This Week's Low-Cost Menu, Grocery Spending Review.

For the month of November, I started with $170, because I had gone over by $10 in October.  Now, at the end of November, I have almost $20 remaining - $19.78, to be exact.  I did a lot of stocking up on apples and oranges, cream cheese and boneless-skinless chicken thighs.  I spent some on almonds as well, and a few 'treat' items like some crescent roll dough, and I bought a lot of cheese.  I got 40 lbs. of russet potatoes for $3.96, and I got some sweet potatoes for .48/lb.  Mostly, if there was a good sale, I bought.  We also kept romaine lettuce, milk, bread and other basics on hand.  I earned two free items at the bread outlet, but I have not picked those up.  I will probably get them in December.

We have eaten well (I just haven't blogged all of it), and our pantry and freezer are both well stocked.  We are very fortunate to live in an area where grocery prices are comparatively low.

Here is our dinner menu for this week.  I'm adding some notes that explain ways that we're using up some things that were given to us, as well as some odds and ends!

M - wild rice soup (leftover cornish hen meat from Thanksgiving, and a mix given to me by a friend), oyster crackers, sliced cucumber, cutie oranges, homemade chocolate pudding (Milk was 1.69 a gallon this week - woo hoo!)

T - smoked sausage (left over from last week) spaghetti, steamed broccoli, fresh persimmon (we got one to try - we'll see how it goes!)

W - potato chowder with ham (left over from last week) and mixed vegetables (odds and ends), homemade rolls (I think...if I have time!) sliced cucumbers, sliced apples

R - nachos deluxe, sliced oranges

F - elk steaks (given to us by a friend), baked potatoes with butter & sour cream, steamed broccoli, cherry crisp (canned cherries from our tree)

S - Domino's pizza (half price on internet orders this week!) carryout, garden salad with assorted dressings, cutie oranges

S - baked ham, baked sweet potatoes w/cinnamon butter, home-canned green beans, sliced apples (maybe baked apples - we shall see!)

This supper menu does a pretty good job of using up the odds and ends in our fridge, and it's a fairly uncomplicated week, which is lovely, as far as I'm concerned.

What's on the menu at your house this week?

Dinner Menu - Week of Thanksgiving

I was sick for a while, and then I was puppy-dog tired for a while after that.  Thank you for your patience, I am feeling better now!  Here is our dinner menu for Thanksgiving week.

M - homemade lo mein with char siu pork, egg, green beans, bean sprouts, carrots, onion, cabbage and cilantro....sliced oranges

T - homemade breaded, oven-fried turkey nuggets with buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce or ranch dressing, baked potatoes, celery sticks, grapes

W - homemade tomato soup, bologna sandwiches on wheat with lettuce & tomato, pickles, sliced apples

Th - garden salad with sliced apple, cranberries, glazed pecans & apple cider dressing, roasted Cornish hens, stuffing, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli, pumpkin pie with whipped cream

F - homemade ham & cheese calzones, garden salad w/vinaigrette dressing, apple slices

S - homemade cheese enchiladas, Mexican rice, frijoles, chopped lettuce/tomato/cilantro, sliced oranges

S - leftovers, or frozen pizza, veggie sticks, fruit salad

It looks like there is a lot of scratch-cooking this week, but most of the recipes are ones we have used for a while, so they are comfortable and easy for me to use.  What's on the menu this week for you?