This Week on the Dining Table....the March 25th Edition

The "A Great Deal on a Couple of Pizzas" Edition.....

I bought a couple of these pizzas to try at Kroger a week or so ago as they were BOGO and I had multiple rebates/coupons to go with them such that these were better than free to me.  We don't often eat pizza anymore but sometimes we splurge out.  It was a tad spicy(either the sauce or the pepperoni-pepperoni is like that, very inconsistent on degree of spicy from pie to pie).  

Anyway, I liked the verbiage in the instructions on the back of the box-read what I highlighted.......lolz

Would I pay the regular price of $13.99 for one of these?  No way.

This is day 288 of the new "way of eating".  Down 59 lbs. since the cruise(not counting the 8 I gained on the cruise and then lost again, which would make it 67 lbs.).  

Kicking the weight loss up again with intermittent fasting this week, but no movement of the scale yet.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Braised Corned Beef, Colcannon, Cheesecake Factory Rolls

2. Monday--Liver, Onions, Gravy, leftover Colcannon

3. Tuesday--Rueben Sandwiches

4. Wednesday--Teriyaki Stir-Fry w/leftover Pork Loin, Rice(for Hubs)

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), leftover Veggies or Sweet Potato

6. Friday--Salmon, assorted leftovers

7. Saturday--?

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

1. Sunday--Braised Corned Beef, Colcannon, Cheesecake Factory Rolls

2. Monday--Liver, Onions, Gravy, leftover Colcannon

3. Tuesday--Rueben Sandwiches

4. Wednesday--Teriyaki Stir-Fry w/leftover Pork Loin, Rice(for Hubs)

5. Thursday--BLT Sandwiches

6. Friday--Assorted leftovers(I had green beans, stir-fry w/a little pork loin)

7. Saturday--Salmon, leftover Cabbage, leftover Sweet Corn Grits

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

* Teriyaki Pork Loin

*  Bacon

*  Liver

*  Salmon

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

*  1 piece of Salmon

*  2 packs of Sausage

*  2 packs of Ice Cream Sandwiches

*  2 packs of Ice Cream Cones

Last week we spent $179.45 on grocery shopping for March.  

Total shopping comes to $744.15 for March.   

There are 6 shopping days left in March.

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

I've earned $278.04 on Ibotta in March.

I've earned $70.50 on Shopmium in March.

I've earned $19.50 on Alexa app in March.

I've earned $33.25 on Kroger Cash Back in March.

I've earned $29.43 on TaDa in March.

I've earned $4.75 on Checkout51 in March.

I've earned $40.22 on Aisle, etc.

I've earned 31,586 points on Fetch from food shopping in March.

I've earned 6,623 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in March.

I've earned 0 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in March.

That is $442.77 in rebates(not counting the Kroger Cash Back/Shop Kick/Fetch/Alexa)on $744.15 of grocery spending so in reality it's $301.38 in food spending after the 4 rebate apps I count(the ones that give me cash back, not the ones that I turn the points into gift cards, or Alexa that gives me Amazon credit, and I count when those points are cashed in).  Some of what I spent was for Food Bank donations(I'll start not counting those items in our personal grocery spending going forward into April.)

My savings percentage for the last week was 52.33% and the monthly savings total for March comes in at 42.40% spent so far. 

Leftovers going into this week....not a blessed thing.  We got nothing.

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

1. Sunday--Pizza, Salad

2. Monday--BBQ Pork Loin, Assorted Veggie Mix

3. Tuesday--TV Dinners

4. Wednesday--Garlic Shrimp/Veggie Skillet meal

5. Thursday--Chicken Parm, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Catfish, Cole Slaw, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Steak, Scalloped Potatoes, Veggie TBD

Trying to use some fresh produce up and trying not to buy any more as our trip is coming up soon.  Shopping from the freezer this week and for Easter dinner next Sunday.

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     

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