What I Spent, What We Ate | A two-week catchup
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday (and me being sick!), I didn't do a food post last week.
I spent $302 for the last two weeks, which means that I am actually right on budget. Whee!
I don't have grocery pictures of everything I bought, but I do have some Hungry Harvest photos.
What We Ate
I'm just going to do one week's worth of food here...Thanksgiving week will have to be lost in the annals of history. 😉
Monday
I made a cobb salad and also a pan of this cornbread.
Tuesday
This was the night we had pork tinga on tostada shells.
And we also had applesauce from the freezer.
Wednesday
We went to see an in-theater showing of a Studio Ghibli movie that night, so we just had some grilled cheese sandwiches for a quick bite to eat.
Thursday
I had some russet potatoes left from Thanksgiving, so I made a pot of baked potato soup.
I was feeling uninspired about cooking any veggies, so I cut up some raw fruit instead. Good instead of perfect, people.
Friday
Pizza, of course!
Yum, baked potato soup! I totaled up all of our November spending yesterday for the budget update! We spent $223 on groceries and $36 at restaurants in November, right on track with our budget!
This week we scored a giant bag of spinach from the farmers market for $3, so we've been choking on fancy salads.
I also made homemade spinach and artichoke hummus to use for waffle sandwiches!
Wednesday I made a giant pot of chili! And we ate leftovers last night.
I'm not sure what we'll be dining on this evening!
$300 for 3 weeks of groceries is pretty amazing for a family of 6!
I just published my food expense report that shows our Nov food bill of almost $750 for a family of 4. I think that's pretty high. We'd prefer to keep it under $500, but things haven't been going so well. Our biggest weakness is eating out. @_@
Oh, cool! I'll go check it out.
Monday: Beef pot roast turned into carnitas-style soft tacos, with all the regular toppings, plus roasted butternut squash
Tuesday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, tomato and cheese salad (should've been mozzarella, but all I had was cheddar), cucumber spears
Wednesday: Venison chili, rice, cheddar cheese, green salad
Thursday: Pasta, meat sauce, roasted butternut squash/bell peppers/onion, and carrot sticks for my roasted-vegetable-averse children
Today: Choice of leftover chili or leftover beef and vegetable soup, cheese, green salad, maybe cornbread if I'm feeling particularly indulgent . . .
Well, let's see if I can remember.
Monday- Tuscan chicken, over rice, spinach, and corn
Tuesday- pizza casserole and the leftovers from Monday
Wednesday- I cooked enough ground beef yesterday for sloppy joes today. I was supposed to cook roasted Brussels sprouts to go alongside but just didn't feel like it. I pressed the easy button.
Thursday- meatloaf, roasted chicken flavored rice, and roasted carrots.
What Studoi Ghibli movie did you see? I always forget about grilled cheese, but it's a great quick meal, especially with tomato soup for dreary winter nights when I haven't planned ahead!
We saw Howl's Moving Castle. It's Mr. FG's favorite!
Monday: meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, beets
Tuesday: King Ranch casserole, salad, corn muffins
Wednesday: sandwiches of Thanksgiving turkey from the freezer
Thursday: chicken and rice, peas, leftover jalapeno cranberry sauce
Friday: takeout! Probably Chinese. And we're watching a Christmas movie.
We also saw Howl's Moving Castle but then it was kind of required viewing because my wife marched down the aisle to the theme from it. 😛 So it's one of her favorite movies.
Anyway! 🙂
Monday: Pork chops with one of the barbecue sauces I had open in the fridge (yes, there are multiples.) Rice and veggies.
Tuesday: Cleaning out the fridge of various items. I can't remember specifics.
Wednesday: I bought a rotisserie chicken from BJ's ($5) and coupled it with couscous, and veggies.
Thursday: Some of the leftover chicken and rice (along with tortillas, cheese and lettuce) became burritos.
Friday: The rest of the leftover chicken and rice will become the basis for a curried rice stir-fry dish that seems to go over really well. We really know how to make a whole chicken last around here but there's only 3 of us and one is a toddler.
Monday...Unfancy Burgers (super great quality beef) ..and salad
Tuesday... Chicken thighs and steamed brocolli..the left over chicken thighs..I made a really nice chicken salad from the leftovers....
Wednesday...Toasted Beef Ravioli for him..cooked ground beef for taco salad (low carb) for me..leftovers for my lunches ... picked up a pound on my way home. from Dillons ( ie Kroger) for $1.79 on clearance ..
Thursday ..Exhausted from a week of the work I LOVE ...Sea Pak Fried Shrimp into the oven for him, served with a few raw veggies, slices of cheese and. Crackers..he loved it...I ate bits of leftovers..chicken thigh and chicken salad...perfect..
Friday...Homemade Chicken Fingers..available as a snack..we both had full meal luncheons...not very hungry
I am really pleased with my food budget... after trying so many methods..getting best results from finding reducing waste,keeping menus simple,focusing on loss leaders , and seeking out managers specials at the meat counter and the non-perishable clearance rack .
Have a great weekend!!!
I have lots in my freezer to work with right now.. I need to sit with the activity calendar and plan what meals can be used what night!
After the Turkey pa looza on Th/Fr I used leftover stuffing and a some quickly poached chicken to make 2 casseroles for future quick bakes..
Took the rest of the chicken, marinated it and grilled.. was used by a few for quesadillas, buffalo chicken salad or just a quick sandwich..
One night before TKD kids ate a frozen pizza I baked quickly with sliced fruits....
Ordered in chinese one night at the request of the child who NEVER asks for anything.. it was delish.. was dinner for 5 and lunch for the adults the next day..
Lasagna, salad, and garlic bread one evening.. made 1 pan with the ricotta filling and then a large ramekin for the picky child that was layered with mozz/provolone instead...Those leftover went into 1 kids lunch box and 1 adult lunch..
Cheeseburger crescent ring was 1 evening.. served with garlic flavored tater tots, salad and fruit..
Monday- Pepperoni/sausage pizza, lettuce salad
Tuesday- cod, garlic bread, white rice, and coleslaw
Wednesday- Left overs from Tuesday's meal
Thursday- salmon, garlic bread, and mixed veggies
Friday- chicken, potato salad, corn casserole and chocolate cake
Baked potato soup sounds interesting. Have you posted the recipe before? There's no link . I rather fancy trying that!
Tree x
Oh, so sorry about that! I added a link now.
This is easier since I write my weekly menus now.
Monday was chicken thighs with rice, okra and rutabaga for my husband who likes rutabaga.
Tuesday was pumpkin sausage soup with pumpkin purée from the freezer and sausage from a local farm.
Wednesday was just boiled shrimp and a salad.
Thursday we had acre peas, broccoli with cheese, link sausage from the same farm and carrots.
Friday was a steak and chopped salad.
I'm doing a little better on my food budget lately which is always good!
I've been eating potato salad and those little smokies. Ughhhh, I was almost done with the 2 lb bag is smokies when I read the calorie content...
180 calories for 5 little weenies. I probably are 500?
I almost fainted. I could have licked butter!!!
*ate
(This autofill keyboard of mine is no bueno.)