Each week, I take an hour and create a menu for the upcoming week. I plan lunches and dinner, and list lunch snack options and breakfast foods that will be available. Breakfast is serve yourself. On shopping day, while I put away groceries, I mix up the instant pancake mix with water and heat a griddle. It normally takes me about 30 minutes to get all the groceries put away and organized. While I do that, I make the pancakes. Once I’m done with the groceries, I wrap the pancakes with wax paper into stacks of three. I then put the stacks into freezer bags and label them. When I come down for breakfast, I heat the pancakes (still in wax paper) for 70 seconds. Perfect!
The second part of putting away the groceries is creating the snack bags for lunches. It takes me 5 minutes in the morning to put together both of our lunch boxes and to fill our water bottles. If it takes any more than that, than it won’t get done. I take snack bags and sandwich bags and separate large boxes of snacks into small baggies. I have a box in the fridge to corral the fridge snack baggies, and a box on the sideboard to corral the pantry snack bags.
I make Jon’s sandwiches and wrap up my leftovers the night before, while Jon is doing the dishes after dinner. In the morning, I toss in the ice bags, entrees, and three snacks. Done!
I use Wegmans Online to create my Wegmans shopping list. Once you create an account, you can create and save shopping lists. This is essential to staying within the budget for me, because I can choose the best prices quickly and if I run over my budget, I can figure out how to adjust my menu to meet my budget. Wegmans Online shopping list also separates your list into the aisles of your store and tallies your total for you.
I always include a reminder section in my menus so that I can mesh my menu with my schedule. This gives me a heads up when I have guests, when we have plans that will take us away from home, or when there’s a staple pantry item that unexpectedly ran out.
If you’re interested in following this same program, just print out this post. You’ll have your menu and shopping list ready to go!
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BREAKFAST OPTIONS:
1. Milk and Cereal
2. Freezer Pancakes, strawberry jam, butter, and maple syrup. (Take heart healthy instant pancake mix, add water as directed, pour onto hot greased griddle and flip when bubbles pop. Wrap in wax paper and aluminum foil in groups if three. Place pancake foil packets in freezer bags. When reheating, remove foil and microwave for 70 seconds still wrapped in foil. Add butter, jam, and syrup.)
3. Frozen Jimmy Dean D’Lights (turkey sausage)
4. Leftover Breakfast Burritos in Freezer (recipe is #4 found here)
5. Toast and Jam.
6. Bagel (from freezer) with butter and jam. (When I see bagels for a very good price, I always grab them. I separate the halves, wrap the halves separately in wax paper, then wrap in aluminum foil and place in freezer bags marked with the date. When I’m ready to eat one, I just unwrap and toast at a high setting.)
7. Scrambled Eggs and Toast. (I’m a basic girl. I just spray a bit of oil in the pan, break 2 eggs directly into the pan and slosh around with a spatula. My husband would insist on things like spices, a splash of milk, and separately beaten eggs.)
8. Ham and Cheddar Omelet: (Again… I don’t have the patience to get fancy for myself. I just follow the scrambled eggs instructions above, and add sliced up deli ham and whatever cheese I have in the house. Technically, not an “omelet”, but my tummy can’t tell the difference.)
REMINDERS:
Wax Paper onto shopping list.
Amy will be here for dinner on Saturday.
Need a late night snack for Saturday night. Alex will be here.
LUNCH SNACK CHOICES:
1. Beef Jerky/ Sausage sticks
2. Trail Mix
3. Baby Carrots with ranch dressing
4. Cookies
5. Potato Chips
6. Brownies
7. Peanut Butter and Jelly Crackers (we make our own, thin slice of peanut butter on each butter cracker, a but of jelly and press together. Bonus points if you stick a wet nap in this lunch since I always end up with sticky fingers).
8. Granola Bars
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MENU FOR WEEK ENDING 7-21-2012
**shopping day will be Friday evening instead of Sunday morning due to weekend plans**
FRIDAY:
DINNER: Wegmans Pepperoni Pizza, Broccoli with lemon and pepper. (We buy a large pepperoni pizza from Wegmans for $11.99 on days like this when I’ll be at work and then the grocery store until late. The slices are enormous and I can freeze leftovers (in wax paper and aluminum foil, then placed in freezer bags) for lunches. We buy frozen broccoli and I just microwave in a small bowl with a tablespoon of water.)
Women’s Day home-made ice cream. – I’m blogging this on Thursday (7-19-2012), so I’ll include the link as soon as it’s up.
SATURDAY:
LUNCH: Cheese Ravioli Florentine, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese sticks (or cubes). (I buy pre-cooked cheese ravioli in the freezer section. Wegmans has several types including mushroom, Florentine, beef, or cheese. They only need to boil for 5 minutes. So I add hot tap water to a pot with a lid, boil the water (takes 5-7 minutes), Boil the ravioli (5 minutes), drain and mix in marinara sauce while still hot.)
DINNER: (w/Amy): Taco Salad, mixed romaine, seasoned ground beef, shredded iceberg, corn, cheddar cheese, chopped beefsteak tomato, ranch dressing, southwest salad topping. Tortilla chips and salsa on side. (I like to put this out in individual bowls and let people make their own salads so that I can use the leftovers later, but I;m not in charge of the dishes. I strongly recommend checking with your chief dish washer prior to attempting 8 serving bowls for your dinner. Brown the ground beef, sprinkle in a little taco seasoning, drain and place in bowl. Drain a can of corn and place in bowl. Rinse and spin a bag of shredded lettuce, place a handful of cheddar cheese in a bowl, Dice up a beefsteak tomato and put in a bowl, Put sour cream out on the table, ranch dressing, and southwest salad topping. If I have taco sauce and salsa in the fridge, I’ll place that out too. Everyone can make their own salad.)
** Serve separately and save leftovers for late night snack for Jon and Alex.
SUNDAY:
LUNCH: Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Apple Spirals with cinnamon and brown sugar. (Microwave two Tyson’s frozen grilled chicken breast. Dice up small. Place in the freezer while you prep the rest. Chop up 2 celery stalks. Take a small amount of frozen onion slices (which I prepare and freeze every other week), and chop up. You can leave them frozen since it will just help cool the chicken. After the chicken has been in freezer for about 5 minutes, combine with celery, onion and add a few big spoonfuls of mayonnaise. Mix and add more mayonnaise until satisfied with consistency. Add a generous amount of black pepper and salt and serve on bread or crackers, or low carb it and stick it in a bowl.)
DINNER: Mexican Chicken Skillet (Warm a can of shredded chicken, half can of corn, can of rotel, microwaveable Mexican rice, and sour cream in a pan. Scoop into a tortilla wrap, add cheddar cheese and salsa) – Thanks Ashley Smith for the idea!
MONDAY:
LUNCH: Jon: Turkey, Muenster cheese, Dill pickle and black pepper sandwiches.
Rowy: Frozen Wegmans Pizza
DINNER: BLT Sandwiches, carrots and ranch dip. (Microwave 5 slices of precooked bacon at a time wrapped in paper towel for 32 seconds- I like mine very crispy, slice up a beef steak tomato. Toast bread slices. Add bacon, tomato and lettuce to bread with mayonnaise, salt and pepper.)
TUESDAY:
LUNCH: Jon: Turkey, Muenster cheese, dill pickle, and black pepper sandwiches.
Rowy: Leftover BLT Sandwiches
DINNER: Italian Chicken and Pasta Salad with green pepper, onion, olives and chopped beefsteak tomato. (Recipe #1 found here.)
WEDNESDAY:
LUNCH: Jon: Leftover Chicken and Pasta salad.
Rowy: Leftover Chicken and Pasta salad.
DINNER: Cheeseburgers on the grill, Grilled Sliced Potatoes, Green Beans. (Sadly, I have no idea how to work the grill. But if you need help. Let me know and I’ll get Jon to guest blog. I do know that our made ahead patties go out (see instruction for making your own patties for 65 cents per burger), and about 10-15 minutes later hamburgers come in. We buy the club pack of hamburger buns for $1.99 (at Wegmans), then wrap them in aluminum foil (no wax paper on this one!) individually. You can place the foil wrapped buns on the part of the grill with indirect heat and they will be perfect when your burgers are done. I should also mention that we are the world’s worst defrosters, so we almost always cook our burgers from frozen. For the potatoes, just take a potato, slice it thin, season it with whatever floats your boat from seasoned salt to steak seasoning. Lay the slices on the grill and flip with burgers. Microwave the frozen green beans with a table spoon of water according to package directions.
THURSDAY:
LUNCH: Jon: Turkey, Muenster cheese, dill pickle, and black pepper sandwiches.
Rowy: Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich.
DINNER: Chicken breast with barbecue sauce, broccoli cheese soup, and dinner rolls. (Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place frozen dinner rolls directly on rack (don;t wait for oven to preheat, just stick rolls right in. Spray a little oil in a pan on medium heat. Add Tyson’s frozen grilled chicken breast and flip until heated through. On the stove top, pour 2 cans of condensed cheddar cheese soup into pot on high. Add 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of frozen broccoli pieces, and 1 cup of frozen potatoes O’Brien (or diced potatoes). Boil for 5 minutes and serve! Take the dinner rolls out when your other food is ready.)
**Make an extra chicken breast and dinner roll for work tomorrow**
FRIDAY:
LUNCH: Jon: Turkey, Muenster cheese, dill pickle, and black pepper sandwiches.
Rowy: Leftover grilled chicken breast with barbecue sauce, broccoli cheese soup, and dinner roll.
DINNER: Chicken Parmesan using frozen grilled chicken breast sandwiches, spaghetti and meat sauce. (Microwave Tyson’s frozen grilled chicken breast as package indicates. Boil hot tap water in a pot with a lid. Add spaghetti and boil for 8 minutes. place a spoonful of spaghetti sauce and a bit of mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast and microwave for 30 seconds. When Pasta is done, pour rest of spaghetti sauce on top and mix in.)
SATURDAY:
LUNCH: Canned Ravioli, mozzarella cheese sticks, carrot coins. (The carrot coins are frozen, we just add a tablespoon of water and microwave in a covered container as package indicates).
DINNER: Sausage and pepper patty sandwiches, Tator Tots, Green Beans and onion. (Jon makes sausage and pepper patties the same way he makes the burger patties, we buy a pound of jimmy dean sausage, knead in the frozen pepper and onion slices that we keep and form with the hamburger press. Then stick them on the grill the same way that you would a burger. Grill the frozen hamburger buns in aluminum foil too. Take frozen green beans and put them in a pan with a bit of oil on high heat. Sprinkle in dried minced onions and coo until heated.)
WEGMANS SHOPPING LIST
Beefsteak Tomatoes x2
$1.99 / lb.
$1.99 / lb.
Wegmans Bread, Homestyle
$0.79 – 16 oz.
$0.79 – 16 oz.
Wegmans 80% Lean Ground Beef
$3.69 / lb.
$3.69 / lb.
Wegmans Bacon, Fully Cooked
$3.39 – 2.1 oz.
$3.39 – 2.1 oz.
Wegmans Large Cheese Pizza, Hot
$9.99
$9.99
Wegmans All Natural Cheese, Muenster, Thin Sliced
$2.49 – 8 oz.
$2.49 – 8 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Fat Free Milk
$2.47
$2.47
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Sour Cream
$1.39 – 16 oz
$1.39 – 16 oz
Wegmans Heavy Cream
$1.59 – 8 fl. oz..
$1.59 – 8 fl. oz..
Wegmans Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, 12 sticks
$3.79 – 12 oz.
$3.79 – 12 oz.
Wegmans Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
$3.49 – 16 oz.
$3.49 – 16 oz.
Wegmans Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
$1.79 – 8 oz.
$1.79 – 8 oz.
Wegmans Tortillas, Burrito, Gordita Style, Flour
$1.99 – 20 oz.
$1.99 – 20 oz.
Wegmans Turkey Breast, Oven Roasted, Thin Shaved, Club Pack
$8.99 – 30 oz.
$8.99 – 30 oz.
Ore-Ida Potatoes O’Brien, with Onions and Peppers
$2.99 – 28 oz.
$2.99 – 28 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Chicken Breast Fillets, Grilled
$9.99 – 30 oz.
$9.99 – 30 oz.
Wegmans Pasta, Cheese Ravioli
$2.99 – 25 oz.
$2.99 – 25 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Whole Kernel Corn
$0.49 – 15.25 oz.
$0.49 – 15.25 oz.
Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles, Original
$1.29 – 10 oz.
$1.29 – 10 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Pasta Sauce, Smooth Marinara
$0.99 * – 24 oz.
$0.99 * – 24 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Pasta Sauce, Tomato Basil
$0.99 * – 24 oz
$0.99 * – 24 oz
Wegmans Pasta, Rainbow Rotini
$1.19 – 12 oz..
$1.19 – 12 oz..
Wegmans BBQ Sauce, Brown Sugar
$1.99 – 20 oz.
$1.99 – 20 oz.
Wegmans Creamy Ranch Dressing
$1.69 – 16 fl. oz.
$1.69 – 16 fl. oz.
Ortega Seasoning Mix, Taco
$0.79 – 1.25 oz.
$0.79 – 1.25 oz.
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Milk, Condensed, Sweet & Creamy, Sweetened
$1.59 – 14 oz.
$1.59 – 14 oz.
Krusteaz Pancake Mix, Complete, Buttermilk
$2.49 – 32 oz.
$2.49 – 32 oz.
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Pouch, Spanish Style
$1.49
$1.49
Valley Fresh Chicken, White, in Water
$2.99 – 10 oz.
$2.99 – 10 oz.
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Variety Pack
$2.39 – 6.7 oz.
$2.39 – 6.7 oz.
Wegmans Cereal, Cinnamon Squares
$1.99 – 12.8 oz.
$1.99 – 12.8 oz.
Gianelli Sausage, Pepper & Onion
1 lb.
Notes: Available in Select Stores $2.99
1 lb.
Notes: Available in Select Stores $2.99
Ice Cream Sandwiches (12 pack) – $1.99
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Estimated Total
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$102.62
Aldi’s:
Wax paper – $1.00
Summer Sausage Sticks – $2.29
Salsa- $1.29
Trail Mix – $2.99
Iceberg lettuce – $.89
Celery – $1.00
Baby Carrots- $.69
Salad Mix – $.99
Tortilla Chips- $1.19
Condensed cheese soup x2- $1.50
Potato Chips – $1.29
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$15.12
Items already on hand at house:
Frozen broccoli (.99)
Lemon pepper Seasoning
Vanilla
Southwest Salad Topping (1.99)
Apples
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Strawberry Jam
Butter
Pancake Syrup
Jimmy Dean Delights Sausage Egg and Cheese Croissant
Bagels
Eggs
Brownies
Cookies
Peanut Butter
Ritz Crackers
TOTAL SPENT ON GROCERIES THIS WEEK: $117.74
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