Tuesday, March 3, 2015

March Menu and Where I shop

Okay I have had a lot of questions on my monthly menus and many of my friends are finding some new ideas helpful in this dreary never-ending winter. Here is my March Menu with some links to either the recipe I use or a similar one. Some of mine are from cookbooks but I was able to find a similar one using pinterest, and some just take you to my blog where I have made it before. 
There are some days towards the end of the month where I will push things if we last minute go eat out somewhere (restaurant, friend, or family). 
Please let me know if you have any questions!

Part of making this meal plan work is shopping for it. I usually shop every Monday morning. I hit 2-4 stores depending on what is needed that week. I will typically make my grocery list on Sunday evenings. 
I start at Aldi to get most of my produce. We go through a TON of fruit and I can buy alot of organic options there. What I can't find organic there I can find very inexpensive (ie strawberries for $1.29 quart) 
This week I bought
Strawberries (3)
raspberries
Bananas
apples
cantelope
organic tomatos
organic spinach
romaine hearts
cucumber (1)
Grapes (2 bags) 

I also can get block cheese there inexpensive
So I bought Cheddar  (2) and monterey jack. I pretty much buy all my cheese in blocks and shred them myself for 2 reasons- 1. they taste better and melt better.  2. There is not added ingredients to prevent clumping....

Aldi also has some great organic canned options... In the last few weeks I have bought
Organic
    Spaghetti Sauce
    Spaghetti Noodles
    Fire Roasted tomatos
    Kidney Beans
    Salsa
    Ketchup
    
I just this week tried their Organic, cage free, vegetarian diet whole chickens. I don't usually buy their meat because I buy almost all my meat at Costco, but Costco doesn't offer whole organic chickens. 

Usually when I leave Aldi I head to Earth Fare to get our milk. It is a Homestead Creamery Milk which is delicious, glass jars so better for the environment. I make my coffee creamer using their half and half and some pure cane sugar....seriously the best thing ever in your coffee!!!

After that I head to Publix or Target to get the other things... chopped green chilis, deli meat (Either bors head or applegate) and anything else I couldn't find at aldi. 

Then Costo is my last stop
LaCroix
bottled water
kerrygold butter
kerrygold cheese
Organic Ground beef
Organic Chicken
Paper towels/ Toliet paper
etc

That is the short version of my starting my week. Then Monday I have EVERYTHING we need for the week of meals, so if we decide to swap days for meals it is no problem. 

I hope this helps some of you! I know others have a better system than I do :)




March
2015

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
1






Baked Spaghetti
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Crock Pot Whole Chicken with Quinoa Mac and cheese and veggies
Pork Tenderloin with Veggies and Twice Baked Potatoes
Beef Tacos
Grilled Chicken over Salad
PB&J

Tripp Out of Town
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Pork Tenderloin
Look and Cook pg 166
BBQ Baked Potatoes
Homemade Pizza Night
Chicken Noodle Soup with Grillled Cheese
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Leftover Soup
Meatball Sandwiches


23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Grilled Chicken Over Salad
Baked Spaghetti
(From Freezer)
Goat Cheese Quiche with Spring Salad
Chicken Lettuce Wraps


30
31
1
2
3
4
5