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In which I shop like a grown-up

produce

This week, I went on a real grocery shopping trip! Like, for the week! With a list!

I was so responsible.

Here’s what I bought:

groceries

Somehow, it always looks like not-very-much food when it’s out on the floor like this, but when it’s time to put it away, I feel like the food multiplies.

I spent $165.17 on this trip, $115 of which was at Aldi.

Since I still have some produce left from last week’s produce box, I didn’t need to buy a whole lot from the store, which was nice.

And I also stopped at Target, as mentioned yesterday, and spent $18, $10 of which was a bag of frozen berries for smoothies.

How’s my spending going in November?

$183-this week

$177.73second week of November (in which I was totally disorganized)

$20first week of November

So, I’m coming in around $126/week this month, which means I’m still way under my average of $200/week.

Go, me!

Monday

This day ended up being kind of nutso, so I was glad that I’d put something easy on the menu!

We had a salad (a riff on this strawberry pear salad), pan-cooked tilapia, and cornbread.

tilapia

Why yes, that IS my Amani Ya Juu towel wrapped around the cornbread.

Tuesday

We had Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, the Brussels sprouts salad with the warm bacon dressing (I think this is the third post this week where I’ve mentioned it. Sorry!), and scalloped potatoes.

parmesan crusted chicken

(photo from another time when we had Parmesan-Crusted chicken, obv. Also from before daylight savings time ended, obv.   I miss my daylight for photos!)

Wednesday

I’d planned to make BBQ beef sandwiches, but I sort of forgot to thaw the chuck roast in time, and BBQ isn’t really something you can rush.

So I thawed some ground beef instead and made tacos.

And I thawed some applesauce from my massive collection for us to eat with our tacos.

funnel filling applesauce jars

I made guacamole too.

But you probably assumed that.   😉

Thursday

Mr. FG, Joshua, and Lisey went to a concert, so it was just Sonia and Zoe and me left at home.   I made French toast for them:

french toast

And I made a taco salad for myself to use up the taco leftovers from Wednesday night.

Friday

It’s a pizza night, and I think I might opt for making regular ol’ pizza.

Lisey making pizza

And that wraps up a week of eats at my house!

What did you eat this week?

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Karen B.

Sunday 22nd of November 2015

Kristen I like your menu posts and have tried several dishes. However, your Monday dinner still has me wondering if you left something out! That looks more like a summer lunch around here. Was your family happy with that or want a bit more? Thanks

Kristen

Sunday 22nd of November 2015

No...we were all good! I made lots of the tilapia and plenty of cornbread, so there was enough to go around for all of us.

(No one in my family has enormous appetites as we're all a fairly small build. If I were feeding football player teenagers, the story might be different.)

Jessica S

Saturday 21st of November 2015

I ALWAYS throw my roasts frozen into my crock pot for pulled pork/shredded beef sandwiches! Yesterday I tossed a Pork butt into the crock with a few heavy shakes of 21 Seasoning Salute, some grinds of Pink salt and a few shakes of Worchestershire Sauce. I start on high to get it going then turned to low and it cooks all day. Husband works from home so if I am not here he will flip it a few times to make sure no areas dry out. I ended up bringing an extra kid home from the school hoedown so while they played I defatted and shredded the meat, heated up a bag of frozen corn and a bag of parmesean seasoned potatoes and green beans for sides. I had a few bags of frozen rolls from a great coupon find that were bought for last minute additions like this! I warmed hawaiian rolls and mini bagettes and everyone got to sauce their meat as desired!

Also this week we had salads, homemade meatballs and sauce over penne, and leftovers. One night I divided a pack of chicken breast and did ritz and cheese crust baked for the kids and cubed the rest and used a Dinner kit from ALDI for Chicken Tiki Masala! Also made the box of Naan for it. SO good, did not have a fake box taste.. wish I would have bought more!

Kristen

Saturday 21st of November 2015

I wouldn't have minded throwing it in frozen, but I didn't remember until midday, so then there was definitely no time to get it properly cooked in the crockpot.

But I'll just bump that meal to this week and all will be well!

(As long as I'm more mindful this go-round. Ha.)

Jessica S

Saturday 21st of November 2015

Edit- if I know I will have it in the crock a really long time I flip to low.. if I put it in a little later I keep on high and it is always tender and perfect!

Laura

Saturday 21st of November 2015

Different food week here as my sister and brother-in-law were here Tuesday through Thursday dinners. Monday was breakfast for dinner, Tuesday my mom made toutiet and I made French onion soup plus a salad, Wednesday I made spaghetti with meat sauce for a crowd, garlic bread and salad, and then Thursday was our Thanksgiving meal with turkey and fixings plus fancy dessert. Last night was pizza here and tonight is turkey and bean tacos.

Now my fridge is bare so I will pick CSA up and hit the grocery store too...Thanksgiving round two at my in laws this week with 20+ people...they usually count on me to bring vegetable somethibg

Jody S.

Friday 20th of November 2015

I love your blog, but why, oh, why, do you put all of your groceries on the floor? It makes me so tired think of you coming home with all of the groceries and then having to stage a photo before putting them away.

But your floor is pretty :)

Kristen

Saturday 21st of November 2015

Well, it's because it's hard to see what I've bought otherwise. And people like to see everything. Believe me, I'd much prefer to just photograph my bags of groceries!

SandyH

Friday 20th of November 2015

This post is so helpful, lots of ideas for future menus! This week for us:

Monday: crock pot cranberry chicken, almond rice pilaf (Paula Deen recipe), acorn squash Tuesday: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, roasted red potatoes, brocolli Wednesday: leftovers from both above meals! Thursday: meatloaf, baked sweet potato, coleslaw Friday: pizza

Every single grocery item in the above menus was purchased at Aldi.

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