Ok, I have been a little slow on posting coupon deals. But, I am excited about adding a new feature to help save money.
Making a menu saves time and money but for some reason I am terrible at sitting down to do it. I want a menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and snack options. This requires less thinking during the week :) With all the running, band, toddlers, and cold lunch making, it's really hard not to just throw the box of Lucky Charms (which we got for $.88 ;)) on the table with some bowls and milk.
I also wanted a menu that I could prepare the meal ahead of time. For instance, cooking chicken once and using it twice.
Finally, the menu has to go along with that weeks sales. That's just the way I roll. :)
So here is what I came up with for this week. Ideally, I would shop Monday and my menu will run Monday to Monday. The Albertsons deals will end Wednesday so if it doesn't work I can do it Tuesday. If you are wondering why I don't do it earlier in the sales week it is because I am leaving time to get my coupons, if I order them.
Ok, here is the menu........I apologize, I need to figure out how to make this more user friendly. But I'm running out of time....... oh, and I am not a nutritionist so no judging!
| Breakfast | snack | Lunch | snack | Dinner | ||
| M | Cereal | sandwhich | trail mix | pesto marinated chckn bake | Rice Krispies | |
| chips | corn muffins | |||||
| jello | Salad kit | |||||
| T | Bagels/Crm cheese | pretzels | Build your own salad | apples | Taco Salad | |
| strawberries | craisons | salad,chckn,cheese,tom., | cheese | yogurt | ||
| corn muffin, pudding | ||||||
| W | Crepes | cheese its | noodles | ants on a log | Chckn sausage Jumbalaya | |
| grapes | tomato chese skewer | salad | ||||
| fruit snack | ||||||
| Th | Oatmeal | yogurt | salami/crm cheese roll up | pretzels | Scooter's Spaghetti | |
| teddy grahams | crackers | craisons | corn | |||
| jello | garlic bread | |||||
| F | LeGrand Egg Cass. | gold fish | mini eggos with PBJ | gogurt | HomeMade Pizza | popcorn |
| Muffins | dried fruit | pretzels, carrots | salad | |||
| dark chocolate pieces | pop | |||||
| S | Toast/Eggs | left over snacks | corndogs | gogurt | left overs/go-to meal | |
| any left over veggies/fruit | (mac n cheese/nuggets) | |||||
| frozen peas | ||||||
| S | Pancakes | left over snacks | Beef n Broccoli | smore brownies ? | ||
| Rice | ||||||
| M | Hot Cereal | sandwhich | ||||
ok, lets break it down!
For this weeks lunches, on Monday night I will make jello and pudding and put them in these....
I used to used these......
but Ziplock discontinued them, boo!
I will also put any dressing (for the salad or veggie dipping) for this weeks lunches in these.....
I will also prepare any snacks or other little lunch items that I can.
BONUS prepare ahead dinner ideas....
- On Monday when you fix chicken, cube extra chicken and pan fry enough to put in the kids lunch on Tuesday with their salad. And also cook enough for the Jumbalaya on Wednesday. This will save a lot of time Wednesday!
- On Tuesday, taco salad, make extra hamburger and save it for Thursday in the Scooters spaghetti.
Now for a few Recipes:
You will notice I use MelsKitchenCafe.com ALL the time! Mel graduated from Skyview and now has this very well-known, loved-by-all blog! And in keeping with my tradition of keeping things local, my super amazing friend has a blog called EatItAndSayYUM.com You will for sure be saying YUM! When you try her blog!
Cornbread muffins..... I mix 2 jiffy mixes and a yellow cake mix (add all the ingediants from all 3 boxes. Its super yummy. It is a copy cat Boston Market recipe.
Here is my grocery list.....
The first column is the item (did you notice it is color coded to the meal it is for on the menu! I know, I am amazing!) The second column is the sale. and the third column is where I will purchase it. If the third column is blank, that means it is either in my food storage or I'm not sure where I will buy it yet LOL
| Canned/Bagged | ||
| beef broth | ||
| croutons | ||
| french fried onions | ||
| grn chillis | ||
| jello | ||
| ketcchup | ||
| marshmallows | ||
| marshmallows | ||
| mayo | ||
| noodles (any) | Albies Signature BOGO | |
| noodles (pestodish) | Albies Signature BOGO | |
| olives | ||
| pizza sauce | ||
| pudding | ||
| rice krispies | ||
| rotel tomato (1 can) | Albies $.75 | Albies |
| sesame oil | ||
| soy sauce | ||
| spaghetti noodles | Albies Signature BOGO | |
| spaghetti sauce | Albies $1.67 | Albies |
| spaghetti sauce (32 oz) | Albies $1.67 | Albies |
| taco sauce | ||
| unsweet applesauce | ||
| Baking | ||
| raisons | ||
| brownie mix | Albies sale $.75 | Albies |
| cajun seasoning | ||
| chocolate chips | Costco | |
| craisons | Albies $2.99 8 oz | Albies |
| jiffy mix (2) | Albies $.59 | Albies |
| yellow cake mix | Albies sale $.75 | Albies |
| snack foods | ||
| cheez-its | Albies $2.50 | Albies |
| chips | Albies cheetos $2.50 | Albies |
| chocolate bar :0 | Albies | |
| fritos chips | Albies sale $2.50 | Albies |
| fruit snack | Costco | |
| gold fish | ||
| graham crackers | Albies $3.50, $3 at walmart | |
| pop | Albies sale 2 liter $.50 | Albies |
| pretzels | Albies $2.50 | Albies |
| ritz crackers | ||
| teddy grahams | ||
| trail mix | costco | |
| Bakery/breads | ||
| Bagels | Albies Sara Lee $1.99 | Albies |
| bread | Albies Sara Lee $1.99 | Albies |
| Produce | ||
| apples | Allbies $1.49/lb | Albies |
| baby carrots | Costco | |
| bell pepper | ||
| bell pepper | ||
| broccoli | ||
| celery | ||
| celery | ||
| cherry tomatos | Costco | |
| grapes | Albies $1.99/lb | Albies |
| iceberg lettuce head | ||
| onion | ||
| onion (1) | ||
| salad | Albies sale BOGO | Albies |
| salad kit | Albies sale BOGO | Albies |
| salad kit | Albies sale BOGO | Albies |
| tomatos (2) | ||
| Meat | ||
| salami | ||
| beef steak | Albies $3.88/lb | |
| chicken breasts | Albies $1.88/lb | Albies |
| chicken breasts | Albies $1.88/lb | Albies |
| ground beef | ||
| ground beef | ||
| pepperoni | albies brand $2.99 | Albies |
| smoked sausage | Albies Eckrich $2.99 | Albies |
| Dairy | ||
| chese sticks | Albies Lucerne $3.99 12 sticks | Costco |
| cottage cheese | ||
| cream cheese | Albies Lucerne $1.99 | Albies |
| cream cheese | Albies Lucerne $1.99 | Albies |
| cream cheese spread | Albies Lucerne $2.99 | Albies |
| eggs | ||
| gogurts | Costco | |
| grated cheese (colby) | Albies Lucerne $3.99/16 oz $6.99/32 oz | ? Price at Costco? |
| grated parmesan | ||
| milk | ||
| mozzerella (fresh) | Albies sale Lucerne $3.99/16 oz | Albies |
| mozzerella | Albies sale Lucerne brand $3.99/16 oz | ? Price at Costco? |
| pesto | ||
| shredded cheese | Albies Lucerne $3.99/16 oz $6.99/32 oz | ? Price at Costco? |
| sour cream | Albies sale $.99 | Albies |
| yogurt | Albies sale 3 for $1 yoplait | Albies |
| yogurt | Albies sale 3 for $1 yoplait | Albies |
| Freezer | ||
| corn dogs | Costco | |
| mini eggos | Albies sale $2 | Albies |
| frozen corn | Costco |
Keep in mind I made the above list assuming the following are in your pantry.....
| Canned/Bagged | Baking |
| oatmeal old fash | flour |
| cold cereal | sugar |
| pancake mix | salt |
| condiments | pepper |
| peanut butter | vanilla |
| jelly | baking powder |
| rice | baking soda |
| chicken broth | cinnamon |
| salsa | oregano |
| chili powder | |
| garlic (paste) | |
| basil | |
| yeast | |
| corn starch | |
| brown sugar | |
| butter |
Wow! I'm pretty sure you are all totally confused. I will work on making this easier to follow. But for now, here's to a HAPPY week of not freaking out at 4:30 when there is no plan for dinner :)
Just found your blog. Super excited to try these! Thanks for sharing.
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