The Day that Got Away - 4 Under $40

Ok, so it's now after 8pm and I have a pukey baby lying here in my bed. So you get the abbreviated version of this week's meal plan.

Ingles - 

Tacos
Deli Hot Wings
Beef Roast
Pintos and Cornbread

Publix - 

Salmon Salad

Slow Cooker Pork Chops (try linked recipe) with rice, squash & zucchini
Spaghetti with Bread & salad
Hot dogs and Ore-Ida fries

You'll have to do the footwork on your own, but it's not too bad - AND it can be done!

~Meg

Ingles' 4 Under $40

If you noticed the other page you'll discover I'm working with more than one grocery store now! But, Ingles is my local market and close and convenient and thereby dear to my heart.

Monday - Pork Chops

The chops on sale are bone-in, so go for the boneless if you'd rather. You've got money in the budget to cover it this week. Fry 'em up or bake 'em. Whatever your family prefers. Apples are a GREAT deal this week. So I figured (while channelling the Brady Bunch) it would be a fun time to try some homemade apple sauce to go with your chops. Peel and slice your apples. Put them into a covered pan or Dutch oven on med-high heat until they begin to boil. Add sugar and/or cinnamon to taste. Easy and homemade and warm for these cold nights! And since sweet potatoes are on sale too, grab a few of those and make a sweet potato souffle with this recipe. She calls for 6 sweet potatoes which may be more than the 2lbs. I recommend, but whatever works for you. Oh yeah - the marshmallows will be another $1.58 added to the total (woops!).

Tuesday - Black Beans and Rice

You know I like to throw in one of these at least bi-weekly. It's a great protein and fiber packed meal that's low on calories and low on price. I also thought the mangoes would be a fun & fresh addition to the island-like flavors of the beans. Prep and cook beans per package directions. Do the same for the rice, adding beans while rice is cooking. (You can also add an endless array of veggies to your pot, just quickly saute before adding in all the other. We like onions, garlic, bell peppers, and fresh tomatoes.) Chop mangoes (you may want to catch a Youtube video to figure out how best to do this) and add to completed dish.

Wednesday - Church

Thursday - Cubed Steak

Fry up your cubed steak as you normally would. I'm not adding the recipe for the long-cooking kind this week. Just salt, flour, & fry to your heart's content. Boil half a bag of red potatoes (I like to do this with the skins on) and roughly mash them with some milk and lots of butter. Or don't mash them at all and serve buttered with maybe even a sprinkling of dill. French bread from the bakery rounds out your meal. A bag salad for $2.50 is not a terrible idea with this meal and it adds something nice and green.

Friday - Ravoli (Pasta) with Homemade Sauce

This meal is certainly the splurge of the week with 3oz of prosciutto costing nearly $6. But, try it. This will definitely be worth the trouble. You'll find it in the deli section just beneath the per-pound meats. It comes prepackaged.

Cook ravioli per package directions. Chop, fry & drain prosciutto. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add canned tomatoes and salt & pepper (I guessed high on the price of tomatoes because I forgot to price those - who knows?). Cook down until "saucy"  and add Arugula, more salt & pepper and olive oil. When Arugula cooks down add 1 Tablespoon of butter (the original calls for chopped fresh basil here, too, but we're fresh out and this works just as well without). Add prosciutto back to tomato sauce. Toss gently with cooked ravioli and serve warm.

Another week of yummy food for a pretty good bit under $40! Scroll down for list and prices.

~Megan

Pork Chops & Sides		6.82
Pork Chops (Bone-In)	1.98/1#	$3.96
Sweet Potatoes	.69/1#	1.36
Apples (Fuji)	2.98/5#	1.50
Black Beans and Rice		$4.86
Black Beans	1#	1.38
LL White Rice	1#	0.98
LL Brown Rice	1#	0.93
Organic Mangoes	2/$3	3
Onion
Cubed Steak		$11.05
Cubed Steak	3.28/1#	6.56
Red Potatoes	1.98/5#	1
Bakery French Bread	2/1.98	0.99
Fresh Express Salad Mixes	2/$5	2.50
Ravioli & Sauce		$13.90
Celentano Pasta (frozen)		3.98
Prosciutto	3oz	5.49
Organic Baby Arugula	box	3.98
Fresh Express Spinach & Arugula	bag	3.18
Diced Tomatoes	15oz	1.25
	TOTAL:	$36.63

And we welcome . . . PUBLIX

I've heard from several of you who love the 4 Under $40 idea, but just wish it expanded to Publix. I've been resistant because, well, I can't get to Publix and it saves me time just to worry about one place. However, my sweet brother told me he loved my idea, he just wished I covered Publix so . . . because he's a spoiled turkey . . . There is now a Publix 4 Under $40. (Scroll to the end of the page for shopping list and prices.)

Monday - Homemade Pizza

Really this one is easy. Just follow the directions per the frozen dough box and you're set. Looking at totals there's plenty more room to add veggies to your pizza as you desire, but these few ingredients were the easiest to find in the sale paper.

 

Tuesday - Kielbasa "Roast"

This isn't a roast in the truest sense of the word. But, you wind up with nicely roasted veggies and yummy Kielbasa - which can be a pleasant change from beef or chicken. I forgot to add onion onto my list, but grab one of those, too, chop it up with your veggies and throw into a lightly greased baking dish (or Dutch oven). Cut your Kielbasa into 1in. pieces and add to your veggies. Cover tightly and bake at 350 degrees for about 45min to 1 hour. Quick fix meal that is SUPER CHEAP!

 

Wednesday -

On Wednesdays I take the day off from cooking. We go to a church that serves Wednesday night dinner. The community is awesome and my kitchen is the neater for it.

Thursday - Sirloin Salad

Do you like Longhorn Steakhouse's "7 Pepper Steak Salad?" It's a favorite of mine and when I saw Publix advertising top sirloin and Arugula salad together I knew it was worth a shot. Pepper your steak up nicely with whatever is in your cabinet and if black pepper is all you have then that will work just fine. The Preacher got a new grill for Christmas so any excuse to fire that baby up is fine with him. Otherwise, cook it one the stovetop. It will taste just fine. [If there's only 2-4 of you then you'll need just one pound of this top sirloin. (When you add it to a salad it goes a long way.) Therefore I only calculated for 1 pound. But, if you want more, there's plenty of wiggle room in the budget.] Thinly slice and add the warm steak to the Arugula and top wth preferred dressing. Enjoy.

Friday - Ravoli

Use Rosetto frozen ravioli and prepare per package directions. Top with heated Publix pasta sauce (or pasta sauce of choice). There's Cole's Garlic Bread on sale, but I thought the bakery Artisan Loaves looked super fun. You can use your left over Arugula and salad dressing from last night to add a salad to your pasta if that's how you roll.

TOTAL: $31.49. Delicious dinners for less than the cost of one meal out!

~Megan

Homemade Pizza		$7.60
Italian Frozen Pizza Dough	BOGO $2.69	1.35
Boar's Head Pepperoni	2/$6	3
Ragu Pizza Sauce	BOGO $1.49	0.75
Publix Shredded Cheese	2/$5	2.50
Kielbasa "Roast"		$5.29
Hillshire Farm Kielbasa	2/$6	3
Baby Carrots	1#	1.29
Russet Baking Potatoes	2#/$1	1
Ravoli & Pasta Sauce		$7.27
Rosetto Ravioli	BOGO $4.19	2.1
Publix Pasta Sauce		1.18
Bakery Artisan Loaf Bread		1.99
Fresh Express Bag Salad	BOGO $3.99	2
Sirloin Salad		$11.33
Top Sirloin	$4.99/1#	5
Baby Arugula	2/$5	5
Wishbone Dressing	BOGO $2.65	1.33
	TOTAL:	$31.49