I’ve recently re-started the series, What We Ate this Week on our Budget, because I missed the accountability and I had several readers ask for its return. Our monthly grocery budget for my family of 4 is $500. It’s a tight budget and I failed miserably over the summer, but we have lots of financial goals, so I need to get it back in line.
This Week in the Kitchen
I am working to stock up my freezer with extra meals or meal components to make my week night dinner rush easier. I still plan out our meals weekly, but I need a menu that is low maintenance, but still appealing to my family.
Last Sunday, I spent some time in the kitchen cooking up a storm:
- I cooked a whole chicken in the Instant Pot. I used the meat for Sunday and Monday’s dinners and froze the rest in 2 cup portions.
- The chicken made quite a bit of bone stock while it cooked and I ended up with (2) 32 oz containers of deliciousness.
- I made a double batch of my enchilada sauce, using one of the containers of stock (I froze the other.) I used half of the sauce for Monday night’s dinner, and froze the other half for another time.
- I impulsively stopped at my favorite local apple orchard and bought some seconds. I spent the evening making a batch of homemade sugar-free applesauce. I was exhausted when I hit my pillow that night, but I had a freezer stocked with cooked shredded chicken, chicken stock, enchilada sauce, about 9 quarts of applesauce.
Ruby, “my helper”, doesn’t leave my side when I’m cooking a chicken.
This Week’s Dinners:
Sunday:
- Chicken Burrito Bowls
- homemade applesauce
Monday:
- Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas
- homemade applesauce
Tuesday:
- cheeseburgers, fries, steamed vegetables, homemade applesauce
Wednesday:
- My hubby isn’t a big fan, so when he works late, it’s Spaghetti Night at our house!
Thursday:
- I used the Instant Pot to cook 4 split chicken breasts. When the chicken was cooked, I shredded all of the meat and used about a third of it to make BBQ Shredded Chicken Sandwiches. I froze the rest of the chicken in (2) 32 oz containers. The breasts also made 4 cups of golden stock, so I froze that too.
- Hasselback Potatoes
- Steamed vegetables
- homemade applesauce
Friday & Saturday:
- It’s my 30th high school class reunion weekend and I’m spending both Friday and Saturday nights with a bunch of girlfriends that I haven’t seen in many years. Hubby and the girls are on their own, but I have some coupons and gift cards that they will be using for dinners.
This week’s breakfasts, lunches, and snacks:
Breakfasts included cereal, eggs & toast. Lunches included sandwiches, chicken nuggets, soups, apples, pretzels, and yogurt sticks.
What did you make this week that your family enjoyed? I’m always looking for new recipes. Please share in the comments.
