Monday, December 28, 2009

My Thrifty Thanksgiving Success!

DISCLAIMER - I started writing this post a LONG LONG time ago.  And as you have probably learned, life has a tendency of keeping me away from posting with any sort of regular schedule.  I can't stand to let things go, so I am here now to finish and post.  Thank you for hanging in there!

I did it...I did it....I did it!!!!  My $30 goal was a cinch.  Keep in mind that my $30 consisted of things I had to go and purchase specifically for this dinner...I didn't include items that were already in my pantry (i.e. butter, oil, salt, etc).  I'll break it down for you.  (I wish I still had my receipts, because I would take a picture of them with the wonderful new camera I received from my "Fairy Godmother" this week.  Wink wink, you know who you are!)

Turkey
-12 lb. Turkey = $4.76 (on sale for .40 cents per lb at WalMart)
-Herbes de Provence (gift from my Aunt Debbye = free!)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- (approx) 3.5 lbs. sweet potatoes = .83 (on sale for .25 cents per lb)
-olive oil, salt, pepper = already in the cabinet; no extra out of pocket expense

Homemade Garlic Mashed Potatoes
-5 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes = 2.99 (Aldi)
-Half and Half = 1.79 (Aldi)
-Butter = 1.49 (Aldi - I seriously couldn't believe a lb. of butter was this cheap!)
-3 bulbs garlic = .79 (Aldi)

Gravy
-2 cans chicken stock = 2 x .49 (Aldi)
-Flour = already in the cabinet; no extra out of pocket expense

Corn Casserole
-creamed corn = .69 (Aldi)
-regular corn = .69 (Aldi)
-jiffy corn bread mix = .42 (Food Lion special)
-butter = on hand, no extra out of pocket expense
-8 oz. sour cream - .89 (Food Lion special)

Ham & Broccoli Casserole
1 package frozen broccoli florets - (already in freezer - woo hoo!)
1 package shredded cheddar cheese - 2.00
Dry Mustard - all of these were on hand
Milk
Flour
Salt
Pepper

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (no one else really ate these but me, so I didn't have to get too many!)
1 lb. - on sale for 1.99 lb. at Publix
olive oil - all of these were on hand
salt
pepper


Cranberry Sauce - .79 (Aldi)

Pecan Tarts - I have to brag a little.  I found this recipe in the Cooking Light Holiday Cookbook and they are incredible.  The crust is made with cream cheese.  I will  post the recipe because they are incredibly easy and will be sure to impress!  The only two items I had to purchase to make these amazing little tasties were
Karo Syrup - 2.99
Cream Cheese - .79 (Aldi - best price I found all season)
I lucked out and was able to score some free pecans from work!

And my grand total for extra out of pocket expenses for a Thanksgiving meal for 5 adults and one child was....drum roll please.....$24.88.  Our tax rate is pretty high, 9.25%, which put me at $27.18!!!

With a little planning and putting to good use what you already have on hand, it definitely can be done!