Showing posts with label make a menu and be flexible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label make a menu and be flexible. Show all posts

Monday, August 25, 2025

Meal Plan Monday......the August 25th Edition

WTF???




Amazon sent me a suggestion on what  I want to buy from them.  WTF is this thing??? lol

 Onward to the meal planning!  Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Chicken Marsala, Yellow Zucchini 
2. Monday--me-Salad
3. Tuesday--Chicken Fajitas w/Peppers
4. Wednesday--Whole Roast Chicken, Carrots
5. Thursday--Haddock, Cabbage
6. Friday--Leftover Roast Chicken
7. Saturday--Pork Stir-fry

And here's what happened......
1. Sunday--Chicken Marsala, Yellow Zucchini 
2. Monday--Lobster
3. Tuesday--Chicken Fajitas w/Peppers(I had a bowl so no tortilla)
4. Wednesday--Whole Roast Chicken, Carrots
5. Thursday--Beef and Broccoli
6. Friday--Salmon, Green Beans
7. Saturday--Lobster

We shopped at Walmart and Shoprite

What got taken out of the freezer.......
*  Chicken
*  More Chicken
*  Even More Chicken
*  Steak
*  Salmon

The last week we spent a whopping $169.15 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 41.94%. Spending for the month is $478.23 and the savings rate is 44.50% for August before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in August--
$134.87 on Ibotta
$27.90 on Checkout51
$5.96 on Aisle and Misc.
$168.73 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $309.50
for August. It's crazy how much more food cost here than in LA.  We cherry pick at ShopRite but it's not as good as it was when we lived in NJ back in the 80's obviously. At least the sales tax is lower here.  I still miss Kroger but NOT Louisiana. 8-((

10,502 Pts. 
4,555 Pts. on Swag Bucks
0 Pts. on My Points
350 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 very low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...squash, green beans, roast chicken, fajita filling, leftover chicken breast(that didn't go into fajita), carrots beef and broccoli.

Here is what was planned for the this week.....
1. Sunday--Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries
2. Monday--Chicken Stir-Fry
3. Tuesday--Leftover Roast Chicken, Cabbage
4. Wednesday--Meat Loaf, leftover  Veg
5. Thursday--Tenderloin Pork, Veg TBD
6. Friday--Lobster
7. Saturday--Eat out with family who still like us

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   

Monday, March 24, 2025

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   

Monday, March 10, 2025

This Week on the Dining Table.....March 9 to 15th

"Do Not Eat This"

Saw this container of broken glass pieces for sale, on clearance, at Walmart awhile back.  I guess you are suppose to use this with a gas fireplace set up but it reminded me of an old SNL skit where Dan 
Akroyd was a lethal toy manufacturer(The Mainway Toy Co.)and guest star Candice Bergen was an investigative reporter interviewing him.  One of his products was "Bag O Glass".  IYKYK. lolz
And really?  $10 for clear glass shards?  I've got a Bridge in Brooklyn to sell the person who buys that!


Onward to the meal planning!
Here is what was planned for the last week.....
1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Asparagus
2. Monday---Leftover Meatloaf, Yellow Squash
3. Tuesday--Shrimp, Broccoli
4. Wednesday--Rigatoni w/Mushroom Sauce, Green Beans
5. Thursday--Pot Pies(Chicken or Turkey)
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers 


And here's what actually happened....
1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Asparagus
2. Monday---Leftover Meatloaf, Yellow Squash
3. Tuesday--Shrimp, Roasted Broccoli
4. Wednesday--Fend for Yourself(I had a Salad)
5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), Leftover Green Beans
6. Friday--Rigatoni with Mushroom Sauce and Meatballs, Caesar Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers (Beef & Broccoli + Green Beans

Sunday to Wednesday basically happened but not necessarily on the day it was planned.
Leftover hamburgers got cheesed, leftovers got eaten and Wednesday was a Fend for Yourself night.

What got taken out of the freezer.......
*  Chicken Parm
*  Shrimp
*  Meatballs

Last week we spent $67.99 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 55.94%. Spending for the month is $67.99 and the savings rate is 55.94% for March before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in February-
$25.38 on Ibotta
$10.00 on Checkout51
$0 on Aisle and Misc.
$35.38 Total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $57.99

2,100 Pts. on Fetch
1,909 Pts. on SwagBucks
0 Pts. on My Points
361 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...1 slice of meatloaf, roasted broccoli, yellow squash and tons of rigatoni and meatballs.

Here is what was planned for this 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)

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? 

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway.  Go HERE.  8-)

Sluggy   

Monday, December 16, 2024

This Week on the Dining Table....Dec. 16th to Dec.. 22nd

The "Misnamed Squash" Edition.........

I actually laid eyes on what they call Calabaza Squash while in Texas last week.  Like I explained in a previous post, Calabaza is a type if pumpkin, Calabacitas is a lighter skinned Mexican Zucchini.  You would think a huge corporation like Kroger would known the difference and get it right.  But then again....8-))

Onward to the meal planning!
Here is what was planned for last week.....
1. Sunday--Pizza, Salad
2. Monday--Smoke Sausage, Kraut, Zero Sugar Baked Beans
3. Tuesday--Pasta and Meatballs, Caesar Salad
4. Wednesday--don't sure, maybe soup with Asparagus in it
5. Thursday--Hamburgers, leftover Green Beans
6. Friday--something from freezer or leftovers
7. Saturday--something from freezer or leftovers

And here's what actually happened....
1. Sunday--Pizza, Salad
2. Monday--Smoke Sausage, Kraut, Baked Beans, Sweet Potato Fries
3. Tuesday--Pasta and Meatballs, Caesar Salad
4. Wednesday--homemade soup w/Turkey and Asparagus for Hubs, I didn't eat-still full from Texas Brisket out for lunch
5. Thursday--TV Dinners, leftover Green Beans
6. Friday--Don't remember it was that good ;-)
7. Saturday--I had leftover Sweet Potato Fries
Plus we had lots of leftover Green Beans last week to eat through with more to eat this week(that's what happens when you buy/cook 3 lbs. of them). 8-))

What got taken out of the freezer last week....
*  Pizza
*  Smoke Sausage
*  Meatballs
*  2 TV Dinners
*  2 Chicken Biscuits(breakfast)

What got put into the freezer last week....
*  Nothing  
                   
Last week we spent $88.99 grocery shopping.
There are 15 shopping days left in December.

Rebate monies earned in December.....
I've earned $128.10 on Ibotta in December.
I've earned $7.50 on Checkout51 in December.
I've earned $15.50 on Aisle, etc. in December. 
I've earned $0 on TaDa in December.
I've earned 1,960 points on Fetch from food shopping in December.
I've earned 17,925 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in December.($71.70)
I've earned 865 points on My Points in December.(not sure what the conversion rate is here)
I've earned 1,883 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in December.($18.83)

That is $151.10 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/TaDa were I earn gift cards or send $$ to my Paypal account and cuont it at the end of the year)on $205.24 of grocery spending so in reality it's $54.14 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items) so it's a win/win--the food bank gets a large donation of goods and I get a lower grocery bill.

My savings percentage for the last week was 64.17% and the monthly savings total for December comes in at 55.54% spent.

Leftovers going into next week.....Brussels Sprouts, Spinach, Chicken Salad, more Green Beans.

Here is this week's food plan.....
1. Sunday--Cod, Squash and Onions
2. Monday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), Leftover Green Beans
3. Tuesday--Whatever needs using up(soup, squash, green beans, etc.)
4. Wednesday--Whatever else needs using up
5. Thursday--?
6. Friday--?
7. Saturday--?

Nothing even approaching a gourmet meals this week.  Just using up bits and bobs in the fridge that will go bad before we return with some fill-ins from the 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