Final food stamp challenge update

$155.92 for the month -- including the disastrous meal out, and the trip to the river. . . we also bought a huge bag of candy for trick -or-treaters, some things for Marty's mom, and have some foods left to carry over until next month. We were fortunate to have some very good sales this month on various things. . . I know that many could not travel to the city to get the deals - but I work there, and the stores are all on my route home. Generally I also supplement our meals with items that I've home canned. . . and many of our items this month were from our garden, but I figured the costs at the supermarket rates. Our target amount to stay under was $278.90 -so $122.98 left of our amount. Food stamps are being cut for recipients in November - if we were truly getting food stamps, we'd lose another $36 of that amount.

Food Stamp Challenge -- day 25

We are still staying well below our daily amount of $8.99 Today's supper was cooked in the crock pot while I slept. Meatloaf in the bottom of the crock, and diced sweet potatoes , wrapped in foil - cooked on top of the meatloaf. Yummy.

Belated food stamp challenge update

I've been feeling puny - got a TDaP booster and it made me feel really wiped out. That said, we have maintained on the challenge. We've not resorted to beans/rice, nor have we varied too much from our usual meals. We have cut out most desserts (not a bad thing) other than fruits. Marty did get a craving and baked a pineapple upside down cake yesterday. . . total for the cake $2.27 - we ate about 1/4 of it last night, since we had the girls. Supper last night was baked pork chops in a homemade breading, and roasted broccoli/cauliflower mix. . with garlic and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on at the end. .97 for each pork chop, we ate 3. . . $2.78 for broccoli and cauliflower but we only used half the cauliflower and then only ate 1/2 the total we cooked. . . add in 2 T.olive oil and a sprinkle of cheese the pan cost approx. $2 and we ate 1/2 so $1 - kids drank water (flavored with some left over Mio that Marty used on his colon prep drink) I had tea and Marty had soda. . . .55 for drinks. . . $4.46 for supper.

I promise it tasted better than the picture looks . . my pork chop folded up on itself when I took it off the pan, so the edges look like fat, when in fact it's just where it tore/folded. I did an Aldi's shop on Tuesday for bread, milk, lunch meat, chips, flour, cereal, a bit of meat, fruits and veggies-- spent $61.78, we still have almost $80 left from our allotted amount, and we should not have to shop again before the end of the month.

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 18

So I packed food for work again - I picked up an extra 12 hour shift. I took some block cheese, an orange, a yogurt , 2 sodas and water - cheese .55, orange .33 yogurt .33 soda .42 = $1.63 Breakfast was an egg, one slice toast, tea - egg .04 toast .05, tea .05 = .14 Marty had cereal, milk - cereal .20 milk .35 = .55 Breakfast for both of us = .69 I slept through lunch. Marty had his usual sandwiches, chips, soda $1.13 Supper was baked chicken, pasta salad (pasta, ranch dressing, peas/carrots) 2 pieces chicken each and 1/2 the salad - chicken $1.20, salad .30 milk for Marty .35 and tea for me .05 = $1.90 for supper Our total for the day $%.35

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 17

I packed chips .12 and salsa .25, soda .21 for a snack - .58 Then had 2 muffins .20 yogurt .33 for my "meal" and of course my ever present frozen bottle of water - .55 Total for my work foods -$1.13 For breakfast Marty had cereal .20 and milk .35 - .55 I had toast .20 and peanut butter .14 with tea .05 - .45 Total for breakfast = $1 I slept through lunch. Marty had his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda - $1.13 Supper was ham and homemade scalloped potatoes in the crockpot $2.10 for the entire pot and we ate about 2/3 $1.40, tossed salad - $1 Milk for Marty .35 and tea for me .05 - total for supper $2.80 Total for the day = $6.06

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 16

I packed 2 slices of turkey lunch meat .18 x 2, some raw cabbage (cause I love the crunch and taste) .12, an orange .33,a slice of angel food cake that Marty's mom gave me , leftover from their lunch - I'm guess at the cost of .20 and 2 sodas .42 My total for my snacks/meal $1.43

Breakfast for me was a yogurt .33 and tea .05 = .38 Marty had cereal and milk .20 and .35 = .55 Total for breakfast = .93 Marty had his boring 2 sandwiches, chips, banana , soda for lunch $1.13 My supper was 2 eggs with a slice of turkey lunch meat and onion diced into them, a banana and tea - eggs .04x2 , lunch meat .18 tsp of diced onion .05 ? banana .17 tea .05 - .53

Marty has opted to eat odds and ends of the leftovers in the fridge - things that have been already figured in previous posts but we have a bit of this and that left over. . . and milk .35 Our total for today = $4.37

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 15

Sorry I missed posting this yesterday, but life happens sometimes. Breakfast for Marty was cereal and milk - .20 cereal .35 milk = .55 I had 2 muffins and tea .20 muffins .05 for tea = .25 for me Total for both of us = .80 Marty had his usual lunch of 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda $1.13 I had one sandwich, chips, tea - .32 for sandwich, .10 for chips , .05 for tea .47 total for lunches = $1.60 Supper was leftover spaghetti and garlic bread which had been figured into a previous post, we just didn't eat as much as I thought we would. tea for me, milk for Marty .05 and .35 so .40 for supper Our total for the day $2.80

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 14

I hope this post makes sense -- I'm sort of weary, having only a few hours of sleep today. So I packed my work meal last night -- left over baked fish from supper last night (cost was figured into last night's meal, I just couldn't eat it all at the time), carrot/celery sticks - .25, yogurt .33, soda .21 x2 - total for my work food = $1

Breakfast for me was 2 scrambled eggs and tea - eggs .10 tea .05 = .15 Marty had 2 slices toast with butter, and milk - toast/butter .10 milk .35 = .45 Our breakfast total for both = .60

Lunch for Marty was his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, soda, banana - $1.13 I slept through lunch. Supper was teriyaki chicken cooked on the George Foreman grill, and steamed snap peas - chicken breast $1.32/lb we at 1/2 lb -.66, approx .25 of teriyaki glaze and peas on sale .88 bread .08. . tea for me, water for Marty - $1.92

Snack tonight -- we baked a loaf of sour dough bread in the bread machine, after supper -- after it cooked with both had 2 slices with margarine . . .for a snack while watching TV. I had tea with mine, Marty had milk -- bread .28, margarine .02 tea .05, milk .35 total for snack .70

total for the day = $5.35

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 13

No pictures today, sorry. I was really busy at work last night and ate a nibble here and there while I worked. I packed 2 sodas and water bottle for drinks .42, chips and salsa for a snack .12 chips, .25 salsa, I also packed some instant cream of wheat that I made in the office microwave .38 total for foods packed $1.17 Came home, and Marty had baked some of the refrigerator muffin batter, with diced apple and cinnamon. We each ate 2 muffins .10 x 4, Marty had milk .35 I had tea .05 - breakfast was .80 Marty had lunch at his mom's - I have no way to calculate what he may have eaten there. Supper here is baked fish (pollack on sale for $1.90/lb), french fries .50, and green beans .69 Marty had more milk .35 and I had tea .05 - total for supper $3.49 Total for the day = $5.46

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 12

Not much new to say today. . . For my work time meal I packed 2 of the frozen sour dough pancakes, 2 turkey sausages (on sale for $1/box of 10) and some syrup, my water and a couple of sodas. .08 for the pancakes, .20 for the sausages, .42 for the sodas (running low on the really cheap sodas we got a while back) -- total for my work stuff .70

Marty had his usual breakfast of cereal, milk, OJ - .91 for his breakfast I came home from work and had a sale purchased yogurt .33 and tea .05 - .38 for my breakfast He also had his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda for lunch - $1.13 Marty is going with his mom and nephew to a local free concert tonight- they are also serving a free meal of pork burgers, and such. It is not a potluck type meal. I debated on this, but since the meal/concert is free to any one in the area I decided it was ok to not count his food for tonight. I'm having a sandwich, chips, banana and tea for supper before I head to work. .79 for my supper Our total for today = $3.91

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 11

So I'm back to work, on night shifts so my posts are confusing yet again :D I packed my "lunch" or whatever you call a meal at 1:00 AM. I packed salad with diced ham, dressing, crackers. . . a few cookies and a couple sodas plus my frozen water bottle.

Lettuce 0.15, .12 for the meat, .07 for the dressing, .14 for the crackers, .36 for the cookies, and .42 for the soda + $1.26 for my work time foods. Breakfast for Marty was cereal, milk, and OJ = .20, .24, .47 = .91 for his breakfast. I had a yogurt (on sale for .33) and tea = .38 Our breakfast total = $1.29 Marty had lunch with his mom - pork and beans .39, hot dog .40, homemade potato salad .40, tea .05 = $1.24 Supper will be spaghetti, garlic bread, and the rest of the rice crispy squares - spaghetti .50, sauce .50, garlic bread 1.99, rice crispy squares 1.04, soda for Marty, tea for me - total for supper $4.41 Friday's total cost = $8.20 If I'd been better prepared, I could have saved on the garlic bread, by making our own from sliced bread with homemade garlic butter. Oh well. . . we still stayed under our daily amount ($8.99)

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 10

I head back to work tonight. . . Marty had cereal, milk and juice for breakfast .82 for him. I had oatmeal and tea .16 = .89 for breakfast

Lunch was 2 sandwiches, chips, banana, soda for Marty. 1 sandwich, chips, banana , tea for me - total for all $1.89 Supper is fried rice (no meat) - 1/2 cup uncooked rice .12, 3 eggs .04x3-.12, 1/3 package frozen peas/carrots .30 = .54 for the dish, add in another .33 for Marty's soda and .05 for my tea total for the meal = .92 for the meal.

total for the day $3.70 (there is left over jello for dessert if Marty wants some - cost already figured in previous days totals, but we didn't eat quite an entire bowl of each flavor jello)

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 9

I had a rough night with lots of leg pain, so I slept late this morning. Marty was already up and had eaten 2 poptarts and a glass of milk. . . his breakfast .85 I had a bagel with cream cheese, and OJ from frozen concentrate .66 for mine - $1.51 for breakfast Lunch was hot dogs (on sale .79/8) bread, garlic noodles (box mix from marked down bin .50) , soda for Marty, tea for me - $1.23 for our lunch Supper - hand cut , chicken strips , steamed California veggies (on sale .88) $3.42 (chicken, ranch dressing, corn flakes and veggies) splash of bottled BBQ sauce for dipping the chicken adds another .15 soda for Marty, tea for me, the girls each split a small soda - $4.16 for supper

Snack - homemade rice crispie treats - marshmallow .89, cereal $1, margarine .18 = $2.07 for the entire pan, we ate spprox. 1/2 or $1.04

Todays total $ 7.94

Food Stamp Challenge - day 8

First a recap of week 1 -- our daily totals Tuesday $5.06 Wednesday $ 4.44 Thursday $6.85 Friday $5.95 Saturday $17.39 (this was the day we ate out for lunch) Sunday $6.42 Monday $5.45 Weekly total $51.56 our weekly allotted amount is $62.93 so we had $11.37 left over, even after having the horrible day on Saturday. We are also feeding our two grand daughters on the days they are here, yet not increasing our allotted amount. Over all, I think we had a successful week. Today was Marty's colonoscopy - no breakfast before we left for the hospital at 4:30 AM. I packed a drink and the leftover muffin , with the intent to eat it while he was undergoing his procedure. I was afraid to leave the waiting room though, and didn't want to eat/drink in front of people getting ready for their procedures, so I just kept it in my bag. Marty woke up after his procedure - and they gave him soda and graham crackers. But on the way home he was hungry so he ate the muffin I packed. 10 cents for his breakfast. When we got home - I immediately went to take a nap, so I skipped lunch. Marty's gut wasn't feeling good, so he had a slice of cheese .19 and a soda .33 = 52 cents. I ate a handful of chips when I woke up .09 and tea .05 = .14 Supper was canned soup, sandwiches and some of the left over jello - soup was $1.69/can, sandwiches .22 each, jell0 .69 - Marty drank milk .35 I had tea .05

Today's total = $3.76 for today's total.

Food Stamp Challenge - day 7

Another not typical day. . . Marty is doing a prep for a colonoscopy tomorrow. No solid food for him today. We had the girls here today too. Breakfast for the girls - milk .36 (they split a cup of milk) and dry cereal (they ate it like candy) .20 - .56 for both of them. I had a glass of tea .05 but skipped breakfast in respect for Marty. Snack for the girls mid-morning - they split an apple .20 and more milk .36 - so another .56 Lunch for the girls and me - 1 box store brand shells and cheese .99 for the box, we ate 3/4 box so .75 (didn't have to add milk or butter, it had the soft cheese packet in it). The girls split a soda .21, and had 2 cookies each .24. I had the shells and cheese and cookies with tea. .05 for tea .12 for cookies. Marty had whipped jello, soda and a cup of broth for lunch - jello .69, broth .10, soda .21 = $1 Supper for Marty will be different flavor jello and more broth and soda - $1 I'm not going to cook - so I'm just having a sandwich, celery sticks and different cookies for supper with tea - sandwich .32, cookies .24, celery .10, tea .05 I will probably make some popcorn for me later .25 Total today $5.45 Here's a picture of Aubrey having her snack

And here's an interesting link I found today - can't wait to get a sale on pork chops to try some of these recipes! http://www.parentingmiracles.net/2013/09/5-fall-meals-from-5-pork-chops/

Food Stamp Challenge - day 6

Breakfast today was refrigerator muffins - Marty ate 3, I ate 2 - one got frozen for future use ;) This is the original recipe - I only made up a 1/2 batch earlier in the week, and today was the first batch of muffins I cooked from it. Today I added a sprinkle of cinnamon and a diced banana. REFRIGERATOR SWEET MUFFINS 8 3/4 c. flour 3 c. sugar 1 T. baking soda 1 T. baking powder 2 t. salt 4 beaten eggs 3 c. milk 1 1/2 c. oil Sift the dry ingredients ; mix well in center. Combine eggs, milk and oil. Add all at once to flour mixture. Stir until moistened. Sore in tightly covered container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Fill 2/3 full. Fold 1/4 c. riasins, nuts, cherries, peaches, etc. into 1 1/2 c. batter for 6 muffins. 190 calories each, plus what you add.

Marty had milk and I had tea with the muffins -- .36 for his 12 oz milk. .05 for my tea. Muffins .12 each x 5 = $1.01 for breakfast. Lunch was thick sliced ham, warmed in a skillet, fried potatoes with milk gravy, and canned peas (blech - I prefer frozen, but Marty can't have them right now). I sliced the peeled potatoes on the mandolin, so it was quick work.

Marty had sliced/diced up the ham we bought earlier for .99/lb. I heated a few of the thick cut slices in a skillet while the potatoes were frying.

Then I made gravy, while the canned peas heated in a saucepan.

.99 for the potatoes, .75 for the ham, .40 for the gravy, .49 for the peas = $2.63 for lunch tea .05 for me, soda .33 for Marty adds in .38 for a total of $3.01 for lunch Supper was the remains of the sticky chicken $1.85 and baked fries .50 - water for Marty and tea for me = $2.40 total for the day $6.42

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 5

So today was not a good day for this. . . we didn't plan very well, and ended up eating out for lunch. I realize that on food stamps, this is not an option - so we'll take this amount out of our allotment for the month. $13.99 for lunch for the two of us - and we drank water! :( Breakfast for me was tea .05 and toast with margarine .15 Marty opted to skip breakfast, but drank about 6 oz milk .18 or .38 total for breakfast. Lunch as above. . . should have taken sandwiches, apples - SOMETHING, even though we didn't plan to be gone during meal time. Supper - hopefully somewhat redeemed here. . . I looked through the fridge and pulled out odds and ends of items that needed to be used. . . a slice of meatloaf, some shredded cheese, the last of the milk, remainder of a sliced tomato. . . HMMMM. . . they became loaded nachos (well, my version at least). I broke up the slice of meatloaf and heated it in a sauce pan.

about .60 worth of meatloaf Then I made a medium white sauce (margarine, flour, milk) and melted in about 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (it was what was left in the bag). .45 for the sauce, .72 for the cheese I diced up the tomato slices .25 and served over tortilla chips .62 Marty had a bottle of soda (on sale ) .33 and I had tea .05 So $3.02 for the meal for the 2 of us

We did find some items on sale today while out -- oil for $1.33, white corn meal $1.15, so that will go for future meals. We also had to buy some jello for Marty - he's undergoing a colonoscopy on Tuesday. We also bought more milk, not as cheap as last time, but still a bargain at $1.89/gal., got some lettuce, cheese and a few other items. Will have to add up our receipts and post our running total, in the next few days.

Food Stamp Challenge - day 4

Last night I made and cooked a batch of sour dough pancakes, so we'd have them this morning. Since the girls were here, I didn't want to me messing with too much cooking.

En Entire batch of 24 pancakes, cost .89 Marty had 4 of them, I had 2, each of the girls had 1. One cup of milk between the girls (each had 4 oz), Marty had 12 oz. I had tea. . . so approx. .78 for breakfast for 4 of us. Marty had his usual 2 sandwiches, chips, banana and 2 sodas for lunch. The girls had leftover tortellini, celery, yogurt and split a soda. I had a braunschweiger sandwich, celery, soda. .56 for my lunch, $1.13 for Marty's lunch, $1.60 for the girls together. Supper tonight is going to be the rest of the sticky chicken, cauliflower, tomato slices - so $1.84 between the two of us. Our total for day 4 = $5.91 We might have a snack later, which will be stove popped popcorn - appox. another .10 - .15 And I just have to share -- here's one reason I didn't take more pictures of food today :)

Food Stamp Challenge - Day 3 Part 2 :)

So here's what we did for supper tonight. . . Tuna patties and fried cabbage. Both tasty, quick, easy, and frugal. Tuna patties are simply drained canned tuna, an egg, bread or cracker crumbs and seasoning (we like Old Bay or chili powder).

.79 per can of tuna x2 , one egg .04, one slice bread for crumbs .04 $1.66 for the tuna patties. Fried cabbage is one of Marty's favorite dishes and it's super fast, easy and frugal. I simply hand chop the cabbage, drizzle with EVOO, season with salt, pepper and onion powder, then fry in skillet until crisp/tender and translucent.

Cabbage was .49/head and we used about 1/2 of the head (it was small) .25 plus a few cents for the oil/seasoning .05 =.30 for the dish $1.96 for the plates of food (total), I had tea .05 and Marty had a soda .21 = $2.52 for the meal for both of us.

Food Stamp challenge - Day 3

So, I didn't make it to Panda Express for the free chicken last night- due to van problems. Marty stopped and got him a serving though. I had some leftover meatloaf, garlic shells, carrot and celery sticks before I left for work. Meatloaf .75, garlic shells .25, carrot sticks .05, celery sticks .10 , tea to drink .05 = $1.20 for my meal.

I took some home popped popcorn for a snack, with a soda popcorn .10, soda .21 for .31 total on my snack.(almost forgot to take a picture of it,

Since I didn't make it to Panda for the chicken, I packed a slice of cheese, 2 slices bread for a cheese sandwich, an apple - and some of the store bought cookies. Cheese .06, bread .10, apple .20, cookies .36 and another soda .21 - total .93

I was exhausted when I got home - so I just grabbed a banana and tea for breakfast, before going to bed. banana .16 tea .05 total .21 for my breakfast. Marty had 2 poptarts .25 each, milk .28 for breakfast for a total of .53 His lunch was basically the same as yesterday - only today he only ate one sandwich, chips, banana, 2 sodas - bread .10, cheese .06, meat .16, banana .16 soda .42 - his total .90 for lunch. I slept through lunch ;) Will update later on our evening meal.

Day 2 of food stamp challenge

I know my photos, will be a bit "off" for most of you. . . I'm working night shifts so my meal times are weird for most of the world. I took a baggie of tortilla chips and some salsa for a snack to work (we eat supper around 4:30 PM before I go to work, and I'm usually feeling hungry around 10 PM) Chips .12, salsa .25

For my "dinner" at around 1 AM, I took some left over tortillini (purchased on sale for $2.89/package)in spaghetti sauce (on sale for .99/jar), and some store bought cookies (on sale with coupon the package was $1.89) $1.29 for my meal. You can see my water bottle in the photo. I fill it every morning when I come home from work, put it in the freezer, then pack it with my lunch. It melts slowly overnight while I work and I sip on it. I also took 2 cans of soda to drink at work ($4.99/case) another .42

total for the food I took to work $2.44 Came home and had one of my usual breakfasts of tea, toast with peanut butter. Tea - .03 for tea bag, .02 for sugar = .05 for the cup, .09 for the toast, and peanut butter .14 (jar of PB $1.89, 14 servings - I measured out 2 TBSP which is slightly more than I usually use)

.28 for my breakfast. Marty had a bowl of cereal with milk for breakfast - .19 for milk, .40 for cereal ($1.99 box, but he has large servings so we figured 2 servings for his bowl) total .59 He packed 2 sandwiches, chips, a banana and 2 sodas for his day today - and a large jug of ice water (his usual meals) .42 for the soda, .20 for bread, .32 for lunch meat $2.89/lb), .12 for sliced cheese (.99/16 slices), .16 for the banana - total for his lunch stuff = $1.13 So far today we have spent $4.44 We have coupons for free honey sesame chicken at Panda Express for supper --