Finished Transplanting the Tomato and Started the Cuke and Chive Seeds

It's finally finished. Today, I transplanted the Bush Goliath tomato plant and planted a few bush cucumber seeds in the square planter and some chives in all 4 pots around the edges. If it looks like the chives are preventing the tomatoes and cucumbers from growing, I can always pull them out.

The three 8-gallon containers and the 5-gallon square container took two 2 cu ft bags of potting soil . I used two different kinds--the one from Lowes with Moisture Control and a bag of without the Moisure Control.

The Bush Goliath now has at least 2 little tomatoes and the Bush Cherry Red has a few teeny tomatoes. The Better Bush plant doesn't have any yet, but it does look like it's been growing since I transplanted it a few days ago.

A blogger influenced me into getting some type of insecticide to kill any pests and ward off diseases. I wasn't going to get anything, but will probably at least buy some insecticidal soap. Starting this container garden has been a bit more of an investment than anticipated and I'd hate to see it ruined by pests and diseases.

With the planting done, the hardest part lays ahead--waiting for the first fruits to ripen!

ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES
MAY 2009 MENU

Here's the link for May's menu:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/menu_0905en.asp

We're thinking about 2 signature boxes and the special #4 chicken tenders box.

Cost of the food boxes for us in May would be $83 and savings about $59. That's the actual amount we'll add to our monthly savings.

In The (Container) Garden: 2 Tomato Plants Transplanted...1 to go, plus...

It's a beautiful day and I had planned to transplant my 3 tomato plants and plant a container of cucumber seeds. Well, 2 of the 8-gallon containers used all of the 2 cu ft bag of soil which is what I had feared would happen. So, I decided to transplant the better bush tomato plant and the bush cherry red tomato plant (this one already has a tomato growing about the size of a kernel of corn).

We'll get some more soil tomorrow or this weekend and I can finish the transplanting/planting. Supposed to be in the 90s tomorrow. Is spring finally here?

April 2009 Angel Food Ministries Order

Well, we actually ordered 3 signature boxes and 1 special #4 chicken box. Our pickup time is 10 am next Saturday which is an hour earlier than the scheduled time. Guess they may like to process larger orders separately. I'm glad about that though.

I recalculated the savings per signature box and it comes to about $29 per box. Our total savings for April will be about $100. That's great, but the money was already used for a doctor visit and meds. :( That's the way things go sometimes. Thankful we had that savings at least!

I'll post the contents of the signature box, any substitutions and maybe a pic or two of the food.

Angel Food Ministries Provides Low-Cost Food to "Anyone Who Eats" - April 2009 Menu

Just thought I'd let you know about Angel Food Ministries, a co-op type food service open to anyone regardless of income. They offer a choice of standard boxes at rates that could save you almost half of what the same groceries might cost in a store, and specials available with purchase of at least one of the standard boxes. I figured the savings for my family for April on two signature boxes and one special #4 will come to about $65.

This is the second times we're participating. The first time was in December 2008 and we were very pleased with the quality of the food. If you could use some help reducing the cost of groceries, it's worth checking out their website and trying the program for yourself. To find out more information, visit their website at:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

To find a location near you, click on the link below:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.asp

APRIL 2009 MENU

SIGNATURE BOX:
Each item listed below is included in the regular unit for the Low Cost of $30.00.
You may order as many units as needed.

4 (6 oz) New York Strip Steak 1 (2 lb) Chicken Breast Stir Fry (Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast Chunks) 1 (2 lb) Breaded Breast Filet 1 (1 lb) Steak Fajita Strips 1 (20 oz) Supreme Pizza 1 (28 oz) Jumbo Beef Patties w/Gravy 1 (1 lb) All Meat Hot Dogs 1 (10 oz) Individually-Wrapped Cheese (16 slice)

1 (1 lb) Mixed Vegetables 1 (2 lb) French Fries 1 (12 ct) White Corn Tortillas 1 (1 lb) Rice 1 (15 oz) Peach Halves 1 (6 oz) Pancake Mix 1 (32 oz) 2% Shelf Stable Milk One Dozen Eggs One Dessert Item

SENIOR BOX:

All ten individual meals are fully-cooked and labeled complete with heating instructions – just heat and serve. Each meal has no added sodium, is low in fat, and is nutritionally balanced for seniors with 3 oz. of protein, two vegetables or fruit, and a starch.

New Orleans Style Chicken over Savory Rice with Okra & Tomatoes and Diced Sweet Potatoes Grilled Chicken Strips & Penne Pasta with Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce, Capri Blend Vegetables and Green Beans with Onions and Red Peppers Beef & Bowtie Pasta with Herbed Tomato Sauce, Capri Blend Vegetables and Corn Flame-Broiled Salisbury Steak with Brown Gravy, Sour Cream & Chive Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole with Rice, Green Beans and Squash Medley

Classic Chicken Tetrazzini with Diced Carrots and Green Peas Country Fried Steak with Cream Gravy, Red Skin Whipped Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables Spaghetti with Meatballs, Green Beans and Cinnamon Applesauce Chicken Parmesan with Whipped Potatoes and Capri Blend Vegetables Flame-Broiled Beef Patty with Onion Gravy, Sour Cream & Chive Potatoes and Capri Blend Vegetables 10 2-pack individually wrapped cookies

All this food for the low cost of $28.00 & You don’t even need to be a Senior!

ALLERGEN-FREE BOX
Processed to eliminate the eight top serious allergens: Peanuts, Soybeans, Milk, Eggs, Fish, Crustacean, Tree Nuts and Gluten (wheat, rye and barley). Great for children and adults
All this for $25.00

1 (1 lb) Breaded Chicken Tenders

1 (1 lb) Breaded Chicken Breast Chunk

1 (1 lb) Breaded Chicken Nuggets

1 (1 lb) Breaded Chicken Pattie

1 (1 lb) Breaded Steak Fingers

Breaded items are battered with water, white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika. They are then breaded with white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar, dextrose, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika. Breading is pre-browned in Canola oil.

New!! FISH & SHRIMP SEAFOOD BOX
The Long-Awaited Seafood Box is Here

8 (4 oz) Alaskan Salmon Filets (vacuum-packed)

1 (2 lb) IQF Whiting Filets (4 oz.-6 oz. filets)

1 (2 lb) IQF Large Shrimp (26-30 per lb.)

Fish & Shrimp for only $35.00

Specials of the Month:
There are NO LIMITS on the number of Specials you can purchase, but you must first purchase a regular or senior unit.

SPECIAL A

6 lb. Assorted Meat Box - $22.00
2 (12 oz) T-Bone Steaks
4 (8 oz) Lean All-Beef Hamburger Steaks
1 (1.5 lb) Boneless Pork Roast
1 (1 lb) Mild Italian Sausage with Cheese

SPECIAL B

4.5 lb. Meat Combo - $21.00
6 (8 oz) Ribeye Steaks
4 (6 oz) Bacon-Wrapped Pork Filet

SPECIAL C

5 lb. Steak and Pork Combo -$21.00
2 (12 oz) Kansas City Strip
2 (12 oz) Bone-In Ribeye
4 (8 oz) Thick-Cut Boston Butt Chops

SPECIAL D

Chicken Breast Filet Box - $21.00
10 lb IQF Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

SPECIAL E

6 lb. Hamburger Steak Box - $18.00
Just In Time for Grill Season!
12 (8 oz) Lean All-Beef Hamburger Steaks

SPECIAL F

Fresh Fruit and Veggie Box - $22.00
1 (3 lb) No. 1 Premium Idaho Baking Potatoes
1 (3 lb) No. 1 Premium North Carolina Sweet Potatoes
1 pkg Wiley’s Sweet Potato and Yam Seasoning
1 head Premium Green Cabbage
1 (1 lb) No. 1 Premium California Baby Whole Peeled Carrots
2 each Premium 1015 Jumbo Sweet Onions
1 each Premium Red, Yellow, Orange & Green Bell Peppers
2 each Premium California Lemons
1 head Premium California Iceberg Lettuce
4 each Washington State Premium Bosc Pears
4 each Washington State Premium Red Delicious Apples
1 each Premium Golden Ripe Pineapple
1 each Premium Sweet Cantaloupe
*April Fruit and Veggie Recipe Sheet

SPECIAL G

Valencia Orange Box - $14.00
Sweet and Juicy — Peak of the Season!
2/5 Bushel Tree-Ripened Valencia Oranges
(Approximately 40-50 oranges per box)

###

THE PROMISE OF SPRING

With spring just a few days away, I can't wait to start looking for vegetable plants to grow in containers in our backyard. Although it will not be my first attempt at growing vegetables, it has been many years since I have attempted to grow anything. My motive is both financial and for the pure pleasure of growing something. Growing some of our veggies will help save on grocery bills in this tight economy. I mean, if the price of groceries goes up too much more, we'll be seriously considering canceling the cable tv for starters.

Some veggies I'm considering include large tomatoes, plum tomatoes, green beans, strawberries, icicle radishes, pickling type cucumbers (although I won't be pickling), english cucumbers, soybeans, yellow squash, broccoli, corn. Don't want to try too much at once, mainly because money is so tight and I can't afford to buy a lot of supplies.

I need to price the soilless potting mix. Unbreakable and rustproof containers with handles on the sides would be best and easier to move around, if need be.

In addition to the container vegetables, it would be fun to use the old flower patch to grown some pumpkins and gourds for the fall decorating and possibly some sunflowers. I grew some tall ones years ago--over 6' tall. They were beautiful and I took some photos of them, but never got the film developed. Hmmm...maybe I could find that roll of film somewhere.