What I Spent
Remember how last week, I mentioned that I only had $75 left to spend in April?
This week I spent $79 at Aldi and $7 at another store.
That adds up to $86, so I came in VERY nearly on budget. Woohoo!
As I mentioned yesterday, I skipped my Hungry Harvest box this week because I was getting a backlog of veggies.
I love that Hungry Harvest lets you skip deliveries any time you want. Flexibility is my fave.
April Spending
Week 1: $169
Week 2: $176
Week 3: $181
Week 4: $86
What We Ate
I got sick this week, which meant that meals were kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants.
But the important thing is: everyone got fed.
The second important thing is: we did not get takeout.
(a serious temptation when the chief cook is not at 100%)
ALL THE GOLD STARS FOR US.
Saturday
Mr. FG and I went on the free date night I wrote about earlier this week.
Sunday
This was Easter Sunday, and my in-laws came over for Easter dinner.
(Here are a few photos from Easter morning.)
My mother-in-law brought the ham, and I made:
- scalloped potatoes
- honey-glazed rolls (with cinnamon butter)
- sauteed asparagus
- a fruit salad
And hot fudge pudding cake plus ice cream for dessert.
Monday
Mr. FG and Lisey made buttermilk waffles for dinner since I was feeling under the weather.
Tuesday
I had some homemade French bread in the freezer, so I thawed that and we used it to make ham and cheese panini, using the leftover ham from Easter.
We also sauteed some asparagus.
Related: How to make panini without a panini-maker
Wednesday
We had frozen ravioli topped with jarred sauce. And broccoli topped with shredded cheese.
Fancy, I know.
Thursday
I was starting to feel more like myself, and I made grilled hamburgers and sweet potato cubes for dinner.
And we had clementines on the side.
Friday
I think it’s going to be just Mr. FG and me here for dinner, so I will probably do something simple for the two of us.
Riley
Thursday 2nd of May 2019
This is a really silly question, but how do you make your French bread to be able to make paninis like that? I feel like either I slice it perpendicular to the load and get iitty bitty slices or I have to cut the load in half where you get the dome shape on one piece. Would love to be able to make it to use for paninis! I haven’t tried in a while because we could t figure out how to use it for sandwiches well!
Kristen
Thursday 2nd of May 2019
They do end up being fairly small panini when we slice the French bread, but it helps a bit to slice it on the diagonal. That makes longer pieces, at least.
If I want to cut the loaf in half like you mentioned, I purposely make a pretty flat loaf of bread, but for slicing the other way, I try to make a taller, rounder loaf. :)
Betta from daVille
Saturday 27th of April 2019
Working from home this week, which helps greatly for mealtime.
Sunday: baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans and salad. Family-guests brought apps and dessert. Monday: Bob's Red Mill "Beans and Grains" soup made with ham bone, leeks, carrots, cabbage and homemade chicken stock. Served with mustard & cheddar tartine. Tuesday: Had to go out of town for a wake. Mom & Dad bought dinner. Wednesday: Grilled chicken thighs, grilled mushrooms, sautéed left-over green beans (from Sunday), salad Thursday: Grilled skirt steak with grilled green beans with miso dressing, grilled mushrooms, Asian slaw, and jasmine rice Friday: zucchini fritters with lemon-garlic yogurt Tonight: going to taco party and bringing kale salad.
Lorraine
Saturday 27th of April 2019
Aside from Easter I had a lazy (and not super nutritious) food week.
Easter Sunday - ham, asparagus, potatoes au gratin and corn bread. Monday - leftovers Tuesday - Didn't feel like cooking so grazing for the win - I had more of the leftover potatoes, an apple and cottage cheese. Wednesday - My car was in the shop and when I showed up after work to pick it up, they had found another unexpected problem and it wasn't ready until 6:00. I was stressed out and tired and just picked up a burger for dinner. Thursday - Had to run errands after work so got home late and tired (I'm sensing a pattern here) and just made a hot dog and oven fries. Friday - Hit Costco after work and got home later than I wanted to. Made a chicken sandwich with a chicken patty from the freezer and a hot dog bun. Had some cherry tomatoes with it.
I'd like to say next week I will do better but I will be on vacation in Las Vegas so no promises.
Kaitlin
Friday 26th of April 2019
Friends with food allergies: What kind of quick/easy meals do you keep on hand for when you're sick or the schedule gets crazy? We are dairy free, and this week the doctor added gluten the the prohibited list and encouraged a low FODMAP diet, and the adjustment is difficult.
Shannon
Friday 26th of April 2019
I make fried rice with whatever veggies we have on hand. I keep gluten free soy sauce around.
I also keep a box/bag of gluten free noodles around. Throw that together with jarred sauce and on the side, a bag of frozen broccoli or can of green beans.
Curried chickpeas over rice (not sure how well that fits with FODMAP though).
Effie
Friday 26th of April 2019
Hi Kaitlin when I was very sick with ulcerative colitis and went on a restricted diet (abit like FODMOPs) my go to easy dinner was tomato rice soup.
It’s easy one can/carton of passata plus a handful of rice and add some finely diced carrots (peeled) if you like - heat until rice is tender; I ate it with cheese but it would be pretty nice with shredded chicken.
Or for something more substantial I make fish (baked with some lemon, salt and oil wrapped in foil) with rice and carrots. I just buy plain frozen cod/haddock as that’s what cheap and nice here in UK and can be cooked straight from the freezer).
I am our families cook, so if I have a relapse we all eat rice, white fish (no oily fish or meat as that’s much harder to digest) and carrots ALOT. Luckily it’s one of my sons favourite meals....
Kyndra
Friday 26th of April 2019
Yay for staying on budget! I managed to stick to my grocery budget this week, but numerous unexpected car repairs are taking a toll on other spending categories. I’m glad for savings accounts! Sunday- we had our church family over for Easter lunch. We provided the ham, deviled eggs, and dessert. Everyone else brought sides, and a couple of ladies planned activities for everyone. Such a fun day! Monday- leftovers. Tuesday- the easy route of boxed macaroni and cheese. I always add canned tuna and frozen peas to mine. My husband thinks I’m nuts. Wednesday- we spent a long afternoon building shelving in my husband’s new workspace, so carryout pizza for the win! Thursday- ham and pinto beans cooked in the pressure cooker. I made a huge pot, so half of it is in the freezer for a later meal. Friday- I have a few corn tortillas to use up and some discount chicken thighs, so I’m thinking tortilla soup!