Week 2 - Wed.

One thing about this contest is that I'm forced to be creative. Many times I think, I could make this or that, but now I'm actually forced to make it.

About 3 weeks ago, the sale on cola was 4- 12 packs coke products for $9 and get a free Hillshire Farm sauage.

I made jumbalya. The recipe was listed on www.gomeat.com. I added shrimp. My kielbasa was turkey so I added liquid smoke. Very good and under $1/serving.

Went shopping:
Caputos:
plums
tomatos
iceberg lettuce
string beans
strawberries
blueberries
green bell peppers
red onion
cucumber
nectarines
tilapia 2lbs
gallon milk
yoplait yogurt
fresh mozzarella - deli
eggs
calamata olives - deli
bath tissue 1.19
total oop 27.72-1.19 (paper) = 26.53

Dominiks
peanut butter
shredded cheese mozzarella
orange juice
almond milk ...trying to be healthy and received tip from Biggest Loser.
sour cream
wheat bread
2 pork chops
breakfast sausage
2 lunchables
5 lbs potatoes 50cents
sliced mushrooms
mailed coupons didn't work and went to customer service for correction oop $18.30

Keller Farm Stand bought 12 vegetable plants for $1.17
Caputos - had free tomato plants ...took 3

Total so far:
$75.34-$1.19 paper $74.15

Fairly certain that I will not need to buy anything else.

• Going to zoo today -opted not to buy gogurts and cheese sticks, instead packing pbj sandwiches, 1 yoplait key lime (currently in freezer), lunchables, refill water bottles w/ice water, juice boxes.
• Friday my husband sometimes buys lunch.
• 4th of July weekend - would like to go to Ribfest or Lisle Fest - husband loves ribs.
• Husband wants to cook pub burgers or equal. on Sunday but Sunday starts a new week.

Week 2 - Sunday

Meal Planning: looked at the All You for 5 recipes 1 grocery list and many of the items are in my pantry/freezer.

Sunday - breakfast - kids' peanut butter toast, glass of milk, fruit; dh & me eggs & toat

lunch - leftovers - husband is eating at his cousins, kids - sandwichs

dinner - going to graduation party

Totals Week #1 $89.53

Hotel Restaurant $13.83
Wendy's $10.56
Caputos $36.22
Caputos $26.92
Beach $2

Total $89.53

+ Paper Products purchased - not included in challenge $6.16
$95.69

Sat - Caputos

popsicles
tuna steaks
peaches
gallon milk
cheese pizza
grapes
cucumber
spinach
tamots
asparagus
strawberries
feta cheese
nectarines
bottled water
oop $26.92

Shrimp Stir Fry

2 1/2 Tablespoons veg oil
1/4 cup water
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
18 shrimp - medium peeled and deveined (freezer)
2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 Tablespoons sliced green onion (from garden)
2 Tablespoon cilantro (fresh from patio garden)
2 Tablesoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ginger (prefer fresh however, I'm not buying it special - using ground)
1/4 cup peanuts

recipe from www.allrecipes.com - it called for shredded cabbage - I do not have it so I'm substituting frozen brocolli, cauliflower, and peas. Serving over white rice.

1/2 done with week 1

Thurs - cleaning fridge-
endive lettuce -took large leaves for wraps and for sandwiches and chopped the rest into 3 cobb salads
carrots - added some to salads, peeling and cutting for snacks
thawed green peppers - I used some in the enchiladas on Monday and want to use the rest in a stir fry for tonight

Week #1

Sunday was the first day of the contest and I was pretty nervous because I was out of town, going to a water park, and then going to the airport.

We ate breakfast at the hotel (continental breakfast not available) - cost was 2 breakfast buffets and kids eat free. Total including tip $13.83 - kids also had leftover french toast in-room microwave and we had our first cups of coffee with the in-room coffee maker.

Food - eggs, sausage, bacon, bagels, toast, fresh fruit, coffee, juice

Snack and Lunch - packed a styrofoam cooler in trunk of car with ice from hotel - salads, yogurts, grapes, pretzels, carrot sticks, peanut butter (minis), filled water bottles with ice and added the single serving lemonades to each one.

Dinner - Wendy's for my husband - double cheese burger combo and kids shared a 5 piece nuggets, small fries, and drink oop $10.56
I finished my salad and yogurt at the rental car facility.

We made it through the airport by refilling the water bottles with water (after clearing the security gate) from the water cooler and made it through without buying anything.

Monday - We were on vacation for 10 days and I cleaned the fridge before I left. We were out of dairy products, deli meats, and produce. My trip to Caputos:

gallon milk
lettuce
mango
string beans
peaches
carrots
grapes
strawberries
yogurt
swiss cheese
deli ham
proscuitto
deli turkey
apples
tomatoes
plums
2 - snacks for kids
jar giardiniera
bananas
rye bread
onion
cucumber
lime
eggs
oop $36.22

so far total - $60.61

breakfast
cereal, eggs, toast/bagel

kids snacks - pb crackers, mini cookies, pudding

lunch - pbj sandwich, soup, turkey burger, lemonade

dinner - chx enchiladas (freezer - homemade chx stock, bell peppers, salsa verde), cheese, chicken, tortillas, cream of mush soup; spanish rice (from a homemade premix), fresh fruit

I have leftover mix in the crockpot from cooking the chicken and seasonings, will add leftover rice, cumin, lemon pepper, 1/2 can of corn for tortilla soup. Will freeze some for a cooler day.

All You Grocery Challenge 2010

It's baack!
$25/week per person in the household for groceries including food out.
Here is the link to enter: www.allyou.com
Contest starts on June 20. I'll keep you posted as to my progress.