Comments on: Some Thoughts on Dinner With My Family http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Andrew http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-971134 Andrew Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:03:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-971134 Carole and Kristine–you have no idea what Trent meant by “multiple activities.”. You have no idea what these activities cost, or whether they cost anything at all. For all you know, mLimg mud pies and playing catch are two of the activities.

There is a lot to criticize Trent for, but extrapolating an entire family dynamic from a two-word phrase and then criticizing it like a couple of censorious prigs is ridiculous.

]]> By: kristine http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-971026 kristine Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:57:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-971026 Carole, My in-laws do the same thing. Kids not yet in grade 1 in multiple activities, eating up time and money, when they would be just as happy in the backyard making mud pies. The expenses as kids get older go up, not down. Some parents think that once the kid gets into grade school, extracurriculars will be free. Far from it. Filed trips, uniforms, etc., and the cost goes up, not down. More every year, then there’ s college! I do not understand the normalization of activities that were once only for the extremely wealthy. Whatever happened to playing catch? People today seemed terrified of an unscheduled moment. It’s not just the writer here- it’s everywhere.

]]> By: Carole http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-971004 Carole Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:04:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-971004 I think your post was good and enjoyable, but I wonder if it is wise or frugal to have a 3 year old and a 5 year old in multiple activities.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-970983 Jenny Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:10:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-970983 If you like tarragon in your eggs, you should try rosemary. It’s pretty strong-flavored though, so just use a couple leaves at a time and cut up very small. Fresh is best, but dried is okay too.

I had a plant for a couple years, and then when it died I saved all the dried leaves and pretty much have a lifetime supply of dried now (at least as long as it stays fresh).

I like flexible meals too. One of my favorites is shepherd’s pie. Just take ground meat (if you eat it, if not I’ve heard lentils make a good substitute), mix it with whatever veggies you have and some kind of sauce (usually just gravy with some sort of extra flavor added for me), then top with leftover mashed potatoes and broil until heated through and the top is toasty brown.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-970950 Michelle Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:49:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-970950 I do basically the same thing, when I’m making my menu, I make 2/3rds of it recipes I have either made before and I can make with my eyes closed (or with little recipe consultation) and 1/3rd more adventurous, and thus attention consuming meals. Honestly, most of those flop. BUT, when they do go well, that’s one more recipe to add to the “make it quickly” group. My schedule is also highly irregular, so I have to be flexible, so having easy meals already planned is great for those nights when I don’t have much time.

]]> By: Anne http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-970940 Anne Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:13:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-970940 I’m just waiting for you to publish a cookbook!

]]> By: chuck http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/02/some-thoughts-on-dinner-with-my-family/#comment-970928 chuck Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:08:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=7976#comment-970928 some great tips there trent thanks!

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