april/may meals for a month

Here is my update on our meals for this month...it took a little longer to put together than usual. I think it is because I am transitioning from winter soups to summer salads.

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Turkey burgers, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos (x2)
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza (x2)
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto (frozen from last month)
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese (frozen from last month)
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits
-Salmon, rice, asparagus
-Tuna melts, veggie

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Leftovers
- Smoothies
- Salads

Pretty sure that will get us through this month!

update: march/april 200 challenge

Here is my half-way there update! I have not gone back to the store for anything yet and I think I can make it the rest of the month this way, which is really exciting. Here is what we have eaten so far...

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (one to go!)
-Shepherds pie
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Salmon, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza
-Mexican lasagna
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Chicken pesto
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Popcorn shrimp, faux tatoes
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Scallops and pasta
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Turkey burgers
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits

Lots of yummy meals to go and only 12 more days til shopping!

march/april 200 challenge

Ok I am a day off from my normal 15th of the month shopping spree, but Mondays are impossible for me to do anything except tutor. Seriously, I am at work from 9-10am, then 2-8:30pm. Yup. I love my job, but no grocery shopping on Mondays!

Now for the good stuff. This month I am including the money I spent on my cousin (in-law) Amy's baby shower, which is this weekend! I also went to Big Lots for dishwasher detergent tabs and Eric's deoderant. I spent $10.05 there. Then it was on to Aldi! I got about half of the things I needed there, including some spices I was out of, for a whopping $66.08. Next stop was Wal-Mart for all those obscure "Aldi doesn't carry that" items. I spent $71.83. Last stop was dollar tree for shower decor, where I spent $11.77. Love a place where everything really is a dollar.

That bring my entire total (minus the trip in 2 weeks for more fresh veggies) to $159.71! Yes, that is $40.27 under budget, so far.

Ok my meals for the month!

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
-Shepherds pie
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Salmon, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza
-Mexican lasagna
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Chicken pesto
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Popcorn shrimp, faux tatoes
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Scallops and pasta
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Turkey burgers
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Trail mix, mixed nuts
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Leftovers

feb/march 200 challenge

I did my grocery shopping today! I am shopping on the 15th of every month so I will go from 2/15 - 3/15 with this months groceries. I went to Aldi first with my list and got a good majority of my groceries and fresh produce there. I only spent $58.51 there.

Next stop was Wal-Mart. They carry a few things that Aldi just doesn't have. Also, we are trying to cut out high fructose corn syrup and use more natural sweeteners like raw local honey and agave, and even some of Aldi's "Fit&Activ" brand contains hfcs. This month I had to buy toilet paper and sponges, but those were my only non-food items. I spent $98.08 there.

That brings my total to $151.59. Now I will go back for milk and probably bread before the month is out, but that is still seriously under budget! Now for my meals...(some meals are frozen from last month, and no that isn't cheating!)

Dinners:
- Frozen Veggie Soup and biscuits
- Frozen Lemony Lentil Soup and cheese toast (x2)
- Buffalo chicken quesadillas
- Chicken fajitas
- Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
- Shepherds pie with corn (x2)
- Spaghetti with garlic bread
- Baked ziti with spinach
- Baked salmon, rice, and spinach
- Baked salmon, rice, asparagus
- Hot dogs and baked beans
- Burritos (x2)
- Greek crock pot chicken
- Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
- Veggie pasta with Braggs
- Frozen pizza (x2, for Wednesdays, not able to cook)
- Black bean quesadillas
- Mexican lasagna
- Enchiladas (x2)
- Tuna melts and faux tatoes (x2)
- Mexican lentil casserole

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Trail mix, mixed nuts
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Biscuits and gravy

That is 28 dinners! We will also have leftovers for lunches and dinners too. If you want to join The 200 Challenge just go on over to Sarah's and link up!

update: meals for a month

It has been a little over 2 weeks since I bought groceries so I thought I would update you all on how my meals for a month challenge is going! Personally, I think we have done great!!!

- Lemony Lentil Greek Soup (eat twice this month, freeze and eat twice next month)
- Biscuits and gravy (x2) 1 to go!
- Cheesy chicken and rice (x2, four meals each time so some will be for next month)
- Tuna melts (x2) with faux-tatoes and with broccoli 1 to go!
- Macaroni Grill meal (chicken pesto)
- Chicken fajitas
- Buffalo chicken quesadillas
- Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas (x2) 1 to go!
- Twice baked potatoes (x2, aka Texas 'Taters) 1 to go!
- Shepherds pie (x2)
- Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches 1 to go!
- Spaghetti and garlic bread 1 to go!
- Mexican lentil casserole (x2)
- Black bean soup (eat twice this month, freeze and eat twice next month)
- Italian chicken and fried squash
- Frozen Red Baron pizzas (x2) 1 to go!
- Frozen Smoked Gouda mac and cheese
- Hot dogs and baked beans (x2)
- Burritos
- Brinner (x2, blueberry pancakes, sausage, fried eggs, etc.) several to go!

So there you go folks, well on the way to succeeding in this challenge...and eating somewhere good for Valentine's Day!!!

meals for a month

I usually try to do once a month grocery shopping. The only things I go back for in the middle of the month are milk, eggs, bread, and fresh fruits/veggies. Since we are only a family of two, I try to stick to a really tight budget when it comes to groceries. Under $150 is my usual goal for a month. So far so good for the last 3 months! Eric and I decided that if we don't go out to eat at all for the month of January and half of February, we can do something nice for Valentines Day. Here is what we are eating this month (and a half):

- Lemony Lentil Greek Soup (eat twice this month, freeze and eat twice next month)
- Biscuits and gravy (x2)
- Cheesy chicken and rice (x2, four meals each time so some will be for next month)
- Tuna melts (x2) with faux-tatoes and with broccoli
- Macaroni Grill meal (chicken pesto)
- Chicken fajitas
- Buffalo chicken quesadillas
- Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas (x2)
- Twice baked potatoes (x2, aka Texas 'Taters)
- Shepherds pie (x2)
- Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
- Spaghetti and garlic bread
- Mexican lentil casserole (x2)
- Black bean soup (eat twice this month, freeze and eat twice next month)
- Italian chicken and fried squash
- Frozen Red Baron pizzas (x2)
- Frozen Smoked Gouda mac and cheese
- Hot dogs and baked beans (x2)
- Burritos
- Brinner (x2, blueberry pancakes, sausage, fried eggs, etc.)

That is 38 meals! Plus leftovers and enough for lunches. I think we can do it!

So now I want to know where we are going...
;)