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Monday, June 29, 2015

Project: Food Budget Week 1


Week 1 : Off to a SUPER start
***NOTE---this was supposed to post on 6/29!***

I have not stuck to the official meal plan yet...but Friday night was sauteed tilapia with roasted potatoes and asparagus. I used Kewpie as the final touch on the asparagus (it is what I regard as Japanese crack mayo) along with some Chinese Five Spice, Sumac, and toasted sesame oil.

I made a big ole pan of lasagna on Saturday because I had everything, and had too much homework than to cook one easy meal. 

The Pappardale Bologniase was Sunday night...and holy yum. Wasn't the conventional, and I was A-OK with that. Had great papperdale noodles from Trader Joe's, diced tomatoes and tomato paste, a good helping of red wine, some African basil and milk to make the sauce. I had some fun chicken sausages from a farm market in Allentown that I browned up and threw in (one was buffalo blue cheese and the other portobello Asiago)...so ya, it was delish.


I did a MASSIVE kitchen cleaning/organization, and yes, i did pull out the label maker. It made it so much easier to see what we have in pantry stock.
My grocery shopping for the week involved me going to 3 stores: Target, Aldi, and Trader Joe's. 
Not including feeding the dogs or bathroom cleaner, I came in at a whopping $27.65 for the week! That's $17.35 under budget! WOOT WOOT!
What was my splurge? Aldi had a manager special for crumbled feta - $0.99 each! So yes, I got 4. 

Goal this week: Stick to the menu, start thinking about next week's menu, and cook and eat happily!
Dinners:Monday - Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes and beans
Tuesday - Pierogies and Salad
Wednesday - Leftover Turkey Casserole or soup or... (it's still a mystery to me...)
Thursday - Who knows...it's my last class of the semester and I'll be half way done! 
Friday - Black Bean taquitos and Mexican Rice
Saturday- Mustard Salmon with sauteed Kale


Breakfasts:
Chia Seed Pudding
Smoothie
Oatmeal
Pancakes

Lunches:
Salad
Lentil soup
bean burritos
summer rolls

Friday, June 26, 2015

I'm doing it...the food budget begins! Week 0

I am sick and tired of having a food plan...not having a food plan...over shopping...wasting food...it's just not cool! I do work a full time+ job, own my own business, getting my MBA, plus everything at home, so it's not like free time is a relevant term in my life. I have found that if I can focus: ad shop, meal plan, budget, and prepare for insanity, life is a lot nicer and I can find a little bit of free time in there!

Blogger Emily Levinson challenged friends and fellow bloggers to join her in "project: food budget"
OF COURSE I jumped on board. Did I start 4 weeks late? Hell yes. Not on purpose of course.
But here I am: 4 weeks behind and excited to begin. And I'm in finals week...so bear with me!

Did you see all of the hoopla of Gwyneth Paltrow "failing" her $29 food stamp challenge? Well- on the bright side, she made a lot of people now realize what 1 out of 7 of Americans have to survive on! Awareness is key.

On our fortunate side, and my savvy saving skills, we have a super well stocked pantry and chest freezer. My goal for the next 2 months is to spend $45 a week (yes, two adults) while using up what we have so it doesn't go to waste. I do have every condiment, spice, herb possible...so that will help. OH, and "urban" gardening helps, too : )

I hope you enjoy my personal challenge. I'll share photos and updates...and grumblings when they pop up throughout each week. Once A week I will share the meal plan and receipt totals so you can keep me accountable!

Let's Do This!

Nicole

Meal Plan Week 1:
(I'll add recipes as the happen!)

Dinners:
Friday - Tilapia Filets with Potatoes and Asparagus
Saturday - Papperdale Bolognaise (and Lasagna for the Freezer)
Sunday- Mustard Salmon with Kale
Monday - Black Bean Taquitos
Tuesday - Pierogies and Salad
Wednesday - Leftover Turkey Casserole (it's still a mystery to me...)
Thursday - Who knows...it's my last class of the semester and I'll be half way done!

Breakfasts:
Chia Seed Pudding
Smoothie
Oatmeal
Pancakes

Lunches:
Salad
Lentil soup
bean burritos
summer rolls