The Velveeta Challenge Continued!

Today I'd like to tell you the story of how I went shopping for the supplies for my Casserole Challenge entry. It was a wonderful day when Max and I were hanging out whining in each other's arms about our most recent rounds of strep throat/tonsilitis. Then I remembered that my recipe was due to Velveeta's People that day. Also that day a handyman was coming by to replace the microwave and also to put tiles back on the walls. You know, the tiles we got wet? So they fell off the wall? Also that day the cleaning ladies were coming by.

You haven't lived until you've had tonsilitis and stood outside in the rain grilling chicken under umbrella. Procrastination strikes again!

Here are my two receipts, I have two receipts because the first market I went to was all out of Ro-Tel and I'd like to know how that happens? What is this Russia?

You'll see I bought a 12-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper so I had to remove that cost from the total bill. Please to note, boneless, skinless chicken breasts were on sale for $1.59 a pound. I couldn't believe it either.

So the total came to $17.15. This works out to be around $2.14 a serving, but technically less since I didn't use ALL of the ingredients I bought. But still, I'm not great with math and I'm not figuring out how much everything cost per ounce and then figure out how much I used and.....no thank you.

 

I have to wait to give you the full recipe until next week. Grrrr. Voting starts on October 30th so I'll probably post the recipe on Monday of next week. Until then you can see my enormous head at the Velveeta site.

Wow, that was surprising!

Comments

[Cat]

No this is not Russia. Yet. We're working on it. Good luck to you in the challenge!

[melissaS]

Yep, first the banks. Oh...wait....

[Abigail M. Schilling]

You know, with this being all cloaked in mystery, I am way more excited than I think I normally would be about a cheese contest.

I hope there are photos of you grilling in the rain.

[brandi]

Opps, am i suppost to wait until contests are over to post the recipes? oh well, hopefully the one I`m in won`t be as hard core as the Velveeta people. damn, that is good cheese...

[Peeved Michelle]

See what happens when you spread the wealth around? Ro-Tel shortage.

[Stefanie]

Not to be too anal, but your first receipt says $16.67, but you wrote $16.07 on the second receipt. So your total was actually $17.75.

[melissaS]

No, the organizers of this contest wanted us to wait to share our recipes closer to the start of voting.

[Nanc]

Was your Oct 18 post actually copied from Dooce's Oct 17 post? http://www.dooce.com/index.php?q=node
A 'suggestion' of plagiarism was mentioned in the comments....and I have to say there is more than a hint of similarity.

[MelissaS]

Sharing the same links is not plagiarism. Julie and Alexa have thousands of readers each day.

I am a reader of Julie's and found Alexa's post via a Twitter earlier in the week by Alice Bradley.

I have made a decision to post about politics on weekends only which explains the date issue.

Thank you for "looking" out for me.

[Fred]

You've got this thing wrapped up. Grilling in the rain with tonsilli....tosili......a sore throat? Thats some cheese laden dedication right there.

Although I do have to say I think I'd refrain from shopping somewhere subject to Ro-tel shortages AND fond of printing my name on the receipts.

[MelissaS]

most stores put your name on the receipts if you pay with debit.

I write with my full name so it's not a problem for me.

[JNP]

What's Ro-tel?

[Lisa V]

I can't believe you are getting shit posting a recipe.

[CinAA]

1. I'm thrilled to see black beans on the receipt.
2. I hope you win.
3. I hope the kids eat it, which would be better than winning! It'd be like a miracle!

Also, I'm astounded at how many people are shocked that smart, thoughtful women who write funny, interesting blogs might possibly have political beliefs that are more subtle than "Drill, baby, drill!"

[MelissaS]

Well, since I close comments on political posts it's bound to happen.

[Fred]

I'm not going to lie, it feels a little surreal when someone responds to one of my comments. Its like getting noticed by a famous person. ;-)

I'll admit it, I'm going to bask.

[mosker]

Wow. The first thing I noticed about your receipts is the lack of tax on food. I'd forgotten that was even possible.

I'm looking forward to the recipe!

[plumwin]

I'm sort of off topic but it's still recipe related. I can't find the black sugar for the cupcakes and NEED to make them! Stat! Where did you find it?

[MelissaS]

Just at my local craft store, Michael's, with all their cake decorating stuff.

[plumwin]

Off to Michaels then. Thanks much.

[Nanc]

CinAA-The previous question about the two blogs had nothing to do with political beliefs. Your comment exemplifies the kind of ugly backstabbing that is causing all the divisiveness in this election. I, for one, cannot wait for it all to be over with so maybe people can start being civil to each other once again.

[jo]

Melissa;

I teach cooking and run a cooking school. If I have the whole recipe I can tell you down to the penny what it costs per serving using the software i cost out our weekly purchasing list. Drop me a line if you care.

j

[HouseofJules]

I actually spit out my water when I read your, "What is this, Russia?" line, because I JUST SAID THE SAME THING LAST WEEK! I did all my shopping for a certain recipe at Trader Joe's. They had everything on my list, which I actually never thought possible... but they did. Except Rotel. I was chatting with the checker about it, both of us friendly and jovial until I said, "What is this, Russia?" and she didn't laugh. At all. It was awkward.
Jules
House of Jules

[Another Melissa]

Did you notice that Velveeta is spelled wrong on the reciept (Vellveta)? I bet the Velveeta people will love that!

[MelissaS]

@Jo: Yes! I will send you the recipe as soon as I can. Thank you! I clearly can't do it since I couldn't ADD THE NUMBERS THAT WERE THERE CORRECTLY! (Not so into Math. I feel like a Barbie doll.)

@Another Melissa: Velveeta's People are a lot more laid back than that. Just like I don't freak out when our name is spelled Mellisa.

[Another Melissa]

Oh the irony that I spelled receipt incorrectly! Glad they are laid back, I have a client that gets very upset when his name is spelled wrong (a very hard name to spell), so I'm extra sensitive. My favorite spelling of our name is Millissa.

[melissaS]

Once I wrote a long thing about how I couldn't stand when people didn't use proper Grammer. Oh I hate it when people don't use proper GRAMMER.

Only it's Grammar and I was being a jackass. As I am wont to do.

[Bill]

Ok, I have not said it before due to the creepiness factor, but you look so hot in that photo!

[CinAA]

@Nanc: my comment was driven by the seemingly mean-spirited insinuation of plagiarism and the multitude of vicious comments I had read earlier on dooce more than anything. It was something I'd been musing on all morning, and then your hint that Melissa was copying Heather instead of reading the same blogs and coming to her own similar conclusion pushed me to post.

Also, I didn't really consider it backstabbing, as I'm more of a "slap in the face" sort of girl. The gloves are always off at this house.

[Jenn]

I don't know that I've ever seen Rotel at our grocery stores, maybe I live in Russia and don't know it!

Have you ever gotten your allergies tested? I used to get strep all the effing time and it turned out it was because of my allergies. I mean, I know your tonsils are coming out anyway, I hope it fixes everything.

[patois]

I'll limit my comment to this post: can't wait for the recipe. And your head doesn't look that enormous.

[reen]

You had me at black beans - can't wait to see it!

And to be even more anal: boneless chicken breasts for 99 cents a pound (rather than $1.59, which clearly would have already been dirt cheap)?!? I pay four times that so maybe I live in Russia without knowing it too! But it's 80 degrees...hmm...

[Courtney]

I'm excited to see all the recipes. Maybe then I can whip out some good meals and surprise the hell out of my husband!