Senior Shopping Day Last Week

I bought all of this for $20.12 I am amazed, myself, because this is a month's supply of milk for the family, 4 jars of natural peanut butter, soy milk for me, about a pound and a half of smoked almonds, hot dogs, cookie mixes and canned frosting.

It was Senior Discount Day, so 10% was taken right off the top for any of the house brands, and natural foods. The milk was on sale, already for 99 cents each, plus the 10% discount on those. The soy milk was on markdown, plus 10% off, as it is one of Fred Meyer's house brands. The smoked almonds were on sale for $4.99/lb, and they also received the 10% off, as they come from the natural foods' section. As I was about to check out, I saw these cookie mixes and canned frosting on markdown, the cookie mixes for 42 cents/box, and the canned frosting for 37 cents/can. I could not pass those up. Even though I prefer scratch products for myself (digestive issues with packaged foods), these are perfect for when it is my turn to serve at coffee hour (which happened to be this past Sunday).

If you are a math whiz, you have probably figured out that surely this must have cost more than $20. I also had a $10.83 reward to use before March, from the autumn reward's cycle. And that brought my grand total down to $20.12.

Sadly, what was not in my cart that day was produce. I did pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables a week ago, Friday. Those items will have to do for the moment.

Anyway, I was incredibly pleased to spend so little.

Cheap & Cheerful Suppers for Early February

cookies made with scraps from rolled out sugar cookies, formed into a log,
 smashed flat, and filled with raspberry jam -- really delicious

Friday

• turkey noodle and vegetable soup
• cranberry sauce muffins

Saturday

Husband's night to cook

• scrambled eggs with cheese and onions
• hash-browned potatoes
• stewed tomato
• canned green beans

Sunday

• spaghetti pasta
• tomato, vegetable and meat sauce
• braised red cabbage
• carrots sticks
• blackberry cobbler with whipped cream

Monday

• leftover spaghetti casserole
• canned green beans
• leftover blackberry cobbler

Tuesday

• baked potatoes, topped with butter, cream cheese and cheddar cheese
• steamed carrots
• canned corn
• slaw made from red cabbage and sliced celery
• olives
• toffee bar cookies

Wednesday

• black bean soup, topped with cheddar, avocado and broken tortilla chips (bottom of the bag from December)
• French bread
• canned pineapple chunks
• cookies

Thursday

• leftover turkey-noodle soup from last Friday
• cranberry sauce muffins (also leftover)
• slaw made with red cabbage and celery, in a dressing of mayo, bleu cheese dressing and vinegar
• cookies

This has been a great week for soup. I've had soup for lunch a couple of days and we all had soup for dinner on three evenings. Cold weather = soup. 

Our primary vegetables continue to be canned, or fresh carrots, celery and cabbage. I got lucky at WinCo last Friday and found avocados for 58 cents each. I only bought three. We have been enjoying them, though. The canned vegetable supply has been dwindling. I am hoping that it will hold out through March, when late in that month I should be able to harvest kale, sorrel, watercress and parsley from the garden. Those last items will supplement continued purchases of fresh carrots, celery and cabbage, as well as whatever I find at the produce stand, which will open the last weekend of March. I can hardly believe it, but spring is nearly here!

My pre-planned menu has worked very well, thus far. I've only strayed from the plan a couple of times; which must mean that this has been a success. It runs through the end of this month. So, I will need to plan March and April's menus, soon.

What was on the menu at your house this past week? Do you have a plans for the weekend? We'll be celebrating Chris and Angie's engagement on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, I'll have heart-shaped pancakes for brunch for everyone, after church. 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!