Weekly Menu July 17-23, 2011

Here it is…the first weekly menu posting! I have to admit, this was a hard week of sales to start with. However, that is one of the great benefits to buying sale items each week and stocking up. For this week’s menu, I already had turkey burgers, lean ground beef, pork chops, and boneless skinless chicken breasts in my freezer from the great deals last week. Thinking ahead helps to stock up a reserve for the weeks when not much is on sale. That will be one of the perks from this site though. If something is a great deal I’ll let you know to stock up and save it for the next week! I have created two lists of ingredients, one for shopping and one for “pantry staple items.” These pantry staples are items that I have a stockpile of from couponing (bbq sauce, pasta, rice from this week) or spices/oils/vinegars. Look through your pantry or cupboard to make sure you have each of these items. If not, you’ll have to purchase those as well or you can play around with substitutions/omit things if you don’t want to spend the money this week. If you buy them, they will now be a part of your pantry staples to have for future recipes!

Based on 7 meals for 2 people, this week’s menu grand total is approximately $50-55!!! with the eVIC coupon (price not including tax).  If you pay more than this, don’t be discouraged. This can vary depending on if you are using coupons, the amount of staple items you have and the number of servings per meal. With the stocked up items I have already, coupons, and meat from last week in my freezer, this week is costing me only $40 for 7 meals!! Also, keep in mind, depending on how many people you are cooking for, there may be leftovers for lunch or another dinner (Italian pasta bake) and also items to use again in the following week (i.e. turkey burgers, turkey bacon, buns, pork chops) saving you even more money and cutting costs week after week.

Click on the meal for a link to the recipe.

Sunday: Grilled Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa & Rice

Monday: Italian Pasta Bake

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas with Black Beans & Rice

Wednesday: French Onion Turkey Burgers with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Baked Beans

Thursday: Spinach Salad

Friday: Grilled Mozza-Chicken Sandwiches with Oven Fried Okra

Saturday: Grilled Pork Chops with Texas Dry Rub, Corn on the Cob, & Pasta Salad

Shopping Lists

Weekly Menu Items:

1 package of grape tomatoes - $3 each

1 mango - $1.69 each

½ lb okra (for 2 people) – $1.75 ($3.49/lb)

Sweet potato (1 per 2 people) - $.99/lb

Earthbound Farm Spinach - $3.50         

      - printable coupon for $2/2 you can redeem for points on Recycle Bank

Green bell pepper (1 per person) - $.99 each

2 yellow onion (1 per 2 people) - ~ $.31 each or buy 3 lb bag for $1.97

corn on the cob (1 per person) - $.50 each

Harris Teeter Farmers Market White Mushrooms - $1.89

1 bunch of cilantro - $1.79

Mahi Mahi Fillets (1 per person) - $6.99/lb

1 lb lean ground beef (at least 93%) or Ground Turkey - $4-6/lb

boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 per person) - $1.99/lb

boneless pork chops (1 per person) - $5.49/lb (usually 4 to a pack)

Butterball Turkey Burgers - $6.99

-$1.50 off printable coupon print  or SS 6/26 = $5.49

1 package Pepperidge Farm Hamburger Buns – $.79-$1.49 each

-B1G1 this week + coupon for $1 off 2 on packages = $1 each

-.35/1 Pepperidge Farm bread or rolls, SS 5/15 = $.79 each

-no coupon, buy 1 package - $1.49 each

2 cans Harris Teeter tomato sauce - $.57 each

1 can Harris Teeter black beans - $.57 each

1 can Harris Teeter baked beans - $1.29 each

McCormick Grill Mates Marinade Packet - Baja Citrus - $.69

Harris Teeter Rice 2 lb bag - $.89 each

Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad Mix, Homestyle Classic - $.50 each

            -.50/2 print or SS 6/5

Harris Teeter penne pasta - $.77 each

Kraft Light Balsamic Vinaigrette - $2 each (if you don’t already have dressing)

Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon - $2.99 each

Don Pancho Tortillas – B1G1 - $1.42 each

Kraft Shredded 2% Mozzarella Cheese - $2 each

Eggs - $1.29 - $1.89 per pack

Harris Teeter Fat-Free Buttermilk - $.79 each

Stock Up Items for Future Recipes:

Harris Teeter Spaghetti or Elbow Macaroni - $.64

Harris Teeter Pasta - $.77

Harris Teeter Tomato Sauce can- $.57 each

Harris Teeter Corn or Green Beans can - $.50 each

Harris Teeter Rice 2 lb bag - $.89

Buitoni Pasta - $1.50

            -$1 off Buitoni product print = $.50

Chi-Chi’s Salsa - $2

            -.50/1 salsa jar or snackers coupon SS 5/15 or SS 6/12

Pantry/Fridge Staples

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Lime juice

Cider Vinegar

Sugar

Salt

Pepper

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Paprika

Chili powder

Italian seasoning

Brown sugar – if you need it, Dixie Crystals is on sale 

Garlic (*tip – I buy a jar of garlic and keep it in fridge for multiple uses)

Olive oil

Worcestershire sauce

BBQ sauce – if you need it, KC Masterpiece is $2 each this week

Cornmeal

Shopping Hints:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: Get these from the Butcher Department. They are $1.99/lb so essentially $1 a piece which is almost always cheaper than the packaged ones. Even on sale this week the packaged chicken breasts are $2.49/lb so you save $.50/lb!!

The quantity of certain items and how much you need to purchase, especially meat and produce, will depend on how many people you are cooking for.  Therefore, be prepared for prices to increase or decrease based on this.

If you have a Trader Joes or Farmer’s Market/Local Produce Stand accessible, you may find cheaper prices on produce and I encourage you to shop wherever works best for your budget and schedule. However, each week I try to buy the produce on sale and create the menu from there to cut high produce costs the best that I can.