Anonymous
11/30/2012 15:51
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
The above menu was amazing!
I want to second the dried beans suggestion. I buy a bag of chic peas, soak 'em, use half for recipe and freeze the other half for later. Works great!
I want to second the dried beans suggestion. I buy a bag of chic peas, soak 'em, use half for recipe and freeze the other half for later. Works great!
Anonymous
11/30/2012 14:45
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you create a throwaway email address, I'll send you a gift certificate for target so you can buy more food. Just post it and I will send $50 tonight.
Very generous. You might want to get confirmation from Jeff that the person who posts the throwaway address is the OP.
You are really nice.
This just really made me tear up. I'm hoping it gets to OP. I had a single mom growing up who I now realize was in situations like this trying to stretch a few dollars over a week, and we just didn't know at the time. What a Godsend $50 would have been to her sometimes.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 14:20
Subject: Re:Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Harris Teeter does the roast chickens on Sunday I think.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 14:14
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
I am pretty sure that Giant also does $5 roast chickens on Friday.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 14:10
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
This is a wonderful, heartwarming thread! Well done, pp's!
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:59
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
OP, the others have given some wonderful suggestions and support. I'd just like to add that it might be worth learning to cook dried beans (and lentils, and chickpeas...) and getting over your feelings against large hunks of meat, just in case you find yourself in a tight spot again in the future. Buying in bulk and getting things as un-fooled-around-with as possible are where the savings are. For the price of even an on-sale rotisserie chicken you could buy two uncooked ones. For the price of a can of black beans you could buy two bags of dried. Etc., etc.
I don't necessarily enjoy the time or ick factor sometimes involved in cooking from scratch. But our budget is tight, and when it comes down to a choice between ick and paying more, I'll take the ick any day.
I don't necessarily enjoy the time or ick factor sometimes involved in cooking from scratch. But our budget is tight, and when it comes down to a choice between ick and paying more, I'll take the ick any day.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:42
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you create a throwaway email address, I'll send you a gift certificate for target so you can buy more food. Just post it and I will send $50 tonight.
Very generous. You might want to get confirmation from Jeff that the person who posts the throwaway address is the OP.
You are really nice.
OP here. That is so very very generous. Thank you so much. I will create an email address now. I have gotten such great suggestions and advice. Suggestions I can use not just for now but for years to come. The tremendous amount of support is very touching.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:35
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
oh, also, op - if you do try dried beans, make sure you don't add salt until the end, or else they'll never get very soft. I messed up the first time and it scared me off dried beans for awhile.
I just (as in, am eating it right now) made a black bean soup - took the equivalent of a can of black beans (that I had soaked and cooked with onions earlier), heated them on the stove with a can of diced tomatoes and spices (I used chili powder, cumin, garlic, and adobo, and a dash of worcestire sauce - use what you have on hand) and simmered for 15 mins. pureed about half of it in the blender, added it back to the pot, simmered 5 more mins, topped with shredded cheese from a big block of cheddar. it is DELICIOUS. probably about $0.50 a serving (this will feed me lunch twice).
you can freeze cooked beans to have on hand for weeks like this in the future - we basically end up at this point the first week of every month between rent day and pay day - so we have really started to stash away some stuff in the freezer throughout the month. it's finally paying off because this week we didn't have to buy any groceries and were able to have chicken tacos, stuffed shells, bean soup, turkey soup, and rice, pork, and beans. definitely is an improvement over last month's week of egg salad. and you can just use the excuse to your daughter that you need to clear space in the freezer, instead of telling her it's bc you are low on cash
that's what we tell ourselves anyway, haha
I just (as in, am eating it right now) made a black bean soup - took the equivalent of a can of black beans (that I had soaked and cooked with onions earlier), heated them on the stove with a can of diced tomatoes and spices (I used chili powder, cumin, garlic, and adobo, and a dash of worcestire sauce - use what you have on hand) and simmered for 15 mins. pureed about half of it in the blender, added it back to the pot, simmered 5 more mins, topped with shredded cheese from a big block of cheddar. it is DELICIOUS. probably about $0.50 a serving (this will feed me lunch twice).
you can freeze cooked beans to have on hand for weeks like this in the future - we basically end up at this point the first week of every month between rent day and pay day - so we have really started to stash away some stuff in the freezer throughout the month. it's finally paying off because this week we didn't have to buy any groceries and were able to have chicken tacos, stuffed shells, bean soup, turkey soup, and rice, pork, and beans. definitely is an improvement over last month's week of egg salad. and you can just use the excuse to your daughter that you need to clear space in the freezer, instead of telling her it's bc you are low on cash
that's what we tell ourselves anyway, haha
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:29
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you create a throwaway email address, I'll send you a gift certificate for target so you can buy more food. Just post it and I will send $50 tonight.
Very generous. You might want to get confirmation from Jeff that the person who posts the throwaway address is the OP.
You are really nice.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:15
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:If you create a throwaway email address, I'll send you a gift certificate for target so you can buy more food. Just post it and I will send $50 tonight.
Very generous. You might want to get confirmation from Jeff that the person who posts the throwaway address is the OP.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:11
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
If you create a throwaway email address, I'll send you a gift certificate for target so you can buy more food. Just post it and I will send $50 tonight.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:08
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:OP, if you have a costco card, the roast chickens there are always $5, are big, and (just my opinion) are freakin' delicious. When we go, we get 2 - 1 to eat that night, and one to use for casseroles (sometimes that week, sometimes we freeze it). Plus, you can use the bones for stock. But obviously, that's the ONLY thing you should get at CostCo this trip.
Don't have one, but I have a friend that does. I'll ask him to pick one up. Thanks.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:07
Subject: Re:Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
Anonymous wrote:My mom used to be in the same position all the time when I was growing up. There were 5 kids, and this is the type of menu she would use to get through the week when there was nothing left to be had. I think you can get all this in your budget. You and your daughter are in my prayers OP.
$5.00 Rotisserie Chicken
1 head cabbage
1 onion
1 bunch green onions
1 carrot (if you can afford it)
Egg
Pasta
PB
Loaf of bread
Friday:
Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken, 1 can green beans, rice
Saturday:
Breakfast: toast
Lunch: Cold chicken sandwiches w/mayo, mustard, etc
Dinner: Chicken fried rice (Chop 4 green onions, ¼ onion and half of carrot, sauté in pan with oil, dice some of the chicken, scramble in 1 egg, stir in with the veggies, sprinkle with garlic and soy sauce to flavor the meat, add in the leftover rice, season to taste with more garlic and soy sauce, stir fry until all is hot)
Sunday:
Breakfast: scrambled egg and toast
Lunch: PB sandwiches (good with honey if you don’t have jelly) or cold chicken sandwiches or hard boiled egg sandwiches
Dinner: Rice and stir fried cabbage (chop ½ the head of cabbage. Dice ¼ of the onion and 3 more green onions, sauté in oil, add some of the chicken, season and stir fry, add the cabbage, sprinkle with soy sauce and garlic, turn the heat down and cover/steam. When the cabbage starts to cook, break and egg into a bowl, break open the yolk, and stir fry the egg into the cabbage mix. Serve with rice
Monday-Thursday:
Breakfast: eggs and toast, Lunch at school?
Monday:
Dinner: Cabbage soup (Fill a big pot with water, boil down the remaining chicken bones to make a stock, pull and shred the remaining meet and add it back to the stock, discard the clean bones and season the stock with salt and pepper. Chop the cabbage and ¼ onion, put in the boiling water and cook until the cabbage is soft. Break 2 eggs into a bowl, break the yolks and drop into the water, stirring as you do this to break apart the eggs as they cook. Serve with rice
Tuesday:
Spaghetti and sauce, make garlic toast for the side
Wednesday:
Leftovers
Thursday:
Stir fried spaghetti: Basically the same as the fried rice. Cook and drain the spaghetti (a la dente) Take whatever veggies you have left, dice, sauté, add 1-2 eggs and scramble, add the pasta, stir fry, season with soy sauce and garlic, salt, pepper, etc.
WOW! Thanks so much for your advice/suggestions and evryone else. I don't feel so lost any longer and that we can make it through this tough spot.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 13:04
Subject: Re:Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
My mom used to be in the same position all the time when I was growing up. There were 5 kids, and this is the type of menu she would use to get through the week when there was nothing left to be had. I think you can get all this in your budget. You and your daughter are in my prayers OP.
$5.00 Rotisserie Chicken
1 head cabbage
1 onion
1 bunch green onions
1 carrot (if you can afford it)
Egg
Pasta
PB
Loaf of bread
Friday:
Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken, 1 can green beans, rice
Saturday:
Breakfast: toast
Lunch: Cold chicken sandwiches w/mayo, mustard, etc
Dinner: Chicken fried rice (Chop 4 green onions, ¼ onion and half of carrot, sauté in pan with oil, dice some of the chicken, scramble in 1 egg, stir in with the veggies, sprinkle with garlic and soy sauce to flavor the meat, add in the leftover rice, season to taste with more garlic and soy sauce, stir fry until all is hot)
Sunday:
Breakfast: scrambled egg and toast
Lunch: PB sandwiches (good with honey if you don’t have jelly) or cold chicken sandwiches or hard boiled egg sandwiches
Dinner: Rice and stir fried cabbage (chop ½ the head of cabbage. Dice ¼ of the onion and 3 more green onions, sauté in oil, add some of the chicken, season and stir fry, add the cabbage, sprinkle with soy sauce and garlic, turn the heat down and cover/steam. When the cabbage starts to cook, break and egg into a bowl, break open the yolk, and stir fry the egg into the cabbage mix. Serve with rice
Monday-Thursday:
Breakfast: eggs and toast, Lunch at school?
Monday:
Dinner: Cabbage soup (Fill a big pot with water, boil down the remaining chicken bones to make a stock, pull and shred the remaining meet and add it back to the stock, discard the clean bones and season the stock with salt and pepper. Chop the cabbage and ¼ onion, put in the boiling water and cook until the cabbage is soft. Break 2 eggs into a bowl, break the yolks and drop into the water, stirring as you do this to break apart the eggs as they cook. Serve with rice
Tuesday:
Spaghetti and sauce, make garlic toast for the side
Wednesday:
Leftovers
Thursday:
Stir fried spaghetti: Basically the same as the fried rice. Cook and drain the spaghetti (a la dente) Take whatever veggies you have left, dice, sauté, add 1-2 eggs and scramble, add the pasta, stir fry, season with soy sauce and garlic, salt, pepper, etc.
$5.00 Rotisserie Chicken
1 head cabbage
1 onion
1 bunch green onions
1 carrot (if you can afford it)
Egg
Pasta
PB
Loaf of bread
Friday:
Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken, 1 can green beans, rice
Saturday:
Breakfast: toast
Lunch: Cold chicken sandwiches w/mayo, mustard, etc
Dinner: Chicken fried rice (Chop 4 green onions, ¼ onion and half of carrot, sauté in pan with oil, dice some of the chicken, scramble in 1 egg, stir in with the veggies, sprinkle with garlic and soy sauce to flavor the meat, add in the leftover rice, season to taste with more garlic and soy sauce, stir fry until all is hot)
Sunday:
Breakfast: scrambled egg and toast
Lunch: PB sandwiches (good with honey if you don’t have jelly) or cold chicken sandwiches or hard boiled egg sandwiches
Dinner: Rice and stir fried cabbage (chop ½ the head of cabbage. Dice ¼ of the onion and 3 more green onions, sauté in oil, add some of the chicken, season and stir fry, add the cabbage, sprinkle with soy sauce and garlic, turn the heat down and cover/steam. When the cabbage starts to cook, break and egg into a bowl, break open the yolk, and stir fry the egg into the cabbage mix. Serve with rice
Monday-Thursday:
Breakfast: eggs and toast, Lunch at school?
Monday:
Dinner: Cabbage soup (Fill a big pot with water, boil down the remaining chicken bones to make a stock, pull and shred the remaining meet and add it back to the stock, discard the clean bones and season the stock with salt and pepper. Chop the cabbage and ¼ onion, put in the boiling water and cook until the cabbage is soft. Break 2 eggs into a bowl, break the yolks and drop into the water, stirring as you do this to break apart the eggs as they cook. Serve with rice
Tuesday:
Spaghetti and sauce, make garlic toast for the side
Wednesday:
Leftovers
Thursday:
Stir fried spaghetti: Basically the same as the fried rice. Cook and drain the spaghetti (a la dente) Take whatever veggies you have left, dice, sauté, add 1-2 eggs and scramble, add the pasta, stir fry, season with soy sauce and garlic, salt, pepper, etc.
Anonymous
11/30/2012 12:52
Subject: Only have $20 to spend for meals (groceries)through next Thurs. What should I buy?
OP, if you have a costco card, the roast chickens there are always $5, are big, and (just my opinion) are freakin' delicious. When we go, we get 2 - 1 to eat that night, and one to use for casseroles (sometimes that week, sometimes we freeze it). Plus, you can use the bones for stock. But obviously, that's the ONLY thing you should get at CostCo this trip.