On Saturdays, I share my menu plan for the upcoming week along with a photo of my groceries and a tally of my spending. My goal is to spend $100/week for our food, toiletries, and cleaning products. I’m currently in the midst of trying to buy more local, sustainably-produced food while sticking to my budget. Can it be done? I don’t know, but I’m going to try, and I’ll share what I learn as I go along.
What with all the birthday goings-on, I’ve only made dinner a few times this week. Monday night we used our Groupon for a BBQ meal, I cooked Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday we all went out for my birthday, Friday was our usual take-out date night, and tonight, we’re going to my brother’s house (the crown-moulding-installing brother) for his birthday dinner (his birthday is the day after mine).
I’m bringing rolls tonight, but I consider that to be a piece of cake.
I do plan to actually cook this coming week, just so you know. 😉
I didn’t have to go shopping this week (love that!), so I didn’t spend any grocery money (also love that!).
What are we eating?
Breakfasts will be very non-cereal-ish this week because I have almost none in the house. So, we’ll eat eggs, yogurt, toast, and oatmeal. And maybe some muffins or pancakes.
Lunches will be comprised of sandwiches made with whole wheat bread, homemade yogurt, yogurt smoothies, cottage cheese, fruit, raw veggies, nuts, cheese, and leftovers as necessary. Of course, we don’t eat all of that every single day…it’s just a list of the things we choose from for lunch each day. And Mr. FG eats leftovers for lunch pretty much every day.
This is the dinner plan:
Saturday
- Dinner is at my brother and sister-in-law’s house. I’m bringing rolls but I haven’t decided for sure which ones yet. I’m leaning towards honey-glazed rolls because those always seem to be so popular.
Sunday
- Snacky stuff…fruit, dip, crackers, cheese, popcorn, and so on.
Monday
- Steak Tacos
- chips and salad
- fruit salad
Tuesday
- Tilapia…probably just seasoned and broiled
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- green salad
Wednesday
- Roast Chicken
- Basic Rolls
- green beans
Thursday
- Clam Chowder (this got bumped from last week)
- Cheese Bread
- green salad
Friday
- Takeout date night for Mr. FG and me, something super easy for the kids
I’ll be back tomorrow with birthday pictures.
Today’s 365 post: It’s just juice.
Joshua’s 365 post: I think he must have forgotten to get one ready yesterday. I’ll update once he’s got a post up. 😉
WilliamB
Sunday 1st of May 2011
I think I made up for you this week. Yesterday (Sat) I made: - turned the generous remains of the Easter ham into meat and stock; - split pea soup with the stock, from CI's Best Recipes; - Ginger and Garlic Rice from the Book of Jewish Food (a bust, tastes like white rice but more work); - Caribbean Black Beans, from CI"s Best Recipes, cooking the beans with 2 old bottles of beer and using a smoked turkey wing instead of ham hock; it's bloody *fantastic* and I wish I'd doubled the recipe; - stripped the turkey wing for meat; - majoram kielbasa (from ground happy pork), cooked some, kept some for later; - Meatball & Pasta Pie, from the Book of Jewish Food; baking the meatballs first because the ground happy pork is so fatty; - Mushroom Borek, a freeform mushroom pie, from The Ultimate Mushroom Book; - two more borek doughs because apparently I can't do math any more (I forgot Iwas reducing the recipe by 1/3), will freeze for future pies; - prepped 2 melons; - dough for Fresh Ginger Crisps, for later cooking later; - prepped Hunan Pork Threads & Broccoli for a weekday dinner, from Barbara Tropp's Modern Art of Chinese Cooking.
Cary
Saturday 30th of April 2011
I have to say that the honey glazed rolls are a fan favorite at my family gatherings too, I have become the "roll bringer" and they get scarfed down. Thanks, I attribute all of my yeast abilities to your wonderful directions and encouragement, the whole clan (24 of us!) thanks you!
Shannon
Saturday 30th of April 2011
I love that you and Mr. FG have a take-out date night every Friday. My husband and I are trying to do the same thing (not always take-out though). What do you do with the kids? Do you feed the kids, put them to bed and then have your date? We are having a hard time figuring out what to do with the kids. They are not a fan of Mommy and Daddy having Steak-n-Shake and they are having mac-n-cheese. Any advise?
Thanks, Shannon
Kristen
Saturday 30th of April 2011
I'm putting your question into this Monday's Q&A post because you're not the first one who's wondered about this! :)
Tina (Tightwad Mom)
Saturday 30th of April 2011
Clam chowder sounds divine! I may have to add it to this week's menu. P.S. I baked up a double batch of your potato bread yesterday (the kid's are burned out on wheat bread). I turned a fourth of the dough into hamburger buns for tonight's grilled hamburgers. Of course, the kid's had friends over last night, so one and a half loaves lasted about......5 minutes (maybe I'd better bake a batch of wheat bread today)! :)
Juliette
Saturday 30th of April 2011
I have begun to make more of our bread. I have several reasons for this. One thing I have a challenge with is the time or the "want to" to make time to make bread more than once a week. :) I notice you have bread on your menu a few times a week. How do you fit that in to your schedule or do you make it all at once and save for the rest of the week. BTW I have four children that I homeschool also! (girl 8, boy 7, girl 4, boy 3)
Kristen
Saturday 30th of April 2011
Well, I usually make our daily sandwich bread in one fell swoop (I have a batch rising right now). The breads we have with our dinners I usually make on the day.
Since I've been baking bread for so long, it's not a big chore in my mind, and so I don't mind doing it several times a week.
If you're just starting out, though, don't pressure yourself! If you make yourself bake bread all the time when you don't want to, you'll probably burn out. So, just make the amount that works for you and your current life phase. :)