Every week, I share how I saved and what we ate for the week on our budget. Our current monthly budget for my family of 4 is $500.
This Week’s Dinners:
Saturday: I baked a spiral ham that I bought on sale before Christmas. I also made Au Gratin Potatoes and corn.
Sunday: I saved the ham bone from Saturday night and made Ham & Bean Soup. I threw it together without a recipe, because I can’t let a bone go to waste and it turned out pretty good. I lightly sauteed celery, carrots, and onion in a soup pot and then added the bone, water to cover the bone, 2 bay leaves, and two cans of pinto beans. I let the soup simmer for hours and then removed the ham bone. I chopped up the meat that was still on the bone and added it, along with leftover ham from Saturday night’s dinner to the soup. I also made my Cheap, but Tasty Garlic Bread and a salad. It was a yummy dinner and I had leftovers for the week and the freezer.
Monday: Leftover Ham & Bean Soup, salad.
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas. Some day I will turn this into a post, because it is really easy. I put sliced red pepper and red onion, split chicken breasts, homemade fajita seasoning, juice from a lime in a slow cooker and cooked on low for 6 hours. Take out the chicken. Remove the bones and skin and discard. Shred the chicken breast and put back in the slow cooker and mix well with the peppers and onions. Serve with tortillas and avocado. Very simple dinner that I serve with fresh fruit and a salad.
Wednesday: I made Fiesta Rice and Beans and we made burrito bowls with it and the leftover chicken from Tuesday night. This was a big hit.
Thursday: Leftovers from Wednesday night.
Friday: Tonight my husband and I are taking our staff and their spouses out for dinner for a post holiday celebration.
This Week’s Breakfasts, Lunches, and Snacks:
For breakfast we ate eggs and toast, oatmeal, peanut butter & banana toast. Lunches and snacks included ham sandwiches, pb & j sandwiches, fruit, yogurt sticks, cheese sticks, and tortilla chips.