I recently read that Americans spend half their food budget dining out, that's just crazy. Planning a week’s worth of dinner can be intimidating. No worries, I have taken care of all the dirty work. Right down to the shopping list. Six meals are included in the plan leaving one night for what I refer to as CORN or Clean Out the Refrigerator Night. These meals do not have to be prepared in any particular order, simply arrange them as best fits your schedule.
The shopping list does not include basic pantry items such as flour and sugar, but does include all the spices as most families keep spices based on their regional and ethnic traditions. Don’t be scared to substitute and remember many of the dry goods and cheeses will not have to be purchased every week. Simply cross off the items you have on hand. If you are fairly new to cooking, your grocery bill will drop once your pantry is stocked with the basic spices and dry goods.
The linked recipes are all standards from my site Home Ec 101 and feed 4 – 6 people with some leftovers that can be used for lunch. My husband usually swipes most of them to take to work.
Ready?
1. Basic Italian pork chops, roasted potatoes, sauteed zucchini.
This meal's order of operation: prepare the pork chops for the oven, begin baking. Prepare the potatoes. Last, saute the zucchini. Everything should finish around the same time.
To roast your potatoes, scrub them, then cut into 1" cubes (approximately, don't obsess). Place in a bowl and toss with 1 – 2TBSP of olive oil, you only want them lightly coated, not drenched. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, or substitue garlic salt if you'd like to keep the vampires at bay, and bake (usually I do it at 400° for 20 minutes, but the pork chops will be in at 350°F, check them after 25 minutes).
2. Sausage, peppers, and onions on hoagie rolls, pan roasted cauliflower
See the potatoes from last night? Same thing, only sprinkle with Italian seasoning for a slightly different flavor.
3. Albondigas (Mexican meatball soup), flour tortillas for dipping
4. Carmelized garlic chicken, baked sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli.
Baking sweet potatoes is a cinch. Scrub them, prick them with a fork, then bake at 400 for an hour. Since you have chicken that should be baked at 350, simply cook them longer at the lower temperature.
5. Pan fried fish, rice with tomato gravy, peas with almonds.
To pan fry almost any thin fillet of firm white fish, heat 1/8th of an inch of olive or vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Crush a sleeve of Ritz crackers. Press each of fillet in the cracker crumbs, ensuring there is a light coating on each side. Place in the pan and cook for 2 – 3 minutes per side, drain on a paper towel before serving.
6. Brinner time! That's right it's breakfast for dinner, this week I suggest: scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, bacon or sausage, and canned or fresh fruit. Put the kids in their pjs a little early, turn on some Christmas carols (or other music) have dinner, and curl up with hot chocolate and books or a movie.
7. C.O.R.N. Hurray, it's Clean Out Refrigerator Night.
The shopping list is after the jump.
Dairy Case and Products
Butter
Eggs
Flour tortillas
Milk
Dry Goods
Almonds (sliced or slivered)
Brown sugar
2 small cans diced green chilies
3 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
1 14.5oz can whole or stewed tomatoes
Hoagie rolls
Rice
Ritz type crackers
Freezer
White fish (walleye, whiting, etc)
Peas
Meat
Bacon – optional
Ground beef (2lbs)
Pork chops
Sausage – Italian links or Brats, and optional breakfast sausage
Whole chicken or equivalent weight in parts
Produce
Bell Peppers
Cilantro
Garlic
Green onions
Mushrooms (optional)
Onions
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Zucchini
Fruit of choice
Spices / Condiments
Beef bouillon or Better Than Bouillon Beef Base
Garlic Salt
Italian seasoning
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Awesome! I'll definitely pass these on to my friends!