Okay, so today begins my Kraft 'Five Dinners One Bag' challenge. As you may remember, I get an email from the Kraft website (as well as receive The Food and Family magazine) on a regular basis. The recent email touted that five simple and smart dinners could be had in one shopping bag. The recipes and shopping list were provided.
Sunday, I took the list and hit the grocery store. I had to get more things that we were out of, so I'll itemize the list and the price I paid below - sparing you the whole receipt. But I have to say that I was surprised and very pleased to find the list laid out in the order of my store! Anywho, without further adieu...
1 head garlic ($.45)
1 lb red potatoes (two pound bag - $2.99, so half = 1.50)
1 bag carrots ($.89)
1 lb extra lean ground beef ($4.36)
1 lb beef chuck for stew ($4.85)
1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (3 lb bag of breasts - $8.21, so half = 4.10)
1 pkg Oscar Meyer bacon (did not get Oscar Meyer, it wasn't on sale. $3.29)
1 tub Philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese - 1/3 less fat ($2.19)
1 bottle Kraft Light Zesty Reduced Fat Dressing ($2.00)
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce ($.89)
1 can (14 1/2 oz) fat-free reduced sodium beef broth ($1.00)
1 bottle Kraft Original Barbecue sauce ($1.38)
1 canister Kraft Grated Parmesan cheese (already had this)
1 pkg spaghetti (whole wheat $2.50)
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes ($1.00)
1 pkg Kraft Macaroni & Cheese dinner (did you know they make this in whole grain? $.89)
1 pkg frozen mixed vegetables ($1.68)
1 DiGiorno Harvest Wheat Rising Crust Pizza - Four Cheese (I could not find this pizza, and DiGiornos weren't on sale, so I bought a generic Schnucks pizza $4.00)
Total price for this one bag of groceries (without tax) = $36.97, which is an average of $7.40 per meal! But, will it suck or will it be good?
The items I should (and do) already have on hand are: black pepper, fat-free milk, onions, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, butter and flour.
This evening, we'll be making meal one - spaghetti bolognese. Now I've never made my own sauce, but I have high hopes the kids will eat this, as spaghetti is a staple around these parts. I'll share the recipe and results tomorrow.
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In other news, a game of Trouble with your two kids and husband can last well over an hour and involve one kid crying and the other lying on you nonstop because she's tired. True story.