This Week on the Dining Table.....March 31st

"It's That Time Again!"

Walmart had a big sign on one of the poles outside the door urging you to pre-order your mudbugs.
This will be the last time I have to see these signs.\ as I am not a fan.  I'd rather have a juicy Maine lobster. 8-))

Onward to the meal planning!

Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Steak, Salad, leftover Corn Casserole

2. Monday--Fish, Cabbage

3. Tuesday--Chicken Marsala, leftover Veggies, Mashed Potatoes(optional)

4. Wednesday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

5. Thursday--Scallops, Leftover Green Beans

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Steak, Salad, leftover Corn Casserole

2. Monday--Mushroom Parmesan, Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Cheeseburger(bun optional), Sweet Potato Fries

4. Wednesday--Fish(Salmon or Trout), Green Beans

5. Thursday--Chicken Marsala, Saute Cabbage

6. Friday--Big Lunch out(no dinner)

7. Saturday--Leftover Cheeseburgers, Leftover Veggies(Asparagus and  Sweet Potato)

Most everything happened(except the pot pies and the scallops)but not necessarily when planned.

What got taken out of the freezer.......

*  Salmon

*  Steak

*  Trout

*  Ground Beef

*  Chicken Breast

Last week we spent $91.06 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 40.17%. Spending for the month is $301.38 and the savings rate is 49.66% for March before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in March-

$84.08 on Ibotta

$19.75 on Checkout51

$3.99 on Aisle and Misc.

$107.82 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $193.56

2,495 Pts. on Fetch

2,133  Pts. on SwagBucks

346 Pts. on My Points

3,554 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Beef and Broccoli

2. Monday--Leftover Mushroom Parmesan, Salad

3. Tuesday--Leftover Chicken Marsala, Leftover Cabbage

4. Wednesday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

5. Thursday--Scallops, Green Beans

6. Friday--Leftover Beef and Broccoli

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

I won't be cooking much this week as we'll be packing things up in between doctor appointments.  Next week we'll be emptying out the freezer more.

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  I chose my meals by cherry picking the deals and building meals around those items, combined with what is in my freezer.

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.

Sluggy   

Can It Be? Another Giveaway??? Why yes, yes it is!

I have decided to start up the Giveaways I used to do.  Some of you seemed to enjoy them so. ;-)

So come enter Sluggy's Boring Blog Giveaway!

Here's what's in the current box of goodies......

And some close up photos...........

18 Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Squares

2 small bottles of hotel shampoo

2 small bottle of hotel conditioner

2 small bars of hotel soap

2 make-up remover pads

1 pair of ear buds

1 deck of Norwegian Cruise Line playing cards

1 bottle of chill the f*ck out(gag gift)

1 coffee pod

1 package of Soft dental picks

2 packs of green tea bags

1 package of Goody hair pins

1 Cover Girl Outlast Illumina Lip color(Celestial Coral)

1 Hello brand deodorant

1 Cover Girl eyebrow pencil

1 pack of Biscoff cookies

1 local realtor key chain with light

1 Norwegian Cruise Line belt clip

1 tube of mini peanut butter M&Ms

1 Norwegian Cruise Line pencil

1 Norwegian Cruise Line T-Shirt(size Medium)

All this can be yours if you are chosen the winner.

You can enter once per day until Monday, April 7th at 11:59pm.

Please let me know in your entry what you have done for someone else lately.  It can be something big or small, just something you've done to help someone, make them smile or made their day better.

That's all.

Winner will be announced on the evening of April 8th.

Have a good weekend!

Sluggy 

Frugal Friday.....the March 28th Edition

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  I love finding marked down foods at Kroger(this really doesn't happen at Walmart).  I only did a small shop at Kroger and Walmart so far this week....a couple of marked down salads, some marked down shredded asiago cheese, a big marked down can of tuna, and some beef brisket patties on clearance.  I also picked up a bakery treat for my group therapy gang(and some clearance cinnamon no sugar added applesauce cups for the 2 diabetics in the group).

I also found some thermal base layer top and pants marked down to $1 each, a zippy jacket for 

$9 and a 3 pack of heavier Dr. Scholl's socks for $3 at Walmart.  I'll be needing these for our cruise in June in Svalbard near the Artic Circle. 8-)

I found something for Hubs birthday which is coming up as well.

*  We used up some pantry items as well.  The less we have to move the better. ;-)  

*  There was no eating out this past week.  

*  It's been warm here so the heat had been off during the day.  We actually had to put the a/c on a couple of days too.

*  Entertainment last week was free tv, YouTube watching, sitting on the deck reading or doing genealogy.  Finished the Roger Daltrey book and am slogging my way through the Jesse James tome.

*  I sent $25 from Swagbucks to my bank and used some of my Ibotta rebate monies to cash out for gift cards to pay for groceries.

*  I got a $3.99 full rebate for Schar gluten-free cookies I bought for the food bank.

*  I found money!

Found a quarter in the closet on 3/21.

I found this dime in Kroger on 3/24.

I found this penny in Walmart under a drink cooler on 3/26.

          

Found Money This Week..... .36¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$1.49

That's all I got.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy    

Our Beef Pie Recipe

I found this recipe in a little locally produced community cookbook I inherited from my mother.  It is a rife on a cottage or shepherd's pie but instead of mashed potatoes on top it had a different topping.

My version is a bit different from that original version in that it used a flour/dough based topping(with seasonings and paprika in it for color).   After making it a few times that way we found we didn't care for the heaviness of the topping and wanted something lighter.  So I tried cornbread instead and it was a winner for us!

It's an easy recipe but you can kick it up a notch by going more homemade with your ingredients or adding more/fancier veggies.

SLUGGY'S BEEF PIE CASSEROLE

Ingredients

1lb. Ground Beef
1 med. Onion, chopped
1/2 lb. Carrots, chopped
1/2lb. Green Beans (You can substitute yellow or wax beans or peas as well)
2 cups Water(for boiling veggies)*
2 Cans Tomato Soup
1 Beef Bouillion Cube(or Beef Stock-about 1 cup)
2 Boxes Cornbread Mix(Jiffy sized)
2 Eggs
2/3 cup Milk

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.

Brown your Ground Beef. Remove from pan and set aside.

Using some of the grease from the meat, Saute your chopped onion in the same pan.

When done, add your chopped carrots and green beans, water & bouillion cube. (If using beef stock, reduce the water used in half.)
Let this boil until the veggies are cooked, adding more water so it does not boil dry.*(If you use frozen carrots and beans you do NOT have to boil the veggies. Just add veggies to the onion and warm them to defrost.)
If there is water in your pan after the carrots & beans are cooked, pour it off.

Add the Tomato Soup & mix in. Do NOT dilute the soup with water.

Add the cooked Ground Beef.

Pour the veggie/beef/tomato soup mixture into a large baking dish.) A casserole, cast iron skillet, something deep enough to leave room for the cornbread batter to expand.

Prepare the Cornbread mix according to package directions(using the eggs & milk).
Drop spoonfuls of Cornbread mixture onto your beef/veggie mixture, covering it with the cornbread mixture.

Cook in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cornbread is done.

Makes 6 Servings.

*If you don't eat red meat, substitute ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef. (Use a bit of olive oil to brown the chicken or turkey.)
**If you have sodium concerns use beef stock instead of bouillon cubes and reduced salt tomato soup.

Serve it up and enjoy.

You can make your own tomato soup if you wish and want to control the amount of sodium in it more.

You can also add corn into your cornbread if you want it "cornier".

You can use other veggies(mushrooms, squash, peas, potatoes, etc.)to your liking.  You can make this a Tex-Mex dish by adding chili and cheese to your veggies. 

If you prefer less cornbread you can cut the amount down to 1 box instead of 2.

This is just a basic recipe so make it your own.

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

"It Has Begun!"

Down here you KNOW when Spring hits.  It's very obvious.
You get "Pollen Dump".  You wake up one morning and everything outside is covered in that yellow dust. ugh.
And there is no point in washing your car since 10 minutes later it looks like you haven't washed it.

Onward to the meal planning!

Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Pork Stir-Fry w/Veggies

2. Monday--Salmon, Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

5. Thursday--Beef Pie(I'll post the recipe soon)

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Pork Stir-Fry w/Veggies

2. Monday--Salmon, Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Don't Remember

4. Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans, Corn Casserole

5. Thursday--Beef Pie(I'll post the recipe soon)

6. Friday--Leftover Pork Stir-Fry Veggies

7. Saturday--Cheese burgers, Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Most everything happened but not necessarily when planned.  I can't for the life of me remember Tuesday's dinner, it was that memorial. lolz

What got taken out of the freezer.......

*  Salmon

*  Pork Tenderloin

*  Ground Beef x 2 

Last week we spent $73.80 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 55.78%. Spending for the month is $210.32 and the savings rate is 52.89% for March before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in March-

$54.53 on Ibotta

$18.25 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$72.78 Total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $137.54

2,285 Pts. on Fetch

2,133  Pts. on SwagBucks

0 Pts. on My Points

4103 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...Asparagus, Green Beans, Corn Casserole and Beef Pie.

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Steak, Salad, leftover Corn Casserole

2. Monday--Fish, Cabbage

3. Tuesday--Chicken Marsala, leftover Veggies, Mashed Potatoes(optional)

4. Wednesday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

5. Thursday--Scallops, leftover Green Beans

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

Hubs will eat the leftover Beef Pie for lunches.

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  I chose my meals by cherry picking the deals and building meals around those items, combined with what is in my freezer.

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.

Sluggy   

More Ancestry From Sluggy

Lt. Colonel Robert "Potato Hole" Woodson, one of my 9th Great Grandfathers and Elizabeth Ferris Woodson, one of my 9th Great Grandmothers connect me to many current well known people.
I recounted a story about Robert "Potato Hole" and his brother John "Wash Tub" during the Massacre of 1622 in the Jamestown Colony.  Go HERE to read that.

Robert Woodson, I have just found, connects me genetically to this man.........

The connection is through his mother and thus, his maternal Grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham.  Robert Woodson is also Obama's 9th Great Grandfather and Elizabeth Ferris Woodson is his 9th Great Grandmother.

After an immense amount of research I have found genetic(or genetic through marriage)links to every US president except Martin Van Buren and Donald Trump.

What famous people are you related to?

Sluggy

Frugal Friday...the March 21st Edition

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  I love finding marked down foods at Kroger(this really doesn't happen at Walmart).  I only did a small shop at Kroger so far this week...picking up 3 4-packs of clearance Activia yogurt, 2 marked down salad kits, a couple of sweet potatoes and strawberries.

*  We used up some pantry items as well.  I have had a craving for corn pudding.  It's not on my "diet" but I can splurge now and again since I haven't made and eaten it in 3 years.  We just needed sour cream(bought that at Kroger on sale)and I only had a small portion so no worries.  4

*  We also had no food waste last week.  We even used a rotting apple to catch an opossum in a trap.

*  There was no eating out this past week.  

*  We took a load to the food bank.  Maybe one more trip there before we leave Lousyana.  It all depends on what deals I can find that we won't use before we leave.  Part of the next food bank donation will be courtesy of reader Diane R. 8-)))

*  It's been warm here so the heat had been off during the day.  The "Cajun Pony Express"(which is what we call the mail service here)lost our electric bill payment for February, so we had to pay it again online(and pay a "convenience fee" for the honor.)  Eventually the mailed ;payment showed up so now we have a large credit toward March's bill and it should cover a piece of April's bill too.  

*  Entertainment last week was free tv, YouTube watching, sitting on the deck reading or doing genealogy.  I've got two books in process--a biography of Roger Daltery of the "Who" and a book on Jesse James, who is one of my ancestral cousins so watch yourself around me! ;-)  

*  I found money!

Two pennies found in the dryer on Sunday when I did laundry.  Finders Keepers, right? 

          

Found Money This Week.....02¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$1.13

That's all I got.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy    

It's Always Something

I think we've nailed down a one story duplex to rent down the road from our son.  rah.

Once we get back to PA and settled in we can start the search in earnest for a home.

So I went to try to start setting up medical stuff in that area.  Found a PCP and made an appt. for when after we get up there.  This health care system has that dreaded patient portal stuff so tried to set myself up in that only to have their system tell me I already have an account???

The only thing I can think is they bought out the hospital system there where I gave birth to my children so they would have my info in their system already but that was back before anybody had any patient portals??
So I'll have to call tomorrow and see what is going on as I've never been a patient with this healthcare system.

Ain't it always something?

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

"A Gentleman Caller".........

As Amanda Wingfield in the play, "The Glass Menagerie", called a potential beau for her daughter, a "Gentleman Caller", we had a Gentleman Caller of sorts here, again.

Yes, it was another Opossum wanting to sleep under our house.  I doubt it was the same one as before.  Hubs said this one had an attitude when he got trapped.

Hubs hauled his bony butt off to where we let them loose...a nature preserve far from our development.

Onward to the meal planning!

Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Catfish, Teriyaki Green Beans

2. Monday---Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Leftover Yellow Squash

3. Tuesday--Chicken Marsala, Mashed Potatoes(optional), Leftover Broccoli

4. Wednesday--Beef, Stir-Fry Veggies

5. Thursday--Pot Pies(Chicken or Turkey)

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Catfish, Teriyaki Green Beans

2. Monday---Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, Leftover Yellow Squash

3. Tuesday--TV dinner Teriyaki Chicken

4. Wednesday--Crab Cakes, Shrimp, Leftover Broccoli

5. Thursday--Chicken Marsala, Brussels Sprouts

6. Friday--Leftover Pork Tenderloin, Salad(Had that at Lunch)

7. Saturday--Leftover Chicken Marsala, Brussels Sprouts

Most everything happened but not necessarily when planned.  When didn't take out something to thaw on Wednesday and didn't feel like pot pies on another night plus we were out of Marsala wine so that meal had to wait until we picked some up.

What got taken out of the freezer.......

*  Catfish

*  Pork Tenderloin

*  TV Dinner

*  Crab Cakes

*  Shrimp

*  Chicken

Last week we spent $68.53 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 45.28%. Spending for the month is $136.52 and the savings rate is 51.16% for March before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in March-

$46.78 on Ibotta

$14.75 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$61.53 Total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $74.99

2,185 Pts. on Fetch

2,133  Pts. on SwagBucks

0 Pts. on My Points

403 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...2 Fried Pork Tenderloins, Roasted Broccoli.

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Pork Stir-Fry w/Veggies

2. Monday--Salmon, Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

5. Thursday--Beef Pie(I'll post the recipe soon)

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers(if no leftovers, we'll think up something else)

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  I chose my meals by cherry picking the deals and building meals around those items, combined with what is in my freezer.

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.

Sluggy