Bismillah ArRahman ArRaheem. Asalaam ualaikum,

I have been thinking about this blog for awhile now. I have enjoyed surfing some Mom blogs lately, based on cooking cheaply and healthy as possible. I have had some medical stuff going on, as well as feeding my brood~all 6 of us, homemade stuff as much as possible, and convenient too, since I am going back to school, and am taking on three classes.

I have started shopping on either Mondays, or Fridays, just because I tend to find myself going constantly to the store, sometimes 1 day or more. And this adds up since you know we can't just pick up the one item-and it's even harder with children. I don't like lunch, per se, so eating out is a BIG time temptation. But, as a treat, I had to go shopping when all 4 kids were with me, oh about 6 weeks ago, but Alhamdulillah it worked out pretty well. I try to go in the morning, just because nap time is Holy Time for me-time to rest and pray, and rest, and after the kids (2 of them) wake up, I have to get started on dinner, and life goes on-plus who wants to go grocery shopping in the late-afternoon traffic anyway?
Anyway, getting off topic again, my husband is allergic to shrimp and shellfish. This allergy runs in his family, but it has developed over the past few years, masha'Allah, but he remembers, as well as my two older kids, when we would have shrimp, lobster (my in-laws are from Maine; tragically, they can't eat the lobster), scallops, you name it, we ate it! Especially steamed shrimp with old bay seasoning, but anyway, I digress (again!). Usually by the time I get everyone back in the car, with the realization these groceries won't walk themselves into the kitchen, and nap time is almost here, I would go to BK etc and get something for each kid off the $ menu and provide drinks and fruit. Which isn't bad on occasion, but can seriously add up over time, and remember this time there were 5 of us. I bought a bag of frozen, peeled shrimp for $5, and had all of the rest of the ingredients for homemade shrimp fried rice-mmmmmhmmmm. Masha'Allah, the rice was leftover, so I didn't even have to cook it! So, while the kids helped put away the groceries, I made that-and there were leftovers, and my kids were quite happy they were getting a treat! Take that, BK! and do not get me started about McDs LOL!!! It was super easy, I sauteed them with some onions, and garlic and soy sauce (used up from Chinese take-out), and made the scrambled egg separately then added it in with the frozen peas and rice, and presto~awesome. Alhamdulillah.
But, see the key with really sticking to the budget is to use up what I have, and I will make up my Menu; I have even started planning on different snacks for different days, as well as breakfast and lunch. It does take a little time, but to me its like a game; an organizational game of what goes where when. And, I sat down with my family and asked them what their favorite meals were, and what they didn't like. Some things every one said, I don't make much, unless its something I like and just for me (though I would encourage them to take 1 bite). There is no point in wasting my time and money on what they are not going to eat in the first place.
Salaam ualaikum and thanks for reading!