Monday, March 4, 2013

Monday's Menu . . .

scribble menu copy web copy 

One thing that I have been trying to be very diligent about doing, is a monthly menu.  My husband and I have put ourselves on a very strict budget - $200.00 per month for groceries . . . yikes!!!  Seriously, we have been used to more like $400.oo per month or more . . . for two people . . . crazy!!  So far so good, I was able to make a menu for the the month of March, go to the grocery store, and only spend $141.00, and twenty-one of that was for storage,  really, not even kidding!  I still have 60.00 if I really need it to purchase something on a good sale or that I forgot... :0)   Now, keep in mind that this menu does not include anything fancy.  No soft drinks, no chocolate - mercy!  I don't buy snack food.  If we want to munch on something, I make popcorn, or we have an apple or an orange.  I do stock up on meat for my freezer when I find a good sale, and I also buy canned goods at case lot sales, which really helps; you just need to be sure to replenish the pantry when it gets low!   When I make my menu, I shop in my pantry and freezer first to see what I have on hand, and then make my menu.

Since there is just two of us, I have been cutting the recipes in half, even doing that, I have left-overs!

This is doable folks!! 

This is my plan for each week - 

Monday - soup, salad and/or sandwiches.  So many good options!
Tuesday - Pasta - I try to make it healthy. . .
Wednesday - Crock-pot - so many wonderful recipes, and I try not to use canned soup in them.
Thursday - family favorite or leftovers
Friday - pizza, Mexican, Chinese . . . etc. Yummy!
Saturday - something new - there are soooo many good recipes I have yet to try!
Sunday - something easy  - this is the only day we will - maybe - have dessert

This is not written in stone, and I make changes and switch things up as I go along, but I like to use it as a guild to keep me on track, so things don't get boring.

Here goes:

March 4th - 10th

Monday - Potato soup, homemade rolls, carrot sticks
    Tuesday - Lasagna Roll-ups, green salad, rolls
    Wednesday - Bean Pot,  cornbread



      Bean Pot
  • 2 - 15 oz. cans pork and beans
  • 1 can pinto beans (drained) (lima beans or great northern can be used instead)
  • 1 can garbanzo beans (drained)
  • 1 lb. hamburger
  • 1/2 lb. bacon or diced ham
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 c. catsup
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
Brown beef, bacon and onions, drain. Combine garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, salt and vinegar with the beans. Pour all into slow cooker, along with the beef and onion mixture, and mix. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours.  This is so good with corn bread!

        Thursday - Left overs
        Friday - Pork chops, baked potatoes, green beans
        Saturday - Taco Soup with tortilla chips, grated cheese and sour cream
        Sunday - Omelets, sausage, toast


Hugs,

 

24 comments:

Just Ramblin' said...

I'm proud of you sticking to a budget and planning out your meals. I used to do that all the time and I know it really helped. I shop my storage constantly. In fact, just back from the store with case goods that are on sale. Since I am trying to eat more healthy, it has changed my shopping habits. Let me know what you think of the Lasagna roll ups. They sound so good. I am going to have to try you soup recipe as I love soups. I've been trying to make soups that I can freeze. Would this one freeze well? You guys are doing great! Nola

Vee said...

Well something has to give and usually it's the grocery budget. Sounds as if you have a great plan going. We ate our leftovers for supper tonight. I do hate to toss perfectly good food, which can happen all too easily. Thanks for sharing your plan...if you make a great recipe, please share!

Barbara Bradford said...

Can't wait to see what budget recipes you come up with. I love having a pantry filled home canning and tons of dehydrated fruits and veggies to grab from.

LeAnn said...

Oh my gosh I can't show Roger this one; he will want me to start today. We really need to cut our food budget. If you two can do it I think we can. We are trying to cut back and live on less so we are prepared for retirement I hope this year. I loved your recipe and keep them coming.
I am so happy you are blogging. I miss you so much and hope we get to see you soon.
Love and hugs!

Packrat said...

oh my! is this set in stone, or can you spend $400 one month and not much the next (in case there is a good sale)? Funny, but we just finished off a huge kettle of "bean pot". It's almost the same recipe - one of our favorites. It freezes well. :)

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Good for you!!!
We empty nested about 8 months ago and I have been doing the same. It's amazing at how little we go through. If I don't do a menu my budget is awful.

I love your menu, I love getting new ideas.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Barb! I like your plan! The prices keep going up and up at the grocery store. It's ridiculous! I think we all could cut back if we just tried. And I vowed just tonight to quit wasting food. I looked for a can of something in the cupboards and found what I was looking for way in the back and the date was 12/2011! Oh oh.

And have you ever had something turn green and fuzzy in the back of the refrigerator? LOL! Please say you have! I hope I'm not the only one that forgets things. But food is getting to be too expensive to do that, so I'm going to try harder to keep on top of things.

Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Great idea, Barb. I kind of do something similar but we shop weekly. I try not to go over $150 a week but there are 7 of us living here full-time right now. I can't wait until it's just Ken and I. We used to buy a quart of milk and now we go through a gallon a day. I'm going to print out your recipe. They sound really good to me.

Unknown said...

I went the other way. I was doing 200 a month for 1 person and upped it to 450. The reason why is because I wanted to be able to buy organics and grass fed meat. Also with my low carb diet I can't fill up with starch and sugar. I haven't been using all the money so I guess I didn't need that much. I think I'm going to drop it to 325.

Shug said...

Great idea and I for one need to put more thought into buying less groceries...I get so frustrated when I go to the store...everything is soooo expensive.
gonna try to do better...
BTW...your menu's sound great.

Arlene said...

Good for you Barb! I like having a weekly menu rather than a monthly; since there's 4 of us I have to buy more, and with a teenage boy that kind of doubles! I've been trying to stick to a budget but it seems like food prices go up everyday. I know it's because gas prices go up which means delivery costs go up too, but it makes it so difficult to prepare a budget when you can't keep up with prices. I hope you have better results than me!

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Anonymous said...

Dear Barb! Your menu sounds tempting! I am going to check out the lasagna rollups. :-)

Good work on your budget.

Gina

Shug said...

HAPPY EASTER BARB, TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...
HUGS,
SHUG

Anonymous said...

A blessed Easter to you and your sweet family, Barb!

Gina

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Shug said...

Hi Barb....just stopping in to let you know that you are missed...
Hope all is well.
shug

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What a terrific idea! :)

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Vee said...

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Shug said...

stopping by to say I miss you......Hope all is well.

Vee said...

More peeking in...

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