Garden Update with lots of photos.

I haven't done a garden update in awhile.  Here are some recent photos.

Corn, Broccoli, & Green Beans

Tomataos, Cucumbers, & Zucchini

Lots of bushy green beans

Little skinny beans are starting

Sad little bell peppers eaten by something

Corn is going crazy!

Little Zucchini

Little Cucumber

Funny Circle Cucumber

Cherry Tomatos

Big bushy bushes

Heavier fruit

Grape Tomatoes

Everything is doing well except the bell peppers.  It's always fun to watch everything growing and I especially sharing it with friends.

Katie

Gluten Free Menu Plan

My menu plan is boring this week.  Very much like the last couple of week because I've been trying to use what's on hand!

Dinners:
Monday - Chicken Teriyaki (didn't make last week)
Tuesday -Pot Roast (didn't make last week)
Wednesday - Beef & Broccoli
Thursday - VBS Carnival & dinner
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday -Sausage Vegetable soup
Sunday - Chicken Wings & Potatoes

Lunches:
Monday - pancakes
Tuesday - nachos
Wednesday - pizza
Thursday -mac'n'cheese pie
Friday - finger food lunch
Saturday - hamburgers
Sunday - quesadillas

Phew!

Katie

2014 Week 30 Groceries - $100.79

This week was a little more back to normal - Thank Goodness! 

First up was a trip to Costco for potluck stuff.  I was making a taco bar so I needed chips & cheese.  I went ahead a picked up a couple other things, too and spent $41.44 total.

Next was QFC for sour cream and to look for GF cereal at a reasonable price.  We are trying out rice krispies and cornflakes (which both have malt aka. barley) to see if our kiddo is affected.  So far we think it's just a wheat sensitivity and not necessarily ALL gluten.  We'll keep an eye on the barley effects.  Anyway, I spent $14.74 on the stuff in the picture plus a clearance $2.99 deli pizza that isn't in the picture.

I seriously wish Albertsons was closer because I keep finding amazing clearance deals there.  I got 11 cups of greek yogurt for  $1.20 total!  And picked up lots of pudding 4-packs for $0.75 each.  I don't love processed food, but it's a quick GF snack and a stock-up price.  I spent $11.74 in total.

My friend had a bounty of eggs this week so I bought 10 dozen for $20.00!  And milk was $12.87.

Total Week 30: $100.79
Total Year-to-Date 2014: $2,396.83
Weekly Average in 2014: $79.89

Katie

Gluten Free Menu Plan

We've been so busy traveling for several weeks I've barely planned menus.  This week we're home though so I want to have a plan!

Lunches:
Monday - Grilled Cheese (GF bread)
Tuesday - Hot dogs
Wednesday - Finger Food Lunch
Thursday - Macaroni & Cheese Pie
Friday - Nachos
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Tuna melts (GF bread)

Dinners:
Monday - Pizza Pasta (Quinoa noodles)
Tuesday - Italian Sausage Soup
Wednesday - Beef & Broccoli
Thursday - Cheesy Rotini Casserole (Quinoa noodles)
Friday - Taco Bar
Saturday - Chicken Teriyaki
Sunday - Pot Roast

Katie

2014 Groceries Week 29 - $225.13!

Wowee!  I spent a lot this week!  I think it was bulk buying some fruit, some good sales at Fred Meyer, and finally being home after 3 weeks of very busy traveling.

My parents arrived on Monday and I had little food in the house.  So we headed to Fred Meyer where there was a lot on sale.  I got all this for $46.50!  4 boxes of cereal, 4 coffee creams, 4 peanut butter jars, 4# frozen chicken breast, and much more!

This was a dollar store visit to kill some time while DD#2 was at daycamp.  I spent $5.00 on stuff to take camping in a few weeks.

Back to Fred Meyer for more cereal and I found the Oscar Meyer hot dogs that were on sale included these "select" ones that are nitrate free.  Whoo!  And I got this markdown round steak which is just what I needed for my night of cooking for the big group camping.  I spent $26.04.  Not pictured ice cream and doritos.

Two flats of blueberries were $40.  And a flat of raspberries were $22.

One more trip to Fred Meyer and I found 3 packages of sausage on clearance for $1.99.  I spent $22.72.

This was a QFC trip where I found sausage for $1.99 again.  I spent $17.09.

One more trip to Fred Meyer on Saturday at $23.66

and a half box of apricots for $9.25.  One of my kids tripped and fell onto the box smashing several apricots.  It was pretty funny and I had to try hard not to laugh so I wouldn't injure her feelings.  Poor kid was very distressed that she damaged the fruit.

No eggs and our milk was $12.87. 

Week 29 - I spent a whopping $225.13!
Year to date 2014: $2,296.04
Weekly Average: $79.17

Love, Katie

Raspberry Jam

Yesterday I made raspberry jam.  I'm not feeling good, so the photos will have to speak for themselves.

Flat of raspberries

 mashing 12 cups

Stirring in pectin

Stirring in sugar

Boil lids and seals

Filling jars

12 in the rack

Dropped the rack down

All done

Katie

Garden Critters - Grrrr.

I picked these tomatoes a couple of days  ago and was so sad to see my two beautiful bell peppers had been significantly chomped on by some animal.  They were the only two growing and now they're both gone.  Sad! 

But happy about the tomatoes.  I hope this is just the beginning!

Katie

Catalina Deal on Post Cereal at Fred Meyer

This week Fred Meyer has Post cereal on sale for 3/$5 with in-ad coupon.  $1.67 is my cereal maximum purchase price, but we are using lots of cold cereal on these hot summer days so I picked up 3 boxes early in the week.  To my pleasant surprise a $2 off my "next shopping trip" coupon printed courtesy of post.  That makes each box of cereal the equivalent of $1.00 instead of the $1.67.  At that price I want to stock up so I have been twice more this week and picked up 3 boxes each time.  Both printed a $2 off coupon to use in the next 2 weeks and both times I had to ask the checker for the coupon that printed and they didn't hand to me!

So if you like Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Golden Crisp, or other Post cereals $1.00 is a stock-up price.

Katie

2014 Week 28 Groceries - $162.84

This week was pretty crazy.  I got home after an all day drive on Monday and was just exhausted.  I had an all-day tutor training for Classical Conversations on Tues/Wed/Thurs and had to pack lunches.  I decided to just give myself a break and buy bread instead of baking so I went to the store and picked up a few things.

I spent $32.48 at QFC on the GF bread, regular bread, a brick of cheese, apples, bananas, 2 snacks, a few yogurts, potatoes, and a single serve wine.  Who knew they made such a thing?!

 I also did a stock-up on some basics at Costco because I was leaving town early Friday morning and had no time to prepare meals for the family to eat while I was gone.  I spent a whopping $73.49!  I can't remember the last time I spent that much in one shopping trip at the store!  I bought string cheese, lettuce, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, bananas, watermelon, peaches, veggie straws, tortilla chips, and canned pineapple.

This week I also picked up 14 flats of strawberries for myself and friends.  I kept 2 for myself for a total of $44.00. 

Our milk delivery was $12.87.

Total groceries for week 28: $162.84
Total groceries year-to-date 2014: $2,070.91
Average per week 2014: $73.96 

I need to buy a quarter cow soon which will jump up my weekly average for sure!

Katie

2014 Week 27 Groceries - $48.37

This week has also been full of travel.  I was only home 2.5 days between our California trip and a trip down to my folks' in Oregon.  I didn't have time while home to shop much or prepare food for my visit so I just took some cheese, lettuce, milk & tortilla chips.  Otherwise my mom fed the kids and I.  Poor DH had to eat cold cereal and whatever he could find in the freezer. 

While I was home I went to QFC for creamer.  I spent $17.04 on these few things.

I went to Costco and spent just $14.46 on lettuce, veggie straws, chips, & bananas.

This week I was also given all of this gluten free stuff from my sweet Aunt who is moving soon.  It included flour, bagel chips, 2 scone mixes, cake mix, muffin mix, cereal, & 4 pastas of various sizes.  I also was given 2 bags of conventional flour a couple of weeks ago by another friend who was moving so I put them in the picture, too.  

I did see my friend this week for eggs - $4.00. 
Milk delivery $12.87

Total for week 27: $48.37
Total groceries year-to-date: $1,908.07
Weekly Average: $70.67

Katie

2014 Week 26 Groceries - $50.12

I can't believe I'm only managing to post the grocery shopping.  I've just been so swamped this summer!  This week we went to California - driving - with all the kids and we just got home last night.

This Costco trip was just before we left for California.  Bananas, cheddar-jack, feta, carrots, & a huge can of pineapple.  I spent $34.62 and didn't get what I really wanted: a #10 can of applesauce.  Boo.

In California I went to Von's one morning to find a treat for DD#2 since she couldn't have thedessert Grandma had planned for a big family gathering.  I also picked up olive oil because my MIL didn't have any in the house.  Wait, what?  Yes!  I spent $7.96

Before we came home I picked up a few things to replenish my in-laws' supplies and for our breakfast in the car on the long haul home.  I spent $7.54

No milk or eggs as we were in California.

Total week 26 groceries: $50.12
Total groceries year-to-date 2014: $1,859.70
Average 2014 weekly groceries: $71.53

Katie