Menu Plan Monday

Monday - use leftover baked winter squash to make curried squash soup (note - this was okay but not thrilling)

Tuesday - leftover meatballs, rice, salad

Wednesday - baked fish, mashed potatoes, green peas

Thursday - eggs, potato pancakes using leftover mashed potatoes

Friday - leftover squash soup

Saturday - leftover meatballs

Sunday - leftover soup (or something from the freezer)

I went to Trader Joe's today to get what we needed for this week and still manage to have a positive bottom line in the grocery budget (although it's less than one dollar!). Unfortunately, I have 3 coupons for things we actually use often that are expiring on the 28th and I really don't want to miss out on them, so I think I will actually end up going over budget this month to get these items. It should be $5 or less, though. Hooray!

Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday again. I went to Costco last week (first time in over 3 months) and thus obliterated our grocery budget. I knew that would happen because I don't like to go there all that often (it's definitely out of the way and hey, if I don't go in, I can't spend a ton there, right?), and I had quite a list. I also made my monthly run to Walmart to get larger quantities of things that are significantly cheaper (like YoBaby yogurt and single-serve Tillamook cheese for Gavin). Thus, with two weeks left in the month, I have $18.49 left to spend! But never fear, we have lots of perishables in our refrigerator I am determined not to waste and a well-stocked freezer. Here is the plan for dinners, without going to the store for a single ingredient.

Monday - leftover soup

Tuesday - chicken and rice burritos, spinach salad

Wednesday - baked winter squash, baked fish, spinach salad

Thursday - last of the leftover soup

Friday - pasta with alfredo sauce, with spinach, mushrooms and spring onions, possibly salad

Saturday - homemade barbecue meatballs, rice, leftover squash

Sunday - eggs, country sausage?, homemade granola (possibly with plain yogurt - but I would have to purchase this)

Monday - leftover meatballs, rice, veggie (corn or peas)

Thai Chicken Soup

The Thai Chicken Soup from last week's menu was a big success. Chad and I made it together on Valentine's Day evening, which was very nice since we haven't really had the time to enjoy cooking together for quite a while. Contrary to the recipe, it doesn't actually take a total of 18 minutes to prepare and cook it (they must think you've got 10 arms chopping all at the same time), but it was worth the effort! Here's the link to the recipe:
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaisnacks/r/TomKaKaisoup.htm

Menu Plan Monday

Tuesday - roasted chicken (make 2, for other recipes), butternut squash with rosemary and sage

Wednesday - Spring asparagus and chicken pie (with fresh or frozen asparagus and nix the wine)

Thursday - leftover chicken and squash, or make spaghetti squash if no squash left

Friday - Thai Chicken Soup

Saturday - leftover pie

Sunday - leftover soup

Monday - whatever else is leftover

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - last bit of the leftover Polenta Pie, random other leftovers

Tuesday - potluck dinner, bring ice cream and cookies; steamed zucchini for Gavin

Wednesday - taco salad with Mexican Beans

Thursday - spaghetti with homemade marinara sauce, green peas

Friday - burritos using leftover Mexican Beans, make brown rice

Saturday - waffles (maybe try yeast variety), eggs (make extra waffles to freeze)

Sunday - leftover spaghetti, green beans

Monday - leftover waffles, eggs