This is the nitty gritty of motherhood.
The scouring the pantry and the fridge to see what I have on hand. The lists of items needed, and the flipping of cook book pages and internet searches to see what I can do with what I have. These people need to eat, and I would like for them to eat well.
To top it all off, there is that boring little thing we call the budget. Always the budget. So, I pour over my favorite websites. What is on sale this week? What coupons do I have? How can I make it all come together to feed my family, provide nutrition and comfort all at the same time? And how can I stay sane in the process.
There is much to think about, you see. Scott will have bible study on Tuesday night, so I need something simple. He won't be around to help with baths or cleaning up the kitchen. Frozen pizza it is. And if we do frozen pizza on Tuesday, well I would like something good and homey for Wednesday to make up for it. So here we go. This is what I came up with.
Tonight--pork roast, oven roasted potatoes, green beans (potatoes on sale, pork roast on sale, green beans in the freezer)
Tuesday--frozen pizza, salad (pizza in the freezer, salad on sale)
Wednesday--chicken fried steak (cubed steak in the freezer), mashed potatoes, lima beans
Thursday--AUBURN!!! Hopefully we will be eating Big Blue Bagel or something equally wonderful
Friday--chicken tetrazzini, salad, bread (chicken in the freezer, other ingredients in the pantry)
and then I will start the process all over again. You see, when I gave up teaching for this new job of motherhood, cook was in the job description. Along with dishwasher and toilet scrubber. It's not always glamorous folks, but somebody has to take care of these little chickadees, and I am it.
And of course, we will eat eggs for breakfast with whole grain toast and butter. We like to eat real butter around here. And probably peanut butter and jelly for lunch. Or a turkey sandwich with a side of strawberries. And to break it up, maybe a black bean quesadilla in the middle of the week. I can only eat so much peanut butter, you know. What will be on your table this week?
Need some inspiration? Head over here for lots and lots and lots of meal ideas.
Showing posts with label menu plan Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label menu plan Monday. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Menu Plan Monday
Sunday Night--chicken fried rice, stir fried veggies
Monday Night--Breakfast for dinner, muffins, eggs, sausage, pears
Tuesday Night--Beef stroganoff over rice, broccoli
Wednesday Night--creamy crock pot chicken, rice, veggie
Thursday Night--spaghetti, broccoli or green beans
Friday Night--black bean burritos, spanish rice
Saturday Night--pizza
Sunday--sausage and cheese omelets, fruit
Breakfast--yogurt and granola, peanut butter toast, eggs
Lunch--PB&J, ham sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, leftovers
snacks--triscuits/carrots and hummus
I am still couponing and planning those meals. In fact, the night's plan is to sit down in front of the television to watch Season Five of Lost while I cut and sort coupons. I have to in order to stick to the budget, especially since I know meal planning and couponing will soon be put on the back burner. I hope to still plan something after John is born, but I am realistic enough to know that it will be a very simple meal plan until our life settles into some sort of schedule.
I would love some reader feedback on how you handled meal planning with a newborn!! Any good ideas for maintaining my sanity and the budget?
As always, Organizing Junkie is the place to go for all things meal planning.
I wanted to come back and add the recipe for "Creamy Slow-Cooker Chicken." It is a Southern Living Recipe, though I can't remember which month it came from. In fact, I might have copied it down from mom's 2009 Southern Living cookbook. Anyway, here it is.
6 boneless chicken breasts (2.5 lb)
2 t salt
2 T oil
1 can cream of mushroom
1 (8 oz) pack of cream cheese
1 envelope of Italian dressing mix
sprinkle chicken with salt
cook chicken in batches in hot oil in large skillet until browned on both sides
Transfer to 5 qt. slow cooker, reserve drippings in skillet
Add soup, cream cheese, and Italian dressing mix to hot drippings in skillet.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth
Pour mixture over chicken.
Cover and cook on low for four hours.
Stir before serving.
Okay, because I want to use what ingredients I have on hand, I am actually making a few adjustments. We'll see how it tastes in the end. I am using chicken thighs from the freezer, and I don't have the Italian dressing mix, so I will probably use French onion mix. I think everything else will stay the same. I am going to serve it with rice and a green vegetable--either broccoli or green beans.
Monday Night--Breakfast for dinner, muffins, eggs, sausage, pears
Tuesday Night--Beef stroganoff over rice, broccoli
Wednesday Night--creamy crock pot chicken, rice, veggie
Thursday Night--spaghetti, broccoli or green beans
Friday Night--black bean burritos, spanish rice
Saturday Night--pizza
Sunday--sausage and cheese omelets, fruit
Breakfast--yogurt and granola, peanut butter toast, eggs
Lunch--PB&J, ham sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, leftovers
snacks--triscuits/carrots and hummus
I am still couponing and planning those meals. In fact, the night's plan is to sit down in front of the television to watch Season Five of Lost while I cut and sort coupons. I have to in order to stick to the budget, especially since I know meal planning and couponing will soon be put on the back burner. I hope to still plan something after John is born, but I am realistic enough to know that it will be a very simple meal plan until our life settles into some sort of schedule.
I would love some reader feedback on how you handled meal planning with a newborn!! Any good ideas for maintaining my sanity and the budget?
As always, Organizing Junkie is the place to go for all things meal planning.
I wanted to come back and add the recipe for "Creamy Slow-Cooker Chicken." It is a Southern Living Recipe, though I can't remember which month it came from. In fact, I might have copied it down from mom's 2009 Southern Living cookbook. Anyway, here it is.
6 boneless chicken breasts (2.5 lb)
2 t salt
2 T oil
1 can cream of mushroom
1 (8 oz) pack of cream cheese
1 envelope of Italian dressing mix
sprinkle chicken with salt
cook chicken in batches in hot oil in large skillet until browned on both sides
Transfer to 5 qt. slow cooker, reserve drippings in skillet
Add soup, cream cheese, and Italian dressing mix to hot drippings in skillet.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth
Pour mixture over chicken.
Cover and cook on low for four hours.
Stir before serving.
Okay, because I want to use what ingredients I have on hand, I am actually making a few adjustments. We'll see how it tastes in the end. I am using chicken thighs from the freezer, and I don't have the Italian dressing mix, so I will probably use French onion mix. I think everything else will stay the same. I am going to serve it with rice and a green vegetable--either broccoli or green beans.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
I haven't done menu plan Monday in a while, but I have realized that it is a great way for me to remember what I have planned for the week. I forget what I am supposed to cook for dinner one night? I simply turn to my blog. Plus Scott likes to see it in writing, online.
And, it's fun to link up with every other blogger out there who is also trying to maintain some semblance of order and nutrition and budgeting in their weekly lives.
Anyway, here is our week
Sunday night--we had frozen pizza
Monday night--chicken pot pie, broccoli
Tuesday night--bean soup, cornbread
Wednesday--Kate ("Cake" as Ada calls her) will be here, so I think we might go eat Mexican just to get out of the house, plus I have a BOGO coupon, so you know. Or we may eat Mexican for lunch and then do whatever for dinner--don't panic, Scott, we can talk about this:)
Thursday--the ever faithful spaghetti dinner. We do this almost every week. Ada loves spaghetti, and I use whole grain noodles (that I get for mostly free) and sauce that I get for less than 1.00, and I add some broccoli on the side, and Ada gets a nutritious meal that she will actually eat.
Friday night--probably frozen pizza again as we prepare to leave home for the week.
Scott has the entire week of Christmas off--can you believe it? He normally works all the way up to Christmas day, traveling to Alabama when he gets off work on Christmas Eve, missing the Christmas Eve service and usually whatever yummy meal Mom has planned. Is it Prime Rib Roast again, mom? But this week, we are leaving Saturday morning and spending several days with Scott's family. Then on Christmas Eve morning we are traveling to Scottsboro to have Christmas with my family. All of that to say, that this week I am trying to clean out the fridge and pantry a bit.
For breakfast we will eat the usual eggs, peanut butter toast, yogurt, etc. etc.
And Lunch will be sandwiches, bananas, tangerines, applesauce and maybe mac and cheese one day for a treat.
I am also planning to make buckeyes. I have all of the ingredients, but I need to buy some wax paper. I have done no Christmas baking whatsoever, and buckeyes happen to be what I am craving, so I think I will make those tonight. We'll see if I actually get to it.
So there you have it...the ever glamorous Moore family menu;)
And, it's fun to link up with every other blogger out there who is also trying to maintain some semblance of order and nutrition and budgeting in their weekly lives.
Anyway, here is our week
Sunday night--we had frozen pizza
Monday night--chicken pot pie, broccoli
Tuesday night--bean soup, cornbread
Wednesday--Kate ("Cake" as Ada calls her) will be here, so I think we might go eat Mexican just to get out of the house, plus I have a BOGO coupon, so you know. Or we may eat Mexican for lunch and then do whatever for dinner--don't panic, Scott, we can talk about this:)
Thursday--the ever faithful spaghetti dinner. We do this almost every week. Ada loves spaghetti, and I use whole grain noodles (that I get for mostly free) and sauce that I get for less than 1.00, and I add some broccoli on the side, and Ada gets a nutritious meal that she will actually eat.
Friday night--probably frozen pizza again as we prepare to leave home for the week.
Scott has the entire week of Christmas off--can you believe it? He normally works all the way up to Christmas day, traveling to Alabama when he gets off work on Christmas Eve, missing the Christmas Eve service and usually whatever yummy meal Mom has planned. Is it Prime Rib Roast again, mom? But this week, we are leaving Saturday morning and spending several days with Scott's family. Then on Christmas Eve morning we are traveling to Scottsboro to have Christmas with my family. All of that to say, that this week I am trying to clean out the fridge and pantry a bit.
For breakfast we will eat the usual eggs, peanut butter toast, yogurt, etc. etc.
And Lunch will be sandwiches, bananas, tangerines, applesauce and maybe mac and cheese one day for a treat.
I am also planning to make buckeyes. I have all of the ingredients, but I need to buy some wax paper. I have done no Christmas baking whatsoever, and buckeyes happen to be what I am craving, so I think I will make those tonight. We'll see if I actually get to it.
So there you have it...the ever glamorous Moore family menu;)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
It's Monday again, so I am "mom" to three. We have just come in from playing outside, and all the kids are eating goldfish and watching a cartoon, so I decided to sneak in here to grab some quick computer time. Then we are headed upstairs to play and clean (ha!).
Monday also means--menu planning!! Our week is not too exciting. As always, our menu is based on sales and what was already in the pantry, and sometimes it seems we eat the same things over and over and over. For example, split chicken breasts--always on sale, always in our freezer.
Anyway, here is the plan
Sunday night--we had homemade pizza, yummy!!
Monday night--grilled hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad
Tuesday night--cheeseburger pie, broccoli
Wednesday night--chicken spaghetti, bread, green beans
Thursday night--not sure yet b/c I am going straight from tutoring to bible study, so it may be sandwiches or something as equally exciting
Friday night--we are going to see Sesame Street Live!!! (more on that later!!), so I am guessing we will eat fast food as we make our way to downtown Atlanta.
Saturday night--homemade pizza again
Sunday lunch--omelets or quiche
I know, I know. We are such gourmets;)
I do have a very yummy potato casserole recipe to share with you, though. I made it Saturday night, and I thought it was very good and fairly easy. We will definitely be making it again. Here goes
2 lb potatoes, unpeeled
1/4-1/2 c. unsalted butter
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 c. milk
3 T + 1 T Romano cheese, grated
1/4 c. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/4 c. cheddar, shredded
2 T. green onions, chopped
2 t. salt
1 t. black pepper
1/2 t. white pepper (I didn't have this)
1 t. paprika
Boil potatoes for 25-30 minutes or until tender. Drain, cover and chill for 3-4 hours. Quarter the potatoes. Melt the butter and garlic in a saucepan. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, garlic butter, milk, 3 T of Romano cheese, Monterey Jack and cheddar, green onions, salt and pepper. Coarsely mash until combined, leaving some large chunks. Spoon into a lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese and paprika. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until top is golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers. Serves 6.
We loved it. Try it. I got the recipe from a Kroger coupon booklet.
And for hundreds of other meal ideas, check out Organizing Junkie every Monday.
Monday also means--menu planning!! Our week is not too exciting. As always, our menu is based on sales and what was already in the pantry, and sometimes it seems we eat the same things over and over and over. For example, split chicken breasts--always on sale, always in our freezer.
Anyway, here is the plan
Sunday night--we had homemade pizza, yummy!!
Monday night--grilled hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad
Tuesday night--cheeseburger pie, broccoli
Wednesday night--chicken spaghetti, bread, green beans
Thursday night--not sure yet b/c I am going straight from tutoring to bible study, so it may be sandwiches or something as equally exciting
Friday night--we are going to see Sesame Street Live!!! (more on that later!!), so I am guessing we will eat fast food as we make our way to downtown Atlanta.
Saturday night--homemade pizza again
Sunday lunch--omelets or quiche
I know, I know. We are such gourmets;)
I do have a very yummy potato casserole recipe to share with you, though. I made it Saturday night, and I thought it was very good and fairly easy. We will definitely be making it again. Here goes
2 lb potatoes, unpeeled
1/4-1/2 c. unsalted butter
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 c. milk
3 T + 1 T Romano cheese, grated
1/4 c. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/4 c. cheddar, shredded
2 T. green onions, chopped
2 t. salt
1 t. black pepper
1/2 t. white pepper (I didn't have this)
1 t. paprika
Boil potatoes for 25-30 minutes or until tender. Drain, cover and chill for 3-4 hours. Quarter the potatoes. Melt the butter and garlic in a saucepan. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, garlic butter, milk, 3 T of Romano cheese, Monterey Jack and cheddar, green onions, salt and pepper. Coarsely mash until combined, leaving some large chunks. Spoon into a lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining Romano cheese and paprika. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until top is golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers. Serves 6.
We loved it. Try it. I got the recipe from a Kroger coupon booklet.
And for hundreds of other meal ideas, check out Organizing Junkie every Monday.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Dinner Plan
It's Monday, which means it's my day with three kiddos instead of just one. However, they are all napping upstairs, and I have had the past hour and a half to enjoy a quiet house, a ham sandwich with fresh tomatoes, and The Gilmore Girls.
The fact that I didn't immediately fall asleep on the couch is a good sign to me that last week's tiredness was due to a cold and not an extreme amount of second trimester exhaustion. I am relieved to know that. At one point last week before I realized that I was in fact sick, I was in tears, as I told Scott I didn't think I could stand to be that tired through February. (my hormones are not cooperating these days). Luckily, after doing nothing but resting all weekend, including a morning in bed while Scott and Ada went to church, I am feeling that second trimester energy once again.
Perfect timing too, as I take on a new tutoring student this week, meaning I will be out until 7:00 on Monday and Wednesday nights. I am trying to plan make-ahead meals for those nights so that Scott can just stick something in the oven or spoon something out of the crockpot. Here is this week's dinner plan.
Friday night--frozen pizza (a Friday staple)
Saturday night--nachos in the crockpot (velveeta, ground beef, rotel)
Sunday Lunch--BLTs
Monday night--chicken enchilada casserole, mexican rice, black beans
Tuesday night--chicken puffs, broccoli
Wednesday night--chicken spaghetti, salad, bread
Thursday night--Fish, grits casserole, green beans
(by the way, velveeta cheese was BOGO at Publix two weeks ago, plus I had coupons, so I stocked up at .80 a box, hence the large amount of velveeta inspired recipes)
Breakfast--yogurt and granola, eggs, South Beach cereal bars (BOGO at Publix!!)
Lunch--leftovers, ham sandwiches, yogurt, fruit
Remember, for hundreds of meal ideas, check out Organizing Junkie.
The fact that I didn't immediately fall asleep on the couch is a good sign to me that last week's tiredness was due to a cold and not an extreme amount of second trimester exhaustion. I am relieved to know that. At one point last week before I realized that I was in fact sick, I was in tears, as I told Scott I didn't think I could stand to be that tired through February. (my hormones are not cooperating these days). Luckily, after doing nothing but resting all weekend, including a morning in bed while Scott and Ada went to church, I am feeling that second trimester energy once again.
Perfect timing too, as I take on a new tutoring student this week, meaning I will be out until 7:00 on Monday and Wednesday nights. I am trying to plan make-ahead meals for those nights so that Scott can just stick something in the oven or spoon something out of the crockpot. Here is this week's dinner plan.
Friday night--frozen pizza (a Friday staple)
Saturday night--nachos in the crockpot (velveeta, ground beef, rotel)
Sunday Lunch--BLTs
Monday night--chicken enchilada casserole, mexican rice, black beans
Tuesday night--chicken puffs, broccoli
Wednesday night--chicken spaghetti, salad, bread
Thursday night--Fish, grits casserole, green beans
(by the way, velveeta cheese was BOGO at Publix two weeks ago, plus I had coupons, so I stocked up at .80 a box, hence the large amount of velveeta inspired recipes)
Breakfast--yogurt and granola, eggs, South Beach cereal bars (BOGO at Publix!!)
Lunch--leftovers, ham sandwiches, yogurt, fruit
Remember, for hundreds of meal ideas, check out Organizing Junkie.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Provision and this week's menu (a rather random post, I suppose)
I often feel a bit crazy for making the decision to stay at home with Ada rather than work. Not because I don't see the importance of being at home with Ada, and not even because I think that working would be so fulfilling and fun (I am not that naive, I promise), but because it seems like such a simple way to add some money to the ever tightening budget.
Just yesterday on the way to church, as Scott and I discussed lunch options, money being the deciding factor, I looked at him and said, "Am I crazy for staying at home, am I?" and I really meant it. I needed some confirmation. He quickly confirmed that, no, I am right where I am supposed to be, and I trust his affirmation as the leader of our family.
Just when I begin to wonder if we are not making the wisest decision regarding our family and our finances, God reminds me that he will provide. And, he has. Over and over and over.
This month it seems that our income is needed everywhere but in our checking account. Do you know what I mean? There are, of course, bills to pay, and there is that little thing called a mortgage. But those are the constants. This month we also had a root canal and Ada's birthday and car tags and leftover car troubles and the list could go on and on and on. (By the way, I am very thankful that here in the south, Labor Day does not mean fall weather, simply because Ada's wardrobe isn't ready for that.)
But on top of all of the extras that are asking our money to stretch and stretch and stretch, there is a little thing that I am learning about called coupon overage, and it is really helping us out this month.
Let me tell you about my grocery trip on Saturday. I was quite excited.
Here is what I bought at Publix
1 deli sandwich (Scott was hungry for lunch) 2.50
Arnold Whole Grain Bread BOGO 1.85
1 carton of blueberries 2.00
1 pack of Hormel bacon 3.00
Cottonelle Aloe and E toilet paper, 6 pack 3.99
-.50 off Aloe and E mnfctr (equals 2.99 for 6 pack)
1 bag of baking potatoes 1.99
4 packs of Knorr sides .74 each
-2 .60 off two Knorr sides mnfctr coupons (equals .44 each pack)
4 bottles of Sundown Folic Acid 3.79 each
2 bottles of Sundown Vitamin D 2.99 each
-3 6.00 off two Sundown Vitamins Publix coupons
-3 5.00 off two Sundown Vitamins mnfctr coupons (equals Free +++++)
1 box of Splenda packets 2.59
1 box of Orville Redenbacher popcorn BOGO 2.45
-.60 off Orville popcorn mnfctr coupon (equals 1.85 for box of popcorn)
1 carton of eggs 1.29
1 pack of Italian Sausage 2.00
4 packs of Cover Girl powder puffs 2.49
-4 2.00 off Cover Girl store coupon
-2 2.50 off Cover Girl mnfctr coupon (equals free ++++)
total before coupons and sales=76.66
total after coupons and sale=11.85!!!
thank you, overage!!!
So, I went back today, and things didn't go quite as well
Here is what I bought
1/2 gallon of milk 1.79
1 big box of Huggies size 5 19.99
-3.00 Publix coupon
-1.50 man. coupon (= 15.49)
Kleenex Cottonelle Aloe & E 6 pack=2.99
-1.00 off Cottonelle man. coupon (=1.99)
2 Cover Girl eye shadows 2.99 each
-2 2.00 off Cover Girl Publix coupon
-1 2.50 off 2 Cover Girl items man. coupon (= free ++++)
Baked Cheetos 100 calorie packs 2.00
1 Sundown Vitamin D 2.99
1 Sundown Vitamin A 3.29
-6.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin Publix coupon
-5.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin man. coupon (= free ++++)
total before sales and coupons=43.67
total after sales and coupons=19.67
Really, I was hoping for a lower total today, and I should have bought more items to produce overage in order to lower the total, but you live and learn, right? Still, I am thankful for 31.52 as my grocery total when the budget is 100.00 a week. That is money saved, ya'll, and that is what we need this month, more than most months even.
So, what will we be eating this week based on the purchases above and my stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer?
Sunday night= homemade waffles and bacon
Monday night=sausage and potatoes italiano, broccoli, bread
Tuesday night=spaghetti, bread, green beans
Wednesday night=Chicken and rice in the crockpot, broccoli, bread
Thursday night=lasagna, veggie, bread
Friday=frozen pizza
Lunches=hummus and triscuits, ham sandwiches, PB & J, fruit, leftovers
Breakfast=yogurt and granola, eggs, peanut butter toast
snacks=yogurt, fruit
for more menu ideas, check out Organizing Junkie.
Just yesterday on the way to church, as Scott and I discussed lunch options, money being the deciding factor, I looked at him and said, "Am I crazy for staying at home, am I?" and I really meant it. I needed some confirmation. He quickly confirmed that, no, I am right where I am supposed to be, and I trust his affirmation as the leader of our family.
Just when I begin to wonder if we are not making the wisest decision regarding our family and our finances, God reminds me that he will provide. And, he has. Over and over and over.
This month it seems that our income is needed everywhere but in our checking account. Do you know what I mean? There are, of course, bills to pay, and there is that little thing called a mortgage. But those are the constants. This month we also had a root canal and Ada's birthday and car tags and leftover car troubles and the list could go on and on and on. (By the way, I am very thankful that here in the south, Labor Day does not mean fall weather, simply because Ada's wardrobe isn't ready for that.)
But on top of all of the extras that are asking our money to stretch and stretch and stretch, there is a little thing that I am learning about called coupon overage, and it is really helping us out this month.
Let me tell you about my grocery trip on Saturday. I was quite excited.
Here is what I bought at Publix
1 deli sandwich (Scott was hungry for lunch) 2.50
Arnold Whole Grain Bread BOGO 1.85
1 carton of blueberries 2.00
1 pack of Hormel bacon 3.00
Cottonelle Aloe and E toilet paper, 6 pack 3.99
-.50 off Aloe and E mnfctr (equals 2.99 for 6 pack)
1 bag of baking potatoes 1.99
4 packs of Knorr sides .74 each
-2 .60 off two Knorr sides mnfctr coupons (equals .44 each pack)
4 bottles of Sundown Folic Acid 3.79 each
2 bottles of Sundown Vitamin D 2.99 each
-3 6.00 off two Sundown Vitamins Publix coupons
-3 5.00 off two Sundown Vitamins mnfctr coupons (equals Free +++++)
1 box of Splenda packets 2.59
1 box of Orville Redenbacher popcorn BOGO 2.45
-.60 off Orville popcorn mnfctr coupon (equals 1.85 for box of popcorn)
1 carton of eggs 1.29
1 pack of Italian Sausage 2.00
4 packs of Cover Girl powder puffs 2.49
-4 2.00 off Cover Girl store coupon
-2 2.50 off Cover Girl mnfctr coupon (equals free ++++)
total before coupons and sales=76.66
total after coupons and sale=11.85!!!
thank you, overage!!!
So, I went back today, and things didn't go quite as well
Here is what I bought
1/2 gallon of milk 1.79
1 big box of Huggies size 5 19.99
-3.00 Publix coupon
-1.50 man. coupon (= 15.49)
Kleenex Cottonelle Aloe & E 6 pack=2.99
-1.00 off Cottonelle man. coupon (=1.99)
2 Cover Girl eye shadows 2.99 each
-2 2.00 off Cover Girl Publix coupon
-1 2.50 off 2 Cover Girl items man. coupon (= free ++++)
Baked Cheetos 100 calorie packs 2.00
1 Sundown Vitamin D 2.99
1 Sundown Vitamin A 3.29
-6.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin Publix coupon
-5.00 off 2 Sundown Vitamin man. coupon (= free ++++)
total before sales and coupons=43.67
total after sales and coupons=19.67
Really, I was hoping for a lower total today, and I should have bought more items to produce overage in order to lower the total, but you live and learn, right? Still, I am thankful for 31.52 as my grocery total when the budget is 100.00 a week. That is money saved, ya'll, and that is what we need this month, more than most months even.
So, what will we be eating this week based on the purchases above and my stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer?
Sunday night= homemade waffles and bacon
Monday night=sausage and potatoes italiano, broccoli, bread
Tuesday night=spaghetti, bread, green beans
Wednesday night=Chicken and rice in the crockpot, broccoli, bread
Thursday night=lasagna, veggie, bread
Friday=frozen pizza
Lunches=hummus and triscuits, ham sandwiches, PB & J, fruit, leftovers
Breakfast=yogurt and granola, eggs, peanut butter toast
snacks=yogurt, fruit
for more menu ideas, check out Organizing Junkie.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Attempting to coupon again
It has been weeks since I've looked at a coupon. Since I've even attempted to plan a meal. Since I have saved any money at all. Instead, our budget has suffered through first trimester with me, and we are starting to feel the effects. It's bad, ya'll.
Scott has been gracious to me as I have been oh so sick (for good reason, since it equals a healthy baby growing away), and luckily some tutoring money is still coming in to compensate. We would prefer, however, for that extra money to be going towards the debt snowball, so I am trying to plan some meals this week based on sales and coupons. I feel like a newbie.
Here is my plan
spaghetti, pork chops and rice in the crockpot, Stouffer's lasagna, frozen pizza, and another stouffer's frozen meal, and I am going to buy some baked potatoes to fall back on.
I am also planning on buying two rotisserie chickens from Publix because they are on sale and I have a coupon. I think I will take that chicken off the bone and freeze it to use later in casseroles. That way I don't have to deal with the raw meat. Too much for me to stomach right now, you know?
Okay, lunches will be roast beef sandwiches (it's what I have craved lately), peanut butter and banana sandwiches (another craving), and good old pb & J. I am also purchasing blueberries and watermelon for a "side dish" at lunch. Ada will most likely eat leftovers from dinner because I am always trying to get a significant meal in her. She's not a big eater, hence her tiny size.
I am going to buy a few snack items to use as fillers throughout the day when the nausea hits--packaged peanut butter and crackers and cereal bars of some sort.
On Ada's menu are eggs for breakfast and Activia yogurt. The blueberries are also for her, and we will have whole grain bread with lunch. We have to keep things moving;)
I am sure that ya'll are not interested in my grocery list, but it helps me to plan the grocery trip, so thanks for letting me share it with the world. Now I am off to match coupons. Happy saving, everyone!
Scott has been gracious to me as I have been oh so sick (for good reason, since it equals a healthy baby growing away), and luckily some tutoring money is still coming in to compensate. We would prefer, however, for that extra money to be going towards the debt snowball, so I am trying to plan some meals this week based on sales and coupons. I feel like a newbie.
Here is my plan
spaghetti, pork chops and rice in the crockpot, Stouffer's lasagna, frozen pizza, and another stouffer's frozen meal, and I am going to buy some baked potatoes to fall back on.
I am also planning on buying two rotisserie chickens from Publix because they are on sale and I have a coupon. I think I will take that chicken off the bone and freeze it to use later in casseroles. That way I don't have to deal with the raw meat. Too much for me to stomach right now, you know?
Okay, lunches will be roast beef sandwiches (it's what I have craved lately), peanut butter and banana sandwiches (another craving), and good old pb & J. I am also purchasing blueberries and watermelon for a "side dish" at lunch. Ada will most likely eat leftovers from dinner because I am always trying to get a significant meal in her. She's not a big eater, hence her tiny size.
I am going to buy a few snack items to use as fillers throughout the day when the nausea hits--packaged peanut butter and crackers and cereal bars of some sort.
On Ada's menu are eggs for breakfast and Activia yogurt. The blueberries are also for her, and we will have whole grain bread with lunch. We have to keep things moving;)
I am sure that ya'll are not interested in my grocery list, but it helps me to plan the grocery trip, so thanks for letting me share it with the world. Now I am off to match coupons. Happy saving, everyone!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Menu Plan Monday--back in full force, sort of
I haven't done menu plan Monday in a while because my crazy tutoring schedule has kept me from planning anything very tasty for dinner. The last few weeks as students scrambled to pass classes and cram for the SAT, our family's dinners have fallen to the wayside.
But, alas, summer has arrived, and the tutoring is slowing waaaaay down. I will have two students over the summer, and the hours allow me to be home every night for dinner with the fam and bath time and bed time with Ada. We are all relieved for the break. It's been a crazy season for us.
I am not back in full force this week because I still have two extra students who are taking the SAT this weekend, and then my summer schedule officially begins. However, my Mondays and Wednesdays are almost completely free, so I am trying two new Paula Deen recipes this week. Yahoo.
Here's the plan
Monday night--Paula Deen's butter baked chicken, rice and gravy, slow cooked lima beans, and biscuits
Tuesday night--grilled hot dogs, baked beans, chips (I will tutor through the dinner hour this night, so Scott is in charge)
Wednesday night--Paula Deen's beef stroganoff over noodles and broccoli
Thursday night--slow cooked vegetable soup and cornbread (another late tutoring night, but there will be no more of these after this week)
and Friday, I leave for the beach with all of my best college girlfriends. I am thrilled to the core. I am meeting 6 other girls in Montgomery on Friday morning, where we will all pile into one Expedition and head to Florida. Scott's parents have graciously agreed to come and hang out with Scott and Ada for the weekend, so I don't feel like I am abandoning them. So, Scott said he will figure out dinner for Friday-Sunday night.
As for lunches, we will eat turkey sandwiches, fruit, hummus and veggies, and lean cuisine pizzas from the freezer
Breakfast--eggs or egg whites, peanut butter toast, cheese toast, and Oatmeal Breakfast cookies
What's on your menu this week? Need some ideas? Head over here for hundreds of them.
But, alas, summer has arrived, and the tutoring is slowing waaaaay down. I will have two students over the summer, and the hours allow me to be home every night for dinner with the fam and bath time and bed time with Ada. We are all relieved for the break. It's been a crazy season for us.
I am not back in full force this week because I still have two extra students who are taking the SAT this weekend, and then my summer schedule officially begins. However, my Mondays and Wednesdays are almost completely free, so I am trying two new Paula Deen recipes this week. Yahoo.
Here's the plan
Monday night--Paula Deen's butter baked chicken, rice and gravy, slow cooked lima beans, and biscuits
Tuesday night--grilled hot dogs, baked beans, chips (I will tutor through the dinner hour this night, so Scott is in charge)
Wednesday night--Paula Deen's beef stroganoff over noodles and broccoli
Thursday night--slow cooked vegetable soup and cornbread (another late tutoring night, but there will be no more of these after this week)
and Friday, I leave for the beach with all of my best college girlfriends. I am thrilled to the core. I am meeting 6 other girls in Montgomery on Friday morning, where we will all pile into one Expedition and head to Florida. Scott's parents have graciously agreed to come and hang out with Scott and Ada for the weekend, so I don't feel like I am abandoning them. So, Scott said he will figure out dinner for Friday-Sunday night.
As for lunches, we will eat turkey sandwiches, fruit, hummus and veggies, and lean cuisine pizzas from the freezer
Breakfast--eggs or egg whites, peanut butter toast, cheese toast, and Oatmeal Breakfast cookies
What's on your menu this week? Need some ideas? Head over here for hundreds of them.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Menu Plan Monday--eating from the pantry and freezer edition
Monday—tutor at 5:00—dried pintos in crock pot, corn bread (take out chicken to defrost)
Tuesday—tutor from 4-5, cook meat during the day, make tacos (boneless chicken breasts)
Wednesday—tutor all night—corn chowder in crock pot, bread
Thursday—dinner on our own (AKA cereal night), tutoring and bible study (take out stew meat to defrost for fajitas)
Friday—tutor 3:30-4:30, cook meat during the day, fajitas (I think we are actually doing dinner with friends, so this meal may be moved to next week's menu)
Saturday—frozen pizza (take out chicken to defrost for lunch tomorrow)
Sunday Lunch—chicken, rice, veggies in the crock pot
Okay, we have fallen off the budget wagon this month due to trips home, Easter shoes for Ada, car trouble, eating out one too many times, and the list could go on and on and on. So...I am going to be spending a bare minimum at the grocery store over the next month. I am getting back on track with coupons, and I plan to really work the sales as much as possible. So...I planned this week's menu purely on what we already had on hand. I will be buying a few things from the Publix BOGO sales, but I haven't even been to the store for the week. I am seeing how long we can survive without my going. There are only two diet cokes left in the fridge, so we most likely won't survive for long. My tutoring has messed up my dinner plans one too many times, so I have tried to plan crock pot meals for the nights when I will be away from home during the dinner hour, hence the tutoring reminders beside each menu item. That is to help my crazy absent minded self remember what I need to do each day.
Here is what else is on the menu, and Here is where you will find hundreds more menu ideas.
Lunch--pb & j, leftovers, and whatever else I find after I scrounge around in the pantry and freezer
Breakfast--eggs (need to buy these), peanut butter toast, muffins
p.s. we are only 5 weeks away from the beach, and I am down three pounds. Woo-hoo. I am still dieting and tae-boing in full force, and the scale and I are battling it out. Most mornings the scale wins, but this morning I gained the upper hand. The scale has been hovering around one pound lost no matter how much I stuck to calories or tae-boed, but this morning it finally dropped. I was dancing around the house I was so excited!!
We also put Ada on the scale, and she weighed 21.5 pounds!! She has recently hit a growth spurt, and she finally surpassed the 20 pound mark, granted that is with a diaper and clothes on, but still. Usually full clothed, she barely reaches 20.
Tuesday—tutor from 4-5, cook meat during the day, make tacos (boneless chicken breasts)
Wednesday—tutor all night—corn chowder in crock pot, bread
Thursday—dinner on our own (AKA cereal night), tutoring and bible study (take out stew meat to defrost for fajitas)
Friday—tutor 3:30-4:30, cook meat during the day, fajitas (I think we are actually doing dinner with friends, so this meal may be moved to next week's menu)
Saturday—frozen pizza (take out chicken to defrost for lunch tomorrow)
Sunday Lunch—chicken, rice, veggies in the crock pot
Okay, we have fallen off the budget wagon this month due to trips home, Easter shoes for Ada, car trouble, eating out one too many times, and the list could go on and on and on. So...I am going to be spending a bare minimum at the grocery store over the next month. I am getting back on track with coupons, and I plan to really work the sales as much as possible. So...I planned this week's menu purely on what we already had on hand. I will be buying a few things from the Publix BOGO sales, but I haven't even been to the store for the week. I am seeing how long we can survive without my going. There are only two diet cokes left in the fridge, so we most likely won't survive for long. My tutoring has messed up my dinner plans one too many times, so I have tried to plan crock pot meals for the nights when I will be away from home during the dinner hour, hence the tutoring reminders beside each menu item. That is to help my crazy absent minded self remember what I need to do each day.
Here is what else is on the menu, and Here is where you will find hundreds more menu ideas.
Lunch--pb & j, leftovers, and whatever else I find after I scrounge around in the pantry and freezer
Breakfast--eggs (need to buy these), peanut butter toast, muffins
p.s. we are only 5 weeks away from the beach, and I am down three pounds. Woo-hoo. I am still dieting and tae-boing in full force, and the scale and I are battling it out. Most mornings the scale wins, but this morning I gained the upper hand. The scale has been hovering around one pound lost no matter how much I stuck to calories or tae-boed, but this morning it finally dropped. I was dancing around the house I was so excited!!
We also put Ada on the scale, and she weighed 21.5 pounds!! She has recently hit a growth spurt, and she finally surpassed the 20 pound mark, granted that is with a diaper and clothes on, but still. Usually full clothed, she barely reaches 20.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
So, now that my pantry is stocked, what do I plan to do with all of that food? Much of the frozen food will be consumed by Scott when Ada and I head to Alabama this coming weekend. Ada is going to spend a couple of nights with Scott's parents while I spend a few days helping Ann with her three little ones. I am dying to see Andrew. I haven't seen him since he was born, and it is killing me. I also want to see Ellie and Luke, of course, and I want to hang out with Ann. So, it's a win-win.
Until then, however, this is what we will be eating.
Saturday night--frozen pizza
Sunday Lunch--split Shane's Barbecue
Monday night--corn chowder and home made bread
Tuesday night--spaghetti, broccoli, and bread
Wednesday--bean soup in the crock pot and cornbread
Thursday--I head to Alabama, and Scott is left to fend for himself. I might put something together so that he will have something good to eat when he comes home to an empty house. We'll see how that goes.
Breakfast--eggs (Ada eats three!!! Isn't that crazy? She would eat more, but I don't let her), toast, yogurt, cereal
Lunch--lean cuisine pizzas, PB & J, leftovers
What are you eating this week? For ideas on what to cook, head over to Organizing Junkie.
Until then, however, this is what we will be eating.
Saturday night--frozen pizza
Sunday Lunch--split Shane's Barbecue
Monday night--corn chowder and home made bread
Tuesday night--spaghetti, broccoli, and bread
Wednesday--bean soup in the crock pot and cornbread
Thursday--I head to Alabama, and Scott is left to fend for himself. I might put something together so that he will have something good to eat when he comes home to an empty house. We'll see how that goes.
Breakfast--eggs (Ada eats three!!! Isn't that crazy? She would eat more, but I don't let her), toast, yogurt, cereal
Lunch--lean cuisine pizzas, PB & J, leftovers
What are you eating this week? For ideas on what to cook, head over to Organizing Junkie.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The week's menu plan
As I mentioned earlier, I am trying to simplify my meal planning by using a basic template each week. Here is what that will look like
Friday--something fun for dinner, most likely fast food with coupons I have found online that week
Saturday--pizza of some sort, homemade, frozen, or delivery based on the week's budget
Sunday Lunch--brunch
Monday Night--pasta
Tuesday Night--soup
Wednesday Night--new recipe
Thursday Night--crock pot
So...I am hoping that will make it easier to plan each week and to stockpile. We'll see. I am fairly flexible with my menu once the groceries are bought. I know what is planned for the week, and I often change it around based on what I am in the mood for that day.
Here is this week's menu, not really using the new template because I came up with it after I grocery shopped.
Friday Night--Taco Bell (coupons)
Saturday Night--Arby's (leftover money from Plato's Closet, and I didn't feel like cooking)
Sunday Lunch--Frozen meal from the freezer
Monday night--Spaghetti, bread, veggie from freezer
Tuesday night--black beans, rice, and sausage
Wednesday night--Chicken Parmesan, veggie from freezer
Thursday Night--black bean quesadillas
Lunch--sandwiches, chips, grapes, and leftovers
Breakfast--south beach bars, yogurt, toast, eggs
And if you need more menu ideas, check out organizing junkie.
Friday--something fun for dinner, most likely fast food with coupons I have found online that week
Saturday--pizza of some sort, homemade, frozen, or delivery based on the week's budget
Sunday Lunch--brunch
Monday Night--pasta
Tuesday Night--soup
Wednesday Night--new recipe
Thursday Night--crock pot
So...I am hoping that will make it easier to plan each week and to stockpile. We'll see. I am fairly flexible with my menu once the groceries are bought. I know what is planned for the week, and I often change it around based on what I am in the mood for that day.
Here is this week's menu, not really using the new template because I came up with it after I grocery shopped.
Friday Night--Taco Bell (coupons)
Saturday Night--Arby's (leftover money from Plato's Closet, and I didn't feel like cooking)
Sunday Lunch--Frozen meal from the freezer
Monday night--Spaghetti, bread, veggie from freezer
Tuesday night--black beans, rice, and sausage
Wednesday night--Chicken Parmesan, veggie from freezer
Thursday Night--black bean quesadillas
Lunch--sandwiches, chips, grapes, and leftovers
Breakfast--south beach bars, yogurt, toast, eggs
And if you need more menu ideas, check out organizing junkie.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Meal Planning
Here is the meal plan for the week. I am so glad to have finally reached a place where I can plan good meals for my family and still stay way under budget. I know that I have readers who are in the process of trying to figure out the whole coupon thing, and to you I say this, be patient. It takes time for it all to come together. I have been doing this for months now, and I am just now able to really see a drastic reduction in my grocery bill. Also, it is essential that you menu plan. You have to do it. That way you don't have to make last minute grocery store runs that destroy the budget. Trust me on this one.
I have a reader who requested that I post a recipe for the chicken leg quarters. I will be back later this week to do that. Until Publix had chicken leg quarters for .59 lb, I was always a boneless, skinless chicken breasts only kind of girl. I am now reformed, however. The skin and the bone add so much flavor and moisture to the chicken, not to mention the drastic price reduction. I used split chicken breasts from Kroger to make the chicken tacos, and again, I don't think I will go back to boneless, skinless. I do have several packages in the freezer, but unless they are at an unbelievable price, I don't think I will buy them again. My mom has been telling me this for years, and I finally understand what she was saying. Anyway...here's the week's budget. What are you cooking this week? I always love a good, easy recipe!!
Saturday night--chicken tacos, pinto beans, mexican rice
Sunday Lunch--leftover tacos, whatever for dinner
Monday night--forgot to take something out of the freezer, so we are eating a stouffer's skillet meal
Tuesday night--pintos and sausage over rice
Wednesday night--chicken in vodka sauce over pasta, bread
Thursday night--leftovers, find your own dinner night, frozen meal
lunches--chicken salad sandwiches, ham sandwiches, leftovers
breakfast/snacks--peanut butter toast, eggs, fiber one pop tarts, nutri grain bars, string cheese
for over 300 more menu ideas, check out this blog every Monday.
I have a reader who requested that I post a recipe for the chicken leg quarters. I will be back later this week to do that. Until Publix had chicken leg quarters for .59 lb, I was always a boneless, skinless chicken breasts only kind of girl. I am now reformed, however. The skin and the bone add so much flavor and moisture to the chicken, not to mention the drastic price reduction. I used split chicken breasts from Kroger to make the chicken tacos, and again, I don't think I will go back to boneless, skinless. I do have several packages in the freezer, but unless they are at an unbelievable price, I don't think I will buy them again. My mom has been telling me this for years, and I finally understand what she was saying. Anyway...here's the week's budget. What are you cooking this week? I always love a good, easy recipe!!
Saturday night--chicken tacos, pinto beans, mexican rice
Sunday Lunch--leftover tacos, whatever for dinner
Monday night--forgot to take something out of the freezer, so we are eating a stouffer's skillet meal
Tuesday night--pintos and sausage over rice
Wednesday night--chicken in vodka sauce over pasta, bread
Thursday night--leftovers, find your own dinner night, frozen meal
lunches--chicken salad sandwiches, ham sandwiches, leftovers
breakfast/snacks--peanut butter toast, eggs, fiber one pop tarts, nutri grain bars, string cheese
for over 300 more menu ideas, check out this blog every Monday.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
You guessed it, Meal Plan Monday
It's Sunday night. I am home from Auburn. Ada is in bed, and Scott is asleep on the couch. I have told him probably five times to go upstairs to bed, and every time he says okay, and goes right back to sleep on the couch. I have to tutor online at midnight tonight, so I am up for a while.
Yes, you read that correctly, midnight. I slept for two hours this afternoon in preparation. The online hours have been few and far between since the new semester began. I have a sneaking suspicion that it has a bit to do with the economy. I have been missing online hours for the past two weeks, so in an effort to be "gazelle intense," this week I just took what I could get, even if that meant midnight.
I plan to work my tail off until summer comes, and hopefully at that point our budget should be looking at some breathing room, and I will be ready to relax all summer since the kids will all be out of school. At least that is what I keep telling myself when I don't really feel like tutoring at, say, midnight on Sunday night. Yuck!
Anyway...back to the matter at hand. This weekend's grocery trip and the meal plan for the week. I shopped at Kroger and Publix, and I had some okay numbers. The savings were good, but I spent more than planned.
At Kroger I spent 47.00 (5 towards some highschoolers who were bagging groceries to raise money for their school), and I saved 62.53.
At Publix trip #1, I spent 18.40, and I saved 32.58. That was the trip that involved Ada standing up in the buggy, me playing tug of war with her for my grocery list and coupons, and the "car buggy" getting stuck on every single aisle. It was sort of a nightmare, so we cut the trip short.
At Publix trip #2, I spent 36.52, and I saved 54.86. Scott came with me this time, and he drove Ada in the car buggy in circles around the store while I shopped. On this trip, however, the cashier accused me of copying my Rite Aid coupon, wish really did a number on my pride.
So, that is 251.89 worth of groceries for 101.92. Not bad, right?
However, I wanted to stay under 50.00. I have a stocked freezer and pantry, though, so I am going to see how long I can go without going to the grocery store. It's to the point that I am running out of room to put things. It's hard for me to ignore the deals that are going on each week, but the whole point of stockpiling is to save money, so I am going to spend the next month relying heavily on the stockpile, and then I will begin to build it back up. I imagine there will be a few necessities that I need to buy each week, but I want to keep the grocery spending to a bare minimum. There are usually freebies each week, so I will take advantage of those. We'll call it the stockpile experiment. How long can I go without buying groceries?
Here's the plan for this week
Monday: 16 bean soup, cornbread
Tuesday: Chicken leg quarters, rice, and veggies in the crockpot
Wednesday: Chicken in vodka sauce over pasta
Thursday: leftovers or cereal--tutor/bible study night
Friday: frozen pizza
Saturday: pinto beans and sausage with rice
Sunday--most likely I am headed home for baby Andrew's birth!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo...so exciting.
lunch--ham sandwiches, chips, fruit, leftovers
breakfast--fiber one bars, grits, waffles, fiber one pop-tarts
Our freezer is absolutely overflowing with chicken, so we are looking forward to when red meat of some kind goes on sale. We are becoming a bit chickened out, you could say.
Remember that you will find many more menus over at Organizing Junkie.
Yes, you read that correctly, midnight. I slept for two hours this afternoon in preparation. The online hours have been few and far between since the new semester began. I have a sneaking suspicion that it has a bit to do with the economy. I have been missing online hours for the past two weeks, so in an effort to be "gazelle intense," this week I just took what I could get, even if that meant midnight.
I plan to work my tail off until summer comes, and hopefully at that point our budget should be looking at some breathing room, and I will be ready to relax all summer since the kids will all be out of school. At least that is what I keep telling myself when I don't really feel like tutoring at, say, midnight on Sunday night. Yuck!
Anyway...back to the matter at hand. This weekend's grocery trip and the meal plan for the week. I shopped at Kroger and Publix, and I had some okay numbers. The savings were good, but I spent more than planned.
At Kroger I spent 47.00 (5 towards some highschoolers who were bagging groceries to raise money for their school), and I saved 62.53.
At Publix trip #1, I spent 18.40, and I saved 32.58. That was the trip that involved Ada standing up in the buggy, me playing tug of war with her for my grocery list and coupons, and the "car buggy" getting stuck on every single aisle. It was sort of a nightmare, so we cut the trip short.
At Publix trip #2, I spent 36.52, and I saved 54.86. Scott came with me this time, and he drove Ada in the car buggy in circles around the store while I shopped. On this trip, however, the cashier accused me of copying my Rite Aid coupon, wish really did a number on my pride.
So, that is 251.89 worth of groceries for 101.92. Not bad, right?
However, I wanted to stay under 50.00. I have a stocked freezer and pantry, though, so I am going to see how long I can go without going to the grocery store. It's to the point that I am running out of room to put things. It's hard for me to ignore the deals that are going on each week, but the whole point of stockpiling is to save money, so I am going to spend the next month relying heavily on the stockpile, and then I will begin to build it back up. I imagine there will be a few necessities that I need to buy each week, but I want to keep the grocery spending to a bare minimum. There are usually freebies each week, so I will take advantage of those. We'll call it the stockpile experiment. How long can I go without buying groceries?
Here's the plan for this week
Monday: 16 bean soup, cornbread
Tuesday: Chicken leg quarters, rice, and veggies in the crockpot
Wednesday: Chicken in vodka sauce over pasta
Thursday: leftovers or cereal--tutor/bible study night
Friday: frozen pizza
Saturday: pinto beans and sausage with rice
Sunday--most likely I am headed home for baby Andrew's birth!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo...so exciting.
lunch--ham sandwiches, chips, fruit, leftovers
breakfast--fiber one bars, grits, waffles, fiber one pop-tarts
Our freezer is absolutely overflowing with chicken, so we are looking forward to when red meat of some kind goes on sale. We are becoming a bit chickened out, you could say.
Remember that you will find many more menus over at Organizing Junkie.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Meal Plan and Target disaster
I am here to list what we will be eating this week, made up of what we already had in the pantry combined with the great deals that I found at Publix. I also want to tell you about our disaster of a morning at Target. It wasn't good. Preview--it ended with me carrying a screaming Ada out to the car, and I felt like joining in the screaming. It was bad, ya'll.
First, though, our menu for the week
Tonight--little smokies in barbecue sauce, mac and cheese, baked beans
Tuesday--baked chicken leg quarters (this is a first for me; I have only cooked boneless skinless chicken breast in the past), rice, veggies
Wednesday--Pinto beans and sausage with rice
Thursday--cereal night because of tutoring and bible study (there is no time for cooking)
Friday--having friends over, I am cooking santa fe soup, and they are bringing salad and bread
Breakfasts--fiber one pop tarts, fiber one bars, waffles, slim fast bars
Lunch--leftovers, sandwiches, chips, yogurt
Here is where you will find hundreds more menu ideas.
And for our Target trip. Okay, I am not supposed to be spending any money at all this week on groceries because I am already over budget. We have just switched from getting paid once a week to every other week, and I am having to adjust. Anyway...we started our day at CVS, which did not go well because they were out of the item that I needed to start my transaction. I ended up paying 10.00 more than planned to buy 4 cases of diet pepsi and four bags of chips. I did walk away with 10 ECBs, though. Okay, so at that point, I still needed to buy chili sauce and grape jelly to make sauce for tonight's dinner. I stopped at Super Target because it's on the way. I don't normally do my grocery shopping there, so I wasn't familiar with coupon policies. We get inside, and immediately Ada fusses about getting in the buggy. She locked her legs, and I couldn't get her in the seat, so I told her we would get a cookie. That did the trick. I had a 5.00 bill in my wallet, and I wanted to buy everything we needed and use only cash. I immediately realized that the 5.00 wouldn't cover it, so I decided to buy a bottle of barbecue sauce instead of the chili sauce and jelly. I also needed a loaf of bread, and Sara Lee was on sale. I remembered that I still had coupons for free Kotex pads, so I also threw those into the buggy, and I was fairly sure the 5.00 would cover the sauce and the bread.
Okay, so we finish our transactions, and the total is 4.86. So far, so good. After she scanned the coupons, the cashier tells me that they can't take the manufacturer's coupons on top of the Target coupons. I told her that they did it last week, but she said not all cashiers follow the rules, and she leaves to ask her manager. Meanwhile, the line is backing up, and Ada is trying to climb out of the buggy in order to play with the credit card machine. Side note--I would have told her not to worry about it, but she left to ask the manager before I had a chance. Okay, so she finally comes back, and tells me that she can't take the manufacturer's coupons, which means the pads will not be free. This changed my total to 7.00, and I had to use my debit card. I was so frustrated because I didn't even need the stinkin' pads, I just wanted them because they were free. At this point, Ada is standing up in the buggy, the line is backed up, and I am trying to get out of the way. I finally just pick Ada up because she is locking her knees so that I can't get her to sit down. I am holding Ada, pushing the buggy, and carrying bags. All while Ada is crying and clinging to me because she is so afraid that I will make her sit back down. I mean, it's such torture to sit in a grocery cart, you know? I needed to get a better grip on the bags before we walked out to the parking lot, so I put Ada down beside me. Amazingly, she immediately stopped crying, and was in awe of the fact that she was standing, completely free, in the middle of Target. I readjusted my bags, and picked her back up, ready to head to the car. At this point, she starts screaming because now she wants to walk around on her own. She is so angry with me, that she hits me in the face, and it appears as if I have the most unruly child on the planet. We are seriously causing a scene. All I wanted was to get out of there, so I walk out with a screaming child, who just hit me, and I try to somehow maintain my dignity. It was so very bad. We went straight home, and I put her to bed. And here we are. And that is a picture of motherhood. I say again, I'm just living the life, ya'll, living the life.
First, though, our menu for the week
Tonight--little smokies in barbecue sauce, mac and cheese, baked beans
Tuesday--baked chicken leg quarters (this is a first for me; I have only cooked boneless skinless chicken breast in the past), rice, veggies
Wednesday--Pinto beans and sausage with rice
Thursday--cereal night because of tutoring and bible study (there is no time for cooking)
Friday--having friends over, I am cooking santa fe soup, and they are bringing salad and bread
Breakfasts--fiber one pop tarts, fiber one bars, waffles, slim fast bars
Lunch--leftovers, sandwiches, chips, yogurt
Here is where you will find hundreds more menu ideas.
And for our Target trip. Okay, I am not supposed to be spending any money at all this week on groceries because I am already over budget. We have just switched from getting paid once a week to every other week, and I am having to adjust. Anyway...we started our day at CVS, which did not go well because they were out of the item that I needed to start my transaction. I ended up paying 10.00 more than planned to buy 4 cases of diet pepsi and four bags of chips. I did walk away with 10 ECBs, though. Okay, so at that point, I still needed to buy chili sauce and grape jelly to make sauce for tonight's dinner. I stopped at Super Target because it's on the way. I don't normally do my grocery shopping there, so I wasn't familiar with coupon policies. We get inside, and immediately Ada fusses about getting in the buggy. She locked her legs, and I couldn't get her in the seat, so I told her we would get a cookie. That did the trick. I had a 5.00 bill in my wallet, and I wanted to buy everything we needed and use only cash. I immediately realized that the 5.00 wouldn't cover it, so I decided to buy a bottle of barbecue sauce instead of the chili sauce and jelly. I also needed a loaf of bread, and Sara Lee was on sale. I remembered that I still had coupons for free Kotex pads, so I also threw those into the buggy, and I was fairly sure the 5.00 would cover the sauce and the bread.
Okay, so we finish our transactions, and the total is 4.86. So far, so good. After she scanned the coupons, the cashier tells me that they can't take the manufacturer's coupons on top of the Target coupons. I told her that they did it last week, but she said not all cashiers follow the rules, and she leaves to ask her manager. Meanwhile, the line is backing up, and Ada is trying to climb out of the buggy in order to play with the credit card machine. Side note--I would have told her not to worry about it, but she left to ask the manager before I had a chance. Okay, so she finally comes back, and tells me that she can't take the manufacturer's coupons, which means the pads will not be free. This changed my total to 7.00, and I had to use my debit card. I was so frustrated because I didn't even need the stinkin' pads, I just wanted them because they were free. At this point, Ada is standing up in the buggy, the line is backed up, and I am trying to get out of the way. I finally just pick Ada up because she is locking her knees so that I can't get her to sit down. I am holding Ada, pushing the buggy, and carrying bags. All while Ada is crying and clinging to me because she is so afraid that I will make her sit back down. I mean, it's such torture to sit in a grocery cart, you know? I needed to get a better grip on the bags before we walked out to the parking lot, so I put Ada down beside me. Amazingly, she immediately stopped crying, and was in awe of the fact that she was standing, completely free, in the middle of Target. I readjusted my bags, and picked her back up, ready to head to the car. At this point, she starts screaming because now she wants to walk around on her own. She is so angry with me, that she hits me in the face, and it appears as if I have the most unruly child on the planet. We are seriously causing a scene. All I wanted was to get out of there, so I walk out with a screaming child, who just hit me, and I try to somehow maintain my dignity. It was so very bad. We went straight home, and I put her to bed. And here we are. And that is a picture of motherhood. I say again, I'm just living the life, ya'll, living the life.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Two weeks worth of meals
At the beginning of January, Scott began getting paid every other Friday, rather than every Friday, and we are having to adjust a bit to this. We are used to Friday being pay day, and I am now having to really monitor myself to make sure I don't spend two weeks worth of money in one week. I failed the test this first week:) Practice makes perfect, right? So, I took inventory of what we had in the pantry and fridge and cabinets, and I came up with 14 meals, with minimum need to buy anything extra. Below I have listed those 14 meals, and underneath each meal is whatever I needed to purchase for that meal. I made a trip to Aldi yesterday to purchase the necessities, and I spent about 17.00. So...I am 17.00 over budget, sadly, but I am still feeling good that I was able to come up with this many meals because of stock piling. I am going to try my hardest to come back with several of these recipes, but for now I will just post the plan. I am not sure if we will eat these meals in this order, but it at least gives me 14 meals to pull from.
1--Chicken Tortilla Casserole, mexican rice
shredded cheddar
2--Creamy Herb Pork Chops over noodles, salad
dressing (BOGO at Publix)
3--white chicken chili
great northern beans
white corn
4--Santa Fe Soup
ground beef
5--chicken parmesan and penne
mozzarella
6--Creamy skillet chicken
7--one dish chicken and rice
8--little smokies in barbecue sauce, baked beans, macaroni and cheese
barbecue sauce
9--stir fried chicken and veggies with fried rice and lo mein noodles
10--pinto beans and sausage with rice
11--crock pot chicken and stuffing
12 & 13--BOGO pork tenderloin, veggies, rice
breakfast--slim fast bars, fiber one bars
lunch--sandwiches, chips, yogurt, and leftovers
Aldi list--
dressing
rice
cheese--cheddar and mozzarella
barbecue sauce
ground beef
As always, check out Organizing Junkie every Monday for lots and lots of meal ideas.
1--Chicken Tortilla Casserole, mexican rice
shredded cheddar
2--Creamy Herb Pork Chops over noodles, salad
dressing (BOGO at Publix)
3--white chicken chili
great northern beans
white corn
4--Santa Fe Soup
ground beef
5--chicken parmesan and penne
mozzarella
6--Creamy skillet chicken
7--one dish chicken and rice
8--little smokies in barbecue sauce, baked beans, macaroni and cheese
barbecue sauce
9--stir fried chicken and veggies with fried rice and lo mein noodles
10--pinto beans and sausage with rice
11--crock pot chicken and stuffing
12 & 13--BOGO pork tenderloin, veggies, rice
breakfast--slim fast bars, fiber one bars
lunch--sandwiches, chips, yogurt, and leftovers
Aldi list--
dressing
rice
cheese--cheddar and mozzarella
barbecue sauce
ground beef
As always, check out Organizing Junkie every Monday for lots and lots of meal ideas.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
It's nearing the midnight hour, and Scott and Ada are both sound asleep. I need to head that way as well because tomorrow morning is my first morning of waking up before the rest of the household. I guess that's the life of a mom, right? The last to go to bed, the first to wake up.
The good news is the sink is clean, the dishwasher is loaded, and there are plenty of bottles of water chilling in the fridge. I am ready to get going with 2009.
Quickly, though, I need to type out the week's menu to keep us on schedule. Most of this is made up from what we have in the pantry and fridge, so there are no real recipes. I will be back tomorrow to provide the recipes that I do have.
Monday--chicken in vodka sauce over angel hair pasta (all of the items in this meal were BOGO at some point. The chicken from Kroger this past week, the pasta from Publix today, and the Vodka sauce from Publix the week before Christmas)
Tuesday--Steak fajitas (steak was marked down at Kroger for quick sale. I love to buy the marked down meat because it's still good as long as I either cook or freeze it the day I buy it. Taco Bell dinner kits were BOGO at Publix)
Wednesday--creamy chicken, rice, and broccoli (all of this is made from what is already in my pantry. The chicken is a Kraftfoods recipe. I will post it tomorrow. I haven't ever made it, but it looks good, and I have all of the ingredients on hand)
Thursday--16 bean soup and cornbread (in the pantry already. I will link to this recipe later)
Friday everything starts over.
Lunches--leftovers, ham sandwiches and chips
Breakfast--slim fast bars (my favorite breakfast, and there are sales everywhere thanks to the weight loss resolutions flying about), oatmeal breakfast cookies, peanut butter and crackers
snacks--chex mix (BOGO + coupons=I got four bags for about a quarter each), popcorn, and whatever else we might find in the pantry.
For lots and lots of great menu ideas check out Organizing Junkie.
The good news is the sink is clean, the dishwasher is loaded, and there are plenty of bottles of water chilling in the fridge. I am ready to get going with 2009.
Quickly, though, I need to type out the week's menu to keep us on schedule. Most of this is made up from what we have in the pantry and fridge, so there are no real recipes. I will be back tomorrow to provide the recipes that I do have.
Monday--chicken in vodka sauce over angel hair pasta (all of the items in this meal were BOGO at some point. The chicken from Kroger this past week, the pasta from Publix today, and the Vodka sauce from Publix the week before Christmas)
Tuesday--Steak fajitas (steak was marked down at Kroger for quick sale. I love to buy the marked down meat because it's still good as long as I either cook or freeze it the day I buy it. Taco Bell dinner kits were BOGO at Publix)
Wednesday--creamy chicken, rice, and broccoli (all of this is made from what is already in my pantry. The chicken is a Kraftfoods recipe. I will post it tomorrow. I haven't ever made it, but it looks good, and I have all of the ingredients on hand)
Thursday--16 bean soup and cornbread (in the pantry already. I will link to this recipe later)
Friday everything starts over.
Lunches--leftovers, ham sandwiches and chips
Breakfast--slim fast bars (my favorite breakfast, and there are sales everywhere thanks to the weight loss resolutions flying about), oatmeal breakfast cookies, peanut butter and crackers
snacks--chex mix (BOGO + coupons=I got four bags for about a quarter each), popcorn, and whatever else we might find in the pantry.
For lots and lots of great menu ideas check out Organizing Junkie.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Back to Menu Planning
Life is back to normal, folks, with meal planning and clipping coupons and the general daily stuff. And it sort of feels good to be back.
This week we are in detox mode because for two weeks straight I have basically had an IV stuck to my arm pumping straight sugar into my veins, so we are voluntarily cutting the carbs and upping the protein this week. You might notice a lack of variety in the week's menu, but I think we will feel better as a result. I will start the menu with Sunday...
Sunday: Ham and bean soup (recipe to come). We will eat this for lunch, and I think I will make chicken salad for dinner.
Monday: Pork tenderloin (from the freezer), veggies (from the freezer) I did not have to buy one thing for this meal, thanks to stockpiling
Tuesday: 15 bean soup
Wednesday: Black bean soup
Thursday: grilled pork chops (manager's special at Kroger), veggies
I know, I know, the soup is getting a bit repetitive, but I tried to vary the flavor of soups:) I love soup--all kinds. And it's so easy to throw everything into the crock pot and let it simmer. Dinner hour is our fussiest hour, so anything I can do to simplify, well I am willing to do it.
As for breakfast--Ada and I will be eating eggs, and Scott will too if I wake up in time to fix them for him (it's doubtful).
Lunch--leftovers mainly, chicken salad and triscuits (Scott is off work Wed-Fri. for New Year's, so we may do omelets for brunch those days and forgo lunch all together)
Ada may be eating whole grain mac and cheese, or PB & J, since she has no need for a low-carb diet:)
By Friday we will most likely be souped out, and I will return to normal meals. We just need to lighten things up this week after the heaviness of Holiday Food. Can we say prime rib, mashed potatoes, and candy cane cake? Not to mention the pounds of homemade candy and apple pie I ate. Oh my, if you cut me I would bleed carbs.
Anyone have a great low-carb recipe? If so, please post it in the comment section. It would be greatly appreciated:) And remember, go to Organizing Junkie every Monday for more menu ideas.
This week we are in detox mode because for two weeks straight I have basically had an IV stuck to my arm pumping straight sugar into my veins, so we are voluntarily cutting the carbs and upping the protein this week. You might notice a lack of variety in the week's menu, but I think we will feel better as a result. I will start the menu with Sunday...
Sunday: Ham and bean soup (recipe to come). We will eat this for lunch, and I think I will make chicken salad for dinner.
Monday: Pork tenderloin (from the freezer), veggies (from the freezer) I did not have to buy one thing for this meal, thanks to stockpiling
Tuesday: 15 bean soup
Wednesday: Black bean soup
Thursday: grilled pork chops (manager's special at Kroger), veggies
I know, I know, the soup is getting a bit repetitive, but I tried to vary the flavor of soups:) I love soup--all kinds. And it's so easy to throw everything into the crock pot and let it simmer. Dinner hour is our fussiest hour, so anything I can do to simplify, well I am willing to do it.
As for breakfast--Ada and I will be eating eggs, and Scott will too if I wake up in time to fix them for him (it's doubtful).
Lunch--leftovers mainly, chicken salad and triscuits (Scott is off work Wed-Fri. for New Year's, so we may do omelets for brunch those days and forgo lunch all together)
Ada may be eating whole grain mac and cheese, or PB & J, since she has no need for a low-carb diet:)
By Friday we will most likely be souped out, and I will return to normal meals. We just need to lighten things up this week after the heaviness of Holiday Food. Can we say prime rib, mashed potatoes, and candy cane cake? Not to mention the pounds of homemade candy and apple pie I ate. Oh my, if you cut me I would bleed carbs.
Anyone have a great low-carb recipe? If so, please post it in the comment section. It would be greatly appreciated:) And remember, go to Organizing Junkie every Monday for more menu ideas.
Monday, December 8, 2008
the week's menu and a weekend recap
I have been out of town all weekend living the college life for a few nights. It was quite fun (and tiring). I was sleeping on my sister, Sarah's, couch, and Friday night I arrived in Auburn around 9 pm AL time. Sarah, Kate, and her roommates were all hanging out, and I ended up staying up as late as they did, which I think was 2 am. (3 am GA time). I then woke up at 8:30 am because my body does not know how to sleep in. 8:30 is sleeping in for me. I then spent the day with all of my college friends, celebrating the coming birth of Shannon Farrar Vinson's baby. It was so much fun talking and laughing and catching up. We laughed so hard. And reminisced. And caught up. The shower started at 2 pm, and a few of us extended the party into dinner at one of our favorite AU restaurants, Amsterdam Cafe. We finally said good-bye around 10 pm on Saturday night. We just didn't want it to end because the visits are few and far between these days. It was incredibly refreshing and encouraging to be around these girls who know me so very well.
I then headed back to Sarah's house, where I proceeded to stay up until 2 am again. There was some college girl drama, which I found myself in the middle of, mainly because I have been there, and being on this side of things, I tried to give a bit of perspective to the situation. As in, this too shall pass, and it will pass quickly. At 2 am I finally climbed into Sarah's bed and left her and the other girls up watching a movie. She said she would sleep on the couch if I needed to go to bed, and, indeed, I did need to go to bed. It was so much fun playing the college role again, going to Sonic at 1 am for diet coke and a snack, and coming back to find out who my celebrity husband is (Ryan Gosling--if you were dying to know). What a fun time college is--hanging out with your best friends until all hours of the night, the future ahead of you full of endless possibility, more freedom than you will ever have again. It's just fun. There is no better word to describe it.
Anyway...I am now back home and back to the reality that is my life, which is, you guessed, meal planning (or that is one aspect of the reality of my life). So...here's the plan for the week
Monday--frozen pizza because I forgot to take out the meat that needed to defrost. Never fear, a Tombstone pizza is in the freezer for just this occasion.
Tuesday--spaghetti, bread, broccoli (the ground beef is in the fridge, so that it will be good to go tomorrow)
Wednesday--chicken enchiladas (never made these last week)
Thursday--probably Arby's because we have a coupon for a free sandwich with the purchase of anything else. It expires soon, so we want to take advantage of it this week. And Thursday's are crazy days, so Arby's will be perfect.
It looks like it will be an easy cooking week for me, which is good because I am back to tutoring online after I get home from tutoring in students' homes. I am looking at some late nights this week, so I need easy cooking and cleaning to make up for the late nights.
For many more meal ideas, go to Organizing Junkie every Monday.
p.s. there will be some changes around here soon. As you know if you read this blog often, it isn't so much "All Things Ada" anymore, so I am planning a blog title change. I am in the process of creating the heading. Stay tuned...
I then headed back to Sarah's house, where I proceeded to stay up until 2 am again. There was some college girl drama, which I found myself in the middle of, mainly because I have been there, and being on this side of things, I tried to give a bit of perspective to the situation. As in, this too shall pass, and it will pass quickly. At 2 am I finally climbed into Sarah's bed and left her and the other girls up watching a movie. She said she would sleep on the couch if I needed to go to bed, and, indeed, I did need to go to bed. It was so much fun playing the college role again, going to Sonic at 1 am for diet coke and a snack, and coming back to find out who my celebrity husband is (Ryan Gosling--if you were dying to know). What a fun time college is--hanging out with your best friends until all hours of the night, the future ahead of you full of endless possibility, more freedom than you will ever have again. It's just fun. There is no better word to describe it.
Anyway...I am now back home and back to the reality that is my life, which is, you guessed, meal planning (or that is one aspect of the reality of my life). So...here's the plan for the week
Monday--frozen pizza because I forgot to take out the meat that needed to defrost. Never fear, a Tombstone pizza is in the freezer for just this occasion.
Tuesday--spaghetti, bread, broccoli (the ground beef is in the fridge, so that it will be good to go tomorrow)
Wednesday--chicken enchiladas (never made these last week)
Thursday--probably Arby's because we have a coupon for a free sandwich with the purchase of anything else. It expires soon, so we want to take advantage of it this week. And Thursday's are crazy days, so Arby's will be perfect.
It looks like it will be an easy cooking week for me, which is good because I am back to tutoring online after I get home from tutoring in students' homes. I am looking at some late nights this week, so I need easy cooking and cleaning to make up for the late nights.
For many more meal ideas, go to Organizing Junkie every Monday.
p.s. there will be some changes around here soon. As you know if you read this blog often, it isn't so much "All Things Ada" anymore, so I am planning a blog title change. I am in the process of creating the heading. Stay tuned...
Monday, December 1, 2008
Back to the daily grind
All of the following was written yesterday morning before I posted about CVS.
I have so much I want to post about Thanksgiving--all the fun had with family, the incredible excitement over CVS deals, and the mad house that Toys R Us was on Black Friday, but before all of that, I must, must, must figure out the meal plan for the week. Combining money spent on the trip home and Christmas shopping on Friday, it is crucial that I stick to the grocery budget this week. Scott and I travelled home late last night, while Ada slept soundly in the back seat. We finally stumbled into bed at 2 am this morning, and slept until the late hour of 8:30 am. He quickly got ready and took Ada to church, leaving me here in my pajamas recovering from that late night (and an icky stomach due to medication being accidentally left in McDonough).
So, I am in my favorite gray lounge pants and orange Auburn hoodie (War Eagle, anyway, I say. I believe in Auburn, and I love it despite the nightmare of last night's game), surrounded by coupons and sale papers, and I am about to recipe search. So here I am to menu plan for all the world to read.
Sunday night--crossing my fingers that we will have family photos this afternoon, but it is not looking good as it is currently cold and drizzly. I might scream. If we are out in the cold taking photos, I plan to have warm, cozy bean soup cooking in my BRAND NEW crockpot when we come home. And hopefully, once Ada is tucked into bed at 7:30, Scott and I will transform this living room into a winter wonderland AKA as yet one more thing for Ada to get in trouble for
yet again, the pictures did not happen due to rain. It's becoming quite ridiculous. We are now scheduled for Friday at 4. I am not counting on anything, though.
so, tonight--Bean soup, cornbread
Monday--pork tenderloin (from the freezer), rice, veggies (all things I already have on hand)
Tuesday--chicken spaghetti, salad, bread (I will be using shredded cheese instead of velveeta. Also, I already have chicken breasts, spaghetti, and the cream soups)
Wednesday--chicken enchiladas, spanish rice (thanks Lindsay!!)
Thursday--corn chowder, corn bread or biscuits
Lunches--leftovers, pb&j and chips, stouffer's pizza (BOGO at Publix), slow cooked beans
Breakfast--peanut butter toast, Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies (BOGO at Publix), eggs (.99 from 12-8 on 12/4 at Kroger)
snacks--popcorn (BOGO at Publix), pears
I spent a total of 64.00 on groceries, and I shopped at Kroger, Publix, and Walgreens. I also spent 21.00 at CVS earlier in the week, so that came from this week's budget. So, 85.00 dollars, which I am fine with because we budget 100.00.
I won't go into the nitty gritty of what I bought, but I will share a few numbers. I spent 26.80 at Publix, and I saved 38.86. Not bad!! I spent 36.76 at Kroger, and I saved 23.13. And at Walgreens--well, I don't have the receipt--but I bought two bottles of All detergent for 1.79 each, minus coupons on each. I think my total was around 3.00, and normally one bottle of detergent costs about 3.00 (the bottles were small), so a 50% savings. I was pleased with the day's savings.
As always, check out Organizing Junkie for more meal ideas.
And I will leave you with a picture of this little stinker from Thanksgiving day, when miracle of all miracles she kept her bow in for an extended period of time.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Doing what I do...saving money and planning menus
Thursday night has become coupon central here at the Moore house. It gets me out of cleaning the kitchen, at least, because I have to coupon match, so Scott has to clean the kitchen;)
Anyway...
Here's the menu
Friday night--frozen pizza, maybe?
Saturday night--split pea soup
Sunday night--dinner at Tutti's, perhaps, or Stouffer's chicken lasagna
Monday night--Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Tuesday night--Sausage and Potatoes Italiano
Wednesday night--Pork Tenderloin
Thursday night--pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella
For lunch we will be eating leftovers from dinner. I normally don't plan as many dinners as I did this week, but I hypothesize that we will actually save money if I plan more dinners and don't buy something specifically for lunch. We'll see how that goes.
Breakfast--South Beach Bars, Granola Bars, Yogurt, whole grain waffles, maybe eggs?
Snacks--stove popped popcorn, leftover Halloween candy, apples, pears, whatever else we might find in the pantry
And the grocery list is short. I repeat, again, I love the grocery game!! The goal of the game is for your necessities list to get shorter and shorter leaving more room in the budget for the stock up list, which in turn keeps making the necessity list shorter. It's all a cycle that feeds off of itself.
Duncan Hines Carrot Cake--free!!
2 Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting--.63 each
1 Hefty Freezer Bags--.45
Tylenol Rapid Release--1.00
1 pack of Dial bar soap--.40
2 cans of Carnation Evaporated Milk--free!!
1 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars--.50
1 Land of Lakes Butter--1.45
1 Dannon Activia Yogurt--.50
2 packs of Tyson Boneless, Skinless Chicken breast--1.99
pears--1.00 lb
apples--1.00 lb
baby carrots--1.00
that's the "stock up" list (all the above items are from the Grocery Game list), and here is the necessity list (meaning these items were not on the Grocery Game list, but I have to buy them for meals)
4-5 cans of chicken broth
cornstarch
bag of split peas
South Beach bars (this will be my most expensive item. I really need to learn to eat something else for breakfast)
1 lb of bulk Italian Sausage
Milk
I will be back to report the difference between shelf price and money paid OOP.
p.s. as mentioned in Friday's post, I bought all of the above for 37.00!!
For more menus, go to Organizing Junkie.
Anyway...
Here's the menu
Friday night--frozen pizza, maybe?
Saturday night--split pea soup
Sunday night--dinner at Tutti's, perhaps, or Stouffer's chicken lasagna
Monday night--Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Tuesday night--Sausage and Potatoes Italiano
Wednesday night--Pork Tenderloin
Thursday night--pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella
For lunch we will be eating leftovers from dinner. I normally don't plan as many dinners as I did this week, but I hypothesize that we will actually save money if I plan more dinners and don't buy something specifically for lunch. We'll see how that goes.
Breakfast--South Beach Bars, Granola Bars, Yogurt, whole grain waffles, maybe eggs?
Snacks--stove popped popcorn, leftover Halloween candy, apples, pears, whatever else we might find in the pantry
And the grocery list is short. I repeat, again, I love the grocery game!! The goal of the game is for your necessities list to get shorter and shorter leaving more room in the budget for the stock up list, which in turn keeps making the necessity list shorter. It's all a cycle that feeds off of itself.
Duncan Hines Carrot Cake--free!!
2 Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting--.63 each
1 Hefty Freezer Bags--.45
Tylenol Rapid Release--1.00
1 pack of Dial bar soap--.40
2 cans of Carnation Evaporated Milk--free!!
1 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars--.50
1 Land of Lakes Butter--1.45
1 Dannon Activia Yogurt--.50
2 packs of Tyson Boneless, Skinless Chicken breast--1.99
pears--1.00 lb
apples--1.00 lb
baby carrots--1.00
that's the "stock up" list (all the above items are from the Grocery Game list), and here is the necessity list (meaning these items were not on the Grocery Game list, but I have to buy them for meals)
4-5 cans of chicken broth
cornstarch
bag of split peas
South Beach bars (this will be my most expensive item. I really need to learn to eat something else for breakfast)
1 lb of bulk Italian Sausage
Milk
I will be back to report the difference between shelf price and money paid OOP.
p.s. as mentioned in Friday's post, I bought all of the above for 37.00!!
For more menus, go to Organizing Junkie.
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