This Week on the Dining Table

The "Foreshadowing" Edition--

You know how Facebook dredges up past posts you've made there and asks if you want to share them again?

Mid December my Facebook page brought up a photo I posted there 3 years ago around Xmas time, which I have posted above.  It was from Xmas 1962 and I am modeling a nurses outfit I had gotten from Santa that year.  I was almost 4 years old.

Funny how 53 years later I'd actually be playing "nurse" again at Xmas time. 8-)

I also should mention that having this ornament on the Xmas tree this year was very apropos given Hubs' accident......

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Xmas Dinner 2.0 + Corn Casserole

2. Monday--Roast Beef Hash from scratch, Scrambled Eggs *

3. Tuesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Potato Salad

4. Wednesday--Chicken Chili w/Sweet Potatoes

5. Thursday--Quesadillas or Taco Salad(leftover Taco Beef)

6. Friday--Clam Chowder, Biscuits

7. Saturday--Spaghetti and Sausage, Salad, Garlic Bread

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Xmas Dinner 2.0 + Corn Casserole

2. Monday--Roast Beef Hash from scratch, Scrambled Eggs *

3. Tuesday--Chicken Chili

4. Wednesday--Fend for Yourself

5. Thursday--Spinach Salad, Broccoli Cheddar Soup

6. Friday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Baked Beans(I just had beans.)

7. Saturday--Leftovers(I had kielbasa which I didn't eat on Friday.)

7 meals cooked at home, 2 of them nights of leftovers or Fend For Yourself, and 0 night of Take-Out/Eating-Out.
I used leftover Xmas roast beef and turned it into hash.  That was it for the leftovers from the previous week.

As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to Weis, 1 trip to the Bread Outlet, 1 trip to Target and 1 trip to the Shursave market bought the food spending last week to $97.64 and brought my January food spending Total to $97.64 for the month.(4 trips to Rite-Aid as well but nothing spent out of pocket there.)

My savings percentages last week was 65.02%.  The Bread Outlet savings rate and no OOP at Target(as I used gift cards that were free with credit card points)went along way to giving me such a high rate of savings. ;-)

Leftovers going into this week.......roast beef hash, chicken chili and taco filling.

Here is this week's "food plan"....
* Denotes "complicated" meals

1. Sunday--Marinated Flank Steak, Green Beans, Au Gratin Taters
2. Monday--BBQ boneless Pork Ribs, Red Beans & Rice
3. Tuesday--Chicken Marsala, Sugar Snap Peas, Mashed Potatoes *
4. Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
5. Thursday--Beef Stew
6. Friday--Clam Chowder, Spinach Salad
7. Saturday--Enchiladas, Refried Beans

If we have leftovers and/or I am not feeling up to cooking we may substitute one of the meals above with leftovers.

This week will see 7 new meals cooked, 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating-Out and 0 night of Leftovers.

What I need to buy for this menu? Salad Greens
I think that's it.  I will do a stock-up on cheese 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 "The Boy Went Back" Edition ........

As a commenter mentioned, was it really only 4 short years ago that he looked like this? lolz

 

Yep, College Boy's Spring break is over and he's back at school now.  The fortune teller in me sees my next water and electric bills will be WAY higher! lolz

Believe it or not, we have some leftovers from last week still and are back to Cooking/Eating for 2 again.

 

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

1.  Leftover Pasta with meat sauce, Collards
2.  Roasted Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Corn, Cranberry Glop

3.  Lasagna, Salad or Soup

4.  Pork filet or Country Fried Steak(diners choice), Steak fries, Veggie TBD
5.  Corned Beef, Cabbage

6.  Leftovers
7.  Leftovers or Take-Out

 

And this is what actually happened--

1.  Leftover Pasta with meat sauce, Collards
2.  Roasted Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Cauliflower, Cranberry Glop

3.  Pork filet or Country Fried Steak(diners choice), Steak fries, Collards leftover
4.  Leftovers

5.  Chinese Take-Out

6.  Chicken Ginger Garlic Honey Stir-fry Veggies
7.  Corned Beef, Cabbage, Hash browns

Everything went as planned except no Lasagna because of leftovers(and getting Chinese take-out one night).  We got Chinese one night College Boy didn't eat dinner here when he had his traditional "Wing Night" outing with his buds.

Most nights College Boy ate dinner here but not at dinner time with us.  His usual routine is to rise at 2-3 pm, eating something right before dinner time and then eating actual dinner when he comes home in the wee hours of the morning.  So technically he ate dinner here but not at a normal dinner time.

Last week I made 3 trips to the grocery store, so I spent  $61.18 OOP on $92.05 worth of reg. retail groceries.  $17 of that $61.18 was for an ice cream cake to celebrate College Boy's birthday.

I had 2 transactions at Rite-Aid and spend $1.14 OOP on $69.63 worth of toiletries.
For the week, $62.32 total spending on $161.68 worth of products.

$114.94 spent of my $300 March food budget, leaving us $185.06 for the next 15 days of the month.

Leftovers going into this week are turkey breast, stuffing, collards, chicken/veggie stir-fry, corned beef and cabbage.

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

1.  Lasagna, leftover Collards
2.  Salmon, Broccoli

3.  Irish Stew

4.  Rueben Sandwiches
5.  Roasted Turkey Breast, Stuffing, Cauliflower, Cranberry Glop leftovers

6.  Kielbasa on Rolls, cabbage leftovers
7.  Leftovers of some kind

I have so much Kielbasa in the freezer I need to use some.
There is also a small roast in the freezer that needs using, and we are eating the last of the salmon too.

 

What I need to buy for this menu......carrots, rye bread, sauerkraut.
I am out of sour cream also and there is a special on salmon fillets this week so those will be picked up as well.

The sales ads are again pretty lackluster this week but I may go looking for bargains in the produce and meat departments anyway since I have so much left in my budget for this month. 
 

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 "Egads!  Can Christmas be only 16 Days Away?!" Edition.......

 

 

It's already the 9th of December and I have yet to catch any Christmas movies or specials on the television.
How did that happen?! 8-))

 On to the Meal Planning.
Here is what was planned last week--
 

Sunday--Stuffed Shells, Salad
Monday--Leftovers-Whatever you can find night and Roasted Asparagus
Tuesday--Leftover Stuffed Shells
Wednesday--Fried Chicken, Coleslaw, Green Beans, leftover stuffing
Thursday--Eating Out
Friday--Leftover Chili and Burritos
Saturday--no clue yet, maybe use a free Pizza coupon I have

Well we ate everything listed, but not on the days planned.   Except there was no pizza bought on Saturday, as I had gotten a big package of ground beef at Wegman's so we had hamburgers and used up some veggie side dishes that evening.

As for the food spending last week....
There were 4 trips to the stores and I spent $94.92(including my Rite-Aid trips-$10.87)on $285.76 worth of groceries/toiletries at 4 different stores.  Add that to the $34.68 I carried over from Nov.(when I closed out the books on that month and did some more grocery shopping on Nov. 30th)and we are at $129.60 spent on $356.25 worth of groceries/toiletries for December so far.
23 days left in the month and $179.40 left in the food budget.
Eh.

I am still hopeful I can pull off a $300 food month.  I don't plan on spending but $20 this week on a few loss leaders to use in the next 2 weeks.  That would leave us with about $150 left for the second half of the month's food shopping.

Leftovers going into this week--Shells, Coleslaw and some Fried Chicken.  I also have that whole roasting chicken I bought on Thursday and cooked up, plus a large package of ground beef also bought at Wegman's last Thursday to do something with this week.  Maine Source had a weekend special of yellow and green squash for .89¢ lb. so I bought 3+/- lbs. of each. and 2 doz. eggs.  I also picked up more asparagus as it was still on sale Saturday at Weis.

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

Sunday--used leftover Fried Chicken to make Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke, Rice
Monday--finish the Leftovers Stuffed Shells, Salad
Tuesday--Dinner out w/a gift certificate(free)
Wednesday--Meatloaf, Squash Casserole, Asparagus
Thursday--Roasted Chicken(maybe w/BBQ sauce), steamed Broccoli, roasted Sweet Potatoes
Friday--Leftovers Medley
Saturday--No Clue yet-options of leftovers, lasagna from freezer or pizza take-out(w/gift cert.)


What I need to purchase for this menu?......a couple of sweet potatoes.  Add that to the loss leaders I'll pick up later this week if the weather makes it able for me to get to the store.


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

Sluggy

This Week on The Dining Table

 Let's get to it.....

 

Here's what was planned last week--

Sunday--Beef Stroganoff over Rice, Salad
Monday--Chinese takeout as Hubs is out of town(comes out of entertainment budget, not food)
Tuesday--Chicken Enchiladas(using pepper strips and chicken from freezer)
Wednesday--Not sure, 2 of us might be out of town for the day..Hubs will make pasta or have leftovers.....if we don't go, Quiche(using up half & half)most probably will be served and squash.
Thursday--Cook-Out(if the weather cooperates)-not sure what yet beyond dogs and burgers.
Friday--Red Robin(#1 Son's birthday meal he requested)(entertainment budget, not food)
Saturday--Beef Stroganoff over Rice of Chicken Enchiladas leftovers, Brussel Sprouts

 

Everything was served as planned except for Wednesday #1 Son and I didn't have an adventure so I made Squash Casserole and Quiche(which was the backup plan).

 

It was a big spend grocery week here.  I spent $91.67 on $160.52 worth of groceries at 3 stores last week.  

This means I have $308.33 left in my food budget for the rest of July.

 

Going into this week the leftovers that remain are--2/3 of a quiche, at least 2 servings of Stroganoff, 1 Enchilada, half a crockpot of chili, hot dog and burger rolls, chicken breast(I didn't use all of it to make the Enchiladas last week)and some boxes of previously frozen veggies(had to be put in the fridge when the freezer died, so they need to be used this week).

 

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

 Here's this week's meal plan--
 

Sunday--Leftovers(Quiche or Enchiladas)
Monday--Hot Dogs(on leftover buns)w/Chili or Burritos w/Chili
Tuesday--Chicken Salad Sandwiches, boxed veggie
Wednesday--Eating out after taking #2 to camp
Thursday--Mushroom Parmesan, Salad
Friday--Probably more leftovers
Saturday--Salmon, Coleslaw, boxed veggie

I don't have room in the freezer to throw any leftovers so we have to use them up this week, so the order of what's eaten when may change(except for Wed.'s meal) or some dish made new this week may be superseded by a leftover.

On the shopping list so far--Portabella Mushroom caps, Salad Greens, Cabbage(for coleslaw), potatoes, peaches, orange juice, turkey breast lunchmeat, tomatoes, maybe bread.  I might also pick up some canned tomatoes this week as they are on sale for $1 can.  Canned tomatoes, potatoes and OJ not needed this week but at a stock up price.

 

I'm figuring about $38 with the canned tomatoes for groceries this week.

That's what's appearing on the kitchen table this week here at Chez Sluggy.

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

Sluggy

Food Spending NOVEMBER Week 2, Meal Planning Week 3

Doesn't that look yummy?

It's a picture from when I made French Onion Soup a few weeks ago for dinner.  I'll be sharing some more photos and the recipe I use after I get Thanksgiving out of the way here.


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

This week's menu....

Sunday--Halushki with Bacon

Monday--Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday--Tuna Casserole, Beets

Wednesday-Pizza for some, Leftovers for others

Thursday--Lasagna, Caesar Salad

Friday--Pizza for some, Leftovers for others

Saturday--Leftovers

The food spending last week was $.11 for $51.11 reg. retail worth of goods. And if you don't believe me, go look HERE.  I've spent a total of $202.65 so far in November on $396.59 retail price of food.  This isn't counting my Rite-Aid purchases.

Last week, I used all but $10 in free food certificates/gift cards/catalinas I had accumulated to spend only 11 cents this past week of groceries.  I'll be heading out to spend my last $10 free food chit today to pick up the last of what I need to prepare Thanksgiving Day's meal.  We are down to 5 for dinner since #2 Son's sometimes job called him into work on Thursday-it's a restaurant.
The Daughter also has to work Thanksgiving....her retail job, thanks to all you Black Friday people! 8-( ....but she gets to eat because she goes in late and works through the night so people can buy MORE tvs, small appliances, pajamas and electronics that they don't need to fill up their empty lives and their already overstuffed houses!
But hey!, who am I to judge, just because in order to keep her job she is forced to work when she should have the option of being home with her family on a National Holiday. ;-)

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Going into this week, I have leftover NOTHING!  Every blasted leftover got snarfed up. Ok, I misspoke...I have a bit of grilled chicken breast that wasn't used for the pot pie.  I made 2 lasagnas last week.  We ate one and the other went into the freezer for later.  So 1 single serving of a leftover item to use this week.

This week's menu....

Sunday--Chili, Cornbread

Monday--2 people Taco Bell, me that leftover chicken in a homemade Quesadilla, Corn

Tuesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs(stockpile and freezer), Green Beans(freezer)

Wednesday--Leftover Chili, Cornbread

Thursday--Turkey Dinner, Pie

Friday--Subway Sandwiches

Saturday--Leftovers

This week I want easy.  The big pot of chili they can eat on multiple meals.  I'll throw the leftover of that into the freezer after 2-3 meals.  Spaghetti meal items are all here and I'll only make enough for 1 full meal because between the chili and turkey leftovers, that's plenty!   I'll use up the leftover chicken for myself tonight and Hubs & #2 Son will get Taco Bell on the way home from son's music lesson.

Left to buy this week?.....4 items for Thursday's Thanksgiving feast and milk.  I'll be spending right around $10 this week but it won't cost me anything because of my $10 certificate.  But come Friday?....I'll be hitting some sales and the Bread Outlet and be back to spending the food monies!lol
I still think I'll end November with a surplus of $$ in the food budget.  That will be sweet....

Are you cooking the Turkey Day meal this year or are you lucky enough to have family/friends to visit and let them do the cooking?
How about the rest of the week.....are you cooking the whole week or making it a simple meal plan or eating out?


Sluggy

Food Spending July Week 3 & Meal Planning Week 4

Well my mouse seems to be the culprit(ie-my keyboard possession of last week), so I'll be going out to get a new mouse later today.  I know that was worrying all of you.....


I actually went to the store last week!  Well I didn't go to the grocery store but I bought food at Rite-Aid and Big Lots.


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And here is the "meal plan" that actually happened last week.....

SUNDAY--Leftover Chinese(from our Dinner Out)
MONDAY--Marin Joe's Special

TUESDAY--Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zucchini

WEDNESDAY--Hamburger Helper type casserole, leftover Squash casserole

THURSDAY--Kielbasa on Rolls, homemade Pickles, Green Beans

FRIDAY--Take-out Italian

SATURDAY--Leftovers
Everything was cooked/served as planned except for the Quiche on Friday.  I didn't get out for a pie crust so we got Italian from the local joint.  I had Lasagna and Hubs had an Italian Sub.  That was all the eating out/take-out we did all week. 

The weekly food spending was $42.36 done in 2 trips to Rite-Aid and 1 trip to Big Lots.  A large chunk of that($33+) was stocking up on Gatorade for #2 Son and Juice.   I didn't darken the door of a grocery store at all last week.  ;-)

 

The regular retail value for all was $132.59 so I had a 68.05% savings rate. 

As I reset my July Food Budget to $300, I now have $158.97 left to spend on food/toiletries this month.  8 shopping days left in July.  I think I can make it! 8-)

Going into the new week I have the following leftovers to use up......1 piece of cornbread.

The garden has decided to finally produce something other than radishes, so I have a big pile of green beans and 4 yellow squash going into this week.

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This week's menu.....Hubs has vacation this week, so I am not going to designate which meals for which days.  He might want to be spontaneous(imagine that!lol)and go or do something with little notice so I am keeping my plan loose & flexible this week.

MEAL 1--Dinner out at Ruby Tuesdays(did this already on Sunday)

MEAL 2--Corned Beef and Cabbage

MEAL 3--Grilled  Squash, Hamburgers

MEAL 4--KFC chicken, Green Beans

MEAL 5--Tacos or Taco Salads

MEAL 6--Fried Fish and Squash, Pickles

MEAL 7--?? Leaving open/probably take-out or eating out

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....
Cabbage, Salad Greens and other fresh produce to put into salads.  We also need milk, fruit, lunch meat for Daughter.

So what's on deck for your menu this week?

Sluggy

Food spending JUNE Week 1 & Meal Planning June Week 2

Yes, we survived the "Guess Who's Coming to Stay?" Meal Plan Week here at Chez Sluggy.

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I thank you for all your input and concern over my dinner guests and their, dare I say it?.....bizarre/narrow..... food habits.

I asked for some input from said guests and then just cooked what I wanted anyway.

Because that's how Sluggy rolls....lol

And here is the meal plan that actually happened last week.....

SUNDAY--Chinese Take-Out
MONDAY--BLT sandwiches

(These 2 nights were easy, no guests yet!)
TUESDAY--Ham, boxed mac&cheese, yellow squash
WEDNESDAY--Chicken Fajitas
THURSDAY--Dinner Out
FRIDAY--Salmon with Bourbon Maple Glaze, Green Beans, Sweet Potato Fries

(All gone so Sat. was easy too.)
SATURDAY--Steak, Baked Beans, Spinach Salad, Sweet Potato Fries

Company was here from Tuesday to Friday.

I waited to go shopping for the week until company arrived on Tuesday and then I took them to the store with me. 

For Tuesday I pulled leftover ham slices from Easter out of the freezer.  I knew they'd eat boring, bland ham. Their favorite food in the whole world is boxed Mac&cheese.  

Do you see what I am saying?lol

So I fixed 2 boxes of that with the ham.  It took a few tries in the fresh produce department with them on Tuesday afternoon to find a vegetable that they would eat/that I could fix a way they would eat it, thus we got sauted yellow squash.

Tuesday dinner....check!

I decided to just go with Chicken Fajitas for Wednesday.  1 of the company loves Mexican so at least 1 would eat.  I didn't make it spicy at all so the other company hopefully wouldn't have digestive issues brought about by the dinner. 

Fresh mushrooms and red bell peppers were purchased, as well as onions and I slivered up the leftover squash I didn't cook for Tuesday to put into the Fajita veggie mix.  I spent about $13 on Wed.'s meal including a big bag of onions, container of sour cream, tortillas, all of which I have leftovers of for another meal. (I had chicken and cheese in the freezer already.)

On Thursday we ate out.  Nobody even thinks to offer to pay for their meals when we go out as a group.

The company all thinks we are millionaires.  I guess they don't see the tens of thousands of dollars a year we are paying out for college.  I scrimp and pinch every nickel, do without the niceties of life, and Hubs works a highly stressful job, working hours above and beyond, we consider driving to Columbus, Ohio for a few days a stylin' vacation while his colleagues cruise around Europe, so that we can drop $100 for their plates of meatloaf, taters and gravy at Bob Evans.

But I digress....

On Friday, down to 1 company again, I dug salmon fillets and a bag of sweet potato fries out of the freezer, and the company picked the veggie du jour--a bag of green beans....*yawn*....one of the few green foods they will eat.  The company doesn't "do" accents like sauces, glazes, butter, most any condiment so the bourbon maple glaze was only well received by Hubs and I.  It was FANTASTIC!!

Daughter turned her nose up at dinner when she came through the door after work.

I cooked an expensive piece of salmon for her(her favorite type of fish)and she wouldn't eat it.

So I made a note to stop cooking for her altogether and I ATE that FISH for lunch on Saturday.

Salmon is too pricey and wonderful to let it go to waste!

 

So that is how I survived the Food Week.

The weekly food spending was $116.94 this past week.  Go look HERE if you want to lowdown on what was bought and my rationalization for spending so much.lol

I've given myself $400 for food this month so I have about $283 left.
Once #2 Son goes to camp next week the 2nd half of June's actual food expenses will plummet.  This will leave me tons of cash to restock the pantry, IF some good rock bottom price deals come along.

We shall see if they do.....

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This week's menu.....
SUNDAY--Spaghetti with Sausage and Vegetable Pasta
MONDAY--Taco Bell

TUESDAY--Burgers on Roll, COC

WEDNESDAY--Barbecue Chicken, Grilled Squashes
THURSDAY--Hamburger Helper type meal, Tossed Salad
FRIDAY--Baked Potatoes with Toppings, Brussel Sprouts
SATURDAY--Shrimp(maybe with Grits, maybe grilled with Garlic), whatever else is leftover from the week

6 home cooked meals this week and I night of take-out.

Things I need to purchase this week to serve this menu.....Rolls, COC, 1 or 2 Squash(to go with the 1 squash leftover from last week), Ground Beef(I am totally out!), Salad Greens, Shrimp, Potatoes.

The only leftovers going into this week are the fajita mix, tortillas and a slice of ham.  I'll have the fajitas for lunches(2 or 3 tortillas' worth)and probably make a ham garnish for the dogs' dinner with the ham because fresh ham is boring and bland but leftover twice heated ham is akin to ham jerky.

So what is everyone else eating this week?


Sluggy

Week 2 Food Spending for August & Cucumber P*rn

First the P*rn.....

Cucumbers, the gift that won't stop giving!
These cuke vines seriously think they are the mops in The Sorcerer's Apprentice movie.
Remember them?  Mickey keeps splitting them with an axe and they keep dividing and growing legs.
Well, I keep picking these cucumbers and the vines keep spitting out new ones!
The above photo is what is left of one week's crop after salad making, cucumber slices in vinegar making, tzatziki sauce making and filling a ONE GALLON jar with pickles!

I know I'll regret cursing these babies come January when I am forced to pay $1.50 for ONE half shriveled CUKE!
But come on......this is getting comical!lol

Not much food shopping last week.  Hubs picked up milk and pita bread early in the week.
I used the leftover smoked London Broil to make Gyros last week so we needed the pitas.  I was able to use up some cucumbers when I made the Tzatziki sauce for the Gyros.
Yay me!
On the way home from our adventure on Thursday(more on that later), we picked up some 'loupes and corn at a farm market.  Sunday I bought 3 dozen eggs at Kmart since they were on sale for $1 a carton and I was there already with Daughter college shopping.

Then on Monday, Hubs and I stopped again at the local independent grocer for fresh produce(g beans, squash, celery, peaches), more milk(geez!), OJ and I got snuckered into buying frozen pizzas for the teens.  That was almost $20 spent.
Altogether I spent $33.15 in Week 2 on the food shopping.

My savings percentage ran a pitiful 33.27% this week.

Besides the milk, everything was on sale.
I used no Qs because, besides the pizzas, nothing was "couponable".
bleh.

As for a Meal Plan....last week was very free form, meaning, I had some sketchy ideas but Hubs would want to get take-out or go out for lunch(while the teens were still asleep).  After a big lunch I wasn't about to make a big dinner, so the teens would have to make their own "food".  I say "food" because though they ate at 2 in the afternoon, it was really their breakfast and then #2 son would snack/graze again around 7pm(while Daughter would go with her friend and eat while out), and then Daughter would break out a bowl of cereal around midnight and #2 son would end up banging around in the kitchen around 1am again, making another meal for himself.
I just said to heck with plans and let everyone do their own thing last week.  When Hubs and I weren't out lunching it, we'd scare up some scrambled eggs or sandwiches or just throw some leftovers together for ourselves.  The day we came home with the corn on the cob from the farm market,  I pulled some steaks out of the freezer and we did grilled corn and steaks on the spur of the moment that evening.

I'm still working on this week's Meal Plan.
Sunday was Taco Hell Bell since Hubs was still on vacation and I spent all day with Daughter collecting college things.  Monday was leftovers since Hubs and I used a gift certificate at a local restaurant for a late lunch so I wasn't cooking dinner.

Dishes I am definitely making this week:  Squash Casserole and fresh Green Beans with Bacon.
In the leftover department, I have two ears of corn which will make an appearance in Clam Chowder, and a steak which will become Beef Stroganoff with the addition of mushrooms, onions, sour cream, a lot of paprika and other spices.
Depending on if/when Daughter will be home for meals this week and if #2 son wants dinner when he gets home at 9pm after Marching Band Camp each night, I'll try to just fill in the gaps with something from what is already in the house.

I've spent $174.15 of my $250 food budget with half the month left to go.
I have $75.85 left in my funds.

Is it me, or has the price of food gone up so much for what we normally buy that it's getting very difficult to stay under our old food budgets?

I don't drink coffee and I have quite a large stockpile of it for Hubs currently but I've heard that this item has dramatically increased lately in a very short time frame.  Is this true?

I have heard that the drought in much of the country, it is leading to cattle and poultry being taken to slaughter early.  The cost and availability of feed grain is making it hard to keep herds/flocks at their current sizes.  This is going to make for some cheaper prices in these food items short term, but will eventually lead to higher prices the next year or two since there will be less animals for market.
This makes me want to load up on meats now.
What do you think?

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday....January 31st Edition

I'm trying to get back into writing down a Meal Plan for the week.
I run my Meal Plan here at Chez Sluggy from Sunday to Saturday....just so you know.

Here is this week's plan....

Sunday--Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Garlic Potatoes, Gravy, Summer Mix of Veggies in Pepper Sauce
Monday--Potluck Chili, Biscuits or Cornbread(can't decide which)
Tuesday--Macaroni and Cheese , Broccoli
Wednesday--Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Garlic Bread
Thursday--Leftovers-Hubs is not home for dinner
Friday--Kielbasa on Rolls with caramelized Onions, leftover Coleslaw
Saturday--Early Dinner out

Here's why I am serving some of this stuff....

Sunday-- I got a great deal on Saturday on cubed steak, $1.74lb!, so I decided to make this rib-sticker meal.  We even have a big piece leftover for some lucky family member for Leftover Friday!

 Monday--I spent an hour digging through the freezer, reorganizing and finding older things like some skillet steaks and tomatoes from the garden I froze whole and never canned.  I have a container of already cooked ground beef in the fridge to add so it's Potluck Chili time!

Tuesday--Haven't had this dish in awhile.  I've got all the ingredients, so why not?lol

Wednesday--I have some chicken cutlets to use up.  I will have to buy salad greens, but we didn't use the hamburger buns last week for garlic bread so we need to use them for this meal.

Thursday--Hopefully we'll have lots of first rate leftovers for this night.  chicken fried steak, chili, mac and cheez, and maybe some chicken parm.

Friday--I found a ring of Kielbasa in the depths of the freezer.  I have been craving this dish but won't spend $4+lb. for it and it hasn't been on sale around here.  Must remember to stock up when it goes on sale next time....  The coleslaw is leftover from Saturday.

Saturday--Eating out...probably just Hubs and I since Daughter will be off with her friends and #2 son will opt for a night home with WOW and Chicken Tenders.lol   In honor of the Chinese New Year we'll probably hit one of our fav. Asian restaurants during Happy Hour(aka discount hour).


As for what I need to buy to implement this plan?  Just some salad greens and maybe a cucumber...whatever I can find inexpensive in the produce dept. at the store this week.

Other than the perennial item on my list, milk, I don't need to buy anything else this week.
There are some Catalina Promos this week at Weis(I might do the Dog Food one)and Coupon Doublers at Price Chopper NE that might lure me out for cheap or free food items.  But other than that, immediate spending for food being eaten this week is about $8.

So what is going to be on your plate this week?

Check out Organizing Junkie's website HERE to see what other Home Cooks are whipping up this week for their families.

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday.....March 1st Edition....Spending Breakdown & Cheap Good Food

Before I get started, HAPPY MARCH Everyone!!


Last Week's Menu Postmortem...
Everything but the Sloppy Joe's make an appearance at our house, due to 1 night of leftovers as I wasn't feeling well.  The kids told me they don't like Sloppy Joes anyway, so we are NOT putting it on this week's menu.  Gee, I kind of liked them.....

2 Straight days of steady S-N-O-W did keep me home and out of the stores for a bit last week.  I did get out to use my expiring Catalinas plus a bit more food/toiletries shopping in spite of the weather.

Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week.....our household presently consists of 2 adults and 2 teens at home.  No children under 13.

This week is all about using what I have and incorporating leftovers as well. Since alot of what I am serving is stockpiled, I'm putting what  I paid for the ingredients that are on hand so you can see what I spend w/stockpiling & sales versus buying it weekly when it might not be on sale. If I use a leftover ingredient I won't add that cost as it was already figured into the previous meal's cost.

MONDAY--Free Bday meal out at Red Robin for #2 son(if some choose to stay home, it's 'make your own dinner' night)...eating out comes out of the entertainment money, not food money
TUESDAY--Beef Enchiladas(3.47), Refried Beans(.89), Salad & Dressing(2.00)
WEDNESDAY--Baked Ziti(2.50), Salad & Dressing(2.00)
THURSDAY--Shrimp & Grits(4.00), Collards(need to buy)
FRIDAY--Tacos(4.05), Fiesta Corn(.30)
SATURDAY--Crockpot Chicken cooked in Salad Dressing marinade(3.50), Garlic Noodles(.25), Creamed Spinach(.50)
SUNDAY--??  Not sure yet....maybe Leftovers if we have any, if not there is always Sloppy Joes!lol
SNACKS/DESSERTS--Cantaloupe(2.00), Cheesecake(leftovers), Ice Cream(2.50), Pineapple(.80)

Adding up what has already been spent and what I need to spend for this week's menu, I can serve this menu of 5 meals including desserts/snacks to a family of 4 adults/teens for $33.76. Since I'm not sure what people will actually eat for leftover nights, I didn't add in those costs.  If you divide the meals and snacks cost by 5 nights, you get an average cost per night of $6.75.  That's $1.69 per person per night.  And this is mostly a cooking from scratch menu.  The only 'processed foods' are the Knorr's noodles with powdered sauce and the Salad Dressings.  Who says you can't cook healthy on the cheap?

LAST WEEK'S FOOD SPENDING
$33.55 was spent on food/toiletries last week. $22.47 at Weis on Catalina spending trips, $7.49 at WAGS on Toiletries only, $2.85 at Price Chopper on paper products and $.74 at Rite-Aid on bunches of stuff both food and not-food.  Some of the Weis items bought qualified me for $20 in prepaid Visa card MIRs so a very inexpensive shopping week once those come in.

The only item I need to purchase for this week's menu are eggs and collards-I'll make a big pot of collards that will stretch for at least 2 meals.  I'm figuring on spending $5 on the greens(making them the most expensive food for the week) as I am not waiting on a great sale to get them.  If they cost more than $5 this week, I'll substitute a cheaper option that I find at the store or dig around in the freezer for something we already have here. I am almost out of eggs, milk was replenished last week and we are ok on bread until next week.

FOOD WASTE REPORT
We were successful in eating ALL the leftovers last week!  Nothing went bad.  We have 1 pork chop leftover from last night and the meatballs that are being reinvented tomorrow night as Enchilada filling....that is it!

Check out ORGANIZING JUNKIE to see what other Home Cooks are serving this week.

Sluggy