Monday Meal Planning

Welcome back to Monday Meal Planning!

The main purpose of the “Meal Planning” posts is to show what we’re eating, give you guys ideas and…most importantly…to motivate you to make a meal plan for the week! I break down cost between my husband and I. My son isn’t a big dinner eater yet, but he might have a little bit of mine.

Monday: Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Why: We freeze cauliflower when we get it for later use in stir fries and to mix in with mashed potatoes. I’ve let quite a bit accumulate, and we’re looking for a new type of soup to try, so I thought this would be an interesting meal. Homemade wheat bread will accompany it.

Cost: $1.45, or $.73 per person.

Cauliflower: Received from my local produce co-op and probably cost me about $1/head (which is how much we’ll use for the recipe).

Milk: We’ll be using soy, which I bought on sale with a coupon for $1. The recipe takes about 1/4 of the container, or $.25.

Onion/garlic/spices: Dried onion, bought in bulk from Sam’s Club. I can’t imagine this combined with spices will cost more than $.05

Chicken broth: Free. I make it myself when I make chicken in the crockpot for soup/pulled chicken sandwiches.

Bread: ~$.30/loaf, maybe $.15 for this meal.

Tuesday: Beef Stew

Why: I’ve had a few $1/1 beef wine tags lately, and I bought quite a bit of stewing beef with them. Those packages tend to be smaller, and go to clearance since they aren’t very economical packages. So if they get marked down to $2 something during a super double coupon event…I get them nearly free. That’s economical for mmeeeeee! Also, I love to deck out my stew with LOTS of veggies…which is economical for me since I do the produce co-op and get certain free veggies from couponing. Will serve with leftover bread from Monday.

Cost: $2.15, or $1.08/person.

Beef: $.25 for this package after coupons

Veggies: Potatoes, carrots and spinach are  from the co-op. Peas are free from couponing. I’ve never used spinach in stew before, but it should work nicely. I’ll likely use about 3 potatoes and 2 carrots, so I’m going to put veggies down at a solid $1.50 for this recipe.

Spices/cornstarch: Let’s give this about $.25 this time. I’ll be using some vegetarian organic bouillon cubes I found on clearance, which knocks the price up. Cornstarch was free from couponing.

Bread: Leftover from Monday, $.15.

Wednesday: Falafel Pita Sandwiches

Why: I purchased some dried chickpeas beans up north at a bulk food store, and some Trader Joes pita bread awhile back, so I’m just dying to make use of some of them.

Cost: $2.50, or $1.25/person

Chickpeas: $1.50 for a cup. I could most definitely do better

Onion/Garlic: Dried, bulk purchased onions and a garlic clove from a bulb I picked up this week (we’re sick)- $.10

Spices/flour: $.10

Pitas: $1.99/pkg at TJ’s, will be using half, $1.

Lettuce/tomato: $.30

Thursday: Leftovers

Why: To make my life easier.

Cost: FREE (in essence)

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Why: Because that’s what we do every Friday night

Cost: Between $4-5, depending on toppings

Saturday: Pasta Primavera

Why: We have tons of free whole wheat pasta sitting around, so we try to have a pasta meal once a week. I am picking up a produce basket Friday, so I know there will be all kinds of yummy ones to choose from. Also, I noticed last week I have 1/2 a lb of italian sausage in the freezer, so that will go in here nicely.

Cost:$1.37, or $.69/person

Pasta: Free from couponing

Veggies: Produce Co-op, lets say $1

Italian sausage: $.50/lb from couponing, using 1/2 so $.25 for this meal.

Oil/spices: $.12

Valentines Day: Veal Parmesan over noodles with garlic bread and wine

Why: It’s Valentines day, and we want to have a special meal. But we’ll still do it my frugal way!

Cost: $4.81, or $2.40/person. Last year we did the same thing, but bought everything that day. We spent $35 on everything (including some pretty flowers for the table), so no matter what, it can be an inexpensive but classy date!

Veal: $8/lb, will be using (1) 1/2 pound cutlet cut into two pieces. It will be plenty for us, since a deck of cards is a serving size of meat. $4

Breadcrumbs: Free from couponing

Cheese: Kraft Mozz, 1/4 of package (purchased couponing for $.25), ~$.06. This will cover hubby’s garlic bread and veal.

Soy cheese: Will use about 1/4 of my block of cheese, which costs me $3.10 after coupons, so ~$.20

Noodles: Free from couponing

Garlic bread:  Italian loaf on discount for $.50, will add fresh garlic/oregano ($.05).

Pasta sauce: I have some organic Bertolli I found free couponing.

Wine: We were given some organic red wine for Christmas, and this will be a great occasion to use it.

So there you have it! What’s your meal plan for the week? You don’t need to break yours prices down for me! Doing it saves time and money enough. Feel free to leave your plan in the comment  feed or link to your blog if you’re joining us!

Here’s to living- Happier, healthier, more FRUGAL lives!

~~FrugalMegan~~