WIS, WWA | A less receipt-ful week
What I Spent
Well, I have a simpler report than last week (admittedly, that's a low standard. I had so many receipts last week!)
This week, I spent:
- $24 at Giant
- $64 at Weis
- $20 at Target
- $18 on fast food (see Wednesday night)
- $6 at Safeway
November Grocery Spending
Week 1: $103
Week 2: $184.50
What We Ate
Saturday
We had kind of a Friendsgiving dinner at church for the women; I brought overnight potato rolls + cinnamon butter, and I helped set up and tear down.
So, I obviously wasn't available at dinnertime, and Mr. FG and the girls fended for themselves.
Sunday
Mr. FG's night to cook! He made baked ziti, using a Cook's Illustrated recipe.
Monday
Since we hadn't had a chance to do a date night over the weekend, we did a Monday night date. Upside: every restaurant is quite empty on Monday nights!
Tuesday
This was the night I had dinner with my sister-in-law. We went to True Food Kitchen and I had Panang curry with shrimp, which was SO good.
Sonia and Zoe had some friends over while I was gone, and they made waffles and bacon together.
Wednesday
Wednesday is usually my no-cooking night; Zoe ate at a get-together with friends, Sonia got some fast food, I ate leftover ziti, and Mr. FG just drank a lemonade because he got his booster shot and he was not feeling too hot from the side effects.
(His first one was J&J, so he was eligible for a second shot already.)
Thursday
I had a $25 Safeway gift card, so I stopped in and bought a rotisserie chicken, which we ate with sweet potato fries and some random produce from the fridge.
Friday
I think I will probably make pizza. No need to worry about heating up the kitchen at this time of year!
Friends giving dinner, what a lovely idea!
And the ziti too, it sounds like Mr FG likes his turn to cook 🙂
We shuffled our meal plan around but still managed to cook every day.
Dinners were all a variation of potatoes (boiled, baked, mashed), veg (salads, cooked, grilled) and protein (fish, sausage, veggie burgers) except for one day when we had beans. Tonight mu husband will make macaroni. And this is fine, our meals all met the All Were Fed standard.
Saturday: Spaghetti and meatballs, frozen peas, leftover mashed squash
Sunday: I made hummus for the first time in years (because I had 15 cans of chickpeas (not a typo), so I based this meal around that. Roast beef (marinated in olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and oregano), homemade sourdough pita bread (kind of a pain, but delicious), a few of the garden tomatoes still on the counter, some arugula from a volunteer patch, frozen peas, and brownies. The pita with the thinly sliced beef, hummus, tomatoes, and arugula was outstanding. And yes, I will say so myself, because this was a much higher-effort meal than I would normally make, so it's good it was worth it.
Monday: I had five cans of pork chunks in my pantry (these are often delivered to the elderly people here as part of the USDA commodities delivery, and we get a lot of the things our neighbors can't use). Contrary to what you might expect, the canned meat--there's beef, too--is actually pretty good. No weird ingredients, just salt and meat. The texture is kind of crumbly and it honestly looks like dog food, but it tastes fine. I just fried it in chicken fat and bacon grease with salt, paprika, and garlic powder. I also made oven fries and opened a jar of sauerkraut. I sure wish my fall planting of cabbages had done better so I could have made more sauerkraut. It's so good with pork. Oh well.
Tuesday: Basmati rice cooked in tomato juice (another commodities item from our neighbor--I think this was a commodities Chopped week), then added to a skillet in which I browned breakfast sausage with lots of garlic and about a cup of chopped arugula. A bit of grated pepperjack and cheddar at the end, and everyone had seconds. I guess they like sausage skillets.
Wednesday: Stew meat cooked with more of the tomato juice--it was a half gallon jug--garlic, oregano, and basil, then topped with asadero cheese. Plus pasta with just butter, garlic, and Parmesan for the kids, fried mushrooms with chopped arugula, and carrot sticks
Thursday: Some pounded beef bottom round steaks cut into pieces and fried in bacon fat, plus rice, frozen peas, and pureed calabaza squash from the freezer.
Tonight: We're going to the zoo/aquarium today, which is a little over 400 miles roundtrip. I'm bringing tuna salad, bread, cheese, carrot sticks, etc. to serve as either lunch or dinner, and the other meal will be eaten out somewhere. I'm thinking that food is probably going to be dinner in the car on the way home, since it will be late and will serve as a distraction on the long drive. Also, by that time we probably won't want to stop anywhere else, so it will allow us to just make a straight shot home. We'll see.
@kristin @ going country, all your chickpeas - I don't know if you've ever tried it, but you can roast beans in the oven like you are roasting veg. Toss the beans in some oil and spices, put them on a baking tray, and roast.
If you cook them lots of time they get hard and crunchy like a snack food, and a little bit less time and the skins dry out and have this lovely pop when you bite them and are tender inside. They store really well too. I'll often cook 5 cans at once this way in different flavors and eat them for a week.
If you still have lots of cans left, give it a try!
@kristin @ going country, I have a great chickpea curry salad recipe that you eat cold on sandwiches or crackers if you need more ideas.
@Stephanie, I know I would love to hear your recipe; we love chickpeas and it sounds delicious!
@Stephanie, Yes, please! The eldest son loves both curry and chickpeas, so I suspect he would love that. Me too. 🙂
@Rachel, Yes! The hummus had a 2/4 success rate with my children, but all four of them will devour roasted chickpeas. They don't like them cold so much though, so I usually only do one or two cans at a time.
@Stephanie,
2 cans of chick peas rinsed and smashed slightly.
1 apple diced small
1/2 red onion diced small
2 stalks celery diced small
Mix in small bowl
Add 1/2-1 tsp curry ( we like curry so I use 1 tsp)
1/2 C ( heaping) of MAYO
1 good teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix with other ingredients. It is pretty good right away. But excellent the next day.
@Stephanie, Sounds like it would be a great veggie wrap; thanks!
@Stephanie, Ah, so pretty much like curried chicken salad. Which I love. Thanks!
It was my week to cook this week, but I had a bit of a rough week with work so it wasn't the most inspired.
Saturday: we went camping Friday - Sunday, so we grilled some sausages! Other campers closely had a full hot pot feast on a mountain, it was quite impressive.
Sunday: made pasta w/ leftover sausages, eggplant and onion after we came home
Monday: salmon w/ rice and a salad
Tuesday: frozen dumplings
Wednesday: I went out with friends. I initially didnt want to go (partly because of cost) but it was so worth it to catch up with friends.
Thursday: take out sushi bowls
Friday: I am still at the office and will likely grab take out again at some point. 🙁
Sunday: We had lemon chicken over angel hair pasta and a salad. I made a double recipe and this provided 6 lunch portions in addition to the dinner. My 8th grader loves this meal in her lunch box, so she was very happy.
Monday: Crock pot beef stew. Easy and cozy. We had some rolls with it.
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas. A family favorite!
Wednesday: Broiled marinated chicken breasts, scalloped potatoes and green beans.
Thursday: Ramen with soft boiled eggs and edamame.
Friday: We will get our weekly local take out. I am not sure but possibly Mexican.
That ziti looks delish and I also think its great that Mr. FG is helping make a meal now and again! A helper in the kitchen will be important when you begin clinical rotation and you are dead on your feet...This week this was the menu which I *mostly* followed:
Monday - Grilled Honey Dijon Chicken on Caesar Salad
Tuesday - I heated up chicken strips, a twice baked potato, and sauteed some kale which sounds like more trouble than it was, but it was easy and I was pretty beat from work
Wednesday - Chili Lime Chicken Burger, waffle fries
Thursday - Happy Hour at The Girl's apartment. We had pork tamales, black beans with avocado chunks, a fruit salad with fresh lemon, and margaritas after we decorated her Christmas tree.
Tonight - Gorgonzola and Cranberry Salmon Patties, broccoli, buttery rice
Saturday - Eating lunch out with friends, so dinner will be something like scrambled eggs!
Sunday - TBD, but The Girl and I will celebrate my birthday so we may eat out.
Saturday-noodle bowl, toasted Italian bread
Sunday-stuffed pepper, peas, baked apples
Monday-mac & cheese, salad
Tuesday-tomato soup, toasted Italian bread
Wednesday-mac & cheese, salad
Thursday-fried egg on toast, potatoes, baked apples
Friday-last of the mac & cheese
- Cream of broccoli soup
- Lentil/vegetable soup
- Chopped salad with carrots, celery, beans, avocado and marinated tofu,
- Plate of vegetables: broccoli, squash, potatoes
- Vegetarian meatloaf
- Chickpea tagine
- Popcorn and fruit
Sunday we ate out meeting up with grand/great grandparents.
Monday- I browned and braised short ribs from a beef order in 2019.. left that on a slow simmer while we ate the homemade chicken, veggie noodle crock pot stoup before we had to run to Fall sports awards night. When I got home I separated the meat/liquids and set in the fridge to defat.
Tuesday- all kids working so husband and I ate the stoup leftovers.
Weds- defatted and rewarmed the short ribs, made IP mashed potatoes( to practice for Thanksgiving) and oven baked rice. Took half the food to a single mom with a teen recovering from major surgery.
Thursday- Crisped up smoked sausage in the air fryer, sautéed potato and cheese Pierogis and frozen peas.
Friday- I just pulled a homemade lasagna out of the freezer, unwrapped and tossed into the pan I initially froze it in! Dinner defrosting on the stove.. will bake that later and serve with garlic toast and whatever fruit/veg I find at the store today!
This was my husbands first week back in the office (just 2 days and not the same 2 days as me luckily) so it was another week of adjustments. I’ve really become used to him being here to distract the kids while I cook dinner so had to work around his absence 2 nights this week!
Sunday - steak, potato and cheese pierogis, dinner rolls, carrots, chopped salad kit
Monday - Ground turkey tacos, corn
Tuesday - kale, tomato and lemon spaghetti
Wednesday - turkey chili with tortilla chips and cornbread
Thursday - king ranch chicken casserole
Friday - grilled cheese, tomato soup, green beans
We spent $123 at the grocery store, and about $19 of that was not food: paper products, cat treats and baby food pumpkin we buy for one of our dogs. (Yes, it would be cheaper to buy a can of pumpkin, but the baby food does the trick and my husband uses the jars to root plants.)
Family supper this week was pancakes, bacon, eggs and applesauce on Sunday. Lunch is our big meal during the week. DH had pastrami sandwiches, nuts, and carrot sticks. I made a casserole of items from the fridge/pantry/freezer that needed to be used up for my brown bag lunch. Side item was Saverne Artisanal Craft Beer Kraut, which was only $1.89 a jar and is absolutely delicious. Since our local grocery store recently renovated, it's begun carrying more cool items like this.
I had a menu made up, but then fresh chickens became available from one of my favorite farmers, so I changed up the menu some to add a roasted farm fresh chicken to it.
I had:
Dinner at my daughter's was steak served with roasted carrots, parsnips, delicata squash, onion and sweet potatoes. It was yummy.
A burger with sliced cucumbers. I got home late that night, so the meal had to be fast and easy.
Leftovers from a crock pot chicken meal I had made earlier.
Leftover beef stew from the freezer.
Roast chicken with parsnips, carrots, onion and mushrooms roasted in the pan with the chicken.
Leftovers of the above.
Tonight is probably meat loaf. I have ground beef to use up.
We are in an interesting phase of our retired lives where we are at home to eat dinner less frequently than ever before. Our away-from-home dinners are almost always planned-in-advance events, so I do continue to appreciate my weekly menu planning for the nights we're home as much as ever.
Mon- Slow cooked pork ribs, baked sweet potato, caramelized Brussels sprouts.
Tue- Leftover turkey apricot meatloaf and rice from freezer, plus caramelized Brussels sprouts.
Wed- BLTA's, green salad.
Thur- Pasta topped with sauteed sausage, bell pepper and onion, EVOO and parm cheese, plus a green salad.
Fri- Sun- Dine outs all weekend in conjunction with a full moon drum ceremony at the beach, a charity event, and a live theater event.
@Tamara R, how do you cook the short ribs? Thx
It was a really busy week for us again (work schedule + continued soccer tryouts + club soccer for the kids).
-Chipotle (the 15 y.o. & I had a late lunch/linner at Chipotle, & then just snacked a bit for dinner.
-Spaghetti & meatballs
-Balsamic chicken over pasta. The balsamic chicken dish wasn't a favorite the first time, and we had leftovers in the freezer. I doctored it by serving it over pasta, and then adding a caprese salad (using up tomatoes & basil from the garden, as well as some fresh mozzarella which needed to be used up). It still wasn't my favorite, but everyone else liked it, so I'll call it a win.
-A big batch of chicken curry & rice. The curry turned out the best ever, yet I followed the recipe the same way as usual. A happy surprise. That was two dinners, plus a lunch for me.
-Baked chicken & caprese salad. A quick scramble of a meal, as I had late meetings, & then had to pick up soccer players.
As for tonight, if both boys make the school team, we are doing take out, so fingers crossed. They are a year apart, and both trying out for the same team, so it increases the anxiety/risk a bit. If one/both don't make it, we still may do takeout, but less of a celebration. 😉 Otherwise, may just be pizza. I finally got the Venmo Panda Express offer that you mention, Kristen, so I may pick that up instead.
Friendsgiving dinner sounds like so much fun! Dinners this week have been chaotic because my mother-in-law had emergency surgery after falling ill Sunday evening. My husband has spent more time at the hospital than home but because I planned sandwiches into this week’s meal plan we haven’t had takeout at all so that’s a win.
Saturday- leftovers and pickety bits dinner
Sunday- Reuben sandwiches, potato salad, fruit
Monday- bacon wrapped chicken, green beans with bacon, garlic bread, broiled grapefruit
Tuesday- pasta with browned garlic butter, broccolini, salad, fruit
Wednesday- waffles, bacon, fruit
Thursday- French dip sandwiches, chips, fruit
Friday- takeout pizza I think
My husband’s birthday is next Wednesday and I’m still debating what to do- his family is of German descent and his mom is an incredible cook (prior to her becoming sick I was thinking about asking her to make dinner because that would have pleased her greatly). She would make him a wonderful dinner with lots of favorite German dishes. I’m thinking baked chicken, bratwurst, sauerkraut, salad, and applekuchen for dessert. I might try my hand at rote grütze also using the recipe from the cookbook she did several years ago. It isn’t hard but I’ve never made it- it’s her thing. My son and daughter-in-law think we should go out to eat but I don’t want to make reservations and cancel at the last minute since things have been so uncertain this week. I’m hosting Thanksgiving the next day and would prefer to go out but I don’t think it’s what my husband would like to do so I think I will host a simple dinner and the good news is that the dining table will be set up for the following day’s dinner.
Tonight- It’s Friday night! It’s pizza night!
Thursday- Copycat Panera Potato corn chowder with a can of chicken breast I added. Cornbread muffins
Wednesday- Egg and ham breakfast sandwiches with steamed Broccoli on the side
Tuesday- Instant pot Mexican chicken soup. I had never made this recipe before, but it was a hit! I think the tortilla chips that I had for the kids really helped a few of them like it.
Monday- Hubby made tuna sandwiches and we had carrots on the side
Sunday- Savory oatmeal for the adults, sweetened oatmeal for the kids
Ahem, starting from last Friday it's been a takeout-heavy week. My plans fell through because I didn't realize the chicken would need so long to defrost! We got takeout.
Saturday: Takeout with friends, which we had planned. Vietnamese food. Yum!
Sunday: We finally roasted the chicken and made mujaddara.
Monday: leftovers
Tuesday: I made split pea soup and my husband grabbed sushi at the grocery store.
Wednesday: My in-laws brought us some delicious chicken stir fry and rice noodles.
Thursday: I defrosted some meat sauce from the freezer which we had with whole-wheat pasta and spinach salad.
Friday: My baby got her first suite of vaccines yesterday, so she's been feeling a bit under the weather...which means that I had a rough night and haven't been able to put her down all morning.
I had wanted to make miso soup, salmon, and roasted veggies but I suspect we'll order pizza! Oh, well. Not every week's a winner.
I love sweet potato fries. Homemade or from the freezer.
We had this week: fried fish with saffron rice, polenta and red sauce with ground Turkey and mushrooms, semi homemade chicken pot pie. MY NUMBER TWO COMFORT FOOD AFTER SOUP BEANS AND CORNBREAD.
It is an old Indiana farm wife standard. ( I grew up in an agricultural county. I am not a farm wife now and have lived in Michigan since 1995!)
Mix in bowl:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1/2 bag thawed frozen mixed veggies
1 cup of diced chicken or one larger can of diced chicken drained
A good amount of onion powder
A good amount of black pepper
Pour into a Pillsbury double crust.
Vent top
Cook 350 for 75 mins. Cover loosely after 40 mins. Let sit 10 mins and serve.
Not healthy. SO YUMMY. it is my standard dish to take to new mommas too.
@Stephanie,
My chicken pot pie recipe is similar but different - it has two cans cream of potato soup, a can of drained mixed vegetables, some sour cream, about 2-3 cups diced chicken, and dried ground thyme and black pepper for the filling. It was passed along to me by my best friend, who got it from her mother in law.....delicious comfort food (not healthy, as you mention, but delicious!).
I love True Food Kitchen! It is a great restaurant for those of us with food allergies and sensitivities. It is one of the few places that I can have dessert.
I didn’t cook all week. I had leftovers Sunday through Wednesday, because I was the only one home. Thursday I travelled. I had a family emergency and bought a pre-package fruit cheese plate in the Atlanta airport as I ran through. Tonight I hope that I will get a real meal before heading back home tomorrow.
Have a great weekend everyone!
I had never been there before, but since my sister-in-law has a lot of food sensitivities, she suggested it. And now I'm thinking I should take Sonia there!
Saturday - My MIL made dinner, which was perfect since I spent lunch and all afternoon at a college housemate reunion (such good times with my dear friends.) She made a chicken and rice dish veggies, and brownies.
Sunday - I can't remember what we ate for dinner, but after dinner we watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and ate popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans. We were missing the buttered toast, I know.
Monday - Pork BBQ sandwiches, a bag of frozen veggies, and waffle fries
Tuesday - Chili and baked potatoes
Wednesday - Chicken pot pie
Thursday - Haluski with smoked sausages and some frozen veggies
Friday - I don't know! And it's after 3:30! I do know that I have spaghetti to fall back on if I can't think of anything, though.
$76 at Costco for me this week.
We ate….
Saturday…chicken noodle soup
Sunday….soup for some, fridge clean out for others, chili & cornbread for those who had dinner at a friend’s house
Monday….pork roast with cranberry mostarda, mashed potatoes, home grown green beans and cat head biscuits
Tuesday…leftovers
Wednesday….leftovers
Thursday…corned beef hash, rice, random assortment of leftover veggies from the fridge
Friday…leftovers
This weekend will be all about eating odds and ends and making sure we have fridge space for the big feast on Thursday.
Enjoy the weekend everyone!!!
Saturday: visiting a friend who made a low country boil (shrimp, baby potatoes, sausage)
Sunday: Still at the beach, ordered speciality pizzas at an Italian restaurant as a thank you for friend's hospitality
Monday: leftover pizza, snacks on plane (Southwest: small bag of snack mix, soda)
Tuesday: Homemade Chicken Veggie Soup
Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, butternut squash
Thursday: Pickety Bits for movie night in with my hubby. (Always a variation of cut up fruit, cheese, crackers and sometimes leftover chopped meat)
Friday: Weds leftovers and baked beans with pork
That ziti looks so good!
I feel Mr. FG's pain! I got my booster Wednesday and was super tired and achy Thursday.
Tomorrow we're also having a Friendsgiving with another couple. I'm roasting a chicken and some veggies and we're both contributing to a big appetizer charcuterie spread.
What did we eat this week?
Tonight - leftover soup, salad, homemade french bread
Last night...spicy chicken on big salads with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts on the side.
Wednesday - turkey and vegetable soup, homemade french bread
Tuesday - Turkey burgers with roasted potatoes and slaw
Monday - pizza with mushrooms and salami, salad
Sunday - Literally no idea.
That ziti looks delicious!
$19 Market Basket; $47 Aldi
Sat: poulet à la moutarde (Leite's Culinaria) over mashed potato/cauliflower. Sister brought beet and goat cheese salad. Orange/mango fruit salad with lime zest.
Sun: Dad took me out for dinner
Mon: leftovers
Tues: pasta; raw cucumbers and red peppers
Wed: out for Shake Shack
Thurs: pork carnitas over giant salad
Fri: homemade turkey and black bean empanadas with salsa verde; roasted cauliflower; lettuce-less salad
We stayed under budget at the grocery. Have to really plan and cook from scratch.
We had two nights: slow cooker red sauce with Gtound Turkey and mushrooms over polenta, semi homemade chicken pot pie, and fried fish and saffron rice. One night we were OYO due to schedule conflicts. I had life cereal with sliced banana. I love cereal for dinner so it was a rare treat.
@Stephanie, sorry I posted twice. WHO KNOWS?
I love polenta! Sadly, only Sonia and I like it (unless it's fried, in which case 4/4 of us like it), so sometimes I make a small batch just for Sonia and me.
At least one night a week, I use my bread machine to make pizza crust. It's super cheap, and you can top it with whatever you like. I do a standard red sauce/mozzarella for my daughter, with an extra one to pack in her lunch for the next day. I do pear/blue cheese/walnuts for me and my husband.
That ziti looks SO good! Would you mind sharing the recipe link?
That ziti looks delicious, Kristen! Could I please get a recipe link?
Oh yes, so sorry I missed this! https://www.mastercook.com/app/Recipe/WebRecipeDetails?recipeId=15641282
@Kristen, thank you for the link and sorry for the double post. I somehow couldn't "see" my first post after I submitted. 🙂