next week’s menu plan #10, grocery list included!

It’s been a full week.

Came home from camping on Sunday, did 6 loads of laundry, washed my hair 5 times in an attempt to remove the 48 hours of campfire stench from it (and every now and then when the wind blows I’m positive I still haven’t gotten it all out), then boarded a plane on Tuesday morning to spend 30 hours in Provo, UT.

My whirlwind trip out of state was the start of what I hope will be an incredible adventure (more on the later), but the short story goes something like this:  I’m pretty sure after 31 years I’ve found something I was created to do.  It’s funny how so much of life is spent figuring out what we like, what we don’t, how we’re wired, what will pay the bills, and on and on, that finding that thing that you could do forever and ever and never grow tired of seems like a far off, unachievable place.  And then you get there and it’s…indescribable.

Have you found that ‘thing’ you know you’re supposed to be doing?  I want to hear from you who are already there!

And so the journey continues, the listening and watching as the story unfolds before us.  But in the meantime, the cleaning and the shopping and the cooking and the seemingly mundane must get done.  So here’s a little menu for the week to make the planning a little easier!

Dinner #1:

Turkey Meatballs with Pine Nuts and Golden Raisins and Strawberry Spinach Salad with Macadamia Nuts

Prep and Cooking Time:  30 minutes

Total:  $7.91 for the meatballs + $4.90 for the salad

Dinner #2:

Spaghetti with Arugula Pesto, Golden Beets and Goat Cheese

Prep and Cooking Time:  25 minutes

Total:  $7.15 for the pasta (you may want to toss on a little roasted chicken or shrimp for extra protein)

Dinner #3:

Shrimp, Papaya and Avocado Salad

Prep and Cooking Time:  90 minutes (including 60 minutes of marinating)

Total:  $10.25 for the salad

Dinner #4:

A Food Snob’s Meatloaf, with your favorite veggie

Prep and Cooking Time:  1 hour 10 minutes

Total:  $6.30 for the meatloaf + estimated $2.00 for the veggie

Dinner #5: 

Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta

Prep and Cooking Time:  60 minutes

Total:  $7.95 for the chicken with polenta

Dinner #6:

Pasta with Broccoli, Sausage and Asiago Cheese, with a Side Salad

Prep and Cooking Time:  25 minutes

Total:  $8.00 for the pasta + estimated $2.00 for side salad

Total for 6 nights of dinners:  $56.46!  That’s about $2.35 per serving!

Shopping List:

Meat and Seafood

• 2 pounds ground turkey or chicken (for meatballs and meatloaf, can sub for either)
• 3/4 pound shrimp
• 1 pound italian sausage (I like chicken if you can find it)
• 3-5 slices bacon
• 3-4 pound fryer or split chicken breasts

Produce/Herbs

• 2 onions
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• 3 lemons
• 1 head garlic
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 bell pepper
• 2 bunches spinach
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 kiwi
• 2 green onions
• 1 lime
• 1 head lettuce
• 1 pound mushrooms
• 1 veggie of choice
• 1 papaya
• 1 avocado
• 4 cups arugula
• 2 small shallots
• 4 golden beets
• 2 heads broccoli

Pantry

• 1 cup pine nuts (buy just what you need in the bulk section)
• 1 cup macadamia nuts (buy just what you need in bulk)
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 1 tablespoon raspberry or strawberry jam
• 2 slices wheat sandwich bread
• 3 tablespoons iralian parsley
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3/4 pound spaghetti
• 1 pound fusilli or rigatoni
• 4 anchovy fillets (optional)

Dairy/Eggs

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 3 ounces goat cheese
• 3/4 cup grated asiago cheese
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk

Need more meal plans?  I’ve got plenty more to share if you need inspiration in the kitchen!

Browse more plans (with shopping lists!) here.