Eat at home

[tinkarooni]

Just posted on the No Buy and thought I would jump over here....haven't posted in a while.....got crazy busy with the holidays. Eating at home is a priority this month. I find if I splurge on a few great ingredients for the week that I can satisfy the cravings for eating out...the convenience thing just requires planning on my part so I never look around at 6:00 trying to figure out what is for dinner. Last night I made asparagus.....crazy expensive at $4.99 for the pound that I bought, but it sure did make plain old chicken sing!

So today I made fresh Italian whole wheat bread.....smells fabulous. With that treat I will be making homemade french Onion soup with a recipe I found on All Recipes. That will really jazz up my leftover smoked turkey dinner.

I used to struggle with spending as little as possible at the grocery store but have found that if I splurge a little bit and get some yummy stuff I save a bunch in eating out. Even our favorite "frozen Food" is Omaha Steaks frozen veal patties. At $10.00 for a meal, add some sauce, cheese, spaghetti and a green salad and I have a super fast really good restaurant quality meal in a flash. $10.00 plus the odds and ends is way, way cheaper than the amount it would cost me to take the family out to eat, healthier as well. Call it my Ah-hah moment.

 

[LilyWDW]

Just posted on the No Buy and thought I would jump over here....haven't posted in a while.....got crazy busy with the holidays. Eating at home is a priority this month. I find if I splurge on a few great ingredients for the week that I can satisfy the cravings for eating out...the convenience thing just requires planning on my part so I never look around at 6:00 trying to figure out what is for dinner. Last night I made asparagus.....crazy expensive at $4.99 for the pound that I bought, but it sure did make plain old chicken sing!

So today I made fresh Italian whole wheat bread.....smells fabulous. With that treat I will be making homemade french Onion soup with a recipe I found on All Recipes. That will really jazz up my leftover smoked turkey dinner.

I used to struggle with spending as little as possible at the grocery store but have found that if I splurge a little bit and get some yummy stuff I save a bunch in eating out. Even our favorite "frozen Food" is Omaha Steaks frozen veal patties. At $10.00 for a meal, add some sauce, cheese, spaghetti and a green salad and I have a super fast really good restaurant quality meal in a flash. $10.00 plus the odds and ends is way, way cheaper than the amount it would cost me to take the family out to eat, healthier as well. Call it my Ah-hah moment.

I know what you mean 100%. When I tell people how much I spend at the grocery for 2 people, they look at me crazy. However, it is still a LOT less then we were spending when we ate out more. Now I just make those meals at home. So I end up splurging a bit on ingredients like fresh veggies and cuts of meat, but for me it is worth it.

Even if my meat is $12 and the total cost of the meal is $15, that is for 2 people. Thus, it is $7.50 per person. How many places can you go and get the same quality of meal for that cost? I don't know many places where I can get a full steak dinner (steak, baked potato, cream spinach, and rolls) for $7.50 a person.

 

[figment3258]

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

aboard!

 

[emma'smom]

I usually make up a plan for a week's worth of meals every Sunday (during the sermon =) Then I switch them up as the mood and time allows. This week. We're also working on lowering the salt/fat level by avoiding prepared foods when possible:

Monday-vegetable beef soup (made with leftover prime rib frozen from Christmas dinner and odds and ends from the fridge/freezer)

Tuesday- Chicken tortilla Soup (in crock pot)

Wednesday- Red Beans and Rice (using leftover ham from New Year's Day)...also in crock pot

Thursday- Chicken Andouille

Friday- Home-Made Pizza (and a movie)...a winter friday night tradition!



P.S. My latest "save time" strategy is to chop up extra vegetables (and wilting veggies) to freeze for soups. The limp celery may not be crisp enough any longer for dips---but will probably be fine in a soup-- so I chop it up and freeze it until I need it for a soup....peppers the same way.

Saturday-- We have plans to be at a party---so we'll nibble there and take an appetizer to share.

 

[figment3258]

I usually make up a plan for a week's worth of meals every Sunday (during the sermon =) Then I switch them up as the mood and time allows. This week. We're also working on lowering the salt/fat level by avoiding prepared foods when possible:

Monday-vegetable beef soup (made with leftover prime rib frozen from Christmas dinner and odds and ends from the fridge/freezer)

Tuesday- Chicken tortilla Soup (in crock pot)

Wednesday- Red Beans and Rice (using leftover ham from New Year's Day)...also in crock pot

Thursday- Chicken Andouille

Friday- Home-Made Pizza (and a movie)...a winter friday night tradition!



P.S. My latest "save time" strategy is to chop up extra vegetables (and wilting veggies) to freeze for soups. The limp celery may not be crisp enough any longer for dips---but will probably be fine in a soup-- so I chop it up and freeze it until I need it for a soup....peppers the same way.

Saturday-- We have plans to be at a party---so we'll nibble there and take an appetizer to share.

That is a wonderful tip on the veggies! Thanks for sharing!

 

[EeyoreEma]

Haven't posted in a while, but here's our menu for the week:

Roast chicken, brown rice, and sweet potatoes for tonight
Tues - pizza (fresh from the store, couldn't pass it up!)
Wed - chicken salad sandwiches (made with leftovers from tonight) and fattoush salad
Thurs - steak stir fry with asparagus, peppers, onion, broccoli, etc
Fri - beef burgundy
Sat - some sort of slow cooker chicken with rice
Sun - can't remember at the moment.

 

[lillygator]

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

can you please post you chili recipe?

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

here is the recipe we've been using with success. I got it from the cooks.com website here:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1739,150168-242197,00.html

I haven't ever frozen it but it is delicious. If anyone knows if you can freeze this, please tell me so I can double the recipe next time.


WHITE CHICKEN CHILI WITH SALSA

2 1/2 c. water
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. cumin seed
4 chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 lb.), skinned
Cooking vegetable oil spray
1 garlic clove, minced
1 c. chopped onions
2 (9 oz.) pkg. frozen shoepeg white corn OR 2 cans shoepeg corn
2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chiles, undrained
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 to 3 tbsp. lime juice
2 (15 oz.) cans white or northern beans, undrained
2/3 c. crushed tortilla chips (optional)
1 1/2 oz. (2/3 cup) shredded fat free Monterey Jack cheese

In large saucepan, combine water, 1 teaspoon lemon pepper and cumin seed. Bring to a boil. Add chicken breast halves. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is fork tender and juices run clear. Remove chicken from bones, cut into 1 inch pieces. De-fat the broth, return to saucepan, place chicken back in the stock. Spray medium skillet with cooking spray, add 1 minced garlic clove, cook and stir 1 minute (careful not to burn garlic). Add to chicken then saute 1 cup onions to skillet, cook and stir until tender. Add cooked onions, corn, chilies, ground cumin and 2 to 3 tablespoons lime juice to chicken mixture. Bring to a boil. Add beans, cook until thoroughly heated. To serve place about 1 tablespoon each of tortilla chips and cheese in 8 individual soup bowls, ladle hot chili over and serve with salsa.

 

[mhsjax]

here is the recipe we've been using with success. I got it from the cooks.com website here:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1739,150168-242197,00.html

I haven't ever frozen it but it is delicious. If anyone knows if you can freeze this, please tell me so I can double the recipe next time.


WHITE CHICKEN CHILI WITH SALSA

2 1/2 c. water
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. cumin seed
4 chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 lb.), skinned
Cooking vegetable oil spray
1 garlic clove, minced
1 c. chopped onions
2 (9 oz.) pkg. frozen shoepeg white corn OR 2 cans shoepeg corn
2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chiles, undrained
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 to 3 tbsp. lime juice
2 (15 oz.) cans white or northern beans, undrained
2/3 c. crushed tortilla chips (optional)
1 1/2 oz. (2/3 cup) shredded fat free Monterey Jack cheese

In large saucepan, combine water, 1 teaspoon lemon pepper and cumin seed. Bring to a boil. Add chicken breast halves. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is fork tender and juices run clear. Remove chicken from bones, cut into 1 inch pieces. De-fat the broth, return to saucepan, place chicken back in the stock. Spray medium skillet with cooking spray, add 1 minced garlic clove, cook and stir 1 minute (careful not to burn garlic). Add to chicken then saute 1 cup onions to skillet, cook and stir until tender. Add cooked onions, corn, chilies, ground cumin and 2 to 3 tablespoons lime juice to chicken mixture. Bring to a boil. Add beans, cook until thoroughly heated. To serve place about 1 tablespoon each of tortilla chips and cheese in 8 individual soup bowls, ladle hot chili over and serve with salsa.

Oh my, that sound delish. I will have to try that one.

 

[hmack]

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!

I did nearly the same thing. Changed the order of my plan and boiled up about 7 split chicken breasts and shreaded them tonight.

I set aside the majority for a chicken pie and the rest for a taco salad.

You're right. I does feel good to be at least a little ahead. Maybe this thread will make a planner out of me yet!

 

[Welivefordisney]

Well, I haven't posted here before... but here we go

Monday: sausage dogs, fried potatoes and baked beans
Tuesday: leftover pie (made from left over mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner, left over gravy and vegies.
Wednesday:crock pot chicken and rice
Thursday: soup and sandwiches
Friday: frozen pizza and salad (couldn't pass up the 3.98 each Digiorno)
Saturday: Roast and vegies (left over roast will become meat spread for lunches)
Sunday: Still haven't decided

Ideas would be great.....

 

[TiffanyK]

I don't usually post my weekly menus here, but I thought you might be interested in my blog post today - 25 meals in 20 minutes or less.

These are great meal ideas for nights when I fail to follow through with my plan or on busy nights. Anything to keep us from making a spur-of-the-moment, expensive trip through the drive-thru.

 

[mhsjax]

I don't usually post my weekly menus here, but I thought you might be interested in my blog post today - 25 meals in 20 minutes or less.

These are great meal ideas for nights when I fail to follow through with my plan or on busy nights. Anything to keep us from making a spur-of-the-moment, expensive trip through the drive-thru.

You are the best. I love it. There are many times when I only have about 30 minutes or less to throw something together.

I too, hate spending money on unplanned trips to a drive through. I would rather save that money for something planned and nicer.

 

[figment3258]

Well, I haven't posted here before... but here we go

Monday: sausage dogs, fried potatoes and baked beans
Tuesday: leftover pie (made from left over mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner, left over gravy and vegies.
Wednesday:crock pot chicken and rice
Thursday: soup and sandwiches
Friday: frozen pizza and salad (couldn't pass up the 3.98 each Digiorno)
Saturday: Roast and vegies (left over roast will become meat spread for lunches)
Sunday: Still haven't decided

Ideas would be great.....

welcome aboard!

 

[Welivefordisney]

I just went to your blog, love the list and the panty help! My resolution this year is spend less on "quick" trips to the store because we can't think of what to cook. Those "quick" trips are killing our budget! Thanks for the great list and ideas!

 

[tinkarooni]

Well my family is getting pretty tired of smoked turkey.... but that's what we are having tonight. I was given a Harry and David frozen smoked turkey over the holidays so I thawed it on Sunday and I don't think it can be re-frozen....so we have to finish it. On the flip side it really is very good....but they're still getting tired of it.

So I have been changing up the sides trying to jazz up the same smoked turkey.

Tonight I am making scratch sweet potato biscuits, potato salad strawberry spinach salad and cold smoked turkey.

I think I can get two more nights out of that turkey....

 

[danabalana]

can you please post you chili recipe?

OK, so I went to my recipe file to find this recipe and can't find it. Ugh.
I sent out an email to the friend that I originally got it from.
As soon as I get it I'll post it here. It's delicious.

 

[CherylA]

I don't usually post my weekly menus here, but I thought you might be interested in my blog post today - 25 meals in 20 minutes or less.

These are great meal ideas for nights when I fail to follow through with my plan or on busy nights. Anything to keep us from making a spur-of-the-moment, expensive trip through the drive-thru.

Great list. My favorite idea is bacon and onion precooked in the freezer, so much I could make with that. At the top of the list is frying it up with potatos and serving with eggs, adding to the top of some boneless skinless chicken breats with a squirt of bbq sauce and topping homemade pizza. Great idea!

 

[TiffanyK]

Great list. My favorite idea is bacon and onion precooked in the freezer, so much I could make with that. At the top of the list is frying it up with potatos and serving with eggs, adding to the top of some boneless skinless chicken breats with a squirt of bbq sauce and topping homemade pizza. Great idea!

Those are good ideas! I almost threw some bacon and onions into the spaghetti sauce I made last night. I'm not a real bacon lover, but my boys are and I have a bunch of it in the freezer from the 1/2 hog we got.

 

[figment3258]

Does anyone have any special things they throw into their spaghetti sauce? I am making mine tomorrow and i am always looking for a new flavor to flavor it up more. i normally cook onions and garlic in oil and then brown ground turkey and i put all that into crushed tomato and paste with garlic powder crushed red pepper flakes parsley, salt and pepper, oregano basil and a bay leaf. With just a hit of sugar does anyone put anything else in? Thanks!