Monday's Menu . . .

 

One thing that I have been trying to be very diligent about doing, is a monthly menu.  My husband and I have put ourselves on a very strict budget - $200.00 per month for groceries . . . yikes!!!  Seriously, we have been used to more like $400.oo per month or more . . . for two people . . . crazy!!  So far so good, I was able to make a menu for the the month of March, go to the grocery store, and only spend $141.00, and twenty-one of that was for storage,  really, not even kidding!  I still have 60.00 if I really need it to purchase something on a good sale or that I forgot... :0)   Now, keep in mind that this menu does not include anything fancy.  No soft drinks, no chocolate - mercy!  I don't buy snack food.  If we want to munch on something, I make popcorn, or we have an apple or an orange.  I do stock up on meat for my freezer when I find a good sale, and I also buy canned goods at case lot sales, which really helps; you just need to be sure to replenish the pantry when it gets low!   When I make my menu, I shop in my pantry and freezer first to see what I have on hand, and then make my menu.

Since there is just two of us, I have been cutting the recipes in half, even doing that, I have left-overs!

This is doable folks!! 

This is my plan for each week - 

Monday - soup, salad and/or sandwiches.  So many good options!

Tuesday - Pasta - I try to make it healthy. . .

Wednesday - Crock-pot - so many wonderful recipes, and I try not to use canned soup in them.

Thursday - family favorite or leftovers

Friday - pizza, Mexican, Chinese . . . etc. Yummy!

Saturday - something new - there are soooo many good recipes I have yet to try!

Sunday - something easy  - this is the only day we will - maybe - have dessert

This is not written in stone, and I make changes and switch things up as I go along, but I like to use it as a guild to keep me on track, so things don't get boring.

Here goes:

March 4th - 10th

Monday - Potato soup, homemade rolls, carrot sticks

    Tuesday - Lasagna Roll-ups, green salad, rolls
    Wednesday - Bean Pot,  cornbread

      Bean Pot

• 2 - 15 oz. cans pork and beans
• 1 can pinto beans (drained) (lima beans or great northern can be used instead)
• 1 can garbanzo beans (drained)
• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1/2 lb. bacon or diced ham
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 c. catsup
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Brown beef, bacon and onions, drain. Combine garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, salt and vinegar with the beans. Pour all into slow cooker, along with the beef and onion mixture, and mix. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours.  This is so good with corn bread!

        Thursday - Left overs

        Friday - Pork chops, baked potatoes, green beans

        Saturday - Taco Soup with tortilla chips, grated cheese and sour cream

        Sunday - Omelets, sausage, toast


Hugs,