Yes, one should make the hour long trip to Trader Joe's. If for nothing else but hummus.

Hello. I live in Minnesota now. It is pleasant. I currently work my tail off organizing and nesting, and simultaneously try to grapple with the idea that I will soon be responsible for 60 students understanding of basic, yet abstract, concepts related to communication. Can you tell them why they need to learn about the definition of self? Can you make them care about the power of rhetoric and its responsibility to truth? I hope to all that is Holy I can. Or at the very least I hope they don't repeatedly fall asleep/make a habit of skipping their weekly visits with Ms. Maki.

All that to be said, I go many weeks without a pay check (as our required training is unpaid, precious, I know) and have probably spent more money in the last week than I have in the last three years combined (excluding of course my exorbitant student loans). But all that aside I have eaten more than satisfactory meals, including the social left-over night I participated in yesterday where I had homemade Northern Chili; lots of beans, little meat, but an ok zing. I didn't have any leftovers, so I made cookies. I am pretty sure the cookies made me friends.

My favorite meal this week:

Cheapy Greeky Chicken
Ingredients:
Splash of Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Salt
Pepper
Two slices of yellow onion diced
Two thawed chicken breast tenderloins
Handful of Spinach
Hummus

Over medium heat, saute your onion in the olive oil with a few good cranks of your seasoning (doesn't have to be Italian, anything herby will work fine). Just as the onion is starting to soften toss in your chicken breast cook until the edges begin to be white. Turn tenderloins and add spinach. Cook until spinach is softened and chicken is cooked through. Turn up your heat quickly to sear off the sides of your chicken. Salt and pepper the dish to your liking. Remove everything from pan, place on plate. Smear a spoonful of hummus over each tenderloin. Serve with a whole grain toast, pita chips or pasta tossed in olive oil, cracked pepper and feta.

THAT FOLKS IS A FINE MEAL. And t'aint so spendy neither. And it is an easy meal to prepare for one.

Finishing with a few spoonfuls of Cherry Garcia is a pretty nice touch also.

Other favorites of the week: Frozen Pillsbury biscuits. 12 for 3 dollars. Delicious. DON'T BUY THE CANNED ONES, I promise you they are not nearly as delicious (or cost effective). 100% Grapefruit juice on sale for $2.50, yes this really is a steal, and roast beef for $5 a pound. Ok maybe I am the only one who is excited.

And I got 50 cents off a bottle of red wine vinegar due to a coupon. Score.

In a few weeks, voi la, cooking for two!