Week 3 of the Great Grocery Challenge has arrived. Head on over to One Crazy Journey for an update on Flamingo Mama's progress.
Since I was under the weather last week and couldn’t get out to shop so much, I was forced to use what we had in the house. I’ve noticed that you can get really creative when you have to. I must confess there was a high degree of menu shuffling this week because people didn’t want me breathing on their food. (Mental Note To Self: Learn to perfect a cough for other occasions I don’t feel like cooking) I highly recommend contracting a virus if you're wanting to save money on groceries as well.
I spent a massive amount this week. All of $17.00. My shopping list included ice cream (we had a guest for dessert because any other time I would be too mean to buy ice cream ) , cream, raisins, and milk.
This makes my total grocery spend for March so far : $348.02
Leaving me : $ 315.98 Pretty darn impressive huh?
I’ve been trolling round looking for new recipes this week and have found blogs an amazing source of inspiration. I particularly liked this recipe from Kirsten's Cooking for Baked Potato Soup I think Velveeta must be like our Kraft Blue Cheese, so that’s what I’ll be using.
My mission this week is to use all the little leftover bits and pieces from our inside freezer. Everytime I open the door something jumps out and tries to attack me. So if this week’s menu looks a bit cobbled together it’s because it is. Plus, I’ll be using some of last week’s meals because we didn’t eat them. Has anyone else noticed if the main cook is sick, everyone else decides that eating proper meals is low on the priority list? I personally dont think lollies and Dorito's are a meal. Apparently some people in this house think that covers mains and dessert.
My Menu for this Week:
Lunches/Brunches
Chicken and avocado sandwiches
Bacon , Eggs and Toast
Pancakes with Maple Orange Butter
Cheesey Tuna Potatoes
Chicken Wings and Salad
Mediterranean Vegetable Frittata
Lamb Salad with Mint
Dinners
Rendang Curry , baked potato skins with bacon cheese and sour cream, Jasmine Rice and Butter Tarts
Smashed Roast Chicken with Cajun seasoning, gravy potatoes, corn and beans.
Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce with two cheeses
Cooking with SAJ –Finally going to do those lamb Shanks with Carribean Coconut Rice
Kirsten’s Baked Potato Soup with Crispy Bacon and Rolls and lemon cheese cake
Steak with Garlic Cream sauce , BBQ potatoes and a green salad
Takeaway for dinner one night
I make all my own rubs and marinades. The cost is significantly less than the store bought kind and it's really easy to do. This is the Cajun Seasoning Recipe I use. And here is an old post of mine that lists links to a couple more rub recipes. So, Happy Shopping, Meal Planning and Cooking. I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else is doing.
P.S. I bought a cake from the store on March 12th and it has a use by date of April 3rd. Apparently this cake will keep for at least three weeks ...no cake I make ever lasts that long. Exactly what is in there to keep it fresh for that length of time ? Ugh- I don’t want to know. I just fed it to the dogs. Now I feel bad because I wouldn't eat it but I expected them to, and because they can't read they weren't making an informed choice.
I am drooling looking at your menu, yummm. Try living up here and eating on that budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Paradise=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. It doesn't help when you are attempting to go wheat/gluten free as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't cook, my angel's idea of dinner is noodles- ramen or two minute, or pasta cooked and occasionally spiced up with tomato sauce, eeeewww.
lol...Miss Pyjamas just gets McDonalds!
ReplyDeleteMy Mum does exclusively Gluten Free and it is a lot more expensive.
I have large well stocked freezers Marg. Henceforth the varied menu and small shopping budget for this month.
I second Marg...wow. Sounds great. My grocery bill is roughly $250 p/week for five of us but without littleb's chocolate stash, it's about $190.00, I think:-)
ReplyDeleteOh, so much to say about this post! First of all, how would you feel about taking pics of all of these things? If you don't have time, it's fine - but I really want to see all this deliciousness! I sent you a link to a chicken curry recipe, it looks divine.
ReplyDeleteVelveeta is a little like your never-expiring cake, it's described as "pasteurized processed cheese food"...sounds disgusting (and I'm sure it is), but it melts like nothing else.
Do you always create amazing brunches, too?
Oh, and lastly, have you read all of the Janet Evanovich 1-15? I read 8 of them last year on our vacation and caught up with the rest later- she really doesn't write them fast enough!
Poor doggies.
ReplyDeleteI have also noticed that when I am ill or too tired to cook, everyone is happy with "whatever" I wonder sometimes what my job here really is. I often threaten to run away and let the two of them fend for themselves, but nobody seems to act as if they care. So, I stay home and give them hell!
ReplyDeleteBy the way - I noticed you changed your background. I have been trying to change mine, but am too dumb to do it! My daughter is not here to help and for some reason when she tries to explain it over the phone, I just get angry. Go figure! Can you give me a hint as to what I should do? I go to dashboard, copy, blah, blah, blah, but it never changes. Help!
Everything sounds delicious... I got so hungry just reading your menu for the week that I'm going to go microwave my lunch an hour early.
ReplyDeleteOkay...how about this. I need to learn how to photo montage so I'll take some pics this week, and if I can teach myself how to do it I'll post them in the in the next week or so.
ReplyDeleteCynthia, I emailed you some directions. Let's hope I got it right! I wouldnt like you to be angry at me.
Chicken, My usual budget is $225 a week for the 3 of us, which I think is still frugal considering what others spend.
Too mean to buy ice cream! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! This was GREAT!
ReplyDeleteAlso, Cynthia's comment above made me crack up (when her daughter tries to explain blog stuff over the phone she gets angry! I love it!)
Oh I'm loving catching up on the past few days of your blog... this is making my day!