Week #3 on $350

Here are meals for week #3.  You can find breakfast and lunch ideas on Week #1's page here.

 Groceries:

• Chicken (If you bought the big breast box from Costco you will have enough)
• Cream of Chicken Soup ($1.29 at No Frills)
• Stuffing Box ($1.49 at No Frills, TIP buy extra after Thanksgiving when on sale and store them)
• Onion
• Cheese
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Rice
• Lettuce Head x2 (take first 5-7 large leaves off and use rest for salad, large leaves for wraps)
• Green &/or Red Peppers
• Perogies (still from week one as you bought a large bag)
• Sour Cream
• Bread Crumbs (made yourself)
• Hamburgers (Superstore sells burger steaks for $10 for 20 yellow no name box, surprisingly good).
• Hamburger Buns (no name $1.99 or 4 for a $1 at Walmart pick your own bins)
• Honey Garlic Dinner Sausage (pack of 9 for $11 at Costco)
• Zucchini
• Mini Potatoes (or buy the full potatoes and cube yourself for cheaper)
• Roast (between $8-$15)
• Garlic
• cumin/ honey/ Worcestershire sauce/ ketchup/ brown sugar (regular kitchen items)
• Half & Half
• grapes
• Yorkshire Pudding packet ($1.49 at No Frills)
• Avocado  
• Pineapple Rings (Dollarama $1)

Meal #1
Chicken Casserole

• chicken either as breasts or cubed
• stuffing mix
• small onion diced
• 1 cup broccoli heads
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 can cream of chicken 
• 1/4 cup of mayo

In a frying pan, add your chicken raw and water enough to fill the bottom.  Let cook for 20 mins with a lid on.  While these are cooking make up your stuffing mix.  MAKE SURE you salt both sides of the chicken, makes it real tender.  Take out and either cube chicken (makes the chicken go further) or leave in breasts.  In a casserole dish, mix stuffing made, chicken, onion, broccoli, half the cheese, cream of chicken and mayo.  Top off with remaining cheese.  Cook at 375 for 30 mins so everything can get all gooey.  Serve onto of rice, and with a salad.

Meal #2
Meatloaf

• ground beef
• small onion diced finely
• garlic finely minced
• squart of mustard
• 1 large egg beaten
• T of Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup Half & Half
• 1/2 green pepper finely diced
• 1 cup diced finely bread
• 2 T brown sugar 
• cumin/ honey/ Worcestershire sauce/ ketchup/ brown sugar

1. Take onions and green peppers and garlic and cook in frying pan till soft.  2. Take 1/2 cup ketchup, tablespoon of cider vinegar, t of cumin, splash of Worcestershire sauce, and a T of honey and mix in a different bowl, this is the glaze.  3. In a bowl whisk egg, brown sugar, salt, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, half and half, and half of the glaze mixture.  Once mixed, add first and second batches made to meat and mix gently with hands, making sure not to squeeze meat or over mix.  Shape into loaf and put into greased bread pan.  Bake at 350 for 60 mins.  Add remaining glaze mixture after 10 mins of baking.  Make sure your meat reads 160 degrees before taking it out.  Once cooked let stand for 10 mins and then cut into loafs and enjoy!  Serve with a veggie and salad.

Meal #3
Chicken Lettuce Wraps

• chicken cooked and sliced or can of flaked chicken
• full lettuce leaves
• mayo/ sour cream enough to moisten batch
• grapes cut into halves or quarters
• green and or red peppers diced
• red onion diced finely
• cheese grated
• rice
• ranch
• carrots

This can be considered a lunch meal but I like light suppers to on busy days and this can be wiped up quick. Start by getting a pot out to make your rice (make double the recipe if you plan on eating BBQ sausage tomorrow), as well as a pot out for boiling your carrots (or eat them raw).  Then mix first 6 ingredients together (except the leaves) and put in bowl.  Break off large leaves from lettuce head and scoop good size amounts of mixture into leaves, wrap.  Make rice, once finished, add 2 T of ranch (I prefer the ranch packets mixed with mayo or sour cream, tastes better to me).  Serve with the rice and carrots.

Meal #4
BBQ Sausage

• honey garlic sausage
• BBQ sauce (we prefer Kraft Chicken n' Rib)
• rice
• green and or red peppers cut into large pieces
• onion cut into large pieces
• pineapple rings
• zucchini

Turn on the BBQ and place your sausage on there.  While that's cooking, cut up peppers, onion, and zucchini, put on shishkabobs and lather with BBQ sauce.  Bring out to BBQ along with your pineapple rings.  Place on BBQ and lather rings with BBQ sauce.  Sausage takes about 20 mins to cook, making sure the inside isn't pink anymore, and turn veggies every few mins, especially the pineapple rings.  Serve with rice and BBQ veggies.

Meal #5
Hamburgers

• hamburgers
• hamburger buns
• lettuce
• cheese
• onion
• pickle
• avocado
• dressings of choice
• salad
• large potatoes

First cut up large potatoes into fries, sprinkle with olive oil and make sure coated with hands.  Sprinkle salt and paprika on top with chili powder.  Place in over at 400 for 20 mins.  Take burgers to the BBQ.  Serve with salad.

Meal #6
Perogies

Easy supper night, recipe found here.

Meal #7
Roast

• CROCK POT
• roast
• potatoes cubed
• carrots cubed
• onion sliced
• onion soup mix
• splash of Worcestershire sauce
• t of salt
• salad
• Yorkshire pudding packet

fav!).

This week you are looking at about $65 in groceries for suppers.  If you factor in about $23 for lunches and breakfast your total for groceries this week should be $88.

Costco Premium Toilet Paper

Run quick to Costco, they have their Premium Toilet Paper 36 (500sheets/roll) individually wrapped 2-ply rolls on sale for $14.97!!!  Save $4.00!  One other tip.  Buy ALL your toilet paper for a year at one time.  Especially at this cost.  This way in the future you aren't taking time out of your day to go and get more toilet paper, an essential that will always be used up anyways.  I know we got 2 packages for $30, enough for a year for us!

Dollarama Groceries

That's what I said, Dollarama Groceries!!!!  If you haven't been there for a while you might be surprised but it's true.  They have a whole section of canned food and candy.  Large apple sauce: unsweetened $1 (I know we go through a lot of apple sauce here with one kid, so I can't imagine with more!)  They have French's mustard for a $1.  Candy of all kinds for a $1.  They have juice and hot sauce!!  Canned veggies and jams.  A majority of these things are $1, the highest is $2.  Totally worth the stop.

They even have cleaning items like Palmolive and Vim which can cost up to $5 at some places.  Take a look at their website: http://www.dollarama.com/ they only show 12 items but I use a lot of those items everyday and I love to save!

Birthday parties, stock up on stuff here, especially if your one that likes to go over the top.  Easy prices on the eye and tons of fun stuff for the kids!

CHEAP BREAD: Thanks Kristi!

We all know how much of a burden bread can be, the prices just seem to raise more and more every year.  I remember when you could buy bread for $.79 a loaf, and that says a lot because I still haven't hit my 25th bday!  I remember as a child going to McGavin's Bread in Lethbridge when we moved from Ontario, and bread was so cheap.  I didn't know they had a McGavin's Bread Basket running in Calgary..... Well, they sure do, they have 3!!

- 9250 Macleod Trail Southeast, Calgary - (403) 253-2284

http://maps.google.com/?cid=7641172679438144294s=60126977604316
- 325-3545 32 Avenue Ne, Calgary - (403) 717-0373

- 132-1830 52 Street Se, Calgary - (403) 248-9858

Thanks Kristi for the little tippers!  Kristi says "10 for $10 and thats english muffins and tortillas and bagels. anything close to expiring but if you freeze it, its still great!"  I know we are gonna go and stock up.  Why not save some money the easy way!!!  Plus, if you have a family with 2-3 kids, your gonna go through bread quick anyways!

Thanks to Joanne, there is also another place for cheap bread: 

Calgary Italian Bakery Ltd 5310 5 St SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1L2 Joanne was saying bread is $.50 a loaf, I'm certainly gonna check that out!!!!  

Food Smart

A few ideas on how to make the most out of your grocery shopping and your pantry!

• Buy multiples of items most used when on sale.  For example, we eat a lot of beans in my house.  Add them to almost anything to give that protein boost without always using meat (food smart tip #1).  When beans are on sale, I buy 2-3 more cans to store and use later because I know I will!
• Use up your freezer and pantry food!  I know I am bad for this, I add to my freezer more consistently then I do use it.  Take an hour, pull everything out of your freezer and pantry, WRITE IT DOWN!  Now, for the next month, incorporate the freezer and pantry food into your meals.  Especially the food that's at the bottom of the freezer.  The list you made, put it on your fridge so the next time you go grocery shopping you won't pick up multiples of something you need to use in the freezer or pantry!
• Use your leftovers in other foods.  If you have leftover rice or chicken, make a different meal using those leftovers so your family EATS the leftovers!
• Don't buy more perishable foods then you eat.  I find that buying frozen veggies and some fruits are cheaper in some ways, especially if your like what I use to be and when grocery day comes around you are throwing out half of what you are putting in it.
• Make a meal plan before heading out and buying groceries.  That way all the food is called for!

Week #2 of Meals for $350

Here are some dinner ideas for another week.  Lunch and breakfast ideas can be found on Week #1, found here.  Hope you can use some of these meal ideas!

Groceries:
Pork Tenderloin (4 for $20 at Costco, HUGE!)
Corn (keep using from previous week)
Beans (keep using from previous week if purchased large bag from Costco)
Potatoes (bag for $5 at No Frills)
Califlower ($1.49 at No Frills)
Pillsbury Cresants (4 of them $1.29 each at No Frills)
Onions (bag for $2.49)
Cheese ($5.99-$9)
Can of Salsa
Rice (bag from previous week)
Green Onion ($1.29)
Red or Green Peppers ($2 at No Frills)
Chicken (box from Costco previous week)
Lemon Pix Filling ($2)
Delissio Pizza ($6 at No Frills)
Pasta ($2 at No Frills)
Turkey Sausage (10 for $2.99 at No Frills)
Ground Turkey (8lbs at Costco for $20 or $3-$6 for a pack)
Buns ($2 at Sobeys)
Black Beans ($.99 no name No Frills)
White Beans ($.99 no name No Frills)
Green Chilis ($2.79 at Sobeys)
Avacodo ($.98 each)
Bag of Salad (3 hearts for $2.98 at No Frills)
Bread Crumbs (can be made by breaking bread into clumbs, and putting into the oven at 400 for 15 mins)
Beef Gravy Pack ($1.50 No Frills)

Meal #1
Beef Wellington
I'm sure you have heard of these if you watch "Hell's Kitchen" so good!!  This is my version.

• Onions
• Pork Tenderloin
• 2 Pillsbury 
• Corn or Beans
• Flour
• Potatoes & Califlower
• Green Onion
• Beef Gravy 

Open the Pillsburys and make all the triangles into squares, 2 squares on the bottom and 2 for the top.  Chop and cook the onions with a tablespoon of sugar until carmalized.  Place the tenderloin onto the pillsbury dough, then cover with top and sides with the carmalized onions.  Then wrap the tenderloin with the dough.  Place on cookie sheet and cover with foil and cook at 350 for 50 mins in the oven.  Take foil off and cook for another 10 mins.  While that is cooking, boil some potatoes and steam some califlower.  As well, make your gravy package.  Once soft, mash potatoes and califlower together and add green onion and a bit of butter (by decreasing potatoes and increasing califlower you decrease your calories!)  When the meat is done, cut into 2 inch slices, pour some gravy on top!

Meal #2
Lemon Chicken

• Chicken Breasts
• Lemon Pie Filling
• Rice
• Carrots
• Brown Sugar
• Honey

Make your lemon pie filling, then take your chicken out and salt both sides.  Then place the chicken in a cassorole dish and pour the lemon pie filling on top.  (I also like to score the chicken slightly and place the filling in those areas as well).  Bake at 400 for 40 mins or till chicken is cooked through.  Serve with rice and carrots.  To make carrots, boil till soft, add some brown sugar and honey!

Meal #3
Delissio Pizza
Speaks for it's self!

Meal #4
Turkey Cassorole (HC)

• 1 cup pasta of your choice
• 5 pieces of turkey sausage
• cheese
• breadcrumbs (small small)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• broccoli and califlower
• white beans

Steam broccoli and califlower, when done at to large mixing bowl and add a can of white beans.  Open the turkey sausage and cook contents.  Add those to mixing bowl along with some cheese.  After mixing together add to cassorole dish.  Add chicken broth, top with breadcrumbs and cheese.  Serve with a veggie and salad of choice.

Meal #5
Turkey Burgers

• Ground turkey 
• turkey sausage
• green chilis
• buns
• avacodo
• Burger toppings of choice
• mango salsa (recipe found here)

In a bowl mix ground turkey, turkey sausage, and a small can of green chilis.  Don't over mix!!  Just mix enough so things are even and form into burgers.  Cook on oven grill or BBQ (I find an oven grill pan is easiest).  If you want to be healthy, take your bun and take out some of the bread in the top bun and bottom.  Use the avacodo as mayo.

Meal #6
Cafe Rio

• Pork Tenderloin
• Salsa
• Brown Sugar
• Coke or Pepsi (optional)
• Rice
• Milk & Sugar
• Black Beans
• Salad of Choice (Ceaser at my house)
• Large taco wraps
• Sour Cream
• Cheese

Get out the crock pot, place in tenderloin and cover 3/4 with water.  Cook on high for 5 hours.  Then empty water, shred pork, add jar of salsa, cup of brown sugar, coke or pepsi (optional), and mix around.  Cook on high for 3 more hours).  Make rice, once done add 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup sugar. We like the sweet rice at our house!  Make can of black beans and salad.  Heat up a large skillet, add a tiny bit of oil or butter and heat both sides of the wrap.  Now place wrap on plate, put down some rice, then beans, then meat then sour cream and cheese.  Serve with salad, YUMMY!

Meal #7
Chicken Pockets

• Pillsbury Dough (we use 2- 8 packs at our house, makes 8)
• 2 canned chicken flakes
• green onion
• red pepper
• onion
• mayo

In a mixing bowl, add canned chicken, diced green onion (3 T), diced red or pepper, diced onion, and mayo just to make everything moist.  Take your dough out and make 4 squares with each pack (pinching 2 triangles together).   Cook at 350 for 12 mins, or till they are nice and golden brown on top, making sure the dough is cooked.  (At our house we each have 2, Riley maybe 3 and then he has 2 for lunch and I have some for lunch so 2 packs would be perfect for a fam of 4 or 5).

This weeks total comes to about $75!  A little more then last week but great food!  When you add breakfast and lunch dinners, the total comes to $100.  If you have any questions about any of the recipes please let me know!!

Couponing #2

Zellers Old Spice Deal

I don't have a picture, but I sure did get a deal.  I bought 4 Old Spice deodorant 65g, they were on sale for $2 each.  I had 3 coupons from pg brandpower.  2 were $1 off any Old Spice product and the other was $3 off 2 Old Spice products.

4 Old Spice deodorants @ $2
Total Bill                            $8
Coupons                             $5
Total Bill                            $3

  My total for the Old Spice was $3 for 4 of them.  Now we won't have to buy deodorant for the hubby for a while!

I hope a lot of you have gone to my coupon sites (which will hopefully grow to more) and signed up for them so you also can gain from the coupons!