Week 3 - Eat from the Pantry

Last week went pretty well, everyone really liked the new recipes, especially Mama's Amazing Ziti. It was like a flavorful Hamburger Helper. I hate HH, but this was really good.

This week's menu is a mix of new recipes and old favorites, but still digging out the freezer and pantry. Grocery shopping was a total of $32.15--all produce, eggs and dairy. Over my draconian budget goal, but still pretty good.

Mon, Jan 18: Crockpot Gyros (I am looking forward to this one! I heart Gyros!)
Tues, Jan 19: Eggs, Bacon and OJ
Wed, Jan 20: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce; Cucumber Salad
Thurs, Jan 21: Leftover Buffet
Fri, Jan 22: Spicy Venison Stir Fry w/ Rice
Sat, Jan 23: Roast Chicken, Balsamic Roasted Asparagus, Baked Potatoes
Sun, Jan 24: Grilled Salmon, Grilled Artichokes, Garlic Focacia Bread

One more week and I think we can make it!

Week 2 - Eat from the Pantry

Week 2 in the Eat from the Pantry challenge was also pretty easy to plan, but I think this will be my last "easy" week. I was not successful in my plan to only spend $25 at the grocery this week, but I had a lot of dairy and produce to buy. There also may have been a bottle of wine find it's way into my cart---hey, it had been a very long week! Between Aldi's and Shop 'N Save, I spent a total of $40. Still not bad for a family of 5.

Weekly Menu

Sat, Jan 9: Venison Steaks with Shallot-Balsalmic Sauce; Rosemary Infused Cous Cous; Asparagus (bought Asparagus)

Sun, Jan 10: Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Corn, Andes Mint Brownies (bought potatoes)

Mon, Jan 11: Hard shell Tacos (bought lettuce, cheese and avocado)

Tues, Jan 12: Crockpot Indonesian Chicken Curry w/ Rice; Zucchini (bought zucchini)

Wed, Jan 13: Mama's Ziti; Green Salad (bought carrots)

Thurs, Jan 14: Leftover Buffet

Fri, Jan 15: Brats, Coleslaw, Fried Corn (bought coleslaw)

Sat, Jan 16: Monthly Family Night Out

We have a family tradition of Sunday dinner with dessert, and this week I am particularly proud of my pantry creation. I have taken a box mix of brownies and layered in some chopped Andes mints. I had both of these items in my pantry and the finished product smells fantastic!

Menu Monday--Eat from the Pantry Week 1

For the first week of the Eat from the Pantry challenge, I didn't have to think very hard. There was an abundance to choose from and recipes just seemed to flow. I wonder how long that will last?

My menu for this week actually started last Friday with the New Year.

Friday: Brats; Homemade Fries; Green Salad (purchased buns)
Saturday: Steaks; Corn on the Cob
Sunday: Olive-Stuffed Pork Loin, Chicken flavored Rice, Zucchini
Monday: Sausage with Sauerkraut; Applesauce (purchased applesauce)
Tuesday: Tortellini Soup; Garlic Bread
Wednesday: Venison Meatballs w/ Egg Noodles; Green Beans
Thursday: Smoked Ham and Eggs; Bananas; Orange Juice
Friday: Scallop Pad Thai (purchased bean sprouts, cilantro and limes)

Very few item purchased for our menu, but needed several dairy items, fresh fruit for lunches and there was a really good sale on apple juice (with two toddlers we go through a lot). Grand total at the grocery store this week---$27.17

Eat from the Pantry

For the past 6 months or so, I have been cutting coupons, trying to buy things on sale, and stock up when the proces are rediculously low. As a result, my family of five's weekly grocery budget is about $60. I think that's pretty good. Now, I'm going to take it lower.

There has been a challenge issued by Money Saving Mom to try to eat from the pantry for the month of January. I went to look at my pantry (both of them) and my freezer to see if we could do it, and, to my chagrin, I think we could go longer than a month. So, my personal challenge for the month of January is to spend no more than $25 a week and significantly decrease my pantry stores.

Gone?

I have not posted in a very long time. I think about it, but then life gets in the way. I want to try and post more in 2010. I guess that is my resolution. Let's see how I do...