Pineapple upside down cake

We had to bring a dessert for our church's New Year's feast. I'd been in the mood for a pineapple upside down cake so made that. As usual I over estimated how much batter I needed so I'm writing down the revised recipe. Then remembering won't have to be a problem next time.

Makes an 11x17 lasagna pan
Oven 350°F

Topping...

1 1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups packed brown sugar
3 lg cans crushed pineapple, drained
maraschino cherries (optional)

Cake....

4 2/3 cup flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs (or 6 egg whites if you want the cake to be a white cake)
2 cups milk
2 tsp vanilla extract (can sub almond)

Make topping first. Mix melted butter, brown sugar and crushed pineapple together. Spread in the bottom of pan. Place halved cherries around in a decorative pattern. Set aside

In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together. With a mixer on low stir in softened butter, eggs, milk and extract. Beat on medium until well mixed and airy, about 2mins. Carefully spread batter over the topping. Bake about 45 mins. Cake is done when knife inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately place a cookie sheet over top of cake pan and turn upside down, transfering cake from pan to cookie sheet.

Best served with whipped cream.

Note....I like my topping to be plentiful. Reducing topping ingredients by a third may be enough for other's. (I've never tried it though) Although I've been known to add an extra can of pineapple to it. lol

Time to start anew

With the beginning of a new year I'm hoping to start up here again. With all the hullabaloo of the holidays I lost track of how much was spent on food, so we're starting over again. I don't see myself going grocery shopping until the next payday, next week.

I never was too good about putting up my recipes like I thought I'd be. I'll try to be better about that. Actually I have a recipe to go up as soon as I'm done here. The yummy pineapple upside down cake I made for my church's New Year feast.

Now to think up a menu for the next week. I guess that would mean I'd have to find out what's in the fridge/freezer to use. lol Dinner preps have been pretty sketchy here. We've been eating a lot of soup, sandwiches, and snacks. I'm ready for full meat and potato meals. Not sure it'll happen this week though.

Another day out, another day into the stores

I dropped Michelle off and intended to run to the dollar store to buy a bag of rice for the mexican dinner I'd planned on for that night. I know $1/lb is a steep price for rice but figured that would be a cheaper option then running into Walmart. I was kind of right. It cost me $15+ for my bag of rice. But who knows how much it would've cost in the megastore! Actually I bought rice, salsa and marinated artichokes (treat for the car...they were oily and not very tasty). The rest was stuff we NEEDED! I just didn't realize it until I saw it. lol

Then I ran to pick Michelle up. I was a few minutes early so ran into Real Deals to pick up a few crocheting things. Karamel Korn, 2pks cookies and 2 berry juices ended up in my hands for another $3 spent.

Michelle wanted to get some things that were on sale at BJ's. Back in we went. I ended up picking a few things up while we were in there...

3.96 - 4 pkgs grill n spray (cooking spray) 2pks
3.79 - gallon orange juice
4.39 - 2lb bag romaine lettuce
6.49 - 6pk black olives
7.89 - 48pk ramen noodles

BJ's Total - $26.12

Day's Total - 32.12

Running total since 10/17 - $1271.39

Menu...November 23 - 29

I have NO idea what I'm making for tonight's dinner, much less the rest of the week. I'm glad this makes me think about it so I don't have to deal with "What's for dinner?" all day long, everyday.

Sunday... Church potluck for lunch...made chicken alfredo, Tom made dinner...doctored up cream of mushroom soup (added burger, dried onions, and green beans) was pretty yummy! We decided it would be good on toast.

Monday... Beef roast, pasta salad (gravy saved for Wed)
Tuesday... FFY..snacks, cereal, sandwiches
Wednesday... Burger and gravy over egg noodles (might turn it into stroganoff)
Thursday... Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house
Friday... Michelle bought fixings for ham dinner....might do it this day. If not then Saturday.
Saturday... Up in the air....might do a smorgasbord of small dishes (only have cheese for 2 pizzas) or mexican dinner of burritos, tacitos, bean dip, etc.

Catching up on the numbers

I went shopping last Thursday and then again on Monday. Unfortunately I lost a few of the receipts. The walmart I needed because I'd also bought a bunch of nonfood things so can't just use the receipt. Fortunately I THINK I remember everything I bought. The price chopper one isn't so important since almost everything I bought was food (outside of a few boxes of baggies and pkgs of stryofoam plates).

Thursday...

$21.97 - BJ's Wholesale Club - Pushpops, Cheez-its, assorted muffins

$53.18 - Walmart - Croissants, cheesecake, red velvet cake, 2lbs deli turkey, 3 bunches celery, cucumber, green pepper, 2 skim milk, 2 1% milk, 2qts plain yogurt, 2 bags tortilla chips, mustard, 3lbs margarine, 1lb garden rotini, 2 8pks gum, 4 strawberry milk (car ride home)

$1.00 - Dollartree - bag of gingersnaps

$76.15 - Thursday's Total
$84.45 - Monday/Price Chopper total

$160.60 - Total for both days

Running total since 10/17 - $1239.27

So how did the week fare?

As I predicted...I didn't follow the rest of the week's plan. The roast took way too long to defrost in the fridge and is still waiting for me to cook it. Probably for Sunday night dinner...Monday at the latest. Saturday wasn't a complete loss though...Michelle did cook chicken patties. She just added a whole lot more then corn to it. lol She always makes things fun for the kids. So what did the rest of the week look like?

Thursday... Alfredo egg noodles and boiled shrimp
Friday... Chicken fried rice
Saturday... Michelle make the a smörgåsbord of things....chicken patties, black olives, oatmeals, boxed mac and cheese, baby food (apricots with apples and pears), tuna on crackers, celery with peanut butter and/or ranch to dip it in. At least I think that's all they had...I could be wrong.

Now to think out a decent followable plan for the coming week.

Oh and Tom messed up my shopping gig here a bit. He went to Aldi's, bought a few things and then lost the receipt. He swears it wasn't more then $15 though. So I'll just add in $15 to the running total. I know he bought...

A case of canned corn
3 jars of instant coffee
2 loaves of bread
2 bags of nacho chips
1 bag of pretzels
a few bags of candy

Running total since 10/17... $1078.67

Walmart 11/16

3.22 Bananas - $.48/lb
1.64 Pt heavy cream
4.90 2 gallons 1% milk
4.70 2 gallons skim milk
3.88 gallon orange juice
1.02 3 half pint cartons strawberry milk (for in car)
2.28 GV raisins
.84 GV mustard
.50 chili powder
.50 ground red pepper
1.00 black pepper
.98 imitation vanilla
3.98 ground cloves
1.00 Mini marshmallows (christmas cookies)
1.48 GV cornflakes (christmas cookies)
1.68 2 boxes cornstarch (christmas cookies)
1.66 peel and pull twizzlers (christmas cookies)
.64 M&M mini canister (christmas cookies)
3.50 12pk water w/ sport tops (for school kids)


Total - $39.87 (39.40 + $.47 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $1063.67

How many eggs does it take?

With our hens starting to lay, our fridge was getting full of eggs. We're getting between 8 and 10 eggs a day now with more hens to start up as we go (today I got 11 eggs!). So after 2.5 wks of gathering we needed to deal with the surplus. That can only mean one thing....scrambled eggs for dinner!!!!

So I gathered the ingredients...



That's 2 short of 7 dozen eggs (yes, those are green eggs...aren't they pretty!) They're on the small side....starting to become medium.
1 bag of precooked and previously frozen bacon
shredded mexican cheese blend
green pepper (I added another pepper after I took the picture)
and a yellow onion

Because some people in this house have aversions to onions (makes them physically ill) I made 2 large pans of eggs...one with onion and one without...all the other ingredients were the same. Usually when I make scrambled eggs I dole out the servings and there isn't any left for seconds. For the first time in a while everyone was allowed to eat as much as they wanted.

Dinner was declared a hit. I'm left wondering though...how many weeks can we have scrambled eggs before the kids stage a revolt? We'll have to start getting creative with them.

Care to share any favorite dishes that use lots of eggs?

Menu...November 16 - 22

Running a little behind here. The good part is that we've kept to half the food plan. The bad part is that there's still half of it to not follow. lol

Sunday... Sloppy Joes and corn
Monday... Spanish Rice
Tuesday... Scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes
Wednesday... Pizza
Thursday... Roast beef, pasta salad, peas
Friday... Homemade macaroni and cheese, green beans
Saturday... Parent's night out...kids have chicken patty sandwiches, corn

A chilly rainy day

I'm sitting here under a blanket, smelling the pot of bean and bacon soup Tom has simmering on the stove. YUM! It's a perfect soup day. I've mentioned to Tom and the kids what I've been doing here with my grocery trips. Tom, not doing the major shopping very much was shocked at how much I've spent in less then a month. I don't blame him I tend to look at the amount and say OMGosh too. But it takes a lot of food to feed a lot of people. In the grand scheme of things $250 a week isn't unheard of, especially for 12 people. Still, it's more then I'm used to spending or would like to spend ($0 would be nice thankyouverymuch lol).

$250/wk isn't accurate either since what I bought will be eaten over the next few weeks instead of when I bought it. I know I'll still be spending money those weeks, just not the huge chunks like I just did. Unless of course I fall into the common shopaholic trap of thinking it's ok to shop and spend since it's food. I know I've done it before and can easily do it now. I mean here I'd just bought a boatload of groceries and I was still checking out grocery ads on Sunday. Not a good idea. Especially when I saw the chicken breasts I bought for $1.69/lb last week on sale at the same store for $1.39!!! Boooo! (hmmmm I'm going into the dentist again on Friday...should I buy another few bags? lol) If I was comfortable with my pressure cooker I could buy a bunch and can it. Then I wouldn't have to worry about having freezer space. But I'm not yet. Guess you have to start somewhere. I'll think about it.

So yesterday we went off plan already. I never got spanish rice going so told the kids to have nachos and sandwiches. I think we'll have spanish rice on Wed and move the Shrimp alfredo to Friday, but not positive yet.

I think in the next day or so I'll be taking inventory. Then I can get an acurrate picture of how far what I've purchased in the last few weeks will last.

Wegmans 11/10

Yep, I went shopping again! I guess the amount I already spent wasn't obscene enough....we had to go for XXX! Actually Wegmans has lowered their prices on a bunch of staples for the holidays. We were out of milk so decided I'd go there and pick up cheap staples while I could. I'm getting to the point that I'm going to have to invest in a few totes for storage. Way back when (before my life was devoted to driving in the OPPOSITE direction everyday) I had a Sam's club membership and bought 25 - 50lbs of bread flour every 2wks. Now that I'm not making bread as much (but want to get back to that again) I haven't needed the huge supply so 20lbs here or there was fine and my totes were relegated to other tasks. (like a chicken nesting box lol) I don't think I want to reclaim them for my flour bins.

6.32 8 loaves homestyle bread
.99 loaf giant bread
24.32 80% ground beef - $1.99/lb
4.70 2 gallons skim milk
4.78 2 gallons 1% milk
1.98 2 bags brown sugar
1.98 2 bags powdered sugar
3.98 2 bags granulated sugar
2.98 2 bags flour
8.28 12 cans tutrosso crushed tomatoes
8.28 12 cans tutrosso tomato puree
2.07 3 cans cranberry sauce
8.76 4 large bags frozen corn
.89 bag frozen corn, 1# (mistake...missed putting it back)
2.67 3 bags frozen mixed vegetables, 1#
3.98 2 boxes cinnamon square cereal
3.19 large jar spanish olives
1.98 2 muffins (eaten in the car...one by me)
1.49 Edy's frozen fruit bar (eaten in car...not by me lol)

Total - $94.38 ($94.22 + $.16 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $1023.80

Menu...November 9 - 15

Having spent an obscene amount on groceries this last week, you'd think this meal planning gig would be easy. Then why can't I just whip 7 meals off the top of my head and be done with it??? Thinking....thinking...thinking....

Sunday... UB's birthday dinner...Steak, salad, french bread, chips, cheesecake
Monday... Spanish rice
Tuesday... In honor of Veteran's day...NAVY bean and bacon soup, bread
Wednesday... Shrimp alfredo and linguini
Thursday... Dentist appointment...has to be easy...Chicken patty sandwiches, carrots and dip
Friday... Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Saturday... Beef roast

Walmart 11/08

From BJ's it was onto Walmart. The place was PACKED! Almost all the registers were open and there were 3 or 4 waiting in each line. I hate shopping on Saturday!

3.92 - Bananas, $.48/lb
4.95 - 5 bags baby carrots
2.40 - 2 pkgs sub rolls, 10ct ea
4.38 - 6 pkgs blue bonnet margarine
7.56 - 2 jars GV instant coffee
1.96 - 2 bags dried black beans
1.28 - GV BBQ sauce
3.27 - GV ranch dressing
2.87 - GV Mayo
1.72 - GV sweet relish
2.82 - Hanover frozen dutch pretzels
5.56 - 4 boxed GV snack crackers
1.57 - GV double cross wheat crackers
1.38 - GV wheat thin crackers
2.36 - GV regular oatmeal canister
2.94 - 2 bags white corn chip
2.38 - 2 bags honey wheat pretzels
1.53 - GV cheese puffs
2.36 - 2 bags GV mini pretzels
.98 - chicken taco (I was STARVING!)
.98 - chicken eggroll (ate that immediately too)
6.08 - 5qt vanilla ice cream

Total - $65.41 - ($65.25 + $.16 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $929.42

BJ's Wholesale Club 11/08

I went shopping AGAIN! This time to BJ's and Walmart after dropping Michelle off at work. I wanted to get something for UB's birthday dinner which is tomorrow. I ended up stocking up too. And of course the $10 off 5 products coupon enticed me to buy some convenience foods and snacks.

2.99 - Onion bagels, 12ct
2.99 - Assorted bagels, 12ct
4.99 - Ceasar croutons
5.29 - Banana nut cheerios - c
3.99 - Kosher Dills, whole - gallon
5.99 - Black olives, 6pk
4.99 - B&J Ketchup, 2pk
6.49 - Vidalia onion dressing, 2pk
5.49 - Good season's Italian dressing, 10pl - c
4.59 - Romaine lettuce, 2#
6.98 - 2 Green giant corn, 8pks - c
43.21 - Beef variety pack - $2.99/lb
8.99 - Chicken on the Sea chunk light tuna, 12pk
7.59 - Oscar Mayer smoked turkey slices, 2#
8.49 - Smithfield Honey ham, 3#
6.99 - Genoa salami, 2#
8.99 - Wesley Farm Butter, 4pk
5.49 - Yoplait yogurt cups, 15pk - c
10.99 - Kraft cheese singles, 96ct
6.99 - WF Shredded colby jack cheese, 2#
6.99 - WF shredded mexican cheese, 2#
15.99 - WF shredded mozzarella cheese, 5#
6.99 - WF extra sharp cheddar cheese, 2# block
8.99 - Rozz grated Parmesan cheese
8.99 - Velveta cheese, 2# block, 2pk
8.99 - Nestle semi sweet chocolate chips
4.29 - Domino granulated sugar - 10# - c
3.99 - Chex snack mix - c
4.99 - Pringles 6pk
11.99 - Variety cheese cake - 14 slices

Total - $244.71 (no tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $864.01

Price Chopper 11/07

I got a phone call at 8:40 yesterday morning and before I knew it...I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. My SIL, Della, was going to Price Chopper and was I interested in going too? They were leaving in 10mins or so. While I had planned a grocery shopping trip, I wasn't planning on leaving THAT early. Sean was in his highchair covered in yogurt. Not being driven by rational thought I said SURE! Within no time we were ready and waiting for her to pick us up. We had a good time and the kids had fun being together. Thankfully we also had a helper...Della's daughter.

Notes include...

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

3.00 - 2 bags fresh spinach - !
2.99 - green peppers - 2#
3.44 - on the vine tomatoes - $.99/lb
6.12 - 3 gallons skim milk - c
3.19 - Gallon Arnold Palmer tea
13.70 - raw shrimp - $2.99/lb
2.00 - 2 loaves french bread - !
2.99 - Western rolls - 24 count - !
.99 - Clear Value oyster crackers
4.97 - 3 boxes frozen pierogis - !
4.97 - 3 bags frozen cheese raviolis - !
4.50 - 3 pkgs wide egg noodles - !
1.29 - Price chopper garden rotini
4.99 - 12 pk boxed price chopper Mac and Cheese
1.99 - Price chopper colby cheese - 8oz block - !
1.99 - Price Chopper swiss cheese - 8oz block - !
1.99 - Price Chopper Monterey jack Jalapeño cheese - 8oz block - !
3.98 - Price Chopper extra sharp cheddar cheese - 8oz block - !
2.58 - 2 price chopper sour cream - !
3.38 - 2 cans price chopper pie filling - !
6.25 - 5 cans campbell's chunky new england clam chowder - !
2.50 - 2 cans campbell's chunky chicken and rice soup - !
1.25 - 1 can campbell's chunky sirloin burger soup - !
2.99 - 4 pk price chopper chunk light tuna
4.79 - Taster choice instant coffee - c
1.50 - price chopper vinegar - !
1.50 - Price chopper blue cheese dressing - !
1.50 - Price chopper thousand island dressing - !
1.50 - Price chopper honey dijon dressing - !
1.50 - Price chopper italian dressing - !
1.50 - Price chopper raspberry vinaigrette dressing - !
1.50 - Price chopper bacon ranch dressing - !
2.99 - Clear Value Fruit Ring Cereal
4.19 - 2 boxes Peanut butter cap't crunch - *
4.19 - 2 boxes crunch berry cap't crunch - *
2.19 - Juicy Fruit gum - 10pk - *
0.00 - Big Reg gum - 10pk - *
2.19 - 2 Winterfresh gum - 10pk - *
1.00 - Strawberry Creme Savers - !
1.00 - Life Saver Explosion Gummis - !
1.00 - Nips caramel chews - !
2.98 - 2 pkgs reese's peanut butter cups
2.98 - 2 pkgs kitkat bars
4.40 - 2 price chopper cream sodas - 12pk - !
2.20 - price chopper rootbeer soda - 12pk - !

Total - $136.49 ($134.64 + $1.85 tax)

Running total since 10/17 - $619.30

Had to edit since Sean was helping me post and published before it was done

LOK Kitchen Challenge Winner Announced

You can find the announcement and a list of all the participants here

Congratulations to Lisa over at The Joy of Six for her nutritious meals.

It was nice to see so many different ideas to this challenge. I'm looking forward to the next challenge in November.

I'm sure if my head wasn't firmly attached

I'd be headless many many time in my life. As I said a few minutes ago I went shopping yesterday and stocked up on a few things. It's always a good feeling to be ahead of the game. Looking at my menu from the other day I realized my easy dinner was for Friday because of my dentist appointment. Well my appointment was THURSDAY! Luckily what I had planned is something Tom likes to cook. So the kids had venison soup minus the beans. I think I'll use the beans on Saturday since we didn't do any roosters in yet.

So today (Fri) will be Lemon Chicken with brussel sprouts and I'm sure something else

Saturday will be Bean with bacon soup and breadsticks

I'm debating on whether to run up to Save-a-Lot today (it's in the oppposite direction I normally go). My fridge and cupboards are getting bare, I could do with a restock. I think we're down to a quart of milk.

MaineSource 11/6

Since I was in the suburbs for a dentist visit I decided to hit the local food and party warehouse store. I don't get there very much but their prices can be good for perishables. Pantry stuff...I'm not so sure on. Checking prices I found that BJ's Warehouse out did them by quite a bit. (Aunt Jemima pancake mix there...$4.99, BJ's...2 of the same boxes for $7.99 which with a coupon, entitled me to a free gallon of syrup ...$3.99 value) It's all in knowing your prices.

34.76 - Bonless Chicken Breast - $1.69/lb
5.78 - Bacon end & pieces - $1.49/lb
14.99 - Tyson Chicken Patties - 10#
7.99 - Frozen Strawberries - 5#
1.27 - 3 cluster tomatoes - $1.79/lb
2.93 - Brussel sprouts - $1.69/lb
8.47 - Green grapes - $1.69/lb
1.29 - 3 cucumbers - $1.29/3

Total - $77.48

Running total since 10/17 - $484.81

I'm assuming I'll be revising my menu for today. :o)

Menu...November 1 - 8

Again we're out of propane!!! I informed the company that we were low on Wed and asked to have a delivery by the weekend so we didn't run out. Here is it 1:45 Tues afternoon and I'm still waiting. If they don't come today, they are coming to get their tank and I'm calling someone else. Even if they delivery today, it may be their last. I'm sick of dealing with this each and every month. I'm sick of going days without propane. I've asked and asked again to please be put back on automatic delivery but they haven't done it. I'll go to a company that will. (and speak of the devil here they are! I should've ranted hours ago lol)

Well I guess that means I can do my menu now and we can have Pizza tonight!

Sunday... Angel hair with sauce
Monday... Smoked Sausage, micro'ed potatoes, salad
Tuesday... Pizza, salad
Wednesday... Chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes
Thursday... Venison and bean soup, bread
Friday... Breakfast for dinner....pancakes and eggs (need something quick, have a dentist appt that day)
Saturday... Roasted Roosters (if we cull the roosters down on Thurs) TBD (to be determined) if no roosters on Thurs.

I'm not so gung ho on this menu. That means I'll probably be revising things later in the week.

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

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