I worked in town today (I sub at the library from time to time), so I made a couple quick stops for some good deals.
King Sooper
1 clementine orange - free sample :)
2 boxes of Post Honey Bunches cereal and a Snickers bar (I was starving, yo!)
Cash - 20 cents
Coupons - $4
(The cereal was on sale for $1.88, but my coupons were for $2 off - the overage wouldn't come back to me as change, so I grabbed the candy bar from the display and added it to the order. The cereal overage helped bring down the price of the candy bar (which was also on sale)
Albertsons
Back with more coupons to put more ice cream in the deep freeze. I was going to get a couple of other loss leader items, but they were out of them. I have rainchecks for later - woot! I also got 4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast ($1.57 a pound!)
Cash - $10.36
Coupons - $8
So - $10.56 in money, $12.00 in coupons. Love it!
I had a grilled cheese sandwich and some orange juicefor breakfast this morning. The rest of the family slept in, so I'm not sure what they had for breakfast (I was already leaving for work by then), but I know they had plenty to choose from.
Lunch was chicken sandwiches on whole wheat buns with lettuce, mayo, etc., tater tots and water/juice/tea.
Supper was spaghetti w/meat sauce and wheat bread for Little Bit, homemade jalapeno poppers (try them - they are SO good!!)for hubby and I, and fresh apples for everyone.
Showing posts with label day-to-day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day-to-day. Show all posts
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 26
I did some shopping today - at Target I used a gift card that I'd gotten for buying pet food, but I also used coupons to save. Target has a coupon on their site for $1 off of 1 lb. or more of bulk apples. I got some braeburn and some jonagold apples - just over a pound of each type, to maximize my savings. The cost for the apples worked out to about 64 cents a pound. I also saw some 'kid size' ice cream cone cups, and decided to give those a try.
Cash spent: 0 - I used a gift card to pay the $3.22
Coupons spent: 2.00
At Albertson's I was able to combine a sale and coupons to get Blue Bunny ice cream for $1 a carton (1.75 quart size). That's a great price, so we put some in the deep freeze. If I can get more coupons, I may pick up more before the sale ends. I used some other coupons combined with sales to get canned tuna, nutter butter minis (hubby's lunches), oyster crackers, frozen potato rounds, a cantaloupe, organic strawberry lemonade and some sausage links.
Cash spent: $16.10
Coupons spent: $18.95
Finally, at Safeway, we picked up Little Bit's WIC items - milk, cheese, juice and whole wheat bread. We also purchased 20 pounds of sugar (sale and coupons) and a carton of organic sour cream that was marked down for quick sale. We use some sugar during canning season (for peaches, plums, jams and jellies), but we are also feeding hummingbirds, so a sale on sugar is a good time to stock up.
Cash spent: $8.24
Coupons spent: $4.25
Totals for today:
Cash spent: $24.34
Coupons spent: $28.32
MAJOR BONUS!!
The bank inside Safeway has an offer - open a checking account and get up to $75 in a rebate on money spent in Safeway. You can even purchase gift cards or prescriptions with it, just as long as they are on a Safeway receipt. The accounts are one per person. I opened one, and hubby opened one, so that is $150 we will save on groceries (or possibly gift cards or gasoline) very soon. We have to wait until the debit cards arrive (about a week), but look around for offers like this!! We do something like this a few times a year, and the extra money can really come in handy. Just make sure you read and understand the offer!
Cash spent: 0 - I used a gift card to pay the $3.22
Coupons spent: 2.00
At Albertson's I was able to combine a sale and coupons to get Blue Bunny ice cream for $1 a carton (1.75 quart size). That's a great price, so we put some in the deep freeze. If I can get more coupons, I may pick up more before the sale ends. I used some other coupons combined with sales to get canned tuna, nutter butter minis (hubby's lunches), oyster crackers, frozen potato rounds, a cantaloupe, organic strawberry lemonade and some sausage links.
Cash spent: $16.10
Coupons spent: $18.95
Finally, at Safeway, we picked up Little Bit's WIC items - milk, cheese, juice and whole wheat bread. We also purchased 20 pounds of sugar (sale and coupons) and a carton of organic sour cream that was marked down for quick sale. We use some sugar during canning season (for peaches, plums, jams and jellies), but we are also feeding hummingbirds, so a sale on sugar is a good time to stock up.
Cash spent: $8.24
Coupons spent: $4.25
Totals for today:
Cash spent: $24.34
Coupons spent: $28.32
MAJOR BONUS!!
The bank inside Safeway has an offer - open a checking account and get up to $75 in a rebate on money spent in Safeway. You can even purchase gift cards or prescriptions with it, just as long as they are on a Safeway receipt. The accounts are one per person. I opened one, and hubby opened one, so that is $150 we will save on groceries (or possibly gift cards or gasoline) very soon. We have to wait until the debit cards arrive (about a week), but look around for offers like this!! We do something like this a few times a year, and the extra money can really come in handy. Just make sure you read and understand the offer!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 25
Right now I have 7 more quarts of green beans in the pressure canner. They will help keep our grocery bills down throughout the winter, plus we'll be eating (very) local!
Today was book club at my house. I made a no-bake cheesecake from items on hand, and we topped it with home-canned cherry pie filling - it was really good!
Our meals today:
B - Cereal, milk, applesauce
L - Spaghetti with meat sauce, zucchini and onions (both from garden), homemade breadsticks, tea
S - We just took out various leftovers and ate them - potatoes, veggie sticks, etc. It's humid, we weren't all that hungry, and this was easy and healthy.
Snacks - The book club cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly on wheat, veggie sticks.
We are low on baked items - down to the last bit of bread, only one breadstick, etc., so I'll be baking tomorrow or Saturday. So far my baking list includes:
Whole grain bread - 3 loaves
English Muffins
Breadsticks
Buns
Donut Muffins
Scones
Zucchini Bread
Should keep me busy! :)
Today was book club at my house. I made a no-bake cheesecake from items on hand, and we topped it with home-canned cherry pie filling - it was really good!
Our meals today:
B - Cereal, milk, applesauce
L - Spaghetti with meat sauce, zucchini and onions (both from garden), homemade breadsticks, tea
S - We just took out various leftovers and ate them - potatoes, veggie sticks, etc. It's humid, we weren't all that hungry, and this was easy and healthy.
Snacks - The book club cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly on wheat, veggie sticks.
We are low on baked items - down to the last bit of bread, only one breadstick, etc., so I'll be baking tomorrow or Saturday. So far my baking list includes:
Whole grain bread - 3 loaves
English Muffins
Breadsticks
Buns
Donut Muffins
Scones
Zucchini Bread
Should keep me busy! :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 24
While we were out and about late this afternoon, we picked up a few bargains, spending $6.26 in cash and $6.00 in coupons. I picked green beans and zucchini today as well. I don't have enough green beans to can quarts, so I may run a canner of pints instead - we shall see. I'm going to dry zucchini 'chips' tomorrow, lightly sprinkled with seasoned salt.
Our meals today:
B - my version of migas (an egg scramble with peppers, onions, corn tortillas and cheese), cinnamon toast, milk.
L - homemade tomato soup (tomatoes canned from last year's garden), grilled cheese on homemade whole grain bread, veggie sticks (mostly from the garden), milk for Little Bit and pepsi for the grownups.
S - Hubby is taking leftovers from last night. We are having pulled pork sandwiches, leftover vegetables (blue potatoes, veggie sticks, green beans) and frozen pineapple tidbits. And - out of the blue - Little Bit asked for an egg, over easy. She has never wanted to try eggs, so this was a surprise. She ate a couple bites, but wasn't wild about it. It's a start, though! :)
Snacks - Ice cream cones, applesauce with graham crackers.
Our meals today:
B - my version of migas (an egg scramble with peppers, onions, corn tortillas and cheese), cinnamon toast, milk.
L - homemade tomato soup (tomatoes canned from last year's garden), grilled cheese on homemade whole grain bread, veggie sticks (mostly from the garden), milk for Little Bit and pepsi for the grownups.
S - Hubby is taking leftovers from last night. We are having pulled pork sandwiches, leftover vegetables (blue potatoes, veggie sticks, green beans) and frozen pineapple tidbits. And - out of the blue - Little Bit asked for an egg, over easy. She has never wanted to try eggs, so this was a surprise. She ate a couple bites, but wasn't wild about it. It's a start, though! :)
Snacks - Ice cream cones, applesauce with graham crackers.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Day 23
Seriously? Day 23? Time flies, doesn't it?
We were in town today, and we did spend a little money, but not on groceries. We took our dog, Molly, to the spay and neuter clinic, and we also bought dog and cat food. Did a little Goodwill shopping too - but no groceries.
Meals today:
B: raisin bran, scones, applesace and milk
L: tuna salad - I had it on a green salad with a little shredded cheddar, sliced raw zucchini and some triscuits on the side, while Little Bit had it on triscuits, also with cheese. Hubby had it on a homemade wheat bun, again with cheese. Veggie sticks on the sides. Water to drink.
S: marinated pork chops, stuffing, green beans and potatoes from our garden.
Snacks: PBJ on wheat (Little Bit considers this a food group), pretzels with mustard and pepsi.
We were in town today, and we did spend a little money, but not on groceries. We took our dog, Molly, to the spay and neuter clinic, and we also bought dog and cat food. Did a little Goodwill shopping too - but no groceries.
Meals today:
B: raisin bran, scones, applesace and milk
L: tuna salad - I had it on a green salad with a little shredded cheddar, sliced raw zucchini and some triscuits on the side, while Little Bit had it on triscuits, also with cheese. Hubby had it on a homemade wheat bun, again with cheese. Veggie sticks on the sides. Water to drink.
S: marinated pork chops, stuffing, green beans and potatoes from our garden.
Snacks: PBJ on wheat (Little Bit considers this a food group), pretzels with mustard and pepsi.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 22
Once again, no shopping today. We did, however, harvest some garden. We dug some potatoes, pulled some carrots and onions, and even rutabaga. We saved some for us to eat at home, but we also shared some with neighbors. We wanted to thank one family for the horse manure they gave us for our garden. Without them, we wouldn't have so much growing. Also, another neighbor plows our driveway in the winter, so we thank him with some garden produce in the warmer months.
We are also getting a few blueberries, but this is the first year, so it won't be a big harvest. We're planning blueberry pancakes for the weekend. :)
Today's meals:
B: cereal, fruit and milk
L: green beans, potatoes and onions from the garden with assorted protein sources - Little Bit had PBJ on wheat for her protein, I had a quesedilla made with corn tortillas.
S: Garden burgers on homemade buns, veggie sticks, tortilla chips and tea.
Snacks: applesauce, frosted mini wheats (we pretend they are cookies) with milk, pretzels and soda.
We are also getting a few blueberries, but this is the first year, so it won't be a big harvest. We're planning blueberry pancakes for the weekend. :)
Today's meals:
B: cereal, fruit and milk
L: green beans, potatoes and onions from the garden with assorted protein sources - Little Bit had PBJ on wheat for her protein, I had a quesedilla made with corn tortillas.
S: Garden burgers on homemade buns, veggie sticks, tortilla chips and tea.
Snacks: applesauce, frosted mini wheats (we pretend they are cookies) with milk, pretzels and soda.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Day 21
We had a busy day today, so this afternoon we took a little break and went to the store. We picked up our daughter's WIC items (milk, beans, juice, cereal) and we spent $1.88 for a package of tortillas and 2 cans of ravioli (free plus overage after coupons). I used $2 in coupons as well.
Meals today:
B - Cereal and milk
L - Assorted leftovers for hubby and I - Little Bit had PBJ on whole wheat and a carrot from the garden.
S - Thin crust pizzas made with tortillas for crust (easy and tasty!), fresh vegetable sticks and dip.
Snacks - pretzels, graham crackers, juice, vegetable sticks
Meals today:
B - Cereal and milk
L - Assorted leftovers for hubby and I - Little Bit had PBJ on whole wheat and a carrot from the garden.
S - Thin crust pizzas made with tortillas for crust (easy and tasty!), fresh vegetable sticks and dip.
Snacks - pretzels, graham crackers, juice, vegetable sticks
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Day 20
We had a really busy day today, but never left home - so no spending! I made six half-pints of cherry pit jelly. We'll probably eat some and use some as gifts - it's so pretty, I may save back a jar to enter at the county fair next year!
The pantry is filling up for the year - I'm stoked! The garden is producing well, and our apple trees look good too. The peaches are getting big on the tree - we're going to net that tree tomorrow to keep the birds out of them.
Today we ate:
B: Cereal with milk.
L: Assorted leftovers, like baked beans, brown rice, veggie sticks, etc. I had a hot dog, Little Bit had PBJ on wheat, and hubby had some Portuguese sausage.
S: Tongkatsu Chicken, brown rice, green beans with new potatoes. Ice cream for dessert.
Snacks: Raw veggie sticks, cheese and crackers, cookies.
I've got to menu plan for the upcoming week, and I think we may run to the store for a few items tomorrow. More soon - thanks for reading! :)
The pantry is filling up for the year - I'm stoked! The garden is producing well, and our apple trees look good too. The peaches are getting big on the tree - we're going to net that tree tomorrow to keep the birds out of them.
Today we ate:
B: Cereal with milk.
L: Assorted leftovers, like baked beans, brown rice, veggie sticks, etc. I had a hot dog, Little Bit had PBJ on wheat, and hubby had some Portuguese sausage.
S: Tongkatsu Chicken, brown rice, green beans with new potatoes. Ice cream for dessert.
Snacks: Raw veggie sticks, cheese and crackers, cookies.
I've got to menu plan for the upcoming week, and I think we may run to the store for a few items tomorrow. More soon - thanks for reading! :)
Day 19
This is going up a day late - yesterday was super busy!
I didn't do any shopping. Instead I canned 11 pints and 3 quarts of cherry pie filling and 7 quarts of green beans. I also pitted the remainin cherries and froze them - 2 quarts and one half-pint. The green beans were from our garden, and the cherries were from a friend. I thanked her with some eggs from our hens - yay for barter!
Our meals were:
B - Oatmeal with apples, raisins and peanut butter, milk.
L - Hotdogs on homemade wheat buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad, water.
S - Buffalo chicken wings, panfried potatoes and onions, ranch dip with carrots, celery and lightly steamed snowpeas. Butter pecan ice cream for dessert.
Snacks - PBJ on wheat (Little Bit), leftover pear crisp.
I didn't do any shopping. Instead I canned 11 pints and 3 quarts of cherry pie filling and 7 quarts of green beans. I also pitted the remainin cherries and froze them - 2 quarts and one half-pint. The green beans were from our garden, and the cherries were from a friend. I thanked her with some eggs from our hens - yay for barter!
Our meals were:
B - Oatmeal with apples, raisins and peanut butter, milk.
L - Hotdogs on homemade wheat buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad, water.
S - Buffalo chicken wings, panfried potatoes and onions, ranch dip with carrots, celery and lightly steamed snowpeas. Butter pecan ice cream for dessert.
Snacks - PBJ on wheat (Little Bit), leftover pear crisp.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day 18
We did some shopping today while we were out doing other errands. Here's what we got:
2 cans chef boyardee ravioli (free, plus 22 cent overage after coupon)
2 packages tyson chicken
1 package jack links chicken pieces
3 packages hormel pepperoni (price matched)
almost 1 lb. fresh jalapenos
Cash Spent: 14.34
Coupons Spent: 11.67
Meals today:
B - Oatmeal with peanut butter, raisins and apples, milk.
L - Leftover lo mein with whole wheat noodles and vegetables, brownies.
S - Hot dogs on homemade buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad.
Snacks - popcorn and hot cocoa (pepsi for me)
Tomorrow we'll pick up a few things when we're in town - I'll report them then. :)
I picked green beans, and I have almost enough to can 7 more quarts. I'll prep these tonight, pick a few more tomorrow and can them in the afternoon or evening. It has been cool this week, but we're still getting plenty of things from our garden.
2 cans chef boyardee ravioli (free, plus 22 cent overage after coupon)
2 packages tyson chicken
1 package jack links chicken pieces
3 packages hormel pepperoni (price matched)
almost 1 lb. fresh jalapenos
Cash Spent: 14.34
Coupons Spent: 11.67
Meals today:
B - Oatmeal with peanut butter, raisins and apples, milk.
L - Leftover lo mein with whole wheat noodles and vegetables, brownies.
S - Hot dogs on homemade buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad.
Snacks - popcorn and hot cocoa (pepsi for me)
Tomorrow we'll pick up a few things when we're in town - I'll report them then. :)
I picked green beans, and I have almost enough to can 7 more quarts. I'll prep these tonight, pick a few more tomorrow and can them in the afternoon or evening. It has been cool this week, but we're still getting plenty of things from our garden.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 17
Except for Hubby, who had to work, we stayed home today. It was a cool, blustery, and later stormy day, so mostly we were indoors doing housekeeping and working on projects.
I thawed a small London Broil and two raw turkey legs and ground up the meat. I mix them together - it's a good flavor, low in fat, all that, and we call it 'burkey' I wrap them like this. It saves me a ton of money, and I've never had anything freezer burn.
After that I put the turkey leg bones in the big crock pot, along with a bunch of other poultry bones I've been accumulating in my freezer. I added water, and it is making some lovely broth that we'll use for soups and recipes.
Meals today:
B: choice or scones or muffins, dried fruit, milk.
L: sandwiches, carrot and zucchini sticks, popcorn and juice/water.
S: hamburger helper lasagna (half the meat, twice the noodles, hee hee), homemade garlic breadsticks, steamed broccoli and carrots, applesauce. Ice cream cones for dessert.
Snacks: dried zucchini chips, homemade brownies, chicken jerky.
I thawed a small London Broil and two raw turkey legs and ground up the meat. I mix them together - it's a good flavor, low in fat, all that, and we call it 'burkey' I wrap them like this. It saves me a ton of money, and I've never had anything freezer burn.
After that I put the turkey leg bones in the big crock pot, along with a bunch of other poultry bones I've been accumulating in my freezer. I added water, and it is making some lovely broth that we'll use for soups and recipes.
Meals today:
B: choice or scones or muffins, dried fruit, milk.
L: sandwiches, carrot and zucchini sticks, popcorn and juice/water.
S: hamburger helper lasagna (half the meat, twice the noodles, hee hee), homemade garlic breadsticks, steamed broccoli and carrots, applesauce. Ice cream cones for dessert.
Snacks: dried zucchini chips, homemade brownies, chicken jerky.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 16
Not a lot of excitement to report, but we did buy carrots and celery today. I also picked up some Jack Links chicken nugget-y things that were free with the coupon from All You Magazine. They are buffalo style, nice and spicy and slightly addictive.
Anyroo, we spent $1.82 for the head of celery and the pound of carrots.
In the "I can't believe we got yet another Freebie from Chick-Fil-A" department, well, yeah, it was free breakfast Tuesday. Hubby had some lab work to get done, so after that we took our hungry selves over to Chick-Fil-A for free chicken minis. It's a chicken nugget inside some super-soft bread that's brushed with honey or syrup or something. As odd as it sounds, it's tasty, and you get three of them. We got them via the drive thru, and spent exactly zero.
So, that was breakfast, which Little Bit supplemented with some dried fruit and strawberry mini wheats.
For lunch, Little Bit had peanut butter raisin oatmeal, one of her favorite foods in the whole wide world. Hubby and I had veggie burgers on homemade buns, some tortilla chips and cucumber pickles.
Supper was meatballs in sweet/sour plum sauce, brown rice, zucchini and onions and a pear crisp. The meatballs were homemade, the plum sauce home-canned, the brown rice from the pantry (bought at the co-op). The zucchini and onions (OK, it was shallots, actually) were from the garden, and the pears were home canned from last year. It was an easy meal to put together and tasted good too!
Hope everyone is doing well with the challenge!
Anyroo, we spent $1.82 for the head of celery and the pound of carrots.
In the "I can't believe we got yet another Freebie from Chick-Fil-A" department, well, yeah, it was free breakfast Tuesday. Hubby had some lab work to get done, so after that we took our hungry selves over to Chick-Fil-A for free chicken minis. It's a chicken nugget inside some super-soft bread that's brushed with honey or syrup or something. As odd as it sounds, it's tasty, and you get three of them. We got them via the drive thru, and spent exactly zero.
So, that was breakfast, which Little Bit supplemented with some dried fruit and strawberry mini wheats.
For lunch, Little Bit had peanut butter raisin oatmeal, one of her favorite foods in the whole wide world. Hubby and I had veggie burgers on homemade buns, some tortilla chips and cucumber pickles.
Supper was meatballs in sweet/sour plum sauce, brown rice, zucchini and onions and a pear crisp. The meatballs were homemade, the plum sauce home-canned, the brown rice from the pantry (bought at the co-op). The zucchini and onions (OK, it was shallots, actually) were from the garden, and the pears were home canned from last year. It was an easy meal to put together and tasted good too!
Hope everyone is doing well with the challenge!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 15
Wow, I can't believe this is already half over! Time has gone so quickly!
We didn't do any shopping today, so no spending. Our meals were of the 'use up the leftovers' variety:
B: Little Bit had the last of yesterday's pancakes with pecans and nectarines. I had French toast (to use some bread that was a wee bit stale) with pecans and nectarines, and Hubby had whole grain cereal. We all had milk.
L: We had beef (leftover steak from last night) and cheese quesedillas and tostadas with frijoles, cheese, lettuce, homemade salsa, hot sauce and sour cream. Ice cream cones (or in a dish) for dessert.
S: Homemade broccoli/cheese/potato soup, wheat crackers, chocolate mini wheats and fresh cherries, ice water.
Snacks: Fresh apples, dried zucchini 'chips'.
It was a somewheat rainy day. I dried more zucchini, but also picked two more this afternoon. The garden looks great, but I had a little break from picking and weeding today. I filled the gap with housekeeping, laundry, and more laundry. ;)
We didn't do any shopping today, so no spending. Our meals were of the 'use up the leftovers' variety:
B: Little Bit had the last of yesterday's pancakes with pecans and nectarines. I had French toast (to use some bread that was a wee bit stale) with pecans and nectarines, and Hubby had whole grain cereal. We all had milk.
L: We had beef (leftover steak from last night) and cheese quesedillas and tostadas with frijoles, cheese, lettuce, homemade salsa, hot sauce and sour cream. Ice cream cones (or in a dish) for dessert.
S: Homemade broccoli/cheese/potato soup, wheat crackers, chocolate mini wheats and fresh cherries, ice water.
Snacks: Fresh apples, dried zucchini 'chips'.
It was a somewheat rainy day. I dried more zucchini, but also picked two more this afternoon. The garden looks great, but I had a little break from picking and weeding today. I filled the gap with housekeeping, laundry, and more laundry. ;)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Day 14
We started our day with homemade buttermilk pecan pancakes with maple syrup and home-grown nectarines (from our freezer). It was a yummy Sunday breakfast with a tall glass of milk!
For lunch we had leftover lo-mein noodles (whole wheat noodles, vegetables and pork).
Supper was petite sirloin with horseradish cream, baked potatoes with sour cream and butter, garlicky green beans and water to drink.
We snacked today on graham crackers, snickers, fresh cherries, raw zucchini and dried zucchini chips.
I did more canning and food preservation today, which will help us spend less on groceries through the winter. I put up 7 quarts of green beans, 8 half pints of cherry jelly and 3 half pints of cherry syrup. I also finished dehydrating glace' cherries and started some thin-sliced and shredded zucchini. The jelly and syrup are a by-product of the glace' cherries that I didn't want to waste. The thin sliced zucchini is sprinkled with a little seasoned salt, and we can use it for chips. The shreds are to add to zucchini bread once zucchini is out of season. By doing a little extra work now, our garden helps feed us year-round.
Today was the last day of a sale on 2 liter pepsi products - I stocked up to have them on hand for times when the price is high. Spent $2.36.
For lunch we had leftover lo-mein noodles (whole wheat noodles, vegetables and pork).
Supper was petite sirloin with horseradish cream, baked potatoes with sour cream and butter, garlicky green beans and water to drink.
We snacked today on graham crackers, snickers, fresh cherries, raw zucchini and dried zucchini chips.
I did more canning and food preservation today, which will help us spend less on groceries through the winter. I put up 7 quarts of green beans, 8 half pints of cherry jelly and 3 half pints of cherry syrup. I also finished dehydrating glace' cherries and started some thin-sliced and shredded zucchini. The jelly and syrup are a by-product of the glace' cherries that I didn't want to waste. The thin sliced zucchini is sprinkled with a little seasoned salt, and we can use it for chips. The shreds are to add to zucchini bread once zucchini is out of season. By doing a little extra work now, our garden helps feed us year-round.
Today was the last day of a sale on 2 liter pepsi products - I stocked up to have them on hand for times when the price is high. Spent $2.36.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 12
Last night hubby brought home a late snack he picked up for us at the drive-thru. I adjusted the amount we spent for the week by that amount ($4.25)
I stopped to get milk and some snacks that were on sale this morning. I went to self-check because the lines were long at the regular registers. After I scanned my stuff and then scanned my coupons, the machine spit out 15 cents and a receipt. I was actually paid 15 cents to shop!
We ate our meals at home today - I didn't have breakfast (I wasn't feeling well) and I'm not sure what my family had, as I was out doing some errands.
Lunch was homemade Lo Mein, with whole wheat noodles and lots of vegetables, mostly from our garden!
For Supper we had homemade pizza, carrot sticks, ice water to drink and ice cream for dessert.
Snacks were cereal and milk, raisins and crackers.
I did some canning tonight - I put up 7 pints of 'Dilly Beans' - a dill pickle green bean. This will be enough to last us an entire year. They are a treat, but something I'd never buy at the store, because they are $7 a jar! The beans and the dill are from the garden, and the only other ingredients are garlic, cayenne, vinegar and salt, so it didn't cost much at all to make them. Even figuring the cost of the jar lids, they probably come to about 12 cents a jar.
Tomorrow I'll be canning cherry jelly and cherry syrup. I'm dehydrating sour cherries that have been sweetened, so this is a way to make use of the resulting syrup as well. If there is enough, I may even make some lollipops. We even have (non-food) plans for the cherry pits - waste not, want not!
I stopped to get milk and some snacks that were on sale this morning. I went to self-check because the lines were long at the regular registers. After I scanned my stuff and then scanned my coupons, the machine spit out 15 cents and a receipt. I was actually paid 15 cents to shop!
We ate our meals at home today - I didn't have breakfast (I wasn't feeling well) and I'm not sure what my family had, as I was out doing some errands.
Lunch was homemade Lo Mein, with whole wheat noodles and lots of vegetables, mostly from our garden!
For Supper we had homemade pizza, carrot sticks, ice water to drink and ice cream for dessert.
Snacks were cereal and milk, raisins and crackers.
I did some canning tonight - I put up 7 pints of 'Dilly Beans' - a dill pickle green bean. This will be enough to last us an entire year. They are a treat, but something I'd never buy at the store, because they are $7 a jar! The beans and the dill are from the garden, and the only other ingredients are garlic, cayenne, vinegar and salt, so it didn't cost much at all to make them. Even figuring the cost of the jar lids, they probably come to about 12 cents a jar.
Tomorrow I'll be canning cherry jelly and cherry syrup. I'm dehydrating sour cherries that have been sweetened, so this is a way to make use of the resulting syrup as well. If there is enough, I may even make some lollipops. We even have (non-food) plans for the cherry pits - waste not, want not!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Day 11
We did a little shopping today, but the only food we picked up was a box of ice cream cones, a bottle of liquid smoke, a 2 liter pepsi and a 2lb. bag of popcorn kernels. The total was 3.87. I used coupons today, but not on any of the food items. Tomorrow I'll be using a coupon to get milk, and I may pick up a few other items, but we don't really need anything, and the sales this week are not exactly stellar.
The garden, on the other hand, is giving us a lot of food. I picked a bucket of green beans this morning, picked 5 squash, and there are plenty of onions, potatoes, carrots, etc. should we want or need them.
Our meals:
B - Muffins, cherries, milk
L - Bean and cheese quesedillas, carrot sticks, fruit juice (pepsi for me)
S - We had a minor crisis - our washing machine broke down - so instead of the planne LoMein dinner we had sandwiches - Hubby and I had breaded chicken, Little Bit opted for PBJ, all on homemade wheat bread. For sides we had broccoli salad, carrot sticks, apple wedges, and water or juice to drink. Dessert was ice cream cones.
Snacks - sliced cheese, fresh cherries, mini wheats, water.
The garden, on the other hand, is giving us a lot of food. I picked a bucket of green beans this morning, picked 5 squash, and there are plenty of onions, potatoes, carrots, etc. should we want or need them.
Our meals:
B - Muffins, cherries, milk
L - Bean and cheese quesedillas, carrot sticks, fruit juice (pepsi for me)
S - We had a minor crisis - our washing machine broke down - so instead of the planne LoMein dinner we had sandwiches - Hubby and I had breaded chicken, Little Bit opted for PBJ, all on homemade wheat bread. For sides we had broccoli salad, carrot sticks, apple wedges, and water or juice to drink. Dessert was ice cream cones.
Snacks - sliced cheese, fresh cherries, mini wheats, water.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Day 10
They almost got me, with the onion rings.
We went to the County Fair today, and had a total blast! It was $1 admission day, so it was a bargain!
We packed a cooler with celery, carrots, sweet cherries, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, raisins and juice, and had a lovely picnic lunch under a shade tree. We also took a big ice water bottle and some strawberry mini wheats as snacks.
We didn't buy any fair food. None. But man, those onion rings. They smelled so good!
Anyway, here's the summary of our meals:
B - cranberry-lemon scones, apples, milk.
L - cheese and crackers, ants on a log (celery w/peanut butter and raisins), carrot sticks, sweet cherries, juice
S - hot dogs and a fresh broccoli salad with raisins, almonds, etc - very yum! homemade (homegrown!) cherry pie for dessert.
Snacks - strawberry mini wheats with water at the fair, and Little Bit says she's having some raisin bran tonight for her bedtime snacks...but that's if she can stay awake that long!
Wishing you all well with the grocery challenge - we still haven't spent any $ this week, but we may be in the store tomorrow. :)
We went to the County Fair today, and had a total blast! It was $1 admission day, so it was a bargain!
We packed a cooler with celery, carrots, sweet cherries, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, raisins and juice, and had a lovely picnic lunch under a shade tree. We also took a big ice water bottle and some strawberry mini wheats as snacks.
We didn't buy any fair food. None. But man, those onion rings. They smelled so good!
Anyway, here's the summary of our meals:
B - cranberry-lemon scones, apples, milk.
L - cheese and crackers, ants on a log (celery w/peanut butter and raisins), carrot sticks, sweet cherries, juice
S - hot dogs and a fresh broccoli salad with raisins, almonds, etc - very yum! homemade (homegrown!) cherry pie for dessert.
Snacks - strawberry mini wheats with water at the fair, and Little Bit says she's having some raisin bran tonight for her bedtime snacks...but that's if she can stay awake that long!
Wishing you all well with the grocery challenge - we still haven't spent any $ this week, but we may be in the store tomorrow. :)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Day 9
A while back, mangoes were 3/99cents, and we got six of them. We ate five of them in no time flat, and the sixth one has just been sitting there, ripening (we bought a couple that were still green).
I guess that fifth one gave us mango burnout or something, because this morning, I just couldn't bring myself to want to eat that mango. Little Bit didn't want it either. (Hubby worked nights and was sleeping.) So, I cut it up, squeezed as much of the juice away from the seed as I could, and put the pieces and juice into some ice cube trays.
Some morning down the road, it will be delicious in a smoothie, and this way, it is not wasted. It's just one mango, but it's also the sort of thing that we can do regularly to make sure we're not throwing money away by wasting food.
We didn't do any shopping today - we stayed home and worked on projects around the house.
Meals today:
B - scones or muffins, fresh fruit, milk
L - leftovers, including meatballs, garlic/cheese bread, cornmeal coated zucchini and onions, green beans
S - I made biscuits and sausage gravy and scrambled eggs, but Little Bit didn't want eggs and neither did I...so we had some steamed potatoes and green salad, with just one biscuit and a little of the gravy (I don't think she even had the gravy).
Snacks - ginger senbei (a tea cookie, gift from my in-laws) with cherry ice cream
I guess that fifth one gave us mango burnout or something, because this morning, I just couldn't bring myself to want to eat that mango. Little Bit didn't want it either. (Hubby worked nights and was sleeping.) So, I cut it up, squeezed as much of the juice away from the seed as I could, and put the pieces and juice into some ice cube trays.
Some morning down the road, it will be delicious in a smoothie, and this way, it is not wasted. It's just one mango, but it's also the sort of thing that we can do regularly to make sure we're not throwing money away by wasting food.
We didn't do any shopping today - we stayed home and worked on projects around the house.
Meals today:
B - scones or muffins, fresh fruit, milk
L - leftovers, including meatballs, garlic/cheese bread, cornmeal coated zucchini and onions, green beans
S - I made biscuits and sausage gravy and scrambled eggs, but Little Bit didn't want eggs and neither did I...so we had some steamed potatoes and green salad, with just one biscuit and a little of the gravy (I don't think she even had the gravy).
Snacks - ginger senbei (a tea cookie, gift from my in-laws) with cherry ice cream
Monday, July 20, 2009
Day 8
Today was Baking Day (at least most of the baking got done!) I made things in quantity and put some into the freezer for use over the next week or two. With the garden starting to produce more heavily, we'll be busy with harvesting, canning and freezing, etc. It will be nice to have some things that are at the ready for quick meals.
Today I made bread sticks, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, buttermilk biscuits, buttermilk scones, muffins and a cherry pie (the cherries were from our tree!). I also made some Chinese barbecued pork for the lo mein we're having later this week.
I didn't have a lot of whole wheat flour left after all that, so I milled more wheat berries this evening, and I'll likely make our bread tomorrow.
We ate rather simply today:
B - cereal, fruit, milk
L - hot dogs (on homemade buns!), potato chips, veggie sticks and pickles, assorted condiments
S - pan fried spam, steamed potatoes and corn-meal coated zucchini. I didn't have any meat, and I ate some leftover green beans. The potatoes, zucchini and green beans were all from our garden. We had some of the cherry pie for dessert.
Snacks - We nibbled scones, muffins, fresh cherries and carrots.
A few days ago I picked the first handful of fresh green beans. Yesterday I got a 'healthy' handful - more than the time before! I didn't really think I'd need to pick them tonight, but I had watered them well last night, so I thought I'd check them. I got about a gallon of fresh green beans. It looks like I'd better start preparing canning jars, lids, all that, because I'll be canning some green beans very soon!
Today I made bread sticks, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, buttermilk biscuits, buttermilk scones, muffins and a cherry pie (the cherries were from our tree!). I also made some Chinese barbecued pork for the lo mein we're having later this week.
I didn't have a lot of whole wheat flour left after all that, so I milled more wheat berries this evening, and I'll likely make our bread tomorrow.
We ate rather simply today:
B - cereal, fruit, milk
L - hot dogs (on homemade buns!), potato chips, veggie sticks and pickles, assorted condiments
S - pan fried spam, steamed potatoes and corn-meal coated zucchini. I didn't have any meat, and I ate some leftover green beans. The potatoes, zucchini and green beans were all from our garden. We had some of the cherry pie for dessert.
Snacks - We nibbled scones, muffins, fresh cherries and carrots.
A few days ago I picked the first handful of fresh green beans. Yesterday I got a 'healthy' handful - more than the time before! I didn't really think I'd need to pick them tonight, but I had watered them well last night, so I thought I'd check them. I got about a gallon of fresh green beans. It looks like I'd better start preparing canning jars, lids, all that, because I'll be canning some green beans very soon!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Day 7 - One week already?
Goodness, times does fly, doesn't it? Hope everyone is doing well with the challenge.
We went out for 'lupper' today. We had a late breakfast, then had a meal about 3pm that counted for lunch and supper - so, 'lupper'!
Hubby had gotten an email from a restaurant for a free bithday meal. It was a large meal, so we shared it, and all of us had plenty. Afterward, we went to the frozen custard place. Little Bit had a coupon for a free cone that she got from the library's summer reading program. Hubby and I shared a cone too, so the entire cost of eating out today was $2.30 for 3 people. The coupons for the meal and the cone saved us $12.87 Best of all, I didn't have to cook or clean up!
This evening I traded with a friend - some of our eggs for some of their gooseberries. Later this week the same friend is getting sand cherries and plums from someone, and since it will be more than she can use, she'll be passing on the extras to us. Truly, we are blessed.
Meanwhile, the garden is giving us zucchini, green beans, and tonight I side-dug a few potatoes. I also pulled up the peas and the Chinese cabbage, so I can plant some things for fall. I'll be planting more Chinese cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and spinach.
Tomorrow is a big baking day. I'll be making bread, biscuits, muffins, a cherry pie, and if we have time, home made dog treats! I'm looking forward to week 2!
We went out for 'lupper' today. We had a late breakfast, then had a meal about 3pm that counted for lunch and supper - so, 'lupper'!
Hubby had gotten an email from a restaurant for a free bithday meal. It was a large meal, so we shared it, and all of us had plenty. Afterward, we went to the frozen custard place. Little Bit had a coupon for a free cone that she got from the library's summer reading program. Hubby and I shared a cone too, so the entire cost of eating out today was $2.30 for 3 people. The coupons for the meal and the cone saved us $12.87 Best of all, I didn't have to cook or clean up!
This evening I traded with a friend - some of our eggs for some of their gooseberries. Later this week the same friend is getting sand cherries and plums from someone, and since it will be more than she can use, she'll be passing on the extras to us. Truly, we are blessed.
Meanwhile, the garden is giving us zucchini, green beans, and tonight I side-dug a few potatoes. I also pulled up the peas and the Chinese cabbage, so I can plant some things for fall. I'll be planting more Chinese cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and spinach.
Tomorrow is a big baking day. I'll be making bread, biscuits, muffins, a cherry pie, and if we have time, home made dog treats! I'm looking forward to week 2!
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