January Grocery Budget

Total Grocery Budget = $400.00
Total Spent = $389.24
Total Savings = $10.76

This was our first month with a cash-only food budget. I'm so proud of us for coming in under budget. Admittedly, we began with a good stock of high quality, grass-fed, free-range meat in our freezer (two chateaubriands in one month!). And our CSA share keeps us well-stocked with root vegetables all winter long.

Each week, I try to make soup, use the crockpot, and make one vegetarian meal. I also try to freeze something weekly in order to build up my freezer stockpile. My husband and my father-in-law both fish whenever they can and have created quite an inventory of catch-of-the-days for our freezer.

I buy mostly organic and/or locally grown food. I hardly ever use pre-made mixes or just-add-water foods or frozen entrees. I use a lot of good seasonings. I bake from scratch and I try to bake something every week. I love whatever fresh fruit is in season.

My 2009 Word is H E A L T H. Keeping a grocery budget is essential to our financial health and using high quality foods is essential to our physical health. It feels like we're on the right track.

Week of January 29, 2009

Thursday
Blackfish (Chinese Style)
Couscous
Steamed Broccoli
Banana Bread

Friday
Baked Butternut Squash with Barley + Sage

Saturday (Chinese New Year celebration)
Uncle Jeffry + Aunt Cynthia's Tea Lunch

Sunday (Superbowl Sunday)
Pork Chops
Ida Red Applesauce
Red Cabbage + Carrot Slaw
Buttercup Squash + Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Cheddar Cheese

Monday (Groundhog Day)
Soy Ginger Chicken
Sticky Rice
Ginger Snow Peas + Peppers
Groundhog Day Cupcakes

Tuesday
Mom + Dad's house

Wednesday
Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta + Sausage
Red Russian Kale + Red Onion Salad

Week of January 22, 2009

Thursday
Pizza Night

Friday
Potato, Carrot, + Parsnip Soup
Homemade Croutons

Saturday
Turkey + Cranberry Pot Pie
Red Russian Kale + Red Onion Salad
Steamed Asparagus

Sunday
Broccoli + Cheddar Quiche
Apple Chicken Sausage

Monday
Baked Butternut Squash with Barley + Sage

Tuesday
Mom + Dad's house

Wednesday
Pork Chops
Ida Red Applesauce
Red Cabbage + Carrot Ginger Slaw
Buttercup Squash + Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Cheddar Cheese

Week of January 15, 2009

Thursday
Tautog (Chinese Style)
Brown Rice
Steamed Broccoli

Friday
Root Cellar Soup (celery root, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, leeks, onions, + garlic)
Homemade Cheddar Croutons

Saturday
Spaghetti Squash with Hot Italian Sausage + Broccoli Raab

Sunday
Penne with Butternut Squash, Pancetta + Sage

Monday
Chateaubriand with Peppercorn Cream Sauce
Braised Red Cabbage
Mashed Rutabaga
Sauteed Spinach + Garlic

Tuesday
Mom + Dad's house

Wednesday
Soy Ginger Chicken
Brown Rice
Snowball Cupcakes

Week of January 8, 2009

Thursday
Blackfish - Chinese Style
Brown Rice
Steamed Asparagus

Friday
Tortilla Soup with Black Beans + Avocado
White Corn Tortilla Chips

Saturday
Christmas on Long Island (with my extended family)

Sunday
Spaghetti Squash with Hot Italian Sausage + Broccoli Raab

Monday
Southwestern Veggie Burgers Supreme with Red Onion + Avocado
Whole Wheat Buns
Homemade Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday
Mom + Dad's house

Wednesday
Crockpot Chile En Croute with Cornbread
Steamed Broccoli

Week of January 1, 2009

Thursday (New Year's Day)
Spiral Sliced Ham with Mustard Sauce
Celery Root + Apple Puree
Pink Macoun Applesauce
Pineapple Rings with Vanilla Cream + Toasted Coconut

Friday
Ginger Carrot Soup
Homemade Rustic Bread

Saturday
Chauteaubriand with Red Wine Pan Sauce
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic
Baked Potatoes
Braised Red Cabbage
Black Cherry + Chocolate Parfaits

Sunday
Acorn Squash with Leek, Apple, + White Bean Stuffing (using leftover bread from Friday)

Monday
Oven-Roasted Dijon Chicken + Cipollini Onions
Buttercup Squash
Steamed Broccoli

Tuesday
Mom + Dad's house

Wednesday
Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Cider + Prunes
Mashed Rutabaga
Steamed Broccoli