Friday, November 28, 2014

Christmas All Year Long - Goodies List & A Holiday Menu


I truly love all the baking and cooking around the holidays.  The eating too.  That is why it is always so important to me to get my shopping and holiday chores done so I am free to enjoy baking cookies and treats and cooking delicious meals as well as entertaining our friends and loved ones.

We have a Christmas Eve tradition of driving around looking at Christmas lights but not before we enjoy a traditional Christmas Eve supper first.  This is what I almost always prepare:

Homemade Clam Chowder
Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits (like Red Lobsters)
Caesar Salad

Pecan Pie

I like to make something special for Christmas dinner which is usually eaten mid afternoon.  This year I plan to make:

Grilled Rib Eye Steaks
Baked Potatoes w/ Sour Cream & Chives
Tossed Green Salad
Dinner Rolls & Butter

Assorted Christmas Goodies


And speaking of goodies we plan to bake up some delicious treats to enjoy and share with our family, friends, and neighbors:

Gingersnaps
Friendship Bread
And anything else that strikes our fancy

I'm sure I'll be ringing in the New Year with a few extra pounds. J  What are you planning to bake this year?  Do you have a menu planned for dinner yet?


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Grocery Budget Update - November


Once again, I did it!  I stayed within my grocery budget.  It was a challenge but I did it.

My non food budget came in at $13.12 for cat litter and canned food, a bottle of dish soap, zipper style sandwich bags, a two pack of bar soap and a big bottle of liquid soap from the dollar store, and two jugs of laundry detergent I bought at Walgreens on sale and with coupons for $1 a piece.  I was super thrilled about that buy.

This is what I bought last month:

Groceries

 $$$


Pork Roast - 8#

         16.60
Sale

Chicken - 5#

         10.57
Sale

Lettuce

           0.99
Sale

Spinach

           1.99


Cole slaw mix

           0.98


Mushrooms

           0.98
Markdown

Tomatoes

           0.74


Apples

           2.09
Sale

Bananas

           2.98


Avocado

           0.99
Sale

Garlic

           0.34


Mayonnaise

           2.19


Olives

           1.00


Canned tomatoes (4)

           2.00
Sale

Canned pumpkin (2)

           2.00
Sale

Eggs (2)

           1.98
Store Coupon

Ricotta

           0.99
Markdown

Bagels (2)

           1.98
Markdown

Cuties

           3.99


Stuffing mix (2)

           0.98
Store Coupon

Sugar - 4# (2)

           3.00
Sale

Marshmallows (2)

           0.50
Store Coupon

Corn dogs (2)

           5.96
Sale

Corn tortillas - 24 ct

           1.88
Sale

Flour tortillas - 24 ct

           1.88
Sale

Taco shells

           1.00


Pasta (9)

           2.88


Mung bean noodles

           0.99


Pasta (2)

           1.48
Sale

Olives (2)

           1.88
Sale

Black beans (2)

           2.38


Rice - 5#

           3.09
Sale

Beets

           0.99


Tomato sauce (3)

           1.68


Caesar dressing

           0.99


Pesto

           1.98
Sale

Soy sauce

           1.99
Sale/Coupon

Artichoke hearts

           0.99
Sale

Romano cheese

           1.98
Sale

Bean sprouts

           1.18


Water chestnuts

           0.48


Dried basil

           0.33


Garlic powder

           1.32


Pecans

           3.08
Sale

Canned pumpkin (3)

           1.00
Dollar Store

Coconut milk (3)

           3.00
Dollar Store

Pepperoni

           1.00
Dollar Store

Lasagna noodles

           1.00
Dollar Store

Sweet Relish

           1.00
Dollar Store

Cheese balls

           1.00
Dollar Store

Brown sugar (2)

           3.00
Sale

Powdered sugar

           1.50
Sale

Flour (2)

           3.00
Sale

Canned soup (4)

           2.00
Store Coupon

Broccoli

           1.58
Store Coupon

Vegetable oil

           2.38
Sale

Cream

           2.00
Sale

Milk - 1 gal.

           1.29
Markdown

Milk - 1/2 gal. (3)

           3.75
Store Coupon

Cottage cheese (2)

           2.50
Sale

Fred Meyer Rebate

         (7.21)







Total

 $    124.06



$124.06 ÷ 30 days ÷3 people = $1.38 per person per day!

This month I came in just under budget.  Hopefully next month will be the same.  I know it was nice to get that rebate so I could pick up a few extras at the end of the month.

How did you save money on groceries this month?  Were you able to find some good sales and stock up on anything?



Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Addendum To Our Thanksgiving Day Menu


We have decided to go with chicken.

Instead of brining a big bird overnight and roasting it in the oven all day we collectively decided to make it easier on ourselves and much more affordable too and roast some of the chicken I already have in the freezer.  We love roasted chicken and we are still planning to have all the trimmings to go along with.

The great deals on turkey just haven't been there and I didn't feel like ponying up the extra dough for a minimum purchase to get one that still would have cost close to $15.  We decided to stick to our budget and just roast a chicken.

With my crazy work schedule and an over the top busy social calendar I am welcoming the reprieve, I must confess.  And I don't have to go to the store anymore this month.  Whoo hooo!

Next year I'm thinking lasagna. J




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