Eat at home

[Katy Belle]

We are trying to eat at home more this Fall to help our shrinking savings and expanding waistlines.

Tonight's menu is chicken fajitas, nachos, and refried beans. Probably not too helpful with our waistline problem, but Texmex is one of those things I think you can make at home that is easy, good, and much cheaper.

A game my CPA husband loves to play at the dinner table is how much did this cost to make. Then he tabulates what an equivalent meal would cost if we had eaten it in a restaurant.

My CPA husband and I do the same thing But it really makes it painful when we DO eat out!

And I'm exhausted and we ARE eating out tonight...even though I could make the equivalent for much less.

 

[LilyWDW]

So, I made the Orange Glazed Salmon tonight...

It was easily the BEST salmon I have ever made and nearly the best salmon I have ever HAD, home cooked or restaurant. It was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. SOOOOO good...

 

[charming23]

So we went out instead tonight. My BFF and her mom wanted to go out and do some shopping so Mom and I tagged along and we all went out to eat.

I will make the enchiladas tomorrow and pot roast on sunday.

 

[EeyoreEma]

Here's my menu for the upcoming week:

Sat: Burgers and fries
Sun: Steaks! and twice baked potatoes (my parents sent me a lovely early birthday gift from Omaha steaks!)
Mon: Steak and asparagus stir fry
Tues: Leftovers
Wed: Chicken bowls (we used the coupon from Chick-Fil-A last month, got the free sandwich and just froze the chicken, which I'll heat up and serve with mashed potatoes, corn and gravy)
Thurs: Slow cooker chicken
Fri: Apple and sage pork chops with brown rice on the side.

 

[limace]

So, I made the Orange Glazed Salmon tonight...

It was easily the BEST salmon I have ever made and nearly the best salmon I have ever HAD, home cooked or restaurant. It was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. SOOOOO good...

Was this recipe posted earlier? Sounds fantastic.

We are trying to can or use everything possible right now, before fall weather puts an end to the garden. Have a box of eggplant and one of tomatoes, and a garden full of corn. Thinking I'll try:
-ratatouille ( never had it but we have all the ingredients-plus it's pretty healthy)
-eggplant parmigian
-pork tenderloin with plum chutney
-Grecian chicken-thighs cooked with a tomatoey sauce and almonds and raisins, served with rice
-homemade pizzas( had last night, Friday night habit), with veggies and cheese.

We don't eat out for dinner much, but I'm bad at meal planning, so this thread is great motivation!

Man, I really need to add some soup to that list. It's raining here.

 

[charming23]

We spent the day cleaning out our long closet in the attic so I wanted quick and easy for dinner. I made sloppy joes using precooked ground beef from the freezer, can of manwich from the pantry, and buns we bought yesterday. I served them with corn from the freezer and apple slices

 

[goofyboyzmom]

MMmmm Lasagna! A family favoriite here, its something that my kiddies don't mind eating leftovers of, a rare thing for them Never tried turkey breast in the crockpot do you add some stock or water and then put it in or just season it and plop it in?

I made on in the crock pot last week - it was AWESOME!! Wash turkey breast - pat dry - lightly coat with olive oil - sprinkle with salt and pepper - put in crockpot - add onions around the bottom - and about 1/2 inch of water! I cooked it on low all day while I was at work and, of course I worked late, so by the time my husband got it ready for the kids we thought it would be dried out --- IT WAS SOOOO TENDER AND DELICIOUS! This is the only way I will do it from now on!

 

[LilyWDW]

Was this recipe posted earlier? Sounds fantastic.

It was not. I got it out of a free magazine sample I was sent. Here it is!

Makes 4 servings
Total time: 35 mins

3Tbls Cajun Seasoning
1 tsp brown sugar
4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (6 oz each)
2 Tbls vegetable oil
1/4 cup Orange Marmalade
1 Tbsp lime juice
Lime wedges

Combine cajun seasonings and sugar in a small bowl. Rub over all surfaces of the fillets.

Saute fillets in oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high hear for 3-4 mins. Turn and saute an additional 2-3 mins.

Blend marmalade and line juice; swirl in the skillet until melted. Turn fish to glaze on all sides. The salmon is done when it begins to flake.

Serve with lime wedges.

 

[pampam]

It was not. I got it out of a free magazine sample I was sent. Here it is!

Makes 4 servings
Total time: 35 mins

3Tbls Cajun Seasoning
1 tsp brown sugar
4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets (6 oz each)
2 Tbls vegetable oil
1/4 cup Orange Marmalade
1 Tbsp lime juice
Lime wedges

Combine cajun seasonings and sugar in a small bowl. Rub over all surfaces of the fillets.

Saute fillets in oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high hear for 3-4 mins. Turn and saute an additional 2-3 mins.

Blend marmalade and line juice; swirl in the skillet until melted. Turn fish to glaze on all sides. The salmon is done when it begins to flake.

Serve with lime wedges.

That sounds delishious. i think I'll try it with other types of fish as well. I can't have sugar, but I think I can tweak it with my homemade marmalade, and sugar substitute.

 

[tinkmom2]

I make a similar glaze for salmon. We grill ours on wood planks on the grill.

Peppered Salmon
2 TBSPS OJ
1TBSP Hosin Sauce (Asian barbecue sauce)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1TBSP honey
1/4 tsp lemon juice
Mix all ingredients adding water if needed. Glaze salmon throughout grilling and enjoy

 

[momx2]

Spent a ton of money at the grocery this week for a huge meat sale at Kroger, but we are stocked for the foreseeable future. Here's the weekly dinner list!

Last night: Rosemary, Balsamic Vinegar grilled chicken, brocolli, peas and long grain and wild rice;
Tonight: Grilled pork loin chops, Rosemary buttered potatoes and green beans;
Monday: Baked Penne with Italian sausage and cesar salad;
Tuesday: Crockpot chicken, celery, carrots, onions and mashed potatoes;
Wednesday: Green chili, chicken enchiladas, mexican rice, chips and salsa;
Thursday: Salisbury steak, left over mashed potatoes and corn;
Friday: Pizza

Here's hoping we have another good week and stick to this again!

 

[charming23]

Well going out to dinner again tonight. One of my mom's friends from high school is in town and wants to go out with us for dinner so we are going but we have a giftcard so it will not cost us any "extra". The rest of the week is as follows

Monday: Pot Roast in the crock pot
Tuesday: Chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice
Wednesday: Pork Chops with sauteed apples and buttered noddles
Thursday: My mom's B-day so I am making her favorite, shrimp scampi but using chicken in mine since I do not like shrimp.
Friday: Out for mom's b-day with family. We are going to Columbus for the day so we will eat somewhere down there.
Saturday: roasted chicken with corn and baked poatatoes

 

[Mom_Rides]

Jumping in on this one! I shop every two weeks so here is my menu for the next 11 days:

Sunday: Honey Lime Grilled Chicken, Roasted Potatoes
Monday: Cube Steak with mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Chili and whole wheat rolls
Wednesday: Chicken enchiladas
Thursday: Ham and cheese omlets and cranberry orange muffins
Friday: Taco Salad
Saturday: BBQ chicken wraps and pasta salad

Sunday: DH's bday - out to dinner, his pick (probably Famous Daves)
Monday: Ravoli and garlic toast
Tuesday: Chicken tortilla soup
Wednesday: Tacos
Thursday: Smoked Sausage and mac & cheese

I have a variety of veggies (broccoli, green beans, corn, carrots) and fruits (peaches, pears, apples/applesauce) that accompany dinner on some nights. We usually go out to eat every other Friday, which is payday. For special events like birthdays and anniversaries, we put going out to eat in our budgeted amount for that event. I'll start my meal plan during the second week of our menu for the next 2 weeks. Unless someone requests something, we try not to put anything in the meal plan that has been used within the last month, to keep our dinners interesting and "not the same old thing". I also make a big breakfast on the Sunday mornings when my stepsons are here.

This is a huge change from where we were 6 months ago when DD4 was not asking "Whats for dinner" but rather "Where are we eating dinner". We knew that we needed to make a change.

 

[LilyWDW]

I go shopping in the morning, but here is the meal list.

Monday- Spaghetti Casserole and Garlic Herb Bread

Tuesday- Leftover Soup and Grilled Cheese

Wednesday- Pan Fried Tilapia and Broccoli Casserole

Friday- Festive Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, and Oven Roasted Asparagus

Saturday- Something... Mom and I are going out to lunch so I may just get something from the freezer section for this dinner.

 

[CherylA]

Mmm everyones meals are sounding great. I think I'm all set with groceries. Except for milk I seem to be moving toward every other week shopping which really helps the budget, less impulse buys! So I'm working with what I have this week.

Tonight and tomorrow night:
hot dogs, beans, corn on the cob
ravioli with tomato sauce, salad

Other meals in no particular order:
black bean and chicken mexican crockpot dish

pea soup (canned chicken soup for those who don't like the pea soup!) fresh baked bread

pot roast and roasted root vegtables

 

[lisam427]

i have been doing terrible with eating out! even though i have been using restaurant.com coupons it still is getting expensive. i have been saving a lot in grocery coupons and have been stockpiling but i need to eat the stuff i am buying in order to actually save.

my goal is not only to not eat out this week, but to use up the food we have stockpiled.

tonight dd will not be home so i will have breakfast for dinner.
tuesday-spaghetti and salad. (will check the freezer to see if i have italian sausage).
wednesday-meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veg from freezer.
thursday-chicken and rice casserole, veg from freezer
friday-homemade pizza, salad, homemade chocolate chip cookies.

 

[charming23]

I woke up this morning with a cold so I am justing going to get some vegetable beef soup out of the freezer for dinner. That and some homemade biscuits sounds really good right now.

 

[brobrosmom]

Well we did it! One whole week without eating out...Not even once! I am so proud of us. Tonight its beef stew.

 

[LilyWDW]

I woke up this morning with a cold so I am justing going to get some vegetable beef soup out of the freezer for dinner. That and some homemade biscuits sounds really good right now.

I'm sorry you don't feel well, but I have to say "good for you" at not falling back on take out or something. When your sick and tired is when you just want to say forget it and order something.

So, "GOOD FOR YOU!" and I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Becc1]

I have to say I am really proud of myself, other than getting Subway last week for lunch we haven't gone out to eat or gotten take out in a good 3 weeks. Here's our menu for this week.

Sunday - Pork roast, risotto and breamed spinach
Monday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn
Tuesday - mini theme night for Dumbo while dh and ds15 are at baseball, we are having corn dogs, smiley fries and snow cones for dessert
Wednesday - grilled chicken sandwiches, orzo salad w/ veggies
Thursday - mushroom ravioli in alfredo sauce, salad, bread
Friday - make your own pizza night
Saturday - baseball night, sloppy joes, tater tots