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


Friday, September 29, 2017

Final Grocery Total for September

I am counting this as the end of the month. I get paid once a month on the first and since that falls on Sunday I was paid this morning. With that caveat I will hit up the farmer's market and grocery store probably tomorrow for October's groceries.

Kroger Trip:

Dog Food      $4.99
Reese's           $2.04
1 lb carrots    $.99
1 pkg dishwasher detergent    $2.99
1 pkg mushrooms     $1.49
1 donut      $.50

Trip Total:;;   $13.83


Grand Total for September::::::::::  $352.13

Monday, September 25, 2017

Last Week of September

The last week of September is upon us. Logan's birthday party has passed and I am just waiting for payday to arrive and the beginning of next month's food money. As with many months in the past this week will be interesting as I try to use up stuff at the house and not hit up the grocery store for anything.






Sunday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: Mexican Food out with friends
Dinner: Phillip actually ate the leftover Meatball bake from Saturday night. The boys requested grilled cheese and so that is what I made them.


Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Hamburger and fries
Dinner: Nachos with leftover fajita stuff from Sunday's lunch

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly, cheese crackers and beef jerky
Dinner: Smoked Beef Brisket Chili from Vindulge. Review on this is: Basically another version of taco soup. Even without the coffee this was to "soupy" to be called chili. With that out there it tasted good and enabled me to use up the leftover rib meat, beans, end of an onion and the rest of the bell pepper. I have brought it for lunch today at work and will debate putting the rest in the freezer for later or just bringing it for lunch until it is used up.

 Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: leftover smoked beef brisket chili
Dinner: Fish Sticks and Chicken Nuggets with ranch roasted potato

Thursday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Ate on the run
Dinner: Manicotti using leftover sauce from the freezer

Friday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly with fruit cup and mini peanut butter cup
Dinner:  Homemade pepperoni pizza

Saturday:
Breakfast: Biscuits
Lunch: McDonalds with friends
Dinner: Pizza provided by friend


Friday, September 22, 2017

Groceries for September


I have really stayed out of the stores this month so I am hoping I make it through next week without busting my trend and messing up my total!!!

This post is also coming near the end of the month because I misplaced my receipt and had to find it.



Farmer's Market:    $47



Winco Trip:

1 Lollipop   $.45
1 bag Purina Dog chow   $11.98
1 bottle Purex Laundry Detergent  $5.48
1 pkg diapers   $6.97
1 box sandwich bags  $2.44
1 bottle cleaning brush $3.47
1 pkg dishwasher tabs   $4.48
1 bottle jet dry   $5.48
 1 bottle dish detergent  $1.18
1 case Peach soda   $2.98
1 can black beans   $.66
6 bottles apple juice  $10.08
2 cans diced tomatoes   $1.08
1 can kidney beans $.66
1 gallon milk   $.98
2 jars marinara  $2.96
1 large jar nutella  $4.78
1 can ro-tel tomatoes  $.54
1 bottle soy sauce  $.95
2 cans tomato sauce  $.60
3 (8) packs powerade   $12.54
1 box brownie snack cakes  $2.68
1 (12) bottle pack powerade  $5.58
1 pkg cheese and cracker snacks  $4.68
1 box microwave popcorn  $.95
1 pack fruit snacks  $1.98
1 box oatmeal  $1.98
1 pkg pepperoni  $3.70
1 bag spinach  $1.78
~1&1/2lbs grapes  $1.49
1 pkg Flanken ribs  $10.48
1 pkg pepperoni  $3.08
2 pkgs frozen veggies  $1.76
1 box fruit snacks  $1.58
1 pkg sliced cheese  $2.49
2 pkgs cheese sticks  $4.96
2 lbs strawberries   $3.00
1 gallon chocolate milk  $.99
1 Dublin cherry coke  $1.28
1 single serve juice  $.78
1 sour cherry $.99
1 20 oz coke  $1.66
2 naval oranges  $1.56
~1 lb sliced deli turkey  $3.54
1 pkg babybel cheese  $4.08
3 pkgs shredded cheese  $ 5.64
~1/2 lb  $.50
~1lb sliced deli ham  $2.99
~3&1/2 lb sugar   $2.07
~2&1/2 lb baking soda  $1.82
~1/2 lb elbow macaroni  $.41
~1/2 lb pasta shells  $.57
~3/4 lb spaghetti $.60
~2&1/4lb bananas  $1.09
8 fruit strips  $3.28
~2&1/4lbs bird food mix  $1.07
~1/4lb fruit snacks  $.59
~1/8lb jelly belly jelly beans $.96
~1/4 lb doggy dental chews  $1.87
1 snack bag cheetos $.48
1 bag snack size chips  $4.58
1 box snack cakes  $1.28
2 bags chips  $2.18
1 loaf bread  $.83

Trip Total:   $184.15


Winco Trip #2:

~2&1/2 lbs grapes  $2.33
1 large box goldfish  $5.98
Vanilla ice cream  $3.40
1 box yogurt tubes  $2.61
1 bottle mayo  $1.37
1 Dublin root beer  $1.28
1 gallon milk  $.98

Trip Total:  $18.04


Winco Trip #3

2 (8) packs of powerade  $5.96
2 packs snack cakes $3.56
1 bottle Dublin cherry limeade  $1.28
~1/2 lb mike and ikes  $1.13
~1/4lb fruit snacks  $.48
~1&3/4lbs bananas  $.88
~1&1/4lbs peaches  $1.06
2 bags chips  $1.96
1 bag kettle chips  $.78
1 loaf bread $.83

Trip Total:  $18.69

Winco Trip #4

1 (8) pack Powerade   $2.98
1 pkg colby jack sliced  $2.37
~2lbs bananas  $1.09
1 single serve iced tea  $1.18
 1 single serve coke  $1.66
1 gallon milk  $.96
1 loaf bread   $.83
1 bag chips  $.98

Trip Total:  $12.53


My last CSA pickup!! $24.00


Farmer's Market Trip  $16.00




Winco Trip #5

1 gallon milk  $..96
1 pkg biscuits  $1.58
1 Dublin cherry limeade $1.28
2 donuts  $1.16
~1&3/4lbs bananas  $.79
2 pints blackberries  $1.96

 Trip Total:  $7.84

Winco Trip #6
1 pkg bulk pepperoni  $1.25
1 pkg mini pepperonis  $3.70
1 pkg butter $1.22
4 boxes Jello  $1.76
2 donuts  $1.16
1 gallon milk  $.96

Trip Total:   $10.05


Total for the Month of September:::::: $338.30



Monday, September 18, 2017

3rd Week of September

I picked up my last CSA share. I need to decide if I am going to participate again and if I can afford to outlay the cash up front. After I picked up my share I went to the farmer's market and picked up a few additional items.

CSA share

Farmer's Market

I spent $16 at the farmer's market with $7 of that being for the loaf of bread.








Sunday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: McDonald's
Dinner: Spaghetti with Toasted Sourdough

Monday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: chicken wrap
Dinner: Pinto beans with ham and cheddar biscuits. I use the term cheddar biscuits when what really happened is I got home and was getting ready to make cornbread only to discover I used all the flour over the weekend to make chocolate chip cookies with the boys. Since I am in the middle of the pantry challenge I fished around in there to find a box of Red Lobster cheddar biscuit mix. This became the bread with our meal last night.

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:Sub sandwich
Dinner: Grilled Ribs, green salad and green beans



Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly and a green salad
Dinner: One Pan Sausage, Broccoli and Parmesan Pasta from Chelsea's Messy Apron. I used the leftover spaghetti noodles as that is the pasta I had available. Clark loved this dish more than anyone!

Thursday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Jelly, snack cake and chips
Dinner: Grilled Turkey and Cheese on the remaining sourdough.

Friday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:peanut butter and jelly, snack cake and crackers
Dinner:Tasty Hamburger Skillet from FoodHero.org. This one used up a bunch of stuff I had leftover and from the CSA/Farmer's Market shares. My only recommendation would be to up the salt slightly if using fresh ingredients versus canned. 

Saturday:
Breakfast: Kaloches
Lunch: Birthday Party and Hair cuts so grazing at home in between
Dinner: Easy Meatball Parmesan Casserole from The Kitchen is My Playground. Although meatballs are not my favorite Phillip loves them so this dinner was mostly for him and to use up the meatballs in the freezer.






Monday, September 11, 2017

2nd Week of September

Saturday was supposed to be the last CSA pick up but I received an email from the farmer that they were at the hospital with their son and so would not be able to harvest. The boys and I took that as an opportunity to go to the farmer's market. We did not purchase a lot as we got there late and some favorites were low or sold out. We did come home with the pictured items and have enjoyed some of all of them thus far.


Our total was $17 for the pictured items.




Sunday:
Breakfast: donuts
Lunch: Cheese Enchilada, rice and beans
Dinner: Homemade pepperoni pizza

Monday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch:turkey and cheese sandwich
Dinner: Rosa's enchiladas for Logan's birthday

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: roast beef sandwich
Dinner: 20 Minute Garlic Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein from the Recipe Critic. I used leftover steak (ribs) so I skipped the cooking steak step. This was a good recipe but I am not super happy with the noodles I bought. I will go back to my old brand which were sturdier.



Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:Pizza
Dinner: Pigs n a blanket with mac-n-cheese

Thursday:
Breakfast:Donuts in a meeting
Lunch:Turkey and Cheese with chips and cataloupe
Dinner: Carne street tacos using leftover rib meat.

Friday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Turkey and cheese sandwich, chips and a snack cake
Dinner: Spinach Tomato and Garlic Penne Pasta from Cake's Cottage. I enjoyed this recipe. I did make a small change as I was out of plain cream cheese. I left out the onion and use an onion and chive cream cheese I had on hand.


 Saturday:
Breakfast: cinnamon sugar toast
Lunch: grazing at home
Dinner: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak from Spend With Pennies. While I do not like gravy this one was not too bad.


Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Books Aug 22nd through Sept 6th



So in print I did not finish Life Without Oil: Why We Must Shift to a New Energy Future before it was due so I turned it in and requested it again from the library. In the interim I found another book on my currently reading list at the campus library and checked it out. 
The Death of the Grown-Up: How America's Arrested Development is Bringing Down Western Civilization is the book I am currently trying hard to finish. I have read books I do not agree with in the past but this book verges on hate speech on many levels. The author is basically making a case to go back to 1939 and live like the middle class. She just keeps saying middle class so I am not sure where she expects the wealthy and poor to go but this is her imaginary world I guess. The book can not be finished fast enough.


In audio I finished listening to You'll Grow Out of It and despite the reviews I liked it. People have a hard time seeing comedians as people and are upset when they are not funny all the time. Since I was not familiar with Jessi Klein before this book I did not have any expectations.  Whipping Boy: My Forty-Year Search for My Twelve-Year-Old Bully was also a decent listen despite the bad reviews. There were slow parts to the story and maybe more detail than was needed but still a decent listen.
The next book I listened to also got bad reviews mostly as personal attacks on the author. I was not familiar with the Winehouse family before I read Amy, My Daughter written by her father. I thought it was a touching telling of her story. There were parts that were mundane as with anyone's life and sometimes the timeline was confusing but I did enjoy listening to the book.  I must really have an odd opinion of books because this next one is super popular and I just did not like it. I listened to The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do.  It was 3 hours of listening to the author repeat herself. The premise was helpful but listening to that premise over and over was tedious. All of that has led me to the current book Welcome to the Goddam Ice Cube: Chasing Fear and Finding Home in the Great White North. The author sometimes loses me because she jumps back and forth in time but so far it has been a good listen.

I have pre-ordered my next Kindle book and can not wait until the 19th when it comes out!

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Final Total for August

Grocery total for August included one more trip to Winco with the tiny one so I picked up a couple of things I would not have if I was by myself.

Winco Trip:
1 gallon milk   $.95
1lb strawberries  $1.48
~1/4lb skittles    $.44
1 donut    $.58
~1/4lb mike and ikes   $.29
~1/4lb gummy worms   $.27

Total:   $4.09

Grand Total for AUGUST::::::::::   $358.82

1st Full Week of September


All the boys and I went to the farmer's market on Saturday and had a great time. I talked to one farmer about his farm share boxes which are a mix of all the meat he offers. I do not have to buy half an animal with his shares, I get a mix of pork, beef and chicken which works better for us and our limited freezer space.  Sunday afternoon I worked on the menu plan and was just in a place where nothing was coming to me or sounding like it would work. It is only Tuesday and I have already swapped plans.



Sunday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch: Potluck at Church
Dinner: Chicken Fajita and Rice Soup from Cooking Classy. I halved the recipe, left out the ancho chili to cut down on the heat and added some corn I had left over. I used leftover chicken so I just added it toward the end since it did not need to cook. I also used leftover rice.

Monday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Sugar Toast
Lunch: Chicken and fried okra
Dinner:  Beef Stroganoff using up the leftover flank steak

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Turkey and Swiss sandwich with a pear and chips
Dinner: Nachos using leftover taco meat and beans.

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch:Turkey and Gouda sandwich, a banana and a pear
Dinner: Grilled cheese and chips

Thursday:
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: wings and fries
Dinner:pancakes, local bacon and fried eggs as well as cheesy eggs

Friday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: Turkey and cheddar sandwich with a pear and some grapes
Dinner:Chicken Bacon and Green Bean Skillet by the Classy Chapter with crescent rolls. I made this but just added the chicken and bacon toward the end so they would just heat up. If I ever make this again I would leave out the lemon, it made it way to acidic.



Saturday:
Breakfast: biscuits
Lunch: Turkey and cheese sandwich
Dinner: Grilled Ribs, mashed sweet potatoes, toasted sourdough and a salad