So, normally I share a menu plan and a grocery shopping report once a month, but I totally skipped doing this in December.
Whoops.
And I’m barely squeaking this in for January, come to think of it!
The Groceries
Here’s what I bought at Aldi for $130:
And here’s what I picked up at a regular grocery store:
I seem to have misplaced my receipt for that trip, but it wasn’t super expensive…between $10 and $15, I’d say.
The Menu
1. Swedish Meatballs (from The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook)
and a green salad
2. Swiss Mushroom Chicken, sauteed green beans, and fresh pineapple
3. BLT Salad (from The America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook
) and Broccoli Cheese Soup
You combine the bacon, chicken, and greens with a dressing and top with the croutons…it just all happened to be in separate bowls when I photographed it.
4. Seafood Casserole (a Cook’s Illustrated recipe that includes clams and fish) + a green salad with blackberries and oranges (I used the dressing from this Strawberry Green Salad)
(‘scuse the not awesomeness of this photo and the next…this is the most horrible time of year for photographing dinners because it’s dark so early!)
5. Mexican Beef Wraps (in lettuce leaves with guacamole, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime)
We had these with grapefruit halves (so good and so inexpensive from Aldi!) and cucumber slices.
Here, have a better photo! I took this the next day at lunchtime.
6. Pizza
I did make thin crust pizza two weeks ago, but this past week, I ran out of time to make dough and we got two pizzas from a local pizza place.
7. Date night!
We got our takeout from Panera, which has been our favorite of late. We’ve known they had good breakfast food for a while now, but I recently discovered the Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, and Mr. FG is quite in love with the turkey, bacon, and avocado sandwich.
And happily, a meal from Panera brings us in way under our $20/week budget.
So, there ya go. A week of meals from Chez FG.
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Joshua’s 365 post: Golden Light
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Stephanie Sheehan
Tuesday 4th of February 2014
Wow, I wish I could budget my grocery trip that well. Though, I recently have been introduced to food shopping online, which not only saves me money but the effort of going to the store (I'm currently car-less).
Susanna
Wednesday 29th of January 2014
that turkey bacon avocado sandwich at Panera is GOOD!
sounds like some neat meals - not sure about the seafood casserole LOL and I know we wouldn't have been this adventurous as kids..my poor mom could never get creative with new stuff- even as adults I think she was shocked the day she tried taco soup and my dad and I both said we liked it better than chili! It became a staple...
Janknitz
Wednesday 29th of January 2014
I'm impressed because I've realized that I tend to make one or two tried and true recipes from each cookbook I own (thankfully, many were gifts). When you consider the cost of the cookbook, each recipe is pretty expensive.
You seem to make MANY recipes from your America's Test Kitchen book. You are definitely getting your money's worth.
SDOC
Saturday 1st of February 2014
I found the same thing with my cookbooks, so I photocopied the one or two "keeper" recipes, and put them in plastic page protectors in a 3-ring binder, then I donated the cookbooks to my church rummage sale. The binder, over the years, has become a book of family favorites. My daughter started her own binder, too. So far, her recipes are pretty simple: scrambled eggs, cheese sauce for mac n'cheese, simple lasagna. But the point is she's learning how to cook.
Meredith
Wednesday 29th of January 2014
Interesting....I order the Mediterranean Veggie and my husband orders the Bacon Turkey Bravo!
Kristen
Wednesday 29th of January 2014
It's like we're the same couple!
Gladys
Wednesday 29th of January 2014
I will try your Broccoli cheese soup one of these days, looks yummy!