CooknCents

Shopping for our Live Below the Line challenge was very difficult.    I had to put very careful consideration into what to feed a family of five for the week.

I had $37.50 to spend on groceries for the week.  Here is what I bought:

• 1# Carrots, .78
• 1 bag Celery 1.28
• 2 Onions .83
• 5 Bananas .85
• 5 Ears Corn .50
• Can Green Beans .75
• 18 Eggs, 2.04
• Blue Bonnet Spread .92  (I’m usually anti margarine but had no $ for butter)
• approx 5# Chicken Leg Quarters 4.37
• Nonfat Dry Milk (makes 3 quarts) 2.98
• Brown Sugar .84
• No Sugar Added Applesauce, 46oz $1.98
• Regular Oats 2.18
• Jam, 17oz 2.56
• 1# Dry Split Peas .88
• 1# Dry Pintos 1.38
• 5# Self-Rising Flour 2.32
• Jar Peanut Butter 2.56
• 3 Ham Hocks 2.34
• Chicken Bouillon, 7oz .98
• 2# Brown Rice 1.56
• 1# Pork Sausage 1.98
• Cinnamon, salt & pepper, garlic powder on hand
• TOTAL $36.86

Things I could not afford – Vegetables and fruit!  I tried to get as much protein in the mix as possible, and we will be having onions, carrots, and celery a couple times this week.  We will be taking our vitamins, and the little ones will get extra food if they need it, of course.   Here’s what we will be making this week:

Monday, 5/7/12: Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal, Biscuits with Peanut Butter & Jelly, One-pot Chicken and Rice

Tuesday, 5/8/12: Pancakes & Applesauce, Peanut Butter & Celery, Split Pea & Ham Soup

Wednesday, 5/9/12:  Biscuits & Sausage Gravy, Pintos & Rice, Vietnam Fried Rice

Thursday, 5/10/12: Eggs & Sausage, Celery & Peanut Butter, Homemade Tortillas & Pintos.

Friday, 5/11/12:  Biscuits & Applesauce, Biscuits with Peanut Butter & Bananas, Chicken Legs & Corn & Green Beans

Everything was bought at the WalMart Supercenter.   I used Living Cookbook  software to plan my meals and meal costs.  The recipes I found on various sites online and sources are credited @ the links.