Weekly Dinner Plans and Discounts

Hey everyone! Here's the deal: I love to cook healthy meals, and I love the thrill of being money savvy. I have been making weekly and bi-weekly meal plans for the last 7 years. I am definitely a planner and organizer. I have never done well with cooking dinner on a whim. I need a plan because I don't enjoy going to the grocery more than once a week. When I have what I need on hand I am more likely to cook healthy meals and eat out less. This saves money and is more nutritious.


In this blog I will post my weekly dinner plans for you to use. Each week I plan about 5 meals. (One for at least every week night.) I will provide the recipes for each meal and my grocery list every week. The recipes I post are usually about 4 servings. You are free to use all or some of the meals that I post for your own meal plan. I understand that not everyone will like all of the meals that I do so pick and choose what suits your taste.


Also, I like to use coupons to get the best deals I can find. I will share the coupons that I get from newspaper inserts and websites for my grocery trip each week. This may help you save some money, too!


Dinners for this week:

1-     Layered Vegetable Enchiladas

2-    Stuffed Shells (I plan to freeze half of this. I will serve the second half  at a later date 

            when I don't have time to cook dinner.)

3-    Seared Fish Fillets, Asparagus, and Rice

4-    Taco Soup (I plan to freeze half of this. I will serve the second half  at a later date 

            when I don't have time to cook dinner.)

5-    Chicken Casablanca (I plan to freeze half of this. I will serve the second half  at a later 

            date when I don't have time to cook dinner.)

     Recipes:

           Layered Vegetable Enchiladas (You can add chicken or beef to this if you want)
           http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2873

   

     Stuffed Shells

     http://homemadeginger.blogspot.com/2010/07/freezer-meal-extravaganza.html

     Seared Garlic Mojo Fish Fillets, Asparagus, and Rice

     Seared Fish Fillets

     http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=247

     Garlic Mojo

     http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=244

     Asparagus 

     Asparagus, 1 bunch

     Garlic Mojo, 2 tablespoons

     Salt and pepper to taste

     Clean and trim asparagus. Place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the 
     garlic mojo, and season with salt and pepper. 

     Rice  

     I just use minute rice. Sometimes I add a couple tablespoons of 
     garlic mojo to the rice for some extra flavor. 

     Taco Soup

     Ground beef, 1 pound 

     Onion, small, diced

     Garlic, 2 cloves, minced

     Diced tomatoes, 28 oz. can

     Chunky salsa, 16 oz. jar

     Corn, 1 can

     Chili beans, 1 can

     Taco seasoning, 1 packet

     Chicken broth, 1 can

     Brown the beef with the onion and garlic. I usually add a little

     seasoning salt and pepper for flavor. Drain the excess grease 
     from the beef. Put the beef into a large pot. Add the rest of
     the ingredients and cook on medium heat until it boils.
     Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Chicken Casablanca

Onion, sliced

Fresh ginger grated, 1 teaspoon (you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger)

Garlic, 2 cloves, minced

Carrots, 3, diced

Potatoes, 2,  peeled and diced

Zucchini,  sliced 1" thick

garbanzo beans, 15 ounce can, drained

Boneless chicken breasts, 3 pounds

Cumin, ½ teaspoon

Turmeric, ½ teaspoon

Salt, ½ teaspoon

Pepper, ½ teaspoon

Cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon

Cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon

Diced tomatoes canned, 14½ ounces

Parsley, 2 tablespoons, chopped

Cilantro, 1 tablespoon, chopped

Combine first eight ingredients in a slow cooker.

Combine spices in small bowl and sprinkle over ingredients in slow cooker.

Add chopped tomatoes.

Cover and cook on Low 8 to 10 hours or on High 4 to 5 hours.

Stir in parsley and cilantro before serving.

Serve over cooked rice.

Grocery List:

Layered vegetable Enchiladas

2 cups frozen corn

1 cup frozen bell pepper strips

3 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)

1 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

1 (15-ounce) can pinto or black beans

4 tablespoons cilantro

1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes

8 ounces frozen leafy greens (I use spinach) 

8 corn tortillas 

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Stuffed Shells

1 package jumbo shells

1 jar marinara sauce

1-2 pounds ground beef

1-2 garlic cloves

White or yellow onion

1 (8-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella

1 cup parmesan cheese

¼ cup Italian bread crumbs

2 eggs

Seared Garlic Mojo Fish Fillets, Asparagus, and Rice

1/2 cup (about 2 ounces) coarsely broken or chopped pecans  

1 cup (about 5 ounces) coarsely chopped dried fruit—I love a mixture of dried apricots and prunes, though made with a single fruit it's good, too)

1/2 cup fruity red wine (I substitute chicken broth)

4 5- or 6-ounce fish fillets (I use tilapia)

1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley

4 large heads garlic or 10 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) peeled garlic cloves 

2 or 3 cups fruity olive oil

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

Minute rice

Asparagus

Taco Soup

     Ground beef, 1 pound 

     Onion, small, diced

     Garlic, 2 cloves, minced

     Diced tomatoes, 28 oz. can

     Chunky salsa, 16 oz. jar

     Corn, 1 can

     Chili beans, 1 can

     Taco seasoning, 1 packet

     Chicken broth, 1 can

    Chicken Casablanca

   1 large onion(s) sliced

   1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated

   2 cloves garlic minced

   3 large carrot(s) diced

   2 large potato(es) peeled and diced

   1 medium zucchini sliced 1" thick

   15 ounces garbanzo beans canned, drained

   3 pounds boneless chicken breasts

   ½ teaspoon cumin

   ½ teaspoon turmeric

   ½ teaspoon salt

   ½ teaspoon pepper

   ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

   ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

   14½ ounces chopped tomatoes canned

   2 tablespoons parsley chopped

   1 tablespoon cilantro chopped

I hope you enjoy the meals!