Meal Planning

MEAL PLANNING FOR THE WIN!

This week, I want to focus on Meal planning.  My family lives off of a budget of roughly $100/wk.  This is for a two adult and two child household.  Granted my kids are not very old yet (3 & 4), but man can my 3 yr. old pack it away.  I find that on the weeks when I really need to go grocery shopping I feel overwhelmed and walk into the grocery store only to want to walk right back out.  No game plan = lousy food and usually over budget to boot.

This week I knew that today was going to be grocery shopping day come hell or high water.  I needed to get groceries in order to get back on track with my weight loss goals as well as to be able to feed my older daughter healthy meals when she returns to school on Monday.

The following is what I came up with for Dinners as well as a few links to the some of the recipes that I use personally for these meals.

Tonight's dinner is brought to you by the wonderful people at Kraft Foods.  That's right, it's Kraft Dinner for the family tonight.  Normally we us KD as a lunch option, but it's easy enough that my husband can make it and since I'll be out getting groceries, this is an important factor.  Also, both kids like it (a rarity with my picky, but overly hungry 3 yr. old).  No Brainer.

The rest of the week is as follows:
SATURDAY: Waffles w/ Fruit & Bacon - This will be frozen waffles that we toast covered with cut up fruit and likely some yogurt and maple syrup.  Served with a side of bacon.  This sounded so tasty that I put it first on the list!

SUNDAY: Stracciatella & Meatballs - The Stracciatella recipe that I use is Chef Carm's and it can be found HERE.  I actually found out about this recipe on a fluke.  My 3 yr. old turned on the TV and there it was being made on Steven & Chris (love that show!).  Easy, I had all the ingredients already, and it was tasty!  I add meatballs to it to give it more UMPH and to stretch it just a bit.  This would go served well w/ garlic bread or a nice crusty loaf.

MONDAY: Pizza - I hate Mondays!  This is definitely another no brainer dinner.  Plus my local grocery store has Delissio on sale for $3.99.  Much cheaper than ordering it!

Photography by Tom Szuba Photo Inc.

TUESDAY: Borscht - I found THIS RECIPE (scroll 1/2 way down the page as there are other soup recipes in the article too) in a copy of the Sun sometime in the fall of 2011 (after looking up the article, apparently it was on 9/23/2011).  I remember it only because I was sitting in a Kettleman's bagel shop reading the paper that happened to be on the countertop and I actually ripped out the recipe, which I rarely do (especially in public papers).  Plus I remember it was 2011 since I was working at the Halloween store in Place D'Orleans Mall and this Kettleman's was right across the street from it.  Love this recipe since it's so cheap to make and full of veggies!

WEDNESDAY: Pork w/ Curry Rice (AKA: Pork Chop Casserole) - this is a recipe of my Mother-In-Law's and I really enjoy it.  I usually throw whatever extra veggies I may have in with the rice which helps with the nutritional aspect as well as filling out the meal more.  Pork Chop Casserole - Jill Davis's Recipe

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350

4 Pork Chops
1 C rice
Beef Bouillon & 2 C water
diced green peppers
diced tomatoes
diced onion
salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp curry powder (increase to taste)

Grease casserole. brown chops on both sides quickly. put rice and curry powder, salt, and pepper into casserole.  lay chops on top, overlapping if necessary. add diced veggies. pour boullion mix over top.  cover and bake 1 hr. at 350.

Another simple recipe, but big on flavor.  I add LOTS of curry, but I like it much spicier than my mother-in-law.

THURSDAY: Chili - there is no recipe for this other than: Brown 1 lb. ground beef w/ 1 onion diced.  Add 1 can of Tomato Sauce, 1 Can Each of Red Kidney Beans & Black Beans (drained & rinsed), 1 Can diced tomatoes, and whatever else you like in your chili.  I will sometimes add corn kernels.  You can also be very flexible with your bean types.  I've used cannelli, black, chick peas, bean mixes, etc.  Also, for seasoning, add Chili powder, some sugar (just a bit), cumin, and a dash or two of cinnamon (yes really!).  I really season it a bit and taste it.  It's all eyeballed now.  This is another favorite cause it takes about 10-15 min. from start to finish to make.

FRIDAY: Grocery day so likely will be KD again!

Hoping to come in under budget enough that I can afford the $7.92 12 pk of KD.  Great price!  We shall see! UPDATE: Didn't come in under budget, but bought the KD anyway.  I think I just need to up my budget to $125/wk.  It'd be just enough.

Thanks for reading my blog today!