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A day late and a dollar short as usual...

Saturday, November 01, 2008



I've been meaning to do the LOK Kitchen Challenge all month. My camera has been "borrowed" for the long term by someone who will remain nameless. (think they'd be happy if I said Merry Christmas and then bought myself a new one with my income tax refund? lol) I'd have to buy the ingredients since we're eating out of our freezer right now with lots of venison and I can't include that into the price of the meals...and I can't buy it right now.

So I'm doing it unofficially and with a little twist to show that it's not so hard to do. No pictures, no actual meals made but all actual prices used. While I've noticed people not using what they paid for things because they buy in bulk or from a discount store like Aldi's. I say too bad!!! I'm not getting an expotential amount of money ($10 for 4 people so 12 people should get $30 with all things being fair). So I'm allowing myself to use my price cutting tricks to help me make my meals (buying bulk from apple farm, shopping at wholesale clubs and discount markets). I've noted the store on parenthesis that has the price I quote

The way I figured things was I'd try to keep my meals within a certain price frame...$4 each for breakfast and lunch...$7 for dinner. I'm feeding 12 people. My estimated cost of bread dough is under $1 for a 2 loaf recipe.

Breakfast

Eggs, Toast, Bananas $3.90
2.40... 2 dozen eggs (BJ wholesale)
1.00... 2 loaves of bread (see note above)
.48... 1 lb bananas (walmart)

Apple Oatmeal $3.50
1.55... 2/3 box of Walmart oatmeal (30 servings/container)
1.00... lots of apples (apple farm)
.60... quart of milk (walmart)
.35... 1/2 pound brown sugar (BJ wholesale)

Pancakes, Bananas $3.64
1.20... box pancake mix (aldi)
.60... 1/2 bottle pancake syrup (Aldi)
.40... 2 sticks margarine (walmart)
1.44... 3 lbs bananas

Yogurt with Bananas and brown sugar, Toast $3.76
1.00... 2 loaves bread
.98... 2 lbs bananas
1.60... 8 cups homemade yogurt
.18... 1/4 lb brown sugar

Frozen Waffles with ice cream $3.62
2.40... 24 frozen waffles (dollar store)
1.22... quart ice cream (walmart)

Peanut Butter Toast, Bananas $3.44
1.00... 2 loaves of bread
1.00... jar of peanut butter
1.44... 3 lbs bananas

French Toast $3.68
2.00... 4 loaves of bread
.80... 8 eggs
.30... 2 cups milk
.40... 2 sticks margarine
.18... 1/4 pound confectionary sugar


Lunch

Any of the meals above, any leftovers from dinner

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches $4.00
1.50... 3 loaves of bread
1.00... jar of peanut butter
.50... jelly/jam
.99... 1 lb baby carrots (walmart)

Baked Potatoes and toppings $3.77
1.44... 8 lbs baked potatoes (apple farm)
.40... 2 sticks margarine
1.33... pt of sour cream (BJ's wholesale)
1.00... half jar of salsa (walmart)

Black bean and cheese quesadillas $4.00
1.00... double batch homemade tortillas
2.00... 8 oz shredded taco cheese (walmart)
.50... can of black beans (aldi's)
.50... 1/4 jar salsa

Ramen noodles with veggies, apple slices $3.86
2.00... 12 pkgs ramen noodles (BJ's wholesale)
.37... can of sweet corn
.37... can of green beans
.37... can of sweet peas
.75... apple slices

Boxed Mac and Cheese with broccoli $3.70
2.00... 4 boxes Mac and Cheese (Aldi's)
.40... 2 sticks margarine
.30... 2 cups milk
1.00... 1 lb frozen broccoli (BJ's wholesale)

Dinner

Chicken and gravy, mashed potatoes, bread $5.99
3.00... 3 lbs chicken thighs (BJ's Wholesale)
.50... chicken boullion
1.44... 8 lbs potatoes
1.00... bread
.40... 2 sticks margarine

Cowboy Beans $6.90
2.00... 2 lbs hot dogs (walmart)
3.00... 9 cans pork and beans (aldi's)
.50... onion
1.00... bread
.40... 2 sticks margarine

Spaghetti, bread $5.80
2.40... 3 lbs spaghetti (BJ's wholesale)
2.00... 2 cans spaghetti sauce (price chopper)
1.00... bread
.40... 2 sticks margarine

Spanish Rice $6.50
2.00... 1 lb ground beef
.50... green pepper
1.00... 1.5 lbs rice (4 cups) (BJ's wholesale)
.40... 2 sticks margarine
1.60... 2 cans crushed tomatoes/puree (wegmans)
1.00... can of whole tomatoes (wegmans)

Chili $6.76
2.00... 1 lb ground beef
.50... green pepper
.66... 2 pkts chili seasoning (dollar store)
1.60... 2 cans crushed tomatoes/puree
1.00... can of whole tomatoes
1.00... bag of dried kidney beans


Chicken noodle soup $6.22
3.00... 3 lbs chicken thighs
.50... boullion
1.00... wide egg noodles
.40... 2 lbs potatoes
.66... 2 cans green beans
.33... 1 can sweet corn
.33... 1 can sweet peas

Bean and Cheese burritos
2.44... 2 lg cans refried beans
2.00...
1.00... double batch homemade tortillas



Stir Fry $6.90
.60... 3 cups rice
3.00... 3 lb broccoli normandy (BJ's wholesale)
3.00... 3 lbs meat (this week different stores in the area have pot roast, boneless breast, ground beef, and assorted pork chops for $1.99 or less)
soy sauce and brown sugar for

So pick and choose. Could my family survive on this? Yes. Would they be happy? No! The might with a few dollars alloted to me a day. Giving us room for an after school and/or bedtime snack. Figuring most of my meals left a tiny bit of change left I figured I'd include a cheap snack category too. I'll keep them at $1.50 or less

Apples
Apple slices with peanut butter
Popcorn...various flavors
Pretzels with honey and mustard dip
Baby carrots and dip

Hmmm...getting ready to post this I looked back at the rules. I see I broke the dinner must include sides rule. It took much work to not post, (took me 2 days!) so I'm going to post it anyways. Thing is, this is how we eat...a large amount of a dish with bread as a filler if need be. I guess it's a good thing it's unofficial. lol

Walmart 10/29

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Shopping AGAIN! Seems like I do it WAY too much.

5.94 - 6 water refilled containers - 3gal each
3.78 - GV instant coffee
9.60 - 4 gallons skim milk
8.00 - 4 Kraft extra sharp cheese, 8oz blocks
4.00 - 2 Kraft colby jack cheese, 8oz blocks
8.00 - 4 Kraft shredded mozzarella cheese, 8oz
4.00 - 4 Kraft shredded italian cheese. 8oz
6.00 - 6 Kraft shredded taco cheese, 8oz
4.38 - 6 lbs blue bonnet margarine, sticks
6.08 - 5qt bucket strawberry swirl ice cream
3.98 - bag banquet chicken patties, 12 ct
2.00 - Sam's choice salsa
3.27 - GV ranch dressing
4.58 - GV sugar, 10#
2.36 - GV oatmeal
2.78 - 2 GV snack crackers
1.24 - GV white bread
1.47 - White corn chips
1.12 - Bite size tortilla chips
1.53 - GV crunchy cheese curls
1.53 - GV cheese puffs
1.18 - GV mini pretzel twists
.33 - reeses peanut butter cups (snack in car)
.33 - hershey chocolate bar w/almonds (snack in car)

Total - $87.94 ($87.42 + $.52 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $407.33

Apple farm 10/24

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I almost forgot the apple farm we went to on Friday! The kids had the day off. (a little out of order but won't hurt anything...don't want to mess with posting times and running totals now)

25.00 - 5 grocery bags of apples (approx 100#)
12.00 - bushel box of butternut squash
9.00 - 50# chef's potatoes
3.00 - HUGE head of cauliflower
4.50 - cinnamon rolls (treat for the car)

Total - $53.00

Running total since 10/17 - $319.39

BJ's Wholesale Club 10/25

Catching up on my shopping trips...
Notes include...

# = pounds
! = sale or clearance
* = buy one get one free
** = buy one get two free
c = used a coupon

3.49 - Hannah Montana fruit roll ups - 42ct C
5.99 - 2 Dunkroos - 24ct *
8.69 - Act II microwave popcorn - 36ct
2.79 - Domino brown sugar - 4#
7.99 - Gold Medal flour - 20#
7.99 - Child's play candy mix (Danielle bought with birthday money)
7.89 - Maruchan ramen noodle - 48ct
2.99 - onion bagels - 12ct
2.99 - assorted bagels - 12ct
2.59 - garden salad mix - 3#
4.59 - romaine salad mix - 2#
3.99 - Crowley sour cream - 3#
5.99 - large eggs - 5dz
3.79 - gallon orange juice
7.18 - 2 gallons apple cider
7.02 - 3 gallons skim milk

Total - $84.96 (not sure on tax...misplaced receipt)

Running total since 10/17 - $266.39

Price Chopper trip 10/21

Catching up on shopping trips

Was a quick run in before we headed to a baby shower. We hit a overflowing bakery markdown rack which I took full advantage of.

Notes include...

# = pounds
! = sale or clearance
* = buy one get one free
** = buy one get two free
c = used a coupon


13.68 - 6pkgs Boneless chicken tenderloin - $1.99/lb
3.99 - Banquet chicken patties - 12ct - !
7.98 - 2 pkgs banquet honey battered chicken nuggets - !
4.29 - 3 pkgs 12oz Kielbasa - **
4.58 - 2 gallons skim milk
3.96 - 12ct 4oz Dannon yogurt - !C
5.97 - 3 pkgs 1pound butter - sticks - !
4.00 - 4 cans 26oz DelMonte spaghetti sauce - !
4.17 - red seedless grapes - $.99/lb - !
4.41 - tote apples - $.99/lb
5.98 - 2 pkgs tangerines - 3#ea
2.50 - peanut m&m's (was bringing to the shower)- !
2.50 - 4pk choco (as it's listed on my receipt...can NOT think of what it is!)
Bakery markdown - !!!!!!!!
3.75 - 3 pkgs assorted muffins - 4ct each
3.00 - 2 loaves dark rye bread
3.00 - 3 pkgs apple crumb cake
1.00 - citrus creme cake
1.00 - strawberry creme cake
1.00 - cherry danish ring
1.00 - have no clue, overcharge maybe?

Total - $86.63 ($86.43 + $.20 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $181.43

Menu... October 26 - 31

Monday, October 27, 2008

Sunday... Venison stew, bread and butter
Monday... Kielbasa with beans, salad
Tuesday... Chicken stirfry with rice
Wednesday... Venison Chili, bread sticks
Thursday... Shrimp Alfredo
Friday... Halloween...probably get $5 pizzas or dollar menu stuff.
Saturday... Harvest feast at church...dinner there

I went shopping and blew my menu

After Monday I didn't follow my menu at all.

Tuesday I left early for a baby shower and a night out (and a stop at the grocery store). I turned the fixings for potpie/pasty into chicken and rice soup which everyone said was yummy. :o)

Wednesday I fell off the menu planning wagon and went with super easy frozen honey battered chicken nuggets and tater tots.

Thursday found me going for the bags of frozen chicken products again. This time it was chicken patties. The kids micro'ed them then sliced them on top of a cheesey tortilla for chicken quesadilla.

Friday we were out on an adventure including a dinnertime stop for soft serve ice cream. So it cauliflower and dip, apples, micro'ed butternut squash (things we bought at a apple farm) and CORN.

Saturday the girls and I went out for the evening and had chinese buffet for a late lunch. We munched when we got home. The guys had nachos and whatever else they could find.

So one rule to stick with my plan...do not shop mid plan!!