Making it happen

Here is the rundown of menu planning for the week. This should allow use several ingredients we already have and keep the $50 budget. Also, I will be able to make ahead a few items so there will be no last minute rush to the store for pizza!

Sunday

Chicken tacos, avocado hummus and fritos, and corn/tomato salad

-chicken, taco seasoning, avocado, chickpeas, evoo, seasoning, fritos, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, lime, seasoning

Monday

Chicken soup, cornbread, and salad

-leftover chicken taco meat,chicken broth, beans, corns, diced tomatoes, seasoning, jiffy, lettuce, toppings

Tuesday

Cheeseburger macaroni & salad

-hamburger helper, hamburger, salad stuff

Wednesday

Chicken lasagna, corn, and salad

-freezer meal, corn, salad stuff

Thursday

-leftovers

Friday

Honey lime shrimp, rice, steamed broccoli 

-shrimp, honey, lime, red pepper flakes, brown rice, broccoli

With the menu and my fully stocked pantry in mind here's the grocery list:

Canned beans

Jiffy

Diced tomatoes

Chocolate chips

Shrimp

Fruit-----

Peaches-.99/lb@fg

Strb-1.68@edw

Red sidles grapes-.98/lb@edwq

Red or black plums- .94/lb@fw

Yellow onion-1.79 3lb @fg

Limes-15/1.00@fw

Bananas

Cherry tomatoes

Cilantro

Bleach

Walmart did not have the cilantro or limes I needed so one more quick stop at Foodwise made it all work.  I managed to spend $61. But this also bought part of next weeks meals since i found a nice deal on salmon. I also managed to get a box of drumsticks. 

You should have seen the look on Ed 's face when I fessed up to buying an impulse item...without a coupon. :)

$50 a week!

It is going to be a very simple week of shopping.  It should be easy to stay within the $50 budget.   I bought my fruit and hot dogs Tuesday and only have a few items to top off my list. Plus, we are stocked up on diapers, toilet paper, and health/beauty needs.  I have plenty of fixings for breakfast and lunch.  The only breakfast goodie I plan on making is banana chocolate chip bread.

So, here is the dinnertime meal plan for one week starting with tomorrow:

o   Thursday- chicken tacos & chips with cheese dip & guacamole

o   Friday – cheesy potato soup with garlic bread

o   Saturday – grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, & corn on the cob

o   Sunday – leftovers

o   Monday – homemade pizza

o   Tuesday – dirty rice and grilled sausage with garlic monkey bread

o   Wednesday – leftovers

***** SALAD & FRUIT--- every meal --- Ed eats salad most nights and the boys can be bribed to eat more food if fruit is readily available.

Here are the basic ingredients I will need to put the meals together:

TR- Chicken, Salsa, and Taco mix, Tortilla mix, Chips, Velveeta & rotel

Avocado, salsa, lime, salt, pepper, chili powder

F – potatoes, cheese, cream, seasoning, green onion & loaf of garlic bread

S – chops, seasoning, potatoes, butter, milk, bacon, corn

M- pizza crust mix, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, olives, onion

T- sausage rice, garlic, butter, canned biscuits

I have most of the ingredients on hand/in my freezer.  So here is my shopping list.  Yes, I do put it in order of how I go through the store.  I also keep my handy dandy stickers close by so the cashier at W-Mart has an easier time of ringing me up.  This week, I will also be shopping at Edwards to take advantage of their big tent event.  Here is the lineup:

W-Mart:
Milk - 2.98 @ HF
OJ- highland- 1/2gal - 1.79@ Hrp
Eggs- dozen - large - .99 @ SAL
Fruit - bananas- .39/lb @ FW
Blueberries- 6 oz- 1.99 @ FG
already bought (apples, oranges, grapes)- $10 spent
Pizza crust
Pizza sauce
Sausage - hillshire 12oz - 1.99@ SAL Q for .75 off 2
Sirloin cut pork chops - .88/lb @FG
Lettuce - 12 oz salad mix - .88 @ K

Edwards:
8 lb strawberries- 9.98
3 lb vidalia onions- 1.98
20 lb red/russet potatoes - 4.98
 ______________________________________________

This should be just under $50.  As a little bonus I have decided to splurge on chocolate!  Kmart has hershey's bliss 8.5-9.6 oz bags 2/$6.  I have 2 $1 coupons making it 2/$4.  Well worth it!!!!


Hope everyone has a successful week of shopping!