Welcome to Frugal Workshop where every Monday I share the simple strategies used to save money over the past week, along with the meals that made it to our dinner table. You'll find practical tips on how we saved money on food hopefully to inspire your own meal planning using the foods you have in your own pantry.
My Frugal Week
We are still in use it up mode here in our kitchen. I’ve been working on clearing out the freezers to make more room and using those foods I bought for our holiday get togethers really helped with that issue. We will be doing our monthly grocery shopping soon and have freed up a great deal of freezer space for that purpose.
On Saturday I made Hash Brown Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, and Chocolate Cake to take to our family get together on Sunday. This really helped clear freezer space as I bought the hash browns and broccoli at the beginning of the month and those are gone now.
I sorted through my bin of winter squashes to make sure none were spoiling and to use those items up as well.
Use It Up Item Of The Week
This would be the cream cheese we bought on sale at Ingle’s at the first of the month. It was on sale, so I bought ten of them for $1.00 each and centered the dishes I made for the holiday towards using them up, which helped us save money by spending less on our holiday meals. I have two left now and will find a way to use those up as well.
What’s for Dinner
Monday ~ Meat Sauce, Protein Pasta, Spaghetti Squash, Broccoli.
This was a planned over meal from the Sunday before. Bailey wanted protein pasta, but I wanted spaghetti squash, so I made both and served broccoli on the side. The meat sauce had time for the flavor to get even better.
Tuesday ~ Family Get Together ~ Finger Foods
Ham and cheese sandwiches, chips, cheese ball, vegetable tray, Mexican pinwheels, Neman Marcus cake, cookies, German chocolate cake, and cupcakes.
Wednesday ~ Christmas Eve ~ Chili Cheese Dip, Cheese Ball, Mexican Pinwheels.
We decided to keep the finger food theme going, so I made a chili cream cheese dip and had pretzel thins and tortilla chips for dipping, cheese ball with crackers, and Mexican pinwheels. We had Newman Marcus cake, which Bailey made, for dessert.
Thursday & Friday ~ Christmas ~ Ham & Soup Beans, Cheese Ball, Mexican Pinwheels.
I used one Honey Baked Ham bone to make ham with soup beans for dinner. I bought them on a buy one, get two free sale about two months ago and stored them in the freezer. There was plenty of ham on the bone to satisfy our appetites. I served this with the appetizers from Christmas Eve, so cooking was very minimal, which made for a very relaxing day.
Saturday ~ Chicken Sausage, Hash Brown Casserole.
The chicken sausage was a package we bought on markdown at the beginning of the month. I made the hash brown casserole for Sunday and had extra, so served some with dinner.
Sunday ~ Family Get Together Dinner - Ham, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Hash Brown Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Green Beans, Baked Beans, Rolls, Deviled Eggs, Chocolate Peanut Butter Eclair Cake, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Covered Peanuts.
What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?
Belinda
Homemaker at Heart
Oh yum! Your meals sound so good. I don't think I have ever had Neiman Marcus cake before, and I think I will make it after we finish the gingerbread cookies.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a lot of rich foods lately. We went to my nephew's for Christmas Eve, and everybody brought dishes so too much food. My nephew ordered a figgy pudding. I had always wanted to try one, after watching A Christmas Carol. My husband said it tasted like a warm fig Newton. Glad I tried it, but I don't have to try it again. :D I fixed ham and fried oysters for Christmas day, so we have had leftovers of ham, ham sliders, ham salad, casserole, and I froze the ham bone for ham and bean soup later.
Hope you have a great week.!
Thank you, Kathy. The Neiman Marcus cake is also known by another name, buttery goo cake. I’ve seen it for sale by the slice in the bakery at Walmart. It’s good and very sweet. lol
ReplyDeleteOMG, I’ve never had figgy pudding either, but love figs, so I’m sure I would like it. Your meals sound so good from the ham. You’re a whiz at stretching food to make it last! WTG! I hope you have a terrific week ahead.
Great but on the cream cheese and very smart to plan your contributions to the holiday get togethers to use it up along with the other food. I hope to do no grocery shopping until Friday, but only if I've done a good sort out so I can begin the year with a fresh kitchen and grocery budget.
ReplyDeleteI’m with you on the no shopping until Friday this week. My freezer looks good to me now, I’m happy with the space I’ve opened up and will enjoy the clean slate for the new year and month.
DeleteEverything sounds so good. I too am trying to just use some things I have on hand - haven't grocery shopped for a few weeks now. Nice to be able to do that.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you both!!
Thank you, Cheryl. Yes, I love not having to grocery shop too as it keeps me from impulse buys. lol
DeleteYour meals sound great. I definitely need to use things up, as I stocked up on easy food for Nick & Sam to make while we are gone, and the freezer is now packed. i'm going to have to make sure we start using things up. I want to make soup which would use up some chicken bones & a package of chicken, but I'm not sure I can currently get all of my smaller (prepped) soup containers back into the freezer! - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteYes, my freezer was too full at the beginning on the month for any extras like individual bowls of soup too, but it’s better now.
DeleteEverything sounds delicious! Don't you love being able to go to the pantry and freezer to put things together for gatherings. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI sure do, Wendi. It’s just the best.
ReplyDeleteI love being able to dig in my freezer to find things. I try to keep all my necessities stocked so I don't over buy or waste. I hope you have a wonderful New Years!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammie. I hope you have a wonderful new years too.
DeleteI also love finding things in my freezer (which is overfilled right now) to make meals from.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the cake recipe. I think I might make it for New Years Day.
It’s a keeper, Anne. Some people went back for seconds.
DeleteI think we are all in a use up mode this week.
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me, Gill.
DeleteWow! Stumbled across your blog and so many great tips and dinner ideas. Do you have any advice on how to frugally update my kitchen cabinets?? :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie. No advice on your kitchen cabinets, but I’ll definitely be thinking it over.
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