I suppose I should do a bit of menu planning-even if it is just to have a list of options if I'm going to make November a $400 (+$100 towards Holiday) spend month. Tha't sht eplan for December as well. I' already at $85 in groceries after the massive Sam's Club stop, and another $11 at two other small stops, so have $204 through the end of November. But, it's already November 7th, so really only three weeks to plan for. $68 average per week, since I have many thing son hand, seems doable. I'd also like to keep adding loss leaders to the pantry or freezer as well, so some of my weekly budget will go there. So with minimal shopping, what am I thinking this week? I'm intentionally building in extras to get meals made more quickly and I have assorted items I' trying to use up from the refrigerator to ensure I don't waste. If the week is as nice as this weekend, I'm going to want to get outside and not be tied to the stove.
- Pasta Fagiole soup with turkey and cheese toasties
- Mushroom and hamburger fettucine
- Cottage pie
- Egg bake with bacon and spinach
- Sausage and roasted vegetable tray bake
- Cheese ravioli in marinara sauce
- Chicken stir fry with broccoli over rice (make extra rice)
- Fried Rice with mixed vegetables and egg rolls
- BLT sandwiches and homemade fries
- Milk
- Eggs
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- Egg rolls
- Bread
- Crushed Tomatoes
I received a $10 of $50 coupon along with 2-3 giant loss leader items in the mail to our local grocery store. I think I'll just do that rather than an Aldi run, but later in the week, I'll combine Aldi with Sam's Club to get the rotisserie chicken, to top off until Thanksgiving week. That's my kitchen plan for the week. I'm going to check out the links sent by a few of you for even more recipes. and inspiration. What's cooking at your house?
I just made our menu plan, but it's likely going to be pretty easy this week. I have two work dinners, so M will be on his own for that. Otherwise, it's tacos, steak & roasted butternut squash, & balsamic chicken.
ReplyDeleteYour menu sounds great.
I mostly need to organize the freezer this weekend. It's a mess, and it's so hard to find things!
My menu is very dull, but I'm OK with that this week. I ended up making hamburgers last night as I had some thawed that needed to be used. I made soup too, eaten for lunch, and sent a ton home with my daughter as she can eat it, but there is a jar for the two of us with sandwiches fo rlater int the week.
DeleteThe last two or three weeks I have added left overs to the freezer from dinners I made. So this week will be left over chili (adding noodles to make chili mac), beef and veggie stew, beef and veggie pasta. That gives me three nights of easy meals.
ReplyDeleteI haven't made cheese ravioli in a while. I may have to pull out the pasta maker next weekend.
Enjoy your Sunday!
I have so many frozen meals I need to figure out what they all are! It will truly be a night of grazing-just taking things out and crossing fingers. Oh as for the ravioli, not homemade sorry to say. They are fresh ones from the store.
DeleteI took out frozen beans. Tomorrow I would like to have a vegetarian day. I want to have only vegetarian days twice a week. I will make an egg dish on Wednesday. Want to get fresh fish but, we'll see. Have no idea for the rest of the week. inspired by your list? Or homemade pizza one day may be?
ReplyDeleteI am happy to eat lots of vegetarian meals. DH, unless it's grilled cheese or mac and cheese, he wants his meat!
DeleteJon's just been reorganising the freezer and discovered three bags of vegan meatballs - he hates them so it looks like that's what I'll be eating for weeks! xxx
ReplyDeleteI've had some I like and some that were a miss. I'm not picky usually, so trying to figure out the difference between those I like and those I don't.
DeleteMy meals were beef heavy this last week. This week, it will be chicken all the way. I will put lots of carrots, celery, and onion in the pan with the chicken. That way, I will have cooked two days of vegetables and eat kale with it. I will use one of the bags of colcannon, another night green beans from a can. I have food, so I never specifically commit to paper what we will eat.
ReplyDeleteSome days I just need to have an idea of what is available so when I end work, I'm not having to figure it out.
DeleteYour menu plan sounds good. We are still trying to eat down the freezer, even as I seem to add additional things to it. I can't hold back when there is a wonderful deal to cherry pick.
ReplyDeleteIf I had more freezer space, I'd probably do the same. IT's my pantry that starts getting overloaded.
DeleteSTILL eating down the freezer and the pantry. Tonight, youngest is grilling steaks (as I type this,) and tomorrow I will make something with the leftovers I know we will have--either steak quesadillas, stew or cottage pie. Fruitcake gets fed this week, and I think we will cut the first one next weekend. Beyond that, I don't know. Back-in-College-Boy has begged me for help on a Cultural Anthropology paper due by 11:59 Friday, so I'm in for a long week. He makes me go through every word of every sentence of every paragraph with a fine tooth comb--and this paper is 2,700 words. He IS halfway finished, however, and that has been edited. I told him I would give input until Tuesday, 10:30 p.m, so I'm sure we will be working a good deal from Monday after dinner through Tuesday evening. (I told him I wouldn't even look at it yesterday or today.) Wednesday, my neighbor and I are going to do some "hanging out," and I want to be able to go with a clear conscience. By that, I mean I will tag along as she does some Christmas shopping, go out for lunch, (really!) pick up her daughter, and take her to dance class. One of our stops will be a local glass blower, which I am looking forward to. I'll be home after dinner, so the troops will have to fend for themselves. I'm hoping by Thursday I will be back on some sort of meal planning.
ReplyDeleteI think Cottage pie will be a win at some point this week. DH has today and tomorrow off as well, so who knows what we'll do or where we'll end up, and I can get that made fairly quickly since I have cooked meat already if I cheat with instant potatoes and frozen veg I can just steam.
DeleteYour menu sounds good. I am in a rut and only had yesterday and today planned. Yesterday was subs (as I provided dinner for Rebecca's youth group so we had the same dinner I provided them). Tonight we are having lasagna per my hubby's request. Not sure about the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteI see you have egg rolls on your menu, is there a certain brand that you recommend? I have yet to find a brand that I like and they honestly sound so good right now. Thanks!
I have not made a real lasagna in quite a while but I think I'll add lasagna noodles to a list. That's the ingredient I wouldn't have already. Good plan on doubling up on the sub meal.
DeleteYum on the comfort foods. I’m making a list of items to shop for this weekend. Soup is perfect right now due to this chilly weather. It warms up during the day though, so that is good.
ReplyDeleteI realized I have no broth base, bullion, or broth already made so need to add to a shopping list. My daughter brought her veggie base for me to help flavor the pasta fagiole.
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