Menu Plan Monday

Good Monday morning! 
We are at the end of the month/groceries from our last monthly shop, so this is the time of the month to get creative. 
Here is a list of meals I came up with for this week. 
If you’re interested, come back on Friday to read about the side dishes I served with each meal. 
Until then, I hope you have a wonderful week. 

Baked Ricotta Bowls

Soup Beans & Cornbread

Salmon Patties

Fluffy Baked Omelet

White Chicken Enchiladas

Chef AJ’s Lentil Tacos

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Fourth Frugal Friday of May 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week
On Monday I had an appointment with my retina specialist and received another injection in my eye. He told me the swelling was worse than it was six weeks ago and has me coming back in four weeks for a new medication injection in that eye. 
Other than that I’ve spent this week at home, not spending any money. I did some steaming and processing for Bailey and did a lot of cleaning, but other than it’s been a quiet week here. 
I cut open my favorite lemon toothpaste tube to get the last little bit out of the tube before tossing it. 
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
On Tuesday I deep cleaned my kitchen sink area scrubbing the top and bottom of my dish drainer, the counter top, behind the sink, the faucet and the wall behind the sink. I love how clean it looks after a thorough scrubbing. 
I made several items that day also such as more jello fruit cups, two dozen boiled eggs, soup beans, cut up two melons, and made some banana pudding. Except for apple sauce, I was out of canned fruit for the jello cups, so I used fresh clementines instead. 
Meals This Week
All meals are served with either salad or vegetables and may not always be listed here. 
* If you see a dinner in bold print that means we had it more than once this week.
Lunches:
Chicken and Olive Spread
Dinners:
Hamburgers, Roasted Potatoes, Corn on the Cob. Grilled Chicken, Green Salad, Roasted Potatoes. Hawaiian Chicken Thighs, Scalloped Potatoes, Broccoli. Same as Tuesday, but added Green Beans with onions as the vegetable. Broccoli Cheese Soup
Recipe of the Week
Banana Cheesecake Pudding
This is an easy recipe for banana cheesecake pudding using cottage cheese. 
There are four tablespoons in the small box of the sugar free pudding mixes and this recipe calls for two, so you can either save the other half for  another day or double the recipe. 
There are twelve grams of protein in the cottage cheese, so much more protein than if you were to use milk in this recipe. 
Ingredients:
2 bananas1/2 cup cottage cheese2 Tablespoons sugar free cheesecake flavored Jello
Directions:
Add ingredients to food processor. Pulse and then process until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until chilled and ready to eat. 
Saving Money YouTube Videos
Saving on Entertainment
We’ve been watching Gilmore Girls lately as it’s been several years since we’ve watched it. We have all of the DVDs, traded for at McKay Used Books over the years. Based in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, it is home to Lorelei and Rory Gilmore, a mother daughter team figuring their way through life with a lot of witty banter thrown into the mix. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Third Frugal Friday of May 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week
Rather than throwing them away, we’ve been feeding some of our food scraps to the chickens, and they love them! Tomato ends and strawberry tops are some of their favorite scraps. So far we’ve collected 156 eggs from them. 
Bailey set up a Mother’s Day tea for both of us this past Sunday. She made tomato sandwiches, strawberries, and cheese spread with hummus crackers. I had blueberry tea and then an orange roobios tea from Trader Joe’s. It was such a nice and relaxing way to spend part of the day. 
On Tuesday I went to town to run a few errands and went to Walmart to buy a few groceries. 
Photo of the Week

Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
One way I saved money in the kitchen this week was by using up some leftovers to make chili for lunch one day. 
One leftover hamburger became the inspiration for this lunch. Other leftovers from the fridge included part of a diced onion, one corn on the cob, some salsa and queso left from the Mexican restaurant. From the pantry I added one can of fire roasted tomatoes and a can of kidney beans along with some spices. 
This not only fed us for lunch that day, but also for dinner and lunch the next day. It was a real money stretcher. 
Meals This Week
All meals are served with either salad or vegetables and may not always be listed here. 
* If you see a dinner in bold print that means we had it more than once this week.
Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Salad. Grilled Steak, Butter & Herb Rice, Green Beans with Onions, Sliced Oranges.Hamburgers with Cheese, Tomatoes, Red Onions, Tater Tots, Corn on the Cob. Meatballs in Brown Gravy, Soup Beans, Roasted Vegetables. Veered off menu to use up some leftovers, so dinner was BBQ Pork, Roasted Vegetables, Soup Beans, Corn on the Cob, and Cucumber Salad. Chili, Corn on the Cob, along with a salad. 
What I've been Reading This Week
Arena Strength Body Bands Workout Guide

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

Menu Plan Monday

Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Cauliflower

Salmon, Brown Rice, Spinach

Vegetable Fried Rice with Egg Rolls

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham, Green Peas

Hamburgers, Tater Tots, Corn on the Cob

Meatballs in Brown Gravy, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans with Onions

Tacos Salads

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

2nd Frugal Friday of May 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week
One of the local churches was having an indoor yard sale on Friday. Bailey woke up early and went to that and found several items for her shops. 
Sunday was the local trading post event. I gathered up a few things we were not going to use to donate. It always feels good to bring stuff to trade even though they tell you that is not necessary. 
On Monday I had a doctors appointment to get cortisone shots in both of my knees and then Bailey took me to the hairdresser for a cut and color (copper color) for my birthday treat. 
On Tuesday she went and picked up my free birthday entree from a local restaurant where we both ordered the patty melt with a side of macaroni and cheese. 
Then that evening we went to Bargain Night at the theater and watched, “Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret.” They’ve changed the price from $5 to $6, which is still a bargain plus you get a free popcorn to go with the deal.
On Wednesday we went to several places to get my birthday freebies, which is always fun. We also stopped in at Dave and Busters to play air hockey. 
These are the birthday freebies I received this year:
Firehouse Subs ~ free medium subMarco’s Pizza ~ free one topping pizzaCrumble Cookies ~ free cookieChick-fil-A ~ free cookieSbarro Pizza ~ free pizza sliceAuntie Anne’s ~ free pretzelSteak and Shake ~ free shake
Freebies
Free food from the Trading Post this month included all of this in the photo. Cauliflower, clementines, tomatoes, onions, garlic, grapes, potatoes, corn, spinach, chicken, snack foods, carrots, shampoo, and body scrub. Bailey also picked up a few clothing items. 

Another freebie this week was when I went into Walmart the other day. I looked up as a representative from Coke looked like he was dismantling a display and he looked right at me and asked I wanted one of his last Cokes. I said, “oh, we’ve been wanting to try this” (thinking it was one of the new flavors), so he gave me both of them, his last two of the day. That was pretty neat!

Joy of the Week
It was so nice to get out of the house several days this week and do things we only do on special days like birthdays. 
Photo of the Week
We let the chickens out to free range every day, but put them up at night to keep them safe. They’ve been keeping us well supplied in eggs these days. One day I washed thirty eggs and then they laid another dozen eggs the next three days.

Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
I had some apples in my fridge that needed using up, so I made them into cooked apples and served them with dinner one evening. I found some golden raisins in the cabinet too and added those in after the apples were cooked. They were a huge hit and I realized I need to make them more often. 
Meals This Week
All meals are served with either salad or vegetables and may not always be listed here. 
* If you see a dinner in bold print that means we had it more than once this week.
Chicken Fajitas, Corn Tortillas, Red Onions, Tomatoes & Lettuce. Meatballs in Brown Gravy, Potatoes, Green Peas. Free Birthday Pizza and Salad. Patty Melts and Macaroni & Cheese. Pizza Bowls, Cheese Bread. (Movie Night) Grilled Chicken, Mexican Rice, Salads, Pico de gallo. 
Saving on Entertainment
Since this was a birthday week, we ordered take out and watched movies several nights until the take out runs out. It’s a fun way for us to celebrate. This week we watched Heathers, Not OK, and The Big Sick.  It’s a fun way to entertain ourselves for a birthday week and not spend a lot of money. 
What I've been Reading This Week
How to Save Money using ChatGPT. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
How was your week?
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27

First Frugal Friday of May 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
Price of Gas 
$2.96 a gallon
My Frugal Week
On Wednesday we went to town to buy groceries. I perused the sale ads that morning and the only deal I found this week was at Kroger where they have butter on sale for $2.99 this week. 
We stocked up on laundry detergent, garbage bags, Dawn dishwashing detergent, and of course, groceries. 
On Thursday we went to town, so I could get two new tires on the back of my car. I also filled up my car with gas while we were in town at $2.96 per gallon. While we were there we ran across a yard sale and stopped. Bailey found several pieces of inventory for her shops and the gentleman threw in a potholder she wanted for free. 
I cleaned and decluttered some in my office over the weekend. I did some filing and tossing of paperwork too, which needs doing from time to time. 
I had a pair of sunglasses in Bailey’s car that I keep in her glove box for when I’m riding with her. The lens kept falling out, so I brought them in the house this week and used Gorilla Glue to repair them. They should last for a long time now and not need to be replaced. 
I changed out the air filter in my air purifier this week as it was time and I take care of the things I own, so they will last as long as possible. 
I earned $10 in an Amazon gift card from the Consumer Opinion Institute this week. They used to send $5.00 cash in the mail, but have since switched to the Amazon vouchers. I was out of some spices and used the voucher to get more. 
Here is a link to one of the egg tapping TikTok videos if you’re interested: 
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRwFAB9s/
Freebies
My second week of Mom’s Meals arrived this week. We put the majority of them in the freezer for future meals, but a couple of them have come in handy for lunches this week. Here is a list of what they sent this week…

Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Style Meatballs & MeatballsBreakfast Pork Sausage Gravy with Buttermilk BiscuitsMacaroni and Cheese with Vegetables Vegetable Primavera with Penne Pasta, Sweet Pineapple and ApplesBBQ Pork Rib, Brazilian Blend VegetablesChicken Tender with Potatoes, Roasted Peppers & Onions, Smokehouse CornButter milk Pancakes and Eggs with Apple CrispMushroom Risotto, Peas and CarrotsChicken Alfredo with Pasta, Peas and CarrotsWhole Grain Pancakes, Sausage, Cranberry Apple Crisp Heresy Chicken Rice and Broccoli, Sweet Pineapple and ApplesKorean Style BBQ with Meatballs, White Rice, Broccoli and CarrotsSwedish Style Meatballs in Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Pasta, and CarrotsSalisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy, Rice & Mixed Vegetables  3 Slices Wheat Bread1 Fig Bar1 Gelatin Cup1 Applesauce Cup1 Wheat Coney Bun1 Oatmeal Cream Pie1 Finer Spice Cookie
Free potholder from yard sale on Thursday. 
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
In the plant based community many people use water rather than oil to sauté vegetables due to scientific studies on oils. Not only is water sautéing better for your health, but it also saves money. 
I water sautéed peppers and onions in my morning eggs on Saturday, which is another small tip to save money in the kitchen. 

We really enjoy the baby Yukon Gold Potatoes in the 1.5 pound bag, which retails for $3.47 and depending on the store can cost as much as $4.99. 
I like to spritz them with a little olive oil and bake them in the oven, smoosh them a little bit with my Mix & Chop tool and then continue to bake until the edges get golden brown. 

Since they are so expensive, we don’t have them very often even though we enjoy them when we do. This week I found the five pound bags at Sam’s Club for $7.48, which is a good savings over the 1.5 pound bag. A difference of $2.31 pound verses $1.49 a pound, which is a savings of 82 cents a pound. 

This week I made some fruit gelatin cups using the sugar free strawberry banana gelatin we bought on mark down two weeks ago. 
I used half a cup of fruit in each cup and then added one cup of the gelatin mixture for a great snack or meal if I add some cottage cheese to it. They are so good and refreshing especially in the warmer months. 
I use my four cup measuring glass and add two packets of gelatin and two cups of hot water and dissolve. Then I add whatever juice I drained from the fruit as part of the cold water and then add enough water to make four cups. 
I made one dozen gelatin cups in all enough to last a week or more. 
Meals This Week
All meals are served with either salad or vegetables and may not always be listed here. 
Mexican Queso & Chips, Carrots, and Canary Melon. Mexican Chicken Thighs, Roasted Baby Potatoes, Carrots. Just me for dinner, so I had roasted potatoes and carrots with some hummus. Split Pea SoupChicken Thighs, Green Bean with Onions, Roasted Potatoes.Chicken Burrito Bowls with Pinto Beans, Pico de Gallo, Corn Salsa, & Red Onion. Chicken Wraps, Corn on the Cob, Steamed Broccoli. 
Recipe of the Week
I just love pico de gallo on some of my foods. Even if I don’t get the chance to make this, having fresh chopped up tomatoes will add such a burst of fresh flavor to foods. It’s great to have on hand. 

Pico de Gallo (No Salt or Oil)

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup diced tomatoes

1/2 large red onion, diced

1/4 cup fine-diced jalapeño (remove seeds for less heat)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp fresh minced garlic

Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together and ground pepper to taste.  

Allow to sit and marinate for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27