Menu Plan Day

My Meals for the week:-I have links to recipezaar below but I use America's Test Kitchen cookbooks.

Chicken Pot Pie
-Salad
Mustard Pork Chops
-crispy cabbage
-cornbread
-mashed potatoes
Mexican Chicken Soup
-Mexican rice
-Mexican re-fried beans
Tomato-Basil Pasta with fresh Mozzarella
-Salad
-Rolls
-Corn
Cincinnati 5 way chili
-rolls
-salad

Check back tomorrow to see what I purchased. Also check out orgjunkie for other menu plans.

Latte

Menu Plan Day and Shopping Day Adventures

Don't forget below Menu Plan Day I show you how we live on $50.00 a week for groceries (that include personal care, toiletries and kitchen necessities) and $50.00 a week for all other house hold necessities (that include shoes, clothing, home school supplies, car filter and oil, etc)

I also have my total's for weeks past below along with my weekly average.

I have not started my candida diet yet. I think it's best to plan out my meals for the week (more than just the soup!) and make sure they are similar to my families meals. This way I am not tempted. I will keep you updated on when I start and how it's going.-I should be starting next week!

All recipes below will be substituted for all natural and or organic ingredients. I also use America's Test Kitchen recipes because our family just loves them.



Menu Plan Monday:

Breakfast:

Fluffy Dinner Style Omelet
French Toast
Strawberry Scones x's 2
Organic Cereal x's 2
Organic Oatmeal (vanilla and cinnamon)

Snacks:

Organic Popcorn
Brownies
Banana Bread


Dinners:

Korean Fried Chicken, rice-squash-rolls
General TSO Chicken, mixed veggies-rice
Skillet BBQ pork chops, squash- rolls
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, veggies, -fries
Chili, croissants
Tuna Salad Sandwiches, fries
leftovers

Need to make:

rolls x's 2
bread for tuna sandwiches
buns for pulled pork sandwiches
croissants

How my shopping week went:

This week will be bad for 2 reasons, #1 I found 2 receipts in my wallet from the past and we ate out once this week.


$50.00 for groceries:


The found receipts:
Sonic 5.39
Walmart: 3.92
Total: 9.31

Woods Grocery Store:
Grocery:
Navy Bean 1.25
Natural White Flour 3.59
Meat:
10lb Leg Quarters 3.90
1.28lb Gizzards 1.28
Produce:
1.48lb Grapes 1.32
Green Onion .59
Garlic .50
2.09lb Squash 2.05
Cilantro .99
8lbs Oranges 3.98
Banana's (day old) 1.56
Dairy:
2-1lb Butter 4.58
1 Dozen Eggs (running low on free range) 1.25
1lb cottage cheese 2.39
Frozen:
3lb corn 2.99
Total: 33.74

Eating Out:
Taco Bell 2.98
McDonald's 4.94
Sonic 2.12
Total: 10.04

Prairie Grove Farms:
Raw Milk 3.50
Total: 3.50

Price Cutter:
Organic Caesar salad dressing clearance .99
2 Gallon OJ 5.18
Steaks 4.49
Total: 11.07

Wal-Mart:
3 Johnson Ez grip soap 2.91-3.00 coupon (made .09 cents)
Shout gel clearance 2.68
Binder for coupons clearance 2.00
Gauze Pads 1.56-1.00 coupon .56
Total: 5.71
Grand Total for Groceries: 73.37


$50.00 for all other household necessities:

Well this week I actually put some 'grocery' items on here. I did so because I had to buy 50.00 worth!

Target:
Jet Dry 3.54
Jet Dry dishwasher cleaner 3.54
2 Cascade 2n1 20packets 8.00-$2.00 coupons
2 16pk mega roll (128 reg rolls) Charmin Toilet Paper 31.98-.25 coupon (got $5.00 gift card)
Total: 47.82+5.00 gift card for next visit

Wal-Mart:
Windshield wiper fluid for truck 1.50
2 Windshield wipers for truck 10.00
3 month Air Filter for house 4.58
Total: 17.24
Grand Total: 65.06

Overall Grand Total: 138.43
Over for the week: 38.43

I will try to make up that 38.43 next week.

First week:
47.73 groceries
60.00 spelling power book
Grand Total: 107.73

Second week:
49.72 groceries
40.00 shoes ( I did not include tax here because I did it on the jackets below since they were bought together)
Grand Total: 89.72

Last week:
53.83 groceries
56.30 jackets and car oil
Grand Total: 110.13

This week:
73.37 groceries
65.06 toilet paper, dishwasher detergent/cleaners, truck wipers
Grand Total: 138.43

My average over every week is: 11.50

If I only spend $46 total next week I will be caught up. Do you think I can do it?


Don't forget to see other menu plan mondays check out orgjunkie and to see shopping day adventures check out The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Latte

Menu Plan Day and Shopping day Adventures

Don't forget to check out shopping day adventures below (where I show you what I spent with my $50.00 grocery money and $50.00 everything else money) Also to get other great menu plan day posts go to orgjunkie or more grocery shopping day's go to The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Well for me the next two weeks, no more eating good yummy America's Test Kitchen meals. I am going on a 2 week candida diet were I can't have anything except lean meats and low/no sugar fruits and veggies. It's going to be so hard! I am also using this diet cleanse and this fungal detox with my diet...and below is my main meal that I will be eating everyday all day. I actually like this meal so I am happy with it. I just hate giving up sweets! lol!



My candida meal for the week: I will eat this all day including dinner

Lentil and Cabbage Stew (I am substituting the toovar dal with red lentils, not using ground fenugreek or black mustard seeds, and I am using curry powder instead of leaves...I am also doubling the recipe.

I also plan to eat:

Breakfasts:
Strawberry Limeade Smoothies (recipe below)
eggs

Snacks:
Celery and almond butter

Dinner:
along with my stew I will be eating steamed veggies (drenched in butter!)

My Strawberry Limeade Smoothie:
1/2 C frozen strawberries
1/2 C yogurt
2-3 T lime juice (more or less to your liking)
1/4 C water (you can use milk to make it creamer or oj for tartness but I can't have those)
1/4 t stevia
2-3 t Xylitol

add to blender mix and serve! Tastes yummy!

Don't forget I substitute a lot of the ingredients for all natural or organic or healthier ones. Such as sugar I use Xylitol or Honey, for flour I use whole wheat, spelt, or brown rice, for chocolate I use carob powder, etc. Also I use America's Test Kitchen Recipies and not the ones below.

My Families meals for the week:

Breakfast:
eggs and grits
cinnamon vanilla oatmeal
organic cereal

Snacks:
carrots and ranch
organic popcorn
all natural Cheetos
Chocolate banana bread (from really old bananas)

Dinner:
Toasted Turkey Subs, home fries, steamed veggies
Skillet creole chicken fricassee, rice, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies
Shrimp and scallop skewers with hoeisn-ginger sauce, rice, steamed veggies
Grilled chicken with sesame noodles,
Lemon chicken and rice soup
Mexican Chicken soup
Leftovers

How my grocery shopping went:

Well I have to go by memory but I think my husband spent around 13.00 on these items:

foil (err I can get it free at Walgreen's this week-oh well now I will have a lot)
brown sugar
3 3lb pork shoulder
Total: 13.00ish

I spent:

Akin natural food market:

2 Panda licorice for boys 1.30
agave nectar 3.99
3 Soda (stevia) 3.48
Total 9.00

Woods Grocery Store:



Grocery
tomatoes crushed 1.67
Produce
5.97lb grapes 5.26
2lb Mangoes 1.98
4.36lb cabbage 2.57
1 jalapeno pepper .14
6lb apples 4.00
Lettuce 1.19
Dairy
1lb butter 2.39
Frozen
2-1lb Brocolli Normanday 3.00
2-1lb Mediterrainan Veggies 3.00
Total: 26.39

Praire Grove Farm:
Raw Milk 3.50

Grand Total: 51.89ish

If you guys read my blog you know each week we have $50 for groceries and $50 for all other house hold and personal nessesities. Each week I have pretty much stayed right on the money.

First week:
47.73 groceries
60.00 spelling power book
Grand Total: 107.73

Second week:
49.72 groceries
40.00 shoes ( I did not include tax here because I did it on the jackets below since they were bought together)
Grand Total: 89.72

This week:
51.89 groceries
10ish oil and filters for car(husband got...don't remember total)
1.94 Walgreen's
46.30 jackets
Grand Total: 110.13


So it looks like I am over by about $7.58ish (depending on what my husband actually spent, which these totals should be right on the money-ish)

Not bad aye?

So do you have a frugal freak deal you would like to share? If so sign up to my Linky below along with your post of your frugal deal (be sure to only link your current deal post not your blog homepage)

Latte

Menu Plan Day and Shopping day Adventures

Well this has been one fun frugal adventure. I have been so excited to try and get good deals, and still stick to my semi-candida diet(more about that later in this post). My biggest problem has been the organic all natural part. My local grocery just does not carry much. I am planning on going to a local natural food market (that is 40 miles away, but on my way to the dentist office) later this week and see if I can shop there. I called them yesterday to see if they take online coupons-cuz that would just be so wonderful. We shall see.

To see other menu plan Monday's go to orgjunkie.com or to see other grocery cart challenges go to Grocery Cart Challenge and learn the best ways to be organized, and shop on the cheap.

Keep in mind I use America's Test Kitchen recipes as they are so perfect, we just don't want to try anything else, oh and your in luck I found 2 of the ATK recipes on recipezarr cool huh!

What I will be making this week:

Breakfasts:

Cinnamon and Vanilla Oatmeal

Eggs and grits

Organic pop tarts (I will be glad when these are gone cuz they are loaded with sugar)

Organic cereal

Dinners:

Lasagna x's 2 and freezing the other one for later in the month, salad

Chicken Quesadillas

Turkey, dressing, and bread stuffing

ATK Thai Peanut Chicken Salad wraps, fries

ATK Easy Minestrone bread, salad

Hearty Tuscan Bean Stew bread, salad

Leftovers

Snacks:
popcorn
yogurt
smoothies
fruit basket my mommy sent us for valentines day
apples
banana bread-bought too many apples last week

How my shopping week went: But first;

As you may know my shopping budget was cut in half from $100 to $50. However I still get the other $50 for home school purchases or clothing-that use to be in it's own budget which is now gone. So last week I bought this spelling curriculum with the other $50.00, ahem...well it was actually $60.00 but it covers 12 years of school and it's only one book but it comes with a DVD and a CD (I think) So this week we only have $40.00 left for shopping and Thor and I were thinking of getting these shoes not that we really need them right now, but my husband foresees it (um by it we mean the economy) getting worse as the years go by and we are wanting to stock up on things like clothes so we don't have to worry in the years to come.

Now on to my shopping week:

Well now to tell you about my candida diet. At this point I am not 100% doing the diet. I have given up white sugar(well I did have a few chocolates on valentines day;-) and white flour plus most carbs. I am taking an anti-fungal (that is working pretty well) and when it is gone I will do the full candida diet for 2 weeks along with a dieters cleanse. That should take care of most of it. I have noticed a huge change in how I feel after just one week. My lungs feel better, my vibrations (I have muscle vibrations) are all but gone (I had one bad night after eating large amounts of hunny sweetened brownies-so I must limit my daily hunny intake) I still have huge bouts of brain fog, and fatigue, but even those are getting better (I actually cleaned my house today)

So enough about me here is what I got or will get and what it cost me:

First let me start by saying I hardly had to purchase any fruits because my dear mom was so sweet and sent me this fruit basket for valentines day:

Grocery:
2-28oz Hunts tomato diced 4.00
Meat:
1lb ground beef 2.45 (this was suppose to be 1.99-err)
Produce:
4lbs cabbage 1.05
2.06lbs apples 1.81
garlic bulb .50
lettuce 1.19
Dairy:
8oz Kraft Cheese Mexican Blend 2.99
1lb Dannon plain yogurt 3.29
16oz Best Choice Mozzarella 4.99
1lb cottage cheese 3.19
6 yogurts 3.00-.80 coupon 2.20
Hiland Butter 2.00
Frozen:
oj 2.69(this was suppose to be 1.43 err)
5lbs frozen Strawberries 5.75

Total: 39.92-1.70 refund= 38.22

I am going to go back and get my extra money refunded I know it's sad because it's only a 1.70 'something', but I need all of it I can get!

I still need to get raw milk 3.50 and xylitol 6.00 and cannellini beans 2.00

Grand Total: 49.72! MANNN III'MM GOOOOODDDDD!

I know if I really tried, I have enough in my pantry that I could get away with spending less, but until I get better at this I am happy to just stay under budget. Here is what I plan to do next week to work on my costs so I can spend my $50.00 stocking up on more organic stuff:

Look up ingredients I have on hand in my recipe index to find better suited recipes (I have sort of been doing this, but more leaning toward what's in the ad than what I have on hand).

So tell me what have ya'll been doing to be frugal freaks?
Latte

My Frugal Just Got a Whole Lot More Frugal!

Well our home has now been hit by this economic downturn. It looks like our income might become 1/2 of what it was. Fortunately I am blessed with a wonderful husband who put every extra penny we have had over the last 7-10 years into getting the house and cars paid off, so thankfully no huge dept for us. It still is going to be tight! I don't know how those with dept will make it? I just don't know?...my prayers and love go out to those families.

Well My grocery budget was to be around $75-$100 a week, that IS going to change. I still get $100 but now it has to cover groceries(which has always included toiletries), clothing, and school supplies (we homeschool). So I am now going to have to try and keep my grocery spending around $50.00 every week. This will be such a feat because up until a few weeks ago I was probably spending $125-$150 a week...ahem or more. And that did not include eating out-which is out of the question now.

To make sure I am going to be able to stay within my $50.00 I hit my freezers hard. I went through them and wrote down everything I had. This gave me a great idea on how much meat I had and that I do not need to buy any unless it's dirt cheap. Because I wrote it all down I now know at a glance what is in the freezer...just so long as I remember to mark it off once we have eaten it.lol!

My new candida diet. Well it seems that for the last 4 years I have suffered from a server bout with Candida. I now have no choice but to do this candida diet. It sucks! I mean really really sucks! But I did get a cookbook to help me. And get this my husband is going to go on it with me! Is he not the sweetest or what! It will be hard to do candida sweets on $50.00 a week, but if I am careful I might get some homemade candida free brownies and muffins in once a week!

So here are my meals this week, plus my shopping trip!

Meals: Keep in mind I get almost all my recipes from America's Test Kitchen and I will be substituting anything not healthy or apart of my candida diet with healthy candida free ingredients.

Breakfast:
Omelet-bell pepper
oatmeal-cinnamon vanilla-homemade
organic cereal
organic pop tarts
french toast homemade candida free syrup
grits and eggs

Dinners:
pork chops, stir fry broccoli, spicy home fries
pizza-mozzarella and sausage, salad
BBQ Chicken, french onion soup, beans
Spaghetti skillet (homemade noodles), braised cabbage, salad
enchiladas
chicken pot pie, mashed potato casserole, rice casserole
leftovers

Snacks:
Bananas
Oranges
yogurt (homemade)
muffins (homemade)
baby carrots

Here is how my shopping trip went:



It is so neat to look at that picture and see all those fruit's and vegetables, especially considering my small budget. So here is what I got:

Dishwasher liquid sale 3.27-1.00 coupon 2.27
Vinegar 2.29
7lb bananas 5.00
9 oranges 3.29
4 green bell peppers 2.00
3 3lb bags of onions 4.50
1 green cabbage 1.85
1 red cabbage 1.73
1 bunch green onions .59
garlic bulb .50
cilantro .99
organic baby carrots 1.89
lettuce 1.19
8oz Monterrey jack cheese 2.99
8oz Mozzarella cheese 2.99
1lb butter 2.13
2lb frozen broccoli 4.38

Grand Total: 44.23

I think I still need to get milk which will take my total to 47.73 but that is still pretty good aye?

To see how others did check out the grocery cart challenge or orgjunkie

Menu Plan Day and Shopping day Adventures

Well, I am learning so much about how our family shops. This week I am not putting some food items on my list because they were for the Super Bowl Game, and we have a separate budget for that, it's called 'entertainment'. I will admit, for 4 people...we spent a lot on 'entertainment' this Sunday...but it sure was fun!

Don't forget most of my recipes come from the great books of America's Test Kitchen!


Okay my meals for this week are:


Breakfast:

Eggs and grits x's 3
organic pop tarts
oatmeal with honey vanilla and cinnamon (and a touch black strap molasses) x's 2
organic cereal

Snacks:

leftover guacamole and chips
celery and peanut butter
grapefruits
bananas

Dinners:

Brats
Garlic Shrimp
Pulled Pork
BBQ chicken legs
Deer stew
Chili
leftovers

Okay now how my shopping week went:


Dillons:
Brats 6.00
2-2 lb Shrimp 9.98

Subtotal: 16.20

Woods:
2 Hot dog Buns .89 (forgot to make homemade ones and had to go back to store for last week)

Subtotal: 1.86

Millers Country Store:

Raw Honey x's 2 16.55
1lb Xylotol 6.99
Flax Seed Oil 9.99
Organic Tea for making shampoo 4.99
Natural Soda 1.99
yeast 3.18

Subtotal: 47.71

Dutch Store:

Black Pepper corns 1.92
Carob powder 1.70
Sea Salt 2.70
Black Strap Molasses 2.25

Subtotal: 8.85

Dutch Market: receipt does not say what I purchased...winging it.

4 organic pop tarts .70 each
4 organic cereal 1.20 each
Amish butter cheese
5 dozen free range eggs 2.50 each
3 candy bars .30
2 pretzels .10 each
4 toms natural mouth wash (lemon lime) 5.60
1 toms natural toothpaste (spearmint) 1.20
hamster food 1.50
other stuff

Subtotal: 42.66


Grand Total: 117. 31

This total is a tad high because I hit markets that are 30 miles away-and I only go to the once a month or less, so if they have many good deals, I get more...like with the toms natural mouth wash and eggs.

For more ideas, recipes, and tips on being organized you can go to:
The Grocery Cart Challenge or Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Day and Shopping day Adventures

This week should be a lot better! I will still be over my $70 mark and a lot closer to my $100.00 mark but we had to buy a lot of meat that was on sale (we cook in bulk so we must buy in bulk)

First I will list my menu then my shopping trip. Everything in blue I had to buy ingredients for. If it's half blue and half red then I had to buy the ingredients for some or all of it and I posted a link for the recipe to it for you.

Don't forget all my recipes are usually from America's test kitchen, I just use zaar and all for you.

Breakfasts:

Organic poptarts
Organic cereal
Eggs and Bacon (free range eggs, and nitrate free bacon)
Oatmeal
Banana Bread
Grits x's 2

Snacks:
celery and peanut butter
Banana Bread
Strawberry muffins I always use honey in the place of sugar with my muffins
apples
guacamole (my recipe below) and chips
Salsa and chips


Dinners:
-Pulled pork, fried potatoes, Caesar salad
-Chicken enchiladas (my oldest likes Mexican so I try to give it to him now and again), Nachos
-BBQ Chicken- Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, pinto beans (with leftover pork fat)
-Pulled pork, stuffed baked potatoes (instead of cheddar I am making Boursin cheese and I am not adding the peppers)
-Brats, leftover sides
-Crispy garlic chicken, caramelized carrots,
-Leftovers

Recipes I must make this week to stay all natural and frugal:
Sandwich bread x's4
BBQ sauce
Salsa
Shampoo
Boursin cheese
Dishwasher Detergent


Guacamole Recipe:
4-5 avocados -very ripe
2 cloves of garlic minced-sometimes I add 3!
1 roma tomato very small dice
1/2 small onion very small dice
salt to taste

mash avocados add other ingredients, chill and serve.


Okay how my shopping trip went:

Woods:
Sea salt 2.25
tomato sauce 1.79
chili cheese sauce (for nachos) 3.34 (this was suppose to be $2-I will have to go back)
Tortilla chip 1.69
Corn Chip 1.69
Corn meal 3.15
flour 3.59 (for when I can't use wheat berries)
chipotle peppers 2.25
10lbs leg quarters 4.90
Boston pork roast (like 10-15lbs) 12.84
5 tomatoes 3.43
10 avocados 5.00
6 apples 3.28
organic celery 1.99
5lb grapefruit 2.99
10lb russet 2.28
1/2 gallon OJ x 2 2.38

Subtotal 61.62


Save A Lot:

vinegar 2.19
cream cheese x's 2 2.38
Baking soda .43
sour cream x's 2 1.98

Subtotal:
7.31


Wal-Mart:

Freezer bags 1.38
storage bags x's 2 2.76
120 Ziploc lunch bags x's 2-1.00 coupon 5.68
Degree x's 2 - 1.00 coupon 4.24

Subtotal: 14.06+tax=15.15

Prarie Grove Farm:

Raw Milk x's 2 7.00

Dillon's:
Brats x's 2 6.00

Subtotal: 7.24

Total: 98.32

This should be much lower next week for two reasons! #1 I plan on hitting discount stores next week and #2 I won't be stocking up on too much meat or other stuff such as flour, corn meal and salt type stuff...I pray. This week I just ran out of a lot of have to haves all at once!



Don't forget to check out The Grocery Cart Challenge for other menu plans and shopping trips! Plus great recipes~