Well I haven't been here in awhile...grocery prices, dinner menu

Things are trucking along as well as they usually are. Thought I might get back to talking about the price of groceries, the insanity of having a 2 year old and a teenager and some of our little adventures in homeschooling.

Anyone else tired of paying about triple for groceries these days?

I went to the grocery store this morning and spent just under $200.  It was insane.  Let's take a little looksy at the receipt...

peanut butter
jelly
2 cans black olives
sesame seeds--for a recipe this week--almost $3!
cashews--again for a recipe this week
oatmeal
4 cans tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans enchilada sauce
1 can of white beans
1 can of black beans
2 cans of chicken
cream of mushroom
cream of chicken
lays slightly salted chips--because I like them
mac&cheese-one of B's favorite
raisins
oatmeal bars
penne
radiatorre
soy sauce
syrup
fried rice--yeah I should make it myself but sometimes I need the convenience of a package
spaghetti
chicken broth--I have some homemade in the freezer...
milk
apple juice--made in the USA, not from concentrate--why is the majority of our apple juice coming from China???
cran-grape
cereal--generic, big bag
deli ham
chicken breast--ok so I have to admit that I am stuck on organic chicken now...sigh...only $1/lb more but the taste is so worth it!
shrimp
bulk sausage
butter
weiners--because my kids like them
limes
coleslaw
carrots
spinach
flour and corn tortillas
sour cream
yogurt
almonds
clementines
green onion
purple onion
mushrooms
apples
sweet potatoes
celery
avocados
tomatoes
cherry tomatoes--one of P's favorite snacks
bell pepper
blueberries
bananas
eggs
bread
hamburger/hotdog buns
shampoo

lotion for my husband--vaseline healing generic .97

Menu this week

Lunch was sandwiches

Dinner was soup--my favorite soup
4 c. chicken stock
8 c. water
2 stalks celery
4 gloves of garlic
diced purple onion
1 lb. bulk sausage
8 oz. radiatorre pasta
1/2 bag of fresh spinach
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can great northern or cannelinni beans
shredded parmesan or mozzarella cheese

Add celery to water and stock and bring to a boil.  Cook sausage w/onion and garlic.  Add pasta to boiling stock.  Once the pasta is done add the sausage mixture, spinach, tomatoes and beans.  Simmer for a bit, serve and top w/parmesan or shredded mozzarella cheese.

Other items on the menu this week are:

Crockpot Cashew Chicken.  This will be my first time to try this recipe.  I got it off Pinterest.  Here is the link:  Crockpot Cashew Chicken

Steak, cauliflower and a salad.  Thankfully I was able to stock up on meat that was on sale recently.

Chef Salad--one of Rory's favorite meals

Shrimp Po' Boys and Mexican Slaw.

Shrimp Po' Boys is basically battered and fried shrimp and put in a hoagie bun w/mayo, lettuce(we use spinach) and tomato.  The slaw is another new recipe that I found on Pinterest.  The link is broken but here is the recipe:

Mexican Coleslaw: 1 package Slaw Mix 1 can corn {drained} 1 can black beans {drained} 1/3 cup diced green onions 1 cup diced tomatoes 1/2 cup diced black olives 1/4 cup diced cilantro 1 avocado chopped 3/4 cup Jalapeno Ranch Dressing Garnish with cilantro.

We'll have hamburgers and sweet potato fries one night because that is one of B's favorite meals.  I wish he was not so picky!

Spaghetti or Penne w/marinara sauce will be on the menu for one of those busy nights.

I also have chicken enchiladas and chicken 'n dumplings in mind or if we have no leftovers :D

Hopefully this $200 will last a couple of weeks...