Menu Plan for Week of Oct.22nd

Well better late than never! Things have been a little hectic lately but I'm hoping to get back to some serious posting this week (cross your fingers!) Here's what's on the menu for this week:

Breakfast/Snacks:
*Egg Salad
*Cereal
*Yogurt
*Fruit
*2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins (this time I used Chocolate Cake mix and let me just say YUM!!)
*Crackers

Lunch:
*Tuna Pasta Salad
*leftover stew
*grilled cheese and soup
*Easy Peasy Pizza Pockets with veggies and dip

Dinner:
*Stew
*Tacos
*Homemade Burger
*BBQ Chicken, acorn squash (recipe to come) and rice

Menu Plan (Sept 28-OCt.4)

I'm excited to try a couple of new recipes this week so stay tuned to see how they turned out! For those of you who are new to Kawartha Bargains here is how the menu plan/grocery list weekly feature works (I work with a $65 grocery budget).
 I had originally intended on posting the menu plan and shopping list together but it becomes a super long post so instead I'll post them separately. The menu plan will include everything we are eating this week as well as links to recipes (as I try them). The shopping list will breakdown by store what I am purchasing and any coupons I am using with a budget breakdown. What is on your menu plan this week? Have a recipe or tip to share? I'd love to hear. Feel free to post on Kawartha Bargains Facebook Page as well!

Meal Plan:
Breakfasts/Snacks

• Cereal x3
• Bagels and Peanut Butter
• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• White Cupcakes- didn't get to these again but am certainly in the mood for a sweet treat (mix left over from Loblaws deal)
• Cheese and Crackers
• Veggies and Dip
• grapes
• homemade oatmeal packages (recipe to come)

Lunches

• Chicken salad from leftover roasted chicken (recipe to come)
• Easy Peasy pizza "pockets"
• Grilled cheese and soup
• Leftover ham
• Leftover stir fry
• Tuna Pasta Salad x2

Dinners

• Roasted chicken, twice baked potatoes (recipe to come)
• Chicken stir fry
• Meatloaf, mashed and veggies
• Ham and sweet potatos
• Some sort of pasta dish
• Homemade hamburgers

Free Ebook: Frugal Tips and Recipes for the Wise Homemaker

Yet another fabulous resource for those who are looking to save a dollar! Be sure to grab your free copy of  Frugal Tips & Recipes for the Wise Homemaker.
Be sure to check that it is still free before you order.

Don't have a Kindle? You can download the latest Kindle for PC here (I love mine!)

This Week's Meal Plan- Sept 21-27

Welcome to Kawartha Bargains newest weekly feature! 
If you need some more inspiration you can always stop by last week's menu plan.  
 I had originally intended on posting the menu plan and shopping list together but it becomes a super long post so instead I'll post them separately. The menu plan will include everything we are eating this week as well as links to recipes (as I try them). The shopping list will breakdown by store what I am purchasing and any coupons I am using with a budget breakdown. What is on your menu plan this week? Have a recipe or tip to share? I'd love to hear. Feel free to post on Kawartha Bargains Facebook Page as well!

Meal Plan:
Breakfasts/Snacks

• Cereal x3
• Bagels and Peanut Butter x2
• Bananas
• White Cupcakes were supposed to be on last week's meal plan but never got made so we still have this sweet treat for this week! (mix left over from Loblaws deal)
• Cheese and Crackers
• Veggies and Dip
• Berry Muffins  
• 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
• Peanut Butter Cookies

Lunches

• pizza
• chili (in the freezer from a previous week) 
• pulled pork leftovers
• roast beef leftovers
• tuna pasta salad (recipe to come)
• grilled cheese and soupx2

Dinner

• Dinner at the Lindsay Fair! (not included in the $65/week budget...taken from our entertainment budget instead)
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches and veggies
• Roast Beef, potatos and veggie
• Meatloaf, mashed potatos and corn
• Pork Stir Fry
• Homemade Ministrone Soup 
• Baked Sausage Pasta

Grocery Budget Challenge: This Week's Total

If you have started following my newest feature The $65 Grocery Budget Challenge, I promised to share with you my total each week. The menu plan for this week saw a couple of changes (such as we just felt like having grilled cheese sandwiches and salad last night for dinner) and we even have some items that we didn't get made (like the white cupcakes). Overall I don't really feel that I spent any more time than usual in the kitchen and I feel like we ate extremely well despite the budget. That being said I did go SLIGHTLY over budget. I was pretty much on track until I got to Loblaws. They had such great deals on meat this week that I decided to grab some extras and will try to take that difference out of the upcoming week's budget (since I shouldn't need much meat and I don't need coffee or any household items it should still work out). Here's how the budget finished up for this week:

 THIS WEEK'S TOTAL: $88.61 over by +23.21 (that includes taxes)
Next weeks budget- $41.79

Free Ebook: Twenty-Five Cent Dinners for Families of Six

I haven't actually had a chance to read this yet but it certainly peeked my interest. Be sure to grab your free copy of  Twenty-Five Cent Dinners for Families of Six. 
Be sure to check that it is still free before you order.

Don't have a Kindle? You can download the latest Kindle for PC here (I love mine!)

Free Ebook: Mom 100 Cookbook Sampler

I'm always looking for new ways to add some interest to everyday meals (not to mention tricks for my picky 4yo). Be sure to grab your FREE copy of Mom 100 Cookbook Sampler from Amazon.com (be sure to check that it is still free before purchasing).

Don't have a Kindle? Get your FREE computer Kindle for PC here

Canadian Freebie Alert: Free Philidelphia Cooking Cream with Recipe Submission

 

Here's a great one for all of you foodies out there!

Become a member of Real Women of Philadelphia, submit a recipe that includes a cream cheese product, and receive a FREE tub of Philadelphia Cooking Creme. I have tried the tomato basil one, it was pretty good and super easy to use. I'd love to try the herb and garlic one next...I think it would be super yummy in a creamy chicken pasta dish!
You will be contacted to receive your coupon.
Valid until May 13, 2012.

Batch Cooking Parents Night

I was thrilled to get out and about last night to attend a batch cooking demo class hosted by Kindermusik with Lisa McCann. Last nights special guest was Amy G., with a background in culinary arts and a ton of knowledge to share I learned a lot about batch cooking, menu planning and what you can freeze. She also was kind enough to share some of her own recipes with us and I'm hoping that she will be a guest on Kawartha Bargains in the future to share some of those fabulous dishes with you! In the meantime here were some of my favourite top tips:

• Tape a piece of paper to the freezer door listing what you have frozen AND how to cook it that way if hubby dearest feels the urge to get dinner going (you never know) he will know what is in there and how to get it going
• Freeze soups, stews, chilis, etc in freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer. This way you can stack them on top of each other to save space
• Ever open a can of tomato paste for a recipe that needs just 1 scoop? Instead of throwing out the rest freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays!
• Freeze extra smoothies in mason jars (leave some space at the top for expansion when freezing) and then take the jar out to defrost and you don't even need a new cup!
• Make your own frozen pizzas! You can even put them on a pizza tray and just cover and freeze!
• Freeze cookie dough in logs and then you can just slice and bake! 

What other things do you like to prepare ahead? What are some of your freezer fav's?