On my last grocery store trip, I found some great savings by buying in bulk. Whenever possible, I stock up on meats, canned goods and baking goods. It’s a relief for a busy mom to know that her freezer and pantry are stocked when it comes to meal planning for her family.  Because we live a hour and a half from our nearest Costco or Sam’s Club, I rely on our local Raley’s grocery store to provide me with the savings I need for my family’s grocery budget.

This last trip I stock up on chicken breast because they were on sale for $1.97lb. When meats like this are on sale, I buy as much as I can (usually 3-4 packages), then freeze what I am not going to use for the week. I always freeze in portions that are perfect for my family–always having different sizes of zip-loc freezer bags on hand; they are a lifesaver when it comes to freezing and allowing plenty of room in your freezer.

The most important step to a weekly budget is to come up with a plan for every meal, snack and beverage you’ll need over the course of the week. Review your local grocery store ads and plan your menu according to what’s on sale that week.

These are just some suggestions to help you save money on your grocery bill. How do you save money at the grocery store?

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    The connection my family and I have is better when we spend lots of good quality time with each other. So what constitutes as quality time? Questions a lot of busy parents tend to ask, “How do I spend quality time with my kids?”

Days get busy, our workday schedules pull us in all sorts of directions, and we end up losing track of time. The end result? We end up losing valuable time with our family. The things that compete with our family time is extensive. Who knew that hanging out and talking with family were critical pieces to family life.  There is no real easy way to do this, there was no high school or college courses to prepare anyone for family life, so be prepared to make sacrifices. Think about the memories you’ll be making with your children and the sacrifices will pale in comparison. Commit to your children!

I learned working full time that it wasn’t always easy juggling a career and family life. But long ago I decided to stress the important factor of family meal times. I decided this was my family’s time for each other. So I thought it befitting to express the importance of this again. Meal time together as a family can be a wonderful time of talking about the day’s events and bonding as a family. Families who eat meals together, build stronger relationships.

Family Dinner Project:

For the next 90 days, my family will share our Family Fun/Movie Night with you, I’ll post an update on this blog. I’ll share with you about our family dinner nights, and how the kids were involved. I’ll tell you about an easy meal we created and enjoyed. I’ll tell you, one thing I learned about my family that week.

I’d love for you to join me in this simple challenge.  Bring your Family back to the Dinner Table. Just keep track of how many family dinners you had together from Saturday to Friday and then post a comment on my weekly blog post. I’d love to hear what  easy meal plan  you’re family is creating and what your favorite meal was that week.  Are you up for it? Would you like to join me in bringing  family meal times back?

Coming this Friday…..Sharing Results of Week #1

Summary: Imagine an easy breakfast bread that tastes like cinnamon rolls. It is delicious warm and doesn’t need butter. The bread can be assembled the night before, then left to rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups milk
1 1/2 Tablespoons butter
4 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon bread machine yeast
2 Tablespoons very soft butter
6 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 Tablespoons raisins (optional)
4 Tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions:

• Put first six ingredients in bread pan in order listed. Set bread machine to dough cycle. Press Start.
• Remove butter from refrigerator to soften it. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together. Butter a 9 1/2 inch loaf pan.
• Remove dough from bread machine and punch down. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to form a rectangle about 8 inches wide and about 16 inches long. Spread the butter with a silicone basting brush, then sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the surface of the dough. Roll it into a fat 8-inch-long cylinder.
• Loosely cover and put in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the loaf until the top is golden and a skewer  inserted in the bread  comes out clean, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the bread from the pan and put it on a wire rack. Let it cool at least 30 minutes so the hot sugar does not burn you.

Noel’s Notes: The bread can be assembled the night before, then left to rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Variations: Raisins, Chopped Nuts or Diced Fruit can be added after the first kneading or when beep sounds ( first resting period of dough cycle.) Drizzle warm cream cheese frosting over the top for an extra special taste.

Makes: 1 1/2 pound loaf

Cooking Time: 25 to 30 minutes

Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes dough cycle (includes first rising time); 1 hour second rising time or overnight in refrigerator.

Total Cooking Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Meal Type: Breakfast, Brunch

My Family Rating: 4

Sundays the urge comes over me to cook up a storm. When this urge happens, pots and pans fly, and the family hovers about (along with several feline and canine admirers), sniffing aromas, sneaking a taste, and hoping for a smorgasboard at dinner.  Here is my meal plan for the week with more recipes to post throughout the week. Enjoy Cooking!

Breakfast:

Bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit
Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Overnight Egg Casserole
Chocolate Waffles
Breakfast Pizza

Lunch:

Hard Boiled Eggs
Twice Baked Potatoes
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Chili In A Bread Bowl

Dinner:

Sloppy Joes
Zesty Breaded Chicken
Stuffed Green Peppers
Spaghetti
Broccoli Souffle
Taco salad
Leftovers

What’s On Your Menu?