Welcome

Welcome to Solo Culinary Adventures.  I will be moving into a cute little 1 bedroom house in August if all goes according to plan.  The new digs and blissful privacy will bring on some new challenges, of course.  Namely, cooking and eating healthily, on a very limited budget, on my own.  I tend to be the "pick up something (usually unhealthy but tasty) at a restaurant on my way home" type of gal, especially on work days.  However, that won't be an option as my food budget will be rather tight and restaurant prices are pretty high.  The goal is to get by on $50 or less, preferably less, each week on groceries and household items while not resorting to eating ramen noodles for every meal.  Let's see if I can do it.

For now, I'm in the planning phases- what to stock in the freezer/fridge/pantry, scouring Pinterest and the web for inexpensive but possibly delicious recipes, etc.  Once I'm on my own in the new place, the fun of this blog will truly begin.  There will be 1 special day each week with an almost guaranteed post (provided I don't forget or am not on vacation/out of town on business)- Menu Monday!

Menu Monday- From what I've read on the web, the easiest way to eat healthy on a budget is to put a bit of planning in the line up and weekly menus seem to be a big hit.  I work 10 hours a day/4 days a week and am off Saturday-Monday.  Sunday will consist of planning- browsing ads, clipping coupons, figuring out the best priced foods and developing a menu/grocery list.  On Monday, I'll do the shopping along with any other errands, then post the menu and grocery list right here on this blog for all to view, admire or judge.

On another special day, we'll go with a semi-monthly post devoted to a wine (or other grownup beverage if the mood fits).  The day will be called "Wine Me Wednesday" and it will be a glorious day indeed.

Wine Me Wednesday- Who says you can't enjoy a decent glass of wine on a budget?  Hump day is a day to celebrate with a glass of wine (or 2).   Semi-monthly, I'll provide an amateur's review of an inexpensive ($8-$12) or moderately priced ($12-15) bottle of wine.  Disclaimer: The key word in the previous sentence is "amateur" because until rather recently, I never found a wine I liked.  Feel free to gasp in horror at the thought.

So bear with me as I go through the process of moving once again, finding furniture, building my new wine bar (yes, I'm converting an old tv stand into a wine bar/mini island), and figuring out the budgetary basics and how to regularly cook for myself.