WIS, WWA | Balancing it all out
What I Spent
I started off the week with a $25 Hungry Harvest delivery, plus a $44 Aldi trip.
And then I made a small $18 stop at Aldi (raspberries were so cheap, I had to go one more time!) and a $14 stop at the store where Lisey works.
Then yesterday, I forgot I needed asparagus for last night's dinner. I could have gone to Aldi, but I chose to hit up a grocery store near some other errands, and I spent $9.88 on asparagus and a few other things.
That puts me at $111 for the week, which is below my $150/week average. And it pretty much perfectly makes up for last week's overspending.
January Spending
Week 1: $187
Week 2: $111
What We Ate
Saturday
Mr. FG and I grabbed subs for a date night (sandwiches are a great way to keep date night spending down!)
Joshua ate at work, and the girls ate bacon quesadillas at home.
Sunday
We had a snacky dinner (ham slices, cheese, crackers, fruit, trail mix, frozen potstickers from Costco).
Monday
Since the air finally went above freezing for the first time in weeks, I thought it was time to grill. 😉
So I made Caribbean Chicken with Couscous, a recipe from my 52 New Recipes challenge.
We also had a spinach salad, to use up some of my Hungry Harvest spinach.
(Recipe from my ATK Quick Family Cookbook)
Tuesday
I made Asian Lettuce Wraps, another find from 52 New Recipes.
(Recipe from my ATK Quick Family Cookbook)
Wednesday
I came across a recipe in my own archives for Shrimp Burgers and I realized I hadn't made those in a long while!
I decided I'm not a big fan of the lemon zest in the recipe, though, so when I make them again, I'll leave that out.
I also cooked the broccoli from my Hungry Harvest box and topped it with cheese.
Thursday
I tried a new recipe from a Cook's Country magazine for ramen noodle bowls...not a soup, but noodles, pork, asparagus, and mushrooms in a sauce.
It was good, and I'll make it again, except I think I'd like to try it with chicken next time.
Friday
Often, Mr. FG and I go out for our $20 date night on Saturday nights, but I have book club this Saturday (We're reading a Fredrik Backman book this month and I'm not quite finished with it yet!).
So, I think we'll switch things around, and do pizza on Saturday instead of tonight.
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What have you been eating this week?
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Sunday-black bean/chicken burritos with rice and FG roasted carrots
Monday-chicken/broccoli/cheese casserole with salad
Tuesday-leftovers
Wednesday-chorizo/potato dish, broccoli with red pepper
Thursday-leftovers
Friday-pierogies with soup and salad?
Time for my weekly memory exercise . . .
Monday: Lamb and venison goulash with carrots, sauerkraut, peas, and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Leftover goulash mixed with rice and cheese. I seem to recall that I considered the carrots in the goulash to be sufficient vegetable and left it at that. 🙂
Wednesday: Sloppy joe sandwiches, green salad
Thursday: Venison marinated in soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and ginger, then grilled on my beloved grill pan. For Christmas I got one of those reversible Lodge griddle/grill pans that go on the stove. I mostly got it so I could cook more than one pancake at a time, but the grill side really works and makes things taste like they've been on a, well, grill. It's also heavy as all get out and a pain to clean, so I mostly reserve it for things like wild game that really benefit from the smoky grilled taste. We also had some romaine lettuce that I elected to stir-fry to cook out the probably-non-existent e. coli, and I dumped the leftover venison marinade into that. Plus sauteed mushrooms and onions, peas, and rice.
Tonight: I pulled out from the freezer the extra par-cooked pizza dough from the last time I made pizza, and also some Italian sausage. Probably make the pizza as straight cheese, fry the sausage as separate patties, and roast onions and bell peppers so everyone can eat what they want in whatever combination they want. Plus green salad.
Ooh, that marinade sounds yummy!
It was. I usually add some form of sugar--white sugar, peach jam, honey, whatever--to that mixture for stir-fry sauce and so on, but skipped it this time so it wouldn't burn and stick to the pan. I didn't even miss it, so I guess maybe I really don't need it. Also, I was surprised at how the venison really soaked up the marinade. I expect it's because it's such a lean meat with no fat in it to repel the marinating liquids. It was incredibly flavorful, and I may always marinate venison from now on. Assuming I manage to get the meat thawed in time to put it in a marinade, which I usually don't.
I thought that sounded yummy too, I sometimes use those ingredients with a dash of lime and a little honey as a dressing for cold soba noodle salad with leftover roast chicken for a work lunch
I use mirin which is a Japanese wine vinegar
Monday: Chicken Alfredo - Special request of the 9 year old. Did you know you can make a simple alfredo with regular milk- no need for heavy cream. Peas and clementines
Tuesday: Johnny Marzetti - Is this a midwest thing? Pasta, spaghetti sauce, ground turkey and any other "pizza topping" in the house diced in and served- aka stove top casserole and fruit
Wednesday: Cherry glazed pork chops, rice and green peppers, fruit
Thursday (lazy day) - kilbasa, tots, and green peppers, fruit
Friday- If the weather forecasters are correct we are in for a big storm starting this afternoon. So I am thinking Chicken Pot Pie- comfort food for staying inside!
Yeah, I've never heard of Johnny Marzetti!
Ohioan here.. I have heard of Johnny Marzetti, also called goulash, also called American Chop Suey... all the same basis of ground meat, pasta, sauce and mix ins..
Ohioan here, too.....I hsd never heard of Johnny Marzetti, either, until I moved here after graduating from high school. At the restaurant where I worked when in college, it was a sort-of chili mac casserole type dish.
I collect old cookbooks and it's got about a hundred names and spellings. I heard it's called Mulligan in Colorado! Apparently it is mostly Midwestern and was pretty exotic in the 50s and 60s. Kinda "out of style" since about the nineties, but we all make it still and call it various things.
What Beckman book are you reading? I have read most of them except Beartown. That one is on my list.
Beartown is a good read!Lots to think about. Someone told me a Man Named Ove is on Netflix but with subtitles. I might attempt to watch it this weekend using my daughter's PW. Neither one if us watch much TV so I don't feel guilty using her credentials. This week I mainly ate leftovers and spinach- it was quite a healthy week if I do say so. I've been craving homemade chicken pot pie so that might be on the menu next Monday.
Oops A Man Called Ove and yes, it's there on Netflix.
A man called ove is sooooo good. Book club loved it. The movie is good, too. I tried the grandmother book but didn’t like it.
Yeah, I read A Man Called Ove in November and I really, really loved it. We're reading the grandmother book now and I'm not liking it quite as much. I feel like the combo of fairy tale and real life can be a little confusing, and I lose interest in the fairy tale world. I liked that A Man Called Ove stayed in the real world the whole time.
I loved Ove and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the movie as well.
I keep thinking I should watch the movie. But I have such a hard time making the time to sit down and watch things. I usually only get around to it when I get sick!
I read A Man Called Ove in November (loved it!) and we're reading My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry right now. I like it, but not nearly as much as A Man Called Ove.
That couscous looks good. Is that a boxed mix with add ins? I sometimes add onion, peppers and raisins.
It's plain couscous, and it's got grilled red pepper and grilled pineapple added in, plus the same sauce that I used to marinate the chicken (though obviously I separated out the marinade from the mixture I used as sauce! Food safety and all.)
The ramen dish looks yummy!
Snow day here in Indiana, so today I'm making white chicken chili.
Earlier this week we've had Mac & Cheese & peas, Eggs & Salsa, Spaghetti & green beans, and a baked potato bar. Nice & easy for our first week back to school.
Totally off topic--I need to do a very Kristen thing and create a "grateful list" I have been feeling grumpy (and tired of illnesses, cold weather, and short days) I know you say it always cheers you up, so here goes...and thanks in advance for letting me be "off topic."
I am grateful for (as Kristen says, in no particular order at all)...
1. My husband's job since he was unemployed for a good chunk of 2017.
2. My husband's new job allowed him to use up a huge transportation surplus from his old job (to the tune of $1,500).
3. My husband's job has much better health insurance than my company does--so we moved over to his plan...which is a million times better (and it's cheaper)!
5. My company went through some recent, and very good, changes--so the uncertainty is done and good things are happening.
6. My parents who live nearby and are doing well and we see them often.
7. My brother and his family--who we are very close with.
8. My good friend across the street who is like a sister to me.
9. My husband, and good friend, of 20 plus years.
10. My son who is a very good kid--and doing very well in school.
I had a grumpy day yesterday! You are not alone. I hope the thankful list helped you a bit.
I think everyone gets to have a grumpy day once in a while!
Oh my, I've started the AIP elimination diet, and it has leftovers built in, so I've repeated a lot of meals, but here goes.
Monday, beef curry soup, with stew beef, onion, garlic, ginger, bone broth, parsnips, carrots, turmeric, cinnamon, coconut milk, chard, and a dash of lime juice. The recipe called for kale, but I used chard, because I have yet to enjoy kale, any way I've tried it. And I did not top it with cilantro as called for, because, hello, cilantro tastes like soap to me.
Tuesday and Wednesday -- same stew.
Thursday -- Lamb tagine, using lamb ( I had ground on hand, so I used it instead of buying lamb stew meat), dried apricots, prunes, raisins, broth, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and onion, served over cauliflower rice. I'm, having it for lunch today and lunch tomorrow, too.
Tonight is Spatchcocked chicken with roasted veggies. It calls for rutabaga, carrots and apple, but I'm using golden beets, carrots and apple, because I don't like rutabaga. If I am going to eat this way for a while, I will have to use the allowable foods I like, or I won't hang in with this protocol.
My grocery bill was higher as I started this, but I hope to get it back down. The emphasis in the first few weeks is to pack in the most nutrient dense foods, which is going to cost a bit more, plus there's the buying of extra things I know my husband will eat....
Do you have much to eliminate? I am on the FODMAP diet and my eliminations make meal times very difficult. Good luck.
I'm in the first month, the "cut it all out" phase, so no dairy, eggs, legumes, grains, nightshades, certain spices, nuts, seeds, nut or seed oils, nut or seed milks, alcohol....
I hope to be able to start adding back after 30-60 days and see what I can handle. I'm really hoping eggs, milk and oatmeal make it back in my diet. That was my favorite breakfast.
I was so happy to find tigernuts and coconut are okay. I'm having tigernut milk with my breakfast these days, and will make some coconut milk, too.
Oooh, someone else on AIP. I have been on it almost a year now. It has been a game-changer for me. It's tough in the beginning, so hang in there. I had to accept a higher grocery bill, because I ended up switching the family over to mostly Paleo too (mostly to help my oldest son). We are all so much healthier (and I am happier) for it!
It's almost lunch time. I'm reading your post, and my mouth is watering. I'm going to make caramelized pork (a Vietnamese dish) tomorrow. It'll be my second time ever!
We were in the depths of the deep freeze last weekend so lots of oven usage here.
Saturday - pork carnitas, pico de gallo, corn
Sunday - I was gone so they had take out pizza.
Monday - chili, cornbread
Tuesday - early group had chicken nuggets & broccoli; late group had homemade pizza
Wednesday - braised pork, mashed potatoes, carrots
Thursday - early group had hot dogs with carrots/cucumber slices; late group had Welsh rarebit
Friday - early group is having a smorgasbord of leftovers; late group is having homemade pizza
What are the two groups? Little kids and big kids?
It varies from day to day. It used to be kids & adults. But the older kids sometimes have activities during the dinner hour now. So, while the early group is still the youngest kids, the late group might include 0-3 kids.
Monday- pasta with tomato and mushroom sauce, kale and beans
Tuesday - stir-rice, roasted cabbage, bbq tofu, peas for the kiddos
Wednesday - pasta with goat cheese and mushrooms, broccoli, butternut squash soup
Thursday - black beans and rice, avocado, salad with cucumbers and mango
Friday - noodles with peanut sauce, broccoli, picked daikon and carrots
I spent $130 this week. My goal is to keep it under 150. We are vegetarians which helps, but my youngest has multiple food intolerances which makes certain things more expensive.
I know some of you don't generally eat beans. I am a huge fan of beans though. If anyone wants ideas for how to eat beans without resorting to always eating “rice and beans”, let me know.
We are not vegetarians but love beans and I’m always in the hunt for good options. Currently in my pantry I have a bean mix (from Bob’s Red Mill, black turtle, cannellini, and cranberry pinto. I also have lentils. Thanks for some inspiration!!
I enjoy reading other people's menus. It's helpful in my own meal planning. This week for me: lots of red meat because I'm a bit anemic and trying to get my iron back up!
It helps to avoid dairy 2hrs before or after eating meat as calcium inhibits the uptake of iron and vit C increases it so try to have some orange juice vit C rich food with your red meat.
Monday - Chicken enchiladas, salad, fruit
Tuesday - Pizza, fruit salad, carrots and celery
Wednesday - Chicken, brown rice, peas and onions, fruit
Thursday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, string beans, apple slices
Friday - Leftovers, Salad, fruit salad
Saturday - Fish filets, rice, salad, roasted veggies, oranges
Sunday - Taco bar (?), Mexican rice, spiced fruit
This is my kind of menu! Sounds like a good week. 🙂
Monday: turkey coleslaw wraps, sweet potato fries, fruit salad
Tuesday: chicken fajitas, coconut rice, black beans
Wednesday: red beans and rice with sausage, cornbread
Thursday: roast chicken with potatoes and carrots
Today: leftovers
My big success this week was getting one of my three kids up early each morning to help me cook breakfast. They've been asking to learn how to cook, and it's nice quality one on one time that makes my mornings happier (I'm so not a morning person).
Wow, that's awesome! What a great idea for spending time with your kids.
Our Weekly Budget Runs Friday to Thursday
*FRI ~ YoYo ( you’re on your own ) ate leftovers or whatever was here. ( I wasn’t feeling good & it’s our Usual Eat Out night)
*SAT~ Simple Pasta (Rigatoni, “Classico* Sauce w- Mushrooms & Olives” & sprinkled Cheddar-Jack cheese on it husband ate leftovers for work lunches & froze some for later.
*SUN ~ my Daughter Made VEGETARIAN Taco Soup w- Avacado & sour Cream & Tortilla Chips on the Side
*MON ~ Wendy’s ( I don’t like Homemade burgers unless Already made beef patties. ( I have gross childhood memories of Homemade burgers)
*TUES ~ Costco Rotisserie Chicken Tacos Homemade
*WED ~ Leftover Taco Soup or Chicken Tacos
*THURS~ We had choice of homemade soup made in my Instant pot Vegetarian Split pea soup OR Split pea-Barley-Potato Soup with Bacon Usually we eat this with a slice of French bread but some of us ate with crackers & some of us just ate the soup. I like to make these soups early in the day then refrigerate & let them thicken on their own
Ps
I made the Black Beans & Pinto Beans from Dry, for the Taco Soup Too in My instant pot (IPot) 😉
We spent $78 on groceries this week! A little higher than normal, but Kroger finally had a sale on the peanut butter that's just peanuts (no sugar or other junk added), so we stocked up! Here's what we ate this week:
Monday - Homemade peanut pad thai with EXTRA carrots and onions
Tuesday - Vegetable soup and salad
Wednesday - We went out for pizza!
Thursday - Chili from the freezer
Friday - Salad with lots of guacamole is planned
Did you make your lettuce wraps with ground chicken? We've been making a version with beef and it's oh-so-tasty. The secret ingredient is our home-grown pickled radishes, which bring a spicy, vinegary note that make 'em to die for. 🙂
Yep, that was ground chicken. I've wondered about a beef option, but then thought maybe the beefy flavors would be overwhelming. Hmm.
Monday: Sweet potato soup, saltine crackers, fruit salad
Tuesday- Salmon, mixed veggies, white rice
Wednesday: Tortilla veggie pizza and spinach salad
Thursday: Pasta with cheese/tomatoes, baked chicken
Friday: Left over Pasta, applesauce
I actually stuck to my budget last week. Yay me!
Sat/Sun - ham, mashed potatoes and green beans
Mon/Tues - tacos! my favorite
Wed - Potato cauliflower soup with grilled ham and cheese sandwhich
Thurs - vegetable lasagna at my favoirte italian restaurant
Fri - I am just going to eat up the last of the soup with maybe a grilled cheese
Monday - Fajitas and blueberries for the rest of the fam. I went out for a moms night to Applebee's! (Moms nights = a bunch of young mommas making dinner for everyone else to eat while they go eat food someone else made. 😉 )
Tuesday - Chili cheese dogs, mashed sweet potatoes, carrots with hummus
Wednesday - Spaghetti with meat sauce, roasted broccoli
Thursday - Burgers with pepperjack cheese, mac & cheese, grapes
Friday - I made a turkey! It was one I got during the Thanksgiving sales and didn't use over the holidays. We had mashed potatoes and gravy (only my second time making gravy from scratch) and cooked carrots to go with the turkey. Tonight I'm making an overnight broth out of the carcass, which I've never done before. Between getting all the meat taken care of in a timely fashion (with plans for how to use the leftovers), making the gravy, and doing the broth I am feeling *pretty* good right now!
Saturday - Lunch will be stir fry, dinner will be your enchilada recipe. Both meals will use turkey. 🙂
Nice work! It is a great feeling to use all the parts from an animal (and to enjoy eating what you’ve made). The other benefit is how nutritious your stock will be!! Woot woot:)
I have a planner now and am going back to see what we have had.
Sat: ham and salad sandwiches
Sun: chicken pasta
Mon: macaroni cheese
Tues: Soya sauce chicken with brocolini and hoisin sauce.
Wed: Steak and noodles, apricots and nuts.
Thurs: Sushi. I ate salmon, wagyu beef and vegetables sushi rolls.
Fri: Chicken Kiev with greens and carrots.
I am making sure to eat plenty of fruit. Mostly it is blueberries, cherries, mandarin slices.
Sun: oven cooked fish in burger with avocado, lettuce, carrot, cucumber
Mon: chicken & veg risotto including onion, garlic, carrot, celery & zucchini
& I was extra hungry so after I cooked some sweet potato oven chips
Tues: fried rice made with bacon, onion, garlic, carrot, zucchini, celery, corn, peas
Wed: red chicken curry with onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, cauliflower
Thursday: craving pan fried chicken and prawn dumplings so takeout
Fri: spaghetti bolognese (homemade sauce with whizzed up onion, garlic, celery, carrot,
zucchini) on wholemeal spaghetti I decided to make myself eat because I bought it &
I'm trying to stop food waste and added homemade chilli oil and parmesan & was
really pleased I enjoyed the wholemeal pasta
Sat: tonight met up with friends for pot luck dinner and made rice paper rolls with chicken,
rice noodles & salad filling with vietnamese dipping sauce and enjoyed mini quiches,
chicken curry, rice & mango salad
Pretty good week around here, I spent $115 on food and another $20 on household items. I’m pleased with that. It was similar last week and my budgeted amount is $100-125/wk.
We ate:
Soup bar (broccoli cheese or Minestrone from my freezer stash), with garlic bread
Lasagna also from the freezer, with LO bread
Pulled pork (yup, freezer find), with coleslaw on homemade buns
LO night
Chicken noodle soup, bread and fruit
Homemade pizza and Caesar salad, tapioca
Oven BBQ chicken, roasted mixed potatoes, salad and chocolate beet cake
How do you make your chocolate beet cake?
Is there a post about your new counters/backsplash that I missed along the way? Would love to read about it.
Sunday, took MIL out for her birthday(Charlie Browns)
Monday, Hot dogs and mac cheese(for dh and kids) (I had beans, no one else likes beans)
tues, Chicken stuffed with broccoli (pre made Barber ones) , mashed, mixed veggies
wed- Chicken cutlet with noodles with garlic and oil, and corn
Thursday- spaghetti/sauce (pc of pork chop in sauce) salad, and bread
Friday, Out Chick fil a
Sat- pot roast (in my pressure cooker) potatoes, and carrots, biscuits
Sunday: Pot roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, and sauteed green beans.
Monday: Grilled salmon with sweet bourbon glaze, potato pancakes from leftover mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli
Tuesday: Honey, soy sauce marinated pork chops,garlic butter rice, and sauteed spinach.
Wednesday: Frozen pizza spruced up with sausage, onion, peppers and mushrooms.
Thursday: Beef and Barley soup
Friday: Parmesan and breadcrumb crusted baked chiken, macaroni and cheese, and Italian Chopped Salad.