Printable Menus

I like to write out my menus and hang them on the fridge.  It makes meal prep easier.  I can look at it early in the day and know when I need to start supper and what I need to start.  It also helps me keep from stressing out during a busy week.  If I have to take the kids to ball practice, then I know I need to plan something quick and easy for that day.  If I have it written down and posted on my fridge, then I won't forget what I had planned.
Sometimes, I make a more detailed menu.  This is helpful for weeks when I have several events going on and I want to remember to make a specific crock-pot meal for one day, then a 15 minute grab and go meal on another day.  I also use this when I have a few special meals to plan for in the week, such as a birthday meal or a holiday meal.
Here is a template for that kind of menu:  You can print it out and use it if you would like.
Weekly Menu Template

Other times, I take a more relaxed approach.  This is when I need a little less control during a less stressful week, or when I have to quickly throw together a menu and don't have time to be so detailed.  I always try to make a good mix of quick and easy meals, crock-pot meals and take-your-time-country-cookin' kind of meals.
Here is a template for my weekly meal plan:  You can print it out and use it too.
Weekly Meal Template

Menus To Go With The Sales!

I have complied a list of meals that go with Mom's Comp. List for the week.  I hope they are helpful for you.  I have not included condiments in the menus, because I know we all have our own tastes and prefer different stuff.  Heck, just the four of us in our one little family all prefer different condiments.  So, put whatever you have on whatever you want.  I do want to point out though, there are several condiments on sale this week.  Picking up an extra BBQ sauce or Mayo this week may be a good idea!

Click Here for Menu Printable

I also want to include a few simple recipes.  I have some baked goods on this menu.  With salads, casseroles and sandwiches, you can always add a pinch of this and a handful of that, but with baking that doesn't always work.  I don't want you to end up with hockey pucks for biscuits, or soggy carrot cake, so here you go.

Biscuits
3 cups AP Flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
3/4 cup cold butter
1 1/4 cup milk (minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons lemon juice

In a 2 cup measuring cup, pour 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.  Add the milk until you have 1 1/4 cup of liquid.  Let this sit and get a little funky.
In a big bowl stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cream of tarter.
With a pastry blender, potato masher or a couple of forks, cut in your cold butter.  Keep pressing it into the flour until it is coarse crumbs.  Stir in the milk and mix until just moistened and no more.

On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough just a few times just until the dough sticks together.  Over kneading makes for a tough biscuit.  Don't do it.
Using your hands pat the dough down until it is evenly 3/4 inch thick.  Cut the dough with a floured biscuit cutter, or a glass with a thin rim.

Place biscuits 1/2 inch apart on a ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 450* for 10 or 12 minutes or until nice and golden.

I recommend using this recipe for the carrot cake...lots of baking staples are on sale this week.  It will be a good week to bake!
The Pioneer Woman's Carrot Cake

However, I have to say, I do not put cream cheese frosting on my carrot cakes.  I prefer buttercream.  I'm a buttercream kind of girl. Plus, butter is on sale this week.  Cream cheese is not. Here is my recipe:

Buttercream
2 sticks of softened, salted butter
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powder sugar
3 tablespoons milk

Beat butter and salt until the salt is completely dissolved.  With the mixer on low, slowly add half of the sugar.  Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk.  Slowly mix in the rest of the sugar.  Stir in the milk and beat until smooth.

Strawberry Clouds Recipe

~Rebecca

Menus from the Comp. List

I have compiled a list of 10 menus, all built from the best sales of the week.
They all would make great dinners, but some will do for lunch or even breakfast as well.

Remember, before making a full week's menu of your own, you want to see what you have leftover in your kitchen from the week before.  A handful of this and a bowl full of that will probably make an excellent salad, one that costs you $0 from this weeks shopping budget.

Below each meal is a list of the stores I found the sales at.  This will help you to make your comp. shopping list.

Roast Chicken, carrots and potatoes; steamed broccoli

*from the following ads - Price Chopper, Save A Lot, Aldi, Country Mart

Crock Pot Corn Beef Brisket with potatoes and cabbage; Brown & Serve Rolls
*Piggly Wiggly, Apple Market, Save A Lot, Hy-Vee, Aldi

Corn Beef Brisket on toasted whole wheat bread, carrot sticks, grapes
*Piggly Wiggly, Apple Market, Hy-Vee, Aldi,

BBQ Ribs, corn, green beans, mac & cheese
*Country Mart, Green Hills, Aldi

Bacon; Eggo waffles; cantaloupe, strawberry & grape salad
*Hy-Vee, Aldi, Price Chopper

Turkey & Cheese Panini (on whole wheat bread) with green peppers and tomato slices; Ore Ida Fries; orange slices
*Apple Market, Hen House, Country Mart, Hy-Vee, Green Hills

Grilled Ham & Cheese sandwiches; tomato soup; carrot sticks & pepper slices
*Apple Market, Hen House, Country Mart, Hy-Vee, Aldi, Green Hills

Dorito Nachos with Gr. Beef, tomatoes, Mexican cheese & sour cream; strawberries
*Walgreens, Green Hills, Hy-Vee, Country Mart, Price Chopper

Pork Chops & Stuffing; green beans, sliced tomatoes
*Apple Market, Aldi, Hy-Vee

Pasta with Grilled Chicken, spinach, diced tomatoes and mozzarella; garlic toast
*Price Chopper, Country Mart, Hy-Vee

Click Here For the Printable

~Rebecca

Shopping List and Menu

This week, I am going to feed my family for an entire week for $76.93.  We are a family of four, with a 5 and 9 year old.

Remember, I always go through my kitchen and look to see what I need to use up before I make my shopping list.
Here is what I had left this week:
Stephenson On-Hand List

Then I check out the ads and coupons and match up any deal that I may need.
Comp & Coupon Deals
I am just starting to get a good coupon stash together, hopefully I can start using more coupons in the future.  As I build my binder, I will share the process with you!

Then I make a menu combining the items on those two lists.
Here is what we will be eating this week.
Stephenson Menu
 Please keep in mind, that if there are any leftovers we do try to eat them up for lunch or even dinner.  This often means that something I had planned for the week doesn't get eaten.  That meal is then stashed in the freezer or pantry and I will try and use it up the next week instead.

Here is what I bought and how much I paid.  I know I messed up on some items and didn't get the best deals, but that's ok.  I know that with practice, I will get better and better. Each week I am saving more and more!
Shopping Trip List & Prices

~Rebecca

Ready to Go Breakfasts

My family likes to start the day with a hot breakfast.  However, we struggle to get a homemade, hot breakfast on the table, and still make the school bus at 6:45 a.m.
So, instead of spending money on expensive and not so healthy, convenient breakfast foods, I made my own.  All we need to do is nuke them in the microwave and enjoy.

Last week, I decided to go through my cabinets and see what I can pre-make for breakfast.  Instead of making lunch on Friday, I made breakfast:)

I had stuff on hand for cinnamon raisin breakfast rice, oatmeal with blueberries, oatmeal with apples and raisins, plus buns, bagels, ham, sausage, eggs and cheese.  I have discovered that this is an excellent way to clear out bits of groceries that won't exactly make a whole meal.
So, our menu for breakfast this week is:
cinnamon & raisin rice, blueberry oatmeal, apple cinnamon & raisin oatmeal, ham sandwiches, egg ham & cheese sandwiches, sausage & egg bagels.

The oatmeal and rice was stored in a sealed bowl and is kept in the fridge.  The sandwiches are wrapped in baggies and kept in the freezer.  We add a little more milk and butter to the rice and oatmeal and microwave until heated through.  The sandwiches are microwaved with the bag open for 1 1/2 minutes and turning every 30 seconds.
So, far my family has loved having these ready to go in the morning.  No one has been going to work or school with only cold cereal in their tummies.
I usually make breakfast for supper once a week, so I plan on restocking some of the breakfast items then.  Perhaps, making a weekly breakfast for lunch isn't such a bad idea either.

Do any of you use shortcuts when it comes to putting breakfast on the table?  What works best in your family?  We would love to hear your comments!

~Rebecca