This past week was a busy one with orders and working to get ahead on rug hooking patterns and hand dyed wool. We ate our way through an entire tub of lettuce and enjoyed some big salads… But now all the lettuce is gone and I need to buy some more. Same with the rosemary ham.
I LOVE big salads. And I’m pretty sure I could eat one every day.
Trader Joe’s fettuccine with a side of broccoli.
Trader Joe’s ravioli.
Oatmeal with cinnamon, banana and dried cranberries.
The world’s best tomato soup.
Hannaford $20.52
I sent the HH to the store to buy rations for the loaded baked potato soup and 8 can taco soup and he came back with a pint of the Oakhurst sour cream someone mentioned last week. We haven’t tried it yet but plan to tonight.
It was a little more expensive than the regular stuff we buy so I’ll report back and let you know if it’s worth the extra cost.
Loaded baked potato soup. Man this stuff is good. Especially when it’s freezing outside and there is snow all around. Plus, as an added bonus, it’s makes a big pot so you get several meals out of it.
We also checked out a new restaurant for date day. Chicken pot pie was their special of the day so I had that and the HH had a burger. Both were fantastic! It’s so nice to go out and actually like what you are paying for.
It seems like service {and the food itself} is really hit and miss these days.
I need to make another trip to Trader Joe’s or Costco soon as I am nearly out of fresh fruit and vegetables. I also need to rummage through the freezer and see what kind of frozen fruit is left so some smoothies might be on the breakfast menu as well.
My game plan for this week is to get a few ready made items in the freezer without going crazy. I figure if I can gradually get enough meals/snacks in the freezer by the end of February, I’ll be able to make March a “no cook” month so I can concentrate on starting seeds and finishing up all my rug hooking projects.
It sounds like a solid plan, don’t you think?
Recipes I’m already planning on making this week:
- Easy Dutch Oven Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Morning Glory Muffins {most for the freezer}
- 8 Can Taco Soup {half for the freezer}
- Panera Copy Cat Black Bean Soup {half for the freezer}
- Roasted potatoes with peppers and sausage
- German Chocolate Cake {slices for the freezer}
How about YOU? Do you have any meals planned for this week? How is you doing on your grocery spending so far this year?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Past Week $20.52
Total Spent in January $167.55
Wendy C. says
How do you freeze slices of cake and not have freezer burn?
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s pretty easy. I can do a show and tell if you’d like.
Wendy C. says
That would be great! I usually get freezer burn on most items I put in the freezer. LOL
Rosemary says
I have been enjoying some of the meals that I had already made: lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, turkey pot pie and orange chicken.
My grocery spending is on track so far, but that could change on Thursday when I finish up the shopping for the month . . . 🙂
Annette says
I love fruit smoothies, but I can’t bring myself to drink one when it’s so cold and snowy. Brrr.
Mary G says
I’m with you. Until it’s warmer (April or May), I find it too cold to have what is ordinarily a very yummy breakfast drink. It may be partly my internal temperature, though.
Mavis Butterfield says
I put on my puffy coat when I’m drinking them in the winter. 🙂
Susan says
Try adding some of that frozen fruit into oatmeal! I usually do frozen berries with peanut powder to my oatmeal to have a PB&J oatmeal bowl. I’m getting my fruit without freezing!
Natali says
I’m always curious if you put any dressing on your salad. If so what kind?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I make my own. I’ll share the recipe tomorrow.
Bonnie from GA says
Thank you!!
Cheryl says
I hate when we go out to eat and the food is lukewarm.
Bonnie in GA says
Mavis, I am curious. Do you use dressing on your salads?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! 🙂
Mimi says
I like the cute little oatmeal face. 🙂
Freezer meals are a lifesaver! My idea of ‘fast food’ is to head out to the freezer in the garage and pull something out the night before to pop in the oven for dinner the next day. Right now I have little packets of leftover Christmas ham, a lot of different soups, homemade ravioli, marinara sauce and multiple loaves of homemade sourdough bread. Tonights ‘fast food’ is chicken pot pie.
Sometimes being prepared feels like a lot of work but I avoid processed convenience foods like the plague. And I hate shopping! It pays to bulk buy and stay away from the grocery store.
Terry McA says
Well, I’ve done it. With the help of my brother, we now have both freezers filled to capacity. I spent $277.83 at our local county market, not the best place to buy, but the closest. Chicken leg quarters were on sale for 99 cents a pound, chuck roasts were on sale for 4.99/lb. Here’s the list of what we accomplished Friday night, Saturday and sunday afternoon….
2 Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, 2 Sausage and Kale Stuffed Pepper meal, 2 Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, 2 Meals of Chicken Meatballs, 2 Chicken Cordon Bleu casserole, 2 Tamale Pie, 2 Meatball Bake, 2 Lasagna, 2 Reuben Casserole, 4 meals of pulled pork, 2 chicken enchiladas, 2 beef enchiladas, 4 meals of air fryer fish sticks, 2 Air fryer honey mustard pork chops, 2 Crockpot chicken tacos, 2 Crockpot french dip, 2 Crockpot Beef and Broccoli, 2 Crockpot Thai Peanut Chicken Satay, 4 meals of Chicken soup with ginger and tumeric, 2 Baked cauliflower mac and cheese with sausage, 2 broccoli and smoked sausage, 2 tater tot casserole, 2 chicken parmesan casserole, 2 chicken and leek pies, 2 bacon tortellini bake, 2 italian bbq chicken, 2 sunday night stew (thanks for the recipe!) 2 korean bulgogi, 2 crockpot carne asada, 36 breakfast frittata muffins, 12 freezer scotch eggs, and 30 breakfast freezer bowls. Whew!
With leftovers, this should get us to around the beginning of May, all I should need to pick up would be milk and eggs until then.