next week’s menu plan #2, shopping list included.

Holy Smokes!  I wasn’t sure anyone was going to use the last menu I put together but I got so much feedback offline and so many of you have asked where the next menu is so you can get shopping so…here we go!

A couple caveats this week:

1.  I’ve based the total (just under $50) on growing your own herbs and lemons so if you’re in Alaska where lemons are several dollars each (ouch!) or if you don’t have a garden to grow your own, your total will be higher.  You can use dried herbs of course but I find fresh makes for an even tastier dish!

2.  Also, this total is based on the ingredients used just in these meals, so you may have to buy a larger quantity and find other ways to use it through the week (i.e. cheese in your salads, cilantro in a homemade dressing, etc).

Enjoy!  And please keep the feedback coming!

Dinner #1:  Lemon Herb Chicken with Balsamic Roasted Asparagus  ($8.26 for the chicken+$3.32 for the asparagus)

Dinner #2:  Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Lemon Pasta and a side salad ($7.62+estimated $2.00 for a salad)

Dinner #3:  Southwest Turkey Soup and a side salad ($8.50 for the soup + estimated $2.00 for the salad)

Dinner #4:  Cottage Cheese Pancakes and Fruit ($2.68 for the pancakes+estimated $2.00 for fruit)

Dinner #5:  Goat Cheese and Roasted Garlic Pizza with Arugula and a side salad ($4.91 for the pizza+estimated $2.00 for a salad)

Dinner #6:  Honey Peanut Chicken with Brown Rice ($5.39 for the Chicken with rice)

Total for 6 nights of dinners:  $48.68!  That’s about $2 per person.

I’m not kidding…doing this has been so enlightening.  Can you even eat fast food for $2 bucks a person?

Shopping List (items you likely don’t already have in your pantry):

Poultry

3-4 pounds split fryer or 4 split (or boneless skinless) chicken breasts

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 pound ground chicken or turkey

Produce/Herbs

3 onions

1/4 cup rosemary (fresh is best)

2 tablespoons sage (fresh or dried)

1 tablespoon tarragon (fresh or dried)

1 teaspoon thyme (fresh or dried)

3 lemons

2 limes

2 bunches asparagus

1 cup corn (can be frozen)

1 bunch cilantro

1 avocado

1 jalapeno

2 heads lettuce

4 ounces arugula

green beans or broccoli for honey peanut chicken

1 head garlic

fruit to serve with pancakes (something interesting on sale)

Pantry

1 cup white wine

1 pound spiral pasta

1 cup cooked black beans

1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 4-ounce can diced green chiles

3 cups chicken stock

taco seasoning

toppings for pancakes – maple syrup, jam, sauteed fruit

1 pizza dough

brown rice

1 1/2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Dairy/Eggs

2 tablespoons asiago cheese (optional for asparagus)

7 ounces goat cheese

1 1/4 cup cottage cheese

8 eggs

1 cup grated mozzarella

And check back on Facebook tomorrow where I’ll announce the winner of this week’s cookbook giveaway!