omg I am so glad my Mom and I did our shopping at the mall yesterday because Ben and I went back this afternoon, and it was complete. MADNESS! Mass chaos I tell you! Merchandise flying, people elbowing, credit cards on fire…it seemed as though everyone in town was there!

We were inside the war zone for about 30 minutes before we looked at each other and knew exactly what the other was thinking without saying a word…not worth it.

To Trader Joe’s we went (3rd day in a row for me = issues) then came home to prep lunches and dinners for the upcoming week. You guys seemed to like my posting of the upcoming week’s dinner menu last week, so here it is for this week!

Monday: Thai Peanut Stir Fry

Tuesday: Eating out with my Mom – we’ve got a show to catch!

Wednesday: Scallop Scampi with flavored pasta

Thursday: Beef & Bean Enchiladas

Friday: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Wow. Hearty! It’s clearly getting chilly out there!

I actually went shopping for all my ingredients on my day off last Friday. Here’s the haul to make all the dinners on my menu and lunches for the week:

The Produce:

• Broccoli & cauliflower heads
• Stir Fry vegetable medley
• Baby spinach
• Salad mix
• Baby carrots
• Bok choy
• Honeycrisp apples
• Cherry tomatoes
• Bananas
• Zucchini
• Green onions

Refrigerated Items:

• Shredded cheese
• Sugar & Spice flavored Coffee-mate (I couldn’t resist!)
• 93/7 lean ground beef
• Locally made meatballs

Pantry Items:

• Non-stick cooking spray
• Tostito’s Restaurant Style Salsa
• Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Bread
• Cumin
• Green chilis
• Refried beans
• Butter (technically a refrigerated item, don’t know how it got in here!)
• Charles Shaw Chardonnay
• Cheerios
• Gino’s Marinara Sauce
• Enchilada Sauce
• Trader Joe’s Garlic Basil Fettuccini
• Santitas Tortilla Chips

Total between Trader Joe’s & the regular grocery store: $50.50. I generally budget $50 per week for groceries (not counting a dinner or two out on the weekend,) so I was right on target this week – awesome!

Oh, I know you guys don’t see what I’m eating for breakfast or lunch during the week anymore, but I’m still going strong whipping up Kitchen Sink Salads,

• Mixed greens
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Cherry tomatoes
• Dried cranberries
• Green onions
• Sliced almonds

plus I’ve been trying a bunch of Trader Joe’s pre-made items for lunch too. My favorite by far has been their Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas. Made with white corn tortillas – they are just fantastic!

In other news, we had stuff to make BBQ Chicken Quesadillas for dinner tonight, but Ben just wasn’t feeling them.

Side note: BBQCQ are Ben’s #1 favorite food, yet he said he didn’t want them tonight because we just had them a couple weeks ago. Now, I could eat my favorite food(s) every single day, but he said the only thing he could eat every single day is gummy bears. So tell me, could you eat your favorite food(s) every single day? Or do you need a break, even if it’s your favorite?

Anyways, we were right by Trader Joe’s today, running our errands, so we popped in to grab a super quick, super yummy dinner we tried a couple weekends ago during beer and Nintendo night – Orange Chicken!

Like last time, I put Ben on dinner duty and he dutifully whipped us up a hot, crispy meal. Better than takeout, I say!

Thank goodness they were demo’ing this dish at the store the day we first got it, because I don’t think I would have picked it up on my own (don’t really like battered food,) and that would be simply tragic, because it is SO good!

Well I can’t leave you tonight without announcing the winners of the Larabar Giveaway! I truly wish I could give you ALL a Larabar, but congrats to:

Sarah R: I would like either prize pack, but if I have to choose—#1! Love Lara bars!

for winning the case of Tropical Fruit Tart Larabars and:

MelissaOklahoma: I just registered and voted for your recipes! Hope you win!!! (Hope I win too!)

Who gets to pick out 5 of her choosing – whee! Email your full mailing address and Larabar preferences to IowaGirlEats@gmail.com. For the rest of you – I’ll be announcing the next giveaway Monday night. It’s a good one!

In other news, maybe you were wondering if Ben’s inability to stop crushing Cinnamon Rolls has caused him to forbid me from ever making them again… I never got around to freezing half the pan and he’s we’ve (it’s true) been digging at them with our respective forks like little heathens. THEY ARE SO GOOD!

ie I have a hot date with the gym tomorrow night. Bring it on!!

Ok, off to do Sunday night things. Have a wonderful Monday!

~~~~~

Do you try and stick to a budget when it comes to grocery shopping? How many people do you need to feed?

Would you rather eat only salty foods for the rest of your life, or only sweet?

As big as my raging sweet tooth is…I’m going to have to go with salty!