Groceries and Menu Plan 2/7/11

Hello and happy February to you... I have returned from a long week of housesitting.  It was nothing to complain about at all, aside from being stuck indoors due to the massive winter storm... The housesitting was actually a very pleasant break from the ordinary routine.  Still, I am glad to be home again and back in my own kitchen, eating my own food.

I am going to try to be underbudget in February.  With it being a shorter month, and considering the fact that we are already almost a week into it, it seems like a reasonable goal right now.  I could use the leftover money for a gallon of coconut oil that will be needed soon...

This past week, I hit up Hy-Vee, Aldi, and Price Chopper.  I think I did pretty well, considering I got the makings for nearly all the dinners for the month, I think... (the necessary chicken and ground beef are already in the freezer).  Phone pics below.

Hy-Vee $49

Deals: organic apples for $1.18/lb (I think this special runs all of February.), green peppers 2/$1, red pepper $.88 each, cottage cheese $.99 each, full fat organic yogurts $2.88 each (all Feb.)

A note on the frozen bread dough and frozen roll dough: I looked at the ingredients.  I know they are not very wholesome.  But, I justified it by thinking that if one item at one or maybe two meals each week contains an item with HFCS, it is probably still healthier than eating out at most places.  These items were on sale and I have been seeing a few recipes I want to try that use them.  So, for fun, I got them.

Notice the white loaf of bread?  Or, I should say, loaf of Country White bread?  I will likely be brain-dumping my thoughts on bread soon.  Stay tuned if you like obsessing over ingredients as I sometimes tend to do.

Aldi $37

Deals: $.29 Avocados!, $.89 grape tomatoes
That's romaine lettuce in the front if you can't tell because of the glare.
The crescent rolls are for an appetizer for this evening... a recipe invention that I will share if it turns out well.

Price Chopper $30 (everything was a store special, saved $15)
No pic!  2 pints of blueberries, 2 lbs. fresh Italian sausage, 2.5 lbs. pork tenderloin, 2 fresh Italian bread loaves, 4 lightbulbs, 4 blocks cream cheese, 2 bags frozen peas.

Total: $116 out of $400 for February.

Will buy milk and eggs this week.

And now on to the menu plan!

Breakfasts:
Baked Soaked Oatmeal
Shredded Wheat with Milk
Eggs and Toast
Cinnamon Rolls (Valentine's Day)
Bananas and/or Blueberries with each day

Lunches:
Leftovers
PB&J Sandwiches
Cottage Cheese or Yogurt
Apples

Dinners:
Monday - Lasagna (semi-new), Salad
Tuesday - OK, my last BS cooking night was postponed, so now I am planning the Sundried Tomato & Brie Pasta with Chicken again, with Green Beans, Bread, and Divine Brownies
Wednesday - Lentil Soup (new), Salad, Garlic Breadsticks
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Shepherd's Pie
Saturday - Pork Stir Fry (new) over Rice
Sunday - Leftovers

Have a great day!