This year I’m going to do things a little differently in regards to my weekly menu plan suggestions. This may not be the best starting point seeing how I just went shopping at Costco and stocked up on a lot of essential items {thanks to a generous $200 Costco gift card my parents gave me for Christmas} but you’ve got to start somewhere, right?
Basically my goal this past week was to use up as many holiday leftovers as I could. I hate food waste, and since I don’t like throwing anything out, we ate a boatload of desserts {leftover from my parents Christmas party} and made several ham dishes {mostly soups and in egg scrambles} using just a few simple staples from my pantry.
One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Mere left me a great comment a few days ago…
I began following you when I lived in Arizona. How lucky I was to get transferred to the same area! It has been so helpful to a newbie gardener like me. I can’t tell you how many times I would have a question about when to harvest this or grow that, and your post would show up in my email! Love your writing style and well rounded feel to the blog.
The only thing I have longed for is to know what you actually serve for dinner. I look at your shopping trip posts and can’t seem to make a meal out of it. As someone trying to get out of processed foods, something I was raised on, I would love to know what you eat. Thank you Mavis, for all your hard work! ~Mere
I LOVED her comment!
So my goal this year is to give you a better picture of what I not only buy at the store each week, but to show you how I am using those ingredients in our daily meals as well. I can’t promise you these posts will be super exciting, but who knows, maybe you’ll learn a cool tip or two along the way. Or at the very least, understand why this crazy method of {not} meal planning works for me and my family.
How does that sound?
Some of the things I am thinking about making for next week are:
Breakfast Ideas
Egg and Cheese Muffins – These are a perfect option for quick and easy make head breakfast on the go. {Pin for Later}
Cranberry Coconut Breakfast Cookies – I am a huge fan of grab and go breakfasts during the week. With a million different schedules and to-do’s, it’s just easier. {Pin for Later}
Dutch Breakfast Puff – This is an awesome weekend treat, and best of all, it’s made entirely out of staple ingredients, so odds are, you won’t have to run to the store. {Pin for Later}
Lunch Ideas and Dinner Ideas
Southwest Chicken Chili – If you plan on hosting any football get-togethers, this chili is the perfect menu item. {Pin for Later}
Cream Broccoli and Spinach Pasta Salad – I must be craving carbs because everything pasta is sounding good. Since spinach and broccoli are in season, it’s a great time to make this dish. {Pin for Later}
Curry Chicken and Rice – Every time I make this recipe, I wonder why I don’t make more curry recipes. It’s such a unique flavor and I always forget how awesome it is. {Pin for Later}
Sausage Lentil Soup – This soup rocks. Eat it up before it gets too hot outside! {Pin for Later}
Sweet Treats
Whole Grain Raspberry Bars – Raise your hand if you still have raspberries from last summer sitting in your freezer? I’m totally guilty! These are a great way to use them up. {Pin for Later}
Peanut Butter Protein Balls – If you haven’t tried these yet, stop everything and make them. They are one of my favorite snacks to have on hand when I need to run out the door, and a grab and go snack that will stick with me is in order. {Pin for Later}
Dehydrated Canned Pineapple – According to the HH, these are impossible not to eat in one sitting. I couldn’t agree more. {Pin for Later}
Featured Freezer Meal Recipe – Ground Beef Freezer Meal – Taco Casserole. This recipe is awesome. You should go make it. But not if you have a Monkey Boy who will then beg you for endless amounts of Doritos so he can dip them in this meaty, cheesy casserole of awesomeness. Get the recipe for Ground Beef Freezer Meal Taco Casserole HERE or Pin it for Later.
Featured Canning Recipe – Blood Orange Marmalade. I love everything about it–the marmalade, the color, everything. The citrus in the blood oranges requires an extra step, but it’s totally worth it. Get the recipe for Blood Orange Marmalade HERE or Pin it for Later.
What are YOU planning on making this week?
~Mavis
Find more recipes on One Hundred Dollars a Month as well as on my Pinterest Recipe Boards.
Carrie says
How do you store the big bags of flour? Costco was carrying smaller two bag packs of organic flour and it was perfect. I just don’t know a good way to store the big bags…
Madam Chow says
I store my white AP flourin food grade five gallon buckets, or in the freezer for any other type of flour, such as whole wheat, pastry, rye, etc. just be sure to put the lid on tightly. I also freeze my flour for about a week after I get it to kill any bug eggs. Sounds nasty, but it’s a fact of life that there are bug eggs in flours and grains.
Michelle says
What stores carry those buckets? I’m in Chicago.
Madam Chow says
I get mine from beprepared dot com (Emergency Essentials). You can also try a local bakery, even a grocery store one, and ask if they have any buckets – they get frosting in them.
Cecily says
I ordered my buckets from King Arthur Flour. I store AP flour, bread flour and sugar in mine.
Mavis Butterfield says
Great question! I will do a show and tell next week. 🙂
jessica says
I buy my bread flour and sugar from Costco in 50 lb sacks, so finding storage was important. I use brand new- food safe pet food storage containers. Fits the whole bag, plus it has wheels so it rolls right into the pantry.
Mary G says
Ooh, I like that you will be sharing some menu ideas/plans. Partly because I’ve found some pretty great recipes on your site already, but also partly that I never tire of finding new ideas and I sometimes get tired of some of our standbys.
Madam Chow says
Hmm. I see some Nutella hidden away in the back….
Lori N. says
How do you store the brown sugar?I keep looking at the big bags but am worried about it drying out.
Robin says
Love this new idea Mavis. You always come up with great ideas.
Karen says
This looks great! I like your ideas.
Mere says
!!!! Thank you Mavis!! LOL- I was wondering how your Costco challenge was going, I looked it up and was surprised to see my comment! I am SO excited that I get a whole YEAR of this! Serious dream come true right now! I’m going to try and make each one! I’ve been getting into canning too and already have the cranberry orange marmalade on my to do list! You are AWESOME!!!
Mere