Thursday, March 17, 2011

Menu Planning with the MARTIN’S Ad

Menu planning and saving money really can go hand-in-hand.  It is important to realize that you can still enjoy some of your family’s favorite meals by menu planning with a sales flyer, you just need to be flexible. 

I am including ideas and recipes for four meals for the week.  As I’ve mentioned before, I have found that I really only cook on average four meals a week and that we end up having at least one left-over night, one meal out, and something easy like homemade pizza. 

Have you tried any of the recipes that I have posted?  Do you have a family favorite that you would like to share

Corned Beef & Cabbage:

Just because St. Patrick’s Day is today doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the low price of Corned Beef ($1.49/lb.) and cabbage ($0.39/lb.) this week on next week’s menu plan.  This recipe is a slow cooker recipe that looks really easy and has great reviews.  The potatoes are on sale for $2 this week and a 2lb. bag of organic carrots is $2.  This recipe has all of your vegetables cooked with the beef so you just need some crusty bread to finish the meal. 

Tilapia:

If you haven’t tried Tilapia before it is a very mild “non-fishy” fish.   I found this recipe for Lemon Garlic Tilapia that I thought sounded really good.  It looks really easy and it is a healthy dish that would be good to try out with the Tilapia on sale this week for $3.99/lb.  I would serve this with steamed vegetables.  (If you don’t have any in your freezer the GIANT Steam Ready are $1 a bag and the Birds Eye Steamfresh Selects are $1.67 a bag.)  If you would like to serve this with a starch you could serve it with either rice, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes.  The Minute Brown Rice is on sale for $0.79 after you use the $0.50/1 from 1/23 RedPlum or 2/27 SmartSource insert and the all-purpose potatoes are $2 for a 5lb. bag. 

Chicken Parmesan:

I really enjoy Chicken Parmesan, but it is not always the healthiest choice for us.  I have made this recipe before and it is not only a healthier chicken parmesan but it is also a really easy weeknight meal.  You can buy the Perdue Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breast that are 50% off and even less when you use the $0.75/1 coupon from the 1/23 RedPlum insert.  If you don’t have any spaghetti sauce or pasta in your pantry you can pick-up a jar of Francesco Rinaldi for $1 and San Giorgio pasta for $1.  If you want to make a quick salad the Dole Special Blend or Complete Kits are $2.50 a bag.  You can even pick up a loaf of GIANT Italian Bread for $1 or the New York Texas Toast for $1 after this $0.50/1 printable

French Toast:

We love breakfast for dinner.  One of our favorites is French Toast.  I like to make it “fancy” with Cinnamon Raisin Swirl bread.  If you need a basic French toast recipe here is one that will get you started.  The Pepperidge Farm Swirl Bread is 50% off.  You can pick up a 2 rolls of Bob Evans Sausage for for $5 when you buy 2 and use the $1/2 printable.  The strawberries that are on sale for $2/lb. would be a sweet and refreshing side to this meal.

Happy Menu Planning!

~Ann

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