grocery shopping this week

I don't see many deals that are too crazy exciting, a few things that I could get at Meijer 10 for $10 sale, but nothing that great. So I went to Chief today and bought some fresh vegetables that were on sale, spent $18 and thats all I'm spending this week.

Cooking has/will come from what's already at home. (fingers crossed)

I CAN DO THIS!

(Slow Cooker) Creamy Spaghetti

By: Fix it & Forget it Cookbook

1 c chopped onions
1 c chopped green peppers
1 T butter
28 oz can tomatoes with juice
4 oz can mushrooms, chopped and drained (optional)
2 1/4 oz can sliced ripe olives, drained (optional)
2 t dried oregano
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
12 oz spaghetti, cooked and drained
10 3/4 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c water
2 c shredded cheese
1/3 c parmesan cheese

1. Saute onions and green peppers in butter in skillet on stove until tender. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, oregano, and cooked beef. Simmer for 10 minutes and transfer to slow cooker.

2. Add cooked spaghetti to slow cooker and mix well.

3. Combine soup and water. Pour over casserole. Sprinkle with cheeses.

4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours

Grandma Shirley's Cheeseball

by: Grandma King with my own minor alterations

2 blocks cream cheese (I use reduced fat)
1 package dried beef cut in small pieces
6-8 drops of tabasco sauce
4-5 heaping T garlic powder
4-5 heaping T minced dried onion flakes

1. Combine all ingredients with hand mixer until mixed well

2. Serve with crackers

3. Makes 2 decent sized cheese balls. These freeze very well for later use!

Monkey Bread

Monkey Bread was one of my childhood favorites. In fact, I drew circles all over my mom's recipe card because I must have liked it so much. Probably not the most healthy thing ever, but maybe you could use reduced fat biscuits, would that help? Even if it doesn't.. you have to live a little sometimes!

Check out the recipe here:

http://http//www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,151168-227201,00.html

This week.

This week I've spent around $42.00 on groceries. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped. I did ok, but I ended up buying some fresh fruit that I wasn't planning on at Chief. Oh well, I guess it's still better than before. Now to get through the weekend, which can be my weakness. I tend to want to go to Meijer after I see the ad on Sunday. This week, I'm hoping to resist.
Here's what we're having for supper tonight:

Crockpot Chicken
By: a crockpot only cookbook I have- tweaked just a little

1 whole chicken, thawed
salt and pepper
1 c chicken broth or stock
spices (whatever you have. I think the recipe calls for 1 t of basil and oregano and poultry seasoning. I seriously use whatever is in the cupboard and sounds good)
Carrots-as desired
Onion-as desired
Potatoes- as desired

1. Place vegetables in bottom of crock pot. Add chicken broth

2. Place chicken on top of vegetables, sprinkle with spices

3. Cook on low in crockpot for 8-10 hours until done

Coupons

I'm beginning to put together a plan of trying to save more money by couponing. Because seriously, I have a grocery shopping addiction, and it's just plain wasteful to not be smarter about this and save myself some money.

I like to plan things, always have. I like to make lists. But when it comes to food and cooking, I'm more of a go out on a whim, whatever sounds good kind of girl. So making a menu for each week, is not my style. I wouldn't follow it. I'd rather look in my cupboards and make whatever sounds good for the time begin. And my cupboards are so ridiculously stocked, I can usually make most things. My brother came over a couple weeks ago and was looking for something in the utility room where my so call "pantry" is, and stated, "If there's ever a blizzard, I know where I'm coming to get food." It's quite ridiculous!

So, here is my plan. We already get the newspaper on Sunday, and I already cut coupons out. I just use them if I think about it though, lots of them end up getting thrown away because they are expired. Well no longer my friends! I'm going to do this!!
My plan is to cut out all the coupons, even the ones I think I might not use. And then use my ads to match up sales and ONLY BUY WHAT IS ON SALE + what I have a coupon for. It's just silly not too, because there isn't a week that I NEED something, I could make something else to suffice with my stocked pantry, etc if it's not on sale. My goal is to spend no more than $50/week. For 2 (2 1/2 I guess, since Raegan will be eating people food soon?!) people that might seem like a lot, but I promise.. compared to what I spend now a month, that would be saving for us.
So here goes nothing. People can save crazy kinds of money by couponing, and I'm ready to be one of those people!
Any tips? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Orange Chicken Rice Bowl

By: Kraft

1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
1/4 c Asian toasted sesame dressing
1/4 c Orange juice
3 c frozen stir fry vegetables
3 c hot cooked rice
1/3 c chopped nuts

1. Add chicken to large skillet and cook for approximately 7 minutes until done.

2. Add dressing and juice to chicken and bring to boil.

3. Add veggies and cook 5-7 minutes until heated.

4. Sprinkle over rice and top with nuts.