9/28-10/4 weekly menu

My plan this week is...

Sun: B-eggs, toast, OJ
L-Leftovers
D-Calzones, breadsticks, salad

Mon:B-Cereal
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Baked BBQ chicken, Baked beans, corn, coleslaw

Tues:B-Eggs, toast, OJ
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Black bean & corn Tacos, rice, tortilla chips

Wed B-Pancakes, fruit
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Meatless Lasagna, salad, bread

Thur:B-Cereal
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Leftovers

Fri: B-eggs, toast, OJ
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Chicken Picatta, Lemon Pasta, French Bread

Sat: B-Pancakes, fruit
L-Leftovers
D- Beef N Broccoli, rice, potstickers (we skipped this last week, because I saw that broccoli was going on sale this week)

Projected Grocery list-
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10 bananas-1.79 some left from last week $0.00
apples- 2.00 some left from last week $0.00
2 lbs broccoli- approx 1.38 actual 1.09
2 roma tomatoes-approx .60 actual .76
Bag of salad -1.29 actual-1.29
shredded cabbage-1.00 on sale actual 1.09
Tortilla Chips-3.19 (costco, last more than a month)
cottage cheese-approx 2.00 actual 2.49
1 lemon-.99 actual 1.29

unplanned
cereal ...the craving won!-3.49
4 Peaches-1.80
TOTAL -$14.24
Spent to date-$13.21

My favorite French Bread recipe

1 cup warm water -Free
2 1/2 tsp dry yeast-.01
2 1/2-3 cups bread flour-.20
1 tsp salt-.01
1 Tbsp oil-.05

Total Cost .27 cents makes 2 loaves


combine water, yeast, salt, and 1 cup flour. Mix, and allow to rest about 5 min (it will start to bubble)

In your bread mixer, slowly add remaining flour with mixer running.

Let rise for 40 min in an oiled bowl, covered.

Punch down, and form 2 long thin loaves. Place on baking sheet and let rise an additional 15 min, until doubled.

Bake at 400 for 25 min.

We usually only eat one loaf, and freeze the other for later in the week. Spread butter on it, and sprinkle a little garlic salt on it for the perfect garlic bread!

EUREKA! Little Ceasar's Crazy Bread

I have been craving Crazy Bread for 2 whole days, but with the budget so tight these days, I felt guilty spending 3.49 on an order from my local Little Ceasars. So I set out to make my own at home....and boy am I glad! This turned out so good!!!

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I made regular pizza dough (.23), and after I spread it into the pan, I let it rise for about 1/2 hour, then baked at 425 for about 7 min.

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Then I took 2 Tbsp (.17) of melted butter, and added 2 tsp of garlic salt. ( like a lot of garlic) Once the bread was out, I coated it with all of the butter mixture, then topped it with parm cheese(.28).

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The sauce is from Trader Joe's. I put 1/2 cup(.50) into a dish, and added a pinch of thyme and marjoram. Microwave for about 20 seconds, and Viola!

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I think that next time I make it, I will add only half the butter to the bread, then add the parm, then the remaining butter on top of that.

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Approx Cost... 1.18

Enjoy!

Is Cashcrate for real?

In light of our recent financial drawback, I decided to search a little outside the box for some money making vantures. I heard about Cashcrate months ago, but never gave it any serious thought.

Well, last night I gave it a shot. I made over 20.00 in about 1 1/2 hour. Alot of this time was trying to figure out the system. I have seen many reports that the company is legitimate, and that it pays promptly. For this reason, I have commited myself to devoting about an hour a day to cashcrate to see how far I can get. Cashcrate pays out on the 20th of each month, so I won't receive a check for several weeks, but I will be sure to keep posting my progress.

$20.00 Grocery Challenge

We have decided that we need to cut back. With Christmas right around the corner, and a baby on the way, we need all the extra money we can get.

Is it still considered a challenge if I am challenging myself? Well, for the next few months, I have purposed to get my grocery bill down....way down. The challenge? $20 a week! This seems impossible, even to me, but I am going to put all of my effort into it. Luckily, we have quite a stockpile going.

At 20.00 a week, my goal is to spend 3.33 a day (6 days) to feed our family of 3, with the 7th day designated to leftovers. My weekly shopping goal will be to spend 1/4 of my budget on each food category...meats, fruits/veggies, dairy, and grains.

I currently have some chicken, ground beef, a little salmon, and some steaks in the freezer, so I think we are good on meat for a few weeks. So, any unspent money will roll over into the next week. I am hoping that my stockpiles will allow me to roll over enough money to have a good Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner (which is my favorite time of year to cook!)

My plan this week is...

Sun: B-eggs, toast, OJ
L-Leftovers
D-Pizza, breadsticks, salad

Mon:B-Cereal
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Quesadillas, rice, chips

Tues:B-Eggs, toast, OJ
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Corn Chowder, Bread

Wed B-Pancakes, fruit
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Spaghetti, salad, bread

Thur:B-Cereal
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Leftovers

Fri: B-eggs, toast, OJ
L-Sandwich, fruit/veggie, snack, juice
D-Baked Chicken, veggies, mashed potatoes, bread

Sat: B-Pancakes, fruit
L-Leftovers
D- Beef N Broccoli, rice, maybe egg rolls

Projected Grocery list-

1 gal milk-3.18
10 bananas-1.79
broccoli- approx 2.50
10 roma tomatoes-approx 2.50
1 red pepper-.99

TOTAL 10.97

FREE COLDSTONE'S

Thank you to my best friend Michelle who tipped me off to this... Coldstones is offering free ice cream on Sept 25 from 5-8 pm in honor of the Make a Wish Foundation.

For more info, and participating locations, go here