Tales from the grocery store + a menu plan

I used to a do a semi-regular series on our grocery shopping, as well as our menu. I've been very frustrated by our menus lately (three of us are not too picky, one child is very picky, but everyone likes different things.) The overlapping circle of things we all like is. . . pretty much tacos & pizza. ;-)

Today's grocery receipt reflects a bit of that, as well as the fact that we are now running out of food earlier & earlier in the week. (I cook on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays & then we eat leftovers during the work week.) In earlier days, we could make it until Thursday without resorting to freezer options, but some weeks we are out by Tuesday! This is more likely when I've been out of town. Note that we typically don't but much in the way of prepared food, but decided to stock up to give ourselves a bit more flexibility.

So, without further ado, here's what we bought at Costco:

• 5 dozen eggs - $14.49
• Pears - $6.59
• Milk - $5.19
• Potatoes - $9.99 (I don't remember potatoes being this expensive before?!)
• Breaded chicken tenderloins - $6.99
• Potstickers - $6.99
• 4 pack of bacon - $11.49
• Empanadas - $7.59
• Grapes - $7.99
• Sausage ravioli - $8.89
• Clementines - $6.99
• Ground beef - $18.30
• Chicken breasts - $21.71
• Bananas (had to get organic, as the non-organic were very ripe) - $1.99
• Honeydew - $2.89
• Cucumber (3 pack) - $4.99
• Strawberries - $4.99
• Pineapple - $2.99
• Apples - $8.99

Total = $160.04 - about $35 more than I like for a weekly shop, but we were out of both chicken & ground beef, & the bacon was for a recipe.

Here's our menu plan for the week:

• Saturday - I'm making a Persian dish - lubia polo (using ground beef. We have everything else at home)
• Sunday - We're trying a new recipe - buffalo chicken bake. I'll report back if it's any good. (using bacon, chicken & potatoes)
• Monday - Leftover chicken rice pilaf (made on Friday)
• Tuesday - Leftover lubia polo
• Wednesday - Leftover buffalo chicken bake
• Thursday - If no leftovers remain, we'll be having the sausage ravioli
• Friday - TBD. Haven't gotten that far yet, and I have a late meeting on Friday, so it might be something convenient

What about you? What are you cooking this week, and what is your average weekly shopping budget?