Meal Plan for the Week 07/27-08/02

Total Spent on Food Groceries this Week    $31.70

Sale prices are guaranteed through Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

I have selected Caputo's for this week's shopping trip based on sale prices posted.

Please check the ingredients needed for the recipes first incase you already have an item or need something in addition to my list.

On to this week's groceries:

24 pack ice cream cones
Shredded Mexican Cheese - $1.50
12 flour tortillas - $1.29
1/2 gallon rainbow sherbet - $3.00
23 oz fish sauce - $1.69
Tamarind paste - $1.79
Seedless Watermelon (bought with $5 in store credit for taking a survey)
2.50 lbs Italian sausage - $4.12
4 lbs boneless chicken breast - $5.25
16 oz rice noodles - $1.79
Romaine - $2.00
Cilantro - 25c
3 limes - 30c
3 green peppers - 81c
5 cups bean sprouts - $1.01
1 lb strawberries - $1.99
2 sweet potatoes - 82c
3 Mangos - $1.50

Total w/ tax - $31.70 (with a $5 in store credit that I got for doing a survey) 

Our family only needed 4 dinners this week.

Our Meals this week are as follows:

Entrees

• Chicken Pad Thai
• Grilled Italian Sausages with peppers and onions and roasted sweet potatoes
• Strawberry Craisin salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette and feta
• Grilled Chicken Fajitas

Snacks

• Mangos
• Watermelon

Dessert

• Rainbow Sherbet Ice Cream Cones 

Please see the recipe links on the left for full recipes

Please post comments below or e-mail me @ erin.latawiec@gmail.com

Meal Plan for the Week 07/20-07/26

Total Spent on Food Groceries this Week    $30.57

 

Sale prices are guaranteed through Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

 

I have selected Garden Fresh for this week's shopping trip based on sale prices posted.

 

Please check the ingredients needed for the recipes first incase you already have an item or need something in addition to my list.

 

On to this week's groceries:

11 chicken quarters @ 39c/lb - $3.74

1.3 lbs catfish nuggets - $2.75

1.25 lbs homemade polish sausage - $2.74

Bakehouse Biscuits - 89c

Old-fashioned Oats - $1.39

Parkay Margarine - 99c

KCM BBQ sauce - $1.49

1 lb broccoli - 48c

2 lb romaine - $1.29

1.8 lbs green beans - $1.60

3 medium onions - $1.06

1.89 lbs organic cameo apples - $2.40

1 large red onion - 51c

2 bosc pears - $1.57

3 lemons - $1.20

1 avocado - $1.49

2 jalapeno peppers - 18c

Tortilla chips - $1.99

Hot Dog buns - 79c

1 loaf Sliced Homemade Wheat Bread - $1.49

Total w/ tax - $30.57

 

 

Our Meals this week are as follows:

 

Entrees

• BBQ Chicken Nachos
• Beer Brats with Pasta Salad
• Fried Catfish with red potatoes and bacon green beans
• Grilled Lemon-Butter Chicken Quarters with biscuits and steamed broccoli
• Avocado/Pear Salad with garlic bread

Snacks

• Pears
• Apples

Dessert

• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Please see the recipe links on the left for full recipes

 

Please post comments below or e-mail me @ erin.latawiec@gmail.com

Meal Plan for the Week 7/13-7/19

Total Spent on Food Groceries this Week    $55.41

Sale prices are guaranteed through Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

I have selected Caputo's Fresh Market for this week's shopping trip based on sale prices posted.

 

Again, please check the ingredients needed for the recipes first incase you already have an item or need something in addition to my list.

 

On to this week's groceries:
8 Chicken Drumsticks - $3.67
1.2 lbs Italian Hot Sausage - $2.11
2.5 lbs Angus tip sirloin steak - $8.01
4.5 lbs Pork Spare Ribs - $11.08 (the butcher packaged this special for me and gave me twice as much as I needed which was the reason for going over $50 this week, sorry)
1 pckg smoked turkey bacon - $2.50
12 package Dreamsicles - $2.89
Heavy Cream - $2.49
Shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese - $1.50
Shredded Cheddar Cheese - $1.50
Fresh Baked Parisian Bread - $1.69 (it was still warm and seemed perfect for the steak sandwiches)
28 oz Tomato Sauce - 99c
Balsamic Vinegar - $1.50
4 onions @ .49/lb - 71c
2.82 lbs red potatoes @ .79/lb - $2.23
1.05 lb organic broccoli @ .69/lb - 72c
1.37 lb sweet potatoes (2 large) @ .59/lb - 81c
1.99 lb zucchini (6 zucchini) @ .59/lb - $1.17
2.2 lb red grapes @ $1.49/lb - $3.28
16 oz mushrooms - $2.49
1 pckg carrots - 79c
3 mangoes - $1.34
Cauliflower - 99c

Total w/ tax - $55.41

Our Meals this week are as follows:

 

Entrees

• Picnic Spice Rubbed Chicken Legs with German Potato Salad
• Steak Sandwiches with mushrooms, green peppers, onion, and garlic mayo
• Baked Veggie Pasta with cauliflower and carrots
• Pork Spare Ribs with sweet potato chips and grilled zucchini
• Rigatoni with Italian sausage and broccoli in a mushroom cream sauce

 Snacks

• Mangoes
• Grapes

Dessert

• Orange Dreamsicles 

 

Please see the recipe links on the left for full recipes

 

Enjoy!

Meal Plan for the Week 7/6-7/12

Total Spent on Food Groceries this Week    $37.12 

Sale prices are guaranteed through Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

I have selected Caputo's Fresh Market for this week's shopping trip based on sale prices posted today.

Again, please check the ingredients needed for the recipes first incase you already have an item or need something in addition to my list.

On to this week's groceries:
6 fudge bars - $1.89

3 lbs of Angus ground chuck - $6.37

Light Mayo - $2.59

Cool Whip - $1.49

1 lb bacon - $2.50

6 small cans tomato soup @ 69c each

1 jar fire roasted red peppers - $1.49

4 Fresh Buns - $1.34

4 sliced smoked mozzarella - $1.05

2 large tomatoes- $1.10

Angel food Cake - $2.59

3 broccoli crowns - $1.27

1 large romaine heart - 43c

1 bunch spinach - 99c

1 lb strawberries - $1.50

2 large eggplants - $1.14

1 red onion - 29c

4 portobello mushroom caps - $1.35

5 giant green peppers - $1.51

1 lemon - 54c

4 bananas - 91c

$37.12 including tax

Our Meals this week are as follows:

Entrees

• Portobello Burgers with Roasted Pepper Paste and Smoked Mozzarella with broccoli salad
• Open faced sloppy joe's on homemade beer bread with side salad
• BLT's with Parmesan Eggplant chips
• Chicken Caesar Salad with garlic bread
• Stuffed Green Peppers

Snacks

• Bananas
• Fudgsicles

Dessert

• Strawberry Shortcake
  

Please see the recipe links on the left for full recipes

Enjoy

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for 10!

So I didn't reach my goal of staying under $100.00 to feed 10 people for an entire week breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages.  As I was shopping, I observed the large quantity of food that was going into my cart and quickly realized my goal might not be feasible.  When I got home from shopping, I told my husband that we need to stick with the plan of 2.5 children, because feeding a family of 10 is tough!  So, here is my grocery list with a grand total of............

$141.44 for food groceries for 10 people for an entire week!

There was more, but I couldn't fit it all on the table

Costco:
12 giant bagels
12 giant muffins (blueberry and chocolate)
5 lbs of red grapes
3 dozen eggs
Tortilla Chips
7 lbs of ground beef

Garden Fresh:
3 lbs of chicken breast
3 lbs organic bosc pears
1 lb sliced cajun turkey breast
1 lb maple honey ham
Apple Juice
4 avocados
1 lb loraine swiss
1 loaf of polish rye bread

Caputos:
5.5 lbs Fresh Bratwurst
1.2 lbs Fresh Italian Sausage
2 bottles Western Dressing
1 box Jiffy Corn Mix
2 16 oz Dutch Farms Sour Cream
2 28 oz diced tomatoes
4 Brook's Chili Hot Beans
2 Pillsbury grand biscuits
1 Can Cream-style Corn
1 pckg shredded mozzarella
2 pckgs shredded Mexican cheese
3 lbs bananas
Brick of Romano Cheese
3 limes
4 Orange Peppers
1 head of garlic
3 bunches of fresh romaine
2 heads of lettuce
10 plum tomatoes
1 bunch of cilantro
5 large eggplants
2 red onions
3lbs yellow onions
3 pckgs hot dog buns
1 seedless watermelon
8 2lt bottles of soda

Total = $141.44

Menu for the Week:

Breakfast:
Eggs
Muffins
Bagels
Sausage
Biscuits
Fruit

Lunch:
Sandwiches
Pizza Bagels
Leftovers

Dinner:
Taco Salad
Grilled Bratwurst with chips
Stuffed Eggplant with side salad
Chili with Cornbread
Avocado/Pear Salad with Grilled Chicken and Feta

Thanks again for reading.  Beginning again on Wednesday July 6th, we should be back to the normal schedule of planning for only 1 family! :-)

Change of Plans this Week

Wednesday's shopping trip this week has been postponed to Sunday, June 26th.  However, Sunday's shopping trip will be a bit different compared to past weeks.  I will be planning breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 10 people for the entire week.  The challenge is to try to stay under $100 for everything.  I will post what I bought, where I shopped, and the menu on Sunday afternoon.

Sneak Peek of menu (subject to change):

Grilled Bratwurst w/ grilled onions (these are made fresh at the store) - $1.59/lb this week at Caputo's
Homemade Chili with all the fixin's
Taco Salad
Stuffed Eggplant (Eggplant is on sale again for 59c/lb) This recipe is fantastic!!
Mixed Green Salad with Grilled Chicken (Chicken Breast is $1.39/lb)

Check back on Sunday and Happy Cooking!
~Erin

Thank you!

So, I decided to start this blog thinking that it might help others save money.  I honestly would have been thrilled if even a couple of people benefited from this in some way or another.  I had never expected the overwhelming response that has been received.  In the past 2 1/2 weeks, this site has had over 750 views.  Unbelievable!  This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't spread the word to family and friends, so a big Thank You to everyone! 

Also, I have received a handful of questions from readers and thought I would share them with everyone:
  
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Do you use coupons to buy your groceries? 
No.  I don't use any coupons to buy my groceries.  I use a lot of fresh produce when I cook and most coupons in the ads are for pre-packaged or processed items.  Instead of planning my meals based on what I feel like eating that week, I plan my meals based on what is on sale in the grocery store ad.
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Where do you find the local ads? Mail or Internet?
I usually compare Caputo's Fresh Market and Garden Fresh, which are my local produce grocery stores.  On Wednesday mornings they post the new ad for the week on their website.   The links to those stores should be on the left column of this page.
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Do you make money from this site?
No.  This site was designed purely to help and inspire, not for profit.
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Where do you get milk since it is not on the grocery list?
My 1 1/2 year old goes through at least a gallon a week on her own.  We started off buying organic, which is the best option, however, we were spending $10 a week just on her milk.  After a little research and reading the label, Costco (Kirkland Brand) sells milk that is made without artificial growth hormone.  It ranges from $1.99-$2.29 per gallon depending on the week.  So, now we buy our milk from Costco since it is the best/cheapest alternative to organic.
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How many people can you feed with the meals you make?
We have a family of 3, however, we ALWAYS have guests dining at our house and have plenty to go around.  The bigos we made last week was probably enough to feed 12 people and we usually have leftovers of everything.  I will however try to go through my recipes and estimate how many servings each recipe makes. 
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Since you only buy food for dinner, what do you eat for breakfast and lunch?
Breakfast is usually cereal and fruit, eggs, pancakes or lately, it has been banana bread or zucchini bread.  :)  Lunch is pretty much leftovers.  After we are finished with a meal at night, I will pack lunches right away for the next day to save time.
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Are these all your original recipes?
Some are, but most aren't.  Many of the recipes I post are adapted from other recipes.  Each recipes is cited with it's source.  Usually I will find a recipe or a few recipes, and pull a few parts of each recipe together.  Or I may take out an ingredient I don't like (for example, I am not a fan of celery, so my chicken and dumplings recipe does not include it, but the original recipe does).  When the ads come out on Wednesday and lets say eggplant is on sale,  I will check my recipe books or even google "eggplant recipes" and look through them to see if anything looks particularly tasty.  After I make the dish, I will usually post any changes that I made from the original recipe.
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Lastly, I would love to hear your feedback, questions, and also any success stories.  Please post them in the comments section below so that everyone can enjoy!