Monday, December 17, 2018

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Birthday Cake" Edition.........



Thursday was Daughter's birthday and she couldn't decide what type of cake she wanted.  I had some boxes of pistachio pudding mix lingering in the pantry as well as a bag of coconut so I went online and found a recipe that would use both up......a Watergate Cake.

It's named after a pudding dessert that Kraft came up with in the 1970's to promote their new pistachio pudding mix product.  That "Watergate Salad" called for pineapple, the pudding, nuts, mini-marshmallows and Cool Whip(another Kraft product).  Originally named Pistachio Pineapple Delight, a Chicago food editor renamed it Watergate Salad to drum up interest in the recipe when his/her newspaper reprinted it.....this was during the Watergate scandal of 1972.
The Watergate Cake evolved from that Watergate Salad.

Daughter said it looked good so I was given the "green" light to make this.  It was a hit and I got to move two lurkers out of the pantry....win/win for me! ;-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
2. Monday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries
3. Tuesday--Chicken Alfredo w/Mushrooms
4. Wednesday--Leftover Buffet
5. Thursday--Beef Stew, Biscuits
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
2. Monday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Sweet Potato Fries
3. Tuesday--Chicken Alfredo w/Mushrooms
4. Wednesday--Pizza, Salad
5. Thursday--Chicken Parm, Mushroom and Green Bean Risotto 
6. Friday--Garlic Shrimp Pasta & Veggies
7. Saturday--Leftovers


Last week saw 6 nights of home cooked dinners, 1 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 night of Eating Out/Take-Out. 
The Stew didn't happen(again)because I got a deal on some frozen veggie meals with pasta and we had that instead.  Then there wasn't as many leftovers as I thought so I made pizza.

 A couple of grocery trips.....1 trip to Weis($42.03)and a trip to the Grocery Surplus Outlet($68.80)brought the weekly food spending to $110.83 and brought the December monthly total to $210.89 so far.
I wasn't planning on the Surplus Outlet last week but we were in that town so it happened and I have no regrets as we won't get over there until Spring again.  I got some really good deals I'll talk about later this week.

I have 14 days left in my shopping month for December.  Half a month to go and I am on track to spend $400 this month on food.  I wanted to have a low spend this month but it might not work out that way.  Such is life.....

My savings percentage last week was 55.46%(without Rite-Aid trips)and December's monthly savings total comes to 60.17%(w/out R-A)so far.  

Leftovers going into this week....a little bit of taco meat and some Baked Beans.  I didn't make large amounts for last week's dinners so not much leftovers.

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

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

This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 0 nights of leftovers/FFY, 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.

What needs buying for this menu? Roma Tomatoes for BLTs and salads(bought on Sat.), fresh carrots to roast.

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  

Saturday, December 15, 2018

About Linda

An anonymous person posted on American Dreamer's blog, "Frugal Things Every Day" on Thursday that they had heard from Linda.

"Just wanted to let everyone know that's concerned about Linda.  I spoke to her on the phone last night...she's okay but her computer has a virus and she doesn't have the money to have it fixed.  I can't post on her blog, so please share this info.  Thanks"

Sluggy

Friday, December 14, 2018

Frugal Friday....the December 14th Edition-Updated


Here's the frugaliciousness that happened around here this past week.......

*  I got the Friday Freebie last Friday at Weis.


A 500 pack of napkins.  It doesn't look like there is a Weis freebie this week..... 8-(

*  Back during the 2 weeks around Thanksgiving Weis(PMITA)Markets had domino sugar for $1.47 a 4 lb. bag.  Of course when I was in that store during that time there was nary a bag of this sugar on the shelves.  So I got a rain check of course!

Fast forward to last week and they had restocked the Domino.  I picked up 4 bags, using my rain check and two  .75¢/2 Qs that doubled to $1.50 off 2 and I paid $2.88 or .72¢ per bag.
Let the Holiday baking commence! 8-)))


*  I found some money!



A whole nickel laying on the walkway in front of Rite-Aid.
Money is money......right folks?

*  My $300 Target gift card came this week.


 I saved 10% buying it during that Sunday annual sale.  Add in that when I go to use it I'll buy stuff on sale, hopefully paired with a coupon and I'll look at buying items I need that also give back a small Target gift card incentive.  While the items won't be free bought on this baby, like when I use the Target gift cards I get with c/c points, they will still be cost effective.

*  I earned $43.85 in Ibotta rebates and $5.75 in SavingStar rebates since last Friday.  I think it's about time to cash out all my rebate accounts and apply all that cash to my food budget. 8-)))

*  I forgot this one........I did the drive by McDonald's and unlock a 1¢ Whopper on the Burger King app......


1¢ charged to my credit card.  That Whopper tasted almost as good as a Free one!lolz




So what frugal wins did you have this week?
Tell us all about it.

Sluggy

Thursday, December 13, 2018

A Very Tiny Rite-Aid Shop

Hadn't planned on any Rite-Aid shopping this week but when a Clairol rebate popped up in my Ibotta list,  I went up to Rite-Aid yesterday and did this deal..........



2 x Clairol Root Touch-Up 20% Wellness disc.=$13.58

I stacked the In-Ad $4/2 Q and a BOGO Clairol ManuQ so $10.79 off.

$2.79 + .17¢ tax=$2.96 paid with Bonus Cash.

I submitted for a $6/2 Ibotta cash rebates and when it arrives these 2 items will be a $3.04 moneymaker.
Woohoo!

Sluggy

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

And the Giveaway Winner Is.........

There were 83 valid entries this go around.
Random dotorg picked the winning entry.

And the winner of the December Giveaway Box is.......

"Meg" or Mary G.

This is the only time a year I bake cookies. Going to make spritz cookies very soon.
Mary G

Congratulations Meg!

Please email me your full name and mailing address within 48 hours of this post going live.  And also let me know which Christmas music CD you want in your box so I can get your goodies out to you asap.

Thanks to everyone who played along and thanks for coming back here to read my pitiful little blog during the year.

16 Giveaway Boxes were given away in 2018 on Sluggy's Boring Blog.  Boy, am I exhausted!! lolz

Sluggy