Menu Plan 11/1/10

Hello, November.

Breakfasts:
Baked (Soaked) Oatmeal
Eggs & Toast
Healthy (Soaked) Pumpkin Muffins
Cereal with Milk
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Pita Chips & Hummus
Yogurt
Carrots
Crispy (Soaked) Nuts & Seeds
Apples with Dip, Pears

Dinners:
Monday - Leftovers from the weekend
Tuesday - Baked Ziti, Salad Greens
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - BBQ Chicken/Pineapple/Pepperjack Quesadillas, Salad
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Chili & Cornbread
Sunday - Leftovers

I did really well eating "no desserts" the first 3 weeks of October.  This past week, not so much.  I got past the point of caring.  But the thing is, when I was doing well, I felt great and didn't miss them!  Woo-hoo!  I liked this challenge... so much, that I might resume it indefinitely after this weekend...  Am I crazy?  Check out this article on Food Addiction.

And, surprise, surprise... the bonus was that I didn't bomb the grocery budget by buying other snacks like I thought I would!

P.S. I made my share of treats... and quickly gave them away!!!

Groceries! End of October & Start of November...

Well, we did it for October.  (I think.  October is not over quite yet.)  Right on the money (ha ha) - when rounded to the nearest dollar.  Last week I had $32 left to spend in the grocery budget.  Here's where it went:
I spent $2 getting pizza with the kids at Costco for a special lunch one day.
Spent $13 on odds and ends at Aldi.
Spent $7 on milk and small eggs from the farm.
And $10 at Price Chopper on 4 bags of frozen veggies (sale), 3 half gallons of orange juice (sale), bananas, and garbanzo beans.

I am pretty pleased with sticking to the food budget this month.  We were over in a few other categories like gifts and entertainment because of some special events.

Today, I decided to go ahead to do some shopping for November at Costco and Aldi.

Costco: $93

milk (for my husband)
bread
organic salad greens
ravioli
bananas
chocolate chips
Tillamook cheddar
2 take and bake pizzas
spaghetti sauce
organic strawberry spread
vanilla extract (for my mom)
wipes

I had coupons for $2 off the chocolate chips, $2 off the spaghetti sauce, $5 off the wipes and and instant $3 off each pizza.

*Gross-out alert*

Sorry to put this in the middle of a food post, but it is about the wipes...

Confession: Although I still love and use our children's cloth diapers, I have not been using cloth wipes lately.  There was nothing to make me dissatisfied with them, it is just that now that my son is eating big-people food, I would rather not wash those super sticky, icky dirty diaper wipes in the washing machine.  (It can be done, though.  I did with my daughter's.  I am just being wimpy now.)  Although I am still conserving: If a wipe is used but not "dirty" I wash it with the rest of the cloth diapers and then reuse it later as a diaper liner.  I just have to make sure it goes in the garage trash when soiled, not try to flush it!
So, I have to say that Huggies wipes are the sturdiest, best wipes I have found.  My goal price is less than 2 cents per wipe.  Although the grandmas help to keep us well stocked on wipes, I thought it might be smart to get some Huggies wipes at Costco while they are a good price.  Then, I don't have to think about wipes for awhile.

This $18 for wipes could technically come from the "healthcare" portion of the budget if we are feeling pinched at the end of the month, but we will count it as groceries for now.


Aldi: $30

carrots
peppermint extract
2 tomato sauce
ground turkey
butter
pepperjack
provolone
olive oil
kidney beans
garlic
2 tuna
salmon
bananas
pineapple
cumin
chili powder
3 pastas

I hope to get some more $1/lb. apples and pears at Whole Foods early next week.

Have a great weekend!

Healthy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After we carve our jack-o-latern, I think I will try this recipe for crispy (soaked) pumpkin seeds, since we already know we like making roasted almonds this way!

Thursday Thoughts

I don't really have a lot to say today.  I am home today and working on sewing some ballet slippers for my 3 year old to wear when she dresses up as Angelina Ballerina this weekend.  I purchased her leotard and tutu (it was too cheap to pass up) so I figured I would make some part of her costume homemade.  I also just made some Ginger Cookies for my husband because I was too tired to make them last night.

While I am attempting to sew away, I thought I would share several posts from around the blogosphere that have caught my attention.

No-Churn Ice Cream: Honey Cinnamon
Creamy {Crock Pot} Broccoli and Chicken Noodle Soup
Barbeque Brisket (Easy!!!)
diy {ruffled jacket}

A blog to read: Becoming Minimalist...
This is a great post from there.

I have a new blog header.  It is my favorite of all the ones I have made so far.  (There are a few I have really disliked.)  I was going for fresh, clean, and yet something that is a bit wintery so it can stay up for awhile.

Anyone tried fermented cod liver oil?  I am contemplating trying it, just for the immunity and health boosts it might offer for the season ahead.  If I can stomach it. We'll see.

Last but not least..
A quote.  Love it.

Happy Thursday!

Soft & Chewy Ginger Cookies

This recipe is one of my husband's favorites.  I got it from his mom.

Makes appoximately 2 dozen cookies.

3/4 cup shortening  I use half butter and half coconut oil.
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses; can use part honey if desired
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 and 1/4 cups flour

Beat together in order listed.  I use a #30 dipper to make dough into balls, but you can also use your hands.  Roll in sugar.  Flatten slightly.  Bake at 325 for 10 to 12 minutes.  I accidentally baked at 350 and they turned out fine.

Menu Plan 10/25/10

Breakfasts:
Healthy Soaked Pumpkin Muffins
Cereal with Milk
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Eggs and Toast

Lunches:
Sandwiches or
Pita Chips and Hummus
Carrots and Kelly's Ranch Dressing
Apples, Pears

Dinners:
Monday - Leftover Brats, Beans & Rice
Tuesday - Salmon Melts (didn't have these last week), Peas
Wednesday - Chicken Tortilla Soup
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Breakfast Bagel Sandwiches
Saturday - Grilled Chicken Wraps (didn't have these either), Salad
Sunday - Fish Sticks, Broccoli

I Like the Breadmaker

Thank you to my sweet friend for letting me try this out.  I am amazed that is SO easy to use!  And the bread turns out great!

After a few times of using it, I was set on wanting one, but now I am not sure.  The Light Oat Bread that I have been making is delicious, but it doesn't keep for much more than a day.  My husband was not a fan of it for sandwiches.  And considering how often I make sandwiches for lunches...

I guess the reason I would want to spend the money on one would be if I was convinced it would be healthier than store-bought bread... but I feel like homemade bread would only be significantly healthier than the alternative if I was grinding my own fresh whole-wheat flour or making sprouted or sourdough bread.  And I am not ready to commit to doing that.  So, I don't think I will invest in one... yet.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think I should want one?

It sure is fun to have fresh bread with nearly zero elbow-grease!

Groceries!

Whole Foods Market:

The apples and pears were $1/lb.  I had $1-off coupons from their in-store flyer (called The Whole Deal) for the peanut butter, cereal, tomatoes, and sauce.  Additionally, the lettuces, green pepper, cereal, and meat were on sale.  The milk was the cheapest I could find on the shelf just to tide us over a few days.  The organic sucanat was actually cheaper in the package than from the bulk bins (the bulk bin was out of stock, so this forced me to look!) The raw honey, which I have yet to try, was just a dollar or two more than the same size of non-raw honey from Costco.  Still, $65 total.

Hy-Vee:

Two transactions...

#1  Cereal.  Ok, it came out to like 50 cents a box, so I couldn't pass it up.  Even though I prefer other things for breakfast now, it is always good to have some cereal around.  There was a $10 instant rebate (with store coupon from their sales flyer) if you bought 6 boxes.  Then you got a $6 coupon at the register for your next HyVee purchase.  So if you figure that is $16 off, they cost about 50 cents each.  (Yeah, they were overpriced to begin with, and I didn't have any manufacturer's coupons to apply.)

#2 Pumpkins, canned pumpkin, unbleached flour (for holiday baking), applesauce, ketchup, cake mix (for cookies for party).  Sales on the flour (with store coupon from flyer), applesauce, and ketchup.

Total from both transactions at Hy-Vee: $13

Plus, $15 for milk and eggs from the farm.

$32 left for October.  Hopefully, we only need dairy and produce next week.

Menu Plan 10/18/10

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal (minus the sugar, baking powder, raisins, and fruit)
Cheerios with Milk
Eggs and Toast
Bananas
Orange Juice

Lunches:
Broccoli, Cheese, & Rice
or
PB&J Sandwiches on Homemade Oat Bread
or
Cheese and Crackers
with...
Carrot Sticks with Ranch
Apples or Pears

Dinners:
Monday - Bratwurst, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots
Tuesday - Marinated Roast Beef, Salad, Bread
Wednesday - Salmon Melts, Salad
Thursday - Leftovers/Dinner at Bible Study
Friday - Grilled Chicken Wraps, Salad
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Sloppy Joes, Peas

Snacks:
Crispy Almonds

House Envy

Here are two different house tours that I have been obsessing over lately...

1. Inspired & Inexpensive
Love the colors here, especially the wall colors.  I'd like something like those that for my house :)

2. Pure Style Home
(this blog caught my eye since it is nearly named after one of my favorite books - Pure Style Living)
What they have done with this house is amazing.  The living room/dining room is a little fancy for my taste, but the rest of the rooms I will take!

I don't think I have the knack for the style that each of these homes portrays, but I wish I did.  I love how they look welcoming and pulled together at the same time.

Enjoy!

My Current Reading List

Ha ha.  I don't think these really count as reading - more like looking or browsing through to enjoy the inspirational pictures before I conk out to sleep for the night.

One Yard Wonders (Comes with sewing patterns, even from the library! Not that I have used any.)

 

The New Traditional

And, I have this book on hold:

The Naturally Clean Home

(PS - these are not affiliate links because I am too lazy to do that.)

One a completely different note, if I were going to scrapbook (which I am not - because I do not need another time suck or money sucking hobby), I would totally do it on the computer Sarah's way.

AND, I am trying out a friend's breadmaker this weekend.  I think I'm going to give this Light Oat Bread a shot.

But, first, I am going to give the soaked version of the healthy pumpkin muffins a try in the morning.  Not with the breadmaker.

No big grocery shopping trips this week.  Spent $6 at Whole Foods on apples and canned pumpkin.  Spent $10 at Super Target on peanut butter, bread, and Halloween candy (save for the 31st).  Spent $4 at Costco on bananas and milk (to tide us over until the next carpool to the farm).  $20 total.

The laundry is calling my name...  See you later.

What's for Dinner

I saw this on a blog friend's blog, and while you can already know what's planned from my menu plan for the week, this inspired me to take some pictures.

Wednesday's Dinner: Meg's Stuffed Shells & Salad Greens

This is the first time I've made this dish, and it reminds me very much of my mom's lasagna, just rearranged.  Though not as elaborate as PW's Stuffed Shells, we enjoyed them, and I can see myself making them again.  Thumbs up, especially from the kids!

Pumpkin Shmear

Mmm... Pumpkin-y...

Ok, it seems like everyone I know is ga-ga over pumpkin flavored foods right now.  I like pumpkin and all, but not all the time in everything.  However, here is another pumpkin recipe idea for you.

It all started this morning at work where there was a bagel spread.  At a coworker's recommendation, I tried the pumpkin (and cream cheese) shmear on my quarter of a cinnamon raisin bagel.  Deliciousness.  I immediately thought aloud, "I bet I can make this".  My coworker suggested mixing some cream cheese with some pumpkin pie filling.  That may work.  I have not attempted this myself yet.  I found some recipes online for similar deliciousness here and here.

Anyways, I just wanted to share the tasty idea with you.  Let me know if you come up with a good concoction, so we can all know the proper ratios and all.  Not that I promise to follow the ratios :)

PS - I highly recommend enjoying it on a cinnamon raisin bagel.

Menu Plan 10/11/10

Hello!  Better late than never with the menu plan...
We were gone for the weekend, so we are still enjoying a few things left from last week.
I went to Whole Foods today to get some apples.  I also thought I'd get some canned pumpkin to make these muffins.  They were out of the store brand, so I paid $1.69 for ONE can of Libby's pumpkin.  (More than twice what I would pay at Aldi.)  These mufins better be worth it.

Breakfasts:
Cereal or Granola with Milk
Easy Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Eggs and Toast
Bananas
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Carrots
Cheese
Apples

Dinners:

M - Chili and Cornbread

T - Soft Chili Tacos

W - Stuffed Shells, Salad

TH - Fried Rice

F - Vegetable-Beef Soup & Grilled Swiss Cheese Sandwiches

S - Leftovers

SU - Chicken Pot Pie

Make to take elsewhere: Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Enjoy!

$19 at Aldi

A simple trip this week... some necessary ingredients for next week's cooking.

From left to right:
spaghetti sauce
tomato sauce
mandarin oranges
tomato juice
cottage cheese
canned wild-caught salmon
cream cheese
parmesan/romano
ground turkey
salad dressing (my only beef with this is that I wish in contained olive oil instead of canola and/or soybean oil)
chocolate chips
bananas

And some bleach.  Not very green, but cheap and helpful for disinfecting at times (trash cans, etc.)

I need to hunt down some canned pumpkin because Aldi was out and didn't know when they'd get more because of the shortage.  I may just buy a regular pumpkin and make my own.

I also spent $10 on milk this week and $4 at Wal-Mart on pasta shells, kid's toothbrushes, and paste.

Total for October groceries so far: $255

What I Did on My Day-Off...

Before:

In Progress:

After:

 Mmm. Crispy almonds.

I also gave the dog a bath outside with the hose, but didn't take any pictures of that :)

Feelin' Crafty

I got some goods today...
cute clearance pillowcases, perhaps for a pillowcase dress/tunic for my daughter (finally!)...
a clearance drum lampshade (a little dirty) but totally recoverable with some fabric from some clearance sheets... after I paint the lamp base... and a tray I've had forever... oh, I want to paint the barstools, too... but what color?... and fresh throw pillows would be fun... what to do first?  I can't decide.
I am in the mood to redo the inside of my house.  Not completely, just slightly.
I am really wanting the inside walls of my house repainted.  The walls are taupe-ish.  They sometimes looks gray, sometimes look khaki, and sometimes look brown. The color changes with the light.  I like neutrals in my house.  They are soothing to me.  I LOVE looking at other people's fun colors, but I usually come back to earth tones.  Lately, I have been wishing the walls were cleaner looking (or maybe just CLEAN), like a pale blue-gray.  However,  I don't think it is worthwhile to re-paint until my kids are older and don't run play shopping carts and tricycles into the walls anymore.  Plus, I'd have to hire someone (which I have no money for right now), because my husband has forbid me from painting rooms by myself because I am not a neat painter - I get impatient and sloppy.  And he says he hates to paint.  And well, the outside of our house is going to need painted first.  So, the inside walls will just have to wait.  Probably a good while.  I will probably change my mind a millions times on color.
And, while waiting, I will be happy, reminded that compared to most, we live in a palace.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Let's see what I get done/sewn/made on my day-off.
Anyone have fun projects up their sleeves?

Groceries!

Trips so far on October's budget:

Whole Foods - $35
9 lb. organic apples ($1/lb.)
1 lb. organic zucchini ($1/lb.)
2 lb. bratwurst ($3.99/lb.)
apple cider vinegar
5 lb. bag organic russet potatoes ($2.50)
1 loaf Ezekial bread

Target - $5 (not a typical grocery stop, but we happend to be there)
orange juice
2 more divided lunch containers
cake mix
Bonus: I found 2 pairs of shoes on clearance for a total of $15 :)  There goes a good part of my "allowance."

Hy-Vee - $17
2 half gallons orange juice ($.99 each)
3 bags frozen peas ($.50/each)
2 frozen mixed vegetables ($.50 each)
2 frozen corn ($.50 each)
dried chives
sliced deli ham ($1.49/lb.)
spaghetti sauce ($.67 with store coupon)
garbanzo beans
canned pumpkin
2 cake mixes
mayonaise
bananas ($.39/lb.)
They were having a special 12 hour sale; I listed those special prices.

And the kicker... Costco - $165...  I told you it was a stock-up weekend.

toilet paper (store coupon)
organic tortilla chips
pita chips
sugar in the raw
uncooked tortillas (can't tell you how much we love these!)
sour cream
string cheese
organic frozen broccoli
raisins
butter
raw almonds
fish sticks
organic carrots
bread
organic salad greens
white sharp cheddar
sliced swiss
crackers
special beverages not pictured

(I tell you all this not to brag on anything, but to hold myself accountable to the budget.  As weird as it may be, it is more fun for me this way.)

Total of October's grocery budget spent so far - $222

Menu Plan 10/4/10

I tried to change our dinners up a little bit this week because I was starting to feel a little bit like we were in a rut.  As for breakfast and lunch, that's okay.

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal (modified)
Eggs and Toast
Orange Juice

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
String Cheese
Carrots
Apples or Bananas

Dinners:
Monday - Ham & Swiss on Rolls (I'll try not to kill the yeast this time), Salad with Ranch (new to me recipe)

Tuesday - Fish, Broccoli, Potatoes
Wednesday - Calzones (a version of PW's Calzones), Salad
Thursday - Fried Rice
Friday - (Musings of a Housewife's) Friday Night Chili & Cornbread
Saturday - Soft Chili Tacos
Sunday - Leftovers

I made some easy treats for church today: Two Ingredient Pumpkin Cake and Swiss Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Since it is fall after all, if you need of some apple recipes, here is an easy-to-make-easy-to-eat one: No-Peel Apple Cake!

Coming soon: the stash of groceries from this past weekend.

Friday Update

Well, it is a massive stocking-up weekend for food.  I've done some shopping and hope to do some more tomorrow.  Then, I will hopefully give a run-down of what I got and where, with a picture.

This morning, I went to Target to get my daughter some cowgirl boots.  They weren't on sale, but they always run out of her size, so I decided to save myself the trouble and just get them, because she will be needing something to wear on her feet this winter.  I'd really like some real cowboy boots for myself, not because I am not the type of person who wears them at all times - I've acutally never worn them before, in spite of where I have lived - but because they are cute and stylish now, even if you don't live on a ranch.  (I don't live on a ranch.)  Ah, but I am saving up for something else.  The boots will have to wait.

I've decided this is what I will be adding to the menu for this weekend (since I had left it as ToBeDetermined):

Cheddar Cheese Soup with Zucchini, Broccoli, and Carrots & these No-Knead Dinner Rolls
Also making some Apple Banana Muffins for breakfast.
3 new recipes!

I was inspired by Katie last week and decided our pantry needed and minor overhaul... here's the before and after:

(Nothing very drastic, but it is better. You see multiple oats containers because I save them and store things like flour and granola and opened cereal in them.  The shelves go as follows: #1: breakfast and vitamins, #2: dry goods and sandwich stuff, #3: drinks - which is really odd to me because we usually drink water or milk, and coffee for my husband, but I guess we have a lot of leftover Kool-Aid, hot chocolate, tea, etc, because we don't drink them that much so therefore they take up a lot of room?  All I know is I don't need any hot cocoa mix for a long time!, #4 baking supplies, #5: any canned goods and other heavy stuff, like the tubs of coconut oil .)

I also reorganized my spice cabinet next to the stove.  I was on a roll and got all the kids winter clothes put in their closets, and pulled out the too-small stuff to give to friends.  Today, I am not as ambitious.

I'm trying to look ahead to Christmas.  Making mental checklist.  It seems we simplify the gift-giving a little more each year, even with the addition of our children to the family.  I think that it a good thing, because the preparing and shopping is more challenging with children, and we want to spend more time focusing on meaningful and fun things with them.  So, with a little less shoppng to think about, it all evens out.

I am not typically an overachiever in the sit-front-and-center-in-class-and-ask-questions-and-turn-your-assignment-in-early sort of way.  But, I like Christmastime.  And since it is THE busiest time at one of my jobs, I like to get a jump on shopping for gifts and get as much done ahead of time as possible.  So that is one goal for October: purchasing gifts and cards to mail later.

Ok, I hope you have a good weekend!