This week I am setting myself a challenge – how low can I go? Can I make a week’s worth of decent meals for as little as possible?

Strategies:

1. Shop my pantry/freezer first. What do I already have? That can be leftovers from last week (what can I do with the rest of the pulled pork?), other frozen foods (we have some sausage), and just plain ‘luck’ (last week I might have bought a frozen turkey for $0.99 a lb that I planned to turn into ground turkey and turkey stock.)
2. Lean on non-meat meals. I am trying to lean into a little less meat and a little more vegetable based proteins, and finding ways my family will appreciate them. I do have a fairly carnivorous husband though, so I am working little by little to get there.

What does this look like?

Saturday: Because we’re all going to be going in different directions on Saturday, I’m going to start this cheap week off strong with a scheduled “Every man for himself” kinda night. Not even going to meal plan. (need to buy – nothing)

Sunday: I have time today for something that might take longer. I’m thinking a beans and rice meal with the last of the frozen Italian sausage, a can or two of garbanzo beans, and a hearty tomato sauce. Oh, I’ll make a loaf of crusty bread with it! This sounds awesome. (need to buy – nothing)

Monday: always leftover day here. Same as usual. (need to buy – nothing)

Tuesday: I think I am going to make any pulled pork that still exists from last Thursday into pork chili and make cornbread with it. (need to buy – maybe some diced tomatoes? Milk for the cornbread?)

Wednesday: grilled. cheese. sandwiches. (on homemade bread from our bread machine) YUM. (need to buy – nothing, if we’re not picky about the cheese we use, we can clean out the cheese drawer)

Thursday: I plan to break down and grind turkey on Sunday, which will mean I have some for a quick dinner any night this week. I think I’m going to riff on Asian lettuce cups, and make a seasoned ground turkey and cabbage to eat over rice. (need to buy – scallions and maybe some Hoisin.)

Friday: The Halloween tradition here is comfort food for dinner and a Halloween movie night as a family. Nothing fancy. I’m making up a “Halloween baked pasta” this year. A tomato cream sauce (orange!) with either orange baby tomatoes or orange peppers baked in and a layer of cheese on top. I think I want mozzarella and parmesan (sadly, not orange.) I’m going to make it up as I go. I will need to buy … probably more tomato sauce, and some cheese.

I think I can get away with buying almost NOTHING for dinners this week, other than maybe some milk, a few cans of tomatoes and sauce, mozzarella cheese, and scallions. I wonder how low I can make this week’s grocery bill?