Meal Plan Week of 3/2

I revised my menu just slightly for tonight. I'm reposting as tonight's chicken will feature prominently in a couple other meals this week. I was able to grab whole chickens for .59/lb at Hy-Vee, and so tonight's bird is 4lbs. I used to be soooo afraid of whole chickens because I didn't know what to do with them, but they are incredibly versatile and great value. For some advice on other things to do with whole chickens, click here.

This week's dinners clocks in under $21. Using coupons and homemade items can really make a difference in your weekly food costs!

3/1 Sunday

Crockpot Sticky Chicken (coat in olive oil, penzey’s minced lemon peel, penzey’s herbes de provence, garlic, salt and pepper and cook on low for about 8 hours) $2.90

roasted sweet potato slices .50

Fresh Asparagus .75 (steam- toss with 1T olive oil, 1T lemon juice, 1t Dijon mustard and 1T honey)

$4.15

remove leftover meat from frame for tomorrow’s meal and freeze a small amount for Wedensday’s quesadillas. Make stock for Wednesday’s soup.

3/2 Monday

chicken, spinach and mushrooms in angel hair pasta 1.65

chicken .00 (leftover from Sunday chicken), pasta .50, mushrooms .50, spinach (leftover from frozen stash), .00, garlic .05, onion, .10, olive oil .10, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, parmesan .40

salad .50 (lettuce, carrot, tomato, vinegar and oil)

frozen broccoli .40

$2.55

3/3 Tuesday

pan fried pork chops $1.80

au gratin potatoes .60

honey glazed carrots .50

$2.90

3/4 Wednesday

black bean soup $1.20

chicken and cheese quesadillas $1.00 (chicken .00, cheese .50, tortillas .50, sprinkle of Penzey’s adobo spice)

carrots in dip for the boys .40

$2.60

3/5 Thursday

Johnsonville smoked sausages (onsale w/ coupons for $1.20 for 6—will have 2 leftover for white bean and kale soup in the future) in Rotella’s brat buns .50(these are carb heaven, but a special treat) and cheese .25 $1.95

homemade steak fries .40

apple slices .40

$2.75

3/6 Friday

breakfast for dinner

ham, egg and cheese biscuits $1.40

tater tots $.75

$2.15

3/7 Saturday

chipotle steak, onion and pepper fajitas $4.05

steak 2.00, onion .20, pepper .75, tortillas .50, cheese .50, penzey’s adobo seasoning and penzey’s ancho chili powder .10

cheesy refried beans (made from pinto beans) .50

$4.55

3/8 Sunday

sundried tomato pesto chicken pasta (will post later) $2.50

frozen broccoli .50

$3.00

$20.50 for the week


Head over to Menu Plan Monday for hundreds of other meal plans. Laura, the queen of OrgJunkie.com has been a real inspiration in helping me stay organized and stick to my weekly meal plans!