This Week on the Dining Table

The "Birthday" Edition--

If you hadn't heard, Sunday was my birthday.  Hubs got me flowers that morning and I had received 2 cards in the mail(and 1 from Hubs in person).  Amended-I received another card in yesterday's mail.  8-)
4 family members called on the phone, Daughter made me the dinner I requested(tempura shrimp and sweet potato wedges)and Hubs made me a carrot cake(also my request)from scratch.  THUD!  The man will be 60 in less than 3 months and this was the very first cake he ever made from scratch.  And it was down right tasty too! ;-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Turkey Breast, leftover Stuffing, Gravy, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes

2. Monday--Lasagna

3. Tuesday--Turkey Casserole or Pot Pie(using leftover Sunday turkey)

4. Wednesday--Tuna Noodle Casserole

5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Baked Ham, Rolls, Corn Casserole, Cabbage
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Turkey Breast, leftover Stuffing, Gravy, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes

2. Monday--Lasagna

3. Tuesday--Chicken Pot Pie(using chicken from the freezer)

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Chicken Quesadillas, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans
6. Friday--Baked Ham, Corn Casserole, Cabbage
7. Saturday--Leftovers

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 night of take-out and 0 night of Eating out.  Mostly everything happened but not when planned always.  We ate lots of leftovers so the Tuna Casserole didn't happen....that goes onto this week's menu.

2 Trips to Weis and 1 trip to the Shursave Market was the extent of the shopping last week and the bills came to $132.74 for all.  That brought January's food spending total to $314.74
There are 9 days left in my shopping month.  

I didn't set a food budget for January when I did my wrap up of December's food budget/spending.   
The reason being is there are often good deals/loss leaders in January here and I didn't want to do a low spend and miss out on them.

If I had I would have not gotten--
6 large bags of Lindt truffles for $2, 6 boxes of .67¢ pasta, 8 cans of .60¢  Campbell's soup, 3/4 lb. of fresh flounder for $3.55, 2 boxes of .97¢ Raisin Bran, 6 cans of crushed tomatoes for FREE, a cup of Greek Yogurt for FREE(plus I got a $1.25 cash rebate for buying this), 4 MM OJ for .89¢ each, 8 cans of .62¢ Progresso soup, 1 lb. pack of Mozzarella(after instant $2 off/sale/doubled .50¢Q)for $1.99, 4 cans of  good chili for $4.47 total(rain check/doubled Qs) and $25.52 worth of Clorox products after sale/instant $5 off/$3Qs for $12.98.  These were all things I didn't necessarily "need" this month, but are items we will use eventually.
Since I don't have to keep a set budget for food I can buy when it's low and not buy when items are high in the price cycle.  Down the road this will mean less food spending/shopping in Feb. or Mar. or beyond.

Seeing as I am over $300 spent for January I'll be more mindful of picking up "wants"(ie-things I don't "need" right now but will need later)over the last 9 days in January.  If I come in under $500 in January it will all be good. 8-))

My savings percentages last week was 55.93% and the monthly savings so far ends up at 54.06%(without Rite-Aid trips added in).

Leftovers going into this week....... lasagna, ham, cabbage, corn casserole. There isn't enough lasagna for a whole meal so that will be lunches for Hubs for a couple of days.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Tempura Shrimp, Sweet Potato Fries

2. Monday--Beef Shepherd's Pie(my version w/Cornbread not Mashed Taters on top)

3. Tuesday--Birthday Dinner Out?

4. Wednesday--leftover Ham Slices, leftover sides

5. Thursday--Beef Goulash, Rice
6. Friday--Tuna Noodle Casserole
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 4 new meals cooked, 2 nights of leftovers, 1 night of Take-out/Eat-Out unless we need to eat more leftovers to use them up then 1 of the new meals will get pushed back into next week.

The only thing I need to buy to make these meals is nothing.  I stocked up on ground beef plus bought 2 bags of frozen veggies last week so the Shepherd's Pie was done last night.  Peppers and London Broil for the Goulash is in the freezer and I have everything for the Tuna Casserole.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?


Sluggy