I discovered a way to make shopping at a bulk club like CostCo or Wal-Mart really pay off. I just plan 7-10 recipes for the month and multiply the ingredients by 3-4 meals each. Then I can buy in bulk without buying everything in the store! Not only that, if company is coming, I've always got extra of every ingredient on hand--very helpful. I figured if I was going to go to the trouble of posting my monthly menu, then I should at least make it more useful by posting the shopping list and recipes I use.
What I did today, is to post a grocery list with all the ingredients needed for the quantity that I usually by x how many times I'm going to use that recipe. It will give you a good idea about how you can do this for yourself. (See bottom of post.) I don't do the recipes exactly as they are described on these links so I didn't add some of the ingredients. Be sure to check out each recipe, if it's something you are not familiar with, in case there are ingredients mentioned that you would like to include on your shopping list.
I've also added pictures and links to recipes for everything on my monthly menu for March. I'm sure this will help out my daughter, since my son and I will be at out-of- state debate tournaments from March 17 to March 29th. (I'll be posting some things, but probably not as much as usual during that time.) This post will give her recipes to use that are very similar to what I usually make. (Some really are my recipes or tutorials and are linked to older posts like this chicken, broccoli and rice casserole.)
Enjoy! and Happy Homemaking!
I had heard all about her from friends, and finally went to visit! She does do great tutorials and I love her blog!
(Except that I don't put peas in it--I'd get lynched!-Ha!)
We do steamed green beans instead. I usually roast them in the oven which makes them even yummier.
Chicken and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
I didn't put scallions or barbecue sauce on the list, so you'll want to add those ingredients if you are following this recipe exactly.
Easy Homemade Pizza from Scratch (tutorial) or
Easy Frenchbread Pizza
You'll need to add bobolis or loaves of Frenchbread if you want to do the easy version. Be sure to add veges to the French bread version!
Southern Style Chicken Fried Steak and Cream Gravy (my own tutorial is coming!)
This chicken fried steak was fried up by my mom..the queen of Southern cooking. It's heavenly!
Whipped Potatoes
and Microwaved Corn on the Cob
or you can just boil frozen corn on the cob...whatever you feel comfortable with. By the way, this blog had a great tutorial for cooking fresh corn on the cob, whether steamed, boiled, grilled, or microwaved!
And here are the pictures of my shopping lists.
Keep in mind that my quantities are to feed a family of 5-6 adults.
I didn't put scallions or barbecue sauce on the list, so you'll want to add those ingredients if you are following this recipe exactly.
Easy Homemade Pizza from Scratch (tutorial) or
Easy Frenchbread Pizza
You'll need to add bobolis or loaves of Frenchbread if you want to do the easy version. Be sure to add veges to the French bread version!
Southern Style Chicken Fried Steak and Cream Gravy (my own tutorial is coming!)
This chicken fried steak was fried up by my mom..the queen of Southern cooking. It's heavenly!
Whipped Potatoes
and Microwaved Corn on the Cob
or you can just boil frozen corn on the cob...whatever you feel comfortable with. By the way, this blog had a great tutorial for cooking fresh corn on the cob, whether steamed, boiled, grilled, or microwaved!
And here are the pictures of my shopping lists.
Keep in mind that my quantities are to feed a family of 5-6 adults.
2 comments
Hello dear friend;
I also buy in bulk, but not everything ~ no room :)
But I do agree with you, without a menu, you are basically spending money out of control!
I have a question though, do you cook the same meals for a month, or do you change it a bit week by week?
Thank you for sharing.
May the Lord continue to bless your pantry :-)
Maria
Hi Maria, I pick the 7 to 8 meals, and because nothing ever goes quite according to plan, I almost always have a few meals from the month before to throw in too. Plus I pick those two extra 'special' meals like Chicken Fried Steak or Grilled Pork chops but they aren't every week because we can't afford that. We do end up going out now and then and Rebekah sometimes gets in the mood to experiment with a soup or crockpot recipe. So it isn't a rigid schedule, but at least the bulk of our cooking is the same for that one month. Spaghetti, hamburgers, and homemade pizza get thrown in casually on a busy day as needed. :o) Why doesn't anyone ever get tired of spaghetti? Sometimes when both Rebekah and I are in the mood to cook and want to do something different--we just pull together something using what ever is in the pantry. But at least we have a good suppply of food on hand with some guaranteed meals all month that can form the bulk of our cooking at a very good price.
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