Weekly Shopping Trip 9/28/10

This week was a little hectic and I ended up doing my shopping on a couple of different days. I also had a get together at my house and my daughter's birthday is this week so it is possible that I may have gone over my budget a little this week. I will have to reign it in a little next week to make sure that I am under to make up the difference. Here we go...

I got all of this...

this

this

and all of this.

for a total of $31.94 OOP!

without coupons and sales I would have spent $116.59!

That is a savings of 73%!

Much better than my numbers last week. Although it does not look like I have gone over my budget, I did have to make an earlier Wal-Mart run for some things I had to have for the get together this week. I will post that trip later today. :) Safeway is having some great deals this week! My savings % there was a whopping 84% AND I still have a $2.00 CAT to use next week. I would highly recommend getting there this week (today is the last day) if you can. Check out Bargain Blessings and Springs Bargains for the logistics on how to score their great deals!

Weekly Menu

Here is what's on our menu this week.

Breakfast
Cereal & Fruit
Pancakes & Fruit
Oatmeal & Fruit
Eggs & Toast
French Toast (made earlier and in my freezer) and Fruit

Lunch
Lots of Left Overs
Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Dinner
Chicken Noodle Soup
Cowboy Calzones
Southern Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Garden Salad and Buttermilk Biscuits
White Chicken Enchiladas
Left Overs
Fettuccine Alfredo, Fruit Salad and Garlic Bread

Snacks
Bananas
Apples
Plums
Peaches
Pears
Carrots
Radishes and Ranch
Bell Pepper slices
Cracker and cheese
Cashews
Yogurt

Dessert
Dirt Cake

What are you having?

King Soopers 9/17/10

I got all of this

for a total of $11.37!

Without coupons and sales I would have spent $34.97!

That is a savings of 58%!

Overall the savings for this week were not as good as some. Also I went way over my $50 a week budget. Interestingly though I am only about $5 over my budget for this month so far because I was under budget the past two weeks. I will try to make that up in the week to come. I am overall pleased with my shopping though. I was able to stock up on some things I have been out of as well as some meat and raspberries to make some more jam for the winter. (we already ate all that we made earlier in the season.)

Safeway & Sprouts

I got all of this

for a total of $11.54!

Without coupons and sales I would have spent $34.97!

That is a savings of 67%!

Not bad considering Sprouts does not figure in savings. :)

Albertsons 9/17/10

I got all of this

for a total of $24.93!

Without coupons and sales I would have spent $69.81.

That is a savings of 64%!

Thank goodness for a sale of chicken breasts. Now if they would just go down to a stock up price. I am starting to wonder if this is the lowest they will go. I will hold out a little longer before stocking up just in case ;)

Target 9/17/10

I got all of this

for a total of $22.81!

Without sales and coupons I would have spent $42.82.

That is a savings of 47%!

Well that % is definitely getting a little better. I am actually surprised it is not higher. $1.44 for butter is an excellent deal for this time of year as well as the french bread at $0.39. I guess the kisses at full price ended up killing me.lol.

Sunflower Market & Sams 9/17/10

This week was a big shopping trip. It seems like almost every store had something I am out of or wanted. I will post in separate posts this week for each store. This is what my trip to Sunflower and Sams Club looked like this week.

I got all of this

for a total of $18.76 OOP!

without coupons and sales I would have spent $28.91!

That is a savings of 35%.

In my opinion the savings % really stinks. However this was partly Sams Club purchases and they do not figure in savings although there prices were a lot cheaper than other stores on the items I bought. I guess it will have to do.

Pumpkin Spice Bars

This recipe was one that I got from a friend of my mother in law. I love that the cake (bar) is super moist, and the cream cheese frosting...oh the frosting. It is sooooo good. Probably one of the best I have ever had. The combination is pure heaven in my opinion and the perfect fall treat.

Pumpkin Spice Bars
4 eggs
1 2/3 C sugar
1 C oil
1-16 oz. can pumpkin
2 C flour
2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 t cloves
1 t baking soda
½ t salt

In a mixing bowl beat together eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, coves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly. Bake in an ungreased jellyroll pan for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting. Top cake with chopped walnuts or pecans if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting
3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
½ C butter, softened
1 t vanilla
2 C powdered sugar

Beat mixture until creamy. You can add a little milk if desired to make the constancy more spreadable.

Weekly Menu

This is whats on the menu this week at our house. Once again there are a few repeats that I did not get to making last week.

Breakfast
Cereal & Fruit
Eggs & Toast
French Toast (made earlier and frozen) & Fruit
Oatmeal & Fruit
Waffles & Fruit

Lunch
Left Overs pretty much all week

Dinner
Grilled Chicken Bruschetta, grilled veggies and garlic bread
Southwestern Eggrolls
French Dip Sandwiches, baked french fries and Wintergreen Salad
Chicken and Asparagus Pasta & Garden Salad
Chili & Cornbread
Cowboy Calzones
Left Overs

Snacks
grapes
apples
pears
oranges
peaches
plums
granola bars
chex mix
yogurt
carrots
cheese & crackers
red pepper slices
applesauce
cashews

Dessert
Pumpkin Spice Bars

What are you having this week?

Weekly Shopping Trip 9/13/2010

I didn't get to go shopping on my usual Friday last week so I am playing catch up this week by going today. I did hit Sprouts for their sweet weekend Sale they were having and used up basically the remainder of my gift card. So it didn't contribute to my monthly spending this week. I didn't however get a picture of that trip sorry. Just imagine that there is lots of yummy produce in the picture below. :) This week I shopped at Kings, Safeway and Wal-mart (and Sprouts of course) Here is what my trip looked like this week.

I got all of this

including this...
and this.

for a total of $23.13!

without coupons and sales I would have spent $59.69.

That is a total savings of 62%!

If you are wondering why my savings % isn't particularly high this week, it is because I shopped at Wal-Mart. Although their prices on the items I bought were a lot cheaper than Kings or Safeway they do not list the actual savings on your receipt. Therefore I didn't have a number to add from my Wal-Mart receipt. Although the % is low, I am happy I am at less than half my budget for the week. That will give me a little wiggle room another week when there are some good stock up prices. I am so ready for a good sale on Chicken Breasts. My stockpile is down to the end. :)

If you would like to know how to get the sames deals that I did check out Bargain Blessings or Springs Bargains for a detailed list of the deals this week. If you do not see one of the deals that I got on their site please feel free to ask me and I will tell you the particulars.

Weekly Shopping Trip

I am obviously a little late to post my shopping from last week...sorry about that. I also went to take my pictures and realized my camera was dead. So these pictures are missing all of my freezer and refrigerated items.

I got all of this

including this...

and this.
the following are not pictured.
1 gallon milk
3 containers cool whip
7 # pork baby back ribs
3 dozen eggs
2 pkg. ball park franks
2 pkg. dannon-nino yogurts
2 Del Monte Ready to mix Smoothies

I spent a total of $41.83 OOP!
Without coupons and sales i would have spent $130.04!
That is a savings of 68%!

Weekly Menu

Here is what we are having at our house this week. You will see a few repeats as I didn't cook as much as I planned last week.

Breakfast

Cereal & Fruit

Sticky Pull Apart Buns & fruit

French Toast (made earlier and frozen) & Fruit

Oatmeal & Fruit

Eggs in a basket

Lunch

Lots of left overs

Panini's

PBJ & Apples

Nachos

Dinner

French Toast, Sweet & Smoky Bacon ( I add a little chipolte chili pepper too)

Left Overs

Dinner @ friends

Grilled Chicken Bruschetta, noodles, grilled veggies and garlic bread

Grilled Ham & Smoked Cheddar Paninis & Salad

Terriaki Chicken Bowls & Eggrolls

Chili (recipe to follow) & Cornbread

Snacks

apples

bananas

red pepper slices

cantaloupe

honeydew

plums

peaches

carrots

yogurt

graham crackers with peanut butter

granola bars

chex mix

banana bread-homemade

Dessert

not sure yet. will update when I figure out what I am making. :)

Chicken Stew

This recipe originated once again from my sister in law Rachel...can you tell she is a fantastic cook? It is the ultimate in comfort food. It is kind of a mix between a chicken pot pie and chicken noodle soup. So YUMMY! One of my very favorite foods!

Chicken Stew

1/2 the meat from a whole roasted chicken (either store bought or home made)
1/2 onion, diced
3 ribs celery, chopped
3-5 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cloves minced garlic
2 cartons chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 pkg. frozen egg noodles
2 C frozen corn
1-2 C frozen peas
6-9 frozen biscuits
salt & pepper to taste
rosemary, thyme and chipolte chili powder to taste
olive oil

Heat olive oil over med-high heat in an oven-safe stockpot or dutch oven. Saute onion, garlic, carrot and celery until softened. Add chicken, soup and broth to the veggies. Heat mixture to boiling. Once boiling add the egg noodles and continue to boil until they are cooked (see package directions for approximate times). The stew should have thickened to a consistency a little thicker than a soup. Season to taste...be careful with the chipolte chili powder (it is hot). I only add a dash or two of this, just enough to give it a smoky flavor. Check the consistency and add more broth if needed or cook a little longer to thicken more. You want it to be thick enough that the biscuits you are about to place on top will not sink straight to the bottom but be thin enough that it will not be like glue after the biscuits soak up a little of the moisture. Add frozen veggies and heat until bubbling again. Place biscuits gently on top being careful not to crowd. If they do sink a little don't worry, they will still bake up. Preheat oven according to biscuit directions. Place the pot in the middle of your preheated oven. Bake according to package directions or until biscuits are golden brown on top. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy .

Awesome BBQ Chicken

My sister in law Rachel makes this fantastic tangy sweet chicken that has become a family favorite. I am posting the recipe here so I never lose it. :)

Awesome BBQ Chicken

3-4 # chicken pieces (we like skinless thighs and drumsticks)
the following measurements are all approximates. Rachel's says to just add it till it smells good
1 T garlic salt
1/2-1 t cumin
1-2 t poultry seasoning
1/2-1 t chipolte chili pepper (seasoning made by mccormick)

Mix all seasoning in a small bowl and rub into chicken pieces. Place seasoned chicken on a foiled covered pan (we use a cookie sheet with a lip)sprayed with non-stick spray. Cover with foil and bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes or until chicken is done. While chicken is cooking. Mix

1-11/2 C BBQ sauce (we like sweet baby rays)
5 T brown sugar
5 t honey

Transfer the chicken to a grill and baste with BBQ sauce. Grill just until sauce starts to glaze the chicken (about 1-3 minutes). Turn chicken over and brush with remaining sauce and cook an additional 1-3 minutes. Serve immediately.

Weekly Menu

Here is what we are having this week

Breakfast
Cereal & Fruit
Breakfast Burritos (we just stuff it in tortillas) & Fruit
french Toast(leftover from night before) & Fruit
waffles (from the freezer) & fruit


Lunch
Tuna Melts
Smoked Cheddar and Ham Paninis & Apple Spinach Salad (so we made these last week and my hubby went crazy over them...who knew. So at his request we are having them again.)
Bean Burritos (with leftover refried beans)
Ham Sandwiches
Left Overs

Dinner
Marinated Steak, baby red mashed potatoes and grilled mushrooms (camping)
Tacos & Crockpot Refried Beans-never made last week
BBQ Chicken, Baked Potatoes and Spinach Salad
Chicken Stew
French Toast & Fruit
Terriyaki Chicken Bowls with Steamed Veggies

Snacks
Granola Bars
Peanut butter crackers
chips and salsa
celery sticks
carrots
bell pepper slices
watermelon
bananas
grapes
plums
oranges
applesauce

Dessert
Brownie Sundaes with Hot Fudge Sauce (recipe to follow)

What are you having this week?