Meal plans

Since I am going to try to eat our way through the panty, I though making meal plans that emphasize the things that have closer pull dates is in order.    I had rebate money, so I used it to buy the things we were running short of that I buy in bulk.  

I know we need to use up yogurt, some pulled pork, sausage, some bread, and tomatoes and cucumber.    This probably means we will be breaking my one processed food a week rule.  

I can freeze the orange yogurt for frozen yogurt for grandchild.

Meal plans : from Friday Through the following Sunday.  

1. Pork tenderloin, baked potatoes , peas ( bought new) 
2. Sausage, roasted root vegetables, brown and serve sourdough bread 
3. Enchilada pie.  Lettuce and tomatoes 
4. Pulled pork sandwiches, tater tots , green salad 
5. Meat ball subs, tomato and cucumber salad 
6. Baked potato bar 
7. Tomato soup, cheese Quesedas 
8. Mexican bubble tacos 
9. Shrimp stir fry 
10. Chicken pot pie 

Notes : frozen vegetables from Winco are not amoung the recall list.   The list is getting bigger and bigger to include Kroger , Safeways, trader joes, and Costco.    

I am trying to introduce one new recipe a week or so.    It shakes things up and makes life more interesting. I sat down and made a long lost of recipes and main dishes we eat with a variety of proteins.    It makes meal planning easier.    I also have a matrix ( outline ) in order to keep us eating a variety of meats. Adding two vegetarian meals cuts the average cost and sometimes the fat, and keeps everybody happy.    

My matrix : 

1-2 beef 

2-3 chicken or pork 

2 vegetarian

1 fish 

Between a list of ideas, and a matrix, meal planning takes almost no time.   

A little time on the front end , saves a lot of time on the back end.   If you keep a well stocked kitchen that you have paid  half price for (so you can afford to keep a well stocked kitchen) ., you can avoid running to the store in the middle of cooking dinner.  You already have a variety of meats in the freezer and can pull whatever you want to use.   It just makes shopping and cooking easier .  When you run into one of those I didn't plan for this days, you have things you can pull together in a hurry.  

The organizational part of this for the most part is  a one time only project.  It will save you countless time and money in the long run.  If you aren't an organizational person or hate to shop, consider delegating or pretend. think of the time you are going to save and how happy you are going to be getting out of the kitchen faster without depending on fast food that isn't good for your family or your pocketbook.   

I get this method of shopping isn't for everyone.   Sometimes you don't have a choice.  Of overspending is going to mean you have no food at the end of the month, it should be a given that it's worth the effort.   If using a different method saves a lot of. Only that you can spend on a vacation or it means that you have money for other necessities, it is totally worth it.   

Shopping with a category list instead of a exact list is a lot easier.   You are basically going to walk around the perimeter of the store with your sales flyer and a small list of what you absolutely have to have and get in and out of the store.   Your fridge has specific dairy that you always have, you always need bread and you know which kind you buy and where you buy it, you fill in the vegetables and fruit that are on sale you need to fill on your meals, and a (so called loss leader) protein if there is one.   Some weeks, there are none, some weeks there are two.  You are going to buy a stock item if you need to and if they are at a RBP.   Sometimes this is seasonal and you need to stock for the year.  Catsup comes to mind as well as BBQ sauce unless you make your own.   

This week, for us, it was white fish at Winco.  

I most generally shop two chains a week-- Winco and which ever one has the best prices on the things I need.    I fill in things at specialty stores when I am on the area.    Certain stores are always good for certain things.   If we are running other errands, I will take a quick look at some stores and pull the things I most generally buy from that store if I need them.   

• Grocery outlet : Sliced cheese, taco shell kits and sometimes a .50 deal that needs to be see soon.   I check the coffee price. 
• Dollar tree : Barilla pasta if I have a coupon, wax paper, parchment paper, pretzels, jenne-0 bacon, uncle bens rice if I have a coupon, Betty Crocker potatoes if I have  a coupon.   
• Big lots : on their twenty percent off everything sales.  
• Fran's bakery outlet - watch your prices

It might be appropriate to note that I rarely go to any other stores.  

That was not what I intended to pop up with my paste button, but WTH, it's good information.    I am working on perfecting  no- dry refried beans.   

Dried Bean GuideUse this guide to gauge how much dried beans to cook.
1/3 cup dry beans =	1 cup cooked beans
1/2 cup dry beans =	1 1/2 cups cooked beans
2/3 cup dry beans =	2 cup cooked beans
1 cup dry beans =	3 cups cooked beans
2 cups (1 pound) dry beans =	6 cups cooked beans