Shopping and Meal List Week 1

The problem with Pinterest is that I scroll around on my phone while doing other things and pin a whole bunch of stuff that looks pretty good.  How many recipes have I actually made that were pinned?  Maybe 5 out of 100.  This is because inevitably if I get the urge to make something new we don't actually have whatever ingredients that recipe needs.  Same thing with recipes on Facebook.  They look great rolling through my feed but I probably have only ever made 1 thing.  Usually it comes down to me standing in front of the fridge and then pulling out my phone to google a recipe for whatever random assortment of food is inside.

So here is the goal.  A weekly meal plan of 5 family friendly main meals- some with meat and some without, that you can make in less than 30 minutes, a shopping list for the recipes for that week, and a few ideas of lunches you can make using the leftovers from dinner.  For the most part I will try to make everything feed 4 adults at least one meal if not two.

For the most part I'm ballparking the cost of the food based on the amount in each recipe.  If you buy in bulk you will pay less.  Obviously if you buy a pack of 2-3 chicken breasts for each recipe you'll be paying a whole lot more.  
  


Week 1- Meal #1 (Roasted Pork Tenderloin & Sides)

Marinated pork tenderloin     $3.99/lb
Butternut squash                   $ .75 ea
Sauteed green beans             $.60 can (because my kids won't eat frozen)
Cous cous                            $2.25 (makes at least 8 servings)
                                            $7.60
*When we do this I marinate a portabello cap and grill that the same time as the pork loin.  


Week 1- Meal #2 (Pumpkin Coconut Curry)*

Jasmine Rice                      $2.50 (makes at least a million servings)
2-3 Chicken breasts           $3.00
1 bag frozen veg medley     $1.50
1 can pumpkin                   $.80
1 can coconut milk             $.80
1/2 tub of firm tofu             $1.25
                                         $9.85

* If you are new to tofu this is a good recipe to try using half meat half tofu.  You hardly notice. 

Week 1- Meal #3 (Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash)

2 acorn squash                 $3.00
1 lb pork sausage or
veggie soy crumbles         $3.00
1 small apple                    $.25
                                        $7.75

This is more filling than you think so no you don't get a side!

Week 1- Meal #4 (Really Easy Chicken & Dumplings)

2-3 chicken breasts       $3.00
1 can cream chx soup    $ .60
1 bag frozen veggies      $1.50
1 can biscuits                $1.50
                                    $6.60

Week 1- Meal #5 (Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili)

1/2 Butternut squash                  $.75
2 cans black beans                    $1.60
Frozen onion/pepper mix           $.25
14 oz can diced tomato             $.60
2 chipotle peppers in adobo      $.25 (freeze the remainder and it'll last forever)
                                                $2.70

WEEKLY DINNER TOTAL: $34.50


And you thought it couldn't be done!  You will find everything except chipotle peppers, the frozen onion/pepper blend, and coconut milk at Aldi.  The rest of my weekly $50 is fruit, bread, milk, eggs, crackers, cheese, and breakfast stuff (waffles/cereal/oatmeal, etc).  We did it!