This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Boy Did I Have Some Energy!" Edition--

Usually when I get home from traveling I am a slug and don't want to do anything besides the basics.
Not this time!
We picked up  fresh farm produce and reduced meats on the way home and I marinated veggies and steak and put up 3 bags of green beans that evening.  Then I made peach jam the next morning.  Today I have to blanch and freeze the rest of the corn on the cob I bought too.  This week may also find me getting more green beans to prep and put up for winter too as the beans are cheap and nice looking right about now around here.

By the end of this week between harvesting/putting up veggies and getting College Boy packed up to go back to school I may collapse.  Stay tuned to see how it all turns out.... ;-)

 

Onward to the meal planning!

 

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

1. Sunday--Kielbasa(from the freezer), rolls, onions, pickles
2. Monday--crab cakes and fish, leftover cole slaw, leftover stir-fry veggies
3. Tuesday--leftover roast chicken made into something TBD, grilled yellow squash
4. Wednesday--maybe Chinese take-out or "breakfast for dinner"
5. Thursday--eating out
6, Friday--eating out
7. Saturday--leftovers(risotto?)and veggies

 

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Kielbasa(from the freezer), rolls, onions, pickles
2. Monday--crab cakes and shrimp, leftover cole slaw, leftover stir-fry veggies
3. Tuesday--leftover roast chicken, grilled yellow squash & onions
4. Wednesday--Chinese take-out
5. Thursday--Eating Out--Lunch-fish Sandwich/Fried Dinner-Steak Sandwich and Soup
6, Friday--Eating Out--Lunch-bbq Sandwich Dinner-Steak, Salad and Mac and Cheez
7. Saturday--Eating Out--Lunch-Chicken Salad Sandwich and Fruit Dinner-leftovers(I had hot and sour soup from my Chinese take-out)

We had a big dinner on Monday as College Boy was off from work and home for the meal. I also tried to use up some leftovers before and after we got home from Virginia last week.

Hubs was off on Wednesday(we didn't leave for VA until Thursday)so we pan fried slabs of the cheese grits, eggs and ham casserole thing I made for breakfast.  It tasted better but nobody is enamored of that dish so we'll probably toss the rest and I'll never do THAT experiment again. lolz
 

As for my grocery spending last week.....

I didn't even go into a grocery store last week until Saturday(Aug. 1st)on our way home from VA.
So there was no grocery spending last week of July and I've already posted my July Food Totals last Thursday.

Leftovers going into this week--risotto. The grits casserole gets pitched and everything else was eaten.  I'll probably throw the rest of the risotto into the freezer since no one seems eager to eat it this week.
 

Here is this week's food plan--

1. Sunday--Marinated Steak and Grilled Veggies, Corn on Cob
2. Monday--Chicken Parm, Green Bean Saute
3. Tuesday--Crusted Tilapia, Yellow Squash and Onions
4. Wednesday--Pizza and/or Wings at local place(I have a freebie Q)
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread
7. Saturday--Leftovers or Hot Dogs and assorted leftover fresh veggies

What I need to buy for this menu?.....I don't need a thing. 
The garden is giving up goodly amounts of squash now and I stopped at a produce stand on the way home near Bealeton VA and got fresh beans, corn, zuke, tomatoes(REAL TOMATOES!), cantaloupes and farm eggs....so I've already done my produce buying for this week. Plus I got some meat deals at a grocery store down in VA too on the way out of Fredericksburg so I've already spent this week.  I'll make a pot of sauce today to slather on the chicken parm and save the bulk to use for my spaghetti on Friday.

I haven't even looked at the grocery ads yet this week but if there are some loss leaders we can use I'll pick them up. Between the grocery meat deals and the produce stand I am already at $61.72 spent on food in August.  $288.28 left of the food budget to spend 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

It's the "Busy Weekend" Edition--

 

Well we seemed to have gone from Winter right to early Summer weather.  This weekend was gloriously warm and sunny so we headed outside to work on some outdoor projects.  This pile of white stones figured into one of those projects.
 

Anyway, onward to the meal planning!

 

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

 

1.  Osso Buoco, mashed Potatoes
2.  Leftovers

3.  Leftovers
4.  Leftovers

5.  Leftovers or Take-Out or Fend for Yourself

6.  Leftovers or Take-Out or Fend for Yourself
7.  Leftovers or Take-Out or Fend for Yourself

And this is what actually happened--

1.  Osso Buoco, mashed Potatoes
2.  A big Salad

3.  Leftover Meatloaf, Yellow Squash and Onions
4.  I had a burger and salad, Hubs had leftover Spaghetti and balls

5.  Grilled Quebec Chicken, Green Beans w/confetti peppers

6.  Chinese take-out
7.  Leftover Chinese take-out

Everything went as planned I guess.

Last week I made 6 trips to 5 different food stores and spent $191.43 OOP on $312.70 worth of reg. retail groceries. 

I had 0 transactions at Rite-Aid last week....again.

$191.43 spent of my $? May food budget.  That's 2/3 of my April budget spent in 1 week or so.
Yikes!

Leftovers going into this week are---taco filling, macaroni salad, lemon chicken w/zucchini, rice, green beans and some veggies leftover from the osso buco and mashed potatoes.
A bit of leftovers and lots of groceries bought last week so I don't need much(if anything)at the stores this week.
 

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

1.  Leftover Lemon Chicken w/Zucchini and Rice
2.  Leftover Taco Salad

3.  Kielbasa or Hot Dogs, homemade Boston Baked Beans(maybe), leftover veggies and macaroni salad
4.  Chicken Parm, Tomato and Cuke Salad(use up some produce)

5.  Ravioli,  Sauté of Squash and Onions

6.  Fend For Yourself
7.  Pizza?

3 new meals and 2 leftover meals, 1 FFY day and maybe a take-out pizza(paired with whatever leftover veggies we have)on Saturday when we get home with College Boy and all his crap.

Since I want to have Chicken Parm this week I'll make enough homemade sauce to do another sauce/Italian meal, using up 2 small bags of ravioli that have been lurking in the freezer(and we'll have leftover ravioli then for Hubs to eat over the weekend).

While I have not gone paleo I have been cutting down on the amount of carbs I serve.   When we have a side that calls for rice or noodles I only have 1 spoonful(if any) and am trying to cut down on the bread I use/or make it "healthier".
When I am making a protein or veggie dish that has carbs(like chicken parm has breading and cheese)I don't serve a carb/starch dish as well.  The BBBeans will be a lower sugar version so I can have my fiber/protein w/out too many "bad" carbs.
It's all about making better choices and adapting what your family likes to eat.  If I stopped serving pasta altogether Hubs would divorce me.  The man can't live without pasta. lolz

 

What I need to buy for this menu....... nothing at all.

Not cleared to drive yet(plus I am dizzy)but I need to go out on Wednesday for an Rx refill so I hope to be better by then so I may go to see if I can find any meat discount deals then.
 

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 "Our First Week Being Kid-Free in 23 Years" Edition........

 

 

Youngest is away at college now and happy as a pig in mud.  Pig in mud is about correct....have you seen the mess he left in his room at home?!? lolz

 What was planned last week--

 

1.  Chicken Parm, Caesar Salad, Spaghetti(leftover)

2.  Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Grilled Asparagus

3.  Eating Out

4.  Leftovers

5.  Chili, Tossed Salad
6.  Tuna Noodle Casserole, Green Beans with Red Peppers and Mushrooms
7.  Leftovers

 

And this is what actually happened--

 

1.  Chicken Parm, Caesar Salad

2.  Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Grilled Asparagus

3.  Leftovers of our Chinese lunch out the day before

4.  Spaghetti and Meatballs

5.  Subway Sammiches-which were free from points on my Subway card...yay!
6.  Leftover Meatloaf(grilled), California Medley Veg
7.  Leftovers....fend for yourself

 

2 of the meals planned were served.   No chili or tuna noodle casserole was made/served and they get moved to this week's menu.  We didn't take #2 Son out to eat as he had a full social calendar this, his last week in town.  Hubs and I went out to lunch, as he took last week off from work to get some things done around the house.
  

Last week I made 3 trips to 3 different grocery stores and spent $103.21 on $163.61 worth of groceries/toiletries.
So much for only spending $30 last week. 8-(  But I did stock up on salmon(it's going on sale this time of year), onions, whole chickens and a few other things.

Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........1 romaine head, 1 serving of chicken Parm, 1/2 red pepper, a big hunk of smoked brisket, and 1 serving of mac and cheese.

Here is the plan for this week......besides all the debauchery Hubs and I have planned hehehe.......

1.  Pulled Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Sugar Snap Peas

2.  Beef Pie-my version of a Shepherd's Pie but with cornbread on top

3.  Roast Chicken, Carrots, Potatoes and Onions

4.  Pot Roast with leftover veg from Roast Chicken and leftover brisket

5.  Chili, Tossed Salad
6.  Tuna Noodle Casserole, Green Beans with Red Peppers Saute
7.  Leftovers-assorted

No eating out this week.  We are on an austerity plan with the entertainment budget(which includes all eating out)since I have to pay the c/c with all my trip expenses on it this week. (ouch)

I'll cook double the carrots, onions, potatoes with the chicken and then add them to the leftover smoked brisket hunk and call it Smoked Pot Roast for another meal. 
The half of the Roasted Chicken leftover from that meal will be used for a Chicken dish in next week's menu.
Whatever brisket, from that 15lb. hunk I bought, that doesn't get used this week will be going into the freezer.

What needs buying for this menu to happen?
Potatoes.
Cheese, eggs, applesauce, salmon, canned tomatoes and the croutons I like are on sale this week so I'll be stocking up some of those things as well as buying a small bag of potatoes(which are also on sale).

No food waste again last week.
My leftover eating machine aka Hubs was home from work all week so that helped a lot! lol
   

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 "In the Doldrums of Summer" Edition........

 

 

Here's a sculpture I made of out of the rinds from a watermelon I cut up.  Yes, I need a life.....lolz


 What was planned last week--

 

1.  Fish, Sautéed Cabbage

2.  Reuben Sandwiches

3.  Brats or Brisket, leftover Potato Salad, Baked Beans

4.  Chicken "something", probably with leftover Casseroles

5.  Chili, Tossed Salad
6.  Tuna Noodle Casserole, Green Beans with Red Peppers and Mushrooms
7.  Leftovers

 

And this is what actually happened--

 

1.  Fish, Sautéed Cabbage

2.  Reuben Sandwiches

3.  Brats, leftover Potato Salad, Baked Beans

4.  Beef Brisket, leftover Zuke Casserole

5.  Meatloaf, Green Bean Casserole
6.  Spaghetti with Meatballs, Tossed Salad
7.  Macaroni & Cheese, California Veggie Blend

 

4 of the meals planned were served.  I get a "yen" for meatloaf so bought some ground beef and made one, along with a bunch of meatballs too.  #2 Son requested mac & cheese so we had that Sunday.  No chicken, no leftovers, chili or tuna noodle casserole was made/served.
  

Last week I made 2 trips to the grocery store(and 2 trips to Rite-Aid) and spent $98.53 on $143.40 worth of groceries/toiletries.

Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........green bean casserole, taco filling, 1 romaine head, asparagus, a container of salad greens, a container of mushrooms, 1/2 red pepper and a big hunk of smoked brisket, meatloaf and meatballs, mac and cheese and veggie blend.



Here is the plan for this week......not necessarily eaten in this order.....

1.  Chicken Parm, Caesar Salad, Spaghetti(leftover)

2.  Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Grilled Asparagus

3.  Eating Out

4.  Leftovers

5.  Chili, Tossed Salad
6.  Tuna Noodle Casserole, Green Beans with Red Peppers and Mushrooms
7.  Leftovers
 

We are having a rare eating out night this week, a "farewell to #2 Son" meal I guess you'd call it.

What needs buying for this menu to happen?
Not much except for some milk.  Either using leftovers up(or repurposed into new meals), or using items already in the house.

Not much on sale at the stores this week I want.....some milk, fresh fruit, onions and Gatorade(G2).

$30 is planned for the grocery spending this week.  Let's see if I can stick to that.....

No food waste again this week.
Eagle Eye Sluggy is watching that the leftovers get used. 8-)
It will help that Hubs took a week of vacation and is home to tackle leftovers at lunchtime 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 that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?

 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "When Is Asparagus Too Much Asparagus?!" Edition.......

 

We went to the restaurant supply store on Saturday.  They had asparagus for $1.49 lb. so I loaded up with 4 lbs.  Don't worry NONE of this will go to waste in my house as I am an asparagus addict!

 

The Sunday paper had an ad that the asparagus there was now .99¢ lb.

Figures, right? lolz

 

 

And here is what was planned last week---

 

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

 

And here is what actually happened---

 

Sunday--Leftovers(I had a big plate of Asparagus.)
Monday--Chicken Risotto, Asparagus
Tuesday--Leftovers(I had Rigatoni and Asparagus.)
Wednesday--Roast Turkey, Asparagus, Au Gratin Taters
Thursday--Leftovers of Fend for Yourself(I had a homemade burger and a large salad.)
Friday--#2 Son for free b-day burger Out(I had a chicken sammie.)
Saturday--Official B-day dinner Out(Thai food, mine had chicken in it.)

I finally made the Risotto....boy my arm is sore from all that stirring.lol

Only made 2 meals last week.  We never got to Bob Evans to use that last dinner Q but we still managed to eat out 2 nights.

 

I spent a total of $42.59 on groceries last week, including the .01¢ I spent at Rite-Aid.  

 

I spent $4.09 on head of lettuce($1.49) and a bottle of dressing($2.59) at the local independent grocer-I found a bottle of that same dressing in the stockpile later. ugh

 

I spent $38.49 at Weis(PMITA)Markets on.....a 4+lb. turkey breast, 2 lbs. asparagus, 1/2 gal. milk, 2 jars of Duke mayo(rock bottom price $2.50), cauliflower($2.50), 2 pints grape tomatoes, 2 bags of salad(50% off), 1 pkg. ham lunchmeat(.89¢ after $3 instant discount sticker), 3 lb. ground beef(marked down to $2.99lb.), 1lb. organic stew beef($2.35 after $3 instant discount sticker).

 

Food spending for February totaled $398.42 when all was tallied up last month.
  

We had food waste last week....a handful of grape tomatoes I didn't eat in time.

 

Going into the new week here are the leftovers we have.....everything is gone except for some slices off that turkey breast, which will keep in lunch sandwiches for a few days, and a pint of grape tomatoes, the organic stew beef(in the freezer)and the cauliflower(and the mayo is in the stockpile).

 

 

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

Sunday--Beef Roast, Yellow Squash Casserole
Monday--Broiled Teriyaki Salmon(freezer), Asparagus, Roasted Potatoes with Onions
Tuesday--Slices off Leftover Roast, Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots
Wednesday--Lasagna(from freezer), Brussel Sprouts
Thursday--Either Roast Beef Hash or French Dip Sammies from leftover Roast, and leftover Veg
Friday--Breakfast for dinner
Saturday--Chicken & Pot Pie Noodles

That makes 4 new meals and 3 leftover, from the freezer or planned over meals.

What I need to purchase for this menu?.......squash, asparagus, beef roast, eggs, rolls, carrots, onions(I am out of the 50lb. bag I got in September at the farm stand).   Most of this I picked up on Saturday(first day of new grocery spending month), so only thing left to buy is rolls.  I might attempt baking my own rolls and not go to the grocery store this week. at. all.

Nothing much in the sales ads I want or need but I do like going on Wednesday to check out the marked downs in produce and meats so I am torn.  What would you do?

 

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

 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Tired of Coming Up with Meals this Week" Edition.......

 

 

I had to get out of the house this weekend as I was going stir crazy.  Hubs and I went to Ollies(Good Stuff Cheap!)and looked at all their Holiday stuff as I haven't been in Ollie's since the Summer.  I bought this Holiday CD for $4.99....I don't usually spend that much on them but what can I say?.... I love me some Harry Connick, Jr.
It's not even December but I did play it already.
Good stuff! 8-))

Here are the meals that were planned last week--
 

Sunday--Clam Chowder
Monday--Tacos(I'll probably have a chicken sandwich and a part of a bag of frozen veggies.)
Tuesday--leftovers
Wednesday--Lasagna, Salad
Thursday--leftovers
Friday--London Broil, Asparagus
Saturday--leftovers

Everything was eaten as planned except the London Broil was served with a Tossed Salad(didn't get to the store with the sale on asparagus)and Brussel Sprouts were served with the Lasagna.  

As for food spending last week.....there were 4 trips to the store and I spent $98.78 on $162.58 worth of groceries at 3 stores.
I have $301.22 left in my November food budget.

Leftovers going into this week--1 bratwurst(I put it into the freezer for later), leftover chicken pieces, carrots and potatoes, taco fixings, lasagna and London broil.  So many leftovers that I shouldn't have to cook but 3 days this week.
Go me! lol
I am not planning a meal around the leftover taco stuff since #2 Son will probably end up devouring that over the next few days. ;-)

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

Sunday--Chinese Take-Out  Treating ourselves tonight
Monday--Mushroom Alfredo shells with leftover London Broil, Spinach Salad(Hubs is craving pasta)
Tuesday--Baked Fish(in freezer) and crab cakes(freezer), coleslaw, some veggie(freezer)
Wednesday--Lasagna(leftover-then the rest gets put into the freezer for later)
Thursday--Chicken Pot Pie(using leftover chicken, carrots, potatoes + fresh broccoli)
Friday--maybe Domino's pizza using one of my free coupons + a big salad for me
Saturday--leftovers or something scrounged around the house

What I need to purchase for this menu?......cabbage for slaw, some milk and fruit.  I'm going to buy a rotisserie chicken at Weis(on special $3.99 this week)and slice that up for my lunch sandwiches.  I bought mushrooms and spinach salad last week.
I still need to spend about $125 in the next 2 weeks to get a Thanksgiving gift certificate at the Shursave market.   So I might buy some things ahead this coming week(baking goods mostly and some to use the next week plus fresh produce that will not go bad in the few 2 weeks).
I'm going to try to keep the spending to $80 this week.

What got fixed and served at your house this week?

Sluggy