Happy birthday to Ari and me?

This week has been like a foot race. I am tired and may even have some type of virus and pink eye. (Yuck!) We are having my mother and Doug for dinner tonight, the house needs cleaning, the groceries need bought, should be out campaigning, pumpkins need cut, blog needs updated, and so on. I refused to bring any work home this weekend, but will pay for that next week. Of course, my plans are written, materials prepped, and room cleaned. However, not all the papers were graded this week and that will take some time away from me next week. This week's shopping list include some items for tonight as well as next week.

Lucky
Spent $86.05, saved $66.16, and 44%
Off list purchases wrapping paper $7, but for me. :)

Meat:
3 lbs Pork country style ribs (1.49 a lb)
Farmland boneless hams (4 lbs for 5.99)
ground beef (5lbs for $7.95)

Dairy
2 packs Kraft American singles (2 for 4.00)
Sunnyside farms sour cream (1.49 for 16 oz)

Cans/boxes:
10 Sunny Select Spaghetti (10 for $10)

Bread:
Sunnyside hamburger buns (1.49 each)

Vegetables:
2 pineapples ($1.97)
2 cantaloupes (2 for $3)
12 roma tomatoes (97 cents a lb)
2/ 3lb bags of organic fugi apples (2 for $5)
4 ct bag of avocados ($2.49)
2/ 2lb bags of Grimmway Farms baby carrots (2 for 4.00)
5 bags of fresh express spinach (5 for 5.00)
2 bunches of green onions (2 for 1.00)

beverages:
Buy 4 fridge packs of cola products (coupon buy 2, get 2 free)
2 Simply Juice (2 for $6)


Safeway
Spent $17.11, saved 16.06, and 48% off cost.
Stayed true to list! Way to go Jeff!

Meat
6 lbs Foster Farms split chicken breasts (99 cents a lb)
(split and freeze 3 lbs for next week)

Dairy
Lucerne shredded cheddar cheese (32 oz for 5.99)

Vegetables/fruits
9 kiwi fruit (3 for 1.00)

Beverages
3 Safeway apple juices (88 cents each with coupon)

Raleys
Spent $35.50, saved $11.54, and 24% off cost.
One off list purchase batteries for pumpkins. :)

Dairy`
18 ct of Raley’s eggs (1.99)

Cans/boxes
2 Newman’s Own salad dressing (2.99 each)(something for spinach salad)

Other
Arianna’s birthday cake (12.99 each)
Dreyer's ice cream (vanilla 3.49)

Vegetables/fruits
2 acorn squash (67 cents a lb)
1 butternut squash (67 cents a lb)
15 lb bag of baking sized potatoes (3.99)

Outcome- Spent about $140 dollars for this week. My goal is to stay under $150 and work towards even more savings as my skills of bargain hunting grows. My only long term concern is maintaining a quality diet, as I am unwilling to sacrifice healthy meals for the family. There are a few unhealthy items that could go, such as soda, but I do have to live with my family. lol

Menu for November 2nd through 8th

Monday (2nd)
Ham w/ pineapple chutney, roasted carrots, and mixed vegetables w/ rice(leftover ham saved for Sunday’s soup)

Tuesday (3rd)
Turkey burgers, sweet potato fries, and cantaloupe spears

Wednesday(4th)
Stuffed acorn squash (vegetarian)

Thursday (5th)
Chicken breast w/ rice, creamed spinach, apple sticks w/ cinnamon

Friday (6th)
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup

Saturday (7th)
Barbecued pork ribs, roasted butternut squash

Sunday (8th)
Bean and ham soup

This weekend's canning recipe is pineapple chutney. I can't wait to try this with ham or chicken. I am going to double the recipe and make enough to share with others.

Pineapple Chutney
2 lbs. sugar
1 c. white vinegar
2 t. dry mustard
1 lb. minced onion diced
1 1/2 lbs. pineapple peeled and diced
1 1/2 lbs. apple peeled and diced
4 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced

Put the sugar, vinegar and mustard in a pan and bring to a boil.
Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer slowly for about 1 1/4 hours or until it thickens. Remove from heat and ladle into hot, sterilized jars. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.

Recipe source http://www.thatsmyhome.com/general/pachut.htm