Shopping 7-1-12

See, I do still shop...
This week was a total stock-up week + some of Big Daddys junk food...

I knew that my regular grocery list only had a few things on it this week, so I decided that while they were having the mega-event at Kroger I should use that extra money to stock up on a few things...

I think I have said it before but our budget for one week of groceries is $100. I usually only take a hundred dollar bill. When Big Daddy buys junk food/beer etc... he usually will hand me a $20 bill to add to it. It's VERY rare for me to spend more than $120!


Watermelon: $3.88

2 Bleach: On Mega $1.69

8 Gallon Bags: On Mega $1.19 each
Had 1 $1/2 coupon

10 Quart Bags:On Mega $1.19 each

(I got lots of bags because some are for me and some for my Momma)

5 Capri-Sun: On Mega $1.88 each
(We don't normally buy these, but I thought I could send some in for snack time @ school)

4 Huggies Wipes: On Mega $1.99 each
Used 4 .50/1 that doubled
Paid .99cents each
( We have had better prices on this, but it's not bad...)

Bananas: $1.12

8 Sodas:On Mega .99cents each
Used 2 $1/2 coupons
(We don't buy sodas to keep in the house as a rule...these are for cook-outs etc...)

Milk:$3.09

Ranch Dip: .99cents

Ketchup:$1.39

2 Kroger Shredded Cheese: $2.19 each
Used .70 cent Kroger coupon

Deli Turkey: $7.34

Deli Cheese:$3.50

Mark-Down Meat:
Steak:$2.90
Steak:$3.04
Seasoned Pork Chops:$3.40
Beef Stir Fry: $3.69
Beef Cube Steak Family Pack:$6.87

Pie:$5.99

2 Biscuits: On Mega .99cents each

Broccoli:$1.02

Avocado:$1.19

Tomato: .41cents

Grape Tomatoes: $2.99

Brussels: $2.99

Sour Cream: $1.00

Cookies:$1.25

Ice Cream: On Mega $2.49

Meat Tenderizer:$2.09

3 Baked Beans:$1.79 each
Used $1/3 Kroger coupon

Cooking Spray: $2.39

Craisins: $2.79


Paid:129.61- Got back $8 in catalinas
Tax:$10.69
SAVED: $65.17(35%)


WALGREENS

4 Mountain Press Papers: $1.25

2 Mitchum Deodorant: $6.00/$4RR
Used 2 $1/1 coupons

Did 2 transactions and rolled the RR for the papers..

Paid: $5.58
Tax: .58
SAVED: $7.40

Menu 7-2/7-8-12

Hope everyone is staying cool in this heat!! I am fixing to hit the stores and get some deals before it gets much hotter, just wanted to drop the menu off for the week. :-)

Monday:
Eggs,Turkey Bacon, and Tomatoes
Beef and Bean Taco Salad
Whole Roasted Chicken with Mixed Roasted Veggies

Tuesday:
Breakfast Burritoes with Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Baked Spaghetti witrh Green Beans and Salad (Carry-Over)

Wednesday:
Cereal with Fruit
*Daddys
        Choice*

Thursday:
Oatmeal with Peanut Butter, Nuts, and Apple
Tuna Salad with Crackers and Fresh Fruit
Veg-All Bake

Friday:
Veggie Omelet with Fresh Fruit
L.O.
Sauteed Chicken with Peppers and Onions, Brussels,Mushrooms, and Tomato&Onion

Saturday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
*Daddys
       Choice*

Sunday:
French Toast with Turkey Bacon and Eggs
Marinated Pork Chops with Sweet Potato, and Mushrooms and Onions


Stay tuned, this week I am going to post about our Family Trip to Chattanooga, TN. :-)

Menu 6-25/7-1-12

Better late than never...

Working on that Summer List...Sissy and I got a "date" with Big Daddy today! :-) The movie "BRAVE" was awesome!

I think this coming week is absolutely the busiest week that we will have all summer!!Dr.Apps and crazy schedules. Will share more next week...when it's over!! HaHa
For now here is what I have planned...

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Tuna Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Crazy Rice Dish with Broccoli and Brussels

Tuesday:
?
?
?

Wednesday:
?
?
?

Thursday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Fruit
Baked Spaghetti with Salad, Green Beans and Toast

Friday:
Pancakes,Turkey Bacon and Fresh Fruit Salad
L.O.
Cook-Out

Saturday:
?
?
?

Sunday:
Egg Muffins with Turkey Bacon
Steak,Baked Potato, and Baked Beans with Mushrooms and Onions
Low Country Grill with Broccoli

*CAMPING*

This past week my family and I went camping in Cades Cove. One of my most favorite places to go!

Cades Cove is an 11 mile loop in an isolated valley in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you can drive,walk, or bike. Along the route are hiking trails and many Historical Buildings!Lots of breath taking views and wildlife! Although I have been going here since I was little, I still enjoy it just the same, and I enjoy taking my kids there too.


My family recently bought a pop-up camper and this was the first camping trip of the Summer!

And this, my friends is Cades Cove...

Cades Cove is an awesome place to see wildlife in it's natural habitat instead of visiting a zoo!

Although I love going to Cades Cove to see the Wildlife, nothing makes me madder than seeing people feeding these animals even though there are signs every where saying not to. Also when people approach them AS IF they were at at a Petting Zoo! On this trip we saw a Momma Bear with 2 cubs. Lots of people out of their cars to see this, but what got me was one Dad. After the momma bear crossed the road he thought it was a good idea to push his children in the middle of the road(in between Momma and Cubs) so they could look both ways and see the animals. His car was parked I know a good 100 yards away...You just want to scream.."Are you an Idiot" at people like this. "You are in their environment, if she got mad that you were in between her and cubs she could charge, and their is no where for you to go with those kids!!" Arghh! OK, off soap box and back to camping trip!

Honk Honk! Let's go People!

This is the life!

Older Brother

Big Daddy eating pancakes for first time in 10+ years...to MY surprise

BEAUTIFUL

Sissy and YaYa made Beans and Cornbread! YUM!

This is Katie, Sissy's friend she met while camping and new pin pal buddy! 

Sissy stayed the longest with YaYa and Papa. She rode her bike a lot and walked around the campground getting sticks and logs for the fire. She helped YaYa cook and helped keep everything cleaned up. She said it was an awesome way to start the Summer and she can't wait to go again!

This tree is one of my favorite things on the entire loop! If I was not so scared of bears I would have a picnic every time we went under this tree! :-)

I love Cades Cove and I love camping. Just taking a step back and slowing down from every day life!*I want to thank YaYa and Papa for letting us join them!
*I also want to thank my Big Brother Timothy for these great pictures! He has such a good eye!! :-) 

Menu 6-11/6-17-12

Just got back from camping trip in Cades Cove. Will have lots of pictures posted soon! For now, here is what we are having this week...

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
 ?
Tuna Casserole with Peas

Tuesday:
Breakfast Burritos with Fresh Fruit
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Lasagna Subs with Salad and Green Beans

Wednesday:
*Daddy's
       Choice*
Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs and Fresh Fruit

Thursday:
Yogurt, Granola, and Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Easy Garlic Chicken with Slim Potato Casserole and Brussel Sprouts

Friday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Raw Veggies
Rachel Rays Southwestern Chili Con Queso Bake with Fresh Corn

Saturday:
Omelet Muffins with Toast
L.O.
Chicken and Potato Casserole with Broccoli and Brussels

Sunday:
Giant Breakfast Cookies with Fresh Fruit
*Cook-Out*
 ?

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts(cooked, and shredded)

1/2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Garlic Powder

2 1/2 cups Cooked Brown Rice

1 cup Corn

15 ounces, Can Black Beans(Drained And Rinsed)

1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt

½ cups Salsa

1 cup Low-fat Cheddar Cheese, Plus More For Topping

Salt

Pepper

2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro For Garnish


Bake chicken for 25 minutes at 400( Or you can use left-overs from rotisserie chicken)
When its done take 2 forks and shred the chicken.

Add chicken to a large bowl and season with Cumin,Paprika, and Garlic Powder.

Add all other ingredients to bowl except extra cheese and cilantro. Make sure Yogurt and Cheese are mixed in well throughout bowl. Season with Salt and Pepper.

Transfer to oven-safe dish, bake 20-25 minutes.

Garnish with chopped Cilantro!

This was a great dish, and super easy! Brother and I were home this day and since I was still layed up with my knee I just did a little at a time. I put the chicken in the oven earlier in the afternoon, I let it cool some before I shredded it. While the chicken was going I had 4 cups of rice going in the rice cooker. I also had some corn that needed to be used up so instead of using frozen corn I used fresh corn that I boiled while the rice was cooking! Since I only used 2 1/2 cups of rice and 1 cup of corn in this recipe I put the rest in the freezer!
I wish I would have had some real white cheddar cheese, but this was all I had.

This recipe is adapted from here, another Pinterest score! :o)

Menu 6-4/6-10-12

Better late than never...

 Monday:
French Toast with Fresh Fruit
Quesadillas with Veggies
Baked Seasoned Chicken with Slim Potato Casserole, Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Tuesday:
Homemade Banana Bread with Yogurt and Fresh Fruit
Beef and Broccoli with Rice and Fortune Cookies
Catfish, Taters, Veggies

Wednesday:
Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs, Sausage
?
?

Thursday:
Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Fresh Fruit
?
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

Friday:
Jelly Biscuits with Eggs
L.O.
Taco Salad with Corn, Avocado, etc..

Saturday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
L.O.
?

Sunday:
?
?
?

**This was my original menu...I have been in recliner all day with my knee...AGAIN...may see some repeats next week!**

Zucchini Tots

Zucchini Tots...Oh...My...Goodness!! These are so good!

1 cup grated Zucchini(1 zucchini)
1 egg
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup cheese(I used a little cheddar and grated Parmesan)
1/4 dry breadcrumbs
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray Mini Muffin tin with cooking spray.

Grate the zucchini into a dish towel. Next, wring all the excess water from the zucchini that you can.

Mix all together in a mixing bowl...

Press the mixture into the pans until compacted(otherwise it will fall apart)

 Bake for 15-18 minutes in preheated oven. The top will be starting to golden.

Next time I will probably double this recipe! So simple and so good!

This recipe is from here!

Menu 5-23/6-3

Monday:
   ?
   ?
Crispy Chicken with Zucchini Tots, Corn and Cucumber&Tomato

Tuesday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Goulash with Green Beans and Toast

Wednesday:
* Daddy's
        Choice *
-Subway-

Thursday:
Yogurt, Granola,and Fresh Fruit
Tuna Salad with Tomatoes and Crackers
Pork Chops and Veggies with Cornbread

Friday:
Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, and Fresh Fruit
Sandwiches with Fresh Fruit and Veggies
Salmon Patties , Broccoli, and Corn

Saturday:
Breakfast Omelet Muffins with Toast
*Picnic*
  ?

Sunday:
Breakfast Burrito(Carry Over)
  ?
Meatloaf with Taters and Peas

Menu 5-21/5-27-12

This is Sissys last full week of school so we are having a calm week...before the fun begins!

We have LOTS of things planned for this Summer and they kick off the week after school gets out! If you missed it here is our Summer Activity List

Here is what we are having this week:

Monday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Salad with Fresh Fruit
Aprils Teriyaki Chicken 

Tuesday:
Eggs in a Hole with Broiled Tomatoes and Fresh Fruit
L.O.
*Subway*

Wednesday:
*Daddys
     Choice*
Spaghetti with Green Beans and Toast

Thursday:
Oatmeal,Peanut Butter and Fresh Fruit (Carry Over)
L.O.
Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken

Friday:
Cereal with Fresh Fruit
*End of the year party for Abbey*
Pizza Soup(Freezer) and Grilled Cheese

Saturday:
Pancakes with Fresh Fruit (Carry-Over)
YOYO
Beans and Cornbread,Sauerkraut and Wienies, Taters and Tomato,Cucumber, and Onion Salad

Sunday:
Breakfast Burritos
YOYO
  ?


Hey y'all a childhood friend of mine has started up a blog of her own so if you get a minute go over
here and check it out! I am very excited to see what she has in store for us! :-)