Grilled Spicy Chicken

Here in the Midwest the summer months are basically over! It has been more like fall lately, but that doesn't keep me from grilling!! I love fixing grilled chicken and as long as the weather stays nice I will use my grill!

When I make chicken on the grill, I love to spice it up rather than just having plain ol' chicken. I mix up some kind of spice with some olive oil and then brush it on both sides of the chicken as it is on the grill. My kids call the results "grilled spicy chicken".

The other day I made some grilled chicken and brushed it with two different spices and left a few plain for those that don't like the spicy chicken. I made up one bowl of lemon pepper seasoning and olive oil and another bowl with Pampered Chef southwestern seasoning and olive oil. The results were scrumptious. I forgot to actually measure how much spice to olive oil I use to make the brush on mixture. If you are one that likes exact measurements I would say to use a ratio of 1/4 cup olive oil to about 3-4 TBSP. spice. The mixture should be a little runny but thick enough that when you go to put on the chicken that is on the grill it doesn't run all off the chicken.

Other spices that I have done mixed with olive oil are:

• Cajun seasoning
• Garlic Powder or Minced Garlic and Parmesan
• Italian seasoning

These are the ones that I have done because these are the spices that I have on hand consistently. I am sure that there is other spices that would make a yummy combination on the chicken.

The sides are endless that you could serve with this chicken. My favorite sides are rice with a dollop of butter and a nice green leafy salad!

This chicken works great for a leftover as well. I love to thinly slice it and put it on top of a green leafy salad for lunch the next day.

This post is linked at:

• Food On Fridays at Ann Kroeker’s!
• Family Recipe Fridays at Vanderbilt Wife!
• Recipe Swap at The Grocery Cart Challenge!
• Friday Feasts at Mom Trends!
• Foodie Friday at Designs By Gollum!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $72.70

With going on vacation for most of next week, I wanted to get a few of the deals this week so that I had something in the freezers for when we came back so I didn't have to hit the store right away.

Here is the details of my trip this week:

Meijer:

• 3 boxes poptarts $4.40
• 3 boxes Keebler snack crackers $5.97
• 6 boxes Eggo Waffles $7.46
• 2 bags hashbrowns $3.98
• 3-12 pk cases Pepsi products $9.57(with bottle deposit)
• 2 Tombstone pizzas $5.66
• 2 bags Doritos $3.94
• 2 loaves Aunt Millies bread $1.63
• 1.30 lbs fresh catfish $5.19
• 7.64 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $13.67

Total OOP: $61.47

Total Savings: $43.85

Total without sales & coupons: $105.32

Family Fare:

• 7.53 lbs ground beef-chuck $13.48
• 7.49 lbs split chicken breasts $7.34
• 1 lb bacon $2.49
• 2 pkgs smoky links $4.98
• 1 gallon milk $2.99
• 5-12pks 7-up Products $17.00(with bottle deposit)

Total OOP: $48.28

Total Savings: $28.85

Total without sales: $77.13

Grand Total OOP:$109.75

Grand Total Savings: $72.70

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $182.45

This post is linked at:

• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Menu Plan Monday 8/30-9/8

Last week's menu plans were yummy! I love being able to serve my family meals that are simple and enjoyed by all. One of my meals last week I changed up a bit, I had planned on having cube steak & fish served with crashed potatoes topped with bacon bits and cheese and corn. However, I found that I only had 4 red potatoes to use for the crashed potatoes so I made up some diced up boiled potatoes for some of my crew that they could “doctor up” with bacon bits and cheese if they preferred. Well it appears that I have a new way of serving boiled potatoes now because a few of my kids loved it! It amazes me how a simple thing like that makes for a more enjoyable meal because everyone is happy with what they are eating!

Also last week, my two day garage sale was a success! I was able to sell around $170!! I was quite pleased. The first day of the sale was better than the second day but all in all I would consider a job well done. Now to take the 10-12 boxes of items and donate them because they are NOT coming back into my house or my Mom’s house!

Well it appears that I have been successful with not going overboard in my shopping trips lately! I was able to get out of the stores this week with the items I needed or deals I desired for under $50!!! I was very impressed with myself! It appears that I will be able to do another grocery store run during this week for things I will need for next week and be under the $50 mark too! Part of that is due to the fact; I have everything I need food wise for our family vacation that is happening in a week and a half! By the time we leave for vacation I will definitely need to do a BIG grocery shopping to replenish our supplies however I won’t have to worry about losing too much should we lose power while we are gone for six days.

This week’s menus are more of our favorite simple meals! I am hoping that I don’t have too many leftovers from the meals that I fix this week because of our vacation that is coming up. I am actually planning for this week and three days next week because those are the days before we go on vacation! While we are gone on vacation we will be staying with friends and family so all of our meals will be covered so no planning on my part is required! Not sure what exactly I am doing for next Sunday’s lunch and dinner meals. We haven’t totally decided what day we are leaving on our vacation, IF we decide that we are going to leave on Tuesday (9-8) than I will just do Tuesday’s menus on Sunday and we will be all set! J

For this week’s lunches (that are listed below), are for the kids and me! Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with fresh fruit or carrot sticks along with fruit juice or water. Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch so I don’t take the time to plan his lunches. He just takes the next oldest leftover on the stack in the fridge.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie’s site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!

Sunday (8-30)

Breakfast: eggs, sausage or steak, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls

Lunch: mini pizzas

Dinner: grilled burgers served with French fries and fresh veggie tray

Snack: snack basket

Monday (8-31)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: roast, carrots and potatoes

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (9-1)

Breakfast: waffles and sausage

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: roasted pork loin served with mashed potatoes & gravy, and corn

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (9-2)

Breakfast: bagels, cereal, eggs

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: beef gravy (using leftover roast) served with noodles and peas

Snack: snack basket

Thursday (9-3)

Breakfast: French Toast and sausage

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: homemade pizza subs

Snack: snack basket

Friday (9-4)

Breakfast: cereal and toast

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: grilled chicken & fish, served with french fries and corn

Snack: snack basket

Saturday (9-5)

Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”

Lunch: ???

Dinner: roasted chicken served with rice & gravy and green beans

Snack: ice cream or popsicles

Sunday (9-6)

Breakfast: eggs, sausage or steak, hash browns, and chocolate donuts

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack: snack basket

Monday (9-7)

Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: grilled bacon burgers served with French fries and fresh veggie tray

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (9-8)

Breakfast: waffles and sausage

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: Clean Out Fridge

Snack: snack basket