Hi Friends!!
I don't feel like my trip was as organized or productive this week as it sometimes is. We have had a hectic week - I'm sure a lot of you have too - and I was frazzled as I ran around to my three stores yesterday. Anyway, this is what we ended up with and one way or another it is what we will eat.
Harris Teeter
Nathan's hot dogs BOGO ($2.94) I don't skimp on hot dogs. I'm fine skipping them altogether, but if I buy them they are going to be the best quality I can find. Nathan's all beef is one of my favorite.
Honey Bunches of O's and HT brand Oats and More ($2.00 for both, sale price and Buy Theirs Try Ours special)
6 cups Dannon yogurt and 1 cup HT yogurt ($2.00 for all 7, sale price and BTTO special plus double coupon)
HT brand white bread and hot dog rolls
Total: $9.83
BiLo
Dawn dish soap ($1.00)
Dixie Lily quick grits ($0.74)
Thomas English muffins BOGO ($1.74)
Hormel Natural Deli Meat BOGO ($1.24)
All laundry detergent ($3.29 sale price and coupon)
stew meat
Total $13.43
Walmart
romaine hearts, milk, self rising flour, cucumber, bananas, juice boxes, shortening, cheese crackers, croutons, ground round, grape tomatoes, AP flour, pork chops, fruit bowls, pasta, salad dressing, cheese, corn, broccoli, tomato puree, chips, chicken nuggets, pita bread, carrots, green beans and peas
Total $54.58
It was quite a convenience food day for me!! I bought cheese crackers, croutons and chicken nuggets - all of which I can make but won't be this week. I also had to restock Caleb's lunch supplies so I bought juice boxes and little fruit bowls. I have sent him with reusable bowls and bottles with lids for his fruit and drink but he doesn't close them well and I end up with a lunch cooler full of whatever he didn't finish. For now, it is worth the extra money to be spared that clean up. Caleb's school does not have a cafeteria on site and all children bring their lunch and eat in their classrooms. I like to make things as easy on his teacher as possible. Since their is no cafeteria, there is no cafeteria staff to help her.
Whew!! Well, my math says that we spent $77.84 getting ready for this week. Happy shopping!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Little Bite of Something
So Tuesdays are a little crazy for me. Wonderful, but crazy. I am blessed to be part of a women's Bible study group that gets together every Tuesday morning. We do praise and worship, devotions and great studies. There are also snacks and childcare - so you know I never miss. We meet from 9:00 to 11:30 and it is usually close to noon by the time Addie and I get home. Now that Caleb is in school that is just a couple of hours before we need to turn around and go pick him up. I don't want to spend all of it cooking and cleaning so Addie and I have a little bite of something and call it done.
Today we had cheese quesadillas and salsa. A hot nonstick pan and two 6" tortillas with cheddar inside and we were good to go. I think I made three. We like to cut ours in little wedges and pile them onto one plate to share. Addie thinks it's fun and I think it is one less dish I have to wash. Win win. It also covers three of the four food groups (we use a lot of salsa) which is something I am committed to doing at breakfast and lunch.
I'm so glad my little girl likes to share with me - and that she doesn't care if our meal is fancy.
Today we had cheese quesadillas and salsa. A hot nonstick pan and two 6" tortillas with cheddar inside and we were good to go. I think I made three. We like to cut ours in little wedges and pile them onto one plate to share. Addie thinks it's fun and I think it is one less dish I have to wash. Win win. It also covers three of the four food groups (we use a lot of salsa) which is something I am committed to doing at breakfast and lunch.
I'm so glad my little girl likes to share with me - and that she doesn't care if our meal is fancy.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Perfect Pie Crust
A friend of mine pulled me aside at church tonight and asked me for my pie crust recipe. I thought I would give it to you too. It is quick, easy once you get the hang of it, and considerably less expensive and more tasty than a store bought crust.
2 C all purpose flour
1 t salt
6 T butter
4 T shortening
1/4 - 1/2 C cold water
1. sift together flour and salt
2. cut in very cold butter and shortening to make a coarse, crumbly mixture
3. add just enough ice cold water to bring dough together and form a ball
4. split dough ball in half and make two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill for 20-30 minutes.
5. flour counter top and roll out each disc to 12" round of uniform thickness
6. line your pie plate with crust, fill, top with second crust and bake as indicated according to your filling. Most of my recipes call for a 425 degree oven for 10-12 minutes and 375 for the remainder of the cooking time.
Tips:
Don't skip the sift. I don't sift anything I don't need to. I don't sift for cookies, cakes, quick breads, yeast breads...or really anything else at all but pie crust and biscuits. In both cases the sifting has a big impact on the texture. It is worth the step. Next, refrigerate your shortening for this recipe. Our butter is always cold but most of us store shortening in the pantry. You want it nice and cold for pie crust. Finally, get a mixing bowl of ice water and dip out your 1/2 C of water from there. Cold tap water is not cold enough.
I use this crust for sweet and savory pies. Don't add sugar or anything else to the dough. If you want a different flavor or appearance for different pies make your changes to the top crust only. You might consider brushing it with milk or an egg wash, topping with kosher salt or crystallized sugar, topping with shredded cheeses, sprinkling a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture...whatever works for you. My favorite? Completely plain.
2 C all purpose flour
1 t salt
6 T butter
4 T shortening
1/4 - 1/2 C cold water
1. sift together flour and salt
2. cut in very cold butter and shortening to make a coarse, crumbly mixture
3. add just enough ice cold water to bring dough together and form a ball
4. split dough ball in half and make two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill for 20-30 minutes.
5. flour counter top and roll out each disc to 12" round of uniform thickness
6. line your pie plate with crust, fill, top with second crust and bake as indicated according to your filling. Most of my recipes call for a 425 degree oven for 10-12 minutes and 375 for the remainder of the cooking time.
Tips:
Don't skip the sift. I don't sift anything I don't need to. I don't sift for cookies, cakes, quick breads, yeast breads...or really anything else at all but pie crust and biscuits. In both cases the sifting has a big impact on the texture. It is worth the step. Next, refrigerate your shortening for this recipe. Our butter is always cold but most of us store shortening in the pantry. You want it nice and cold for pie crust. Finally, get a mixing bowl of ice water and dip out your 1/2 C of water from there. Cold tap water is not cold enough.
I use this crust for sweet and savory pies. Don't add sugar or anything else to the dough. If you want a different flavor or appearance for different pies make your changes to the top crust only. You might consider brushing it with milk or an egg wash, topping with kosher salt or crystallized sugar, topping with shredded cheeses, sprinkling a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture...whatever works for you. My favorite? Completely plain.
Menu 1/17 - 1/23
I'm getting a date night, I'm getting a date night!! Ahem, please note that on Thursday Tracy and I will be enjoying dinner at a restaurant and feeding the children sandwiches.
Monday
Cereal and milk, bananas
Italian roast beef, garlic roasted potatoes, green beans
Tuesday
Grits and bacon, oranges
l/o roast beef, popovers
Wednesday
Porridge
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast, apple sauce
Out
Friday
Banana bread, milk
Pork chops, rice pilaf, carrots and spinach
Saturday
Cereal and milk
BLTs, pasta salad
Vegetable beef soup and cheese biscuits
Sunday
Bagels with peanut butter
Grilled chicken sandwiches, broccoli and cheese sauce
l/o
Monday
Cereal and milk, bananas
Italian roast beef, garlic roasted potatoes, green beans
Tuesday
Grits and bacon, oranges
l/o roast beef, popovers
Wednesday
Porridge
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast, apple sauce
Out
Friday
Banana bread, milk
Pork chops, rice pilaf, carrots and spinach
Saturday
Cereal and milk
BLTs, pasta salad
Vegetable beef soup and cheese biscuits
Sunday
Bagels with peanut butter
Grilled chicken sandwiches, broccoli and cheese sauce
l/o
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Grocery Shop 1/14
Hey Friends!! I did my big grocery shop yesterday. Thanks to the snow it was my only grocery shop since last Friday. I think the lesson to be learned is that the less often you get out to the store - the less money you spend. It's funny how that works.
Anyway, I wasn't super excited about the deals available this week and didn't go to BiLo at all. I did hit Harris Teeter and Walmart and here is what I got.
Harris Teeter -
3 giant boxes of Cheerios and 3 boxes of HT brand cereal bars $8.00. (Their big box of Cheerios ring up at $4.55 each but were marked down to 2 for $6.00. The cereal bars were part of HTs buy theirs get ours free so the cereal bars went from $2.50 to nothing. I used a coupon that gave me $1.00 off three boxes of Cheerios.)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
HT pasta - $.59 each BOGO
Milk - $2.77 each on special
Peter Pan peanut butter - $.67 (Sale price and doubled coupon)
yeast strip - (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
Walmart -
sugar, eggs, bread, peas, carrots, green beans, tomato sauce, potatoes, flour, tortillas, Rotel tomatoes, apple juice, shampoo, laundry soap, dryer sheets, paper towels, gummy snacks, pork chops, eye of round roast, apples, cheese slices, 2 cheese blocks, salsa, brown sugar, cucumber and two lemons
$72.95
This was an unusual Walmart trip for me because we needed lots of household stuff like laundry supplies and shampoo and conditioner. I typically use generic brand laundry detergent and dryer sheets and add an oxygen based powder booster. I also buy off brand shampoo and conditioner. My hair is straight and a little oily so I wash it about 5 times a week and don't need any specialized formulas or products - so I don't buy them. It was also an unusual trip because I did not buy the store brand cheese that I usually buy. For whatever reason, Kraft had the better price this week. I usually buy the store brand 16oz. sharp cheddar block for $4.08 when we need cheese. Kraft was selling a new 9oz. size block for $1.98. I bought 2 and spend $3.96 for 18oz. It just proves the point that you shouldn't lock yourself into a shopping pattern. Instead, actively seek the best value.
Happy Shopping!!
Anyway, I wasn't super excited about the deals available this week and didn't go to BiLo at all. I did hit Harris Teeter and Walmart and here is what I got.
Harris Teeter -
3 giant boxes of Cheerios and 3 boxes of HT brand cereal bars $8.00. (Their big box of Cheerios ring up at $4.55 each but were marked down to 2 for $6.00. The cereal bars were part of HTs buy theirs get ours free so the cereal bars went from $2.50 to nothing. I used a coupon that gave me $1.00 off three boxes of Cheerios.)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
HT pasta - $.59 each BOGO
Milk - $2.77 each on special
Peter Pan peanut butter - $.67 (Sale price and doubled coupon)
yeast strip - (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
Walmart -
sugar, eggs, bread, peas, carrots, green beans, tomato sauce, potatoes, flour, tortillas, Rotel tomatoes, apple juice, shampoo, laundry soap, dryer sheets, paper towels, gummy snacks, pork chops, eye of round roast, apples, cheese slices, 2 cheese blocks, salsa, brown sugar, cucumber and two lemons
$72.95
This was an unusual Walmart trip for me because we needed lots of household stuff like laundry supplies and shampoo and conditioner. I typically use generic brand laundry detergent and dryer sheets and add an oxygen based powder booster. I also buy off brand shampoo and conditioner. My hair is straight and a little oily so I wash it about 5 times a week and don't need any specialized formulas or products - so I don't buy them. It was also an unusual trip because I did not buy the store brand cheese that I usually buy. For whatever reason, Kraft had the better price this week. I usually buy the store brand 16oz. sharp cheddar block for $4.08 when we need cheese. Kraft was selling a new 9oz. size block for $1.98. I bought 2 and spend $3.96 for 18oz. It just proves the point that you shouldn't lock yourself into a shopping pattern. Instead, actively seek the best value.
Happy Shopping!!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Winter Wonderland
I live in a region where it doesn't snow. Except that it has every year for the past three years. Go figure!!
Personally, I love the snow. Snow played a major role in my childhood. I lived in North Berwick, Maine for several years and had all the snow a little girl could want. I sledded, built snow forts and dug endless tunnels for three months out of the year every year and it was fantastic. What I did not do in the snow is parent. Parenting in snow is - well - loud. And messy. Caleb has been out of school for three days and Addie and I have not been able to go anywhere that we usually go to keep ourselves busy. To keep everyone happy we did all of the predictable and wonderful snow things that kids do.
And when all of us were so cold we couldn't take it anymore we went in and participated in a less common but hugely satisfying activity. We made macaroni art. The kids loved it and I'm sure yours will too. That's right - you have my blessing to waste food!! Especially if you got your macaroni for free using your doubled coupon. Happy snow day(s)!!
Oh, and in case you are wondering, I let the kids wear their pajamas during our fun - Addie is wearing Ariel jammies under her Spidergirl costume...
Personally, I love the snow. Snow played a major role in my childhood. I lived in North Berwick, Maine for several years and had all the snow a little girl could want. I sledded, built snow forts and dug endless tunnels for three months out of the year every year and it was fantastic. What I did not do in the snow is parent. Parenting in snow is - well - loud. And messy. Caleb has been out of school for three days and Addie and I have not been able to go anywhere that we usually go to keep ourselves busy. To keep everyone happy we did all of the predictable and wonderful snow things that kids do.
And when all of us were so cold we couldn't take it anymore we went in and participated in a less common but hugely satisfying activity. We made macaroni art. The kids loved it and I'm sure yours will too. That's right - you have my blessing to waste food!! Especially if you got your macaroni for free using your doubled coupon. Happy snow day(s)!!
Oh, and in case you are wondering, I let the kids wear their pajamas during our fun - Addie is wearing Ariel jammies under her Spidergirl costume...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Grocery Shopping
Wow!! I had my big shopping day today and could use a nice long nap. Sadly, it is nearly 7:00 in the evening here so any nap I take could very well end at midnight. Not a good plan.
I have been trying to find the balance that is right for me between couponing and shopping at Walmart. I know that the "SuperDouble" deals at Harris Teeter are great and sometimes those BiLo "Meal Deal"s are a really good value. The coupon deals at both stores are fantastic. My issue is that I find the regular prices at Harris Teeter appalling and while Bi-Lo is better in that area, the staples there are still more than I pay for the same item at Walmart. I don't want to go to three stores every week. I really, really don't. I also don't want to load up on frozen and convenience stuff because it is just not as good for us as homemade. All that said - I do want to feed my family for $100.00 or less a week and sometimes taking a little extra help makes a big difference in my day. So, here is what I bought.
Harris Teeter
Quaker Oats (free with doubled coupon)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (free with doubled coupon)
Boneless chicken breast ( buy 1 get 2 free) - this item was marked at $9.55 per pack and the same size pack usually costs me $6.79 at Walmart but the free ones made it the better deal
Healthy choice soup cups ( $.99 per cup after sale and coupon) - this I don't usually eat but can donate to my church's food pantry
Special K cereal ( 2 for $5.00 plus double coupon for $1.00 off 3 made it $1.83 per box)
Meal deal: Buy 2 Prego sauces ($6.00) get 1 Harris Teeter pasta, 1 Pepperidge Farm garlic toast, 1 Kraft Parmesan cheese and 1 Pepsi for free.
Bi-Lo
Meal deal: Buy 2 Uno pizzas ($13.50) get Southern Home brand jalapeno poppers, potato skins, pizza bites, Mayfield ice cream and 1 Coke for free.
BOGO free - rice, Sara Lee bread, Kraft cheese block, Thomas bagels, Mueller's pasta
Special - ground beef, 3lbs at $2.50 per lb.
Walmart
vegetable oil, salt, butter, milk, ricotta cheese, egg noodles, bologna (Caleb loves it), pretzels, wheat flour, potatoes, bag salad, canned fruit salad, chocolate chips, pork chops, bananas, corn chips, Rotel tomatoes, lasagna sheets, glue sticks ( for school), beef roast, ziptop bags, flour and cornmeal.
I got all of this with a couple of bucks to spare from my $100.00 budget and it takes us through next weeks menu.
Happy Shopping!!
I have been trying to find the balance that is right for me between couponing and shopping at Walmart. I know that the "SuperDouble" deals at Harris Teeter are great and sometimes those BiLo "Meal Deal"s are a really good value. The coupon deals at both stores are fantastic. My issue is that I find the regular prices at Harris Teeter appalling and while Bi-Lo is better in that area, the staples there are still more than I pay for the same item at Walmart. I don't want to go to three stores every week. I really, really don't. I also don't want to load up on frozen and convenience stuff because it is just not as good for us as homemade. All that said - I do want to feed my family for $100.00 or less a week and sometimes taking a little extra help makes a big difference in my day. So, here is what I bought.
Harris Teeter
Quaker Oats (free with doubled coupon)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (free with doubled coupon)
Boneless chicken breast ( buy 1 get 2 free) - this item was marked at $9.55 per pack and the same size pack usually costs me $6.79 at Walmart but the free ones made it the better deal
Healthy choice soup cups ( $.99 per cup after sale and coupon) - this I don't usually eat but can donate to my church's food pantry
Special K cereal ( 2 for $5.00 plus double coupon for $1.00 off 3 made it $1.83 per box)
Meal deal: Buy 2 Prego sauces ($6.00) get 1 Harris Teeter pasta, 1 Pepperidge Farm garlic toast, 1 Kraft Parmesan cheese and 1 Pepsi for free.
Bi-Lo
Meal deal: Buy 2 Uno pizzas ($13.50) get Southern Home brand jalapeno poppers, potato skins, pizza bites, Mayfield ice cream and 1 Coke for free.
BOGO free - rice, Sara Lee bread, Kraft cheese block, Thomas bagels, Mueller's pasta
Special - ground beef, 3lbs at $2.50 per lb.
Walmart
vegetable oil, salt, butter, milk, ricotta cheese, egg noodles, bologna (Caleb loves it), pretzels, wheat flour, potatoes, bag salad, canned fruit salad, chocolate chips, pork chops, bananas, corn chips, Rotel tomatoes, lasagna sheets, glue sticks ( for school), beef roast, ziptop bags, flour and cornmeal.
I got all of this with a couple of bucks to spare from my $100.00 budget and it takes us through next weeks menu.
Happy Shopping!!
Menu 1/10 - 1/16
Monday
Porridge with applesauce, milk
l/o roast beef
Pork chops, hashbrowns, peas and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk and bananas
Chicken taquitos, rice, green beans and salsa
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast with milk and bananas
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast
Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, olives
Friday
Cheese grits
Pan seared chicken breast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, sourdough bread
Saturday
Sourdough toast and egg sandwiches
Deli style sandwiches
Pizza and ice cream
Sunday
Blueberry muffins
Deli style sandwiches
Chicken pot pie, muffins
Porridge with applesauce, milk
l/o roast beef
Pork chops, hashbrowns, peas and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk and bananas
Chicken taquitos, rice, green beans and salsa
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast with milk and bananas
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast
Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, olives
Friday
Cheese grits
Pan seared chicken breast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, sourdough bread
Saturday
Sourdough toast and egg sandwiches
Deli style sandwiches
Pizza and ice cream
Sunday
Blueberry muffins
Deli style sandwiches
Chicken pot pie, muffins
Menu 1/3 - 1/9
Monday
Raisin muffins, bacon, milk
Chicken and rice, applesauce
Chili and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk, bananas
Hot dogs with chili
Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast, applesauce
Macaroni and cheese, carrots
Dinner at church
Thursday
Porridge
PBJ and apple slices
Turkey sausage, homefries, corn, sourdough bread
Friday
Grits and eggs
l/o
Lasagna, green salad and sourdough bread
Saturday
Waffles and fruit salad
l/o lasagna
Chicken soup, cheese biscuits
Sunday
Waffles
l/o chicken soup
Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and rice
Raisin muffins, bacon, milk
Chicken and rice, applesauce
Chili and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk, bananas
Hot dogs with chili
Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast, applesauce
Macaroni and cheese, carrots
Dinner at church
Thursday
Porridge
PBJ and apple slices
Turkey sausage, homefries, corn, sourdough bread
Friday
Grits and eggs
l/o
Lasagna, green salad and sourdough bread
Saturday
Waffles and fruit salad
l/o lasagna
Chicken soup, cheese biscuits
Sunday
Waffles
l/o chicken soup
Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and rice
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Menu 12/27-01/02
Monday - Porridge
Chicken nuggets and macaroni
Pan seared chicken, rice and broccoli with walnuts
Tuesday - Eggs and toast
PBJ and applesauce
Ham fried rice and fruit salad
Wednesday - Ham and grits
Spaghetti and meatballs
l/o spaghetti and green salad
Thursday - Banana bread
Cold cut sandwiches, cheese crackers and apple slices
Pork chops, roasted potatoes and lima beans
Friday - Cereal and milk
Chicken strips, celery sticks, pretzel sticks and soy butter
Pizza Out
Saturday - Chocolate porridge
Blackeyed peas, collard greens and cornbread
l/o
Sunday - Raisin muffins,
BLTs and cheese crackers
Chicken Taquitos, Mexican rice, and avacado salad
Chicken nuggets and macaroni
Pan seared chicken, rice and broccoli with walnuts
Tuesday - Eggs and toast
PBJ and applesauce
Ham fried rice and fruit salad
Wednesday - Ham and grits
Spaghetti and meatballs
l/o spaghetti and green salad
Thursday - Banana bread
Cold cut sandwiches, cheese crackers and apple slices
Pork chops, roasted potatoes and lima beans
Friday - Cereal and milk
Chicken strips, celery sticks, pretzel sticks and soy butter
Pizza Out
Saturday - Chocolate porridge
Blackeyed peas, collard greens and cornbread
l/o
Sunday - Raisin muffins,
BLTs and cheese crackers
Chicken Taquitos, Mexican rice, and avacado salad
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