Menu Plan Monday 9/21-9/27

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

Last week's menu is a prime example of the menu being a plan! I switched days on a couple of meals! I changed several meals due to time constraints! I didn’t use the meals at all and we are having those this week!

This week's menus is "Family Favorite's Edition" so I asked the kids what they wanted this week for dinner. All the meals below are all my "kid's favorite picks"!

This week's shopping trip brought in lots of markdown meats for the freezer and also increased my stockpile. I am going to try not to shop this week! I need to do what I did at the end of August and eat down my stockpile some especially what is in my freezer! If you are interested in how I do/method behind the madness shopping trips, you can read my shopping method story!

Lunches listed are for the kids and me. Usually with our lunches I served carrot sticks, and some kind of fruit along with juice or water to drink. Hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day along with several items for snacks.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (9-21)
Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage links and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: sandwiches and chips
Dinner: ???
Snack: snack basket

Monday (9-22)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: chicken club sandwiches, fries and apple slices (carry overs!)
Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (9-23)
Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Taco Bar—chicken & beef, refried beans, rice, chips & cheese(carry overs!)
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (9-24)
Breakfast: bagels, and cereal
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: crockpot roasted chicken, rice & gravy, corn and homemade honey oatmeal rolls
Snack: cookies & milk

Thursday (9-25)
Breakfast: French toast and sausage
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Salisbury Steak with Gravy, mashed potatoes, and peas
Snack: snack basket

Friday(9-26)
Breakfast: eggs, cinnamon rolls, sausage links
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: grilled chicken, fish & shrimp, potato pockets, and corn
Snack: homemade chocolate shakes

Saturday(9-27)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: hoagie bun pizzas
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $113.15

Look at those yellow stickers!!! I got those when I went to Family Fare earlier in the week! I needed to go pick up medicine from the pharmacy along with using a raincheck for hubby's pop before expired and so I had to do my usual swing by the meat counter!! I must have just missed them doing the markdowns cause there was TONS of yellow(well maybe not TONS but lots of choices!).

So here is the run down....

• .99lb center cut pork loin chops $5.14 markdown to $3.60
• 1.32lb Boneless Angus Beef Skirt Steak $6.59 markdown to $4.61
• 2.12lb Angus Beef Cube Steak $8.03 markdown to $5.62
• 2.83lb Ground Beef from Chuck $7.05 markdown to $4.93
• 2.89lb Ground Beef from Chuck $7.20 markdown to $5.04
• 2.76lb Ground Beef from Chuck $6.87 markdown to $4.81

For those 3 pkgs of Ground Beef from Chuck, it figures out to $1.74/lb!!!! That is the cheapest per pound I have gotten for ground beef in a long time!!

Okay add in 4 12pk cases of Pepsi at $9.00 with my raincheck making the Total: $42.41 Then you minus the $7.70 bottle refund for the cans I returned and that makes the Total: $34.71! Savings Total: $22.03

I had to make another run to Family Fare to get WIC once I had my appt on Tuesday to reload my card so not only did I grab my WIC but also 10 lbs of red potatoes for $3.99 (B1 5lb bag G1 5lb bag FREE)! TOTAL for this trip: $3.99 Savings TOTAL: $3.99

GRAND TOTAL for Family Fare: $38.70
GRAND SAVINGS TOTAL: $26.02

Next stop....Meijer(prices are after sales & coupons)

• 2.31lbs bananas $1.36
• 1 cantaloupe $1.67
• 2-3lb bags apples $4.00
• 2-10lbs potatoes $5.98
• 1/2lb deli ham $1.15
• 3.69lb porkloin $6.61
• 5.10lb porkloin $9.13
• 6.41lb whole chicken $5.28
• 6.02lb whole chicken $4.90
• 1lb roll Meijer brand sausage $1.50
• 1 canister Old fashion oats 79 cents
• 2 boxes Instant Oatmeal $3.00
• 2 pkgs Keebler Cookies $3.00
• 2 bottles Welchs Strawberry Preserves $3.00
• 4 bags Freshlike frozen veggies $2.90 (73 cents each)
• 2 cans tomato puree $2.00
• 2 gallons milk $5.00
• 3 containers Planter's peanuts $7.00
• 4 tubes crescent rolls $4.90 ($1.22 each)
• 2 boxes Teddy Grahams $4.00
• 2 bags Nestle Candy bars $3.00
• 1 box Fruit Stackerz FREE
• 1 Harvest Surprise Juicy Juice $2.69 (My mistake for not watching closely...at my Meijer this wasn't part of the sale!! or didn't ring up as part of the sale!)
• 2 Juicy Juice $2.50
• 4 bags Nestle chocolate chips $5.90 ($1.48 each)
• 1 bag family pack Tyson breaded chicken tenders $3.50
• 3 Tombstone Pizzas $9.99
• 2 boxes granola bars $3.25
• 2 boxes Kellogg's cereal $4.00
• 3 bottles Dawn liquid soap $5.07 ($1.69 each)
• 1 bottle Cascade dishwasher soap $1.69
• 1 bottle Downy 40 loads $2.69
• 2-10ct. boxes Wild bird suet cakes $13.99 ($7.00 each)

MINUS $8.00 in Catalina coupons!!!

Total: $129.44
Savings TOTAL: $87.13

GRAND TOTAL: $281.29
TOTAL OOP: $168.14
SAVINGS TOTAL: $113.15

I am the featured story this week!! Also check out other's savings and deals by visiting BeCentsable's Centsable Savings Stories!!!

Fall Recipe Collection

I love the fall season! Not because it means that I will be a year older(my birthday is in October); but because of all the homemade goodness that I can make in my kitchen that I really have hard time doing in the summer heat. Life as a Mom is hosting a Favorite Fall Food Recipe Swap, so I thought I would join in the fun and share some of my favorite fall recipes!

Where to start.....there's muffins, and stews, and crisps, and cakes...OH MY!

Pumpkin Muffins

2 c sugar
2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c. oil
4 eggs
1 (15-oz) can of pumpkin

Mix together all dry ingredients first, then add oil and eggs. Once this is mixed well (it will be thick), add pumpkin. Put in 2/3 cup batter into well greased muffin cups or or greased wrappers. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 mins (my oven baked them just right at 18 mins). I iced them with Cream Cheese icing!


Apple Cider Muffins

Pumpkin-Oat Muffins



Apple Crisp

Pumpkin Cake Squares


Chicken Rice Soup





Veggie Beef Stew


Go take a look at the many other fall recipes over at Life as a Mom or share some of your own!!

Weblink & Works for Me Wednesday--Testmaking

We are into our third week of doing school! We are to the point in several subjects that we are ending units or chapters and with that comes tests and quizzes.

This year, I have decided to work in actual written tests and quizzes rather than doing it verbally with my kids. I came across this site that you is a FREE online test generator to help you create your tests. You register for FREE! You can create multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer and true and false questions all on the same test. You can also insert instructions and divide your test into multiple sections. It automatically formats the test for you! The Free section also keeps the tests archived so that you can come back to them if needed.

There is "Plus" features to the site. The "Plus" features include spell check, exam builder, test duplicator and alternative versions of a test. According to the site, "a Plus subscription for 1 year is $14.95 or choose the 2 year option for $24.95 and save over 15%. It's Risk-Free! If you are not completely satisfied we'll refund your money within the first 30 days, no questions asked. There are no limits to the number of tests you can create in either the Free or PLUS edition. You can upgrade to or downgrade from the PLUS edition at any time!"

What site has all this available to use????

Easy Testmaker

Using Testmaker works for me for my homeschool testmaking. To find what work for others, head over to Rocks in my Dryer. And for other weblinks, head over to Homeschooling with Encouragement!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Last week, I posted about getting back into the groove of freezer storage and cooking.

One of the things, I like doing for some of my freezer cooking is finding "manager special markdowns" on meats! I love to get the markdown meat and bring them home to either cook up or just stock the freezer.

One of the meats that I like to find on markdown are beef roasts, or top round steaks or other lean cuts of meat that I can cut up in cubes and brown. Then once it is cooked thru taking the meat and dividing it up with the juices in the pan and sticking in my freezer.

Last week, I found some top round steaks on markdown that were not very big. I think the two of them totaled around one pound. Even though that would not have been enough for a meal for my family of 7 to keep them whole it was enough to cube up into 1/2 inch cubes.

Instead of putting it in the freezer, we had it for dinner. I took a can of beef broth along with the juices that the beef produced and had a meal of beef gravy over egg noodles with peas and bread as sides. A filling meal without alot of meat!

While I was cooking up the meat, I started thinking that I should have taken the time to get more and about what else I could have done with the meat had I stuck in the freezer.

The types of meals that I do up with the beef cubes are: beef gravy, beef/steak tacos, veggie beef stew. I am sure that there is more I could do with the beef cubes but this is what the family enjoys! I love having a meat that can be frozen that ends up being so versatile!

At any rate, the kitchen tip out of all that rambling is....when doing freezer cooking and storage it is okay not to actually have full meal entrees ready to go but to have various meats to a certain point where you could make a variety of meals within a matter of minutes. Also thinking outside the box for uses for certain cuts of meat can add to your advantage of feeding your family for less.

For other kitchen tips, recipes and more; head over to Tammy's Recipes!

Menu Plan Monday 9/14-9/20

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

My new recipe from this past week was a hit!! It was easy to do and a frugal restaurant style meal for the month! The rest of the menu from last week went well! I did switch the meal around on Friday…instead of grilled chicken, fish and shrimp, potato pockets, and corn we had burgers or steak, crashed potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob! I went to farmer’s market the day before and got fresh red potatoes for the crashed potatoes and the corn on the cob! The meal was a big hit with everyone!

The joys of having THREE birthdays in eight days!! One night this week (not sure which one so I am planning all meals), we are going to be a big birthday dinner out to Red Robin! We signed up for their birthday club and so we have a free burger and 2 free kid’s meal coupons to use for our meal. Then we top the evening off with going to Coldstone Creamery for dessert to share the 3 FREE Love-it size creations that we received via coupons for being part of their birthday club.

Also for this Thursday, I have been asked to take a meal to a family at church, whose mother is dealing with breast cancer treatments.

Lunches listed are for the kids and me. Usually with our lunches I served carrot sticks, and some kind of fruit along with juice or water to drink. Hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day along with several items for snacks.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (9-14)
Breakfast: eggs, hash browns, sausage links and jiffy blueberry muffins
Lunch: ham sandwiches and chips
Dinner: McDonald’s
Snack: snack basket

Monday (9-15)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: Pizza Hut (using the Summer Reading certificates for a free personal pan pizza that expire today!)
Dinner: chicken club sandwiches, fries and apple slices

**updated to frozen breaded chicken tenders or fish sandwiches, fries and leftover corn on the cob or carrots**
Snack: snack basket or go-gurt

Tuesday (9-16)
Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: leftover spaghetti, garlic toast and salad
Dinner: crockpot roast, carrots, and potatoes and rolls

**updated to skillet chicken n' gravy, mashed potatoes, corn and biscuits**
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (9-17)
Breakfast: bagels, yogurt, and cereal
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: skillet chicken n’ gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits

**updated to crockpot roast, carrots & potatoes and rolls**
Snack: cookies & milk

Thursday (9-18)
Breakfast: pancakes and sausage

**updated to "Cook's choice"(anything went!)**
Lunch: chicken nuggets and fries

**updated to leftovers**
Dinner: bbq pork, boiled potatoes, green beans
Snack: snack basket

Friday(9-19)
Breakfast: eggs, cinnamon rolls, sausage links

**updated to cereal and toast**
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: Taco Bar—chicken & beef, refried beans, rice, chips & cheese

**updated to Red Robin for birthday celebration**
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Saturday(9-20) Happy Birthday D!!
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”

**updated to fresh donuts from the ma & pa bakery**
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: hosting birthday cook-out with friends—burgers, chips and BLT Pasta salad
Snack: cake & icecream

Singing Sunday

Not to Us
by Chris Tomlin

The cross before me the world behind
no turning back
raise the banner high
it's not for me
it's all for YOU

let the heavens shake and split the sky
let the people clap their hands and cry
it's not for us
it's all for YOU

CHORUS:
not to us
but to YOUR name be the glory
not to us
but to YOUR name be the glory

our hearts unfold before YOUR throne
the only place for those who know
it's not for us
it's all for YOU

send YOUR holy fire on this offering
let our worship burn for the world to see
it's not for us
it's all for YOU
for YOU

CHORUS

the earth is shaking
the mountains shouting
it's all for YOU
the waves are crashing
the sun is raging
it's all for YOU

the universe is spinning and singing
it's all for YOU
YOUR children dancing
dancing
dancing
it's all for YOU
it's all for YOU
my all for YOU
my all for YOU

CHORUS