Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Second Week of November

We were tied up this past Saturday getting Santa pictures, purchasing a car and going to a friend's birthday party so I did not make it to the farmer's market. This menu is based on what was still at the house.


Sunday:
Breakfast: donuts
Lunch: Rosa's Tortilla factory with family and friends
Dinner: Beef Stroganoff  made with leftover fajita steak served with garlic toast




Monday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Turkey and cheese sandwich and blackberries
Dinner: Pork stir fry using leftover pork chops

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Thanksgiving dinner at work
Dinner: Pigs in a blanket

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Donut
Lunch: Turkey and cheese sandwich with blackberries and pineapple
Dinner:Pulled pork tacos


Thursday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch:Pizza with friend
Dinner: Leftover pork roast, roasted potatoes and cinnamon apples

Friday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: roast beef sandwich
Dinner: spaghetti

Saturday:
Breakfast: cinnamon rolls
Lunch: McDonalds
Dinner: Homemade and mac-n-cheese


Tuesday, November 7, 2017

First Full Week of November

I still have a hard time making decisions on a menu when I have a lot of options. I hashed out one on Sunday night that is varied and makes use of a lot of the produce I picked up over the weekend.





These pickups plus doing our monthly grocery shopping means the fridge looks like normal again and not a barren waste land.
I did not buy a bunch of cool-whip. A lady at our church made a batch of coleslaw for me because she knows I love hers. It was a bit more than I was expecting to take home.

 This is the menu I came up with for this week.


Sunday:
Breakfast: cinnamon rolls
Lunch: Potluck at church so lots of goodness
Dinner: fajitas

Monday:
Breakfast: leftover donut
Lunch: salami and cheese and a pear
Dinner: Herb crusted Pork Chops from Eat Yourself Skinny along with baked potatoes and coleslaw. These were yummy although I will confess to sabotaging the low fat portion of this recipe. I was cooking bacon to have on our potatoes so I used the bacon grease already in the pan instead of olive oil. It may be why my breading came out much darker than the picture. Phillip grabbed a chop out of the pan that was thinner than the others so he said it had good flavor but was a bit dry.




Tuesday:
Breakfast: leftover donut
Lunch: peanut butter and jelly, chips
Dinner: BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken by Plain Chicken, roasted carrots with ranch seasoning and steamed corn.  This one was really good and will likely be on the menu again.

Wednesday:
Breakfast: leftover donut followed by a muffin
Lunch: peanut butter and jelly, chips and blackberries
Dinner:Chicken Gnocchi soup with hot chocolate and garlic bread
Thursday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Club sandwich and sweet potato fries with a friend
Dinner: Shrimp with grits from The weekend gourmet .  Made this  to use up leftover corn and bacon. I will not make it again. There is way to much grease in the grits. The butter is literally standing in the pan


Friday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Thanksgiving feast at work
Dinner:Slow Cooker Korean ribs from It is a Keeper with steamed rice and green beans.

Saturday:
Breakfast: Biscuits
Lunch: Burger out with the family
Dinner: Pizza at friend's birthday party

Monday, November 6, 2017

November Groceries

I picked up some amazing fruits and veggies this weekend from both bountiful baskets co-op, the farmer's market and a few from the grocery store.





Bountiful Basket: $18.50
 I gave grandma the collard greens, kiwi and beets as I knew we would not eat them.  A couple of onions and the cilantro are going to be traded this week for some eggs.


Farmer's market:

Whole chicken:  $22.50
Gouda cheese:   $8.00
Green beans:  $4.00
Carrots: $3.00
Lettuce: $2.00

Total:  $39.50


Winco Trip #1:

1 pkg fresh meatballs   $2.98
1 pkg shredded cheese $1.75
1 can biscuits  $1.58
1 gallon milk  $.95
~1&1/2 lbs grapes  $2.07
~1&3/4lbs bananas $.75
2 Pez dispensers  $1.28
2 Reese's pumpkins  $.74
1 bag candy corn   $.89
1 bag reese's pieces  $1.74
1 bag chocolate raisins  $1.49
2 cans wasp spray  $8.62
2 bags Doritos   $2.96
1 bag ships  $1.09
1 pkg dishwasher detergent  $2.99

Total:  $33.34


Sprouts Trip #1:



 4 qts blackberries:  $3.52
~2 lbs pears  $1.67
1 head garlic  $.34
~1lb apples   $1.38
~1&1/4 lbs sweet potatoes $1.07
1 pkg noodles  $1.69
~1/4 lb chocolate almonds  $.81
~1/4 lb taffy  $1.44 ( gift for my sister)
~2 lbs ground beef  $5.85
1 pkg bacon  $4.85
1 pkg bacon ends  $2.09
1 pkg pork chops  $3.63
1 pkg muffins  $3.29

Total: $31.81


Target Trip #1

1 bag DOTS  $.80
1 bag Reese's $2.39
1 pkg chicken tenders  $2.99
1 pkg Shrimp $6.39
1 loaf French bread  $1.49
1 pkg lunch meat  $2.49

Total:   $16.55


Winco Trip #2


1 can beans  $.57
2 jars marinara  $3.76
1 jar Nutella  $4.78
1 can black beans  $.55
1 can pinto beans  $.57
1 can diced tomatoes  $.54
1 can kidney beans  $.55
2 cans tomato sauce  $.52
1 can tomato paste  $.43
1 gallon milk  $.95
1 tub butter  $1.27
1 pkg frozen broccoli  $1.26
1 pkg frozen corn  $.88
1 pkg fish sticks  $2.98
1 box ice cream sandwich  $3.17
1 box ice cream cones  $3.43
1 pkg salami and cheese  $2.18
1 container ricotta cheese $2.38
1 yogurt  $1.34
1 pint whipping cream  $3.38
1 pkg crescent rolls  $1.78
2 pks biscuits  $3.38
2 pkgs cinnamon rolls  $3.56
2  pork roasts  $4.77
1 pkg shredded cheese $1.75
1 pkg shredded parmesan $2.23
1 pkg fajita beef  $4.98
1 pkg sliced munster cheese  $4.73
1 pkg salted butter sticks  $2.36
1 pkg sausage  $2.8
1 pkg unsalted butter sticks  $2.36
1 pkg turkey lunch meat  $1.76
1 pkg ham lunch meat  $2.59
1 pkg cheese sticks  $2.48
1 pkg meatballs  $2.98
1 pkg peanut butter crackers  $1.91
1 box saltines  $1.08
1 box snack cakes  $1.77
1 box granola bars  $2.28
1 box snack cakes $1.58
2 pkgs mandarin oranges  $2.46
1 box granola bars $2.28
5 gallons apple juice  $12.40
1 pkg cheese and cracker snacks  $4.68
1 (2) liter ginger ale  $.58
1 (2) liter cola  $.58
3 (8) pks pwerade  $14.25
1 Dublin soda  $1.28
~2 lbs squirrel food  4.91
4lbs sugar  $1.49
~1/4lb walnuts  $1.43
1 bottle ranch dressing  $.98
~1/2 pound grits  $.65
~3/4lbs pasta shells $.71
~3/4 lb pasta spaghetti  $.66
~3/4 lb pasta penne $.58
1 dental chew dog bone  $.86
~1/4 lb cinnamon  $.72
~1&3/4 lbs rice  $1.08
2 bags Doritos  $2.96
1&1/2 lbs baking potatoes  $.64
~1/4 lb ginger root  $.43
~2&1/2 lbs bird seed $.92
1 pkg nipples  $2.29
1 pkg dishwasher detergent  $2.99
1 pkg cookies  $.98
1 donut  $.58
~1&1/4 lbs raw sugar  $.99
~3/4lbs elbow macaroni  $.58
~1&1/2 lbs gold potatoes  $1.22


Total:  $152.74








Friday, November 3, 2017

Last Week of October, First Days of November


The fridge and freezer are really, really empty so this week has been crazy. I never managed to get a meal plan made and have just been counting down until the weekend.




Sunday:
Breakfast: Donuts
Lunch: McDonald's
Dinner: Soft Tacos

Monday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch: late lunch out with the boys great grandmother and grandmother also known as Nene and Meme
Dinner: Taco Soup

Tuesday:
Breakfast:Donuts
Lunch: leftover stir fry and rice
Dinner: Corn Dogs

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Fried Chicken with a friend
Dinner: homemade hamburgers

Thursday:
Breakfast: Biscuit
Lunch: Meatloaf with a friend
Dinner: Meatball Parmesan Bake from The Kitchen is My Playground

Friday:
Breakfast: Cheese Danish bought with a gift card from last Christmas
Lunch: Homemade pizza I fixed last night and put away for lunches
Dinner: Brinner!!! We had biscuits, eggs and bacon

Saturday:
Breakfast: Muffins
Lunch: Ate at a baby shower I was attending
Dinner: Shrimp Scampi and pasta with alfredo sauce. I had been to the grocery store and the farmer's market so we were restocked.


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Fourth Week of October

The boys and I went by the farmer's market on Saturday while we waited on Meme and Nene to meet us for an art fest. I did not pick up anything to add to the menu and honestly this week what I have to use is truly the dregs.


Sunday:
Breakfast: donuts
Lunch: McDonald's with friends
Dinner: Meatloaf muffins and steamed corn

Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: leftover meatloaf and corn, a snack cake
Dinner: Chili using beans from leftover beans and tomato sauce

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Dinner: Hot Dogs at Clark's request

Wednesday:
Dinner: Nachos using leftover chili

Thursday:
Dinner: Cuban marinated flank steak, sauteed mushrooms and rice


Friday:
Dinner: Pizza

Saturday:
Dinner:  Stir fry over rice. Used leftover steak and corn. All the broccoli I had left from the farmer's market and some mushrooms.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Books Sept 7th through Oct 17th



As far as print books during this time I managed to finish the bigoted The Death of the Grown-Up: How America's Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization. I was nearly dancing in the street when I finished that one. I picked Life Without Oil: Why We Must Shift to a New Energy Future back up. I am soo close to finishing this one also and will be glad. It is a very informational book which is not bad, just heavy to wade through.

Audio books as usual have been my go to entertainment while driving back and forth to work.  I finished Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North.  Once finished with the frozen north I listened to Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. I was disappointed in this book mainly because it was a rehash of his other books that I listened to. The next book I listened to was interesting although it could have been shorter. I felt the author repeated himself and brought in details that did not pertain to the overall story just because he had the information in his research. Overall though I am glad I listened to American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst. Up next was Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Freak Out Less, Accomplish More, and Generally Win at Life which I found to be a complete rehash of her other book I listened to. She is not an author who I relate to and so I was having a hard time buying into her philosophy on life. With all of this mundane listening I was holding out hope that Not Dead Yet: The Memoir by Phil Collins was going to be worth the time. This was an interesting listen especially since I have previously listened to the Beatles story and this overlapped them in sections. I can not say this made me like Phil Collins as a person but he seemed to be honest about his faults which I appreciate.  Staying on the musical biography train I went immediately into Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. This one was also interesting and overlapped with a lot of same bands Phil mentioned. As with Phil I appreciated Bruce's honesty about his faults and especially his bouts with mental illness.  I stayed in the 70s with the next book which was Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .  While I have never been a basketball fan I was hoping to enjoy this book. There were parts I liked and parts I did not. This book really seemed more about Kareem than the coach he claims to have loved.  After this one I totally shifted gears and listened to The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan which I loved!!! I honestly was wishing for just a smidge more once the book ended. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.  Currently I am trying to become a better parent to the munchkins by listening to  Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys . I am picking up some good information on supporting the boys in their current stage of life and helping them transition.

There have been Kindle books in the middle of this also! The book I was waiting on came out and I quickly read through it. Invisible Warrior by Teresa Gabelman was good but I have to say I am starting to lose interest in the series. Characters seem to be added now for the sole purpose of continuing the series. The initial premises which she built this world on seem also to have gone by the way side and I am disappointed with that. I started another kindle book from the library but did not finish it before it was due so I am waiting on Year of No Clutter by Eve O Schaub to become available again. 

Monday, October 16, 2017

Third Week of October


The boys and I hit up the farmer's market on Saturday before picking up their grandmother (Nene) and great grandmother (Meme) for some fun activities.




Sunday:
Breakfast: Donuts
Lunch: chicken, okra and rolls
Dinner: Spaghetti with meatballs


Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips and a banana
Dinner: Slow cooker roasted chicken with a green salad and steamed rice






Tuesday:
Breakfast:Cereal
Lunch: Wendy's with friend
Dinner: Southern Smothered Chicken with Baby Bok Choy from Whisk it Real Gud. I liked this, Phillip on the other hand was not crazy about the bok choy. He said it was basically a "fancy" version of chicken and rice.

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a banana and a snack cake.
Dinner:Pinto Beans with Ham, cornbread and fried potatoes

Thursday:
Breakfast: Donuts at meeting
Lunch:Peanut Butter and jelly with banana
Dinner: Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Domestic Superhero with steamed rice. Of course I did not need to put it in the crockpot since I was using leftover chicken. I just simmered it on the stove top until the chicken was heated through. I also halved the recipe since I did not want a ton of leftovers.

Friday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Cuban sandwich and sweet potato fries with a friend
Dinner: Homemade pepperoni and mushroom pizza
Saturday:
Breakfast: Kolaches
Lunch: Mexican food out with family
Dinner: Cheesy Chicken Bacon Broccoli and Rice by Kevin and Amanda which used up a lot of leftovers and ends of stuff from the fridge.



Monday, October 9, 2017

Second Week of October


The boys and I hit up the farmer's market on Saturday morning before running our other errands.


Sunday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: McDonalds
Dinner: Fiesta Taco Casserole. This was just ok, not the best dish ever.




Monday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: Ham and Cheddar sandwich
Dinner: Carne Guisada tacos  using a recipe from The Food Charlatan


Tuesday:
Breakfast: Bagel with plain cream cheese
Lunch: Cheese Enchilada, rice and beans
Dinner: Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs from It Is a Keeper.com , Low Carb Bacon Bok Choy from That's Low Carb and steamed brown rice. I like everything and have the leftovers for lunch today to prove it! Phillip was not a fan of the bok choy but I knew that was going to be testing waters for him.




Wednesday:
Breakfast: Bagel with plain cream cheese
Lunch: pizza
Dinner: Homemade Beef Stew Recipe from Ciao Florentina which was honestly amazing!!! I left out the pepper flakes and used leftover beef from earlier this week so this cut the cook time. It was still really good! 


Thursday:
Breakfast: Kolache and donut
Lunch: Leftover brown rice, Korean short ribs and bacon bok choy.
Dinner: Dinosaur chicken nuggets and green beans

Friday:
Breakfast: Coworker who is now my favorite brought kolaches!
Lunch:burger and fries
Dinner:  Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta from budget bytes. It was good as usual and I love this as a meat free option.





Saturday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: Chicken and a fruit cup 
Dinner: Grilled Cheese















Friday, October 6, 2017

October's Groceries

I am really making an effort to purchase what we are going to eat in a reasonable amount of time and as much fresh local food as I can. This led to my attempt this month to only purchase my basic staples at the grocery store and get all my fruits, veggies, meat and cheese at the farmer's market. As crazy as this seems I had a hard time 100% committing to this last week. I usually make out my meal plan from what I pick up but this time I went to the market thinking of something specific I wanted to make and could not find the cut of meat. I will talk myself through this and get the method perfected because we did manage to pick up some awesome stuff at the market.


Farmer's Market:

Tomatoes and Watermelon from 1 farmer : $11
Bacon:  $12
Cheese: $8
Peach Preserves: $6
Lettuce:  $4
Green Beans:  $4

Total:   $45


Winco Trip #1:

Laundry detergent    $3.98
10 bottles Apple Juice       $16.80
 2 (8) pks powerade    $6.96
1 can diced tomatoes  $.54
2 cases Coke   $9.36   ( my mom gave coupons for 2 free cases)
1 box snack crackers   $ 4.68
1 gallon milk   $.96
2 pkgs diapers  $13.94
1 pkg dishwasher detergent   $2.99
1 pkg bacon bits  $2.59
2 boxes gnocchi    $3.68
1 jar bouillon  $1.45
1 pkg nipples  $1.86
1 can tomato sauce  $.30
1 can kidney beans  $.57
1 bag spinach   $1.78
1 smoked sausage  $1.98
1 bag frozen peas   $1.08
2 bags frozen corn  $1.76
2  cans biscuits   $ 3.16
1 pkg pepperoni   $3.70
~2&1/4lbs  bananas   $1.06
~2&1/4lbs flour  $1.02
~1/2lb shell pasta  $.54
~1lb spaghetti noodles   $.76
~1/2 lb penne pasta   $.44
~3/4lb raw sugar   $.77
2 donuts  $1.16
1 loaf bread   $.93
2&1/4 lbs sugar  $1.40
2 boxes fruit snacks  $2.96

Total:  $ 83.90



Sprouts Trip:

1 bunch spinach   $.99
3 pineapples  $2.94
~1&1/2 lbs grapes  $1.41
1 bottle chili seasoning  $2.79
~1/4lb chocolate almonds $1.17
~1&1/4lbs pistachios  $6.44
2 pkgs beef stew meat  $4.99
1 pkg ground beef  $5.31
1 loaf bread   $1.69
1 bottle rinse aid  $3.49
1 bottle hand soap  $1.97

Total: $33.49

Winco Trip #2

1 gallon milk  $.96
1 box brownies  $1.58
1 box ice cream cones  $3.43
1 box ice cream bars  $2.26
2 pkgs sliced cheese  $5.68
1 bag chips  $1.79
~1/2 lb fruit snacks $1.10
~1/4lb gummy bears  $.48
1 pkg raisins  $1.32
1 lb cheese  $2.78
1 pkg turkey lunch meat  $1.98
6 fruit leathers  $2.64
1 pkg bagels  $1.58
~1/8 lb dog chews  $.93
1 box popcorn  $.98
1 Dublin cherry limeade  $1.28
1 donut  $.58
1 triple   $1.20

Total:  $32.08



Winco Trip #3:

3 pairs garden gloves  $3.24
1 gallon milk $.96
1 pkg shredded Parmesan  $1.98
1 pkg shredded mozzarella  $1.68
~2 lbs bananas   $.90
2 bags chips  $1.96
1 loaf bread  $.93

Total::  $11.65



Farmer's Market Week #2

Green Beans  $4
Tomatoes  $5
Baby Bok Choy  $3

Total::: $12.00


Farmer's Market Week #3


Broccoli  and Lettuce   $7
Peas: $6
Chicken $18

Total::::: $31.00


Winco trip #4

1 gallon milk   $.96
1 pkg mushrooms  $1.48
1 pkg cream cheese $1.22
~3 lbs bananas   $1.14
1 box snack cakes  $1.28
1 pkg meds for the honey  $9.39

Total:   $15.47


Winco trip #5

3 pairs of garden gloves    $3.00
1 gallon  milk  $.96
1 bottle sweet tea   $1.18
~2 lbs potatoes  $.82
~1/2lb rice  $.32
~2 lbs bananas  $.86
1 box snack cakes  $1.64
1 box cheese and crackers  $3.48
1 bottle dublin bottling works soda  $1.28
1 small pumpkin   $.98
1 loaf bread  $.83

Total: $15.94


Kroger Trip #1

2 boxes of gnocchi  $1.58
1 boxes  panty liners  $ 1.38
1 pizza kit  $2.75
2 pkgs mushrooms  $2.18
1 pkg won ton wrappers $.99
1 head lettuce  $2.49
1 bag dog food  $6.19

Total: $18.18

Kroger Trip #2

1 box ice cream cones  $3.99
1 box ice cream sandwiches  $2.19
1 pint vanilla ice cream  $1.00
1 flank steak  $5.61

Total:  $12.79

Winco trip  #5

1 gallon milk  $.96
2 pkgs pepperoni  $2.15
1 pkg croutons  $.88
~2 lbs bananas  $.78
1 pkg cheese  $1.75

Total: $6.52


Winco trip  #6

~2 lbs ground beef   $3.46
1 pkg tortilla shells  $1.98
1 bag tortilla chips  $1.54
1 tub sour cream  $.98
1 pkg cheese  $2.05
1 pkg gum  $1.04

Total:  $11.14


Grand Total for the Month::::::    $329.16

I went over this month I believe because of poor planning on my part and also lots of ice cream splurges.



Tuesday, October 3, 2017

First Week of October

The boys and I headed to the farmer's market on Saturday and then ran errands including the grocery store.

$41 at the Farmer's Market


Sunday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: Potluck at church
Dinner: Pulled Pork Sweet Potato Hash With Eggs from 2 Teaspoons. I was able to use up the rest of the sweet potatoes from the last CSA basket and some of the leftover pulled pork that Phillip smoked for potluck. I learned from last time to cook the eggs separate and then allow Phillip to add them to his hash.

Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: leftover hash and pea salad also from potluck
Dinner: Leftover Pulled Pork reheated on the stove top in a bit of apple juice, ranch roasted carrots and a green salad.

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese
Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich with crackers and a brownie
Dinner:Smoked sausage and farm fresh green beans along with the rest of the crusty bread

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Kaloche
Lunch: Meatloaf, green beans and mashed potatoes
Dinner:  One Skillet Sausage and White Bean Gnocchi from Chelsea's Messy Apron. I used leftover smoked sausage and fresh tomatoes rather than canned. Tastes good but when I make it again I will back off on the cook time. The cheese got a little too crispy






Thursday:
Breakfast: Bagel with plain cream cheese
Lunch: Ham and Cheddar sandwich with pineapple and a brownie
Dinner:Smoked Pork stir fry with noodles. I used broccoli, carrots, celery, onion, green beans and corn as the veggies as well as the remaining smoked pork.

Friday:
Breakfast: nothing, forgot about my bagel until almost lunch so I just held out
Lunch: Chicken shish-kabob, rice and greek salad
Dinner: Brinner!!! Bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes.

Saturday:
Breakfast: Biscuits
Lunch: Turkey and Swiss sandwich 
Dinner: Homemade hamburgers