Monthly Sam's Run--April

Last week, I made it to Sam's for my monthly run. The day after I went to Sam's I got a renewal notice in the mail with a "coupon" saying that if I renewed my membership in the store that I would get $10 gift card by showing the coupon. Well it just so happens that I did renew my membership in the store so I have to make another trip to Sam's to show them my receipt so I can get me that $10 gift card!   So in order to have my receipt with me when I went again, I kept it in my purse, hence my forgetting to post my April run!  Now that I have explained my delay, here is what I purchased this month at Sam's.

• yearly membership $40
• 2pks bagels $4.36
• 4 pk Ritz crackers $6.14
• 3 1/2lbs all beef hot dogs $7.86
• 2 pk Nilla wafers $5.22
• 4.22lbs pork loin chops $12.14
• 6lbs spaghetti noodles $5.64
• 48ct string cheese $6.86
• 2-40 oz Jif Peanut butter $6.83
• 5 lbs Country Crock $4.42
• 72 ct American cheese slices $6.52
• 200 ct bag Halls cough drops $6.22(with tax)
• 5 lbs frozen cut corn $4.88
• 6lbs shredded hash browns $4.88
• 12 ct mini pizzas $10.76
• 60 ct. Eggo waffles $7.79
• 5 qt. pail vanilla ice cream $4.77
• 4.5 lbs grated parmasen cheese $18.88
• 3-44oz bottles Heinz ketchup $6.37
• 2 pk chips $5.88
• 12 ct. tomato soup $8.28
• 12 ct. chicken broth $7.42
• 15 oz minced onions $4.64
• 12.11lbs boneless/skinless chicken $23.86
• 12ct-6pk chocolate donuts $4.18

Total without membership renewal: $194.18 

Total: $234.18

Next month should be interesting as to the final total as there will be several staples(flour, rice, fries, etc.) that I will need to replenish the supply. 

Pantry Meal--Beef Gravy and Noodles

Toward the end of last week, we had roast, carrots and potatoes for dinner. At the end of the meal when I was putting the food away I realized that the roast leftover was not going to be enough to make another big meal for the seven of us so I was a little stuck on what to do with it. Taking the time to reheat roast as is causes it to dry out and making veggie beef stew wasn't an option either because it isn't a favorite with the family.  I didn't want to shred it for tacos either.  

So I started thinking about what to do with it, and then remembered that I had on my freezer spring cleaning list another small roast(1.83lbs) that I had picked up on a meat markdown rack that I hadn't found a use for either.  The light bulb went on and another pantry/leftover makeover meal was created!  Here is what I created...

I cooked up the little roast in a skillet on the stove with a little water. Once it was done cooking, I diced up the roast and removed the fat.   I then diced up the leftover roast and added it to the roast I just cooked in my skillet on the stove.  

I added enough water to cover the meat in the skillet.  I then added minced onions, worchestershire sauce, garlic powder, black pepper, beef bouillon cubes and seasoned salt.  I brought the meat mixture to a boil and then added in flour/cornstarch/milk mixture to thicken to a gravy consistency.  Brought the mixture back to a boil and then let simmer with a lid on the skillet while I cooked the noodles and the green beans to compliment the meat. 

I served the meat over egg noodles and served the green beans on the side. It was a delicious meal!  My hubby even commented that he loved the flavorful meat gravy! He asked me what I did differently...the only thing I did differently from other times that I have done this dish is I made the gravy from scratch using bouillon and water rather than using a can of beef broth!

Here is the recipe:

1 1/2- 2lbs beef roast, cooked & diced

4 cups water*

3-4 tsp. dry minced onions*

2-3 tsp. worchestershire sauce*(used for coloring purposes rather than flavoring)

1 tsp. garlic powder*

1 tsp. seasoned salt*

4 beef bouillon cubes

Combine altogether. Bring to a boil.

In a separate cup, mix together 3 heaping spoonfuls of flour, 2 heaping spoonfuls of cornstarch. Add in enough milk to make a thick pourable paste.  Once mixture doesn't have any lumps pour into the meat slowly(Might not use all the of the flour/cornstarch paste!!). Stir meat while pouring the flour/cornstarch paste in to the skillet. Use just enough of the paste to thicken the meat.  

Serve over egg noodles that are cooked al dente.

*the amounts are approximate!

This post is linked at:

• $5 Dinner Challenge at $5 Dinners!
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam!
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday over at Blessed with Grace!
  
• Kitchen tip Tuesday, over at Tammy's Recipes! 
  
• I am Blissfully Domestic at Blissfully Domestic!
  

Menu Plan Monday 4/19-4/25

 Last week's menu plan went pretty smoothly despite not having two days planned out ahead of time.  It proved to be a little stressful on those days as I would really have to think about what to do for dinner. 

It was “payday week” for this week’s shopping trip so I was able to get other meat in the house except for ground beef.  This week’s shopping trip also involved my monthly trip to Sam’s Club.  All my grocery shopping was squeezed in between soccer practices & games, church drama practices, hubby’s mentoring group, my dentist appointment and our suburban in the shop for half a day!  I am still working at doing a pantry & freezer spring cleaning event for the month of April.   I had to replenish some “staples” that I love to keep stocked so that must be a good sign that things are going well. 

This week’s menus is the third full week of my spring cleaning event however, I have a few more meats in the freezer now so meals should have a little bit of a variety to them. I am going to try a couple new meals this week despite having yet another busy week!! 

Lunches listed are for the kids & me. Unless we are having leftovers, our lunches are served with apple slices or baby carrots along with fruit juice or water.  Hubby usually takes a dinner leftover along with various snacks for his work lunch.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 400 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 (4-19)

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

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: McDonalds after church

Snack: snack basket

 

Monday (4-20)

Breakfast: cereal, toaster strudel, yogurt

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: beef gravy over egg noodles served with green beans

Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (4-21)

Breakfast:  waffles and sausage

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner:  chicken alfredo pasta(new recipe) served with homemade garlic toast and fresh veggie tray.

Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (4-22)

Breakfast: bagels, eggs and yogurt

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner:  cube steak served with hashbrown casserole(new recipe), corn and rolls

Snack: cookies & milk 

Thursday (4-23)

Breakfast: Pancakes and sausage

Lunch: chicken nuggets and hashbrowns

Dinner:  pork chops served with mac & cheese and peas

Snack: snack basket

 

Friday (4-24)

Breakfast: cereal and donuts

Lunch: sandwich & chips

Dinner: grilled chicken served with potato pockets and corn

Snack: ice cream night                                          

 

Saturday (4-25)  

Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”

Lunch:  ???

Dinner:  bacon cheeseburgers served with French fries and fresh veggie tray

Snack:  snack basket  or popcorn

 

 

 

 

National Turn Off TV Week--April 20-26

Next week is National Turn Off TV Week, how about turning off the TV for the whole week and engaging in one or all of these thirteen activities with your kids!?!

1. Put a puzzle together.
   
   
2. Plant flowers, herbs or a garden.
   
   
3. Read aloud a book.
   
   
4. Visit your local public museum.
   
   
5. Go to the local public park.
   
   
6. Take a nature hike.  Collect different items and make a collage.
   
   
7. Go bowling.
   
   
8. Visit the local bookstore.  Barnes & Nobles has events planned...go here to find a list.
   
   
9. Play a board game together.
   
   
10. Make a craft together. 
    
    
11. Bake cookies together.
    
    
12. Go camping or have a campout in your backyard.
    
    
13. Visit the library.

Did you know???

Number of 30-second commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000

Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5

Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680

Percentage of children ages 6-17 who have TV's in their bedrooms: 50

Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70

Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours

Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

source

This post is linked at:

• Thursday Thirteen at Happy to be at Home

**bringing post up to the top for those looking for ideas for the week!***

Singing Sunday

1. Dare to be a Daniel
2. by Phillip Bliss
3. 
   
4. Standing by a purpose true,
   Heeding God’s command,
   Honor them, the faithful few!
   All hail to Daniel’s band!
   • Refrain:
     Dare to be a Daniel,
     Dare to stand alone!
     Dare to have a purpose firm!
     Dare to make it known.
5. Many mighty men are lost,
   Daring not to stand,
   Who for God had been a host
   By joining Daniel’s band.
6. Many giants, great and tall,
   Stalking through the land,
   Headlong to the earth would fall,
   If met by Daniel’s band.
7. Hold the Gospel banner high!
   On to vict’ry grand!
   Satan and his hosts defy,
   And shout for Daniel’s band.