I kind of strayed from the menu plan last week, I needed to get all of the leftovers eaten to make room for this week. So a few of last weeks meals will be seen again. Because we fry our turkeys we cook two smaller ones, this gives us many leftovers for the coming week and pleases my turkeyaholic husband. I’m going to be trying out new sides this year, I have a list of several that will hopefully get us through until the turkey runs out and keep me from getting really sick of turkey.

Check back tomorrow to see how the shopping went and for more great meal plans check out I’m An Organizing Junkie.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Jaynie

Mon-Steak with Sour Cream and Chive Twice Baked Potatoes and Green Beans
Tue-Chicken Flautas with Corn and Black Bean Salad
Wed-Hot Ham and Cheese with Tomato Soup
Thur-Deep Fried Turkey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onion and Pumpkin Custards
Fri-  Deep Fried Turkey with Bacon Braised Green Beans and Scalloped Potatoes
Sat-Turkey with Butternut Squash with Brown Butter and Thyme and leftover veggie
Sun-Turkey with Roasted Carrots and leftover veggies

To see how everyone else did check out The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Jaynie

To complete this week’s menu

.13 lb Ginger Root  .52
.16 lb Jalapeno  .24
.25 lb Tomatillos .20
2.7o lb Cabbage  1.38
.37 lb Tomatoes .36
Salad Mix 2.88
1.46 lb Onions 1.28
Avocado  .98
Bean Sprouts  1.77
.27 lb Mushrooms .62
Chili Beans .75
Black Beans .78
1 lb Turkey – Which in typing this up I notice I wasn’t charged for.

Water – which I also wasn’t charged for
Hamburger buns  .88
Tortillas 2.49
Lysol Bowl Cleaner 1.91 – .80 c = 1.11
Arnold Buns 3.19  (trying these out)
Tortillas chips 1.00
Spaghetti 2.34 – .75 c = 1.59

For the Pantry

4 Cheerios 6.00 – 2.75 c = 3.25
6 dz Eggs  6.00
4 Frozen Vegetables 3.52 – .35 c = 3.17
Black Beans .78
English Muffins  1.00
Cinnamon 2.24 – 1.00 c = 1.24

Grand Total $ 41.67

This year has gone by so quickly I can’t believe I have to make a Thanksgiving menu next week.  I’ve been making basically the same thing for the past 25 years, I need to come up with different side dishes this year.  This is a short week since we’ll be eating away from home 2 nights.

Stop by tomorrow to see how shopping went and for more great menu plans check out I’m An Organizing Junkie.

Jaynie

Mon-Eating away from home
Tues-Pork lo mein  I’m using the sauce part of this recipe, but will probably use different veggies.
Wed-Chicken Flautas with Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad
Thur-Steak with Twice Baked Potatoes and Green Beans
Fri-Taco Soup with Avocado Cream and Tortilla Chips
Sat-Hamburgers and Onion Strings
Sun-Eating out for my Birthday, Yeah!

To see how everyone else did check out The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Jaynie

Needed to complete this week’s menu

Chips 1.78 Mega Deal Price
2.21 lbs. Bananas .86
.53 lbs Mushrooms 1.58
Onion .99
Red onion .38
Pepper jack cheese 2.50
Great northern beans 1.34
Buttermilk 1.50
Macaroni .76
Onion Rolls 1.79

10 lbs Potatoes 2.49 -1.00 coupon=1.49
1.76 lb. Apples 1.94
2.21 lb. Sweet Potatoes 2.25

Items for the Pantry

2 Creamed corn 1.00
Eggs 2.12
6 Cranberry sauce 5.26
Sugar-free syrup 2.86
6 – 4pk. Yogurt 5.94 Mega Deal Price and 6 .50 coupons

2 Crackers 1.98 Mega Deal Price
Tater Tots 1.99 Mega Deal Price
Ice Cream 1.88
Dove Soap 6.88

Grand Total $49.57

Here I was getting into my fall and winter cooking mode and the temperature shoots back up into the 70′s.  I’m trying to use the up meat from the freezer without replacing it so I cans free up some room for the holidays, although with the use of all leftovers and the meatless meals we’ve been having lately the meat level has not dropped very fast. When the freezer empties out a little it’s always a good time to check for things the need to be used up.  I try to be good about rotating, but sometimes things get lost.  I figure I’ll only buy meat if I run out of something or if the price is just to good to pass up.  That will give me a little more money to put toward the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.  What is everyone else doing to budget for the holiday meals?

Check back tomorrow to see how shopping went and for more great menus check out I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Mon-Barbecue Turkey Burgers with Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
Tue-Asparagus,Mushroom and Fontina Omelets with Salad
Wed-Ham and Beans with Cornbread (Angel Food #8 using 1/2 the ham steak)
Thur-Chicken Tenders with Mac and Cheese (Angel Food #9 chicken tenders)
Fri-Pork Chops with  Roasted Butternut Squash with Mustard Vinaigrette and Peas, the squash is left from last week, didn’t have time to make it.
Sat-Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes and Gravy.
Sun-Leftover Buffet

Dessert this week will be Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Cake.  This looks simple and yummy.

Needed to complete this weeks menu.

Parsley .67
2.11 lbs Bananas  .82
Green Pepper  .88
.25 lb Garlic  .57
1.33 lb Tomatoes  1.78
Poblano  .25
3 Shallots  1.44
Lettuce  .99
1.13 lb Asparagus  2.00
3.98 lb Butternut Squash  2.75
1.1 lb Broccoli 1.65
Mushrooms – free

Yogurt 3.98 – 1.00 =2.98
Lasagna noodles  1.50
Bathroom Cleaner  2.12
Tomato sauce  .28
Ricotta cheese 1.82
Pepperoni 4.98
Dr. Pepper  1.00
Italian Bread .79
Monterey Jack Cheese  1.49

Pantry Items

Crackers 1.49
2 Apple Cider 5.98
8 cans Tomatoes  7.92 – .50 ea. =3.92

Grand Total $42.15

To see how everyone else did this week check out the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Jaynie

I’m trying to get in the habit of trying a few new recipes each week to get out of the same old thing rut.  This weeks new recipes are the Honey Cornbread Rounds which I was going to make a few weeks ago but didn’t get around to and the Roasted Butternut Squash with Mustard vinaigrette and Migas. I’m trying to keep my cost down over the next few weeks since I don’t know how much Thanksgiving will put me over budget. 

I’ve gotten 3 meals from the Angel Food last week and it will contribute to 4 meals next week.  So far it’s okay, it’s not quite what we are used to but it’s not bad and if it will keep the cost down, I’m willing to give it a try for awhile. These are the Angel Food meals that we had last week.

Chicken Stir -Fry Skillet Meal – Your typical meal in a bag, had a good flavor.

Spaghetti – Spaghetti sauce had more of a Ragu/Spaghetti-O’s taste.  Had corn syrup in it, which I would prefer it not having but I added sauted mushrooms, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper flakes and it tasted fine.

Steak – I was surprised by the nice beefy taste of the steak and that it was very lean.  It was a smaller size than we are used to but that’s a good thing as it was the proper portion size and we need to get used to eating meat that way.

Here’s what we’re having this week.

Breakfast: Fruit, Yogurt, Eggs, Oatmeal, Cereal
Lunch: Tuna, Leftovers, Yogurt, Hard Boiled Eggs, Fruit

Mon-Alphabet-Veggie Soup with Honey Cornmeal Rounds (Angel Food #4-using the mixed vegetables)
Tue-Lasagna with Salad and Garlic Bread (Angel Food #5-using the ground beef) I don’t make this recipe non-fat as listed I use regular ingredients.
Wed-Migas with leftover Fried Honey Cornmeal Rounds (Angel Food #6-using the eggs)
Thur-Steak with Roasted Butternut Squash with Mustard vinaigrette and Broccoli (Angel Food #7-using steak)
Fri-Leftover Buffet
Sat-Homemade Pizza with Salad
Sun- Movies and eating out.

Check back tomorrow to see how the shopping went.  For more great menu plans check out I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Items to complete this weeks menu.

Bread 1.29-.25 doubled coupon = .79
Hot Dog Buns .88
2 pk. Italian Bread .79 clearance table
English Toasting Bread .99 clearance table
Chips 1.75

2.67 lbs Bananas 1.04
4 pk Yogurt 1.83 – .50 coupon = 1.33
4 pk Yogurt 2.39 – 1.00 coupon = 1.39
2 lb. Mushrooms 4.00
Shalots 1.34 (not pictured)
3.83 lbs Pears 3.79 (not pictured)

Items for the pantry

 3 lb Onions 1.44
Chili Powder 5.35
Frozen Peas 1.08 – .35 coupon = .73
4-1 lb. Bologna 4.00 – 2 @ 1.00 coupons =2.00
3 Manwich 3.00 – .65 coupon = 2.35
3 Diced Tomatoes 1.95 – 1.00 coupon = .95
2 Cake Mixes 2.00 – .55 coupon = 1.45
5 lbs. Ground Round 9.74

Grand Total $ 42.67

October Monthly Round Up
Wk #1 $49.90
Wk #2 $ 40.14
Wk#3 $42.90
Wk #4 $42.67
Total $175.61  Average of $43.90 per week.

October looks good.  I came in under my $50 goal.  I’m sure November will be much harder with Thanksgiving.  The good thing is I have a freezer full of meat, I probably can get through the month without having to buy much, meat wise.

How is everyone else going to fit Thanksgiving into their budget?

To see how everyone else did, check out The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Jaynie

Mon-Hamburgers and Cream of Mushroom Soup
Tue-Chicken Fajitas and Mexican Rice
Wed-Spaghetti with Mushroom Sauce (Angel Food Meal 2)
Thur-Leftovers (The Little Buddy is on his own tonight, I have a cooking class)
Fri-Steak with sauted Mushrooms and Fried Potatoes/Peppers (Angel Food Meal 3)
Sat-Hot Dogs with Baked Beans and Chips
Sun-Leftover Buffet and Pear Charlotte for dessert

Check back this week for reviews of the Angel Food and a few recipes here and there. To see what everyone else is making this week check out more Menu Plans at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Yesterday I picked up the Angel Food that we are going to try.  The basic box is supposed to feed a family of four for a week.  There are only 2 of us so we should probably get a few more meals out of it.  I’m going to keep track of that and the quality to see if we are getting a good deal.  The quality looks ok and I like that the majority of the food came from the US, only the spaghetti came from Mexico.  Pictured above is the Chicken Stir-Fry Skillet Meal.   This was a frozen meal that came in three parts, chicken, veggie and noodles and sauce pack.  This was okay, not something I would normally buy but it had a good taste and only took about 15 minutes to make.

This is what was in this month’s Standard Box which cost $30.

1.5 lbs New York strips (3 x 8oz.)
1 lb. Steak Fajita Strips
2 lb. Chicken Stir Fry Skillet Meal
1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
1.5 Breaded White Meat Chicken Tenders
1 lb. Center Cut Ham Steak
1 lb. Bake or Fry Fish Sticks
1 lb. Pasta
25 oz. Marinara Sauce
1 lb. Frozen Baby Lima Beans
1 lb. Frozen Mixed Vegetables
2 lb. Bag Fresh Apples
10 ct. Flour Tortillas
32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
1 Dozen Eggs
1 Dessert  (This month was a 24 pc Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough)

Check back during the month to see how I work these into my meal plan and my review of the quality.

Jaynie