Eat at home

[Tree]

Hi I got my plan together for the week

Tonight Hot turkey sandwiches
Monday Leftover Turkey bruschetta bake kind of like an easy chicken parm

Tuesday Spareribs and veggies, maybe roasted potatos

Wed Brushetta baked leftovers with pasta

Thurs Grilled Cheese sandwiches with tomato soup

Fri Fish

Sat Pizza

 

[lilybeth11602]

here is my week

Mon. earthfare rotissery chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and rolls
Tues. spaghetti and rolls and salad
Wed. Potato and Kale soup
Thurs. raviolli salad and breadsticks with alfredo
Fri. chicken fried rice with mushrooms, zucc. and onions and homemade shrimp sauce
Sat. brown beans with cornbread and kale
Sun. homemade veggie pizza

yumyum!

 

[hmack]

I've been reading this thread for a while and thought I'd chime/join in.

Planning menus is right up there with sorting socks in my opinion - a chore and a half. So I'm hoping for some inspiration.

Just got back from the store, this is how our week is shaping up.

Tonight: baked haddock, frozen fries, and a veg.
Monday: taco salad with chicken, corn bread
Tuesday: chicken & veg. pie, mashed pot., banana muffins
Wednesday: baked mac & cheese, salad, cinnamon bread
Thursday: english muffin pizzas & chips.

That's as far as I got.

My budget buster this week, was stocking up for school lunches & snacks following the holiday break. Time to get back to routine.

 

[charming23]

Would you mind sharing your recipe for the crock pot pork and sweet potato casserole? Sounds like something my family would love!

Here you go. This will be our first time trying it as my mom just found it in a mystery book she was reading but it sounds yummy.

Pork and Sweet Potato Bayou Casserole- Crock Pot

1 1/2 pounds cubed boneless pork
6 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion sliced
2 or 3 carrots sliced
1 cup tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup white wine or water
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup bbq sauce

Place the pork, sweet potatoes, onions and carrots into the slow cooker. Mix the tomato sauce, mustard, and wine together then add to the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper then cook on low for 6-7 hours until tender. Add the babeque sauce at the end and warm through.

 

[nikkistevej]

OK- DH and I are on board- especially after I added up how much we spent eating out in 1 month- and that was just with our checking account card- not counting how much we spent with cash. So this week we are making:

Sunday- white chicken chili
Monday-stroganoff frozen meal
Tuesday- chicken caesar salads
Wednesday-turkey spaghetti
Thursday-chicken tender with some sides
Friday-will probably eat out(we said we would only go once a week)

We'll see how it goes.

 

[MiniGirl]

Well, our plan changes because I am home sick, and dh is out of town. He gets back tomorrow though. I'm also trying to combine this with the No Buy challenge, so I bought frozen hamburger and frozen chicken patties (oldest dd does not like hamburgers). Meals will be something he can easily whip up while watching the kids. (They actually do fine on their own. They can just be needier some days than others.

Last night... frozen spinach ravioli
Tonight... beans and franks (just threw some Lil Smokies and baked beans in a crockpot to simmer and heat up)
Monday... Hamburger and fries (chicken for oldest dd)
Tuesday... grilled tuna steaks with whatever dh decides to make with them
Wednesday... breakfast for dinner
Thursday and beyond... unknown, but I'm hoping to be feeling better and get to the store.

Lunch will just be sandwiches and leftovers.

Not the healthiest week for us, but I'm still counting it as a victory if we stick to the plan. Normally, this is when we'd be so tempted to just order take-out or have a pizza delivered.

 

[lillygator]

I'm in.
just back from Publix $97.37 and am going to make it last the eek.

1/2 bugers and tater tots
1/3 spagetti, garlic bread, salad
1/4 chicken brushetta bake (using l/o sauce)
1/5 grilled cheese, tomato florentine, salad
1/6 tacos, mexican rice
1/7 game night - finger foods, shrimp, dips and chips, crackers/cheese, quesadillas
1/8 grill night - steaks, potatos, veggies

and I got 5 frozen meals for my lunch...I spend 10-15 a day on lunch...insane!
packed DH's lunch - l/o chili and scoops.....

I can DO this!

 

[Katy Belle]

Made a meal plan, went shopping and im inspired!

Tonight, sesame beef, rice, green beans

Meals i have groceries for:
Chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese
Pork loin and baked potatoes
Barbeque pork sandwiches , roasted potatoes
Meat loaf,
Pasta with meat sauce
Garlic lime chicken
Meditterranean-style frittata
Black bean and corn topped potatoes
Smothered green chille pepper chicken

That should get us through close to 2weeks! Feels good to have a plan!

 

[charming23]

I am switiching out dinners for tonight and tomorrow. My Uncle is coming over to do some more work on our basement, he is taking out some old cabinents and replacing them for better storage. So we invited him and my aunt and cousin to stay for dinner and watcg the OSU game. So the pork works better for tuesday night.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Argh, the holidays are over and it's back to reality. This week is going to be terribly difficult, as I'm officially in half marathon training mode, and my husband is working until 8pm two nights this week. How are we going to get food on the table? LOL.

 

[lillygator]

I already changed mine up....I bought a whole chicken yesterday - boiled it, shredded it, used a bit and the broth to make chicken noodle soup (DH and DD 8 are sick), using carrots, celery and chopped noodles (from the meal I made for tonight) - with half of the chicken I made stuffed shells with alfredo sauce for tonight and reserved the other half for chicken tacos later in the week. It feels good to know that dinner only needs to be popped into the oven tonight. Now I just need to invest in a good crockpot!

 

[figment3258]

OK- DH and I are on board- especially after I added up how much we spent eating out in 1 month- and that was just with our checking account card- not counting how much we spent with cash. So this week we are making:

Sunday- white chicken chili
Monday-stroganoff frozen meal
Tuesday- chicken caesar salads
Wednesday-turkey spaghetti
Thursday-chicken tender with some sides
Friday-will probably eat out(we said we would only go once a week)

We'll see how it goes.

! i myself did this back in August and I just could not believe how much we were spending. It was so sad. good luck in your journey!

 

[figment3258]

I've been reading this thread for a while and thought I'd chime/join in.

Planning menus is right up there with sorting socks in my opinion - a chore and a half. So I'm hoping for some inspiration.

Just got back from the store, this is how our week is shaping up.

Tonight: baked haddock, frozen fries, and a veg.
Monday: taco salad with chicken, corn bread
Tuesday: chicken & veg. pie, mashed pot., banana muffins
Wednesday: baked mac & cheese, salad, cinnamon bread
Thursday: english muffin pizzas & chips.

That's as far as I got.

My budget buster this week, was stocking up for school lunches & snacks following the holiday break. Time to get back to routine.

!
I look at planning as a chore too sometimes. But here are a few things I do to help

i have a list of meals that our family likes to eat. So I can look at the flyer for the grocery store and look at the meals and see what is on sale it helps to save time. Also make twice as much and freeze half so you can have quick and easy meals in your freezer. That way you can plan a week to make some new meals and half can be in your freezer.

 

[figment3258]

I'm in.
just back from Publix $97.37 and am going to make it last the eek.

1/2 bugers and tater tots
1/3 spagetti, garlic bread, salad
1/4 chicken brushetta bake (using l/o sauce)
1/5 grilled cheese, tomato florentine, salad
1/6 tacos, mexican rice
1/7 game night - finger foods, shrimp, dips and chips, crackers/cheese, quesadillas
1/8 grill night - steaks, potatos, veggies

and I got 5 frozen meals for my lunch...I spend 10-15 a day on lunch...insane!
packed DH's lunch - l/o chili and scoops.....

I can DO this!

Yes you can!!!!

 

[figment3258]

Chicken Pot Pie 50's prime time cafe out of the cooking with mickey cook book volume 2
2 c chicken tenderloins uncooked
1 c broccoli tops only
1/2 c carrots cubed
1/2 c celery cubed
1/4 c leeks diced
3TB butter
3 TB flour
3 c milk or half and half
1 c parmesan cheese grated
2 chicken bouillon cubes
pastry dough for a single crust pie
1 egg beaten

In boiling salted water simmer chicken tenderloins, broccoli, carrots, celery, and leeks until chicken is fully cooked and vegetables are tender but still firm9 about 15 mins) Drain well and set aside.
In med size skillet, melt butter and add flour cook 5 mins and add milk bring to a boil and simmer until thick about 10 mins dissolve chicken bouillon cubes in 1/4 c warm water and add to sauce. blend in grated cheese and remove from heat add cooked chicken and vegetable and mix well.
pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Pour mixture into a deep dish pie plate and cover with pie dough. seal edges well and brush top with beaten egg. bake until crust is golden brown and filling is hot about 45-50 minutes.

 

[tinkmom2]

I second what figment says. I know what my family likes. Sometimes I will ask if they want anything special for the week. I look at the store flyer, get the Sunday coupons, and make a list. It takes no more than 20 minutes tops.
If I am stuck on ideas I go to foodnetwork.com or allrecipes.com. People here are pretty nice on sharing recipes too.

I work 2-6pm M-F so I need meals that are fast or crockpot ready. This really helps on eating out. We eat out once a month tops! I am not even going grocery shopping until Saturday. I am living off my freezer and pantry for the week. I went shopping last Wednesday.

My store has double coupon day every Wednesday and Saturday so I plan my shopping trips for one of those days. I buy several loaves of bread and freeze them. I just pull them out when I need them. Generally my budget for a family of 4 is $100 a week and I save about $50 in store and manufactures coupons. Sometimes my bill is in the $80.00 range.

BTW I started a new food blog. You can check it out here.
http://tinkmomfoodie-foodobsession.blogspot.com/2011/01/miracle-of-self-rising-flour.html

 

[LilyWDW]

I want to follow Figment and tinkmom2 with a huge welcome to the new posters to this thread! I hope you all find some wonderful ideas to help you in eating more at home and spending less money. If you have any questions or concerns PLEASE ask. If you see a recipe that looks good to you, then ask the poster for it. We are all here to help each other!

I also have a list of family favorites that I try to fit in once a month or every couple of months. We LOVE to try new things though and I would say over 3/4 of our meals are new every month. I am back in school and have classes two nights a week and my mom works full time. I am also not at home for at least 3 nights during the week because I spend it with my boyfriend so mom does her own menu for those days. I don't include those nights in my menu.

I do a monthly menu the first couple of weeks of the previous month (I am starting February's menu soon). This can, and does, change as that weeks menu approaches, but it's nice to have a base starting point. I also do this because I don't have the time to do it week by week.

However, I do think of it like this... things happen. Sometimes it gets to the point where grabbing a pizza is what you want to do. Just get back on the wagon the next day. No harm, no foul.

 

[lillygator]

I am going to buy myself a good crockpot and try something new weekly.....the stuffed shells alfredo is something new we are trying tonight. I think I may join that ez meals site. It looks interesting.
I just put together a budget and wow, it is really eye opening how much money we bring home and where it goes. I need to quit spending on food that we end up wasting and the eating out. I'm glad you guys are here...I'll need some encouragement!

I survived day 1 of eating a frozen dinner for lunch, not bad for a $2 lunch....(I drink bottled water here and refill it).

 

[figment3258]

I am going to buy myself a good crockpot and try something new weekly.....the stuffed shells alfredo is something new we are trying tonight. I think I may join that ez meals site. It looks interesting.
I just put together a budget and wow, it is really eye opening how much money we bring home and where it goes. I need to quit spending on food that we end up wasting and the eating out. I'm glad you guys are here...I'll need some encouragement!

I survived day 1 of eating a frozen dinner for lunch, not bad for a $2 lunch....(I drink bottled water here and refill it).

Great way to start! i myself have a crock pot and love it. I think I paid 10$ for it so sometimes you don't need to spend a whole lot of money,.
trying something new is a great way to have a little fun with dinners sometimes it is a big hit and other times in my case its a let eat pb and j tonight

Stay strong start small one day at a time!

 

[danabalana]

We need to be more careful with our food budget too. Too much eating out and buying stuff that gets thrown out. I'm in!!!
Here's this weeks menu.

Mon
Pot roast, corn on the cob and red potatoes
Tues
White bean chicken chili, cornbread
Wed
Grilled cheese on sourdough and tomato basil soup
Thurs
Pork chops, potatoes, green salad w/feta crans and vinagrette
Fri
Leftovers/fend for yourself night

Weekends are up for grabs at this point. Sandwwiches and soup or maybe go out.

Thanks everybody. I'm inspired