Well, it's been a long time since I've updated this blog. But truth is we've been busy! I hope make good on my promise for a recipe a week by posting 6 recipes this week!
One thing I've been "bragging" about lately is that I try to spend under $50/week on groceries. I think in this economy it is important to not only cook affordable, but to cook healthy! And often, that is a hard thing to do. I menu plan every week and work hard to ensure recipes use up things I am buying. That means you'll see me factor in a price early, but use a "no charge" in later recipes because we're just using up things from earlier meals. So, here are 6 recipes all for under $50 total. (I'm going to assume you have some standard spices and cooking ingredients on hand so those aren't included in the price.) Have fun cooking!
MONDAY: Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs
This is a great recipe for meatballs from my mother in law. Depending on the size of your family, these meatballs will go a long way. For our family, this recipe will make enough meatballs for 3 meals! I typically freeze 2/3 of them for any easy meal down the road!
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef $5.00
(I priced this at $5.00 because I typically buy ground chicken or turkey.)
1/2 cup wheat germ $.50
(This probably costs about $3.5o, but this wheat germ will last you forever if you put in the freezer. We are using small amount, hence the reduced price. If you want to reduce the initial cost, you can use bread crumbs.)
1/3 cup fresh parsley $.50
(you can also use dry parsley flakes. I often do. Hint: Sams Club is a great place to buy spices in bulk.)
1/3 cup chopped onion $2.00
(We'll count the onion price here-figure 3 pound bag, but use throughout our meals)
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese $2.50
(I buy pre shredded and obviously we'll only use a portion of an 8 oz bag here.)
3 tablespoons milk $2.00
(We'll count the milk price here. I buy organic for my daughter, but regular for cooking.)
1 egg $2.50
(I buy only cage free eggs, hence the higher price.)
1/4 teaspoon salt no charge
1/4 teaspoon pepper no charge
1 package spaghetti noodles $1.50
(I buy whole wheat noodles.)
1 package generic spaghetti sauce $1.25
Put all above ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth. Shape mixture into 1 inch balls. Place on shallow baking pan (I line mine with tinfoil-easier to clean) and bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil spaghetti noodles per instructions on package. Prepare sauce buy sauteeing one onion. Add can of spaghetti sauce. Then add 1 teaspoon oregano and 1 teaspoon garlic. Add cooked meatballs and noodles and you're done!
Total Meal Cost: $17.75
TUESDAY: Vegetarian Tacos
This one is my own creation. It isn't very creative, but good!!!! And SO easy!
Ingredients:
2 15 oz cans black beans $1.50
1 package of 8 whole wheat taco shells $1.50
Fresh Tomato $.50
Package of taco seasoning $.75
Fresh Cilantro $1.00
Shredded cheese (your choice) $1.50
One onion no charge
Saute one chopped onion over medium heat with small amount of olive oil. Add beans (be sure to drain and rinse throughoutly if canned beans). Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Cover beans and let heat through until liquid is gone. Serve with cheese, cilantro and tomato.
Total Meal Cost: $6.75
WEDNESDAY: Corn Flake Crumb Chicken, Baked Potato and Vegetables
Okay, this one is so easy! The chicken is my mom's recipe from growing up. We'll be using potatoes for another recipe, so it's a great week to throw in a baked potato to make sure you use the whole bag! As for the Vegetable, I will buy whatever is on sale for the week and looks good. If there isn't something fresh on sale, I buy a bag of frozen.
Chicken:
1-1.5 pound skinless chicken breast $5.00
(I try to buy all natural and buy several packages of it while it is on sale.)
1 egg white no charge-eggs above
1 box off brand corn flake crumbs $1.00
Separate egg white from yolk. Dump yolk, but egg white in bowl. In separate bowl, pour approxmately 1/3 of cereal into bowl. Crush with your hands until small pieces. Add 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt (or seasoning salt if you have it), 1 teaspoon garlic and 1 teaspoon parsley flakes (if you have.) Mix. Take chicken and put in egg white bowl. Cover chicken in egg white. Move to corn flake crumb bowl. Cover chicken in corn flake mixture. Move chicken to baking sheet (again I line with foil so it is easier to clean.) Repeat process for all chicken pieces. Bake in oven for 35-40 min at 350 degrees.
Potatoes $1.50
(Price assumes a 5 pound bag)
It's a great night for a potato, because you are already using your oven for the chicken.
Total Meal Cost: $7.50
THURSDAY: South of the Border Pie
This one came from my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. It's easy!
Ingredients:
1 chopped onion no charge
2 teaspoons garlic no charge
2 teaspoons chili powder no charge
1 teaspoon cumin no charge
1 15 oz can red kidney beans $.75
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice $2.00
1 cup shredded cheese no charge (we'll use rest of package from tacos)
3/4 cup milk no charge
2 beaten eggs no charge
1 green pepper $.50
In saucepan, saute onion, garlic and green pepper. Stir in chili powder and cumin. Let cool. In separate saucepan cook rice per instructions. (Catch-to really be healthy, use the old fashioned PLAIN rice. It will take probably 40 min to cook, but to add flavor you can add beef boulion. If you use a box rice, you're adding alot of chemicals.) Stir into onion mix the rice, beans, cheese, milk and eggs. Spray a 10 inch pie pan with nonstick coating. Spoon mixture into pie pan. Top with a little extra cheese. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 min or until certain is firm. Can serve with salsa (or leftover cilantro and tomatoes from your tacos!!!)
Total Meal Cost: $3.25
FRIDAY: Balsamic Chicken Breasts
This is another recipe from my mother in law. So yummy. Now, I'm assuming you have balsamic vinegar. It's a pretty common ingredient. If you don't, that might bump you up over the $50 as this can run you $5-$10 depending on the quality you buy.
1-1.5 pound skinless chicken breast $5.00
(I try to buy all natural and buy several packages of it while it is on sale.)
salt
Pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion no charge
1/2 cup chicken broth $2.00 (although you'll definately have leftovers.)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar no charge
1 teaspoon brown sugar no charge
1 tablespoon butter no charge
1 cup cooked brown rice no charge (using from earlier this week)
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley no charge (using from earlier this week)
Place chicken between 2 pieces of wax paper and pound to 1/2 inch thick with rolling pin or mallet. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a small amount of oil in pan. Cook chicken 4 minutes for each side. Transfer to serving plate to keep warm. Add onion to skillet and cook, stirring 2 minutes. Add broth, vinegar and brown sugar. Bring to boil, cook until reduced by one third (about 4 minutes.) Whisk butter into skillet until melted. Cook rice separately per instructions on package. Stir fresh parsley into rice. Put on plate. Put chicken on top of rice. Poor balsamic mixture over all.
Total Meal Cost: $7.00
SATURDAY: Corn Chowder
This is my mom's recipe and is super delicious in the winter :)
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter no charge
1 onion chopped no charge
1 green pepper chopped $.50
1 tablespoon flour no charge
2 cups milk no charge
16 oz can crem-style corn $1.00
1 cup potatoes diced and cooked no charge
1 package bacon cooked $1.25
Melt butter in deep saucepan. Add onion and green pepper cooking until tender. Add flour and mix with butter. Gradually add milk and cook until milk thickens, stirring constantly. Add corn and potatoes. Add 1 teaspoon basil and thyme. Add 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat gently for 1/2 hour. Cook bacon in microwave per instructions. Chop and add to soup. Serve. (For extra flavoring, you can add pimentos. You can also add extra corn if you'd like.)
Total Meal Cost: $2.75
SUNDAY:
Mom is done cooking. Time for a Hot and Ready Pizza from Little Ceasers :)
Total Cost: $5.00
There it is $50 on the nose!
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