I'm back to menu planning, at least mostly. It still is grossing me out to some degree to think about food so I had to have quite a bit of help from Chad. But I am sure looking forward to planned grocery runs and avoiding that 5:00pm feeling of we-have-to-make-something-but-I-have-no-idea-what! Here's what we're having for dinner (one day I'll get back to breakfast and lunch, too, but this was enough of a chore for now):
Friday: grilled t-bone steaks, grilled corn with basil-parmesan butter, steamed fresh garbanzo beans with chili and salt
Saturday: pasta with leftover homemade roasted tomato sauce, corn on the cob
Sunday: eggs, grilled potatoes with onions and parsley
Monday: Broccoli Beef Wellington, made with homemade crescent roll dough
Tuesday: leftovers from Monday
Wednesday: dinner with family, bringing crescent rolls made with leftover dough
Thursay: roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, peas
Friday, September 25, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A Photographic Walk
For my birthday yesterday, I got a little time to myself to do whatever I felt like doing. Since it was a beautiful, warm day out, I decided to take a walk armed with my camera and photograph whatever struck my fancy within just a few blocks of my house. My 8-block walk probably took me 45 minutes, but it was nice to use the creative side of my brain for a little bit! Here's what I found (my personal favorite is the green leaf, although the first photo (a tree branch) is a very close second):
Absence explained
You might have been wondering why my blog posts suddenly and completely stopped. Well, a very tiny little baby suddenly caused a dramatic change in my daily life - tiny, meaning, at the time about the size of a lentil, and now something like the size of a turnip. We anticipate meeting this little one at the end of February :). I've been feeling baby movements since about 14 weeks and Chad got to feel the baby for the first time today (17 1/2 weeks).
Unlike my pregnancy with Gavin, this pregnancy has pretty much knocked me out of the normally-functioning world for a good 2 1/2 months, so blogging was one of the first things to go (soon after were washing the dishes, menu planning, cooking, pretty much anything involving food or the thought of it, cleaning the house, etc. etc.). Perhaps I'll be back to it soon, although the bathrooms are a little higher priority than the blog at the moment...
Unlike my pregnancy with Gavin, this pregnancy has pretty much knocked me out of the normally-functioning world for a good 2 1/2 months, so blogging was one of the first things to go (soon after were washing the dishes, menu planning, cooking, pretty much anything involving food or the thought of it, cleaning the house, etc. etc.). Perhaps I'll be back to it soon, although the bathrooms are a little higher priority than the blog at the moment...
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Menu Plan Thursday
We got our first farmshare last Thursday! Yay! I like being forced to eat more vegetables and vegetables that I wouldn't normally buy at the store. Last week we got 4 kohlrabi and I knew from last year that I'm not all that fond of it raw. I looked around and found this recipe - we made it tonight and loved it (but it's certainly not devoid of fat!).
We'll be getting our farmshare (and the email that tells us what will be in it) on Thursdays, so I'm switching to menu planning on Thursdays so I can use the produce at its freshest. My brain is foggy and I'm not wanting to spend loads of time on cooking at the moment, so I went for the easiest possible menu still using what we have, not being tasteless, completely boring or super unhealthy, and only needing to stop at one store tomorrow for grocery shopping (oh how I love thee, Trader Joe's).
Friday
B: cereal and milk
L: PB&J, pea pods, carrots
D: grilled sausages, beet greens (haven't tried this before but it looks tasty - and easy)
Saturday
B: waffles from the freezer
L: whole wheat pasta with homemade pesto (from the freezer)
D: Thai beef salad (from our Thai cookbooks)
Sunday
B: cereal and milk
L: leftovers, or if there aren't any, sausages
D: grilled beef short ribs and steamed broccoli
Monday
B: cereal and milk
L: hummus wraps
D: pancakes with rhubarb sauce, scrambled eggs
Tuesday
B: cereal and milk
L: grilled cheese, fruit and fresh veggies
D: potluck, bringing tableware
Wednesday
B: frozen waffles
L: PB&J, fruit
D: taco salad with Mexican beans
Thursday
B: cereal with milk
L: quesadillas (using leftover Mexican beans)
D: grilled chicken breasts, side salads
We'll be getting our farmshare (and the email that tells us what will be in it) on Thursdays, so I'm switching to menu planning on Thursdays so I can use the produce at its freshest. My brain is foggy and I'm not wanting to spend loads of time on cooking at the moment, so I went for the easiest possible menu still using what we have, not being tasteless, completely boring or super unhealthy, and only needing to stop at one store tomorrow for grocery shopping (oh how I love thee, Trader Joe's).
Friday
B: cereal and milk
L: PB&J, pea pods, carrots
D: grilled sausages, beet greens (haven't tried this before but it looks tasty - and easy)
Saturday
B: waffles from the freezer
L: whole wheat pasta with homemade pesto (from the freezer)
D: Thai beef salad (from our Thai cookbooks)
Sunday
B: cereal and milk
L: leftovers, or if there aren't any, sausages
D: grilled beef short ribs and steamed broccoli
Monday
B: cereal and milk
L: hummus wraps
D: pancakes with rhubarb sauce, scrambled eggs
Tuesday
B: cereal and milk
L: grilled cheese, fruit and fresh veggies
D: potluck, bringing tableware
Wednesday
B: frozen waffles
L: PB&J, fruit
D: taco salad with Mexican beans
Thursday
B: cereal with milk
L: quesadillas (using leftover Mexican beans)
D: grilled chicken breasts, side salads
Monday, June 15, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday
B: omelets with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, pancakes with strawberries
L: tomato basil chicken salad sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover soup, crackers
Tuesday
B: cereal with milk
L: chicken salad sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover homemade pizza
Wednesday
B: oatmeal
L: PB&J, carrots with homemade dip
D: leftover soup, rice
Thursday
B: cereal with milk
L: quesadillas with homemade Mexican beans, fruit
D: grilled steak, potatoes, green salad
Friday
B: eggs and toast
L: macaroni and cheese (yes, from a box!), fruit
D: leftover soup, green salad
Saturday
B: bran muffins from freezer
L: grilled cheese sandwiches, carrots or fruit
D: pesto pasta, green salad
Sunday (Father's Day! = special food for Chad)
Brunch: crepes with blueberry filling and whipped cream
D: country-style pork ribs with Ancho barbecue sauce, grilled corn, green salad, chocolate mousse layered dessert
B: omelets with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, pancakes with strawberries
L: tomato basil chicken salad sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover soup, crackers
Tuesday
B: cereal with milk
L: chicken salad sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover homemade pizza
Wednesday
B: oatmeal
L: PB&J, carrots with homemade dip
D: leftover soup, rice
Thursday
B: cereal with milk
L: quesadillas with homemade Mexican beans, fruit
D: grilled steak, potatoes, green salad
Friday
B: eggs and toast
L: macaroni and cheese (yes, from a box!), fruit
D: leftover soup, green salad
Saturday
B: bran muffins from freezer
L: grilled cheese sandwiches, carrots or fruit
D: pesto pasta, green salad
Sunday (Father's Day! = special food for Chad)
Brunch: crepes with blueberry filling and whipped cream
D: country-style pork ribs with Ancho barbecue sauce, grilled corn, green salad, chocolate mousse layered dessert
Monday, June 08, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday
B: cereal, I think?
L: leftovers (clean out the fridge!)
D: taco salads with leftover Mexican beans
Tuesday
B: omelets
L: PB&J, peas and carrots with dip
D: roast chicken, green salad
Wednesday
B: cereal with milk
L: hummus wraps, carrots, fruit
D: Coconut Beef Stew, leftover rice, maybe green peas
Thursday
B: waffles from freezer
L: grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover chicken, green peas
Friday
B: cereal and milk
L: hummus wraps, gruit
D: leftover beef, rice, green peas
Saturday
B: waffles from freezer
L: leftovers (if there are any more!) or mac and cheese
D: tomato basil chicken salad (link: scroll down for recipe), homemade bread
Sunday
B: eggs and toast
L: pasta with tomato sauce (from a jar, probably)
D: Esau's Lentil Soup, leftover bread
B: cereal, I think?
L: leftovers (clean out the fridge!)
D: taco salads with leftover Mexican beans
Tuesday
B: omelets
L: PB&J, peas and carrots with dip
D: roast chicken, green salad
Wednesday
B: cereal with milk
L: hummus wraps, carrots, fruit
D: Coconut Beef Stew, leftover rice, maybe green peas
Thursday
B: waffles from freezer
L: grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit
D: leftover chicken, green peas
Friday
B: cereal and milk
L: hummus wraps, gruit
D: leftover beef, rice, green peas
Saturday
B: waffles from freezer
L: leftovers (if there are any more!) or mac and cheese
D: tomato basil chicken salad (link: scroll down for recipe), homemade bread
Sunday
B: eggs and toast
L: pasta with tomato sauce (from a jar, probably)
D: Esau's Lentil Soup, leftover bread
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
I planned yesterday but didn't get around to posting until today. Also I decided to include breakfast and lunch in my plans because I've been finding that I have plenty of things for Chad to take to work and usually have something for Gavin but often have no idea what to make for myself for lunch (that doesn't involve large quantities of cheese).
Monday - B: cereal and milk; L: take-out Thai and pineapple; D: grilled zucchini pasta
Tuesday - B: low-fat whole wheat banana bread; L - PB&J, fruit; D - leftover salmon, sauteed zucchini, mushrooms and onions with cheddar cheese
TO DO: Soak beans
Wednesday - B: cereal with milk; L: hummus wraps, banana bread; D - taco salad with Mexican beans
Thursday - B: eggs and toast; L: cottage cheese, pineapple, carrots; D - grilled chicken, couscous salad
TO DO: thaw whole chicken, make veggie dip
Friday - B: cereal with milk; L: macaroni and cheese, snap peas and carrots with dip
Saturday - B: waffles from freezer; L: PB&J, carrots and snap peas with dip; D - dinner out with friends
Sunday - B: cereal with milk; L - cottage cheese, leftover couscous salad; D - chicken wings (from Gourmet magazine), salad, rice
Monday - B: cereal and milk; L: take-out Thai and pineapple; D: grilled zucchini pasta
Tuesday - B: low-fat whole wheat banana bread; L - PB&J, fruit; D - leftover salmon, sauteed zucchini, mushrooms and onions with cheddar cheese
TO DO: Soak beans
Wednesday - B: cereal with milk; L: hummus wraps, banana bread; D - taco salad with Mexican beans
Thursday - B: eggs and toast; L: cottage cheese, pineapple, carrots; D - grilled chicken, couscous salad
TO DO: thaw whole chicken, make veggie dip
Friday - B: cereal with milk; L: macaroni and cheese, snap peas and carrots with dip
Saturday - B: waffles from freezer; L: PB&J, carrots and snap peas with dip; D - dinner out with friends
Sunday - B: cereal with milk; L - cottage cheese, leftover couscous salad; D - chicken wings (from Gourmet magazine), salad, rice
Monday, April 27, 2009
Couponing
I started couponing at the end of last year and figured I'd give it a few months to see if (1) it actually is saving me money and (2) it is worth the time (and if I got better at it and thus it became less time-consuming). (For the record, "couponing" doesn't just mean using coupons shopping how you would normally shop - it means planning your purchases purposefully, using high-dollar coupons when things are on sale and taking advantage of rebate or other programs at drugs stores to get free or they-pay-me-to-take-it items.) I've come to the conclusion that, for our specific family, it is very much worth it for household and personal care items (like shampoo, paper towels, etc.) and not usually very profitable for food (based on percent of total food budget) but helps some. I'm sure we could have an incredibly low food bill if only we weren't so picky about what we eat - no artificial stuff, no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup, as much whole grain as possible, as little canned food as possible, certain things (especially certain produce) organic only, not too much processed food, and we're trying hard for more fruits and vegetables. Don't get me wrong - we have definitely lowered our food bill by using coupons, menu planning and paying attention to which stores have the lowest prices for things we normally buy, but we aren't even close to $40/week for a family of 5 like I've read about from others (in my same city, in fact).
But the personal care/household items is definitely great. This month all of our household and personal care items came to a grand total of $17.44. (By the way, if you don't factor in the expensive all-natural, biodegradable, handmade etc. laundry detergent, it would be a net gain of $3.16.) This is what I got:
www.frugallivingnw.com
www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com
(There are lots of great money-saving blogs out there, but these just happen to be the ones in my Google reader.) So for our family, the verdict is yes, couponing is helpful enough to justify the time, at least for the moment while I have the time to spend and we're not super picky about our shampoo (at least, for the adults - the kids' stuff, well, that's another post altogether).
But the personal care/household items is definitely great. This month all of our household and personal care items came to a grand total of $17.44. (By the way, if you don't factor in the expensive all-natural, biodegradable, handmade etc. laundry detergent, it would be a net gain of $3.16.) This is what I got:
- 3 shaving creams; 2 packs of gum; 3 rolls paper towels; 2 vitamin waters; 1 toothbrush; 4 hair gels (specific type Chad uses); 1 all-natural chapstick; 1 pack hair ties; 1 men's hair color (no, we do not use this - I will donate it); 1 body wash; 1 pack asprin (ditto for donating); 2 types of eyedrops (will donate 1); 1 pack dishwasher detergent; 2 pregnancy tests; 1 reusable grocery bag, 1 package disposable diapers (all of the above came to -$2.74, meaning I made $2.74 by buying them)
- 2 mascaras, 2 tinted moisturizers, 3 eyeshadows (all physician's formula brand "organic" makeup items) (-$4.41, again meaning I made money on these)
- 1 all-natural toddler's toothpaste ($3.99)
- specialty handmade laundry detergent, most of it specifically for cloth diapers, enough for 112 loads ($20.60)
www.frugallivingnw.com
www.beingfrugalisfabulous.com
(There are lots of great money-saving blogs out there, but these just happen to be the ones in my Google reader.) So for our family, the verdict is yes, couponing is helpful enough to justify the time, at least for the moment while I have the time to spend and we're not super picky about our shampoo (at least, for the adults - the kids' stuff, well, that's another post altogether).
Monday, April 20, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - out to eat on the way home from the Tulip Festival
Tuesday - grilled pork steaks and zucchini
Wednesday - crock pot chili
Thursday - grilled chicken salad
Friday - leftover chili
Saturday - taco salad
Sunday - various leftovers
Tuesday - grilled pork steaks and zucchini
Wednesday - crock pot chili
Thursday - grilled chicken salad
Friday - leftover chili
Saturday - taco salad
Sunday - various leftovers
Monday, April 13, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
I'm feeling even less inspired in making food than last week, so most of our dinners will be courtesy of the freezer. It's so nice to have a deep freezer (thank you in-laws!!!!)!
Monday - homemade pizza, salad (pizza stuff left over from last week, salad left over from yesterday's Easter dinner)
Tuesday - Crock Pot Mexican beans in taco salad
Wednesday - barbecue meatballs (from the freezer), rice, salad
Thursday - borscht from the freezer
Friday - leftover meatballs, rice, salad
Saturday - red lentil dahl from freezer, rice
Sunday - leftovers, or scrambled eggs and waffles from the freezer
Monday - homemade pizza, salad (pizza stuff left over from last week, salad left over from yesterday's Easter dinner)
Tuesday - Crock Pot Mexican beans in taco salad
Wednesday - barbecue meatballs (from the freezer), rice, salad
Thursday - borscht from the freezer
Friday - leftover meatballs, rice, salad
Saturday - red lentil dahl from freezer, rice
Sunday - leftovers, or scrambled eggs and waffles from the freezer
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Menu Plan Monday (oops, I mean Tuesday, again)
I am in a bit of a funk for figuring out what to make for dinner - I think the sunny weather is making me lazy :). But we've still got quite a bit of leftovers in our fridge from the two bean dishes from last week, so I'm in luck. Here's what we'll (probably) be having:
Monday: steak. (Yes, just steak, and just one at that - Chad and I shared. I was so lazy and didn't want to bother with being in the kitchen. I think we had a few little snacks after dinner, though, and I made some guacamole.)
Tuesday: chicken pot pie with the rest of the pie filling in the fridge and the refrigerated crescent rolls that are expiring today
Wednesday: leftovers (beans and rice)
Thursday: homemade pizza, salad
Friday: more leftovers
Saturday: even more leftovers
Sunday: Easter - dinner with family, bringing NW salad with greens, cranberries, Gorgonzola cheese, pecans and homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Monday: steak. (Yes, just steak, and just one at that - Chad and I shared. I was so lazy and didn't want to bother with being in the kitchen. I think we had a few little snacks after dinner, though, and I made some guacamole.)
Tuesday: chicken pot pie with the rest of the pie filling in the fridge and the refrigerated crescent rolls that are expiring today
Wednesday: leftovers (beans and rice)
Thursday: homemade pizza, salad
Friday: more leftovers
Saturday: even more leftovers
Sunday: Easter - dinner with family, bringing NW salad with greens, cranberries, Gorgonzola cheese, pecans and homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Menu Plan Monday (oops, I mean Thursday)
Wow, I suppose I'm getting slack on the menu posting. Not that I'm not planning, just not posting (although I did wait until Tuesday this week).
Monday - out to happy hour at Gustav's
Tuesday - remaining leftover Borscht from the freezer
Wednesday - Black Beans and Rice (yum!! spicy but Gavin can handle it and we really like it)
Thursday - Indian-Style Chickpeas, rice
Friday - leftovers
Saturday - chicken pot pie with innards from freezer, crust made of refrigerated crescent rolls (This has been on the menu for several weeks now but I've always had some reason not to make it. But my crescent rolls are nearing their expiration date so I guess I should go ahead and make it...)
Sunday - more leftovers
Monday - out to happy hour at Gustav's
Tuesday - remaining leftover Borscht from the freezer
Wednesday - Black Beans and Rice (yum!! spicy but Gavin can handle it and we really like it)
Thursday - Indian-Style Chickpeas, rice
Friday - leftovers
Saturday - chicken pot pie with innards from freezer, crust made of refrigerated crescent rolls (This has been on the menu for several weeks now but I've always had some reason not to make it. But my crescent rolls are nearing their expiration date so I guess I should go ahead and make it...)
Sunday - more leftovers
Monday, March 23, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - Oops, I forgot to start the chicken broth in the crock pot this morning, so we opted for a frozen pizza from our freezer and some fruit. Gavin and I are sick and our kitchen faucet is only nominally functional until a week from now when the new part comes in. Oh well, some days are better than others.
Tuesday - chicken noodle soup (hopefully!)
Wednesday - chili (also, hopefully - I have to start this in the morning, too)
Thursday - leftover chicken soup
Friday - leftover chili
Saturday - pot pie with crescent roll crust
Sunday - leftovers
Somehow it seems we end up having something different than I plan at least once a week, whether it's that we have dinner with family or friends or someone gives us something. I'm certainly not complaining!
Tuesday - chicken noodle soup (hopefully!)
Wednesday - chili (also, hopefully - I have to start this in the morning, too)
Thursday - leftover chicken soup
Friday - leftover chili
Saturday - pot pie with crescent roll crust
Sunday - leftovers
Somehow it seems we end up having something different than I plan at least once a week, whether it's that we have dinner with family or friends or someone gives us something. I'm certainly not complaining!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Bread, Jury Duty, Menu
A friend of ours who is in culinary school came over to help me get better at making bread (especially bread that needs to be kneaded) on Monday. We made focaccia and honey whole wheat (below). Yum!
Also, I had jury duty today but ended up not getting chosen to sit on a jury and I got to leave at 11:45am for the day. Woo-hoo! The weather outside is beautiful and I didn't have to be doing anything in particular at any particular time for the whole afternoon! (Gavin is playing at Grandma's.)
And finally, here's our menu for the week, a little late:
Tuesday - leftover stir fry
Wednesday - celebrate brother-in-law graduating from college (congrats Andrew!!) by going out with family
Thursday - roasted chicken, spaghetti squash with Romano, salt and pepper
Friday - leftover chicken, frozen veggies (make broth in Crock Pot)
Saturday - chicken noodle soup using broth
Sunday - leftovers
Also, I had jury duty today but ended up not getting chosen to sit on a jury and I got to leave at 11:45am for the day. Woo-hoo! The weather outside is beautiful and I didn't have to be doing anything in particular at any particular time for the whole afternoon! (Gavin is playing at Grandma's.)
And finally, here's our menu for the week, a little late:
Tuesday - leftover stir fry
Wednesday - celebrate brother-in-law graduating from college (congrats Andrew!!) by going out with family
Thursday - roasted chicken, spaghetti squash with Romano, salt and pepper
Friday - leftover chicken, frozen veggies (make broth in Crock Pot)
Saturday - chicken noodle soup using broth
Sunday - leftovers
Monday, March 09, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - goat cheese and asparagus pasta
Tuesday - leftover lasagna, salad
Wednesday - leftover pasta
Thursday - stir fry with steak, carrots, sugar snap peas, mushrooms and onions, with rice
Friday - leftover lasagna, salad
Saturday - leftover stir fry and rice
Sunday - pot pie (insides from freezer) with crescent roll crust, salad
Tuesday - leftover lasagna, salad
Wednesday - leftover pasta
Thursday - stir fry with steak, carrots, sugar snap peas, mushrooms and onions, with rice
Friday - leftover lasagna, salad
Saturday - leftover stir fry and rice
Sunday - pot pie (insides from freezer) with crescent roll crust, salad
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
$10 off at diapers.com
If you've never shopped at diapers.com before, you can get $10 off by using this code: YXUN6211. Also, there is a $14.97 rebate you can send in for from Parenting Magazine (or get a free year's subscription if you'd prefer that instead). And if you buy $49 worth of stuff, your 2-day shipping is free. And some of their disposable diapers are currently on sale. But even if you don't use disposables, they have a few brands of cloth (which you can only very, very rarely get on sale, in my experience).
Thanks to Frugal Living NW for the heads up! Also, FYI, the code is a referral code for me in particular, and when a new customer orders, I will get $1 off my next purchase. When you purchase for the first time they will send you your own personal code, too, and then you too can post it on your blog and get money back if new people order. :)
Thanks to Frugal Living NW for the heads up! Also, FYI, the code is a referral code for me in particular, and when a new customer orders, I will get $1 off my next purchase. When you purchase for the first time they will send you your own personal code, too, and then you too can post it on your blog and get money back if new people order. :)
Menu Plan Monday (oops, I mean Tuesday)
I actually planned our menu yesterday, but we've been busy so I didn't get to post it until today. Here it is:
Monday - fish, potatoes, green peas
Tuesday - dinner with friends, bring chips
Wednesday - Mexican beans, taco salad
Thursday - eggs, potatoes, kale, optional sausage
Friday - burritos with leftover Mexican beans, salad
Saturday - dinner with friends, possibly out, or lasagna (from freezer), Northwest salad (spinach, lettuce, pears, pecans, gorgonzola, cranberries, homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing), possible homemade bread
Sunday - leftovers
Monday - fish, potatoes, green peas
Tuesday - dinner with friends, bring chips
Wednesday - Mexican beans, taco salad
Thursday - eggs, potatoes, kale, optional sausage
Friday - burritos with leftover Mexican beans, salad
Saturday - dinner with friends, possibly out, or lasagna (from freezer), Northwest salad (spinach, lettuce, pears, pecans, gorgonzola, cranberries, homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing), possible homemade bread
Sunday - leftovers
Monday, February 23, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - use leftover baked winter squash to make curried squash soup (note - this was okay but not thrilling)
Tuesday - leftover meatballs, rice, salad
Wednesday - baked fish, mashed potatoes, green peas
Thursday - eggs, potato pancakes using leftover mashed potatoes
Friday - leftover squash soup
Saturday - leftover meatballs
Sunday - leftover soup (or something from the freezer)
I went to Trader Joe's today to get what we needed for this week and still manage to have a positive bottom line in the grocery budget (although it's less than one dollar!). Unfortunately, I have 3 coupons for things we actually use often that are expiring on the 28th and I really don't want to miss out on them, so I think I will actually end up going over budget this month to get these items. It should be $5 or less, though. Hooray!
Tuesday - leftover meatballs, rice, salad
Wednesday - baked fish, mashed potatoes, green peas
Thursday - eggs, potato pancakes using leftover mashed potatoes
Friday - leftover squash soup
Saturday - leftover meatballs
Sunday - leftover soup (or something from the freezer)
I went to Trader Joe's today to get what we needed for this week and still manage to have a positive bottom line in the grocery budget (although it's less than one dollar!). Unfortunately, I have 3 coupons for things we actually use often that are expiring on the 28th and I really don't want to miss out on them, so I think I will actually end up going over budget this month to get these items. It should be $5 or less, though. Hooray!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
It's Monday again. I went to Costco last week (first time in over 3 months) and thus obliterated our grocery budget. I knew that would happen because I don't like to go there all that often (it's definitely out of the way and hey, if I don't go in, I can't spend a ton there, right?), and I had quite a list. I also made my monthly run to Walmart to get larger quantities of things that are significantly cheaper (like YoBaby yogurt and single-serve Tillamook cheese for Gavin). Thus, with two weeks left in the month, I have $18.49 left to spend! But never fear, we have lots of perishables in our refrigerator I am determined not to waste and a well-stocked freezer. Here is the plan for dinners, without going to the store for a single ingredient.
Monday - leftover soup
Tuesday - chicken and rice burritos, spinach salad
Wednesday - baked winter squash, baked fish, spinach salad
Thursday - last of the leftover soup
Friday - pasta with alfredo sauce, with spinach, mushrooms and spring onions, possibly salad
Saturday - homemade barbecue meatballs, rice, leftover squash
Sunday - eggs, country sausage?, homemade granola (possibly with plain yogurt - but I would have to purchase this)
Monday - leftover meatballs, rice, veggie (corn or peas)
Monday - leftover soup
Tuesday - chicken and rice burritos, spinach salad
Wednesday - baked winter squash, baked fish, spinach salad
Thursday - last of the leftover soup
Friday - pasta with alfredo sauce, with spinach, mushrooms and spring onions, possibly salad
Saturday - homemade barbecue meatballs, rice, leftover squash
Sunday - eggs, country sausage?, homemade granola (possibly with plain yogurt - but I would have to purchase this)
Monday - leftover meatballs, rice, veggie (corn or peas)
Thai Chicken Soup
The Thai Chicken Soup from last week's menu was a big success. Chad and I made it together on Valentine's Day evening, which was very nice since we haven't really had the time to enjoy cooking together for quite a while. Contrary to the recipe, it doesn't actually take a total of 18 minutes to prepare and cook it (they must think you've got 10 arms chopping all at the same time), but it was worth the effort! Here's the link to the recipe:
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaisnacks/r/TomKaKaisoup.htm
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