Grocery Shopping and Recipes

I think there are a lot of peope in the same boat as you trying to feed everyone and not break the bank doing it.

Have you tried shopping at Save-A-Lot instead of shopping at the regular grocery story. I have been shopping there for almost a year. They have been pretty good. Granted they don't have a zillion things to choose from and there are somethings you need to go to a different story for, but they have all the basics. After talking with several neighbors as well as friends I would estimate that I save almost $100 per week.

Also, I usually make up menus for dinners for the week and then make my grocery list from that. I have one cookbook that is my all-time favorite called "365 Quick, Easy and Inexpensive Dinner Menus" by Penny E. Stone. Robin Miller from FoodNetwork also does quick fix meals. She has a lot of morph meal ideas, in which you get many meals from one recipe.

Hope this is helpful

L. S.

There are many web sites that have meal ideas and recipes.

www.kraft.com
www.campbellsoup.com
www.rachaelray.com

just google recipes and you will get many web sites.

Some tips to save money...buy fresh fruits and vegies in season, by in bulk.

Hi T.. I am in the same spot as you. There is a website called Cafemom.com. Its another site where you can go on and ask questions, but they have like little groups (like SAHM, moms with toddlers ....) Anyways they have a group called cooking cafe. Its really great. They have a section where moms put in recipes for other moms to see. They have alot and they are easy and inexpensive. I get alot of ideas from them and use alot of the recipes (adding my own twist every now and then). They are great with cooking questions too. I hope you check it out. It really helps me out alot. Let me know how you like it, if you check it out.

Easy Parmesan Garlic Chicken

Ingredients
6 Boneless, skinles chicken breasts (about 2 lb.)
1 Envelope GOOD SEASONS Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix
1/2 cup KRAFT 100% Grated/shreadded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Preparation
PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees.

MIX cheese, salad dressing mix, and garlic.

MOISTEN chicken; coat with the cheese mixture.

PLACE in shallow baking dish.

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through

This is mine and my husbands favorite dish and its SOOO easy to make and its quick. I usually make it with some kind of rice and veggie.
We eat a lot of chicken but its a different way and a different taste. You can also leave the garlic out...it tastes just as good.

There are a million things you could do, first if you don't already plan out your meals ahead of time, start now. If you know what you are going to prepare ahead of time then you can also use the leftovers in different ways in one or two meals later in the week and no one will be the wiser. (Check out Real Simple magazines recipes in the back for ideas, they always have a section that does this.)

Secondly there are always meals that are common to one family that another one has never heard of. A REALLY cheap meal that my mom used to make is tomato and pasta soup but with canned tomatoes and tomato juice, you can add V8 for more flavor and macaroni or similar small pasta. We'd have it with alone or with ground beef, or shredded chicken in it and you can always add grilled cheese sandwiches on the side. I still love it to this day.

Another really inexpensive thing you can prepare, it may sound gross like it did to me until I tried it, is to mix up diced fresh tomatoes, grated cheese (cheddar or colby/ jack work best) with some mayonnaise and spread on top of a slice of bread or toast, then put it in the toaster oven or broiler just long enough for the cheese to melt. I got this recipe in college and thought it sounded disgusting but when I tried it it was so good that I make it all the time now.

Also check out Rachael Rays site, you don't have to use her recipes verbatim but they give you a lot of really yummy and easy ideas for changing things up, like a new take on sloppy joes or mac and cheese.

I sure hope this helps. If you need anything else feel free to send me a message; good luck.

Hi T.!

Check out www.BettyCrocker.com

They have a ton of recipes, many very easy to make. I think they have a Time-Saver section as well. They also have a coupon section where you can print your own coupons. Hope this helps!

C.

Hi T.,

#1 Use fruits and vegetables for snacks.

#2 Use Fish for meat.

#3 Make alot of salads.

#4 Make alot of soups.

here is a web site:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/7/30/16-ways-to-ea...

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.