Weekly Menu

I followed a friend’s suggestion and made a whole week’s menu ahead of time.  I have to say that this is the way to go if your main concern is the dreaded nightly question, “what’s for dinner?”  However, it takes a lot of time to plan a weekly menu, particularly when I have to consult cookbooks or the internet to find the recipes :-)

I don’t clip coupons or review grocery store mailers.  Maybe I should do that and save some money! However, for my first weekly menu, I focused on creating a simple, easy to follow menu that would help me get dinner done efficiently and painlessly. 

Here is my menu: (click on the links to see recipes)

Wegman's Chicken

• Beef in sauce, rice, and veggies. Meal courtesy of my mother, who cooked the whole thing. Thanks, mom!
• I used a pre-seasoned Wegman’s chicken and served it with mashed potatoes. The chicken was only $8 – what a deal!
• Quesadillas: I followed a recipe that uses chopped zucchini, squash, portabella mushrooms, onions (sweet onions are the best), jalapenos or peppers (your choice), and Mexican cheese.  I sautéed all the veggies first. I added shredded rotisserie chicken as well. Then, I fried the quesadilla and served it with sour cream.
• Calzones and French onion soup.  Yes, I made the soup. Here is the recipe (this soup was delicious!)
• Meatloaf, rice, and steamed veggies (carrots, snap peas, and zucchini) in basting oil. This was my first time making meatloaf, so I found this recipe: Mix and Match Meatloaf.  Did I follow the recipe? Of course not! I used tons of veggies: Shredded zucchini, shredded carrots, chopped onions, and chopped peppers.  I sautéed them in olive oil and mixed them with the beef before I made the loaf. I also added a Swanson flavor boost package to the mix.  Turned out great!
• Naan Pizzas. Enough said.
  Note: I usually follow the basic recipe but change the toppings.
• Spaghetti and meat sauce. This classic never goes out of style.

Food Network Meatloaf

So…I tried to stick to the menu, but I made some changes.  I switched the order of the menu, and I let my husband talk me into eating Popeye’s one night.  Overall, this plan was a success, but I think I can do better.

The new recipes, such as the one for French onion soup, added an interesting challenge to the whole plan, but I’m glad I added them. Once I was done cooking the new dishes, I felt proud of myself.

Will I use a weekly menu again? Absolutely.

Will I stick to the menu next time? Hmm… I’ll try. 

Weekly menus are a great tool for people like me. 

Basil Pesto to the Rescue

At about $3.50 per jar, Wegman’s Basil Pesto sauce has become a must-have item in my kitchen. I never used pesto before, but I decided to buy a jar to recreate a chicken pesto Panini that is sold at Wegman’s for $6.50.  In the last few weeks, I’ve use two of these jars already to create pasta dishes and pizzas, and I absolutely love it! This is an ingredient that is not dirt cheap, but it isn’t expensive either. 

Wegman’s Chicken Pesto Panini

You will need a Panini maker, of course.  I began with Wegman’s recipe for a Margherita Panini, which calls for their Italian Pane bread. However, I discovered that regular sandwich bread is just fine.  

You’ll need:

• Sandwich bread (I used Nature’s Own Honey Wheat)
• Chicken (I shredded rotisserie chicken.  It is less expensive that any pre-packaged chicken, and way more delicious!)
• Roasted red peppers, cut in strips (I bought a couple of jars at BJ’s Wholesale, but you can find these jar at any grocery store)
• A ball of mozzarella cheese, sliced
• Basil Pesto Sauce

Spread the pesto sauce on the bread and pile all the ingredients listed above to taste.  I use only a few strips of roasted red peppers to add flavor, but if you really like the taste, you can add more.

Last night, I served this dish with macaroni and cheese.  It was a hit!

Chicken Panini with Macaroni and Cheese

I cooked regular, cheap macaroni and added a cream sauce I found a Wegman's, but I imagine that any macaroni and cheese side will do. 

Let's hear it for store brands!

In my quest for saving money at the grocery story, I have used with much success the store brand products available at Wegman's.  In the past, I have also used the brands sold at Walmart and Target, and I have to say that I have not been disappointed yet.

I noticed that I save more when I buy store brands than when I use coupons (and I don't have to waste time clipping anything!). My favorite Wegman's store brand products include pastas (all kinds), sour cream and cheeses, milk, and sauces.  Many of my new recipes and meals are made with these products.  Corn and green bean cans are less than 50 cents each, so these prices can't be beat!

Not all store brand products are created equal, however. Some research is needed before one commits to a store brand. According to a NBC news report, a shopper can save about 25% by using store brands, but not all of these products were able to match or surpass their brand counterparts.  For more information, take a look at this report.