My goal is to provide dinner for my family for an average of $5 except on special occasions. We don’t have to eat beans and rice to accomplish this goal! I shop the grocery sales each week. Then I plan my menu based on the foods I have already at home (at a great price). I balance more expensive meals with less expensive ones. We typically only cook a main dish 4 or 5 times a week. Each main dish cooked will serve 4-6, and the leftovers will be for easy dinners on the weekend, or to freeze for another week. This cuts down on cleaning, cooking, and meal planning– saving us lots of time!
For those of you with a Brookshire’s in your town, don’t miss Pary Moppins’ menu plan from the Brookshire’s ad. She has 11 meals at $5.68 per meal without using any coupons!
I cooked a lot extra last week without taking the time to freeze any, and because my husband was out of town I gave in and picked up McDonald’s on a busy night that we were going to be gone until 7:30. Needless to say we haven’t finished last week’s menu and still have leftovers, so this week’s plan is light.
Catfish Fillets, Homemade French Fries, Fried Cheese Sticks, Fresh Plums
1 lb catfish nuggets @ 1.47
1 potato for fries @ .25
mozzarella @ .88
breading @ .50
4 small plums @ 1.08
Total Cost $4.18
1 lb catfish nuggets @ 1.47
1 potato for fries @ .25
mozzarella @ .88
breading @ .50
4 small plums @ 1.08
Total Cost $4.18
Garlic Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Sweet Peas and Corn, toast
1 lb. pork chops @ 1.47
3 potatoes @ .80
butter, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes @ .20
1 can sweet peas @ .58
1 can corn @ .58
1 lb. pork chops @ 1.47
3 potatoes @ .80
butter, cheese and bacon bits for the potatoes @ .20
1 can sweet peas @ .58
1 can corn @ .58
4 slices of bread for toast @ .16
total cost: $3.78
total cost: $3.78
McDonald’s
2 double cheeseburgers @ 2.00
2 mcchickens @ 2.00
1 large fries @ 1.78
2 bananas from home @ .40
Total Cost: $6.18
2 double cheeseburgers @ 2.00
2 mcchickens @ 2.00
1 large fries @ 1.78
2 bananas from home @ .40
Total Cost: $6.18
Chicken Nachos, Apple, Green Beans, Fruit Cocktail
1 lb. pulled chicken @ 1.29
1/2 lb. shredded cheddar and mozzarella @ 1.25
2 small apples@ .90
1 can green beans @ .25
1 can fruit cocktail @ .78
chips @ .99
1/2 can rotel @ .44
Total Cost: $5.90
1 lb. pulled chicken @ 1.29
1/2 lb. shredded cheddar and mozzarella @ 1.25
2 small apples@ .90
1 can green beans @ .25
1 can fruit cocktail @ .78
chips @ .99
1/2 can rotel @ .44
Total Cost: $5.90
Average cost of the meals we’re cooking this week: $5.01
This post is part of Menu Plan Monday over at OrgJunkie.
Visiting you back from the flip flop hop
I am following you on GFC– love your blog! Eleni from MMSO