What I Spent, What We Ate | a night off for me!
What I Spent
$25 on my Hungry Harvest box (don't forget to enter to win a free month of HH boxes!)
(a veggie and chicken bowl with Hungry Harvest zucchini, beets, and sweet potatoes)
I spent $37 at Costco, and $93.46 elsewhere (Aldi and one other store).
So, I'm at $155 for the week, which is fine except that I totally did not have that much left in my April budget.
Here's to better things in May!
April Spending
Week 1: $188
Week 2: $148
Week 3: $237
Week 4: $155
2018 Monthly Averages
(goal is $150/week)
January: $544
February: $588
March: $641
April: $728
$2501 divided by 17 weeks = $147/week.
What We Ate
I didn't realize until I typed this up that I really worked my meals around my Hungry Harvest box this week. Yay me!
(And no, Hungry Harvest didn't pay me to do that. I just am enthused about what they do!)
Saturday
We had dinner at my parents' house...an early birthday meal for yours truly.
Sunday
Snacky meal! Sooo, lunch meat, nuts, fruit, veggies, hummus, cheese, and who knows what else.
Monday
I tried a recipe for panko-crusted, deviled pork chops and I thought it was just ok. Our bellies were filled, but I probably will not make that again.
I also pan roasted some red potato wedges (potatoes from my Hungry Harvest box), and made a green salad, using spinach from Hungry Harvest.
By the way, here's the basic way I make my potato cubes/potato wedges.
Tuesday
I got a bunch of tomatoes in my Hungry Harvest box, which made me think of making pico de gallo, which made me think of tacos.
(Honestly, it doesn't take much to make me think of tacos.)
So I cooked up some chicken breasts the same way I would for making these chicken enchiladas with red sauce, and we ate it as a taco filling. With all the toppings, including pico de gallo.
We had watermelon wedges with our tacos, because Aldi had watermelon for the first time this spring and I could not resist.
The first watermelon of the year is never a legitimately amazing watermelon, but it always tastes SO GOOD after a watermelon-less winter.
Wednesday
Hungry Harvest sent me two broccoli heads, so I thawed some chicken broth and made a pot of broccoli cheese noodle soup.
I also made these no knead batter rolls.
And we ate more watermelon.
Cannot stop.
Thursday
I tried this recipe for 5 ingredient chicken thighs, and I give it a just-ok rating. I felt like the chicken could have been a little more flavorful, which I often find myself thinking about chicken and pork recipes.
I really should stick with marinated/brined/salted-ahead-of-time recipes.
I'd made some whole wheat bread earlier in the day, so we ate that with our chicken, along with sliced apples.
Friday
Well. Today is my 40th birthday. So, I'm not cooking dinner. And I think we will probably get sandwiches from one of my favorite local sandwich shops.
I never can have too many sandwiches. 😉
_______________________
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday! I feel like I'm just now realizing how much seasoning pork and chicken need to be tasty. I've been cooking for 25 years. That's a quarter of a decade of bland meat. What a waste.
Anyway . . .
Monday: Scrambled eggs, leftover tomato rice (just rice cooked with diced onion and tomato sauce), steamed broccoli
Tuesday: London broil, boiled potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and shallots, steamed carrots and broccoli
Wednesday: Properly seasoned pork chops :-), rice cooked in chicken broth, fried cabbage and onions, cucumber slices with salt and vinegar
Thursday: Ribeye steaks, pasta with tomato/cream sauce, peas
Tonight: Italian sausage, leftover pasta, probably another cucumber and a leftover vegetable
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Kristen!! I hope you have a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!! Yay for birthdays and celebrations! 🙂
Happy birthday! I actually remembered
That because this ISFJ has a birthday tomorrow. :). I’m 21 again!! Haha
I love chick thighs! They're so juicy and flavorful. I think I prefer dark meat over white meat in general 😀
Your snacky meals sound really fun. I was wondering if everyone can get full from eating only snacks or your family will need to eat something later at night before going to bed.
Happy early birthday!
Happy Birthday! I hope you have great one! Your chicken and veggie bowl looks so delicious. Actually, all the food looks delicious. Have a great weekend!
Monday- Scrap chicken-recipe on blog, with broccoli florets
Tuesday- grilled cheese sandwiches
Wednesday- McDonald's , ugh!
Thursday- Skewerless kabobs - recipe on blog, with corn on the cob.
Friday- not sure, maybe pizza...I will probably get takeout mainly due to a time factor. I have been pondering grilling burgers, too, since the weather is better.
Happy birthday! Looks like you had a produce-filled week of meals! Isn't Spring fantastic?
Happy 40th!!!! That's a really special milestone! Thanks for the chicken recipe, they should make more things "# ingredient ____" - simplicity is best with it comes to homecook food.
Happy birthday!! Hope you have a fabulous day!
Happy birthday! I had the same dinner all of days, because I was sick with a disgusting cold that's ripping through my whole class---just as we're beginning to study infectious disease! A funny coincidence.
Soup: 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1/4 cup each of pearled barley and split peas, soup base and water and a ton of dried dill, and then once the peas are cooked, 1/4 cup of dry orzo. It's so lovely and soothing.
Today I'm out of soup, and I've moving tomorrow, so I think the rest of the day is going to just be scrambled eggs and buttered popcorn--odds and ends.
oooh that soup sounds wonderful; I love chilli & I love barley too
Happy Birthday! (I’m going to be 40 this year too!) I haven’t commented much but I’ve been following your about 5 years or so. I used to live in your neck of the woods too:)
Happy birthday again! I definitely think you should get tonight off from the kitchen.
We had a weird week of meals. In addition to my husband trying to recover from a broken kneecap, I have come down with a cold. I know I made burgers and parsnip fries one night, but most of the nights have been leftovers from some meals folks brought us, and scrapping around for whatever is available. My grocery bill was only about $25, though, so I guess there's that.
Hope he’s better soon! I did that in February!!
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday! I am a few years ahead of you, but I have enjoyed my 40s. Thanks for keeping your little corner of the internet positive and helpful. I appreciate you!
Happy Birthday to you!! Also, I love the veggie plate meal...that is SO me. As the pescatarian in the family, I find myself eating up all of the leftover veggies as a meal when I cook a meat dinner for everyone! Plus, I'm the only one who will eat some of the vegetable varieties that come in my HH box! lol
Happy Birthday Kristen! Happy new decade!
Happy birthday!!!
Happy birthday! My husband's 40th was yesterday, so you're almost birthday twins. Hope it's a good one!
Happy Birthday! I enjoy reading your blog each day, thanks!
Happy birthday! Here's to making this next year (and decade!) the best yet!
I also had Hungry Harvest beets and potatoes this week 🙂
Happy birthday to you! Today is one of my BFF's birthday as well; what a great day to be born!
Enjoy celebrating your 40th any way you choose. You earned it, mama!
Happy birthday Frugal girl! i check your blog everyday & especially enjoy Fri to see what everyone is cooking. i am also that wierdo who likes to see what other people buy at the grocery store to try to figure out what they are making....ok that sounds much wierder when i write it down. GTG now & overthink that...hugs from britern3
Happy 40th Birthday!! I hear that 40 is the new 30! (let me know if that's true. 😉 )
Watermelon sounds utterly delicious. Hmmm...
This week:
Monday - Ground beef, brown rice and veggies... let's call it stirfry. sort of.
Tuesday - Taco Salad!!
Wednesday - Roasted Chicken thighs with mushrooms and zucchini and broccoli
Thursday - Made a Roast beef with brown rice, green beans and broccoli.
Friday - Leftover Roast beef!
Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday dear Kristen, my favorite blogger...Happy Birthday to YOU!!!
Happy Happy Birthday!
happy happy birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite bloggers! Enjoy your day!
Have you pickled the watermelon rinds? So delish! I usually eat them in salads but they are also so good by themselves!
Happy birthday!
I have before, but unfortunately, I'm the only one in my family who likes watermelon pickles. Such a bummer.
Happy 40! I am a few years older and have no complaints.. other than just being busy and tired! This was a very calm week for us! SO shocking!
Monday it was FFYS- (fend for your self).. Between 2 VB practices and a track meet I was done...( and being down with a nasty cold.. Mama hit the grocery store.. Your welcome)
Tuesday- slightly better- off to work! Pulled a bag of precooked ground beef out.. made a pan of taco meat- served with rice, seasoned black beans and all the fixings...
Weds- Found a small pork roast in the freezer.. tossed into the crock pot with some carrots and kraut! Served with instant mashed taters and canned corn between 2 VB practices and a track practice!
Thurs- on a crock pot roll.. tossed a package of beef cubes into crock pot with broth, golden mushroom soup and lots of seasonings. Served over amish noodles with applesauce and the leftover mashed potatos.
Friday- all the menfolk at the Avengers movie. I promised the girl I would take her for chinese right after school before her VB matched tonight...Super easy for me!
Happy birthday, Kristen!!!!!!
Happy Birthday, Kristen! I hope it is a great day!
Sunday - I made a beef pot roast in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots
Monday - Mashed the leftover potatoes (and added more) to make a shephard's pie with the leftover beef.
Tuesday - I had leftover shephard's pie, my husband had beef & broccoli with rice (still using leftover roast)
Wednesday - Chicken Fettucine Alfredo w/ Broccoli and a side salad
Thursday - My husband went to a local brewery to watch the NFL draft with his friends, I made a weigh watchers chicken and veggie dish. Which turned out bland, so it's funny that you mentioned the seasoning issue because I had it too!
Friday - Tonight we pick up our dog from training after he has been away for 12 days. We plan to go straight from there to a local brewery where we can sit on the patio with the dogs and order pizza for delivery since they don't serve food. Should be fun!
Happy 40th to you, Kristen! May the next 40 be full of so many adventures. 🙂
I love how you based meals on what you had on hand. It's a great way to save, and I need to get better about it!
This week we ate:
Monday: Chili cornbread bake
Tuesday: Thai salad with chicken.
Wednesday: Pizza
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner! I had waffles.
Friday: Tonight I'm making tomato cream sliders with broccoli and cabbage 🙂
Happy birthday to a great blogger!
Happy Birthday, Kristen.
I admire you for your frugality but more importantly for making your children a priority. Thank you for setting an example.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Happy birthday. I'm glad you were born.
Bonne fete Frugal Girl!
Happy Birthday! You definitely deserve a night off from cooking!
Saturday - steak frites with broccoli (from Blue Apron)
Sunday- Udon noodle stir fry (Blue Apron)
Monday/Tuesday - leftovers
Wednesday - Curry chicken with creamy coconut rice and roasted veggies. This was also from Blue Apron and I learned I although I like coconut, and I like rice, I really don't like coconut rice.
Thursday - pizza takeout
Friday - tacos
Happy birthday!! I am so grateful for your blog. Thank you for sharing of yourself with your readers. I've been following your blog for at least 6 years and you have been such an inspiration. Wishing you an amazing day, year and decade ahead.
Monday - chicken on the grill with potato cubes
Tuesday- vegetarian fried rice and Costco potstickers
Wednesday- spaghetti and cheese toasties
Thursday- tacos
Friday- pizza
Happy birthday!
Happy 40th birthday.
Sunday- Brats, baked beans, potato salad and custard cream pie
Monday- Salmon, brown rice and mixed veggies
Tuesday- Roast beef and gravy made in the crock pot, cheesy potatoes and spinach salad with strawberries
Wednesday- Chicken burritos and spinach salad
Thursday- Pepperoni pizza
Friday- Scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage links and fruit bowl
Happy birthday! 40 is so young- I know you don't think that now but you will someday. What number are you in your family? I'm the oldest of 6- 3 boys and 3 girls but birth order is girl, boy, boy, girl, girl, boy.
Happy birthday Kristen 🙂
I don't remember the whole week so let me see;
- One night I had spaghetti & meatballs (frozen meal)
- Tues? sister cooked lasagne
- Wed? can't remember
- Thurs I made fried rice for family & friends
- Fri my sister came home with a platter of food from a friends do so I had a ploughmans dinner of jalapeno sourdough from the freezer with cold meats, dips, camembert cheese, vegie sticks & olives
- tonight same as Fri - sooo good
Think tomorrow I need a good meal may cook a roast with vegies
Happy birthday, dear Kristen. Happy birthday, to you! And many more!
In honor of your big day, I just checked on HH. Boo-hoo, still not in my area yet and I live not too far from the "Salad Bowl" of the Country (Salinas, CA). I'm still hopeful.
Imperfect Produce is on the West Coast. Same concept.
PS - I hit 60 last month. 40 is a piece of cake! Enjoy this decade! Lots of new freedoms are heading your way.
Happy Birthday!
I am a vegetarian but I cook meat for hubby. I guess I need to learn more about properly seasoning chicken and other meats!
Friday was my 40th birthday too!
Oh wow, we are truly birthday twins!
Happy Birthday! I am way past you (51!) but still have a middle-schooler to feed! She and I have to be gluten free, and we eat chicken/fish/turkey but not meat. My husband would eat everything, but he has to eat what I cook!
This is what we ate last week:
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S- artichoke pasta (I make an artichoke sauce with lemon and garlic)
M - asian cauliflower stirfry (https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-spicy-roasted-cauliflower-stir-fry-224291) with rice
T - chicken shepherd's pie (Rachael Ray recipe)
W - tilapia with paprika/curry, rocket (arugula) from our yard with a little lemon juice/olive oil/parmesan
Th - make your own pizza with rocket, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts
F - nourish bowl (new recipe for us and it was really good! made it from sorghum grains, recipe from Purple Carrot)
S - big salad (with turkey, radishes, cucumber, sunflower seeds, carrots) and toast with shishito peppers on the side