Time to get next weeks shopping done :)

Here is the copy of our shopping list for this week, the red checks beside the item means its something we have in our fridge. Or we can substitute it.

Check out the size of that :). Hopefully we should be spending a lot less than $20 this week, due to the huge amount of leftover barley soup we have, as well as the one with beans in.

We are having a feast tonight as its Nicks cousins last night before he leaves for Army boot camp.... We shall take plenty of photos and get back to updating later today.

Pasta recipie...

So much better than store brands...

To make about 1 pound (5 to 6 servings):2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lukewarm water

Place the flour on a large floured surface.
Make a well in the center.  Break the eggs into the well.
Add the salt, oil, and water. Beat the mixture in the well with a fork.
Using a fork, gently start to work the flour into the liquid.
Continue until the dough becomes sticky and difficult to work with the fork.
Use your hands to form the rough dough into a ball.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface.
Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
Cover with a bowl or towel and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
Proceed with rolling and cutting the pasta according to your recipe.

If you want a hint of Basil, add around 4tbsp to the recipe after the eggs have been added. We made ours in a bread machine and then used our new pasta maker to beat the dough together. Its a very eggy tasting pasta! 

<-----Our bread machine. Very highly recommended. We got it for Christmas and now use it at least 2 times a day. Make sure you follow every single direction carefully. Do not let the yeast touch any liquid at the start. Also, make sure its at least lukewarm and not boiling. 

Tonights dinner.....$20 a week officially begins tomorrow!

Today we spent $40 on the necessaries at a local wholesale store. We needed beans, and other condiments to last us over the next 6 months. :-) on top of the $20 a week.

As for tonight, we are baking some Italian herb bread. To have along with chicken pasta sauce over basil fettuccine which is being slow cooked/baked/mixed and chilled as we speak.

The total cost of this meal to feed 6.... $4.

We are using some frozen chicken breasts, some oldish flour, and some pasta sauce which is about to expire.

I cant wait to start back college soon, and I am hoping to actually get some solid followers on this blog. Hopefully, some people will start their own $20 a week blogs. :-).

Nick and I couldent post pics of the bread we made... Its not very attractive right now. However, we will set the table for dinner tonight and then take some amazing photos (hopefully!)

Ta-ta for now!

MEAL PLANS+SHOPPING LISTS

This morning while drinking my coffee, I saw a program on extreme couponers....I have to say. I was slightly jealous. Spending $5,000 on groceries and getting them for $300 is a huge deal. But then again, I don't have that much pantry space in the new house.

We will be spending about $300 extra A WEEK outfitting our new house with items. Eeesh.
So here is the first meal plan for January. Also, the bulk buying shopping list for the first 6 months. Shouldn't cost more than $30 to set up.
I will also post the recipies below. As I have mentioned before, a slow cooker is essential! Or a large pot on a low heat, if you are home all day.

This is the bulk buying shopping list. I will be going to BJ's to get a majority of this. We are talking year long supplies. The bigger the better.

Leftover containers are key too...



Italian Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1lbs)
8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
1 medium green bell pepper (Chopped....Optional!)
1 medium zucchini (diced...Optional!)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 jar of pasta sauce

Combine all ingredients in crock pot or slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender.


Savory Mushroom and Barley Soup:
3 cups of water
1 can of diced tomatoes
3/4 cup of each: Onion, celery, carrots
1 teaspoon dried savory leaves
3/4  teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
2 cups white mushrooms
1/2 cup quick cook barley
Salt and pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients, except barley, salt and pepper in slow cooker; cook on high 4 to 6 hours, adding barley during last 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Garlic Vegetable soup
2 quarts water
1 can (15 ounces) navy or great northern beans, rinsed, drained
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded coarsely chopped
1 cup each: diced new potatoes, coarsely chopped carrots, cut green beans (1/2 inch), chopped leeks (Some of these are optional. Its all about what you like)
1/2 cup chopped celery
6 large cloves garlic (Minced)
2 tablespoons each: Tomato paste, dried basil leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in 6 quart slow cooker; cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper.



Vegetable soup
1 quart vegetable broth
1/2 cup each: thinly sliced green cabbage, chopped celery, onion, broccoli florets, cut green beans, cubed zucchini, potato (Again, pick and choose!)
1/2 cup uncooked ditalini
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup basil (Pesto or dried)

Combine all ingredients, except ditalini, salt, pepper, in slow cooker. Dont add basil pesto yet if you are using it.
In a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, adding ditalini during 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in basil pesto at last second!

(Ditalini...http://www.barillaus.com/Products/4/ditalini.aspx.... I had some in my pantry!)



Please comment if you have questions!

$20 a week items

Well after doing the meal plans I believe we have a few issues to clear up:

#1. You are going to need a good spice rack! Such as


This is one that I have. Spices are the flavor of life. You will be using them EVERY day. I cant emphasis this enough. You can completely change up boring dishes.

#2. Get the basics down. Before the new year, get in some dry pasta, beans, canned tomatoes, frozen peas (The biggest bag you can find), frozen kernel corn, Bread mixes (You can make your own bread and save a fortune!), tuna, canned veggies, tomato sauce, pasta sauce, canned chicken. Etc... That's the main ones I can think of.

#3, Nick and I are so busy in the first few weeks of January, that we survive on slow cooking. The one we have is

It is amazing. :)

#4. get up and get peeling! Essential for surviving on $20 a week. Keep the peels and start a vegetable garden with fresh compost.
In the summer this will keep your costs down.

#5. Use what is in your pantry! Dont go over the $20 budget, if your missing a few ingredients in the meal, substitute. Use one type of bean instead of three.

#6. Clip some coupons.

#7. Go to your local Farmers market. Grab some fruits and veggies. Bargain prices :). If they are still more expensive than your local store, haggle with them. And bring proof. If you haggle loud enough, they will probably match the price you are asking.


Later today will be the first food plan. I will post the recipies underneath the scan of my plan.

Keep the recipies in a word document. This will be useful for reusing specific meal plans.

See you all later.

Please feel free to comment!

Our Egg cooker

I love this egg cooker. Its going to be used a whole lot on the $20 a week mission. Its very energy efficient, it matches my kitchen (Big point for Miss Katie!) and it cooks my favourite type of egg.
Soft boiled!
Theres nothing better on a Sunday morning than Toast and Soft boiled egg. Dip the toast in to the egg yolk... Awesome...

Well.... Lucky for me I have no cholesterol problem. But if you do, you can also take out the center of hard boiled eggs, and eat them as a snack with a little pepper and mustard on.



Some other items you may want to invest in are storage containers for food. This will be the main way to save money. Its absolutely key to use these through the whole process. I use Rubbermaid, because it stops Nick rummaging through all our cupboards for one lid.