My Frugal Week
We've done no grocery shopping this week instead we’re using what we have on hand here to make meals. I took a big package of bone in chicken breast, bought on markdown, and cooked it in my slow cooker on Wednesday. It has been the basis of our meals the rest of the week.
Sometimes when we are out of a certain item, I will either substitute that item or just do without. For example, I didn’t have any cheddar cheese for tacos this week, but I did have mozzarella, so I used that instead of going to the grocery store for cheddar cheese, which saves us money.
I made an0ther spice container, for thyme this time, using a pint size canning jar and a parmesan cheese lid. I made a fancy label for it with masking tape and a Sharpie. LOL
What’s for Dinner
Monday ~ Orange Chicken, Cauliflower Rice, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Red Peppers.
Movie Night Tuesday ~ Bailey had the last of the Orange Chicken & Cauliflower Rice with Roasted Carrots on the side. I had a Baked Potato with Cottage Cheese Ranch, and Black Olives with Roasted Carrots on the side.
Wednesday ~ Chicken Enchilada Bake, Cabbage & Onions, Corn.
Thursday & Friday ~ Crockpot Chicken, Cabbage & Onions, Green Beans & Onions. I bought these huge packages of bone in chicken breast marked down at Kroger and they are so big, almost as big as small turkey breast. The bone in chicken always has such good flavor.
Saturday ~ Chicken Tacos, Red Onion, Corn or Flour Tortillas, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Black Olives. Corn as a side dish.
Sunday ~ Vegetable Soup made for this week’s lunches along with Chicken Sausage, and Potato & Onion Bake.
What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?
Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
I modify for what's on hand often. I'm really trying to avoid the extra shopping.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is what I’ve been doing also, Sam.
DeleteSounds like some good food. I usually buy boneless breasts and have to add broth for flavor. I guess the bone is important!! I will keep that in mind!
ReplyDeleteIt really does add to the flavor, Penny. I'm not much of a fan of cooking with the bone in, but it does add flavor.
DeleteMeals all sound yummy and very practical using what you have.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl.
DeleteI am pantry eating.
ReplyDelete-Finished off the broccoli-fridge, flank steak-freezer, chopped onion-freezer, rice-freezer and made a big pot of Broccoli Beef which became 5 servings.
-Finished off black beans-freezer, taco meat-precooked in freezer, rice-freezer, corn-freezer and made 2 servings of burritos with salsa and sour cream.
-Ratatouille-freezer, Italian meat-precooked in freezer, fresh ravioli-fridge purchased from Costco last month. 2 servings
-Roasted brussel sprouts-fridge, pork loin steaks-freezer stocked up on $1/each clearance. I did purchase 2 yukon gold potatoes for bakers which are a treat here.
I will continue pantry cooking through this week buying only fresh fruit, I hope ;-) I leave Sunday for a 12d trip and want nothing wasted before departure.
Bargain of the week? Jimmy Dean Sage sausage rolls on clearance $1.64 and I bought 6! Super cheap servings.
Wishing everyone a terrific week!
(I will be watching for more meal ideas :-)
Sounds like a delicious week in your home, Elle. I've been wanting ravioli lately. I need to add that to my menu soon. What a great deal on the Jimmy Dean sausage! That is Bailey's favorite sausage.
DeleteI hope you have a terrific week too!
We only spent half of our March grocery budget so that was a good thing. I'll let the money hang around though in case there is a great sale in April.
ReplyDeleteGood planning!!
DeleteYour meals sound really good. And, I'm with you on trying to avoid shopping, vs filling in with what we already have on hand. (Hawaii Planner)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI just pulled out several cans of beans from the pantry to make a bean hot dish and also assessed the tomato products. I see a huge spaghetti sauce making day in the future!
ReplyDeleteYum! That all sounds delicious, Kim.
DeleteYour meals sound delicious! I love being able to cook once and turn the meat into other meals. I cooked 1 1/2 lbs ground beef and used some in spaghetti and some in a hamburger casserole. It saves a little time anyway.
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well and getting stronger each day. Looks like we will have some severe weather this afternoon. Guess I shouldn't have watched Twisters movie last night.
Thank you, Kathy. Oh, I like cooking once and making more than one meal too. It's a great time saver.
DeleteI hope you all stay safe from the severe weather this afternoon. We had a gully washer around 6 am and it woke me up. Let's hope and pray it's not too bad.
Looks like a good menu! I have made two "swaps" my permanent choice after realizing they made sense: I used asiago cheese on a taco one week when we were out of cheddar. And I used ranch dressing to dredge air fryer breaded chicken -- which now I do rather than a traditional dredge. Necessity is the mother of invention!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mrs. Murphy. Yes, necessity IS the mother of invention! 😊
DeleteI'm also working on using up what I already have. It makes sense, doesn't it? xx
ReplyDeleteIt sure does, Joy.
DeleteThis week I am trying to use up bits and bobs from the crispers and things from the pantry that need using. Going to work hard this month on saving even more cash to pay for the new range.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That sounds like a good plan, Jackie.
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