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. To save money, because we all could use a little extra, the leftovers from one meal may be used as an ingredient in a meal later in the week. This week both Ready? Good.
Double the amount of rice you usually prepare and immediately and save it, along with any leftover chicken for future use.
- Taco night, with zucchini and cilantro for a side dish.
You know what your family likes, serve hard or soft shells, cheese, sour cream or guacamole. Season ground beef or turkey and serve with diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, and shredded cheese. This is a great meal for a busy night.
Skip the noodles and use plain old button mushrooms, if you want to use fancy 'shrooms, go right ahead. Use the extra rice from Monday night to cut down your time in the kitchen. (Alternately save some of your chopped vegetables for tomorrow's soup)
Use your leftover chicken for the meat If your family insists soup alone isn't a meal add grilled cheese or ham sandwiches.
- Dilled salmon, roast potatoes, steamed broccoli.
If you are new to cooking fish, I can't recommend salmon enough; it's a lot more forgiving than other varieties. Roast potatoes are a piece of cake. Wash the potatoes, cut them into chunks, about 1" in size, toss with olive oil and garlic powder or salt (just be careful is someone at your table is heavy handed with the salt shaker) and cook with the salmon until nicely browned. They will take a little longer than the fish, so it's perfectly fine to put them in on the bottom rack before you prep the fish for cooking. If you want them really browned and slightly crisp on the outside, toast them under the broiler for a few moments after the fish is done.
- Pizza night
Not up for making your own crust? That's fine, grab a loaf or three of Italian bread. This sauce can be made in the crockpot.
- C.O.R.N. That's right, it's Clean Out Refrigerator Night!
Contain your excitement kids, you'll get to experience it again next week, too!
The Grocery List
Not included in the grocery list are standard pantry items: flour, yeast, sugar, and cooking oil (usually olive, sometimes vegetable). Determine the amount of each item based on the size of your family. All of the linked recipes come from my site Home Ec 101 and easily serve a famiy of 4 – 6 with leftovers eaten at lunch and one night of the week.
Spices will be listed,as what is considered common can vary by region and ethnicity. Simply cross off those you already have
Groceries:
Meat:
whole chicken
round steak
ground beef or chicken
salmon
pepperoni or sausage for pizza (unless you prefer vegetarian pizzas, of course)
Vegetables:
yellow or white onions
celery
carrots (whole, baby carrots lack a lot in the flavor department)
head broccoli
frozen corn
zucchini
baby spinach
mushrooms
green onions
garlic (bulb or minced in water)
cilantro
Any vegetables you consider great pizza toppings
Canned Items & Dry Goods:
28oz can crushed tomatoes
8oz can tomato sauce
molasses (near the maple syrup)
Dairy:
Mozzarella
shredded cheddar or taco mix cheese
plain yogurt
Miscellaneous:
Taco seasoning
soy sauce
sesame oil
Spices on hand:
powdered garlic or garlic salt
dill weed
salt / pepper
Cajun seasoning (optional, it's just how we have our roast chicken)
poultry seasoning
Do you create a weekly menu plan? Tell us more at the Blissfully Domestic social network!
Heather also blogs at Home Ec 101.
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