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

Walmart 10/29

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

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

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!!

Scalloped Potatoes

I hope I can write this out correctly as this is generally a throw everything in a pan willy nilly type of dish. When my mom makes this she slices the potatoes thinly and layers everything neatly in the bowl...but I'm not my mom.



Makes 2 11x17 lasagna pans.

6 20oz bags Hash brown potatoes
6 10.5oz cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 sticks of butter
2/3 c flour
salt
pepper
milk
onion, chopped (optional but highly recommend)

Thinly sliced potatoes is what's originally called for. I find the hash browns quicker and they were on sale. If you use sliced potatoes you'll have to increase your cooking time (by about an hour, I'm guessing)

Mix potatoes, onions and cream of mushroom soup
spread in pan
drop pats of butter over top of potatoes
sprinkle flour over potatoes
mix a little milk into potatoes until they are loose
add more milk over potatoes until it reaches the top of the potatoes
add salt and pepper

Bake about 2hrs. Top will be golden and crispy. Potatoes will be soft.

Notes...
* Due to an onion intolerance (and onion haters) I make one with onion and one without.
* If you like a "soupier" dish decrease flour and/or increase milk.
* Use caution or protect the bottom of your oven as this dish can boil over if the pan is too full.

Menu... October 19 - 25

So after the major shakeup last week I did fine. Of course it helps that I didn't have set plans for Saturday. lol What we ended up doing was munching all day. I made a huge bowl of egg salad for lunch with plenty of leftovers. Then it was CORN (clean out refrigerator night).

New week, new menu although this week I'm a bit fuzzy on how things will go. I do have the next few days planned out so that should be easy enough...

Sunday... Pizza...cheese and bacon
Monday... Scalloped Potatoes
Tuesday... Pasty or chicken pot pie
Wednesday... Venison chili, cornbread
Thursday... Spanish Rice
Friday... Beans & rice burritos, CORN (clean out refrigerator night)
Saturday... Venison Stew, biscuits

Noelle, the scalloped potatoes recipe is coming up soon. It's one of those just throw in recipes, so hard to write out.

Shopping trip to Walmart

I haven't done a shopping trip account in a while. With the increased prices and having little food allowance, I thought it would be good to keep closer track of how much I'm spending. So I guess I'll be doing shopping posts again.


6.08 - 5qt vanilla ice cream
1.44 - 2 2lts Sam's Club Root beer (and bottle deposit)
0.33 - Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (for the ride home)
2.24 - 2 pkgs GV bite size tortilla chips
2.94 - 2 pkgs GV white corn tortilla chips
2.36 - 2 pkgs GV Honey wheat braid pretzels
2.76 - 2 pks Austin individually pkg'ed crackers (cheese, PB)
1.18 - GV mini pretzels
9.56 - 4 gallons skim milk
3.88 - gallon OJ
2.97 - 3 3gal refilled drinking water (culligan machine)
3.78 - GV instant coffee
1.98 - 2 bags baby carrots
0.79 - 1 bell pepper
9.00 - 6 pkgs (20oz ea) Simply Potatoes Hash Brown potatoes
8.00 - 4 pkgs (8oz ea) Kraft shredded mozzarella cheese
4.00 - 2 pkgs (8oz ea) Kraft shredded Italian
4.00 - 2 pkgs (8oz ea) Kraft shredded Monterey Jack & Cheddar
4.00 - 2 pkgs (8oz ea) Kraft shredded Mexican 4 cheese
4.00 - 2 pkgs (8oz ea) Kraft shredded Taco seasoned
3.84 - Great Value Tater tots - 5lbs
2.96 - 2 cans GV chunk light tuna
1.24 - 22oz sandwich bread
2.78 - 2 boxes GV snack crackers
3.27 - 36oz GV Ranch Dressing
2.87 - GV mayo
2.18 - GV spanish olives

Grand total - 94.80 ($94.43 + $.37 tax)

What I'll do with these...

Snacks
Ice Cream and rootbeer - floats
Tortilla chips - with salsa or as nachos with taco cheese
pretzels - (girls take to school)
austin crackers - splurge for school snacks
baby carrots and ranch dressing - snack
snack crackers - snacks

Side Dishes
baby carrots and ranch dressing
Monterey jack - mac and cheese - sm batch
tater tots - side for Fri dinner
snack crackers - side with soup

Lunch
tuna - lunch during the week (when kids are in school)
spanish olives & mayo - egg salad
Tortilla chips and taco cheese - nachos

Meals
bell pepper - spanish rice ingredient
hash browns - scalloped potatoes
mozz & italian cheese - pizza
mexican cheese - burritos

Misc
snack crackers - out of bread backup
loaf of bread - because the kids insist that air bread be used at times

Not sure what I left to buy to get through the next week/payday yet. Funny thing happened while shopping. Michelle and I went after she got out of work. We separated at the door and didn't meet up until the end. We BOTH ended up grabbing the 5lb bag of tater tots! Neither of us had mentioned buying it and it's something we rarely buy. I hadn't even considered them until I walked by them in the freezer. Michelle planned on getting them when she went in. Funny when we're on the same wavelength like that. It's happened to us quite a few times lately (I'll bring up a subject Michelle was just thinking of and vice versa)

As I usually do...changing things up...

Ok...so now I know...it's a good idea to take the meat you plan for dinner that night...OUT of the freezer in a timely manner. Not a few hours beforehand. The idea of having a meal plan is so you can be prepared and prevent the last minute thinking. But Noooo! Not me, I have to ignore everything.

The turkey breast was solid as a rock when it should've been thrown into the oven, covered in it's lovely bacon'ness. I grabbed it out of the freezer and threw it into the fridge figuring we'd have it for dinner on Wednesday instead. For good measure I grabbed some hunks of venison out to defrost for Friday's dinner. Yeah me! :o)

So what to have for dinner? I grabbed a gallon baggie of chicken and stock out of the freezer and threw it in a pot. After it thawed out a bit I realized it probably wasn't enough for everyone so grabbed another bag. Pat was here and was excited...it's his favorite. He made sure to walk out the door with a plate of it. Now what to serve it over? Not enough potatoes. Rice? We were suppose to have rice the next day so I didn't really want to go in that direction. Bread...I'd made 4 loaves of bread the day before and overcooked them just a tad. They weren't burnt, just dark. It was perfect for soaking up the delicious gravy. Dinner saved!

I even have enough chicken and gravy to make potpies. This morning the turkey breast still seemed a bit solid so I decided we'd make the potpies instead. I was going to cheat and use the last few boxes of packaged pie crust in the freezer. But again, they were still abit frozen when I wanted to make the pies. I don't really feel like making rice and burritos (no cheese or sour cream....blah!) So back into the freezer I go again...VODKA SAUCE!!! So we had Saturday's dinner on Tuesday, eating Thursday's dinner on Wednesday and having Tuesday's dinner on Thursday.

Yep, it's a good thing I make meal plans or I'd be going crazy at night trying to come up with meals! ROFL!

So let's see what the mix-up did...

Tuesday... Chicken and gravy over bread
Wednesday... Vodka sauce over Penne
Thursday... Bacon wrapped wild turkey breasts
Friday... BBQ Venison Sandwiches
Saturday... Figure it out later, might go grocery shopping

Menu... October 12 - 18

OK...so I did ok until Friday when I didn't come home for dinner. I had a dentist appt that ran close to dinner. So instead of picking up the little ones and running home, we had dinner at my parents house. Those at home had eggs, cereal and/or sandwiches. Saturday I utilized the church grill we run with tasty fare such as...burgers, hot dogs, chili, sausage and peppers, chicken sandwiches and salt potatoes. No cooking for me.

Tom came home from work on Tuesday looking like Santa Claus with a sack over his shoulder. It was 55 gal trash bag with frozen venison and a wild turkey breast...all vacuum packed! I have to admit I haven't really dealt with the deer we processed this spring. So I'll have to incorporate it more. I'd love to hear your favorite recipes for venison.

So now what's for this week? Hmmm...

Sunday... Tom made a huge pot of venison soup. Was yummy
Monday... Shrimp Alfredo with linguini, garlic bread sticks
Tuesday... Bacon wrapped wild turkey breast, sauteed mixed veggies, stuffing?
Wednesday... Rice and bean burritos
Thursday... Spaghetti with vodka sauce (frozen from last time)
Friday... BBQ venison sandwiches
Saturday... Chicken and gravy over rice or biscuits

And just a reminder... Join in with...


(click the graphic above to go to the challenge for October)