…because you just completed task #67 for the day, and you’re still only halfway through your list.
…because it’s summer which means there is sand just everywhere – in between your toes, in your kids hair, on the carpet you just vacuumed this morning, and doing serious damage to your bathtub (plumber stat!).
…because who has time to stop and menu plan, let alone shower daily, give the meyer lemon tree you inherited from your mother a bath, and remember to floss?
…because you just sat on the freeway for 45 minutes WITHOUT MOVING. like literally. at a standstill. oh wait, that wasn’t you, it was just me? well nevermind. moving on…
For all these reasons and more I have this handy-dandy menu plan for you, with shopping list!, including 6 meals for less than $55!
Let’s take a look:
Dinner #1:
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas and a Simple Side Salad
Prep and Cooking Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total: $8.12 for the enchiladas + estimated $2.00 for the salad
Dinner #2:
Pork Medallions with Cherry Zinfandel Sauce and Mashed Butternut Squash
Prep and Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Total: $4.99 for the pork + $3.75 for the squash
Dinner #3:
Italian Chicken Salad Pasta and a Simple Side Salad
Prep and Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total: $7.62 for the pasta + estimated $2.00 for the side salad
Dinner #4:
Grilled Chicken with Chipotle Cilantro Carrots and Feta and Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
Prep and Cooking Time: 1 hour
Total: $7.22 for the chicken + $1.96 for the rice
Dinner #5 – Brinner!!:
Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese and Cinnamony Baked Oatmeal
Prep and Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Total: $3.00 for the eggs + $3.83 for the oatmeal
Dinner #6:
Pan Roasted Orange Balsamic Chicken and Orzo with Spinach and Feta
Prep and Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total: $6.22 for the chicken + estimated $4.25 for the orzo
Total for 6 nights of dinners: $54.96 (based on this spreadsheet and the items I purchase regularly at the prices and stores listed).
Shopping List (items you likely don’t already have in your pantry):
Meat
- 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin (I look for pork on sale for $1.99/lb)
- 6 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (stock up at $1.99/lb)
Produce/Herbs
- 1 bunch spinach
- 1/2 cup fresh mint or basil (for orzo)
- 1 lemon
- 1 onion
- 1 red onion
- 2 limes
- 1 head garlic
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 large butternut squash
- 1 1/2 pounds carrots
- 4 roma tomatoes
- 1 bunch green onions
- 2 sprigs rosemary (I snag some from our “community” garden (wink wink)…it grows like a weed so I hate paying for it)
- 7 cups arugula
- lettuce
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
Pantry
- 1/2 pound orzo pasta
- 1 cup dried brown rice
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 cups oats
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (for oatmeal)
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
- 1 16-ounce jar green salsa
- 8 corn or flour tortillas (for enchiladas)
- 1/4 cup orange marmalade
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup red wine
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- 1 1/2 tablespoon raspberry or blackberry jam
- 1/2 pound brown rice (or regular if you prefer) penne pasta
Dairy/Eggs
- 1 1/2 cup crumbled feta
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded jack cheese
- 10 eggs
- 5 ounces crumbled goat cheese
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup shredded asiago or parmesan cheese
