I have set a food budget for myself for the first time. My budget is not a strict one, I am giving myself $100 every week to spend on food. Even with such a liberal budget I am having a very difficult time staying within it. I have only been doing this for 2 weeks and I have gone over each week by about $25. Maybe I will do it next week.
In trying to stay within my budget I wanted to stretch the 2 chicken Andouille Sausage in the freezer that I had to use, so I decided to make Jambalaya. 1 Tbsp olive oil
2 links Chicken Andouille Sausage, Diced
1 medium Onion, Diced
1 red Hungarian sweet pepper
1 green Hungarian sweet pepper
2 stalks Celery, Diced
4-5 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 14 oz can whole tomatoes, with juice
1 1/4 Cup Chicken Stock
1/4 cup White Wine
3/4 Cup Long grain Rice
5 large (16 per pound) shrimp
2 T Cajun seasoning - I used my spice mixture for grilling
1 Bay Leaf
1 Lemon, quartered
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add trinity (onion/peppers/celery) in a large saute pan with the olive oil. saute until tender, add in the sausage and cook for a few minutes. Add tomato cook about a minute, Add the garlic, wine and rice, cook 1 minute. Add the stock, seasoning mix, bay leaves, Stir well and bake uncovered for about 25 minutes, add the shrimp and bake for another 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked, but still has a little bite. Top with chopped parsley.
12 comments:
Your jambalaya looks mouthwatering! It is one of those great one pot dinners that is even great leftover, if there ever are any! I love all the combination of flavors and textures from the rice, sausage and veggies!
Your jambalaya does look wonderful...but I have 2 questions: Does chicken Andouille have tripe in it?!?
Is your 100.00 just for food or everything bought at the sipermarket - just curious...
I normally spend way over that for the 2 of us, but that includes the dogs and cleaning stuff!
Deb - it is one of those one pot meals and it is full of flavor. This was my first attempt and I am very happy with it.
Katie - the $100 is for food only; I could never keep it under $100 if I had to add diapers and cleaning stuff. The Andouille is tripe free I get it at Costco along with some Chicken apple Gouda sausages that are wonderful with mango salsa on while wheat pita bread
The jambalaya looks incredible! I try and stick to a budget for groceries but I always get last minute ideas for what would taste good...or I enter a blogging event and need extra ingredients.
yes that was my issue 2 weeks ago when I did the Daring Baker Challange this month. Those ingredients really add up even with one that isn't exotic, it was the nuts!
Holly Molly! all these goodies. Where was I. You've been quiet busy in the kitchen my dear Shayne.
That looks goooooood! and so does the dill soup and the creme brulee. It's been a while since I 've made one. I started to make a weekly budget for food about two months ago when I saw that I was spending way over board, especially when you have a food blog to feed. Now I spend a lot less and most of the time stick to it, except this week when I saw the gorgeous local apples. It really helps, not only financially but also you kind of ask yourself: do I really need this this week or could it wait until next week. I have a list of what I need every week which might change if I see something that I crave and I reorganize my next week on the last one. My budget you might ask? you will laugh but believe I can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and grocery (not cleaning and diapers)and not meat because I buy it once a month and freeze everything which might last for 1month to 1 month and 1/2 max. My weekly budget: $50.00. And no I didn't forget another zero.
Rose - $50.00 is very impressive. I spend $25- $35 on fruit and veggies and we eat it all every week (the kids eat a lot of F&V) and that is at Randazzo's which is a discount fruit market. I too buy my meat in large packages and divide it out and put it the freezer, it saves so much money.
I have been creating a weekly menu and a list for a few years now. If I don't I forget things but I also grab extras.
Shayne, I do have budged for food as well, and I made menu for the week, then I go to the supermarket or I shop online and I try to buy most of the things. Then to the market to buy fresh fruit and veg. We usually spend about £100 a week for family of four but I try to reduce it. London is expensive city, and in my weekly shopping is not only food but also washing powder and nappies. I try also to use everything from the fridge and cupboards, so if I have something extra I use it in next week menu, not to waste it.
That jambalaya looks so good.As far as budgeting-I stay on a list and I still spend about $300 a week.4 boys and a husband are expensive to feed.I usually go through 6 gallons of milk,6-8 loaves of bread.Amazing the food that passes through this house!
Elizabeth - feeding 5 males, I am impressed you only spend $300.00 and think about how much it will be when they are all in their teens, well not your hubby.
to feed your family healthy food it adds up fast and the inflation on food the last year has been bad.
Shayne I've seen your kids eat, and am also impressed you can keep it to 100.00. :) Amy
Thanks Amy, you made me laugh!
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