growing up around Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Jayna you’re absolutely right about the standing up thing lol. I followed your IG recently and was shocked to see that you were much thinner than I thought just from seeing you on the podcast. Not that it matters, I love your personality whether you’re sitting or standing lol I’m just adding to your point!! ❤😂
One hack that I recently found for hard boils eggs that works every time is steaming your eggs instead of cooking them. You can hard boil farm fresh eggs, this way and they peel perfectly. I prefer doing my older eggs this way too as the eggs seriously peel perfectly every time! Steam for 13 minutes in a steam basket
I like making a big batch of meatballs to freeze and have ready to pop out if we want to have people over short notice. Having canned farmers sausage makes a quick meal as well. I do often have enough burgers & buns to serve if we have guests as well. I don’t do well hosting short notice but I’m trying to do better with that now that I have a teenager.
As a mother of 6, all grown adults now, 4 of whom I homeschooled, I had to meal plan. It worked for me to spend a little time checking to see what I had, what our schedules were, and make my lists accordingly. I called it doing all my meals, thinking at once and just executing on the daily. I still meal plan very loosely with just the 2 of us. I used to hit up Produce junction, Aldi, then Shoprite. Now I hit up farm stands during the season, the Farmer's Market & Walmart(every couple of weeks), and Aldi weekly. Our needs are simple. I do buy sales stuff, and yes, it is stashed under our guest room bed. Convenient for guests to midnight snack. 😂 I can be at Aldi in 7 minutes, Walmart in 5. I make meatballs in quantity and freeze them pre-cooked for a quick meal for company or us. However, now, when I don't feel like cooking, a tuna sandwich or some soup is our go-to. My husband is easy-going about dinner that way.😊
I am literally using hopes table cookbook right now to make my sourdough. Best sourdough recipe! Most amazing bread my picky eater will eat it every single time
I am a grandma and tired of cooking after almost 49 years!! I go for easy meals and Instacart some days. I do not feel lazy as have done this for a long time lol. So enjoyed this pod cast today. Thanks.
For spur of the moment company, canned chicken makes a really fast casserole, soup, or dip. Freeze ground beef in flattish packages and it thaws quickly in hot water. Frozen link sausage thaws quickly also. Can even stick it in the oven frozen. Give baked potatoes a head start in the microwave.
One trick I do for grocery shopping is going earlier in the morning to places like Walmart and Target and going straight to the meat section to find the meats that are marked down! Look for that yellow sticker! They are going bad that day or the next day and are discounted, but I just buy them and either cook them that night or put them in the freezer!
I want to avoid the crowds so I do a Walmart pickup on Monday afternoon and then a supplement smaller trip/pickup on Thursday so that if a weekend plan comes up, I can get those things then.
I have to drive 45 minutes and we do bave some smaller store about 10 minutes away but if I want to go fill blown grocery shopping, & for cheaper, I only go about once a month so meal planning is basically around what I buy and I plan after I'm done shopping! Just works out better😄
My nearest grocery store is 15 minutes away. I think it’s what helps me be better at making do with what I have on hand. I’m not about to go to the store just because I don’t have a particular spice! I totally relate with Jayna’s cooking philosophy 😉
To make the fresh eggs peel easily put baking soda in the water as they cook. Be sure to watch it and turn down because it foams if you use too much and it can boil over. (About 1Tbspn)
I personally always have already cooked meat in my freezer ready to go. I love to buy rotisserie chickens already cooked at the store. I pull the chicken apart and freeze them in several freezer bags you can also do it with ground beef as well that way you don’t have to worry about cooking any meat and it makes putting meals together a lot easier.
Two full grocery stores within 1 to 2 minutes plus an Aldis across from them. Nice to have. Always love to hear each of your points of view because they are generally different. Thanks for sharing. 😊
12 min to my grocery store which is just a weekly Walmart pickup order. I may have to run inside every once in awhile with my four kids. Homeschooling mama here and grocery pickup is lifesaver!
“Our groceries” is my favourite app. You can add lists, things to the list, and check off things from multiple devices. So my husband can add stuff when he thinks about it from his computer or iPad, and it automatically updates in my phone.
In order to prep the main course ahead quickly, I like to have meat ready in my freezer. I do this by browning extra hamburger and freezing it so its ready to go to toss into soup or tacos, etc. I cook chicken ahead and freeze that cubed as well. Having the meat cooked and frozen is a game changer
SO excited for this episode, planning meals & "meal planning" is so hard for me, but I do love to grocery shop!! Granted I just have one 18 month old right now :)
Jayna, I have a long torso (to the point I wear plain maternity tops always so my skin is covered!) and I’m also bigger looking when I sit. I think Megan is right it’s posture, but I’m not motivated enough to fix it 😅
24:42 Megan you said “Unthaw”. I say the same thing lol!!! It’s completely wrong but I say it all the time haha. To thaw, not unthaw! I never even realized it until someone pointed it out for me!
My grocery store is about 2 min away. Since I homeschool and like to keep a routine for my kid, I like to go on Thursdays. That’s when we have our short day and I use it to get out of the house and get all my errands done. Loved the episode, I definitely need a deep freezer.
Topic suggestion- cleaning routines w littles! I keep everything TIDY and do the basics (wipe surface, vacuum crumbs). But finding time during this season for scrubbing floors, bathrooms, baseboards, etc…. 😵💫🫠 I’m fairly type A and it’s driving me crazy!
I would love you both to come to my house I think that you guys really complement each other - I feel like I am watching Martha and Mary hanging out. Guess who is who lol. My husband is Mary and I am Martha!!
Really enjoyed today's video! Yes to making a grocery list, without one I would forget half the things I need, and also love meal planning, couldn't do without that one either, closest grocery store for me is 15 mins away.
I'm a lot like you Jana😂 I am a list loser😂 I also like to shop what's on sale so I usually don't know that until I get to the store. I am very much a host at the last minute person. Part of it is I have to shop for 8 people on a regular basis, so I usually have a lot of bulk items on hand.
My closest store, Kroger, is two blocks away we often walk. I have two Aldi’s to choose from, either 25 or 40 minutes away. Our Kroger has a great clearance aisle, overnight when they are stocking the shelves, any item that does not fit on the shelf goes in the clearance aisle… usually at 75% off. It is best to be there at 7 AM to get the best bargains! There are usually 5 to 10 people waiting for the doors to open.
Easy quick meals my family of toddlers and newly weaned love: Batch make bolognese, make 2 lasagna, 1 bolognese for the day I cook and then 1 spare 3 meals in freezer for a quick meal. I always cook double pasta if I'm running low on quick meals then chuck ajar off pesto, half a tub soft cheese and freeze it, so I only have to defrost and add protein to it. Mac n cheese I always make when I do lasagna. I use the same sauce for both then add bacon to the macaroni. Anything rice, frozen veg and bacon, or part thaw chicken to you can cut a little into it where it's defrosted and then slice thinly. Cook while part frozen and it's about a15 minute freezer to plate dinner. For meals to feed extra guests, we keep akg of chicken beasts or thighs in the freezer, but if veg and a loads of rice, pasta potatoes and wraps. Easy meal to suit anyone as I usually have a hat of sauce in the cupboard too.
Last minute company ideas, it helps me to think more down the chip and dip line. Tortilla chips don’t get old like buns. A buffalo chicken dip using canned chicken, a hamburger dip. Supreme nachos. One of my favorites is bbq nachos. Keep pulled pork in the freezer. Layer tortilla chips, pulled pork, either grated cheese, or my favorite is a quick cheese sauce, drizzle bbq sauce, and top with banana peppers which are optional. Broil for just a bit. They will get cleaned out. A quick cheese sauce for them, cube velveeta cheese add some salsa, microwave until mostly melted, add sour cream and microwave until completely melted. You can thin down with a bit with milk if you need to. Your company can add fresh fruit, veggies and dip, pickles, something sweet for dessert.
I like making a big batch of meatballs to freeze and have ready to pop out if we want to have people over short notice. Having canned farmers sausage makes a quick meal as well. I do often have enough burgers & buns to serve if we have guests as well. I don’t do well hosting short notice but I’m trying.
I am from Bucks county PA (the Philly area) but moved to Maryland-I had and hour drive to grocery shop once I moved to MD-that was a lot, it was horrible because it was basically 3 hours a week just to grocery shop on Saturday-my day off, I had a 9 to 5 job. A few years ago we got a super walmart so now I have a BIG grocery store 10 minutes away-talk about game changer for my life! Its not all good though because now my little country area is starting to boom with big business' coming in-I fear I will soon be living the "city" life once again.
Hello jayna and megan. I am from mexico I always love your videos , you do a very good job. I have a small grocery store right beside my place but for most shopping we drive 45 minutes and ther we have a huge store full of everything... God bless you and your familys. ❤❤❤
Around us those sale items are called "lost leaders", Items. The store is willing to lose money on in hopes they will entice you to pick up other items that they can make money on.
I have a Walmart about 2 miles one way with an Aldi by it. A Cub Foods is even closer but I rarely shop there. A Target store is the other direction about 2.5 miles away. So within 5 minutes.
Regarding having food when you suddenly host large groups of people. I can usually do this without any extra hassle. For me, it comes down to always having a lot of meat. I thaw lots of meat out at a time so there's always something in my fridge that I can cook lots of last minute. Similarly, I will often cook double or triple batches of anything from soup to taco meat and freeze what we don't eat right away. That can be turned into an instant meal when combined with a starch (rice, bread, potatoes, etc) and a veggie. Any meat can be spruced up last minute with a quick homemade sauce. Any rice or potato dish can be made interesting with seasonings. And cheese covers a manner of sins! Finally, because I don't meal plan or usually need recipes, I've gotten very good at making yummy dishes out of the stray ingredients I have in my fridge. Being flexible in that regard is key. Another example of flexibility: if I have a big roast thawed and people will come over to eat tonight so I don't have time to cook it in the oven. I can either a) use an instant pot so it cooks in an hour or b) get out my meat grinder and turn it into ground beef, which can cook quite quickly! There is always something that can be done for dinner if I have enough meat ha ha
For last minute company, I’d try spaghetti. You could have cooked ground beef frozen which would thaw quickly, or just do meatless. Add a frozen vegetable and some garlic bread, again frozen purchased or homemade. The company could bring a dessert. Or keep frozen homemade cookies for this. Pretty quick and simple.
Living in metro-Atlanta I've always been about 10-15 min from several stores. At one point I had an Ingles within walking distance but we only ran over there for emergencies!
To build "hosting stock", you start by just adding a second pack to whatever you buy. So, say you need 2 packs of burger buns and 1 bag of chips and 1 pack each of carrots and celery and one pack of ranch dip mix for your family this week. You simply buy double and store the extra away. Shop sales and buy one get one free deals. We don't eat that much chips and such but when our local grocery store has " buy 5 for 1.99 each" ... I will buy 10. Then I have a bag to toss in a meal box or use as a side for unexpected guests, etc. Some people don't like to buy veggies in bulk or doubles, but veggies have a long shelf life and store easily for a long time. When they... If they .. near the end of their freshness, just use them in a soup or stew or sauce, or freeze or can or dry them.
I like having a blank calendar and if I buy chicken then I write chicken on however many days I have enough for and other main meal main ingredient until the calendar is full. Then I look at the calendar each day see what I have then cross it off when I've used it until the whole month is crossed off (hope this makes sense 😝)
You dress fine. I love that, like myself, your background reinforces feminine fashion for girls and women. I am from a different background but we also dress in skirts etc. (With some exceptions, re: sports etc. Not a sin to wear pants but prefer not to). We also wear veils in Church. Still not a sinnot to but most do. It comes with time. The reverence in the presence of Christ. Traditional Latin Mass Catholics. We are the Mennonites in the faith, haha.
Buy your "unusual" spices and herbs in a bulk section so you can buy as little as you like. Who knows, you might really like something you've never tried before.
I think if I were to spend time with someone from social media, besides you ladies of course, I would like to hang around with Emmy from Frugal Money Saver. She seems so kind. Peter Santenello would be cool too, because he travels to places I can only dream of. Erik from Amish America would be interesting too.
I was a live streamer for a few years on another platform where I had a large audience/following (gave it all up for having low following here) and it was very weird for me when a group of young people were so excited to meet me in person. It was very weird. That was the only time that happened though. I love making things at home but I definitely spend way more today than I did just a few years ago, granted I do have teen boys now. I shop for food usually every four days or so. I have a tiny home with little pantry space. I could walk to my closest grocery store (but would have to cross a bit of a midway/busy multi-laned road). I have one that would take me a minute and a half to drive to, another that is 4 minutes to drive to (my son works there), another that is 10 minutes to drive to, another that is 6 minutes to drive to, another that is 8 minutes to drive to.
I also misunderstood you at the beginning Megan when you emphasized “I do!” (go for the content) lol. Glad you clarified because I thought that was a little funny, especially after all you said in your video about how much you gained from it, not just IG and YT content lol.
I really like Linette Yoder. She is such a sweet humble person.
One tip that has helped me not forget my grocery list is once I have written it, I take a picture of it on my phone .
Don’t feel like a slacker if your mom helped you out with canning! That is a valuable gift to have parents that are close to help you out! I think it’s so sweet that she could do that for you!
My husband and I are empty-nesters so just the two of us, but this has worked for us a long time. I "shop my pantry and freezer" first to see what we have and can use....then on Fridays I meal plan for two weeks based on what we have available and add items to the grocery list that we need to complete the meals. We shop early on Saturday morning. After shopping we always go out for breakfast after putting away our groceries. Our reward! We do pick up some produce on the week between our 2-week shopping trips. No more wondering what to cook and stressing over whether we have the ingredients. We do have an upright freezer we use for meat sales, etc. And yes, Friday night is still "date night" for a good dinner out! Enjoyed your podcast!
Out of all the ladies I follow I'd love to meet you girls! You've brought so much encouragement and I'm just so interested in how beautiful of a community you have in the Mennonite culture. And you're only like 4hrs away!
I live in the country in Brittany, France. We have a big grocery store half an hour away, which we go to at the beginning of the month. In between, we go to our local smaller store, maybe once a week, to fill in the gaps. We keep a running grocery list according to the two stores. We have a chest freezer and we raise sheep, so there is always lamb in it. Since moving here, where the food regulations are quite strict, we eat much healthier than when we were in Canada. But prices are rising here, just like everywhere else! I really enjoyed this episode!
Hooray! Thank you ladies for brightening my day! Watching while my toddler naps! You both inspire me in so many ways thank you 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
You are so welcome!
And Friday nights are pizza night! Yes, as wives we need a night off!❤
I loved today's video and didn't want it to end!!!
Yall are awesome and both bring a lot of great thoughts to the table!
Back in the day,, living in Venezuela I shopped every 2 weeks with all 4 kids. I had a list that went with the store aisle. I always got them to “help” my putting things in the cart. As they grew a bit older we’d separate. One liked ordering from the deli part, you had to order what you wanted at the deli, & meat departments. So another liked doing that. One of the girls got shampoo and bath items as you had to pay for that in the department, the other one helped me with veggies and fruit. They did this even as they were 6 & 7. So we shopped quickly
We live only a few minutes from Aldi, Giant and Walmart and it’s so convenient to run to when hosting last minute. We’re a small family so it’s hard to always have everything on hand for a bigger group. My husband usually grills and that’s a huge help when hosting last minute.
I use the app “Plan to Eat”. I plan all my dinners every Saturday/Sunday then the app creates a grocery list for me. I then mobile order what I need for pickup at Sam’s club, Walmart, or Aldi. Then I pick it up Monday morning with my 2 non-school aged kids. Works so great and keeps me from impulse buying inside the store. I go to Sam’s club every week for produce because it truly is the best and my kids eat fruit and veggies like crazy. Then I pick one other smaller store for the rest.
I am not an intuitive preparer of food for my family. I like recipes as a loose guide and give and take with the spices. As far as the grocery list I just keep a running list on the refrigerator and grab it on my way out the door. I need to take a picture just in-case. I am a great host after I get over the nervousness.. I really enjoy you two..thought provoking subjects.
Thanks for all the handy tips ladies! On the note of chicken nuggets- my husband brought home an entire case of dino nuggets from work. What to do with all those nuggets!? I got creative and made sauced and tossed nuggets to change up the flavor. Air fry them, then toss half in one flavor sauce and half in another. We have used garlic parmesan, honey bbq, buffalo, Polynesian, and sweet and sour.
We have a small grocery store in town. Which is 20 minutes. But to get to a Walmart we gotta go 1½ hours. So those shopping trips happen every few months and we spend SO much to stock up everything 😊 Definitly put things on my list before I'm totally out. Cuz sometimes I might be out for several weeks before I get a chance to buy again!
You asked for tips for last minute hosting: If you live a few minutes from the grocery store, you don’t have to always have a bag of buns sitting around, if you always have patties in your freezer, just run to the store, buy the buns, and you’re ready to invite someone. That’s how I do it. We have people over fairly often like that.
Trying to not struggle with envy. 😂There is no way I could afford to pay even 50 dollars on anything just for me😜 but on the other hand I am really glad there are beautiful days like these for beautiful ladies who can afford it. And I bless for choosing to spend your money on something that would encourage and edify you and in turn your family! I also enjoy the content where you show bits and pieces of the day! I can live vicariously through others❤
We are with a food service for our frozen foods. If we know someone's coming over last minute and we're able to we just run into town and then grab what we need at the time. Air fryers cook food from frozen, which helps a lot for last-minute plans.
I agree with jayna- taking two toddlers is way harder. My first two were 14 months apart and it wasn’t until they hit toddler years I hated going to the store.
I do Walmart delivery and it’s so worth it… especially when potty training. I save tons of money that way too
I had to laugh when Jayna said, "They had to eat "SOH-im" when you were talking about the granola bars.😂 Now I know I'm not the only one who enunciates words funny because of growing up around Pennsylvania Dutch culture.
Jayna you’re absolutely right about the standing up thing lol. I followed your IG recently and was shocked to see that you were much thinner than I thought just from seeing you on the podcast. Not that it matters, I love your personality whether you’re sitting or standing lol I’m just adding to your point!! ❤😂
Lol. It's honestly crazy and definitely a new realization for me since starting the podcast.
One hack that I recently found for hard boils eggs that works every time is steaming your eggs instead of cooking them. You can hard boil farm fresh eggs, this way and they peel perfectly. I prefer doing my older eggs this way too as the eggs seriously peel perfectly every time! Steam for 13 minutes in a steam basket
I like making a big batch of meatballs to freeze and have ready to pop out if we want to have people over short notice. Having canned farmers sausage makes a quick meal as well. I do often have enough burgers & buns to serve if we have guests as well. I don’t do well hosting short notice but I’m trying to do better with that now that I have a teenager.
We have 2 full fledged grocery stores 5 minutes from our home. We even live on a farm! Blessed!
As a mother of 6, all grown adults now, 4 of whom I homeschooled, I had to meal plan. It worked for me to spend a little time checking to see what I had, what our schedules were, and make my lists accordingly. I called it doing all my meals, thinking at once and just executing on the daily. I still meal plan very loosely with just the 2 of us. I used to hit up Produce junction, Aldi, then Shoprite. Now I hit up farm stands during the season, the Farmer's Market & Walmart(every couple of weeks), and Aldi weekly. Our needs are simple. I do buy sales stuff, and yes, it is stashed under our guest room bed. Convenient for guests to midnight snack. 😂
I can be at Aldi in 7 minutes, Walmart in 5.
I make meatballs in quantity and freeze them pre-cooked for a quick meal for company or us. However, now, when I don't feel like cooking, a tuna sandwich or some soup is our go-to. My husband is easy-going about dinner that way.😊
I am NOT a kitchen gadget person, but LOVE my Instant Pot and use it almost everyday for our family of 8.
I am literally using hopes table cookbook right now to make my sourdough. Best sourdough recipe! Most amazing bread my picky eater will eat it every single time
I am a grandma and tired of cooking after almost 49 years!! I go for easy meals and Instacart some days. I do not feel lazy as have done this for a long time lol. So enjoyed this pod cast today. Thanks.
I’m sure you have some great recipes! ❤ my mom didn’t teach me to cook much so I’m still learning and I’m in my 30s!
I'm there with you, too after 54 year! ☺
For spur of the moment company, canned chicken makes a really fast casserole, soup, or dip. Freeze ground beef in flattish packages and it thaws quickly in hot water. Frozen link sausage thaws quickly also. Can even stick it in the oven frozen. Give baked potatoes a head start in the microwave.
hey y'all- love the chat!😁 I am a lot like y'all😉🥰 Hope your having a blessed week
One trick I do for grocery shopping is going earlier in the morning to places like Walmart and Target and going straight to the meat section to find the meats that are marked down! Look for that yellow sticker! They are going bad that day or the next day and are discounted, but I just buy them and either cook them that night or put them in the freezer!
I want to avoid the crowds so I do a Walmart pickup on Monday afternoon and then a supplement smaller trip/pickup on Thursday so that if a weekend plan comes up, I can get those things then.
I have to drive 45 minutes and we do bave some smaller store about 10 minutes away but if I want to go fill blown grocery shopping, & for cheaper, I only go about once a month so meal planning is basically around what I buy and I plan after I'm done shopping! Just works out better😄
Tip: store leftover chips crackers breads etc in your freezer. They thaw out pretty fast too!
My nearest grocery store is 15 minutes away. I think it’s what helps me be better at making do with what I have on hand. I’m not about to go to the store just because I don’t have a particular spice! I totally relate with Jayna’s cooking philosophy 😉
Living in the bush of Alaska is took us 18 hrs by boat one way to get to the grocery store.
To make the fresh eggs peel easily put baking soda in the water as they cook. Be sure to watch it and turn down because it foams if you use too much and it can boil over. (About 1Tbspn)
She is very helpful. I look forward to your show.
I personally always have already cooked meat in my freezer ready to go. I love to buy rotisserie chickens already cooked at the store. I pull the chicken apart and freeze them in several freezer bags you can also do it with ground beef as well that way you don’t have to worry about cooking any meat and it makes putting meals together a lot easier.
Two full grocery stores within 1 to 2 minutes plus an Aldis across from them. Nice to have. Always love to hear each of your points of view because they are generally different. Thanks for sharing. 😊
12 min to my grocery store which is just a weekly Walmart pickup order. I may have to run inside every once in awhile with my four kids. Homeschooling mama here and grocery pickup is lifesaver!
“Our groceries” is my favourite app. You can add lists, things to the list, and check off things from multiple devices. So my husband can add stuff when he thinks about it from his computer or iPad, and it automatically updates in my phone.
I can walk 2 minutes 1/4 block across the street to a Kroger or drive 2 minutes down the street to a Walmart. There are a few perks to city living.
In order to prep the main course ahead quickly, I like to have meat ready in my freezer. I do this by browning extra hamburger and freezing it so its ready to go to toss into soup or tacos, etc. I cook chicken ahead and freeze that cubed as well. Having the meat cooked and frozen is a game changer
I’d love to meet Laura from Garden Answer! I never miss there content. Jayna a you would love RuthAnn
I'd love to hang out with Laura too. And also Jess from roots and refuge. She's helped me so much in my spiritual journey.
SO excited for this episode, planning meals & "meal planning" is so hard for me, but I do love to grocery shop!! Granted I just have one 18 month old right now :)
Jayna, I have a long torso (to the point I wear plain maternity tops always so my skin is covered!) and I’m also bigger looking when I sit. I think Megan is right it’s posture, but I’m not motivated enough to fix it 😅
24:42 Megan you said “Unthaw”. I say the same thing lol!!! It’s completely wrong but I say it all the time haha. To thaw, not unthaw! I never even realized it until someone pointed it out for me!
Cant wait to listen while I clean the kitchen!
My grocery store is about 2 min away. Since I homeschool and like to keep a routine for my kid, I like to go on Thursdays. That’s when we have our short day and I use it to get out of the house and get all my errands done. Loved the episode, I definitely need a deep freezer.
You can put chips in the freezer and they keep really well. Saves you from wasting that half a bag.
Topic suggestion- cleaning routines w littles! I keep everything TIDY and do the basics (wipe surface, vacuum crumbs). But finding time during this season for scrubbing floors, bathrooms, baseboards, etc…. 😵💫🫠 I’m fairly type A and it’s driving me crazy!
Keep kirklands big bag of frozen chicken wings from costco in the freezer, they are easy to pull out and grill for company...
I would love you both to come to my house I think that you guys really complement each other - I feel like I am watching Martha and Mary hanging out. Guess who is who lol. My husband is Mary and I am Martha!!
This was such a fun video ladies! U both were quite funny!
Both Walmart and ALDIs is 3 min away for me. So convenient
Really enjoyed today's video! Yes to making a grocery list, without one I would forget half the things I need, and also love meal planning, couldn't do without that one either, closest grocery store for me is 15 mins away.
I'm a lot like you Jana😂 I am a list loser😂 I also like to shop what's on sale so I usually don't know that until I get to the store. I am very much a host at the last minute person. Part of it is I have to shop for 8 people on a regular basis, so I usually have a lot of bulk items on hand.
My closest store, Kroger, is two blocks away we often walk.
I have two Aldi’s to choose from, either 25 or 40 minutes away.
Our Kroger has a great clearance aisle, overnight when they are stocking the shelves, any item that does not fit on the shelf goes in the clearance aisle… usually at 75% off. It is best to be there at 7 AM to get the best bargains! There are usually 5 to 10 people waiting for the doors to open.
Easy quick meals my family of toddlers and newly weaned love:
Batch make bolognese, make 2 lasagna, 1 bolognese for the day I cook and then 1 spare 3 meals in freezer for a quick meal. I always cook double pasta if I'm running low on quick meals then chuck ajar off pesto, half a tub soft cheese and freeze it, so I only have to defrost and add protein to it. Mac n cheese I always make when I do lasagna. I use the same sauce for both then add bacon to the macaroni. Anything rice, frozen veg and bacon, or part thaw chicken to you can cut a little into it where it's defrosted and then slice thinly. Cook while part frozen and it's about a15 minute freezer to plate dinner. For meals to feed extra guests, we keep akg of chicken beasts or thighs in the freezer, but if veg and a loads of rice, pasta potatoes and wraps. Easy meal to suit anyone as I usually have a hat of sauce in the cupboard too.
Last minute company ideas, it helps me to think more down the chip and dip line. Tortilla chips don’t get old like buns. A buffalo chicken dip using canned chicken, a hamburger dip. Supreme nachos. One of my favorites is bbq nachos. Keep pulled pork in the freezer. Layer tortilla chips, pulled pork, either grated cheese, or my favorite is a quick cheese sauce, drizzle bbq sauce, and top with banana peppers which are optional. Broil for just a bit. They will get cleaned out.
A quick cheese sauce for them, cube velveeta cheese add some salsa, microwave until mostly melted, add sour cream and microwave until completely melted. You can thin down with a bit with milk if you need to.
Your company can add fresh fruit, veggies and dip, pickles, something sweet for dessert.
I like making a big batch of meatballs to freeze and have ready to pop out if we want to have people over short notice. Having canned farmers sausage makes a quick meal as well. I do often have enough burgers & buns to serve if we have guests as well. I don’t do well hosting short notice but I’m trying.
Happy Monday! 🎥👋
I am from Bucks county PA (the Philly area) but moved to Maryland-I had and hour drive to grocery shop once I moved to MD-that was a lot, it was horrible because it was basically 3 hours a week just to grocery shop on Saturday-my day off, I had a 9 to 5 job. A few years ago we got a super walmart so now I have a BIG grocery store 10 minutes away-talk about game changer for my life! Its not all good though because now my little country area is starting to boom with big business' coming in-I fear I will soon be living the "city" life once again.
I agree the combination of popcorn and juice is so good!
Hello jayna and megan. I am from mexico I always love your videos , you do a very good job. I have a small grocery store right beside my place but for most shopping we drive 45 minutes and ther we have a huge store full of everything... God bless you and your familys. ❤❤❤
I love ordering groceries and picking it up . I plan the week. And recipes
Around us those sale items are called "lost leaders", Items. The store is willing to lose money on in hopes they will entice you to pick up other items that they can make money on.
I have met Phalycia Masonheimer and she is so cool! Not intimidating at all!
I have a Walmart about 2 miles one way with an Aldi by it. A Cub Foods is even closer but I rarely shop there. A Target store is the other direction about 2.5 miles away. So within 5 minutes.
Love your videos! 7- 10ish mins to grocery store for me. I go once a week.
My store is about 1.5 minutes also - because I live on a military base!
Also a fan of substituting ingredients 😂
Regarding having food when you suddenly host large groups of people. I can usually do this without any extra hassle. For me, it comes down to always having a lot of meat. I thaw lots of meat out at a time so there's always something in my fridge that I can cook lots of last minute. Similarly, I will often cook double or triple batches of anything from soup to taco meat and freeze what we don't eat right away. That can be turned into an instant meal when combined with a starch (rice, bread, potatoes, etc) and a veggie. Any meat can be spruced up last minute with a quick homemade sauce. Any rice or potato dish can be made interesting with seasonings. And cheese covers a manner of sins! Finally, because I don't meal plan or usually need recipes, I've gotten very good at making yummy dishes out of the stray ingredients I have in my fridge. Being flexible in that regard is key.
Another example of flexibility: if I have a big roast thawed and people will come over to eat tonight so I don't have time to cook it in the oven. I can either a) use an instant pot so it cooks in an hour or b) get out my meat grinder and turn it into ground beef, which can cook quite quickly! There is always something that can be done for dinner if I have enough meat ha ha
This was very helpful to me!
For last minute company, I’d try spaghetti. You could have cooked ground beef frozen which would thaw quickly, or just do meatless. Add a frozen vegetable and some garlic bread, again frozen purchased or homemade. The company could bring a dessert. Or keep frozen homemade cookies for this. Pretty quick and simple.
Living in metro-Atlanta I've always been about 10-15 min from several stores. At one point I had an Ingles within walking distance but we only ran over there for emergencies!
I store extra stuff in my stairway room , not heated and dark, for potatoes, carrots etc, onions
Potatoe Leek soup!!!! SO good. MASHED. My fav. Comfort food.
To build "hosting stock", you start by just adding a second pack to whatever you buy. So, say you need 2 packs of burger buns and 1 bag of chips and 1 pack each of carrots and celery and one pack of ranch dip mix for your family this week. You simply buy double and store the extra away. Shop sales and buy one get one free deals. We don't eat that much chips and such but when our local grocery store has " buy 5 for 1.99 each" ... I will buy 10. Then I have a bag to toss in a meal box or use as a side for unexpected guests, etc.
Some people don't like to buy veggies in bulk or doubles, but veggies have a long shelf life and store easily for a long time. When they... If they .. near the end of their freshness, just use them in a soup or stew or sauce, or freeze or can or dry them.
Ok easy peel farm eggs - 3 min in the IP & 3 min natural release then quick release and run cold water over. Never had eggs peel SO easily
I have the little town grocery store 5 minutes away but everything is expensive! For a full haul, I have to go 30 minutes
We have a small market close by, but it is way too expensive most of our groceries are at least an hour away.
I like having a blank calendar and if I buy chicken then I write chicken on however many days I have enough for and other main meal main ingredient until the calendar is full. Then I look at the calendar each day see what I have then cross it off when I've used it until the whole month is crossed off (hope this makes sense 😝)
Closest grocery store is 3-4 minutes away. There are actually 2 grocery stores that that distance but in opposite directions.
How would Katie be noticing dust in your house if she lives in a tent?!
Yes potatoes 🥔 are great - remember how in Ireland they survived the famine eating potatoes.
Eh - I think you've got your history wrong, they all died in ireland because there were NO potatoes - that's what the famine was all about!
@ I thought that’s what made many survive. At least that’s what my hubby’s family
You dress fine. I love that, like myself, your background reinforces feminine fashion for girls and women. I am from a different background but we also dress in skirts etc. (With some exceptions, re: sports etc. Not a sin to wear pants but prefer not to). We also wear veils in Church. Still not a sinnot to but most do. It comes with time. The reverence in the presence of Christ. Traditional Latin Mass Catholics. We are the Mennonites in the faith, haha.
Buy your "unusual" spices and herbs in a bulk section so you can buy as little as you like. Who knows, you might really like something you've never tried before.
I think if I were to spend time with someone from social media, besides you ladies of course, I would like to hang around with Emmy from Frugal Money Saver. She seems so kind. Peter Santenello would be cool too, because he travels to places I can only dream of. Erik from Amish America would be interesting too.
I was a live streamer for a few years on another platform where I had a large audience/following (gave it all up for having low following here) and it was very weird for me when a group of young people were so excited to meet me in person. It was very weird. That was the only time that happened though.
I love making things at home but I definitely spend way more today than I did just a few years ago, granted I do have teen boys now. I shop for food usually every four days or so. I have a tiny home with little pantry space. I could walk to my closest grocery store (but would have to cross a bit of a midway/busy multi-laned road). I have one that would take me a minute and a half to drive to, another that is 4 minutes to drive to (my son works there), another that is 10 minutes to drive to, another that is 6 minutes to drive to, another that is 8 minutes to drive to.
16 minutes to Walmart!
A food only grocery store is about 15 minutes away and a walmart supercenter is about 45 minutes away.
Thanks, for sharing your lives :) 35 mins to the closest Walmart :(
I also misunderstood you at the beginning Megan when you emphasized “I do!” (go for the content) lol. Glad you clarified because I thought that was a little funny, especially after all you said in your video about how much you gained from it, not just IG and YT content lol.
I don't have to drive to go to a supermarket. I am in Europe and it is a 8-minute walk or like 4 minutes by bike.
I like using coconut oil which I did find at dollar tree but olive oil still high
Girls you need to watch Zach Bates video on Mac and cheese it looks delicious 👀👀
Our closest grocery store is 25 minutes away, we have a dollar store about 12 minutes away!
7 mins to the closest grocery store but 25 mins to my favourite grocery stores
Beans and cornbread, soup and cornbread