Day One of No Impact

OK, I made an impact.

I made lots of impacts unfortunately, but hey, it's day one.  I could go on with what I did wrong, but that's the perfectionist in my talking.  So I'll just go on with what I did right.

I made refrigerator dough on Thursday and used it to make cloverleaf rolls, a loaf of bread and then this morning, coffee cake.  The loaf of bread didn't turn out that great for sandwich bread, so I sent Rich out for bread and milk.  Crap, I forgot eggs.  Oh well.  Anyway, like I was saying, what I did right this week...

Last night I made chicken with noodles and veggies with butter sauce.  I used 2 of the breasts from a package and today, I took the other two breasts and boiled it in chicken broth.  Then I made pie crust and made a chicken pot pie.  It's baking right now and I'm really looking forward to it.  I had a lot leftover from the creamed chicken with veggies, so I'll freeze that and use that for a baked potato party in the future.  It's so good on baked potatoes or with pasta.

I'm off my gluten free thing for now due to the finances, and feeling pretty crummy, but that's temporary.  For the rest of the week, I'm going to go gluten free by doing without at meals that I have gluten for the family.  But that's a personal side issue I need to work on.

I also made a batch of popcorn because it is so cheap (microwave popcorn is expensive and doesn't taste that great anyway.)  

I washed/dried a load of diapers today, so thats another frugal/low impact thing to do--but it isn't like something new for me so does that really count?

The rest of the week menu will be black bean soup with rice, pasta (always cheap and a pantry staple,) leftover pot pie, blueberry pancakes/fruit salad and homemade pizza.  I have everything I need for those.  For me, I'll have to use up my gluten free pasta, I'll make gf crust for the pizza and make eggs along with the pancakes to eat instead and eat leftover pasta or bean soup on the leftover pot pie night!  I'm going to double up the pancake batter batch and freeze for breakfasts and double up the pie crust and freeze for another day so as to help with time and effort.  

I've been turning off all the lights and had a family meeting with the boys.  They are to turn off all the lights and not run water etc. etc. and whoever does a better job of it (I have lists on the fridge) will get a little prize.  I have a Bionicle I've been saving for a bday party, and will give it to the winner.

I'll do an hour of TV for Cooper tomorrow (I NEED some TV time for that child to get a shower and clean dishes without him climbing into the dishwasher!)  I'll soak the beans tonight and  

I won't be using paper towels, baggies or anything else not recyclable or reusable.  Also, after I buy eggs (and I have to buy eggs!) I will use up all the groceries and not shop for anything else except maybe milk.  We can do this!!