When David and I found those marked-down hamburger patties at Kroger, we thought we were simply buying dinner for one night. We had no idea that one good deal would end up carrying us through more than one meal. For my family that is a Godsend because as you know we live on one paycheck and more times than not it doesn’t stretch as far as we would like for it to.
After everyone had eaten dinner, we still had plenty of hamburger patties left. Instead of putting them in the freezer and forgetting about them, I started thinking about what we could make next. One of the things I enjoy most is finding ways to stretch a grocery purchase without making it feel like we’re eating the exact same meal over and over again.
Later in the week those extra hamburger patties became hamburger steaks. Some people might call them Salisbury steaks, and others simply call them hamburger steaks with gravy. Whatever name your family uses, they were every bit as comforting as the first night’s meal.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that everyone around our table likes their meals a little differently. Gerald enjoyed his meal with white bread, making almost a hot sandwich with the hamburger patty while keeping the mashed potatoes and corn on the side. It reminded me that there isn’t one right way to serve dinner. Sometimes the best meals are the ones everyone makes their own.
I skipped the bread at first because I’m usually not a big bread eater. Before the meal was over, though, I found myself walking back for a slice of bread with a little butter. Somehow it just completed the meal. Maybe that’s the Texas girl in me, but bread and butter always seem to find their way onto the table.
David being David grabbed a Tortilla and placed it on his plate, then he put the Hamburger Patty on top then he scooped Mashed Potato’s on top and then he poured Gravy on everything creating what I don’t know. Yes, there was no, Corn for David because more times than not he doesn’t eat vegetables.
Looking back, I think my favorite part wasn’t even the hamburger patties. It was those sautéed onions. They added so much flavor and made an ordinary meal feel just a little more special. Even though David thinks Onions and Tomato’s should have been invented Gerald and I love our Onions as long as there cooked. What about you?
As I thought back to our shopping trip, I couldn’t help but smile about the cashier asking David to go back and pick up two more packages of hamburger patties for her. She had spotted the same bargain we did and didn’t want to miss out. It reminded me that we’re all looking for ways to make our grocery dollars go a little farther these days.
That simple moment has stayed with me because blessings often appear when we least expect them. Sometimes they’re found in a conversation with a stranger, sometimes in a grocery store aisle, and sometimes in a markdown sticker that helps feed your family for another day.
This experience reminded me that stretching a meal isn’t just about saving money. It’s about being thankful for what God provides, making good use of what you have, and enjoying time gathered around the table together. Those are the moments that become the memories we carry with us long after the dishes are washed.
If you haven’t read Part A yet, I hope you’ll stop by and read how this simple Kroger grocery trip turned into our family dinner, along with the free kitchen printable that goes with it. Now, come and share any grocery sales you’ve found lately that helped you stretch your grocery budget.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
