Meal Planning

I am trying to create a 2 week menu for 2 reasons.  Number one, I hate scrambling at the last minute to decide what to make for dinner.  Or forgetting to thaw something.  Number 2 save me money.  I shopped 1 day for this entire 2 week period.  I don't want to have to drive (about 10 minutes) into town for anything!  Especially with gas prices at $4.61 a gallon.  No thanks.

I had some items in my pantry all ready; chicken stock, black beans, frozen chicken, and rice. But the rest of the ingredients I had to purchase. I also plan to make everything else from scratch; {tortillas, rolls, gnocchi} to save on cost.  So these groceries only cost me $96 with tax.  I don't buy cheap food, I prefer brands that I like so I stick with them.  My budget was $100, so I had enough to buy Sierra Mist Natural!  I gave up soda-pop a month ago, but sometimes you just need the carbonation. Plus with flu season about to start up again, you sort of need some kind of lemon-lime soda in your pantry.  Don't you?!

I also haven't couponed once since moving to California.  I probably should start that up again, I need a better stock pile!

This is my 2 week menu not mentioned but included are vegetables or side salads for every meal; almost anyway. :)

~Cream Poached Eggs Benedict
~Scalloped Potatoes  {my best friend gave me this}
~Homemade Gnocchi with Marinara
~Sesame Chicken with Rice  {Recipe from dreawood.com, altered by me}
~Salmon Cakes {Healthy Meals for Less CB}
~Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken {Healthy Meals for Less CB}
~Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken {Healthy Meals for Less CB}
~Turkey Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes
~Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas  {Healthy Meals for Less CB}
~Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese {Paula Deen's recipe, altered by me}
~Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs
~Alfredo with Linguine and Peas
~Black Bean and Cheese Burritos
~Slow Cooker Bake Potato Soup with Homemade Rolls  {a Friend gave me this recipe, but you can find it on Pinterest!}

That is 14 days of dinners.  My budget include lunches and most breakfast.  I may have to buy another box or two of cereal depending on my kids. I try to alternate between oatmeal, cereal, eggs, and pancakes/waffles for breakfasts.  And lunches tend to be chicken nuggets, turkey hotdogs, sandwiches, quesidillas, mac and cheese.

Basically I separated the days (not shown above) so we didn't have anything {like chicken, rice, or potatoes) 2 days in a row.   I feel pretty good this week.  I don't feel like I have to race to the store for anything or deprive my family of a great home cooked meal!