This Week on the Dining Table

The "Big News Coming This Week" Edition--

No photo this week but later this week I am free to talk about Big Changes happening at Chez Sluggy soon.  Big and scary changes.  So stay tuned on Thursday or Friday.
As Gwendolen in "The Importance of Being Earnest" said, "The suspense is terrible.  I hope it will last."

Or as Willy Wonka also said.....

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad *

2. Monday--Reuben Sandwiches(should finish up the corned beef)

3. Tuesday--Haddock, Cole Slaw, Asparagus

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Chicken Parm, leftover cooked Carrots and Cabbage
6. Friday--Leftovers or Pizza in Freezer
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad *

2. Monday--Reuben Sandwiches(didn't finish the corned beef)

3. Tuesday--Chicken Parm, Asparagus

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Tempura Haddock, Cole Slaw
6. Friday--Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

7 meals cooked at home, 2 of them a night of leftovers or Fend For Yourself, and 0 night of eating-out/take-out.

As for the grocery spending.....2 trips to Weis brought the food spending last week to $51.33. I used $38.53 in gift cards(1 trip)so it would have been $89.86 without the gift cards. This brought my April food spending total to $51.33.  There are 27 days left in the month.

My savings percentages last week was 70.44%(or 48.25% if I count the gift card purchases).

Leftovers going into this week.......1 slice Meatloaf, Cabbage and Carrots, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Cole Slaw and Haddock and a little bit of Corned Beef(enough for a sandwich).

Here is this week's "food plan"....
* Denotes "complicated" meals

1. Sunday--Fried Chicken, homemade Macaroni Salad, Carrots

2. Monday--Leftovers(hopefully using up some stuff)

3. Tuesday--Meatball Sandwiches or Spaghetti(leftovers or planned-overs)

4. Wednesday--Birthday dinner out

5. Thursday--Roast Chicken, Stuffing, Veggie
6. Friday--Beef Pie
7. Saturday--Fajitas(using leftover roast chicken)

This week will see 3-4 new meals cooked, 1 night of Take-Out/Eating-Out and 2-3 nights of Leftovers.

What I need to buy for this menu?  The Fried Chicken. for Sunday. Weis has a 8 pce. deal for $6 this week.  We are also out of milk and fruit.

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

This Week on the Dining Table

The  "Less Than 3 Weeks Until Christmas" Edition--

Well we've got the tree up but not decorated.  I've got a card list but nothing written up or address. All but 2 presents bought(and that is happening this week)but nothing wrapped and/or mailed.
This Holiday just seems to have snuck up on me!  How about you?

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Subway using a gift card

2. Monday--Leftover Kielbasa, Pierogies or Leftover Spaghetti

3. Tuesday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Chicken Parm, Salad, Fried Mac/Cheese Balls

5. Thursday--Leftover Thanksgiving Dinner 2.0

6. Friday--Meatloaf, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Subway using a gift card

2. Monday--Leftover Kielbasa, Pierogies

3. Tuesday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Leftover Carrots

4. Wednesday--Meatloaf, Green Beans, Fried Mac/Cheese Balls

5. Thursday--Take-Out Pizza

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers

I got a flu shot and a pneumonia shot on Wednesday and the flu shot gave me some flu symptons so I didn't feel like cooking on Thursday and nobody wanted leftover Thanksgiving food so it was Domino's pizza night using part of one of those Dollar General deal gift cards I got last month.

5 meals cooked at home, 2+ of them nights of leftovers, and 2 nights of Take-Out. 

As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to Boyer's, 1 trip to the Bread Outlet and 1 trip to the Shursave market to use my $10 Reward chit brought my weekly spending to $54.75 and brings my December food spending Total to $54.75 so far this month. 26 Days left to spend in December.

My savings percentages this week was 59.81%.

Leftovers going into this week.......potato rolls, cranberry glop, stroganoff, rice, meatloaf, and pizza.

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Ceasar Salad
2. Monday--Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes,(Baked Potato for BF), maybe Stuffing if there is some left
3. Tuesday--Grilled leftover Meatloaf, Broccoli,(Box Mac and Cheese for BF)
4. Wednesday--Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sammies, Veggie Brussels Sprouts, Macaroni Salad
5. Thursday--Chicken Soup using Leftover Roast Chicken, Grilled Cheese Sammies
6. Friday--Ravioli w/Pasta Sauce, Garlic Bread, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers of Fend For Yourself

This week will see 5 new meals cooked, 0 nights of Take-Out and 2 nights of Leftovers.

What I need to buy for this menu? French Bread, Salad Greens, Tomatoes, a Red Bell Pepper.

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

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "On the Road Again" Edition.............

We are settling into the Shit Hole Motel here in Coastal Maine.
I guess I am just getting too old to travel anymore......

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Take-Out Chinese
2. Monday--Chicken Parm, Tossed Salad or Leftover Asparagus
3. Tuesday--Chicken Pot Pie
4. Wednesday--Quiche, Tossed Salad
5. Thursday--Tuna Noodle Casserole
6. Friday--Verde Salsa Chicken on Tortillas
7. Saturday--No Clue?

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Take-Out Chinese
2. Monday--Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Chicken Pot Pie
4. Wednesday--Quiche, Tossed Salad
5. Thursday--Chicken Parm, Wax and Green Beans, Chipotle Noodles
6. Friday--Tempura Zucchini
7. Saturday--Don't know what Daughter fixed yet*will update this later

6 meals cooked at home, 1 of them nights of leftovers and 1 night of Take-Out.   Daughter made the quiche on Wednesday and the pot pies were emergency provisions from the freezer after I had my abscess excised and I didn't feel up to cooking from scratch.

As for my grocery spending..... I spent a total of $574.57 on July's groceries.  I have negative $124.57 left of my $450 food budget for the month.
Let's just move along....nothing to see here.  ;-)


Leftovers going into this week........asparagus, quiche, chicken parm.

Here is this week's "food plan"--Daughter is in charge of food while we are gone.

1. Sunday--Pizza(home made with Boboli crusts)
2. Monday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Onions, Veg.
3. Tuesday--Tuna Noodle Casserole
4. Wednesday--Salsa Verde Carne Burritos
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Beef Pie
7. Saturday--Take-Out of some kind

This week will see 5 new meals cooked and 1 night of  Take-Out and 1 night of Leftovers.

What we need to buy for this menu.....milk and fruit maybe.  I have everything here to make her dishes but will leave some grocery $ too.

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

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Trying to Adjust to the New Normal" Edition.............

Ok, so if the worst thing I do to the budget when I get anxious and fall into the deep end of the pool over the changes to my day-to-day life here is to spend $6+ on some canning jars then I guess I'll be alright. ;-)

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Ravioli w/Italian Sausage
2. Monday--Fish, Cole Slaw, Hush Puppies, Collards(we didn't eat on Sunday)
3. Tuesday--Chicken Gnocchi Soup
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Beans, Veggie of some kind
5. Thursday--Chicken Risotto, Veggies of some kind
6. Friday--Stuffed Pork Chops, leftover Veggies
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Ravioli w/Italian Sausage
2. Monday--Fish, Cole Slaw, Hush Puppies, Mac and Cheese(for BF)
3. Tuesday--Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Biscuits
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Beans, Leftover Collards
5. Thursday--Chicken Risotto, Spinach Salad
6. Friday--Pork Chops, Stuffing, Asparagus
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY(Hubs had Kielbasa/Beans, I had Soup/Biscuits, Kids went out to dinner)

7 meals cooked at home, 1 of them nights of leftovers and 0 nights of Eating Out.

As for my grocery spending..... I spent a total of $83.78 on 3 trips to the store last week(1 main shop + 2 trips to pick up a couple of things).

I have spent $357.36 for June and have $42.64 left of my $400 food budget with 4 days to go in the month.  It looks like I'll stay under budget for June....yay!


Leftovers going into this week.......Enchilada Sauce, Beans, Collards, Soup, Pork Chops, Risotto, Stuffing, Sausage and Spaghetti Sauce.

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

1. Sunday--Leftovers or FFY
2. Monday--Spaghetti with Meatballs and Sausage(using leftover sauce and sausage too)
3. Tuesday--Italian Chicken Thighs and Potatoes, Collards
4. Wednesday--Cheese or Pork Enchiladas, Spanich Rice
5. Thursday--Salmon(breaded fish for BF), Mac & Cheese, Veggie TBD
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 5 new meals cooked and 2 nights of Leftovers. I plan on using up the leftover Enchilada Sauce on cheese enchiladas(duh).  I will also make some pork enchiladas if no one eats the leftover pork chops by then....just shred them up with peppers and onions and Tex/Mex spices.  That way the diners will have a choose of fillings and there will be enough leftover for easy weekend snacking/meals.
The soup got eaten on Sunday.
I didn't fit the risotto and stuffing into this meal plan but I am sure it will all get eaten along the way with lunch and snacking going on here.

My "plan" with meals for the short term at least is to NOT cook on Weekends.  Having to prepare extra dishes(mostly because of BF's dietary requirements)means more work in the kitchen for me so I am taking weekends off from meal prep.  Everyone can find something to eat for themselves on weekends.At least for the Summer and as long as no one else steps up to take over a dinner now and again.
Daughter is taking over making dinner one night a week, at least until school starts so that helps with the workload.


What I need to buy for this menu.....milk, corn tortillas, lettuce.

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

I need to plan next week's meal fun soon.  We are having a cookout since Hubs got the deck scrubbed and sealed this weekend.  I am going to smoke some meats either Sat. or Sun. and just heat up/finish them off on Sunday right before the cook-out.  I'll have dogs and burgers available and let everyone cook their own on the grill if and what they want of those foods.  So other than grilling corn I won't be "cooking" on Monday.  8-)

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

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Can't Do Anything" Edition......
Have you ever had so much to do that it paralyzed you so much that you couldn't even take the first step to finishing any task on your list?
That's been my life lately.  Though I do have some uncertainties going on that are keeping me from accomplishing items it shouldn't be stopping me from working on other items.
I just have no "mojo" maybe?  Feeling like "what is the point to trying to do anything?" lately.
sigh.
At least I can do a meal plan though, right?  ;-)

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week.......
1. Sunday--Meatloaf, Leftover Easter Veggies, Baked Potato
2. Monday--Leftover Tacos/Taco Salad
3. Tuesday--Hubs Birthday meal Out
4. Wednesday--Tandoori style Chicken Thighs, Rice, Harvard Beets
5. Thursday---Beef Bourguinon, Bread
6. Friday--Leftover Ham on Rolls, ?
7. Saturday--Pork Chops w/Apricot Glaze, Sugar Snap Peas

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Meatloaf, Leftover Easter Veggies, Baked Potato
2. Monday--Leftover Tacos/Taco Salad
3. Tuesday--Hubs Birthday meal Out
4. Wednesday--Hamburger on Roll, Leftover Potato Salad,Baked Beans
5. Thursday---Tandoori style Chicken Thighs, Coconut Rice, Harvard Beets
6. Friday--Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Asparagus
7. Saturday--Beef Bourguignon(Hubs had his over rice, me had a baked potato)

 6 meals cooked at home.
 5 new meals, 1 night of leftovers, and 1 night of Eating Out(Birthday meal).
Pork chops got bumped off the rotation again last week.  I am just not a fan so that's perhaps why they get bumped so often? lolz

I tried a new dish last week, Tandoori style chicken Thighs.  It's a recipe I saw on a PBS food show where the chef made Tandoori style chicken wings but I changed the chicken to thighs as they have more substance to them.
I figured with a curry spice blend and hot sauce they might be too spicy for me but I knew Hubs would like them and I could just substitute a chicken pot pie for myself from the freezer if the dish was too much for my gullet.
But sadly(or is that happily for me?lol)the "heat" of the dish was negligible and I ate of it heartily.
It was very disappointing however that there was little to no heat.  I am thinking my bottled yellow curry spice blend is not up to snuff on the Scoville scale?  Perhaps or the fact that I grilled the thighs and the fat flare-ups burnt the skin and all the spice out of the meat?  I don't know.

I do know it had good flavor even though so we'll make this again, perhaps pre-baking it and then finishing it off on the grill quickly.

As for my grocery spending...... Hubs made 2 quickie trips last week, we made a trip to Weis together and I went to Dollar Tree and Maine Source,, spending a total of $112.24 last week.
I have spent $130.24 in all for April so far and have $119.76 left of my food budget with 19 days to go.

Leftovers going into this week.......meatloaf(2 slices), coconut rice, harvard beets, asparagus, and a lot of Beef Bourguignon(4 helpings?).

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

1. Sunday--Ravioli(freezer)in Mushroom/Meat Sauce, Salad, Garlic Bread
2. Monday--Leftover Meatloaf, leftover asparagus, leftover beets
3. Tuesday--Sloppy Joes made with beef/turkey, using homemade low-salt sauce, Rolls, Sugar Snap Peas(freezer)
4. Wednesday--Leftover Beef Bourguignon, Cuke and Tomato Salad
5. Thursday--Kielbasa(freezer) on Rolls, Collard Greens(freezer)
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY(Fend For Yourself)

This week will see 4 new meals cooked and 3 meals of leftovers(re-purposed into new dishes or not) and 0 meals Out/Take-out.

What I need to buy for this menu.....a head of Cabbage.  Not much I need to buy and I don't see much in the Deal Department at the stores this week.

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