a cozy weekly meal plan: 6 dinners for $54.55 (grocery list included).

I mean…seriously.

The candy.

This weekend Emma and I whipped up desserts for 135 of our closest friends and neighbors for our new annual tradition in which our brood of children march triumphantly around our park in their costumes.  This madness is of course followed by pizza and pinatas and a whole bunch of junk I never let the kids eat most of the rest of the year.

But I’m trying to teach them discipline and self-control related to food so we’ve agreed they can eat one candy a day until their treats are gone (don’t tell them but Mommy ciphers off the candy nightly).  Here we go from now until the end of the Christmas season, me trying to compensate with our meals and snacks for all the junk they’ll be eating the rest of the time.

Is it just me?

Well here’s what we’ll be eating this week!  A little stew, a little soup, a simple and delicious curry with rice, and more!

Enjoy!!

Dinner #1:

Chicken and Chickpea Stew + Side Salad

Prep and Cooking Time:  40 minutes

Total:  $5.98 for the stew + estimated $2.00 for the salad

Dinner #2:

A Food Snob’s Meatloaf + Haricots Vert with Shallots

Prep and Cooking Time: 60 minutes

Total:  $6.30 for the meatloaf + $3.24 for the haricots vert

Dinner #3:

Cashew Chicken Curry + Sauteed Spinach with Garlic

Prep and Cooking Time:  40 minutes

Total:  $7.49 for the curry and $1.64 for the spinach

Dinner #4: 

Pumpkin Soup with Goat Cheese + Side Salad

Prep and Cooking Time:  30 minutes

Total:  $10.00 for the soup + estimated $2.00 for the salad

Dinner #5: 

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas + Veggie of Choice

Prep and Cooking Time:  1 hour, 15 minutes

Total:  $8.12 for the enchiladas +estimated $2.00 for the veggie

Dinner #6:

Pear, Bacon and Gorgonzola Flatbread + Side Salad

Prep and Cooking Time:  30 minutes

Total:  $5.78 for the pizza + estimated $2.00 for the side salad

Total for 6 nights of dinners:  $54.55!  That’s about $2.27 per person.

Shopping List (items you likely don’t already have in your pantry such as butter, oil, etc.):

Meat

• 1 pound ground chicken or turkey (I look for $3.99/lb or less)
• 7-8 (3.5-4 pounds) chicken breasts ($1.99/lb if you can find it)
• 8 strips bacon

Produce/Herbs

• 1 head garlic
• 2 lemons
• 6 tablespoons fresh italian parsley
• lettuce for 3 salads, plus your favorite toppings
• 1 pound hericots vert or green beans
• 3 shallots
• 1 onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
• 3/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 bunch spinach
• 1 veggie of choice
• 1 pear

Pantry

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons cumin
• 3/4 tablespoons red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers
• 3 cups 1″ cubes ciabatta or italian bread
• 3 slices sandwich bread
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/4 cup raisins (option, for spinach)
• 3 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin puree
• 1 quart veggie or chicken stock
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 jar green chile salsa
• 8 corn tortillas
• 1 pizza dough

Dairy/Eggs

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup grated asiago or parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups plain yogurt
• 2/3 cup cream
• goat cheese (for soup, possibly more for salads)
• 1 cup shredded jack cheese
• 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese (for pizza, possibly more for salads)

If you make any of these recipes or have any thoughts, feedback or questions I’d love to connect with you on Facebook or Twitter!