Week one tally Week two menu!

$51.76 Waldbaums

$24.17 Northshore Farms

$31.30 Bernard's Market (halibut disaster)

$14.00 Pizza from Sal's (yum)

$27.25 Waldbaum's

Grand Total Week One: $148.48 (-23.48)

Oh sooooooo close!  If we didn't have the fish problem, we would have made it!  Still I am damn impressed we even got close.  One disclaimer:  On a last minute whim, Carolynn and I went to the city for the night, so we didn't eat home on Saturday or Sunday.  While I'm not counting the cost of the meals out, I did have everything in the house to cook if we were home, so being that it is the first week - it counts close enough for me.

On to week 2....

This week my goal is to cook/eat a few more total veg options.  There is not a lot on sale this week worth buying.  I need to be a bit more creative.  The one splurge item that is on sale is lobster tails, so I'll plan that for Thursday.  Here is the projected menu for the week:

Monday: Stuffed Shells with a green salad (CHEAT: these were leftover from Katherine's Dad's Bday party. FREE FOOD!)

Tuesday: Asian Vegetable Burger Wrap

Wednesday: Roast Chicken with baked potatoes and honey sliced carrots (I'm working late)

Thursday: Lime and Chile basted Lobster tails with sweet potato mash and spinach

Friday: Baked Polenta with Broccoli Puree

Saturday: Turkish White Bean Stew

Sunday: Roasted Cod on large garlic croutons

We might have guests on Sunday, so I need to put a showstopper on the table if we do.  I'd move the lobster tails to Sunday, but they are only on sale until Thursday and I don't want to refreeze them.  Without a lot of fish or meat on the menu, I should do well financially.  Here is the shopping list:

2 lemons

2 limes

fresh ginger (about 1 inch)

1.5 pound carrots

1 red bell pepper

1 head bibb lettuce

1 bunch green onions

cilantro

thyme

parsley

3 pounds sweet potatoes

1 pound fresh spinach

celery

1 head broccoli

4 oz. shiitake mushrooms

1 habenaro Chile

1 clamshell mixed greens

1 pound strawberries

1 pound bananas

1 pound apples

1 roasting chicken

4 lobster tails (3oz each)

1 box veggie sausage

Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Tomato paste

2 cans vegetable broth

1 can northern beans

2 cups TVP (texturized vegetable protein found in health food stores)

1 box instant polenta

1/2 pint heavy cream

1 dozen eggs

1 lb butter

I'll figure Sunday out later in the week, but I should have enough money to buy whatever I need.

On to the recipes....

By the way, I have a huge library of recipes, good ones.  Leave ideas in the comments and I see what i can find.