Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $111.09

This week was payday week so I did some stocking up along with getting some necessities. Payday week also means that I did my monthly Sam's Club run as well.

Since we were on vacation last week, I needed to restock the freezer & fridge some as I don't like to leave town with those full and risk food getting wasted due to power outage or other catastrophes.

This week one of my local stores had several different meats and meat cuts on a buy one package get one free package of equal or lesser value. Needless to say, I am so glad that I have a deep stand alone freezer so I could take advantage of that sale! My family isn't going to know what happened when I serve ranch steaks for a couple of meals in the next week!

I need to take an inventory of my pantry and freezer but I am pretty sure that we are set for the next couple of weeks and should only have to milk, eggs, and produce.

Here is the breakdown of shopping this week:

Meijer:

• 2.37 lbs bananas $1.40
• 2 dozen eggs $1.96
• 1 box blueberry muffin poptarts FREE
• 2 gallons milk $3.96
• 2 jars Ragu pasta sauce $2.18
• 2 canisters Quick Oatmeal $1.48
• 6lbs Gala Apples $2.98
• 2 pkgs Keebler cookies $2.34
• 2-6pk Applesauce $1.38
• 2 boxes Kelloggs cereal $1.98
• 2 boxes instant oatmeal $3.50
• 20 lbs potatoes $4.98
• 1 variety pack Nabisco snacks $3.00
• 1 family bag Tyson chicken nuggets $3.99
• 2 lbs bacon $5.00

Total OOP: $42.11

Total Savings: $41.20

Total without sales & coupons: $83.31

Family Fare:

• 3-64oz bottles Juicy Juice $8.00
• 2 bottles Hawaiian Punch $3.38
• 2 pkgs Go-gurt $3.92
• 4 tubes Pillsbury cinnamon rolls $5.16
• 4 tubes Pillsbury crescent rolls $5.18
• 2-1/2 gallon vanilla icecream $5.58
• 1 can refried beans $1.04
• 2 boxes taco shells $2.98
• 1 packet taco seasoning FREE
• 12 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $19.98
• 5.08 lbs boneless English roast $11.85
• 6.33 lbs Ranch steaks(thin cut) $15.99
• 3.01 lbs beef cube steaks $10.50
• .66 lbs beef stir fry meat $2.30 (manager's markdown)

Total OOP: $95.65

Total Savings: $69.89

Total without sales & coupons: $165.54

Grand Total OOP: $137.76

Grand Total Savings: $111.09

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $248.85

This post is linked to:

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

Monthly Sam's Run--September

My pantry is filled with snack foods from the grocery store sales so I didn't much in the way of snack foods this month from Sam's Club. This month's run was more for basic food necessities like milk, eggs, meat, ketchup and few other items that I get on a monthly basis at Sam's.

I was able to get out of Sam's for under $150! Next month, I might not be so fortunate as I will need to start stocking up on my winter/holiday baking supplies.

Here is the items that I purchased on my Sam's run:

• 140 count Pizza Rolls $8.98
• 28 ct Act II popcorn $7.12
• 12 cans Hunts tomato sauce $6.97
• 60 count Eggo waffles $7.79
• 10 lbs Country Crock margarine $7.92
• 3-40oz bottles Heinz ketchup $6.23
• 2-96 oz bottles apple juice $4.32
• 1.25 gallons Mazola canola oil $8.12
• 2-64 oz Mrs. Butterworth syrup $5.84
• 2 bags chips $5.98
• 5 lbs frozen cut corn $4.98
• 6 lbs Ore Ida hashbrowns $5.38
• 5 qt. pail vanilla ice cream $4.94
• 1 box Nyquil/Dayquil $13.64
• 1 gallon milk $1.98
• 24 ct. Trix yogurt $7.76
• 36 double rolls Northern TP $16.88
• 5.17 lbs pork loin chops $12.30

Total(with tax): $140.64

Homemade Bagels

I have tried many different bagel recipes over the last couple of years and I think I finally found one that I can handle and do without too much difficulty. I love the fact that my kids can help do these as well so it doesn't take all day to make them. If there is any left after a couple of days, I slice them and then put them in the freezer so they are an easy pull for a breakfast.

I got the recipe originally from my friend Debbie but I have taken the time to tweak it a bit for my family.

BAGELS

1 cup water or thawed frozen juice concentrate (can also use potato water if you kept some from when you cook pototoes, or boil one potato in 2 c water and measure out a cup)

1 Tbsp or package yeast

1 Tbsp honey

4 cup flour(you can use part or all whole wheat flour)

1 Tbsp salt

1 egg

1 egg, separated (reserve yolk for egg wash)

3 Tbsp oil

1. Proof yeast in 1/2 cup of water and 1 Tbsp honey. How to proof the yeast...In a small bowl, proof the yeast with a tablespoonful of sugar or honey, and very warm water. "Lukewarm" it's called - I always thought that meant barely warm but actually it means almost hot. Run the water over the inside of your wrist - it should feel warm but not unbearable. Stir the three ingredients together and let sit about five minutes. Here's why you do it in a small bowl: if it doesn't froth and bubble, but dissolves and lies flat or doesn't dissolve at all, you've either killed it or failed to activate it. Dump it out and begin again. This way you've only wasted a bit of yeast rather than a bowlful of flour, etc.
   
   
2. Add 1/2 cup of liquid, salt, egg, egg white and 2 c flour to the yeast once it is proof. Stir.
   
   
3. Add additional flour till dough isn't too sticky and can be kneaded and knead 8-10 minutes by hand or with mixer.
   
   
4. Let dough rise till doubled.
   
   
5. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large pot and preheat oven to 425°.
   
   
6. Punch down dough, knead a little and divide into 12 pieces. Shape into bagels. Instead of rolling it out and joining to seal ends - I find they fall apart too easily that way. I roll them into a ball, flatten it, and then make an opening in the middle with my fingers, stretching the dough carefully as I do so.
   
   
7. Let stand about 10 minutes on oiled surface.
   
   
8. Use a slotted spoon to slide each bagel into pot of boiling water. Do NOT crowd. I do them in my wok and found that I can get four at a time in the water. Boil 2 minutes on each side, then place carefully on greased baking sheet (they will be very slippery!)
   
   
9. Egg wash: Mix egg yolk with 1 tsp water and brush on each bagel. Sprinkle with coarse salt, poppy or sesame seeds or minced onion, if desired.
   
   
10. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

To make other flavors:

• Cinnamon-Raisin: I have added 1-2 Tbsp. cinnamon and 1/2-3/4 cup raisins to the dough.
  
  
• Strawberry: thaw frozen strawberries--save the juice from thawing and use as part or all of the water. Mash a few strawberries(around 1/2 cup) to put in the dough.
  
  
• Blueberry: thaw frozen blueberries and use juice from thawing for part of the liquid. Put in 1 cup blueberries.
  
  
• Cinnamon/Sugar: skip the egg wash and when they come out of the oven brush with melted butter and then roll in a cinnamon/sugar mixture.

This post is linked to:

• Frugal Friday at Life As Mom!
• 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!
• Fearless Friday at Home Ec 101!

2009-2010 Homeschool Curriculum

Summer is finally over for us! Last week, we were on vacation so I didn’t start school with my kids until this week! The last few days we have been tweaking the schedule and trying to get into a routine for the school year. I finally have finished figuring out exactly what we will be doing this year. Oh this is going to be a fun year!! I have added one more child to the mix of full time homeschooling! My daughter is going to be joining the older boys this year in keeping up with a school schedule. Along with sitting and listening to her brothers read history and science she is going to be learning to read. That is my main goal for this year…getting her reading!

Last year, I added in a few new items, Word of the Day and Music, and they were a fun addition to our school days. So we are going to continue with them this year. For Music, we will be doing it altogether and will be working on it one or two days per week. The Word of the Day is going to be worked into our daily work and used as part of our copy work exercises for the day.

My oldest son is pretty much a self-learner so he will be doing most of his year on his own with minimum effort from me. I choose what he will be learning along with scheduling it out and he does the work. My other two sons are so close in age, abilities, and learning styles that I try to work with them together on most things.

History and Science texts are used more as a study guide because we do more Unit Studies and Lapbooks for those subjects. I am still working on age appropriate book lists for all four of them and I will post at a later date.

Also we will be doing Art(weekly) and PE(daily), however, I didn't list them because we do these things altogether and as time allows for them.

Below is our eclectic curriculum that we will be doing this year!You will see that I mix several different free internet resources along with actual textbooks. I am borrowing several textbooks this year along with using the older editions of others that I have on hand. There is minimal out of pocket costs for me this year as I am using books that I already have on hand, the library or borrowing books from friends. My MIL is paying for biology labs for oldest son to participate in at the local homeschool building.

#1 son--Grade 8/9:

Bible:
**Bible Class Books
**list of Scripture to memorize
**Character Building
**Christian History
**Select Reading List

Math:
**BJU Algebra 1
**Consumers’ Math

English/Writing:
**Word of the Day
**Journal Writing

Reading:
**Fundamentals of Literature--BJU
**Poets Study
**Select Reading List—Book Reports and Comprehension Questions

Spelling:
**Spelling Connections Grade 8
**Spelling Connections Games

Handwriting/Copywork:
**Donna Young's Penmanship

Science:
**Biology—Exploring Creation with Biology
**Biology Labs

History:
**American History & Government
**World History

Music:
**Ambleside Composer Study
**Learn Music Notes


#2 son--Grade 6:

Bible:
**Bible Class Books
**list of Scripture to memorize
**Character Building

Math:
**BJU Math Grade 6

English/Writing:
**Scott Foresman Grade 6
**Journal Writing
**Word of the Day

Reading:
**BJU Reading Grade 6
**Select Reading List—Book Reports and Comprehension Questions

Spelling:
**Spelling Connections Grade 6
**Spelling Connections Games

Handwriting:
**Cursive--Handwriting for Kids
**Donna Young's Penmanship

Science:
**Observing God’s World—Grade 6

History:
**Abeka New World Geography

Music:
**Ambleside Composer Study
**Learn Music Notes


#3 son--Grade 4:

Bible:
**AWANA
**Character Building

Math:
**BJU Math Grade 4

English/Writing:
**Scott Foresman Grade 4
**Journal Writing

Reading:
**BJU Reading Grade 4
** Select Reading List—Book Reports and Comprehension Questions

Spelling:
**Spelling Connections Grade 4
**Spelling Connections Games

Handwriting:
**Cursive--Handwriting for Kids
**Donna Young's Penmanship

Science:
**Investigating God’s World—Grade 5

History:
**BJU Heritage Studies Grade 4

Music:
**Ambleside Composer Study
**Learn Music Notes


#1 daughter—Grade 1

Bible:
**AWANA
**Character Building

Math:
**Math Worksheets

English/Writing:
**Scott Foresman Grade 1

Reading/Phonics:
**Teach Your Child to Read 100 Lessons
**A Handbook for Reading
**Select Reading List
**Learn Sight Words

Spelling:
**Spelling Connections Grade 1
**Spelling Connections Games

Handwriting:
**Home Education Resources--Printing
**Handwriting for Kids--Manuscript
**Donna Young's Penmanship--Beginning Manuscript

Science:
**Learning Page Themes

History:
** Unit Studies(holidays, communities, etc)

Music:
**Ambleside Composer Study
**Learn Music Notes

This post is linked at:

• Thirsty Thursdays at Five Js!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $60.02

Last week was a vacation week for my family, so I didn't post much and that included not posting the weekly shopping that I did before we left and while we were gone.

The day before we left for vacation, I went to Meijer to get a few sale deals, items that we would need to start our trip and items to have in the freezer so that I didn't have to go to the store the day we returned.

Here is what I purchased on my before vacation trip to Meijer:

• 1 pk night light bulbs $2.79
• 1 family pk bag chicken nuggets $4.99
• 1 family pk bag chicken patties $4.99
• 2 bags frozen corn $2.00
• 4 cups Easy Mac $2.00
• 5 boxes Brown & Serve Sausage $4.00
• 5 boxes pizza rolls $4.60
• 6 Totinos pizzas $4.17
• 2 bottles Lysol All purpose cleaner $1.88
• 2 bottles Lysol bath cleaner $2.23
• 2 cartons Deans Ice Cream $5.48
• 2 Right Guard Deodorants FREE
• 4 pkgs Eckrich smoky links $7.00
• 12 Oscar Meyer Lunchables $11.00
• 4-9oz pkgs John Morrell deli meat $5.00

Total OOP with tax: $62.91

Total Savings: $56.28

Total without sales & coupons: $119.19

While we were on vacation, we stopped at Meijer to pick up a few things to compliment the items that my MIL had picked up for us to eat while visiting with her and to buy replacements of few beauty items we finished off. The following shows a glimpse of shopping with hubby and also not using coupons or much in the way of sales! I know that if I had done a bit more planning several of these items would NOT have been needed!

Here is the items we purchased during that Meijer stop:

• 2.54 lbs bananas $1.50
• 1 trial size deodorant 97¢
• 2 trial size toothpaste $1.98
• 1 bottle Juicy Juice $2.62
• 1 gallon Sunny Delight $2.99
• 2 lbs deli meat $7.98
• 2lbs baby carrots $2.50
• 2 Lunchable Juniors $2.00
• 1 bin Meijer bakery cookies $3.59 (40% off markdown rack)

Total OOP with tax: $28.44

Total Savings: $3.74

Total without sales & markdowns: $32.18

Grand Total OOP: $91.35

Grand Total Savings: $60.02

Grand Total without sales, coupons & markdowns: $151.37

This post is linked at:

• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!