My August Meal Plan

Our new meal planning strategy seems to be working rather well.  I've been happy with the menu choices and my children have had no complaints either.  I am really impressed with them and their willingness to amp up the veggie consumption.

Here is what I have planned for August:

Entrees:

Chicken Kabobs

Lemon Pepper Shrimp

Grilled Steak

Roast Beef

Grilled Chicken Breast

Ground Pork or Beef Patty

Salmon w/ Dill Sauce           

Turkey Taco Meat

Stuffed Mushrooms

Veggie Omelet w/ Cheese

Teriyaki Chicken

Poached or Hard Cooked Eggs

Soups:

Thai Pork Basil

White Chicken Chili

Chicken Vegetable Tortilla

Navy Bean & Ham

I have to tell you I am really enjoying this.  It takes me no time at all to put the plan together and I like the flexibility of choosing when I serve what.  We'll see how it goes in August.

My Grocery Budget - July Update

The month of July is typically the month I start stocking the pantry and freezer in anticipation of the upcoming winter.  I plan for this and make sure there is extra money available with the idea that I will go over budget.

Dollar store haul

This year our pantry is pretty well stocked.  I have only a handful of items on my pantry stock up list.  Because of that my primary focus was to get the little chest freezer in the garage well stocked with meat I find for sale at really good prices.  This month I found several packages of meat on sale and in the markdown bin, including steaks, and as a result our little freezer is packed full.

Ground pork and chicken on sale and marked down

I stocked up on two giant jars of peanut butter I bought on sale at Albertson's for $5 each.  We also made a trip to the Franz Bakery and stocked up on loaves of bread.  During the hot summer weather I prefer not to use our oven much and because we've had a lot of company lately it has been hard to keep bread in the house.  Going to the bakery was a good thrifty move for me.

Check out those big jars of peanut butter - $5 each!

I started the month with $150.00 and a deficit of $22.87 from the prior month and after spending $198.25 I am now $71.12 in the hole.  Not to worry however, as always, it will even out as I will spend less in the coming months.

Bakery haul

I bought a lot of fresh produce, milk and meat.  A lot of the meat went into the freezer for future meals.  I also bought more blueberries to freeze for yogurt, muffins and pancakes.  10 cans of pasta sauce went into the pantry as a big stock up item.  I also stocked up on cereal as we tend to enjoy in the summer for breakfast.

So here is the list of food I bought.  The items highlighted in red are my stock up items:

Groceries		$$$
Rootbeer - 2 ltr (3)		2.97	Sale
Hamburger buns		0.88	Sale
Cashews		3.40	Sale
Almonds		1.49	Sale
Peaches (5)		5.00	Dollar Store
Mandarin oranges (2)		2.00	Dollar Store
Coconut		1.00	Dollar Store
Apple cider vinegar		1.00	Dollar Store
Pepperoni (2)		2.00	Dollar Store
Chips		1.00	Dollar Store
Vanilla wafers (2)		2.00	Dollar Store
Mozzarella - 5#		8.98	Cash & Carry
Parmesan		5.73	Cash & Carry
Shrimp		12.42	Cash & Carry
Green peppers - 6ct		2.85	Cash & Carry
Tortillas - 40ct		5.97	Cash & Carry
Bread (2)		3.98	Cash & Carry
Seasoning sauce		1.89	Cash & Carry
Olive oil		6.39	Cash & Carry
Pot roast		7.05	Markdown
Steak		4.76	Markdown
Weiners (4)		5.00	Store Coupon
Hotdog buns (2)		1.58	Sale
Potato chips (2)		2.00	Sale
Cheese (5)		5.00	Sale
Mayonnaise (2)		3.78	Sale/Coupon
Cod Fillets		10.99	Sale
Bananas		1.04
Tomatoes		1.20
Corn		1.00	Sale
Peanut butter - 64 oz. (2)		10.00	Sale
Cheese (3)		2.64	Store Coupon
Milk - gal		1.88	Sale
Steak		5.16	Markdown
Wheat rolls		0.99	Markdown
Ground turkey (4)		4.96	Sale/Coupon
Ground chicken (3)		2.97	Markdown
Ground pork - 5# (2)		4.82	Sale
Spinach		1.54	Coupon
Coleslaw mix		1.29
Bread		2.49
Tomatoes		0.57
Lemons		0.89
Nectarines		1.24	Sale
Bananas		1.13
Snap peas/baby carrots		1.78	Markdown
Almonds		3.44	Sale
Lunchmeat - 1# (2)		7.00	Sale
Baked beans		1.00	Dollar Store
Bread (2)		2.58	Markdown
Bread (2)		3.32	Markdown
Hamburger buns		0.48	Markdown
Donuts		1.48	Markdown
Cheese danish		FREE	Markdown
Sour Cream (2)		1.98	Sale
Milk		1.88	Sale
Cucumber		0.69	Sale
Green onions		0.59	Sale
Grapes		1.97	Sale
Spinach		2.49
Tomatoes		0.73
Peas & carrots - frozen		4.09	Cash & Carry
Red potatoes		3.65	Cash & Carry
Lettuce		1.28	Cash & Carry
Bananas		0.90	Cash & Carry
Total		$ 198.25

$198.25 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $2.13 per person per day!

Did you stock up on anything this month?  Any super deals?

This budget month runs from July 1 through July 31.

Taco Salads - Restaurant Style!

You know those crispy tortilla bowls they serve taco salads in at restaurants.  Well, you can easily make your own and have a delicious taco salad meal for the whole family at home for about the same cost of just one of those salads at the restaurant.

First you need the bowls!

Grab an empty 28 oz peach or tomato can.  Peel off the label and wash it real well.  Make sure there isn’t any sticky adhesive from the label still on the can.  Then grab your old fashioned bottle opener, you know, the one with the pointy end.

Punch four holes in the bottom

Then along the sides and in between the holes
in the bottom punch four more holes

Should look like this when you are done

Set up your frying station

I like to use a baking sheet and rack along with a heavy pot for the oil

Tortillas, vegetable oil, the can on a plate
to catch drips and tongs

Now heat your oil and it is time to get frying

Place the tortilla in the pan and use the tongs
to push the can down onto it in the center

I'm not sure exactly how hot it is, but to test it you can tear off a little piece of tortilla and it should sizzle and crisp up right away.

See how the side come up around the bottom of the can to form a bowl

When the sides are golden brown use the tongs to carefully remove the can, tipping it to let the oil run out into the pan. Then set it on the plate.  Remember the can is HOT.

Then turn the tortilla bowl over and let the inside brown and crisp.

The only thing left to do is fill them with shredded lettuce, a little browned ground beef and all your favorite toppings.  Enjoy!