This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "What Day is It Anyway?" Edition--

This is the opening shot of an extended bender I am on.
If you haven't guessed yet, I am visiting family this week.
There is no meal plan this week as you will see below and there was no meal plan part of last week.
Meal planning is nowhere near my brain at the moment, nor should it be!  8-)

 

 

Onward to the meal planning! Such that it is.......

 

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

1. Sunday--Leftovers(lasagna, salad)
2. Monday--Leftovers(meatloaf, collards)
3. Tuesday--take-out Pizza(using gift certificate)
4. Wednesday--Leftovers or Breakfast for Dinner or Fend for Yourself
5. Thursday--?no clue
6. Friday--?no clue
7. Saturday--?no clue

 

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Leftovers(lasagna, salad)
2. Monday--Leftovers(meatloaf, collards)
3. Tuesday--BK Whopper burger(using BOGO Q)
4. Wednesday--Leftover Chicken Soup
5. Thursday--KFC meal in hotel room-bleh.
6. Friday--Fish Fry
7. Saturday--Pot Roast, Butternut Squash, Corn and Garlic Mashed Potatoes mmmmm
 

As for my grocery spending last week......$42.02 spent at Weis and $ 5.00 spent at Dollar Tree for a total of $47.02 this week brings the monthly spending to $141.88 for October so far.  $158.12 left in the $300 monthly budget for food in October with 12 days left to spend.
Other than buying ingredients to prepare tonight's dinner for our hosts this might be the only food shopping I do until Oct. 25th., which means only 1 more week of food to fix/serve/buy.
Yeah, I got this thing.....

Leftovers going into this week....nothing.
 

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

1. Sunday--Barbecue Pork Sandwiches with Cole Slaw, Sun Dried Tomato Salsa on Toast
2. Monday--Lena's Lemon Chicken with Zucchini and Tomatoes over Rice
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Dinner Out
5. Thursday--?
6. Friday--?
7. Saturday--?


What I need to buy for this menu?......chicken, zucchini, tomatoes

 

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 "My Week was All About the Shopping " Edition---

Not much got done around here last week except lots of little shopping trips to grocery stores and Rite-Aid.
So here is a picture of a cute pony from last October......standing in the road, in front of our car......

I bet he wants something to eat as a toll to get where we want to go.

 

Onward to the meal planning!

What was planned last week--
1.  Lamb chops(freezer), steamed cabbage

2.  Rigatoni w/meat sauce(leftover), tossed salad(put my tomatoes in this)

3.  Meatloaf, butternut squash(use my tomatoes in sauce for the meatloaf)

4.  BLT sandwiches(have all ingredients-use my tomatoes)

5.  Pork Chops, Red Cabbage w/Apples
6.  Chili(leftover) over Rice
7.  New Leftovers

 

And this is what actually happened--
1.  Lamb chops(freezer), steamed cabbage

2.  Rigatoni w/meat sauce(leftover), tossed salad(put my tomatoes in this)

3.  Leftovers-Hubs had lamb chop/cabbage and I had a hot dog & a salad

4.  BLT sandwiches(have all ingredients-use my tomatoes)

5.  Leftovers-Hubs had rigatoni, I had chicken marsala
6.  Chili(leftover) over Rice
7.  Chicken Marsala, Corn casserole

  

The plan was kept to pretty much, except we had more leftovers than I thought, and I made the Chicken Marsala instead of pork chop and meatloaf didn't happen.  Those 2 meals move to this week's menu.
    

Last week I made trips to 4 different markets and spent $96.58 on $210.50 worth of groceries and did 3 transactions at Rite-Aid where I spent $1.04 total there for the week.
$154.90 down and $145.10 left in my October food budget with 18 days left in the month.

Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........chili and a small meatloaf I baked off last week.

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

1.  Eating Out

2.  Eating Out

3.  Eating Out

4.  Eating Out
5.  Chili

6.  Meatloaf, butternut squash(use my tomatoes in sauce for the meatloaf)
7.  Pork Chops, Red Cabbage w/Apples

Obviously we won't be home to eat for a few days.

Food Waste--nothing.

What I need to buy this week.......nothing really as the 3 meals planned are premade or we already have the ingredients at home.
There are a few items on special this week I want to pick up--cantaloupe and salmon.  That's about it.

   

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 September?

 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "My Baby Turned 18 on Saturday" Edition.......

Here he is with his gifts--

 

And here is is with his gifts after I forced him to smile for a change......

 

 

And here is what was planned last week---

 

Sunday--Leftovers
Monday--Dinner Out using gift card
Tuesday--Cheese Steaks w/peppers and onions
Wednesday--Rigatoni w/Meat Sauce, Mushroom Parmesan, Asparagus
Thursday--Fish, Sugar Snaps, Roasted Potatoes
Friday--Chicken Risotto, Salad or Leftover Asparagus
Saturday--Leftovers Again

 

And here is what actually happened---

 

Sunday--Leftovers
Monday--Dinner Out using gift card
Tuesday--Cheese Steaks w/peppers and onions
Wednesday--Fish, Asparagus
Thursday--Rigatoni in Meat Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas
Friday--Pizza(I had Eggplant Parm)*Hubs got 2 med. pizzas free with a gift card.
Saturday--Leftover Eggplant Parm

Everything served as planned except the Risotto because I bought some Eggplant Parm on Friday which was on sale at the store.  The Risotto moves to this week.

 

I spent a total of.......$65.01 on groceries last week, including the $1 I spent at Rite-Aid.  Evidently I didn't try very hard to only spend the $9.28 left in my February food budget.

Food spending for February to this point is $355.83. 
 

We had food waste last week.....a bit of Chicken Fajita filling.

 

Going into the new week here are the leftovers we have.....Rigatoni and Meat Sauce, 1 helping of Fish, 2 slices of pizza.  Fresh produce left are 2 bundles of asparagus.  It was on special last week and I'll eat this every day for lunch until it's gone if nobody wants it for dinner again.  I "heart" asparagus....

I also have a frozen turkey breast(bought on special last week)in the fridge which will be cooked by midweek(after it thaws), giving me 1-2 dinners(it's a real small one), or 1 dinner and meat for lunch sandwiches.

 

Here is this week's meal plan----

Sunday--Leftovers(I had a big plate of Asparagus.)
Monday--Chicken Risotto, Asparagus
Tuesday--Birthday Dinner Out
Wednesday--Roast Turkey, Carrots, Potatoes of some sort
Thursday--Dinner Out(last of gift card & coupon)
Friday--Beef Roast and some sort of fresh veggie I buy this week
Saturday--Leftovers

That makes 3 new meals, 2 meals out and 2 leftover or planned over meal.

What I need to purchase for this menu?.......Beef Roast, a fresh veg, Carrots.  Everything except Sun. and Mon. meals are subject to change this week.  The turkey will be cooked and served but other than that, this is all tentative.

 

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

 

Sluggy

This Week on The Dining Table

The "Winter Solstice is Past & 2 Days until Christmas" Edition.......

 

While we were out running errands on Sunday I saw this mom and daughter putting a clothing donation in a bin at the gas station as Hubs was checking the air pressure in my van's tires.  The little girl had on reindeer antlers and a red nose, which you can sort of see in my bad shot.

I felt like telling her to be careful if she wants to go around looking like the resident deer population in these parts. This is PA, home of the gun-toters and deer hunters.  The kids here get the first day of Hunting Season off from school as it's an official state holiday. lolz

 

On to the Meal Planning.

Here is what was planned last week--

 

Sunday--Dinner Out after some Holiday shopping w/Hubs at Bob Evans
Monday--Chicken and Dumplings(to use up the rest of that chicken & milk about to expire)
Tuesday--Ravioli & Sauce(use up leftover sauce), Green Salad
Wednesday--Chicken Fried Steak(I'll have something else), Mashed Potatoes, Veggie Medley
Thursday--Something Inexpensive Out after #2 Son's Christmas Concert(the last one we ever have to attend!lol)
Friday--Shrimp Burgers on rolls, Deviled Eggs, Green Beans
Saturday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Spinach Salad

Well we ate everything listed with the exception of the Chicken Fried Steak(#2 son had to work that night).  #2 Son had brought a big plate of leftover food from his Marching Band Christmas Party/Dinner for us so we split that instead.  We had Grilled Salmon(got on special last week)and a Veggie Medley(from freezer).
 

As for the food spending last week....
There was 1 trip to the grocery store & 1 trip to Rite-Aid and I spent a grand total of $30.09(including my Rite-Aid trip at $.19)on $132.26 worth of groceries/toiletries at 2 different stores.  We are at $215.04 spent on $722.52 worth of groceries/toiletries for December so far(grocery store value only is $363.71---Rite-Aid freebies and almost-freebies really skew the totals).
8 days left in the month and $84.96 left in the food budget(if I want to come in under $300 this month instead of the usual $400).

I am still hopeful I can pull off a $300 food month.  We will be out of town and NOT cooking for some meals the rest of the month so I need to do little food buying.  I'll probably just pick up some loss leaders this week and a few special things for #2 Son.

Leftovers going into this week--Ravioli(1 helping).

Here is this week's meal plan---

Sunday--Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad
Monday--Seafood of some kind, Rice, Brussel Sprouts
Tuesday--Chinese Food out(Christmas Tradition paid for out of Xmas Budget)
Wednesday--Prime Rib, Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes, Homemade Rolls, Corn Casserole
Thursday--Chicken Fried Steak(Hubs and Son only), Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Sugar Snap Peas
Friday--Leftovers
Saturday--Dinner Out


What I need to purchase for this menu?....... well the Duck for Christmas idea went over like a led balloon here. sigh
So I need to buy a roast but luckily they are on sale the next 2 days. 8-)
I need to buy some seafood(not sure what I am getting yet....scallops? shrimp?), a roast, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.  I have everything else already. 


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

Sluggy

Meal Planning March Week 4 & Food Spending Week 3

Here is what actually got served last week....

Sunday-Leftovers or Pizza

Monday--Sloppy Joes on Rolls, Corn

Tuesday--Stuffed Shells, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread

Wednesday--Leftovers

Thursday--Roast Chicken, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes

Friday--Breakfast for Dinner-pancakes, eggs, sausage

Saturday--Leftovers or Find Something Yourself LOL

 

 

The Tacos and Fish Fry never happened.  They were replaced by a Roast Chicken dinner and a Leftovers meal.  I basically didn't eat these dinner meals until Thursday because of my dental issues.

My appointment on Wednesday took care of the problems and I am now a chomping champ again. lol

 

The food spending the last week?

Between not feeling well and having car issues, I never actually went to the grocery store last week.  The daughter and Hubs picked up items along the way last week, but no actual proper grocery shopping was accomplished.  Nevertheless, we did NOT starve since we have plenty here in the pantry/freezer.

A couple of trips to the local Shursave affiliate where a total of $29.62 was spent.  Food spending for the month is now at $127.69, leaving $272.31 of my $400 March food budget to cover the next 13 days.

As for leftovers rolling into this week--there is some roast chicken and veggies and some breakfast sausages.  Hubs is working out of town the beginning of this week so the kids and I are on our own for dinner until Thursday.

***********************

Here is what is getting served this week.....

Sunday-Chinese take-out

Monday--Soup, Broccoli or Fend for Yourself

Tuesday--Green Bean Casserole, Mac and Cheese

Wednesday--Veggie Fajitas

Thursday--Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots

Friday--Fish "Fry",Coleslaw, Veggie TBD

Saturday--?

Needed at the store to serve the meals I am making this week?  

Peppers for the Fajitas, Cabbage to go with the CBeef and to make the Coleslaw.  And when I figure out Saturdays dinner I may need to buy something for that. lol 

We also need fresh fruit and milk this week.  If I can get Daughter to do the shopping I may not go to the store again this week too! Yeah, I live on the wild side.....

 

The freezer is getting a bit empty now, as I've been using up some things here and haven't been restocking.  Unless some incredible meat deal comes my way, I am holding off on stocking up on foods to throw in the freezer.   And I still have to figure out what to serve for Easter dinner.  It looks like we may have 7 at the table this year so I've got to find out what everyone can/will eat this year. sigh.  The only definite are the Deviled Eggs....lol

We did have some food waste this past week.  A Tupperware of chicken stock with bones that got pushed to the back lower corner of the fridge went bad before it could be used or added to the dog's dinners.  I hang my head in shame. 8-(

What's on your menu for the week?  

Any good deals at the grocers this week?
Did you have any food waste this week?

Sluggy

Meal Planning March Week 3 & Food Spending March Week 2 & 1

 

 

I never got around to my Meal Plan/Food Spending post for last week due to my dental issues and not feeling up to much of anything the last few weeks.  Sorry about that!

 

I never actually made a meal plan last week because I didn't cook much if any last week.  I've been living on soups and soft foods and the family just hasn't wanted to join me on this exciting menu....go figure! lol

So some things were pulled from the freezer or cobbled together without my find hand being involved.  Then the Daughter decided she'd had enough of your father's halfa$$ed meals and stepped up and volunteered to cook a couple of times.  Of course those evenings were hard on ME because I had to be handy to answer a billion questions because the child refuses to follow a recipe.  And then she gets all mad when things don't turn out right and blames me. ugh!

I. Can't. Win.

All I can recall was they had pork chops with cabbage and sweet potatoes, a tuna noodle casserole, a pizza, there was some Chinese take-out......

I really didn't care really what they ate.

I knew they weren't starving was good enough for me. lol

 

The food spending the last 2 weeks?

Yes, it's 2 weeks worth since I didn't report in last week.  $98.04 has been spent of the $400 food budget.  That includes $5.78 spent at the Bread Outlet on the one day I felt human and stopped in there to get some bread and rolls while out running errands.  21 days left in the month and we have $301.96 left in the budget to spend.

As for leftovers rolling into this week--I think there is a pork chops and 2 sweet potatoes leftover.

***********************

Here is what is getting served this week.....

Sunday-Leftovers or Pizza

Monday--Sloppy Joes on Rolls, Corn

Tuesday--Stuffed Shells, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread

Wednesday--? Depends on how the dental appt. goes

Thursday--Tacos

Friday--Fish "Fry", Broccoli

Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner

Needed at the store to serve the meals I am making this week?  

Ground Beef, Romaine lettuce and I might be out of Cheddar Cheese.  Daughter is doing Slim Fast shakes so we are running through milk and soy milk this week as well.
$35-$40 in spending should be enough this week.

What's on your menu for the week?  

Any good deals at the grocers this week?
Did you have any food waste this week?

Sluggy

Meal Planning March Week 1 & Food Spending Feb. Week 4

And here is what actually got served last week......

Sunday-Chicken Parmesan al fresco, Spinach Salad, Lemon Cake

Monday--Pizza, Clementines

Tuesday--Pulled Pork on rolls, Coleslaw

Wednesday--Leftovers

Thursday--Kielbasa, Beans, Coleslaw

Friday--Clam Chowder, Fish fillets, Coleslaw

Saturday--Leftovers

I served everything planned,except the Stuffed Shells, which move to this week.

The food spending last week?

I spent $58.85 in 2 trips to the local Shursave affiliated grocer.

Of that amount, $25.84 was spent on food consumed last week and the other $33.01 was spent on stocking up on deals like butter, local honey, microwaveable lunches and pre-made meatballs for the freezer as I may be laid up a couple days after my dentist appt. on Wednesday.   The meatballs give Hubs another option if I am not cooking.

I've spent $338.46 and I am left at this point with $61.54 in my food budget for 3 more days.

As for leftovers rolling into this week--Pulled Pork sammies, Coleslaw and Clam Chowder.

***********************

Here is what is getting served this week.....

Sunday-Subway Sammies

Monday--Hamburgers, Clementines, Fries

Tuesday--Stuffed Shells, Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic Bread

Wednesday--Leftover Pulled Pork sammies, Coleslaw

Thursday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Asparagus

Friday--Beef Pie w/Cornbread Topping

Saturday--Sweet Potatoes and Leftovers

Wednesday I am serving leftovers and Thursday I have a prepped casserole on deck.  I won't feel like cooking and these are things Hubs can "cook".  If I am still not up to snuff on Friday Hubs can choose to make the Beef Pie or just go get some take-out or have leftovers, as I might still be eating just soup.

Needed at the store to serve the meals I am making this week?  

Asparagus, Sweet Potatoes and Cauliflower.  We also need eggs, milk, fresh fruit and OJ. 

Other than that I don't know what I'll be buying yet.  With $60+ left for 3 days I'll be staying under budget going into March 1st and a new $400 for groceries.

A few words about where my Menu is headed......

I am trying to change up my menus and what we eat in general here.  With the kids' schedules I never know how many are going to be eating dinner at home each night.  This makes it near impossible to get my meal sizes right and we either end up with not enough on the table or having way too many leftovers.

I have also cut way back on the dishes I serve that call for cheese, rice and noodles.  Believe me, if I could, I'd cut out pasta totally!  But having a Hubs who was raised in an ethnic Italian household, he would divorce me if I tried. lol

I've also been trying to find better ways to prepare foods we like by changing or taking out simple carb components. We are "de-whiting" our diet, meaning changing or eliminating the white carbohydrate foods like refined sugar, white rice, white flour, white noodles, white breads.There is nothing scientific to the way we are proceeding, it's more of a learn as we go process.

In order to get more veggies into our meal times I have begun changing how/what I serve.  I am moving away from the traditional 1 meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable dinner plate scenario toward a 1 meat, 1 vegetable plate, with other vegetable based side dishes also served.  And sometimes the meat is also missing from the dinner plate.

We are working on finding more exciting ways to prepare veggies too, that don't include frying, battering, breading, or covering with cheese.

It isn't easy doing this, since all 4 of us at home enjoy/thrive on different foods and different percentages of each type of food.  I am not a pasta lover but Hubs is.  Hubs is not a raw food or salad eater and I could eat this way every day.   Hubs insists on meat...not protein, MEAT, so we are working on better ways to prepare it.  If you feel the need to share your Tofu recipes, just keep moving.  Tofu and being Vegan isn't happening here. ;-)

#2 Son eats veggies but his repertoire is limited and most veggies he wants cooked in meat products, plus he likes all that processed stuff.  Daughter eats everything but she loves comfort foods which include all those white foods I am trying to limit.

We are making baby steps toward a new way of eating for us.  Some weeks we do better than others but overall we are making progress.  This week won't see any progress due to my tooth emergency. 

What's on your menu for the week?  

Any good deals at the grocers this week?
Did you have any food waste this week?

Sluggy

Meal Planning Feb. Week 2 & Food Spending Week 1

What do the White Rabbit and Sluggy have in common?
It's dinnertime here already and I am just now getting around to my weekly meal planning.

                                                                      

And here is what actually got served last week......

Sunday--KFC chicken, sides, biscuits

Monday--Pizza or Leftover KFC or Beef Tips

Tuesday--Steak dinner out(birthday meal)

Wednesday--Italian dinner out(birthday freebie)

Thursday--Sloppy Joes, corn

Friday--Fend for Yourself

Saturday--Chinese take-out(I had Eggplant in Garlic Sauce) 

I actually "cooked" but once last week.....IF you can call Sloppy Joes cooking. lol

The food spending last week?

Well it's only a couple of days since most of last week was still January(so that spending went onto my Jan. spending totals), but I was able to spend a whopping $72.18 on Saturday.  Granted $2.12 of that was tax, I stocked up on Mexican items(tortillas, salsa $8.75)and $33.75 of the spending was on dog foods.  The rest, $27.56, was spent on milk, fruit, veggies, bread and chicken.  I also received $11 in Catalinas for buying the pet food so I have future savings.

I am left at this point with $327.82 in my food budget for February.

As for leftovers rolling into this week--not much beyond a helping of Sloppy Joes is left and some rolls.  Hard to have leftovers if you don't actually cook or eat at home much in a week. lol

I didn't serve 2 of the meals last week so they roll over into this week.

***********************

Here is what is getting served this week.....

Sunday--Chicken Fajitas

Monday--Taco Bell or Fend for Yourself

Tuesday--Salmon, Green Bean Casserole

Wednesday--Ham and Bean Soup, homemade Bread

Thursday--Hot Dogs, Beans, Corn

Friday--Ravioli, Sausage Sauce, Caesar Salad

Saturday--Leftovers

Taco Bell for #2 Son this week but the rest of us are staying away from the fast food.

Needed at the store to serve the meals I am making this week?

Salad Greens and celery are needed.  I also need fruit and a few other things.   I haven't looked at the ads yet to see if there are any deals.  I'm looking to stay out of the stores so I'll try to keep the spending at $35 this week.

I'll be going to my 2 grocery stores this week to note prices for the new Price Book. 

What's on your menu for the week?  Any good deals at the grocers this week?
Did you have any food waste this week?

Sluggy