Bought diapers, wipes, eggs, cottage cheese, dish soap, 4 liquid soap, a birthday card, napkins, paper towels, glass cleaner, and coffee creamer- $31.80.  Hope to make it through the weekend.

Tracy 

All that I have done with the Food Challenge from 6/10 to 7/2 is proven that the amount of Food Stamps they give me ($155) is unnecessary, that in a pinch I can get along with just the $130 that I spent in 3 early-month trips....

 We used a ton of food this weekend, it seems, but I feel confident that most of our main dishes can still come out of our pantry and freezer this week- how is everyone doing?  I have quite a list for July 1st, but am thinking of scalling this back and continuing to use up whatever I can.

Tracy 

I am still eating out of my stock with the exception of the perishables and necessities. I need to get motivated to get some stock made from chicken drumsticks I have.

I am getting in on this topic very late.  I was just griping to my husband about the price of everything around here.  All food costs and utilities have gone up.  Given the fact that I have children with food allergies and groceries are sky high to begin with, I'm jumping on the bandwagon!  I'm looking forward to see how much money I can cut out of the grocery budget in the next month.  Anyone going to post totals as to how much they have saved vs what their average grocery bill usually is?

Annie

I have been posting my expenses in the Budget Map folder under a thread on cutting food costs.

 We are still doing well eating from our pantry and garden.  We have about $132 left for the month that will go into savings on the 1st if we dont buy anymore.   Today I made hubby's brunch practially from the freezer with bit of fresh fruit and veggies.  : )  I had 2 eggs and ww toast for breakfast with sf sweet tea.  Lunch for me was a tomato on ww with mayo, okay two of them!  They are my favorite summer sandwich and sweet tea. 

Dinner tonight will be a rice dish made with the last of the Uncle Ben's Broccoli Rice Au Gratin boxed mixes and burger from the freezer.  Fresh veggies on the side from the garden.  I also used 4 frozen bananas, flour, vinegar, 12 cukes from the garden(canned), sugar, salt, garlic, dill weed(from the garden), and froze 3 leftover hot dog buns for stuffing.  Dessert will be frozen homemade chocolate pudding pops. 

 How do you make the chocolate pudding pops?

I have been posting my grocery expenses under Food Stamps, & my lack of shopping from the 14th (around then; I haven't now looked up the date) to 7/2 in the Food Challenge section.

Long ago, in days of working affluence, I bought from Tupperware a 4-pop maker.  It has the sticks incorporated into the piece that you take out once the juice, Jell-O or pudding is taken out.  It also has a mold piece.

Vanilla Pudding Pops

3 cups milk, divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa(optional for chocolate pops)
5 tbsp cornstarch
small pinch salt
2 tsp vanilla paste


In a medium sauce pan, heat 2 1/2 cups milk, sugar and cocoa if using, over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar. Bring just to a simmer. You will see steam coming from the milk, but no bubbles.
Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup milk, cornstarch and salt in a small bowl. When the milk/sugar mixture comes to a simmer, whisk in the cornstarch mixture.
Whisking frequently, continue to cook for several minutes, until pudding comes to a simmer and begins to thicken (I generally cook it for about 1 more minute at this point, but it depends on the heat of your stove). It should thickly coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla paste (vanilla extract with beans suspended in it; plain extract is fine).
Pour into clean popsicle molds and transfer to freezer.
Freeze until solid, or overnight.

Makes about 8, depending on the size of popsicle molds.
(This recipe can be halved and any kind of milk can be used, though I typically use skim for me and soy for hubby.)