What we ate in April (plus how much I spent on groceries)
Once a month (or, um, something close to that), I share a photo of my groceries, my weekly average grocery spending for the year, and photos of a week's worth of meals.
Zee Groceries
Here's what I recently bought on a grocery shopping trip:
I just tallied up my grocery spending for the year, and at this point, I'm averaging $143 per week, which I'm pretty happy with, especially because I've been buying mostly local, organic chicken and also because I bought 50 pounds of grain and a bunch of organic sweet potatoes from a local place.
I'm also relieved that my spending isn't higher than it is because I haven't been super duper careful at the grocery store. This is what shopping at Aldi will do for you, though...you can eat things like avocados, salmon, fresh mozzarella, and organic spinach without spending yourself silly.
I love me some Aldi, I really do.
Zee Menu
(I've added links to any recipes that I've posted here on the blog.)
Snacky Stuff
This is our oh-so-formal name for a meal we throw together when we happen to have had a late or large lunch...it usually consists of cut up fruits and veggies, cheese, popcorn, and some lunch meat.
Tacos with guacamole, salsa, and chips
(with fruit salad as a side)
I would serve Tex-Mex food pretty much every single day if my family wouldn't kill me. Love, love, love.
Mandarin Chicken Salad
(with grapefruit halves as a side)
Pan-Seared Salmon with Mango Salsa
(with Sauteed Green Beans and Cornbread Muffins)
BLT Chicken Salad
(eaten away from home, which is why it's all packed up in a cooler!)
Honey Glazed Pan Rolls
These are not a meal, even though I'd like that to be the case.
(Om, nom, nom, nom.)
I actually brought them to an Easter Saturday get-together with Mr. FG's family, though, so that's all I cooked that day!
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
This was our Easter dinner. 😉 We'd already had a ham and such with Mr. FG's family the day before, and so we opted for something super-duper simple before we did our egg hunt with the kids.
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So, that's a week of eats at my house.
What have you been eating lately? I'm always on the prowl for meal ideas, so share away!
There's something missing -- where are all of the stuffed animals? 🙂 This is my favorite type of post as I am interested (maybe nosy) about what people buy and eat.
My kids are so picky they wouldn't dream of eating anything like this, but I bought some round black lentils to make Dal Makhani this week. Still looking for a good recipe.
Just had to share what I did with your granola recipe this week. To my dismay I didn't have any almonds but I did have a bag of unsalted peanuts. I put some in my food processor to chop them a bit before adding and they added a wonderful flavour. Also, I cut the salt in half with good results and I often use half maple syrup, half molasses. Anyway, I know that isn't really a meal idea but it was so delicious that I wanted to tell you in case your almond supply is ever empty too!
My wife and I are averaging $75 a week for groceries, which isn't bad. She's pretty intent on keeping it below that but I'd like to increase the number of fresh fruits and vegetables we buy.
One thing we are low on and need to stock up on is flour. I have plenty of Hi-Gluten flour for making pizza and crusty bread but not much regular bread flour and I'm totally out of AP. Guess a trip to King Arthur's HQ is in my future. 😀
OMG SO JEALOUS you are so close to KAF HQ! I took a few baking classes from their Education Center. And...for them to have so much flour....so readily available on their shelves... made me wish I lived out that way!
Ugh. Pet a bag of flour for me.
Well, I'm a couple hours away but for me it's worth the drive. We make a day of it and have a picnic and hit up a couple other sites in Vermont. Vermont is a great state to explore.
Don't you just love your electric griddle? Being able to whip out a batch of pancakes/grilled cheese, etc., quickly and perfectly browned gives me a sense of joy--ok, maybe that's a silly thing to feel joyful about, but hey, it's the small stuff!
Love me my Aldi's, also. Especially when pineapple is on sale for $1.50 and the best price I can get elsewhere is $2.50. Or when spring mix lettuce greens were on sale for 50 cents last week!!!!!!!!!
I love shopping at my Alid's too and bought my first fresh pineapple there and will never buy canned pineapple again! My Alid's has their fresh pineapple on sale for 99 cents and when I see that I grab me one or two!
I'm always interested in how much families spend on groceries, and I'm so glad you share that stuff! We are a family of 4 (I do babysit 2 children, however, so it's almost like a family of 6 most days!) and I try not to spend more than $100 per week on groceries, which includes paper goods and toiletries and all that. I think I'll make it under $80 this week, yay! Although I didn't buy any meat because we've stocked up on that the past few weeks...meat is so expensive.
I actually posted a recipe today for Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos (convenient since you bought a bunch of sweet potatoes, haha). Check it out if you like!
http://angelawilhite.blogspot.com/2014/04/one-of-our-favorite-meatless-meals.html
And, this is the first time I've commented on your blog, but I've been reading it for awhile. I enjoy it and thanks for all your tips!
I so happy that you disclosed your average weekly spending for groceries. That's about what I spend a week for my family of 4 but I didn't have anything to compare it to.
Here are some meals my family has had over the past week:
#1 - Taco night (made from ground turkey)
$3 in ground turkey (I cook $6 worth but I set 1/2 aside for next day)
$1 hard taco shells from the .99 store
$1 packaged guacamole (at Food Town on clearance)
.50- can of Rotel sent through the blender to make salsa
Total cost: $5.50
#2 - Mexican Lasagna night
$3 - 1/2 of the turkey taco meat prepared the night before
.25 Corn tortillias for layering where lasagna noodles would normally go
$1 shredded cheese (I buy in bulk from Sams Club)
.50 Enchilada sauce (used where marinara sauce would normally go)
total cost: $4.75
#3 - Spaghetti night
$3 ground turkey (I cook $6 worth but put 1/2 aside for another meal)
.25 noodles
.99 spaghetti sauce
.25 garlic bread made from 3 hot dog buns (.99 package on clearance)
.50 Salad (1/2 of mixed salad from .99 store)
.99 Cactus (.99 store had them so we experimented)
total cost: $5.99
#4 Lasagna Night
$3 of the ground turkey I prepared the night before
.25 Lasagna Noodles (I buy them at the .99 store)
$1 shredded cheese (bought in bulk from Sams)
.25 garlic bread made from 3 hot dog buns (pkg on clearance for .99)
.50 remaining salad from the night before
total cost: $5
#5 Steak Night....Yipee!
$12 Ribeyes (I bought a $35 package at Sams...they were 2" thick so I cut
them up and got 3 meals out of them)
$1 Fresh Broccolli (found at the .99 store)
$1 mashed potatoes (leftovers used for potato soup lunches...yum)
total cost: $14....but much cheaper than $70 at a restaurant
#6 Pork Roast
$2.25 1/2 Pork Roast (at Target with $3 clearance coupon attached)
.99 carrotts (.99 store bagged baby carrots)
$1 mashed potatoes ( leftovers used for potato soup Lunches)
Total Cost: $4.25
#7 Left Over Pork Roast...still trying to figure out what to transform it into for dinner tonight! ????
We made a pork roast last week and made sandwiches out of it. We just added some barbecue sauce on top of the meat, and voila!
Pulled pork bbq sandwiches....PERFECT ! Thanks for the suggestion!
You're welcome!
I use leftover pork to make pork fried rice.
Also, I'd love to know more about the cactus you listed under spaghetti night?
I made two (on sale) arm roasts in the crock pot sprinkled with dry au jus mix, ranch dressing mix and onion soup mix, then almost covering in water. Added potatoes and carrots near end of cooking.
Next day with the left over roast that I cubed I made chunky meat burritos. Fry chopped onions in a little veg oil, sprinkle with flour to make a roux, add chopped green chile, and season with garlic salt, cumin (not too much) and add water to make a gravy. Cook until thickened. I then baked three potatoes in the microwave until almost done and cubed them. I fry mine until they have golden edges. Mix it all and you have burrito filling.
Wednesday was a stir fry with the leftover roast I hadn't put in the burritos. I slice it thin and add it at the end of cooking whatever veggies I have stir fried. We had it over rice.
Thursday was grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade tomato soup.
Friday Shrimp fried rice with the leftover rice and shrimp I bought on sale chopped into smaller bites. It does not take many shrimp to get a wonderful flavor. I always add a couple of eggs to the wok first and stir fry them first. Take them out and add at the end. I add whatever veg bits it have such as finely chopped bell pepper, carrot, onion, frozen peas, asparagus, zucchini...well you get the picture. It's usually stuff that needs to be used up. I season it with soy sauce and catsup or hoisin, salt and pepper.
I also heated up left over hot and sour soup I had previously frozen, to serve with it.
Ah, good old fried rice. A great user-upper!
I've been bored with food & cooking recently so my meals have been very simple - typically a simply-cooked meat with raw veg and raw fruit. Recent meals:
- homemade chicken tenders[1]
- sliced ham (half price)
- chix legs, marinated in teriyaki sauce, then pan fried
- venison (gift from friend) marinated in the leftover teriyaki sauce (tip: boil the sauce each time after you put raw meat in it)
- hot dogs [2]
- leftover soup (funny how things that didn't taste good separately, taste great together)
[1] A marvel of frugality. The tenders are from the last 6-8 chix I cut up, the breadcrumbs from bread that got stale. The cheese and spices were "new." Put all in a pre-used bag, shake, and cook. I've tried both baking and pan-frying and prefer pan frying. I don't need oil if I use a nonstick pan.
[2] Oscar Mayer now sells hot dogs made only of ingredients I recognize. Machine-processed turkey isn't my favorite meat, but these dogs don't have preservatives, artificial color, or sodium/potassium nitrate. It does contain celery juice which is a natural source of nitrites. Natural or not, nitrites aren't the best for one (nitrates are worse) but I long ago decided I was OK with it.
Raw eggs can carry salmonella and can make you very sick. There is a new resistant salmonella that can be deadly so don't eat raw eggs!
What eggs?
I read and reread your comment too and was confused about the egg reference!
What do you do with grain? Do you add it to your bread?
I grind it and use it to make our everyday whole wheat sandwich bread. 🙂
What kind of machine do you use for grinding your wheat? Just wondering as this is something I've thought about doing.
I seriously think I would cry if Aldi's left town. Aside from the salmon, the raw shrimp, flounder, and tilapia are great too. I also love that I can get artisan cheeses for just a dollar or two!
Love your menu! We do several meatless meals a week in order to save money. We sub in tofu, mushrooms or beans because those are way cheaper than meat. I should add grilled cheese to the rotation, I bet my hubby would love that. Great ideas.
so jealous of you. We don't have Aldi's in Los Angeles. I usually shop at Ralphs/Kroger with some trips to Trader Joes (but they don't have everything you need so you always have to shop at another store) and Costco (but we have a small family so Costco food isn't always economical for us). Do you have any other chains you can recommend?
I love, love, love Aldi's and so glad I rediscovered them! I'm really impressed with their produce. I try to keep my groceries to under $100/wk for me and my two girls and have been using cash envelope to help with this. I love the fact that can easily fill 2-3 large grocery bags for btwn $40-$50 on a regular basis. And a few weeks ago I managed to fill 3 huge grocery bags for under $60 and that included our Easter dinner fixings, including a spiral ham from and it was delish! I think that is the only time I've ever spent more than $50 at Aldi's. I do often buy some of my meat from our local coop and Target. One of the things I buy from the coop is ground turkey for $3.99/lb and this is cheaper than what I can buy at Target and it doesn't have "natural Seasoning" which I hate. That said, last weekend was my younger daughter's 10th BD and she has a sleep over. She wanted me to make sloppy joes for everyone. I didn't feel like making one more stop when we were running our errands so decided to buy ground turkey (no natural seasoning added-yay!)at Aldi's which was only $1.69 per pound. I don't usually buy their ground turkey but I have to say it was just fine and I couldn't tell the difference from coop ground turkey. I'm not sure I'm willing to give up my locallly raised, grassed fed, free range turkey from the coop completey, but i'm certainly willing to make some exceptions-think annual halloween sloppy joe fest!
Last week we had Aussie chicken (thanks to you and you'll be on my blog this week for this!), homamade pizza, ham & cheese pockets, some Filipino dishes, baked fish and potatoes and some leftovers.
I'm just getting back to cooking after an un-fun first trimester of pregnancy. It's great to have good food again! We also deal with lots of food allergies.
1 - Roasted Chicken, Tater Tots (I was clearing out the freezer) and Steamed Broccoli
2 - Ground Beef, Baked Beans, Corn Bread Muffins, Green Salad
3 - Leftover chicken w/ Cheese in Tortillas (Corn Bread for my dairy and wheat allergic kid), Carrot Sticks w/ Dip. I also diced up some Pear that had been leftover from a snack, cutting off the browning parts and adding Strawberries.
4- Sandwiches at the park w/ chips and fruit 🙂
5 - Black Beans, Flour Tortillas and Cheese (Tortilla Chips for my son), Homemade Guacamole (yum!).
6 - Leftovers
7 - Meatless White "Chili" w/ White Beans and Potato, Green Salad. My son also had a cornbread muffin.
Well, you have so much to be grateful for, but one of the nice things about being single without kids....I pretty much do eat tex mex every night. 😉
I made a giant pot of turkey tortilla soup earlier this week (using happy local turkey I bought before thanksgiving from a local farmer) and it is still awesome!
nice to see another single with no kids person! I'm in the same boat and I do eat tex-mex a lot LOL! sometimes the same meal 4x before I freeze the rest
too funny!
I belong to a gleaner's club, so I get huge amounts of produce for next to nothing. There's a fair amount of work and time put in sorting the good from the bad and cleaning it all up, preserving before it goes bad, etc, so this might not be for everyone, but it works for us. Also, living on a small farm, we eat a lot of our own products, eggs, milk, and goat meat. Right now, we are eating out of the freezer quite a bit to make room for the upcoming summer's bounty. Typical schooldays breakfast is a smoothie made with bananas, oranges, strawberries and homemade goat yogurt. Add some toast and peanut butter and they're good to go. Last night's dinner was jerk marinated shoulder of goat and a mexican rice made with lots of peppers and onions. As the weather gets warmer I like to have cold options in the fridge so I don't have to cook all the time, and to that end I am currently boiling some chickpeas to make hummus. For dinner later we will probably have hummus on pita bread and cut up veggies, with some olives from a jar and some homemade cheese.
It's just me in my household. Right now I'm taking out $80 roughly every week for groceries and household stuff like toilet paper, detergent, cleaning stuff. I was debating cutting back but a friend who's not super duper close but I know her better now - anyways she posted on facebook asking if anyone wanted to commit to sharing food boxes from a local organic co-op and i'm sooo excited! I did this same co-op last year but even a half share was too much and the fruit s hare had stuff that had to be eaten quickly or went to waste. it's not what I'd call cheap and I hate waste regardless plus you have to order the night before and I'd often be called in or overtime which means I'd be obligated to pay for my share but probably wouldn't be ablet o pick it up...but this way we're all hoping we'll get enough of what we want. I like the idea of supporting the co-op but last year they had in a half-share 2 HUGE bags of kale -2 differnt kinds -t hese bags were about 2-3x the size of those produce bags in the store! so thinking I'll keep my budget where it is for now since half shares and fruit shares are close to $50 - I think my part will likely average $35 a week if I figured right but I'll likely add in a few extras from the buy-table. the only drawback is it's for eating raw vegan so no stuff that requires cooking or eggs or humanely raised beef/chicken. I already buy most of my eggs from a guy here at work for $2 a dozen though lately they've been on the small side due to new young chickens...
my meals when I'm working are normally quick things- eggs and potatoes I cook ahead of time from frozen southern style hashbrowns in tortillas...bean/cheese 'quesadillas', leftovers from freezer, sandwich. I'm planning on a pasta tuna salad (need onion!) or tuna casserole (need cheese!) or using the frozen mushroom ravioli in the fridge or spaghetti (no ground beef though) ..mainly trying NOT to restock my freezer since I'm planning on buying a new refrigerator in the next couple of weeks...one of my goals is to learn to make pizza dough and bread/rolls/biscuits - think I just need al ittle practice - and space to make them! also do al ot of tex-mex LOL - love taco meat and my latest discovery thanks to youtube was to use romaine lettuce leaves instead of taco shells- very very good! actually prefer this most of the time with the tortilla chips and guacamole or salsa on the side or just taco salads with canned beans tossed in. I think Sunday will be a cook ahead day since I'll be switching shifts Monday and that means I'll be tired and not feel like cooking.
I did a local CSA for one summer a few years ago, and I had the same issues - I couldn't get out of work in time or certain things went bad too quickly and I wasn't on top of it enough to plan to use them right away. I've been carving out money in my budget to go to the farmer's market and pick specifically things I'll use. Although I'm in Wisco so the farmer's markets don't get terribly appealing around her until late May, but I still should be going since it's literally a block from my house! 🙂
I'm hoping this system of sharing with others will work out great for me - for all of us really - I know 2 of us are single, the one who will most likely to most of the pickups and sorting/delivering/waiting for us has a hubby but no kids (she's also the one willing to use the extras if there are any because she juices and freezes) - don't know the other 2 ladies. otherwise I was wanting to try it one more time and hope nothing went to waste though I know it would. there's also a farmer's market not far from me but it's only for about 4 hours on Saturday and I work every other weekend or am used to night shift on one of the other 2 or working callout so it's been impossible to go to that one. maybe one of these days. still excited about this one Saturday -planning on going along for the pickup and sorting!