I went to the grocery yesterday and wow! It seems as though everything has gone up. Milk is almost 5.00 a gallon, my daughter and I use milk very little but my 16 year old son drinks quite a bit of milk. I bought some powdered milk, thinking I might try to slip some in with the real stuff when its about half gone and hopefully they wont notice, I'll use it in cooking also to try to save, but I have to say even the powdered milk was not cheap and that was the no name brand. I bought only one package of hamburger as the beef was also expensive. So I came home with 4 roasts, 2 five pound hams, 2 packages of chicken breasts, 12 cans of tomato sauce, 2 boxes of penne pasta, fresh spinach, a head of cabbage, green onions, radishes, 2 sweet potatoes, a 15 pound bag of russet potatoes, 2 cucumbers, 2 bell peppers, 12 ounce colby jack cheese, 4 cans of chicken broth, 2 packages of precooked bean and cheese burritos and a package of submarine rolls and two loaves of bread. I ended up spending $127.00. I figure this is going to make at least two weeks worth of meals, at two meals a day, not counting canned veggies that I have on hand. I also didnt count soups I can make with the potatoes etc. I do also have plenty in my freezer, we could probably get by for a month and a half without going to the grocery and eating what is on hand. Of course this wouldnt count milk, bread and fresh veggies. Maybe I should challenge myself to do that, just eat what is on hand without buying anymore. I'll have to think on that one awhile, I do not feel secure without food in the house, maybe it was the way I grew up, we had very little and usually just enough to get by, never did we get seconds, but then we were healthy, not over weight and sure didnt go hungry!

Well, this was not as easy as I thought it might be. Even with cooked food in the house I would find myself running by for a soda or tacos etc. So I compromised and bought a few things at the grocery that I could just pop into the microwave or oven and have a meal. The kids have not taken it so well either. They would want fast food also. We all have adjusted better than we did at first, it's something we are working on. I think alot of it is mindset.

My grocery budget is $298.00 per month. I usually do well with this as far as groceries are concerned. Our problem is eating out, such as in fast food. We dont really go to sit down places but we get take away quite a bit and this really adds up! For three of us it's never under 12.00-14.00. I have a large chest freezer full of food as well as my pantries and cabinets are full. I've got to make myself cook.

I've made a start, last night I cooked a bag of chicken breasts and made chicken taquitos. Recipe below:

Shredded chicken (amount depends on how many you will be making)
Velveta Mexican cheese- 1 square, 1-2 inches thick.
1 tablespoon of homemade salsa
Heat vegetable oil in frying pan, take corn tortillas and put in oil for one second just to soften. Put in desired amount of chicken, roll and put end sides down in cooking oil. Cook until crisp.

This was the first time I've made these and they were really delicious, we will be having these again. Tasty, quick and easy!

I also made chicken salad with some of the chicken and still have 1/2 of it left. I will either find something to make with it or freeze for future use.

It's amazing how many meals one bag of chicken breasts can make!