Monday Menus

I am doing ok on the decreased grocery spending.  I still spend a lot on food. Fresh fruits and vegetables are important to me, that our family eat.  I was able to get a few things at Costco Friday on our day off.  I forgot what an ordeal it is to take all 4 with me to the store.  Geez, they are older, it should be easier, right? 
I had to tell the boys to stop wrestling in the aisles more than once. 
They got in trouble for going back for seconds on the samples. 
They wanted everything. 
I love the fruit at costco, but it is gone already and I won't get back there for awhile.
I am trying to stock up on a few things for spring break that I can.  We usually take already made meals with us, and a lot of groceries too, since the prices on the island can be high.  This year we are stopping in Washington DC for a few days before heading to Hilton Head Island.  There will be no fridge or freezer in the DC hotel, so I will be cooking in HH.  Eating out every night isn't an option for us.  One night out as a family and one date night is our usual.  I cook the rest of the time.
For this week! Joe is out of town most of the week, so it will be simple.

Monday
Baked Potatoes with the fixings (left overs from a friends party) FREE
Orange chicken from the freezer.
veggie stir fry

Tuesday
Potato soup (if there are leftover Potatoes)

Wednesday
Chicken fingers
mac and cheese
Berries

Thursday
Spaghetti and meatballs
garlic bread

Friday
Pizza or leftovers

Monday Menus

After a busy weekend, I need another weekend to catch up.  Luckily we have a 4 day week this week due to a flex day!  Whoo hoo!

Monday
Hamburgers on the grill
strawberries
tater tots

Tuesday
Enchilada meatballs- new recipe
rice
green beans

Wednesday
Italian chicken- in crock pot
garlic bread
salad

Thursday
Taco shells- new recipe
fruit

Friday
Pizza

Saturday
soup in crock pot

Sunday
small group

The new recipes are from Pinterest and I will post if they are "worthy". They sure look yummy!

WFMW- free stuff

Works for me Wednesday is a weekly event over at We are That Family <--------.  Click on the sidebar to see what it is all about.  A lot of great hints and tricks!

Here is mine for the week: Look for free offers online and near you!

A free Quart of paint at Ace Hardware
http://www.acehardware.com/coupon/index.jsp

This offer is ONLY for this Saturday at participating Ace Hardware Stores, and can be color matched. 
I love Paint! especially when it's free!

Monday Menus

I realized that last month I spent way over budget for groceries, so I am tightening the reins a bit this month.

Eating through our pantry and going cheap!  I try not to buy meat, since we bought 1/4 cow last fall, but I found stew meat marked way down yesterday when I ran in to just get 1 thing.  I never come out with one thing!  We are having beef tips to celebrate the great deal.

Monday
Beef tips
rice
strawberries

Tuesday- Joe gone
Chicken fried rice, made with leftover rice from last night.
I will probably have to make some chicken strips for the boys too!
fruit

Wednesday
French dip sandwiches in the crock pot. (obviously the meat is only made in the crock pot-ha!)
Recipe below
salad

Thursday
Kids meal, Joe and I have a dinner commitment
Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Friday
Soup in crock pot

Weekend in Fort Wayne balling it up!

French Dip in Crock pot

1 medium onion, sliced or chopped
3 lb Beef roast, it doesn't matter what cut.
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 bouillon cubes
1 can water or red wine or beer
1 can beef broth

Cook on high 5 hours or on low  for 8-10 hours.  This is usually more of a shredded beef sandwich, but the Au jus is yummy.
Serve with provolone cheese on toasted and buttered hougie buns.

Monday Menus

Monday
Chicken Pot pie
salad
Butter bread

Tuesday
Potato soup
Bread
Fruit

Wednesday
Asian Chicken
Rice
salad

Thursday
Chili

Friday
Pizza

Works for Me Wednesday

I spent last weekend at a youth retreat in Pennsylvania.  Whew, I am still getting back into the groove after being gone on Monday too.  Menus will start again next week.  We are eating mostly freezer meals this week, which I love. 

My Works For Me  Wednesday today is no TV on weekdays for the kids.  We don't have a huge home, so if one person is watching TV, it effects the whole family.  There were always squabbles over what to watch, we don't have cable so the choices are limited.  Kids being pokey in the morning.  Homework was a battle at times too, with TV on in the background.
We tried time limits for each kid, waiting till homework was done etc.  Nothing really worked well, and I was always the bad guy.

So, we just decided to just give TV up during the week.  It worked wonderfully.  There are no gray areas, its just off.  They know on Friday after school they can watch TV.  We are currently watching a lot of Antenna TV, Father Knows Best, Dennis the Menace etc.  It's great!

We do allow for some exceptions.  When someone is home sick, if the Colts are on Monday night football, when a storm is headed our way etc.  Other than that, it's off. 

 Joe and I do watch TV after the kids go to bed some.

Our home is so much more peaceful now.  Works for me!

Monday Menus

I am not doing 2 weeks again.  It got all messed up.  We did try a new recipe for Asian Chicken that got rave reviews from everyone, so it will be in the lineup soon.

Monday
Tacos

Tuesday- Valentines Day
Spaghetti and meatballs
Red hot applesauce salad cut into heart shapes
Red velvet cookies

These are being taped on the kids doors when they wake up in the morning!

Wednesday
Lime oregano Chicken breasts
red potatoes
salad

Thursday
Hamburger vegetable soup
homemade artisan bread

Friday
Pizza

Saturday and Sunday
Chili in crockpot.- Mom and Amy are heading to a High School retreat!