Too Hot to Cook (June’s Meal Plan)

Jun 3, 2013 | 6 comments

It’s been a few months since I’ve written a Meal Plan post. Based on the success of my recent monthly WinCo trips, I’ve had enough foods in the freezer and pantry to not have to buy too much. So I’ve been winging it; making what I can find. Occasionally, I’ve put together some meals like this hearty chicken and pasta dinner.

Grilled chicken, pasta, tomatoes and garlic bread

Chicken & Pasta

I always keep frozen salmon filets in the freezer. Last month, I bought a 5 lb. bag of chicken breasts (admittedly not from WinCo). Sure, it cost nearly $17, but with 20 breasts, that’s less than $1/piece.

So my Plan for June is to eat more chicken. I don’t have an entire month of menus planned out. But I have my Aroma Rice Cooker. And I have a plan.

Again with the savings I find at WinCo, I’ll supplement what I already have and make some wonderful meals. My goal is to make some scrumptious dishes without having to cook too much in the summer heat. Some of the meals I’ll make more than once because they’re easy and delicious.

Not only do I want to save money, I want to eat better. My eczema has been rapidly improving as I now have prescription-strength ointment and have been eating less fast foods which, I’ve discovered, can significantly induce a flare up. So, for the health of my body and my wallet, June will be a Home-Cooked Meal Month.

Here’s my tentative meal plan (each meal is followed by how many days we can eat from one preparation by how many times I’ll make it for a total amount of dinner days):

  • Chicken and Pasta (as pictured above), 2 x 2 = 4
  • Steamed Chicken and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
  • Slow Cooker Chicken & Kraut, 3 x 2 = 6
  • Steamed Salmon and Rice, 1 x 4 = 4
  • Spaghetti with sauce and garlic toast, 2 x 2 = 4
  • Baked Frittata (usually a weekend meal for brunch as well), 2 x 2 = 4

That leaves four days with no menu plan. We like to keep a few “open” days on the calendar. We’ll eat at least twice at my Mom’s house, or order a pizza on Pay Day, or just not feel like eating. I know, pizza. But it’s not regular fast food. And if I only eat it once a month, I should be okay…

With this great plan, I already have the main components. My grocery list is just the sauerkraut, cream of chicken soups, and frittata ingredients. I’ll include a cheap dessert like Jell-O and Cool Whip, pudding, or a few of Dot’s favorite cookies. We always keep ice cream in the freezer; especially in the summer.

It’s my goal to spend less than $100 this month, including the cat food, litter, and household needs. At a regular grocery store this would be nearly impossible. But, as I so often like to say, “WinCo Wins!”

*Cheater Meal: We did treat ourselves to Red Robin yesterday since I won a gift card from work.

Avacado and Chicken Salad at Red Robin

Ava-Cobb-O Salad at Red Robin

Note, I ate the A-va-Cobb-O and Chicken salad.

So, as I also like to say, “Happy Eating!”

What’s on your plate?

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

You may also enjoy reading:
WinCo Wins
WinCo Wins: Lunch for a Dollar!
My Bento Box: Part I
How To Eat For Free And Have Fun Doing It (Or, How Printing Coupons Gave Me a Really Great Weekend!)
My February Meal Plan

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Dichotomy

May 21, 2012 | 0 comments

Louie, a fellow creative writer, would be upset if I used his death as an excuse to not keep with my self-promise to blog every day.

We’re still working our way through the pain. Dot’s best friend had his graduation party today, which helped. Except that he, too, was good friends with Louie. At any given moment, one or more of the seven graduates in the room could be found crying, surrounded by the rest.

It’s an extremely surreal experience and I never wish this agony on anyone.

I don’t want to write. But Louie wouldn’t want me to use him as an excuse to stop.

He came over after church, over a year ago. It was a snowy day and I’d made two dishes of pasta and sauce. I’d learned that it’s true what they say about teenage boys and their appetites. So when Louie came to eat, I’d make double, and give him his own casserole.

This is the sauce leftover from his dish. As I was cleaning the table, I found him practically drinking the sauce and laughed at him. He took the serving spoon and drew in it.

I told him to stop playing with his food. He walked away smiling. When I looked in the dish, this is what I saw.

He liked the dinner so much, he made me a house.

That’s the kind of humor he had.

God, I miss that boy.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

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Recipe: Goulash

Oct 20, 2011 | 3 comments

by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy

This is an old family recipe. I don’t remember not eating this as a kid. The great part is, my daughter loves it now, too. The first time I made it, she went back for seconds… and thirds. Now that’s saying something!

INGREDIENTS:

1 to 1.25 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
8 to 12 oz. macaroni or pasta shells, cooked
1 can tomato soup
1 can vegetable soup

On stove top, cook the pasta. Separately, brown the ground beef and onion. Add both soups to meat, mix in cooked pasta. Can thin with a little water, tomato juice, or tomato sauce if desired.

See? Quick, easy, nutritious, hearty. All great things for an autumn dinner.

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