This Week on the Dining Table

The "Seeing Friends Again" Edition....

On our recent trip to Arizona Hubs and I were able to meet up with "Ur Spo" at a delightful Pasty shop/restaurant.  My face looks weird because I am laughing. ;-)  I do that a lot usually.....

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned.....

1. Sunday--Chicken Fajitas

2. Monday--Breakfast for Dinner

3. Tuesday--Rigatoni w/Mushrooms in Sauce, Salad

4. Wednesday--Orange "Chicken" Stir-Fry w/Veggies and Noodles

5. Thursday--Hubs cooking

6.  Friday--Homemade Flatbread Pizzas, Salad

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And here's what actually happened........

1. Sunday--Chicken Fajitas

2. Monday--Breakfast for Dinner

3. Tuesday--Rigatoni w/Mushrooms in Sauce, Salad

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Chinese take-out

6.  Friday--Leftover Take-out

7. Saturday--Fend For Yourself

At least 3 of the 5 meals I planned to cook did happen last week.  go me.  The 2 meals that didn't happen move to this week.

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  1/2 of hot dogs in large package

*  Pack of 10 hamburgers

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

*  Chicken Breasts

*  Pepper Strips

I spent $170.85 on food/toiletries/HBA this last week.  

This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $257.58 for May.  Most of all that spending was for throwing a Memorial Day weekend party for 8 people.

EEK!  At least all that spending will yield some party leftovers. 8-)

There is 1 shopping day left in May but I am done shopping this month.

I've earned $114.32 on Ibotta in May.

I've earned $5.62 on Checkout51 in May.

I've earned $2.75 on Coupons dotcom/Paypal in May.

I've earned 9,461 points from shopping on Fetch in May.

I earned $32.12 from food shopping on Shop Kick in May. 

I've earned $6.46 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in May.

That's $122.96 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $257.58 in grocery spending so in reality it's $134.89 spent after the 3 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 35.37% (without "regular" Rite-Aid trips)and the monthly savings total for May comes in at 39.66% so far(w/out R-A).  

Leftovers going into this week.....1 helping of rigatoni.  Well we have cookout leftovers too from Sunday now.

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

1. Sunday--Cookout foods

2. Monday--Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Subs?

4. Wednesday--Orange "Chicken" Stir-Fry w/Veggies and Noodles

5. Thursday--Hubs cooking?

6.  Friday--Homemade Flatbread Pizzas, Salad

7. Saturday--Leftovers

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu? Mostly this week will consist of those 2 meals not made last week and lots of cookout leftovers.  I don't need a thing so I hope to stay out of the grocery stores this week.  Taking a break from Ibotta in June 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 deals on food at your stores this week?   I gotta say that grocery store prices are as bad as the gas prices here.

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "It's a Week Late" Edition....

Above is my plate from our Easter dinner(sans deviled eggs). I forgot to share this last Monday.....
We still have heaps of food from that meal leftover so it will figure largely into this week's menu.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)

2. Monday-Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--French Onion Soup or Leftovers

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday---Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled Eggs, Rolls, Apple Pie(Easter)

2. Monday-Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Shrimp Stir-fry w/Noodles

6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Steak, Tossed Salad, Baked Potatoes

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 4 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.  
We were able to dig through the bulk of the leftovers from last week(and some from the week before) this past week.  After 3 nights in a row of leftovers though, "leftover fatigue" hit us(and most of the leftovers were gone except for the Easter dinner items)so I cooked 2 nights and we got another leftover night in between those 2 cooked meals.
I am calling this week a success in the using stuff up column. ;-)

What got put into the freezer last week.....
* 2 packs of corn dogs
* 2 small top round steaks
* 2 bags of shrimp stir-fry

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 1 bag of shrimp stir-fry

Two small trips to Weis and a trip to the Shurfine market and a small trip to Maines brought the food spending last week to $62.28 and my April total to $387.72.

My savings percentage last week was 45.25%(without Rite-Aid trips)and April's monthly savings total came to 54.06%(w/out R-A). 

I have 2 more food shopping/spending days in April but I am done grocery shopping for the month.

Leftovers going into this week.... potato salad, some barbecue, Cole slaw, ham, green beans, rolls, mac and cheese.

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

1. Sunday--Homemade Pizza, Salad for those that wants it

2. Monday--Mac and Cheese w/Ham and BBQ), leftover Green Beans, leftover rolls

3. Tuesday--More Pizza, Salad

4. Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas, Rice, Beans

5. Thursday--Ham and Beans, leftover rolls

6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner(maybe)

This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 1 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
We are going to be using up the Easter foods(ham, mac/cheese, green beans)and putting leftover bbq in the freezer. 
Monday....I'll dress up the leftover mac and cheese with more cheese sauce and add bbq and ham bits to it and serve leftover green beans and rolls.
Tuesday....I made a big ball of pizza dough(made 2 large pizzas which are gone already) but I had enough dough left for another large pizza which I'll put together on Tuesday.
Wednesday....I have some red bell peppers that need using thus the early Cinco de Mayo type chicken fajita meal plus chicken will be a welcomed change at that point in the week. lol
Thursday....I'll take the ham bone and some ham and soaked beans and make a pot of ham and beans.  Depending on what we are hungry for it will either be a thick pot of beans and ham(slightly sweetened)or a pot of non-sweet soup/stew...stay tuned.
Friday....can't tell this far out what leftovers will be left or if we'll just do a Fend For Yourself night.  There most probably will be Fajita fixings and ham left(ham sandwiches anyone?).
Saturday....Calls for a change-Breakfast for Dinner or ?

What needs buying for this menu? Nothing except mushrooms(as I put those in Fajitas, yes I am strange that way!lolz).

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 "Back To School" Edition......

We sent College Boy packing back to school on Sunday.
Well, after an hour delay in the morning as he tried to track down his wallet.
Boys........

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Eggplant Parmesan, Ceasar Salad
2. Monday--Chicken Marsala, Noodles, CA medley Veggies
3. Tuesday--Leftovers(Ribs, Ranch Chicken Bake and a Veggie side)
4. Wednesday--Meatloaf, Zucchini Casserole
5. Thursday--Kielbasa on Rolls
6. Friday--Pork BBQ sandwiches, Cole Slaw
7. Saturday--Whatever College Boy wants for dinner-probably Crab Cakes and Mac & Cheese(it's his last night home)

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Eggplant Parmesan, Ceasar Salad
2. Monday--Chicken Marsala, Noodles, CA medley Veggies
3. Tuesday--Tacos and/or Taco Salads
4. Wednesday--Tacos and/or Taco Salads
5. Thursday--Pork BBQ sandwishes, Cole Slaw
6. Friday--Homemade Mac & Cheese(CB's request)and whatever else was here that they wanted to fix
7. Saturday--Leftovers

7 meals cooked at home, 1-2 of them nights of leftovers and 0 nights of Take-Out.

As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to the Shursave Market for $30.88 which brought my weekly spending to $132.21 and my August food spending total to $457.27, well under my $500 goal.

Leftovers going into this week........chicken marsala, pork bbq, eggplant parm, ranch chicken bake, mac and cheese, and cauliflower cheese soup(also a College Boy request).

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Leftovers for kids, Anniversary Dinner out for Hubs and I
2. Monday--Meatloaf, Zucchini Casserole
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Sauted Cabbage
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--maybe Leftovers again?
7. Saturday--not sure yet, maybe Take-Out

This week might see 2 new meals cooked and 1 nights of Take-Out and 4 night of Leftovers and 1 meal out.
The meal out happened but not sure if the take-out will happen, or I might make a pizza instead.

What we need to buy for this menu......not a thing.  I have every thing needed to make those 2(or 3 if I do pizza)new meals.  We have so many leftovers so in order to eat it all it's a light cooking week for me.
Go me. lolz

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 "I spent money this weekend" Edition--

 

 Besides my "wild" spending spree at Big Lots this past weekend, Saturday was the annual local Church fundraising auction.  I dropped some major coin at that too!  I got some deals(I was more selective than last year's lot)and helped out a local church keep their doors open.  I also had my annual bowl of haluski there as they served lunch.
More on my auction haul later......

Onward to the meal planning!

 

Here's what was planned last week.......
 

1. Sunday--Eating Out while traveling-I had a Roast Beef Panini and Salad
2. Monday--Leftover Beef Stroganoff, Veggie TBD
3. Tuesday--Ribs, Yellow Squash and Onions
4. Wednesday--Smoked Chicken, Smoked Potato Salad, Smoked Apples
5. Thursday--Fish, leftover veggies, cheddar broccoli soup
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers

 

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Eating Out while traveling-I had a Roast Beef Panini and Salad
2. Monday--Leftover Beef Stroganoff, leftover mixed Beans or Salad
3. Tuesday--Ribs, Smoked Potato Salad
4. Wednesday--Smoked Baked Chicken, Sauted stir-fry Veggies
5. Thursday--Fish, Yellow Squash and Onions, Noodles
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Red Lobster, eating out

I basically cooked 2 days last week for 3 days worth of meals(except for the stir-fry which was made on the 3rd day of eating).  We splurged Saturday and went out for an early dinner for seafood.  Not a big fan of that chain but it was "Endless Shrimp" after all.  ;-)
 

As for my grocery spending last week......ended Sept. with a couple of small Weis shops($70.15 total) for a total of $212.25 spent for the month.  I did a shop(or two)at Big Lots this past weekend on October's food monies and spent $30.76 of my $300 Oct. food budget.

Leftovers going into this week....ribs and smoked chicken.  We ate ribs last night(and there are still 2 more servings)and I might take the leftover smoked chicken and make a garlicky broth soup with it to have for lunches this week.
 

Here is this week's food plan--

1. Sunday--Leftover Ribs, Leftover Potato Salad, Leftover Squash & Onions
2. Monday--Lasagna, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread
3. Tuesday--Fish(freezer), Mixed Veggies(freezer), Roasted Potatoes(pantry)
4. Wednesday--Meatloaf(freezer), Collards(garden), Roasted Potatoes(leftover)
5. Thursday--Leftovers(Lasagna or Ribs)
6. Friday--Leftovers(Lasagna or Meatloaf)
7. Saturday--More Leftovers or Pizza take-out(use freebie)if we are tired of eating Leftovers


What I need to buy for this menu?......cottage cheese, Romaine lettuce.  I'll be picking up a few other items that are on sale this week besides those 2 items but it shouldn't run more than $25 total(unless surprise meat/produce specials pop up while I'm in the store).  8-)  Spending $25 will put me right around $55 spent of my food budget for October.  I have to keep reminding myself that I am only giving myself $300 this month for groceries/toiletries.  If $55 spent gets us through Oct. 10th I'll be in great shape to meet this challenge.

Cooking 3 days this week(other than making side dishes to have with leftovers)will yield me 2 more leftovers(lasagna, meatloaf)to eat up later in the week.  But I already have a premade meatloaf in the freezer that just needs a bit of thawing and then sticking in the oven so not really "cooking" that night.  It's difficult even if you make a small one to NOT have leftovers when it's lasagna and meatloaf and it's only 2 people eating those meals.

It's a compact cooking week with plans to eat all the leftovers keeping food waste at bay.
 

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 that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Holiday Candy/Treats found in the Stores" Edition..........

 Apple M&M's?

Holiday flavors of Jelly Beans?

Mike & Ike Minion flavors?

Hmmmm......anybody out there ever try any of these weird things?

 

 

 

Onward to the meal planning!

What was planned last week--

1.  Zuke Casserole
2.  Chicken & Dumplings(leftover)

3.  Lasagna or Ravioli(leftover)

4.  Zuke in Tomato Sauce, Kielbasa on rolls
5.  Trout, leftover Zuke Casserole

6.  Beef Stroganoff over Rice, Brussel Sprouts
7.  Leftovers

 

And this is what actually happened--

1.  Zuke Casserole
2.  Chicken & Dumplings(leftover)

3.  Ravioli(leftover)

4.  Chicken & Dumplings(again)
5.  Kielbasa on Rolls, Zuke Casserole(leftover)

6.  Lasagna(leftover)
7.  Fend for Yourself Night

 

We stretched out the leftovers over more meals than I had thought it would stretch, so the Stroganoff and Trout didn't happen.
    

Last week I made 9(!!!) trips to 5 different markets and spent $236.19 on $469.17 worth of groceries.
This includes what was spent at Target & Ollie's the week before since I forgot to include that.


I also did 2 transactions at Rite-Aid where I spent $1.87 on $56.71 of items there for the week.

Sit down for this one........
$537.46  total spent for the month so far in November including Rite-Aid spending.  My budget was $350 for November so yeah, it was a bust this month.
I've only spent $4,600.00 for the year so far on groceries.  Considering how well we eat I'm not going to beat myself up over a splurge month!

I have a $10 gift certificate/voucher to spend by Saturday at the local market so I'll try to spend as close to $10 as possible this week.  Goodness knows we don't NEED anything in the way of food right now! lolz

Going into this week, in leftovers we have........just some zuke casserole.  The plan was to use up most everything and clean out the fridge so I could fit a turkey in there.

Here is the plan for this week.........

1.  Spaghetti and Meatballs(in freezer)
2.  Trout, Zuke Casserole(leftover)

3.  Chinese take-out

4.  Mac & Cheese with Ham, Broccoli
5.  Turkey Day Meal

6.  Beef Stroganoff over Rice, Brussel Sprouts
7.  Leftovers

#2 Son is coming home for Thanksgiving Break so even though I'd like to not have to cook all week(isn't a Thanksgiving Fest ENOUGH!?!), I'll make a couple of his favorite meals for him before we send him packing back to school.

 

What I need to buy for this menu.........nothing.  I'll see what is on sale this week and spend that $10 voucher on things I can add to the stockpile.
 

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 that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?
How much did you spend on food so far in November?

 

Sluggy