Menu Plan Monday

Ah, Monday . . . must be time to menu plan.  I've had a much easier time of it this week.  Last week we ate everything (and it was delicious!).  The pancakes were a hit, even with my husband who does not really like pancakes.  The  won ton tacos, chicken pot pie, and baked spaghetti were all crowd pleasers.  I would bring the tacos or spaghetti to the next potluck we go to. 

We did not have the company we anticipated, and instead got a lot of work done around here (done mostly by my husband).  Nora and I went ahead and grocery shopped for the week after church, and while I went over budget by about $10, I also bought chicken and pork on sale that we will be able to use in weeks to come.  We do have company this week, but I'm not sire for exactly how long.  We'll just be flexible!

So, here's the menu.  As always, for more great ideas, check out OrgJunkie!

Monday: Chicken Stroganoff, pasta, salad

(make honey mustard dressing and croutons)

Tuesday: Tuna Melts, grapes, carrots

(soak black beans)

Wednesday: Cuban Beans, Pork Chops, tortillas, sauteed zucchini

(make tortillas)

Thursday: Pizza, salad, Cinnamon Apples (a la Boston Market)

(make pizza dough, grate cheese, bake apples)

Friday: Venison steaks, green beans, garlic bread

Saturday: Hot dogs, fixins', corn, macaroni and cheese

Sunday: Quesadillas, refried beans, peaches

Have a great week! 

Grocery Shopping

I did my grocery shopping yesterday for this week.  On Monday, I reconciled our finances and took a look at how we are doing with our new budget.  Well, on the plus side, we still have money in the grocery budget for the month.  On the minus side, it's less than it should be.  I know the reasons why - just need to have more discipline about quick trips (especially on the weekends!).  I would like to stay on budget for the month still, so I've revised down the amount of money I want to spend the next two weeks.  By approximately half. (!)  I did pretty well yesterday - I spent a little more than half of what we have left in the budget for the month, but got some items I can definitely use next week.  One other thing that would help would be to use more coupons - I don't get the paper or those packs of coupons (like ValPak), so I am at a bit of a loss as to where to get a bunch of coupons.  For now, I'm entering in giveaways like this one at Bargain Hunting Wife - you can too!

Menu Plan Monday

Good morning!  Some weeks it is so much easier to come up with a menu than other weeks.  Last week we ate everything on the menu - woohoo!  The Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff was excellent - a keeper for sure. We'll see how this week goes - we've got company in for the weekend - my husband's cousin, Ryan, and his girlfriend.  His girlfriend is Buddhist, but I don't know if she has any dietary restrictions.  We're just going to roll with the punches!

Monday: Steamed shrimp, corn, salad, bread

Tuesday: Pintos and tortillas

Wednesday: Pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit

Thursday: Won ton tacos, refried pintos, salad

Friday: Chicken pot pie, salad

Saturday: 

Sunday: Baked Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad

For more great menu ideas, head over to OrgJunkie!  have a great week!

CVS-ing (and grocery shop)

I did good!

I got:

  -2 pkgs of teensy-tiny diapers

  -2 pkgs of wipes

  -1 bottle of detangler

for 5.73.  I saved 29.28 with a combination of sale pricing, mfr coupons, a CVS $4/$20 coupon, and a carefully hoarded stash of ECBs.  And I got $5 ECBs and another $4/$20 for a future purchase.  Whoo-hoo!!

I also went to BiLo and procured this week's groceries.  I was able to find everything except mirin, and I only forgot to get one item - tomatoes.  I also got some household items that I had coupons for, and with 25 items in my cart, I got out of there for 50.45, saving 11.49 between sale pricing, coupons, and coupon doubling (up to $0.55!!)

So I have 8.82 left for mirin, tomatoes, and whatever else.  Yippee!

Menu Plan Monday

Wow, I am exhausted.  Yesterday we went to Biltmore House from about 9am-5pm, then headed over a mountain to attend a wedding for a cousin.  It was beautiful - I cried buckets!  We didn't really intend to stay for the reception (the wedding started at 7pm!!), but not only did we stay, we helped clean up, too.  Then we hopped in the car and drove 2 1/2 hours home.  We got home a little after 1am.  I was lucky - I got to sleep in till 7 - my poor husband had to leave for work at 5:50am.  I think it's going to be a rough day for him.  Rougher still for his parents - they left when we did to drive 8 hours, with work to attend to today.  I don't want to go anywhere for a while.  Anyhow, I got a late start on menu planning, but here it is.  I have the car today, so grocery and CVS are calling.  *sigh*  Laura at orgjunkie has a bunch more menus (most of my inspiration today!) - go check it out!

• Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff over noodles (whatever is in the pantry!), zucchini stirfry
• Tuesday: Pizza, salad
• Wednesday: Venison roast (slow cooker) with veggies, biscuits (frozen), green beans
• Thursday: Beans and Rice, tortillas (holdover from last week), tomatoes, sour cream
• Friday: Venison teriyaki with mushrooms and broccoli, egg drop soup, wontons
• Saturday: BLTs
• Sunday: Leftovers

I think we'll make cookies this week.  Have a great week!

CVS-ing

Not quite as complicated this week.  Nora was with me, so I'm pretty glad the ad wasn't as lucrative on multiple transactions (at least as far as I was interested.)  This week, I got a bunch of stuff to donate for Operation Christmas Child - at church they mentioned that collections were starting.  Kind of boring stuff - but necessary items.

• 3 Oral-B Advantage Toothbrushes     10.47 reg/7.47 on sale/4.50 ECBs
  
• 3 CVS Toothbrushes   2.97
  
• 1 CVS Toothbrush  1.99
  
• 1 Colgate MaxFresh toothpaste  2.99/2 ECBs
  
• 1 Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste 3.49 reg/2.99 on sale/2 ECBs
  
• 2 Ivory Soap 3-pks  2.78/1 ECB
  

Total  24.69 reg/21.19 on sale/9.50 ECB

Coupons

• $4/$20  
  
• .99/1 toothbrush
  
• 1.00/3 toothbrushes
  
• 5.79 ECBs (got these from the infant Advil deal for August) 
  

Total coupons  11.78

GRAND TOTAL  9.41 OOP, 9.50 ECBs earned

Next week, I have big plans for those ECBs - time to start stocking up on baby necessities!!

Centsible Savings is giving away a $5 CVS Gift Certificate - check it out!!

Menu Plan Monday

Good morning!   After a short week of menu planning last week, I've got another short one!  This weekend we are going to a wedding, and midweek, my in-laws are coming.  Nora is over the moon!  Without further ado, here goes:

Monday:  Spicy Basil Tofu, Cabbage and Carrot Stir-Fry, Rice

Tuesday: Spinach/Feta Quiche, Quick Bread

Wednesday: Hot Dogs, Corn, Grilled Apples

Thursday: Chicken something - I'm fixing for 3 additional adults - I'm going to have to think about this one.

Friday: Beans & Rice, Tortillas, Fixings

Saturday-Sunday: Gone for Wedding!

For more great menus, go see Laura at OrgJunkie!  Have a great week!