This Week on the Dining Table.....the April 14th Edition

"Crawfish Season is Here!"

Saw this at Walmart as part of a Coke display.   After Mardi Gras Season here comes Crawfish Season.  "Let the Good Times Boil" indeed.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Catfish, Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

3. Tuesday--Lasagna Casserole, Carrots

4. Wednesday--Shrimp, Leftover Green Beans

5. Thursday--Chicken Parmesan, Veggie TBD

6. Friday--Salmon, Baked Sweet Potato Fries

7. Saturday--Steak, Salad

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Catfish, Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Poultry Pot Pies, Salad

3. Tuesday--Lasagna Casserole, Carrots

4. Wednesday--Shrimp, Leftover Green Beans

5. Thursday--Chicken Parmesan, Caesar Salad

6. Friday--Salmon, Baked Sweet Potato Fries

7. Saturday--Steak, Spinach Soufle

Everything planned happened, even the potpies finally! lol

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

*  Catfish

*  Brussels Sprouts

*  Pot Pies

*  Ground Beef

*  Shrimp

*  Chicken Parmesan

*  Salmon

*  Steak

*  Spinach Soufle

Last week we spent $42.90 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 53.64%. Spending for the month is $64.66 and the savings rate is 46.51% for April before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in April-

$64.41 on Ibotta

$0 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$64.41 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $.25  I used some gift cards to pay so that is why my total is low. ;-)

7,785 Pts. on Fetch

0 Pts. on SwagBucks

176 Pts. on My Points

1638 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...Pork w/Stir-Fry Veggies, Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke.

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

1. Sunday--Frozen Meals, Salad

2. Monday--Pork Loin w/Stir-Fry Veggies

3. Tuesday--Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Tempura Cod, leftover Shrimp, Roasted Broccoli

5. Thursday--Beef Roast, Carrots, Mushrooms

6. Friday--Meatballs and Sausage Sauce w/Pasta, Salad

7. Saturday--Chicken Dish TBD, leftover Veggies

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   

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   

This Week on the Dining Table Jan. 20th to 26th

The "Soup Smelling Candles?" Edition........

I saw these candles advertised the end of 2024.

Campbells Soup smells of Side Season?

I don't know if this is a gag or real but who wants a Cream of Mushroom or Cheddar Cheese Soup scented candle??

No thanks.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), sautè yellow Squash

2. Monday--Stir-Fry Veggies w/Pork, Rice(optional)

3. Tuesday--Leftover Ravioli, Salad

4. Wednesday--TV dinners

5. Thursday--Salmon, Baked Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Pasta w/Meatballs, Salad

7. Saturday--Chicken & Dumplings(if I can find a marked down rotisserie chicken at Walmart)

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), sautè yellow Squash

2. Monday--Stir-Fry Veggies w/Pork

3. Tuesday--Leftover Ravioli, Salad

4. Wednesday--Leftover Meatloaf & Green Beans

5. Thursday--Leftover Pork Loin, Spinach Soufflè

6. Friday--Salad, Pizza

7. Saturday--Leftover Pork Stir-Fry

We had so many leftovers that half the meals didn't get made last week.

Got a bogo deal on pizza at Kroger on Friday so that got added to the meal plan too.

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

* Ground Beef

* Pork Loin

* Spinach Soufflè

* Pizza

Last week we spent $132.37 on groceries(proving that eating healthier is more expensive)and the savings rate came in at 37.43%. Spending for the month is $291.37 and the savings rate so far is 34.31%.

Leftovers going into next week...1 slice of Meatloaf and 2 helpings of Green Beans.

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

1. Sunday--Chicken and Dumplings

2. Monday--Beef Pie

3. Tuesday--Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke

4. Wednesday--Soup and Cornbread

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  Got some reduced chicken thighs(hard to find them with skin on here but my recipe above requires that)as well as a marked down 3 lbs. of Ground Beef.  I made 3 hamburger patties and browned the rest.  Ate one pattie for lunch and the other two will become lunch this coming week for Hubs, while the browned beef will go into the Beef Pie and the other half will go into the freezer for a later meal.

I found a marked down Rotisserie Chicken on Friday and that became Sunday's Chicken and Dumplings.

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 

This Week on the Dining Table.....the Nov. 3rd to Nov. 9th

The "I Wouldn't Spend Money on This" Edition.......

This was a free after rebate tv dinner from "Real Good".  It was more than double the price of a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice one(never seen this brand go on sale)and about as thrilling as the others.  The BBQ sauce was strange tasting too.   I'll pass on this next time.  I wish my store carried their plain bagged chicken.  That I could have dressed up to be edible.

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--Leftover Brisket, Green Beans, Mac and Cheese(Hubs only)

2. Monday--Catfish, Leftover Green Beans

3. Tuesday--Something from the Freezer

4. Wednesday--Something from the Freezer

5. Thursday--Something from the Freezer

6. Friday--Something from the Freezer

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Leftover Brisket, Green Beans, Mac and Cheese(Hubs only)

2. Monday--Catfish, Leftover Green Beans

3. Tuesday--can't remember

4. Wednesday--I had a free after rebate TV dinner

5. Thursday--Rotisserie Chicken, Carrots, Au Gratin Taters

6. Friday--late lunch(I had a Salad and Strawberries later)

7. Saturday--So memorable I can't recall it lol

If your meal plan is just "something from the freezer" it's hard to go off plan. lol

I probably had a salad and strawberries(had a lot of strawberries)on Saturday and Hubs cut into his massive pot of chili.  Tuesday's dinner is lost to the mist of time. ;-)

We had a rare food waste last week.  I uncovered some collards in the freezer that were freezer burned so those got pitched.  I can't remember the last time we had any food waste beyond that. 8-)

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

*  Beef Brisket

*  Catfish

*  Don't remember

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

*  Ice Cream Cones

*  Chicken Biscuits(there was a deal)

                    

Last week we spent $175.79 grocery shopping(not counting the days in November).

Total shopping comes to $649.97 for October.   There are 0 shopping days left in October.

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $266.37 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $3.00 on Shopmium in October.

I've earned $0.01 on TaDa in October.

I've earned $32.11 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $118.69 on Aisle, etc. in October. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 28,510 points on Fetch from food shopping in October.

I've earned 11,572 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.($46.28)

I've earned 6,679 Points on My Points in October.(not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 2,644 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.($26.44)

That is $420.16 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/TaDa/The Insiders were I earn,  gift cards)on $649.97 of grocery spending so in reality it's $229.81 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 33.39% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 44.33% spent.

Leftovers going into this week.....leftover carrots, au gratin taters, catfish, chili and the leftover rotisserie chicken got turned into chicken salad.  All of this will be lunch fodder as there isn't enough of any item for meals for 2.

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

1. Sunday--Tuna Subs

2. Monday--Chicken Strips, Squash and Onions

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

4. Wednesday--(Look Away Anne!)Liver and Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Beets

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

7. Saturday--Beef w/Stir-fry Veggies

I can easily see what's in the freezer now and make a plan.  We have everything for these meals(except provolone cheese for the subs).  Except for the cheese mentioned we need nothing from the store this week.  I may still go and cherry pick some deals since Thanksgiving is near and there will be stock-up deals and pick up some more items for the food bank 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? 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table...Sept. 28 to Oct. 5

 

I don't know if I shared this photo yet but here is one of many city buses here.  They are wrapped in Medicaid advertising, advising all the many folks here on Medicaid to keep your contact information up to date with the government so you don't lose your coverage.  I guess all the billboards here and the local newspaper and magazine ads and the TV ads plus even those paper placemats at mid-priced restaurants that companies pay to advertise on them aren't enough to remind the folks with limited means who can't afford private insurance(even Obamacare plans)to update their contact information with the government so they don't lose free coverage.  And let me tell you, this is an area with tons of poverty but if I had to rely on the government in this way, one of my first thoughts would be to keep my coverage up to date and I wouldn't need a freaking bus driving by me to remind me.

These are your tax dollars at work folks.....

September's Meal Planning turned into a big fat Cluster "You Know What"  so we are starting fresh in October.

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--No Clue

2. Monday--No Clue

3. Tuesday--No Clue

4. Wednesday--No Clue

5. Thursday--No Clue

6. Friday--No Clue 

7. Saturday--No Clue  

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Don't Remember

2. Monday--"                       "

3. Tuesday--"                       "

4. Wednesday--"                   "

5. Thursday--"                       "

6. Friday--"                            "

7. Saturday--"                         "

I know we had yellow squash & onions at some point last week and got catfish dinners(I had green beans as a side)and we had Teriyaki green beans, Roasted Chicken.

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

* Don't Remember

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

*  2 boxes of Shrimp

*  1 Chuck Roast

                    

Last week we spent $221.37 grocery shopping.  

Total shopping comes to $522.64 for September.   There are 0 shopping days left in September.  

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $205.67 on Ibotta in September.

I've earned $3.00 on Shopmium in September.

I've earned $0.00 on Kroger Cash Back in September(I have just given up on every getting my KCB account fixed so I don't use it).

I've earned $12.02 on TaDa in September.

I've earned $14.14 on Checkout51 in September.

I've earned $19.98 on Aisle, etc. in September. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 8,046 points on Fetch from food shopping in September.

I've earned 3,112 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in September.($)

I've earned 170 Points on My Points in September.(

not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 1,275 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in September.($12.75)

That is $242.75 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/KCB/Swag Bucks/The Insiders)on $522.64 of grocery spending so in reality it's $279.89 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).

My savings percentage for the last week was 41.43% and the monthly savings total for September comes in at 41.46% spent.

Leftovers going into this week....Yellow Squash

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Tenders, leftover Yellow Squash & Onions

2. Monday--TV dinner(mine was a piece of chicken & I didn't eat the noodles that came with it)

3. Tuesday--Meatloaf, Grilled Asparagus

4. Wednesday--Caesar Salad, Lasagna, Garlic Bread

5. Thursday--Shrimp, Brussels Sprouts

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

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?  

Sluggy