It's What's For Dinner

Homemade Pizza Crust:

Mix 1/3 Cup Shortening

1 Cup Milk

1 tsp sea salt

1/3 Cup Sugar

Heat until shortening melts

Add: 1 beaten egg

Cool

In a separate bowl, mix:

2 1/4 tsp Yeast

1 tsp Sugar

1/2 Cup Warm Water

Add to shortening mixture add:

5 to 6 Cups flour (I use a combination of whole wheat flour and white flour)

Roll out on a greased pizza stone and let rise. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes, then remove from oven add toppings and bake for an additional 12 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted. 

This recipe makes 2 crusts, I always triple it, sometimes quadruple it. 

Pizza Crusts on the counter, ready to rise for dinner. 

Recently, we have started paying more attention to our grocery budget. This recipe is NOT budget friendly but so worth it for a special treat! My goal is to spend between $400- $500 a month on groceries. This includes Costco, and Target. In reality, this is less on food because I also purchase TP, Shampoo, etc., at these stores.
With the cost of gas going through the roof, and only looking to get worse. Inflation has taken a real hit on our family's budget. There are expenses that are unavoidable, such as the water bill (our children are limited to 3 minute showers) and the electric bill (I have found my children sitting in a room with their headlamp on reading a book!). However, everything must eat. I think how much we would save if they didn't have to eat so much and so often!
I really struggle with planning and keeping a schedule but to greatly assist our budget I must plan ahead for our meals. Coupled with the fact that a couple meals a week must be portable. We often take our meals with us on nights when the boys have scouts and Sean doesn't have time to come home and eat before he has to leave again.
I am planning on sharing some of my money saving tips and helpful hints for reducing the food bill. Beginning with our menu for the week.

Monday: Baked Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and Caesar Salad.

Tuesday: Split Pea Soup, whole wheat rolls,

Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken & Bacon with rice and roasted brussel sprouts.

Thursday:BBQ Meatloaf, baked potatoes, creamed corn, and pea salad.

Friday: Pad Thai, rice, peanut salad,

Saturday: Ham Balls, Rice, Green Beans,

Sunday:  Tortellini Soup,

Having a plan allows me to buy ahead, purchase in bulk, and shop sales.  I will not go to 14 different stores, or shop stores I don't like, like Walmart.  I waste too much time shopping a store I am not familiar with, I get irritated with going to a store and them not having the item that is on sale. I learned that it is better to have a joyful spirit.

Planning ahead also saves me from the last minute scramble and grumbling. It looks like that's all I have time to share right now. Blessings ~