Christmas is coming fast! The less money I can spend on things like groceries, the more money I can spend having fun buying gifts.  That means it’s pantry week at our house.  Yesterday’s grocery trip was very minimal, milk, eggs, celery, 1 box of pasta, BBQ sauce, bell peppers and dill dip.  I had really planned on spending only $20, but then we learned we may have unexpected company for dinner, and I wanted to pick up a few extra things to have, just in case.  Well, we ended up going TO company, and my grocery bill was $50 instead of $20.  Hey, that’s still better than the normal close to $150, and inspires me to make this pantry challenge go a little longer than one week.

The only day I’m not set on this week is today.  I may decide to be inspired by something else when I go to the freezer today, but if not, the chicken legs will work.   I’m also hoping to do a little Christmas baking this week, but I need to be sure I can keep it in with my challenge and not run to the store. Okay, maybe I’m not set on next Sunday either.  I expect I’ll have leftovers of both BBQ pork and bean soup, so that may make a great easy Sunday dinner, so we’ll call Sunday leftover day this week.

Monday: Crispy Baked Chicken Legs, Alfredo Baked Penne, Mixed Vegetables

Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches, Apple & Celery Salad, Pickles, Chips and Salsa

Wednesday: Navy Bean Soup with Rosemary and Ham Hocks, Homemade Bread, Orange Slices

Thursday: Sausage and Cheese Frittata, German Apple Pancakes

Friday: Mom and Dad Out.  Kids, Shells-n-cheese, Ham slices, veggies

Saturday: Whole Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash, Buttered Carrot Coins

Sunday: Leftovers of some kind, soup and sandwiches maybe.

Don’t forget to peek at all the other menu plans this week at I’m An Organizing Junkie’s Menu Plan Monday.  I could plan for months off of just what is submitted in one day!