Last night, I had the pleasure of being a speaker at Ignite SJ. This event invites people from various walks of life to address a crowd for just 5 minutes, with 20 slides that automatically change every 15 seconds. I was asked to speak about meal planning on a budget, and whittling down my favourite ideas into 15 second intervals was no small task. Those who know me, know that I have a hard time shutting up about things I'm passionate about! (The event was recorded and I plan to share the videos once they are posted.)

During the question and answer period, I was asked how long it takes to do my weekly meal plan. I answered that it takes me about 20 minutes, and that I think the time is a good investment. However, as I sat down with the newest flyers this morning, my meal plan basically wrote itself in well under that estimate. There are so many great prices this week on foods that just asked to be served together!

For those who weren't in attendance last night, you can read this post (from 2012) about how I meal plan around the sales. I want to take that how-to a step further today by showing you an actual meal plan for the week, using the current sales in our area. Remember - you don't need to run all over town to get these specials. Simply bring your flyers to a store that price matches! I do this at No Frills each week, but it can also be done at Walmart or Giant Tiger. I also generally stop at On The Vine each week because they offer amazing weekly specials. And their staff offers to carry my bags out to the car...where can you get that kind of service anymore?!

Below, I'll highlight the best deals at each store followed by the week of dinners I have planned.

Of course, my grocery list will need to be rounded out to include a few additional items for the recipes above, along with things we need for breakfast, school lunches, and to replenish the pantry. I'm also always keeping my eye open for "stock up-portunities" for items with a long shelf-life that my family uses regularly. Saving money on those staples leaves lots of money in the budget for the fresh healthy foods I want to serve my family! {Those in attendance last night, you can laugh about my laundry detergent stash here. :) }

I'd love to hear your feedback about this process, or any question you might have about meal planning. As I said last night, we can all live well and eat well if we spend thoughtfully!

I interrupt all the recipe sharing to post about budgeting. I have shared before how I keep our grocery budget on track, but grocery spending is only a small piece of the pie (and because of this spreadsheet I know our groceries are 12.27% of the pie). After some prompting from friends, I'm sharing how I budget for our family.

Let me begin by saying that budget isn't a bad word! Having a budget (or a spending plan) can actually be very liberating! When you have planned to spend and you have the money in hand, spending is so much more enjoyable. Budgeting doesn't mean you don't take vacations....it means you pay for vacations with cash. Budgeting doesn't mean that you can't go out for dinner, it just means you are a little more selective of when you go out. Our lives have absolutely changed for the better since we started budgeting. Who knew we could actually live a more comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle on one income? I am a firm believer than you can have it all, you just can't have it all at once. 

We are a single-income family. After my second maternity leave, I didn't return to work. Being a stay-at-home mom is something we always had in mind as part of my role in our family, but the timing wasn't carved in stone. We worked hard to pay off my student loan and our consumer debt before reducing our income. We also took a long hard look at what we were spending. For example, we drove an older vehicle at the time. It was paid for, but we weren't aware of how much we had been spending on maintenance & mileage. Once we added up 6 months of repairs, maintenance, and gas, we realized that we could be driving a new and more fuel-efficient vehicle for the same monthly costs! Our housing situation was similar. We lived in a home on the outskirts of the city, which meant our mileage was higher and our sense of community was lacking. The home itself also had significant costs in maintenance and repairs. We ended up building an efficient home in our ideal neighbourhood, close to friends, family, and Josh's workplace. Our daily life improved, and money was saved. We never would have made those big changes if we hadn't taken a good look at the numbers. 

Are you ready to begin?  Click here to download my budget spreadsheets

This budget is based on 2 biweekly paycheques a month, even though there are 26 biweeklies in a year. We put those extra 2 payments directly into savings. It helps boost our savings, and it is easier to budget based on a regular income every month. Similarly, we don't include overtime, commissions, or incentives in our budget. Those incomes can also boost savings or be used for "extra" spending.

• Step 1: Fill in your income. 
• Step 2: Fill in your fixed expenses.   I t automatically will calculate what percentage of your income is being spent on each category.  
• Step 3: Note the "difference" (under net income). That's how much money you have left after your fixed expenses to fill in your variable expenses. 
• Step 4: To begin figuring where you want to set those variable budgets, you should go back through the past several months to figure out what you have been spending. If you don't have the receipts, check your credit card or banks statements and look at your transactions in different categories. Once you add up these totals, ask yourself how often you think you've used cash at those stores and add a guesstimate of that amount. Likely, this total will scare you. That's okay - things will get better! And if you didn't know where you were coming from, how could you look back pleased with how far you have come? 
• Step 5: If you want to have a real TV/ Gail Vaz-Oxlade moment, put the amounts you have been spending into your budget sheet temporarily. Does it balance? Are you shocked by the percentage of your income that you spend in some categories?
• Step 6:  As you look at the figures from past months, decide if you are comfortable putting those numbers in your budget or if you want to reduce some categories.  Again, as you fill in your budgeted amounts,    it will calculate what percentage of your income is being spent on each category.   Keep watching the "difference"...your budget has to balance!

This all may  sound more complicated than it really is. Don't get overwhelmed! Once your sheets are set up, if doesn't take more than a couple of minutes here and there to input expenses on the receipt tracker. All you have to do is begin, and take one little step at a time. I started doing this practice out of necessity, but it has become a way of life that I really enjoy. I hope you find the same thing. I welcome any of your questions or comments below or via Email. Bring it on! :)

Click here to download my budget spreadsheets

I thought it may be fun to look back on the year in review. 

Here are my 13 most viewed posts from 2013! 

Chorizo Stuffed Peppers

May $40 Dinner Party

Homemade Butterfingers

Honey Sriacha Chicken

June $40 Dinner Party

Thai-Style Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

July $40 Dinner Party

Apple Pie Smoothie

 Strawberry-Rhubarb Vodka

Back to School Lunch Ideas

Is your favourite post listed? Has a Hungry Janey recipe become a regular in your house this year? I'd love for you to comment and let me know!

A message for all my local readers...

After requests from friends and family, I've decided to sell some Christmas baking this year. I am starting with my two favourite traditional Christmas cookies: shortbread cookies and gingerbread cookies. Both are made with old-fashion ed recipes in small batches using quality ingredients, just as I would prepare them for my own family. A sample is pictured, and the prices are as follows:

I was delighted to be Food Bloggers of Canada's Featured Blog of the week! I shared all kinds of things with them, including some of my favourite posts, my favourite gadgets, and how sweet my husband is. (Awwww....) 

See my full Q&A with them here!

If you are looking for more Canadian Food Blogs to follow, be sure to check their member directory.

Mediterranean vegetable, white bean, and feta penne

Chick Pea and Artichoke Heart Stew  

Cook’s Illustrated’s Chicken Curry in a Hurry

Bombay Chicken with apples

Cheesy Orzo

Tortilla Black Bean Pie

Broccoli Bites

Roasted Root Jumble with Feta Cheese

 

And no particular recipe for this, but my friend Sarah and I want to recreate the Winter Bruschetta from the Saint John Ale House. (Does it get any better than a combination of maple roasted squash, walnuts, balsalmic syrup, and goat cheese?)

What's on my Christmas baking list this year, you ask? Well...

It just wouldn't be Christmas without Nanny Mcnulty's Shortbread Cookies, so those are already made.

Since I discovered this great Soft Gingerbread Cookie recipe last year, it's a new tradition and the dough is chilling now.

I have my Knock-Off Subway Cookie dough in the freezer for last minute hostess gifts or visitors.

I'm trying a few new things this year too: Peppermint Fudge is already made (which I'll write my own blog post about shortly). Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies are on deck. And I just found this Peppermint Bark today that might need to happen too (and it's especially easy because I already have all the ingredients).

Also in the works this week are items for my Dad's birthday dinner on Christmas Eve: Seafood Lasagna and Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake.

A lot of those items are still on my "to do list", so I better go get busy!

Allow me to introduce the newest gadget to grace my kitchen.

This Black and Decker 500 Watt food processor has an 11 cup bowl and 3 changeable blades...and it was 60% off! The regular retail is $99.99 and Canadian Tire has it for $39.99 this week. Yay! And knowing that cupboard space is at a premium, I chose 3 less-used kitchen gadgets to post on Kijiji to make some space and pay for the new item. I'm so proud of me! :)

So, what's your favourite thing to make in your food processor?
Do share - I can't wait to use it!

Cooking and party-planning are two of my favourite things and, luckily, they go well together. Because of his current favourite books, we decided to put a Dr Seuss spin on Simon's 2nd birthday party.

 Green Eggs (no ham): sugar cookies with this icing

Where does one get a cookie cutter shaped like a fried egg? Just bend a round coockie cutter until it looks right!

Hop on Pop(corn): popcorn with this seasoning

 Three Cheese Trees (from Fox in Socks): cubes of marble cheddar on styrofoam trees (I swear this looked better in person!)

Yertle the (caramel) Turtle: pretzel rolo turtles, with topped with M&M's instead of pecans to be nut-free

Yink's Pink Ink Drink: pink lemonade

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with this icing, and this filling (+ 3 TBSP raspberry jam) & homemade toppers

My take on Truffula Trees was really simple, but they had a big impact with the high-ceilings in our living room and kitchen. They were each just made out of two pieces of bristol board: one for the top, and one cut into wiggly strips to make the trunk. (And having picked up the bristol board at 3 for $1, making each tree for $0.66 is pretty great bang for your buck!)

I made these pom poms in alternating red and white tissue paper that were hung with fishing line from the ceiling, but they were somehow missed in our photos.

Our kids' birthday parties are always donation parties, where we ask that our guest bring a donation of non-perishable food for our nearest food bank in lieu of a gift. For our donation box this year, I used a quote from The Lorax that got people talking: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." One person even asked if they could have the sign - and of course, I obliged!

I had quite a few other ideas for food and decorations that just didn't come into fruition in time for the party (chasing two toddlers at 8 months pregnant will do that to you), but I'd be happy to share some ideas if you'd like to leave a comment.


I'm linking this up with  What's Cooking with Ruthie's Super Saturday Show & Tell , and  Thirty Handmade Days Linky Party !

Still on the hunt for the closest thing I can make to a Subway chocolate chip cookie. The next recipe to hit my mixer is this one, courtesy of Lisa. They were soft and chewy and delicious. I think the milk really added to the great texture of this cookie. Still not exactly what I am hunting for though...the search continues!

I have been craving the soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies from Subway. I am setting off on mad hunt for the perfectly thick and chewy chocolate chip cookie: The CCCC Quest. Dramatic? Absolutely! :)

I tried a little variation on this recipe yesterday. They were a hit with the kids because I topped them with a Smartie from their Halloween candy. They were good, but I enjoyed them even more on the second day.

This is less of a recipe, and more of an adorable idea. I made these cake cones for my son's 3rd birthday party, and the kids loved them. I saw the idea from a local cake maker (Thank you 'Cake Me Smile!'), but the party didn't have the budget for me to buy them for all of our guests. I think my DIY's turned out pretty cute though!

First, make Bakerella's cake balls. Just make the centres and don't coat the yet. (Mine are chocolate cake and chocolate icing. Mmmmm...)

Place your cake balls on a cookie sheet, and top with a mini ice cream cone. Chill in the fridge (or freezer, if you are impatient like me) until firm.


Once the cake balls are firm, melt chocolate (in this case, white chocolate) in a double-boiler. Dip each cake ball/cone in the melted chocolate and top with sprinkles.

An easy way for them to dry and harden standing up was to poke them into the bottom of egg cartons. Isn't it cute how the chocolate drips down the cone a little like melting ice cream?

Love 'em! Can't wait for another reason to make them ;)

Our lives are busy and our fridge isn't always full, but we always try to eat wholesome meals. I'm sure I'm not alone! If you are looking for healthy meals that won't take all day and won't break the bank, you are in for a treat: A friend just sent me this link to a free E-cookbook, courtesy of Stone Soup.

It was worth the excitement and the wait: Look at the abundance of lovely fresh local food!

If you are curious what I plan to make with these goodies, check out this post...and come back throughout the week for pictures, recipes, and reviews.

I have already mentioned several times how excited we are to be taking part in a local CSA program, Dave's Produce Packs. Tonight is our first pick-up, and I am excitedly planning our menu for the week. I plan to build our menu around the weekly produce packs all summer, and I'll share all the plans and recipes with you as I go. If you have any ideas or recipes to share with me, please comment! I'm constantly stockpiling recipes to try.

I posted a while back that I was going to do my first product review. Well, without further ado...

With the 2.25 quart dish, I made The Farm Chick's Rhubarb Crunch. My toddlers helped me pick oodles of rhubarb yesterday, some for this dish and lots for the freezer. What are your favourite rhubarb recipes?

Looking for some new Summer grill recipes? Look no further!

Download your free copy of Martha Stewart's Summer Grilling Cookbook, courtesy of Sirius Radio. Thanks for the heads-up, For The Mommas!

One of my sister's coworkers has a farm and often brings fresh eggs in to work. I was lucky enough to be handed some last week, and couldn't believe the size of them! In the photo below, the white egg is from the grocery store and is considered "large". The brown egg is direct from the farm and, although it might be tough to tell in the photo, it's about one and a half times bigger than the store-bought egg. It is both longer and bigger around, and could probably make a pretty hearty one-egg omelet!

I just found out that the CSA we are taking part in this summer is going to be including some eggs. YAY! If you are in the Saint John area and want to get in on it, check out the group "Dave's Produce Packs" on Facebook. I plan to post recipes regularly all summer to go along with what is provided in the weekly pack.

Until then, here's my side-by-side egg comparison. :)

Let's face it - casseroles are often easy and economical choices, but they carry a certain je-ne-sais-quoi blah factor as soon as you say the word. I am so excited to try these great pieces of Rachel Ray stoneware, currently being sold by CSN, which should add something fun and contemporary to any of my casserole recipes. CSN offers a HUGE range or products, from TV stands to bedding to co okware to diaper bags!

Check back soon for my review. Do you have an idea of what my first "cool casserole" should be? If so, please leave a comment with your link/recipe!
Disclosure: This item is being provided for review purposes.