This Week on the Dining Table

The "Tasty Treat" Edition..........

I felt like making my world famous carrot cake this past weekend since I had all the ingredients needed.  It's my variation of a recipe I cut off the bag of Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Pastry Flour bag years ago.
I don't add the oil and sub apple sauce for that fully.  I also add more fruit/veg including raisins. It turned out so good and moist it doesn't need any frosting!
I know it doesn't look impressive and ignore that piece missing on the back end corner.  Somebody needs to taste test it and make sure the family doesn't get poisoned, right? ;-)

I still have a huge amount of carrots(had to buy a 5 lb. bag and don't feel like roasted carrots with the temps here now so does anyone have any carrot recipes(something for hot weather like a carrot salad)they can share?  Let me know. 8-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning-

This is what was planned.........

1. Sunday--Fend for Yourself
2. Monday--Beef and Broccoli, Rice
3. Tuesday--Stuffed Shells, Salad

4. Wednesday--Chicken Pot Pie
5. Thursday--Leftovers or FFY

6. Friday--Breakfast for Dinner
7. Saturday--Rigatoni  w/Meat Sauce, Squash and Onions

And this is what really happened........

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

1. Sunday--Fend for Yourself
2. Monday--Beef and Broccoli, Rice
3. Tuesday--Stuffed Shells, Salad

4. Wednesday--Chicken Pot Pie
5. Thursday--Lobster, Corn on Cob

6. Friday-Fend For Yourself(FFY)(I had leftover lobster)
7. Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 night of Take-Out.
The only thing that didn't happen was the Rigatoni with Meat Sauce and Salad because, well.....Lobsters for $5.77 lb.!
Rigatoni moves to this week.

What got put into the freezer last week....
* 2 lbs. ground turkey breast
*  5 lbs. of ground beef

What got taken out of the freezer and used.....
* 1+ lb. bottom round roast
* 1 lb. shredded mozzarella
* 2 pie crusts
* 1/2 bag mixed Veggies
* 1 roll of Sausage

We used up that quart of liquid whole eggs I got for .50¢ this week.  If I can get that again at that price I will get more and put some in the freezer.
I used 1/2 of that leftover ham steak in the eggs I cooked for Breakfast for Dinner.  

2 trips to Weis(PMITA)Markets and Hubs' trip to Price Chopper had me spending $140.61 total this past week and brings my May Total spending on food to $447.04.
I spent more than that but those groceries purchased for the cook-out today will be tallied up under the Eating Out/Take-Out category.

I doubt I'll shop any more in May at this point and we are over $400.  Considering "things" lately $50 over budget is a-ok in my book.

I am at $17.75 earned in Ibotta rebates in May after Friday's trip to Weis. I really didn't think I'd even hit that this month since I didn't shop at qualifying stores until I hit Weis last week.

My savings percentage last week was 33.56%(without Rite-Aid trips)for May and the monthly savings total comes in at 39.54%(w/out R-A).  

I have 6 more food shopping/spending days in May.

Leftovers going into this week........1/2 ham steak(which will probably go to the dogs' dinners), quiche,stuffed shells(4 after I gave a bunch to the nephew/brother in-law too), beef and broccoli w/rice, 1/2 of a large chicken pot pie.
And we had no food waste.....yay!

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

1. Sunday--Pork Tenderloin Sammies, Squash and Onions
2. Monday--Cook-out:dogs, burgers, salads, beans
3. Tuesday--FFY

4. Wednesday--Leftover Cook-out Foods
5. Thursday--Pizza take-out, Salad

6. Friday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Green Beans
7. Saturday--Rigatoni w/Meat Sauce, Salad

What needs buying for this menu? Mushrooms.  The only place they aren't too much $$ is Aldi so I'll need to hit Aldi this week when I go out on Tuesday.  Will probably pick up some fruit there too to get us to the end of May so I'll be spending a tad more

What's left on my master list of meals we can make from what's here...........

*Shrimp Tempura
*Kielbasa sandwiches
*Tuna Casserole
*Chili Dogs, Beans
*Roasted Chicken
*Chicken and Dumplings
*Shrimp Ravioli
*Cheese Ravioli
*Hungarian Goulash
*Spaghetti and Meatballs
*Haddock Fish Dinner  new
*Chicken Tenders  new
* Rigatoni w/Meat Sauce new

We're suppose to get cold weather next Sun. and Mon. so maybe I'll squeeze Chicken and Dumpling and Goulash from my list into next week's menu.  It's getting to the time of year where I want to limit running the oven so more stove top, crock pot or cold meals need to happen.

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 "I Can't Even!" Edition.............

When Ex-College Boy had to take everything out from under his bed when the Daughter took that bed frame to Louisiana with her he found a box of food I had sent off to his college apartment with him his first semester of his Senior year.  Among the foodstuffs were two Hormel Compleats breakfast meals.
Hubs and I took the 2 breakfast ones with us to New Hampshire last week for options if the motel breakfast was sad and/or as a change for the motel continental breakfast since we were going to be staying there 5 nights.
Well we broke out these Compleats on Wednesday.  You can see in the photo above the package "art" compared to what the bacon breakfast scramble actually looked like.  And let me tell you for the record that it tasted WORSE than it looked! lolz
I knew it would be over salted.  I tried to eat it with my eyes closed so the nasty look wouldn't prejudice my taste buds but GAWD!......the texture was just something I couldn't get past!
So breakfast was just the toast you can see in the right bottom corner as this nasty Compleats went directly into the trash can.
Amazingly Hubs ate his all up......*shudder*.  I've always said Hubs will eat anything, anywhere and at any time and this just proved I was correct. 8-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Grilled Steaks, Corn on cob, Mac and Cheese

2. Monday--Eating out w/my cousin

3. Tuesday--?

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday-?

6. Friday--?
7. Saturday--?

And this is what actually happened--(everyone else here not me after Tuesday)

1. Sunday--Grilled Steaks, Corn on cob, Mac and Cheese

2. Monday--Eating out-Chowder, Haddock, Cole Slaw, Fries

3. Tuesday--I had an applesauce cup and pretzels(Had a big lunch)

4. Wednesday--Turkey w/Stuffing Compleats, applesauce cup

5. Thursday--Chowder, Burger for lunch, no dinner for me(Hubs had a turkey sandwich)

6. Friday--Pulled Chicken Compleat on Buns, applesauce cup
7. Saturday--Manicotti Compleats, pretzels w/peanut butter

Last week saw 1 nights of home cooked dinners, 5 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 1 night of Eating Out/Take-Out. 

Eating was sort of strange(as in not normal/regular)last week at PorcFest.  We either ate turkey sandwiches for lunch(we took bread from the free breakfast at the motel and bought sliced deli turkey from Shaw's), ate from food vendors at the campground, or we went out for lunch(Thursday).
Dinners were either leftover turkey sandwiches at the campground, pastries we bought in Lancaster during the day or Hormel "Compleats" and fruit cups we brought with us from home.  Dinner when we ate it was around 10 or 11 pm as that's when we got back to the motel(except Thursday when we got in before 8 pm as it rained ALL day and I wasn't feeling very well).

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

* nothing what so ever as I wasn't home

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* nothing what so ever as I wasn't home

A small trip to Ocean State Job Lot as they opened the weekend before we left and 2 small shops at Reny's and Marden's in Maine on the way to NH brought the food/toiletries spending last week to $49.45 and my June total to $207.81.  

My savings percentage last week was 47.08%(without Rite-Aid trips)and June's monthly savings total so far comes to 54.25%(w/out R-A). 

I have 6 more food shopping/spending days in June(counting from this past Monday).

Leftovers going into this week.....a little corned beef, a whole pan of stuffed shells(Ex-CB didn't eat), a container of taco meat(Ex-CB didn't eat)and a container of leftover sliced turkey(which I put into the freezer on Monday).

We had lots of food waste while we were gone.  Ex-College Boy didn't seem to eat anything(I left him Domino's gift cards and he just seemed to get pizza and didn't touch any food here).  I threw out corn on cob, Cole slaw, cabbage, zucchini and rice but was able to salvage a couple of things for the freezer.
So unhappy about it.  If I'd known he'd just eat out or eat pizza I'd have frozen or had Hubs eat stuff before we left.
Oh well.....sometimes you loose the game. 8-(

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

1. Sunday--leftover turkey sandwiches

2. Monday--leftover Corned Beef turned into hash, eggs

3. Tuesday--leftover Stuffed Shells, Caesar salad

4. Wednesday--Chili(I'll have something else)

5. Thursday--BLT sandwiches

6. Friday--Grilled Cheese sandwiches, Tossed Salad
7. Saturday--Hot Dogs on buns, Beans, Something Green Veg from the freezer

This week will see 4 new meals cooked, 3 nights of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.

What needs buying for this menu? We are out of milk and tomatoes and that is all.  I'll need to get fresh produce, lettuce, onions, etc. later this week or early next week. I am hoping to keep the food spending to $50 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  

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Fresh Bread" Edition.........

I made bread on Thursday to go with the Beef Stew that was served.  I usually follow a recipe from my Vincent Price cookbook for French Bread to make bread.  Although a recipe that produces an excellent bread it just makes too, too much(and halving it doesn't work well). 
So I tried a different bread recipe I found online.  This recipe yielded a nice couple of rustic loaves with a very good crust.  Give it a try....you won't be disappointed. ;-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Bourbon Sweet Potato Ravioli w/Bechamel Sauce, Tossed Salad

2. Monday--Roasted Chicken w/Veggies

3. Tuesday--BLT Sandwiches

4. Wednesday--Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Potato Salad or ?

5. Thursday--Beef Stew, fresh Bread

6. Friday--Chicken Pot Pie
7. Saturday--Homemade Pizza

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Bourbon Sweet Potato Ravioli w/Bechamel Sauce, Tossed Salad

2. Monday--Roasted Chicken w/Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--BLT Sandwiches

4. Wednesday--Birthday Dinner out for daughter

5. Thursday--Beef Stew, fresh Bread

6. Friday--Chicken Pot Pie(using leftover roast chicken)
7. Saturday--Pizza take-out

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 0 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 2 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out. 
I forgot about the Daughter's birthday dinner out on Wed. so the Sausage sandwiches didn't happen.  I also got take-out pizza instead of making it myself on Saturday as I hurt my leg Friday and was trying not to be on it that much at the end of the week.

 A couple of grocery trips.....3 small trips to Weis($19.46/$7.23/$10.42), a trip to Aldi's($24.35)and a couple of things at Boyer's($4.39)brought the weekly food spending to $65.85 and brought the December monthly total to $276.74 so far.

I have 7 days left in my shopping month for December.  I hope at this point to keep it under $300 until we hit the new month/new year.  We'll definitely stay under $400. 8-)

My savings percentage last week was 58.92%(without Rite-Aid trips)and December's monthly savings total comes to 59.88%(w/out R-A)so far.  Getting a free spiral ham with my Weis points went a long way toward keeping our savings rate high last week.

Leftovers going into this week....not much.....3/4 of a chicken pot pie and about half of the bread I made.

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

1. Sunday--Spinach Salad, Chicken Strips

2. Monday--Xmas eve dinner out

3. Tuesday--Ham, Radicchio/Brussels Sprouts Salad, Mac and Cheese, Rolls, Deviled Eggs

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Pizza

6. Friday--?
7. Saturday--?

End of the week is ?s because I don't know how long company is staying and if they want to eat out or what.  I do have plenty of stuff in the freezer and pantry so we don't HAVE TO go out but again, Hubs might want to go out and he's watching me like a hawk so I don't overdo and the leg doesn't heal.

This week will see 3 new meals cooked, 1-? nights of leftovers/FFY, ? nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
We'll see how this menu turns out come next Monday.

What needs buying for this menu? All I need at this point is some radicchio and fresh Brussels Sprouts plus more milk for daughter's mac and cheese.

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 "Kim Goes to Bean's" Edition--

We arrived in Maine on Saturday night.  Had dinner with my cousin and her husband.  Last night around 7 pm I initiated Kim into "Bean's".....known to the world as L. L. Beans.  Around these "pahts" it's just Bean's.
More fun to come.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

1. Sunday--Hamburgers on Rolls w/Tomato, Fries

2. Monday--Fish, Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--Beer Brats, Grilled Onions, Veggie TBD

4. Wednesday--Tacos

5. Thursday--BBQ sandwiches, Cole Slaw

6. Friday--Eating Out
7. Saturday--Eating Out

1. Sunday--Hamburgers on Rolls w/Tomato, Fries

2. Monday--Fish, Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--Beer Brats, Grilled Onions

4. Wednesday--Tacos

5. Thursday--BBQ sandwiches, Cole Slaw

6. Friday--Eating Out(I had Chowder and Greek Salad)
7. Saturday--Eating Out(I had whole belly fried clams-unfortunately)

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 0 night of leftovers/fend for yourself/tv dinners, 2 nights of Take-Out or Eating Out.
Most of what was planned happened.  

One trip to Weis, a trip to Dollar General and another somewhere I can't recall now brought the weekly food spending to $67.56 and brought the monthly total to $486.35.
I have 0 days left in my shopping month for September and I am over the food budget by $86.35.  I think I'm done. lolz  I need to get some things this week, plus I found my Walmart receipt from earlier in the month that I didn't record(sigh)so I am hoping to stay under $500 now for the month,which happened.
Go me! hehehe

October will be all about being austere with the budget and using up what we have and buying very little grocery shopping other than milk, fresh produce.  I've got to reign it in for a month and October will be that month!  Usually there are no great grocery store deals around here in Oct. and things heat up in November for holiday deals and food buying.

My savings percentage last week was 58%(without Rite-Aid trips)and September's monthly savings total came to 76.34%(w/R-A).

Leftovers going into this week......barbecue, rolls, Cole slaw, taco meat, taco shells(I think it's still left, can't check as I am not home with the kids and doggies right now.)

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

1. Sunday--Eating Out

2. Monday--Eating Out

3. Tuesday--Eating Out

4. Wednesday--Eating Out

5. Thursday--Cooking a Shore Dinnah

6. Friday--Eating Out
7. Saturday--Eating Out

This week will see 1 new meals cooked, 0 nights of leftovers/FFY, 6 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
How's THAT for easy?! lolz

What needs buying for this menu?  Shore dinner ingredients(lobsters, clams-maybe not clams at this point, mussels, corn, maybe potatoes).  No other food shopping will happen this week I can safely say. ;-)

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

* I'm a day late with this due to other things going on around Chez Sluggy.....so sue me. ;-)

The "Souper Sunday" Edition--

I wanted to replicate Progresso's Tomato soup w/pasta and veggies.  Came pretty close to doing so but my soup is thicker and has more pasta shells.
Works for me!  I stuck what's left of it into the freezer after 1 week to eat later this Winter.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--homemade Tomato Soup w/Veggies and Pasta, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

2. Monday--Pork Chops, Grilled Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Fried Fish, Home Fries, Brussels Sprouts

4. Wednesday--Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

5. Thursday--Chicken Sausages, Roasted Veggies
6. Friday--Homemade Pizza, Caesar Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--homemade Tomato Soup w/Veggies and Pasta, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

2. Monday--Apricot Glazed Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese from box, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--Fried Fish, Sweet Potato Steak Fries

4. Wednesday--Chinese Take-Out

5. Thursday--Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs
6. Friday--Chicken Sausages, Roasted Carrots and Beets, Latkes
7. Saturday--Baby Back Ribs, real Mac and Cheese, Veggie

Last week saw 5 night of home cooked dinners, 1 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 1 nights of take-out and 0 nights of Eating out.
Two trips to just Weis was the extent of the shopping last week and the bill came to $159/75.  That brings December's food spending to $328.63.  There are 12 more days in my shopping month.

My savings percentages last week was 52.84% and the monthly savings so far ends up at 53%(without Rite-Aid trips added in).

Leftovers going into this week.......spaghetti and meatballs, latke mix, ribs, mac and cheese.

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

1. Sunday--Veal Parmesan, Salad

2. Monday--Chicken and Dumplings

3. Tuesday--Eat-Out?

4. Wednesday--Chicken Fried Steak, Taters, Gravy, Califlower

5. Thursday--Chicken Enchiladas, Rice, Beans
6. Friday--Pizza, Wings, Veggie Tray
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 5 new meals cooked, 1 night of leftovers, 1 night of Take-out/Eat-Out.

The only thing I need to buy to make these meals is nothing I think.  That isn't to say that I won't go to the grocery store however. 8-)

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'm Home and Back to Cooking....Rats!" Edition......

I seem to always have this gloom and doom about cooking when we get back from a vacation(though this vacation wasn't much of one and more of a "taking care of business" trip).
Do you feel the same way when you return from a trip where you haven't had to do much if any cooking while away?

I hope this isn't "just me"....lol

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Steak and Catfish in Texas
2. Monday--Chinese Buffet
3. Tuesday--No Clue
4. Wednesday--No Clue
5. Thursday--No Clue
6. Friday--No Clue
7. Saturday--No Clue

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Steak and Catfish in Texas
2. Monday--Chinese Buffet
3. Tuesday--BBQ, Fried Green Tomatoes, Greens, Pimento Cheese Sammich
4. Wednesday--1/2 of a small Pizza, Salad, Turkey Sammich
5. Thursday--Cheese Burger, Salad
6. Friday--Liver w/Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Cup of Chowder
7. Saturday--Meatloaf, CA blend Veggies

1 Meal cooked at home and 6 nights of eating out while on the road. I am happy to report that we ate very few burgers and/or french fries while away.  I think I ate my weight in fried green tomatoes though......that IS a vegetable, right?  ;-)

As for my grocery spending..... I spent a total of $20.21 the week before last week. (I went to the store a day before we left and forgot to tally it until we got home.  So $20.21 spent last week.)
I spent a total of $93.29 on groceries(mostly stuff to bring home but a few things we ate/drank while on the trip)during the last 2 weeks.  Even though it was purchased on vacation I put in under Groceries spending and not under Trip spending.

I have spent $210.48 in all for May so far and have $89.52 left of my food budget with 8 days to go.

Leftovers going into this week......nothing really.  Anything College Boy didn't eat in the past 2 weeks was thrown out. 8-(  We didn't leave many leftovers so it wasn't much but he did let an entire loaf of bread go bad by leaving it sitting out and not putting it into the fridge.

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

1. Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Mixed Veg.
2. Monday--Fish, Garlic Mashed Taters, Cauliflower
3. Tuesday--Pecan Chicken, Corn Casserole, Collards
4. Wednesday--Shrimp Alfredo, Salad
5. Thursday--Tacos, Corn on cob
6. Friday--Salmon, Leftover Veg Dishes
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 6 new meals cooked and 1 meal of leftovers or "Whatever You Can Find" and 0 meals of Eating Out.

What I need to buy for this menu.....Salad Greens so far and maybe some milk, a watermelon or other fruit and bread(if I go up to the Bread Outlet this week).  I have to check if College Boy ate all the cheese or not here while we were gone for the Tacos.  Most everything on this menu is from the freezer and/or pantry, as I am trying to clean both out.  I believe CB lived on chicken strips from the freezer and take-out pizza while we were gone.  So predictable that one!  lolz

I am only going to buy necessities this week and any loss leaders we can use.  I really don't want to jump into lots of grocery buying so soon after getting back home.

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 "Who Took My Bathroom?!?" Edition--

The crew showed up on Thursday and within 3 hours my bathroom was gone.
Wow, that didn't take long.
Of course, putting the new bathroom in will take a tad longer but they should be finished by Friday if the weather cooperates(and of course it's raining now and NOT cooperating).
The shot is of the underside of the roof as even the ceiling of the bathroom had to go.  It got mighty cold in there once they took the ceiling down.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Thai Peanut Chicken, Rice, Broccoli
2. Monday--Meatloaf, Brussels Sprouts, maybe dreadful Mac&Cheese fixed up
3. Tuesday--Cheese Lasagna, Tossed Salad
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on rolls, Saute Cabbage
5. Thursday--Fish, Potato Salad, Veggie TBD
6. Friday--Leftovers(Meatloaf)
7. Saturday--Leftovers(Lasagna)

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Thai Peanut Chicken, Rice, Broccoli
2. Monday--Meatloaf, Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Mashed Taters
3. Tuesday--Cheese Lasagna, Tossed Salad
4. Wednesday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Leftover Veggies
5. Thursday--Pecan Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Sugar Snap Peas
6. Friday--Leftovers(Meatloaf, Baked Beans, Leftover SSPs)
7. Saturday--Leftovers(I had a Lean Hot Pocket )

7 meals cooked at home....well sort of. lolz
We went to a new Chinese Buffet on Sat. for lunch.

As for my grocery spending for February.....
Added spending of $70.85 this past week for a grand total food spending in February of $359.09.
Yes, I am over budget for the month.  Not horribly over budget but still over and I put the Feb. Grocery Spending Update up on the blog yesterday.
Moving on.......

I have closed out the books on February and taken out my March cash and begun spending this past weekend on the March books.  Can't leave the house all this week so we did some grocery shopping on the weekend.

Leftovers going into this week......Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Meatloaf, Cheese Lasagna, Pecan Chicken, Sugar Snap Peas, Thai Chicken.  I suspect that I'll put whatever Lasagna is leftover into the freezer after serving in one more time on Sunday.  College Boy comes home this coming weekend and I'll put out a bunch of frozen leftover that he enjoys, like Lasagna and Barbecue.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Lasagna
2. Monday--Sausage Patties on Rolls, Sauted Cabbage
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Fish, Potato Salad(using up old taters), Grilled Asparagus
5. Thursday--Leftovers again?
6. Friday--Italian Torta, Salad
7. Saturday--?

This week will see 3-4 new meals cooked and 3 meals of leftovers(re-purposed into new dishes or not). We might get take-out on Saturday as I will be too tired to cook that evening after driving to get CB and back.

What I need to buy for this menu? Nothing at all.  I already bought the Cabbage and Asparagus on Saturday with March's food monies.

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 "Will You Look At That!" Edition--

This was a potted hyacinth I bought last Easter for myself.  I love the smell of hyacinth.  It's one of my all-time favorite flower scents after gardenia.  After they bloom and die back I never can get the bulbs to bloom again if I plant them outside.
I didn't replant these but had thought the chipmunks that plague our yard had dug them up(as I left this pot on the back deck)and ate the bulbs this Summer.
Then in late Sept. I noticed green shots coming up out of the pot and it was the hyacinth bulbs growing again!  I brought the pot inside when it turned cold later that month, watered it regularly and put it by a window and week by week we noticed the green shoots getting taller.

And voila!.....they put out flowers last week!!  Of course the stalks are suppose to be about 8 inches taller before they flower but I will take this anyway. lolz
When the blooms died back the pot will go back outside in the deep freeze that is our yard now before bringing it back in about February to try to get it to bloom again.

Have you had any luck growing perennial bulbs?


Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--meatloaf, sweet potato fries, Brussels sprouts
2. Monday--Italian Torta, Caeser Salad
3. Tuesday--Pecan Chicken, Mixed Veggies
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, green beans
5. Thursday--Rockfish, Cauliflower, Garlic mashed potatoes
6. Friday--Guinness Beef Stew
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--meatloaf, sweet potato fries, Brussels sprouts
2. Monday--Italian Torta
3. Tuesday--Leftovers(Hubs had tacos, I had chicken soup)
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, baked beans
5. Thursday--Guinness Beef Stew
6. Friday--Rockfish, Green Beans, Garlic mashed potatoes
7. Saturday--Hamburger on roll(We had Chinese out for lunch w/lots of veggies)

I had enough leftover roast chicken to make a small pot of chicken soup so I had that Tuesday for dinner and the Pecan Chicken got pulled from rotation.

The bag of frozen Rock fish we bought at that Grocery Outlet last month was a bust.  The "lemon pepper" marianate it was in wasn't peppery at ALL and the lemon part was a sort of "lemon flavored sludge" coating the top of the fillets.  After baking the fish I scraped the sludge off of mine before eating it after tasting it the way it came.  It was a good price, the product was fine but the marinade was far from edible.  We have 2 more pieces of this fish to cook but will be scraping the marinade off before cooking next time and we won't be looking for this product again. 8-(

The Italian tortas(think pizza pot pie)were so-so as well.  It was something different but I won't go out of my way to buy these again, unless they are very inexpensive(as these were).

As for my grocery spending last week......Target, the Bread Outlet to stock up, 2 small trips to Weis for loss leaders and Turkey day needs, and a few things bought at Ollies(Good Stuff Cheap!)for a total this week of $63.51 OOP.   Month to date is $243.88 spent for November.  $28.42 of that spending was for food bank donations which I am done buying for this load.
I still have $56.12 left in the $300 food budget for the month.

Leftovers going into this week.... Chicken Soup, Beef Stew, Meatloaf, Baked Beans, Brussel Sprouts, Green Beans.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Meatloaf, G Beans, B Sprouts, Potatoes
2. Monday--Leftovers(chicken soup/beef stew) or Breakfast for Dinner
3. Tuesday--Eating Out
4. Wednesday--Chili(from Freezer)or Leftover soup and/or stew or ?
5. Thursday--Turkey Dinner
6. Friday--Pecan Chicken, Corn Casserole, Cauliflower
7. Saturday--Leftover Turkey Day meal

This week will be a hodge-podge of meals(1 night Eating Out, Leftovers 3 nights, 1 new meal)with Thanksgiving Dinner thrown into the mix.  Gotta eat all those Leftovers before Thursday to make room for all those Thanksgiving leftovers, am I right? lolz

What I need to buy for this menu?.........still need to buy celery, carrots and rutabaga for Thanksgiving Dinner, which will be bought later today.

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

This is the "Not Doing Much Cooking" Week.

 

Here's what was planned last week--

Sunday--Potato Crusted Flounder, Roasted Potatoes and Onions, Brussel Sprouts
Monday--Tacos, Corn
Tuesday--Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad
Wednesday--Chicken medallions, Spinach, Squash or Zucchini
Thursday--Pork Chops, Green Beans(from last Summer's garden), Mashed taters, Applesauce
Friday--homemade Pizza-maybe barbeque chicken pizza(using more of that mozzarella cheese & cooked chicken), Green Salad
Saturday--Leftovers

 

We were good with this plan until Wednesday.

Thursday and Saturday we had Sausage Sandwiches(one night w/Coleslaw, the other night w/Corn on the Cob).  The local market had a new brand from NJ on special for $1.99 lb. so I picked up a few packages.  Making those was quick and easy and didn't involve the oven and I jammed 2 pkgs. in the freezer for later.  Friday I took the rest of the chicken breast meat from that 8.5lbs. I got for less than .99¢ lb.(After using some for fresh chicken sandwiches for lunches....), and made chicken and dumplings.  I threw in baby carrots that were getting old that needed using up.

 So Pork Chops and Pizza are moving to this week's menu....again. lolz

 

 I spent more anticipated last week because of the sausage patties on sale, the son wanted a frozen pizza and I hit the produce stand in town on Saturday morning and spend an additional $10 on fresh produce.  So last week,  I spent  $56.36 on  $83.78 worth of groceries at 1 store & 1 produce stand.

If I don't buy any more groceries until Thursday, August 1st, I will have spent $357.86 for food in July.

 

**We did have some food waste this week.......Sluggy hangs her head in shame.......

We hardly ever have food waster anymore here so I'm not too broken up over this happening.  I just don't want it to become a regular thing, ya know?

A small portion of Coleslaw and a bigger portion(2 maybe?)of Fajita filling mix went to Food Waste Heaven last week.
  

Leftovers, that are still aok, going into this week's plan......1 portion of Lasagna, 2 sausage patties, 3 helping of Chicken & Dumplings.

 

This week is Band Camp so #2 Son won't be here for dinner all week.

I can't eat Thursday, due to Colonoscopy prep(yuck!)so I am not cooking and Hubs is on his own.

(I told him to get fast food because I don't even want to smell food cooking that day. lol)

 

(I've made bold the leftover items I've used in the menu below.)

 Here's this week's meal plan--
 

Sunday--Leftovers or Whatever you can Find in the Fridge
Monday--Leftover Lasagna for me, Sausage Sammies for Hubs
Tuesday--Chicken & Dumplings
Wednesday--Pork Chops, Green Beans, Roasted Taters
Thursday--Fend for Yourself night, I can't eat. eek!
Friday--Probably Chinese Take-Out as I won't feel like cooking but will be ravenous lol
Saturday--No Clue yet....maybe that grilled Pizza I never made ?

On the shopping list for these meals--turkey deli meat(for my lunches), bread and possibly more fruit.

There are a few Catalina deals at Weis PMITA Markets this week I might be tempted to do(Unilever and Purina)but I'm not sure yet if I will.  I might hit up the bread outlet this week as we are low on all bread products.

 

I'm figuring about $20 for the list above.....more if I do the Catalina deals.

That's what's appearing on the kitchen table this week here at Chez Sluggy.  Not much cooking or shopping going into August.

 What's getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Sluggy