Weekly Menu for the week of April 26

Hey everyone! Welcome to this week’s menu!

I hope you all enjoyed last week’s menu. We certainly did. The pork roast was YUM and the wraps with the chipotle/avocado sauce were sooooo good! And the chicken … thanks again to Kelly B. for passing that one along, it is still a favorite here!

This week, Giant Eagle is running a special on Classico Pasta Sauce and wouldn’t you know the Sunday coupon section has one for it as well! DOUBLE SAVINGS!!!! GE’s special is that each jar is $2 – the coupon is $1.50 off of one jar … you do the math! WOW!!!! Barilla Pasta and ground beef are also on special for a very low budget tasty dinner for your family! Throw in some mushrooms (also on special) and add a salad to round out the meal.

The special on ground beef is best when you purchase the 3 lb. value pack. Brown one pound for the spaghetti and you can freeze the rest of it. Remember – when you freeze ground beef be sure to flatten it prior to putting it in the freezer – think Big Raw Pancake. This will create more storage space in your freezer and the meat will thaw quicker and more evenly.

Everyone likes OJ right? I am talking orange juice not Mr. you-know-who. Go to http://juicyrewards.tropicana.com/login/home.aspx and check out the amazing deals they have just by drinking up Vitamin C. You can save money on everything from golf to clothing to zoo and park admissions! Check it out and sign up now so you can start saving for those summer days when everyone is ready to rip their hair out! Thanks Heather D. for passing on these amazing savings!!!!

Monday

Spaghetti Your Way
Salad
Bread Sticks

Spaghetti Your Way

Ok – everyone has their favorite way of doing spaghetti. You may enjoy a fresh marinara or you may want a hearty meat sauce. Use the specials - Or your homemade version that may be in your freezer.

Breadsticks

One pkg. of refrigerated breadsticks in the can
Parmesan cheese

Unroll and separate breadsticks. Twist each breadstick like you would birthday streamers. Lay them out on a greased cookie sheet and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake according to the directions.


Tuesday

Simple Grilled Pork Chops
Broiled Asparagus
Brown or white rice

Simple Grilled Pork Chops – Consider increasing this for leftovers on Thursday

Marinade:

2 T. of lemon juice
3 T. of soy sauce
1 T. olive oil
½ t. of brown sugar
¼ t. rosemary
¼ t. kosher salt
¼ t. pepper

6 - ½ inch boneless, pork chops

Whisk together the ingredients for the marinade. Place chops in a large zip-lock bag and pour the marinade over the chops. Tightly seal the bag and turn to coat the chops. Place in the refrigerator and let marinate for 30 minutes or more.

Remove chops from the bag and discard the marinade. Place chops on the grill and grill the chops for 3-4 minutes a side. These are thinner than other chops and they will cook quickly. Remove from the grill and cover with foil and let rest while you prepare the asparagus.


Wednesday

Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Roasted Potatoes
Broccoli

Parmesan Crusted Chicken (recipe on the back of the Hellmann’s Jar)

½ cup mayo
¼ cup of parmesan cheese
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 t. of Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Combine mayo and cheese; spread on chicken; sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake at 425 for 20 minutes or until cooked through.


Roasted Potatoes (Lipton Onion Soup Mix recipe)

1 envelope of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
4 medium potatoes cut into chunks
1/3 cup of olive oil

Combine all in 13x9 pan – bake at 425 for 35 min or until golden brown.

For those with only one oven – note that both recipes cook at the same temp!


Thursday

Leftovers or Pork Sandwich with Caramelized Onions
Veggies and Dip
Chips

Pork Sandwich with Caramelized Onions (adapted from cooking Light)

1 T. olive oil
2 large onions sliced
1 T. sugar
1 T. red wine vinegar
1 T. low-sodium soy sauce
1/8 t. ground red pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T. sour cream
2 T. mayonnaise
1 T. prepared horseradish
Kaiser Rolls
Leftover pork – sliced thin
Red Leaf Lettuce

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) to pan; cook 30 minutes or until onions are golden, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; let cool. Warm sliced pork in the microwave. Toast the Kaiser rolls.

Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and horseradish; spread evenly over one side of the Kaiser roll. Arrange lettuce over bottom half of the roll. Arrange onions and sliced pork over lettuce. Top with top half of the roll.

Friday

Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Focaccia
Fresh Fruit Salad

Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Focaccia (adapted from Cooking Light)

1 T. olive oil
1/3 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 box of frozen spinach
¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
3 T. pine nuts toasted (optional)
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 ½ t. chopped fresh oregano
¼ t. salt
Dash of ground red pepper
1 (13.8 oz.) can of refrigerated pizza crust dough
Cooking spray
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450˚.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add spinach and sauté another minute. Remove from heat and stir in feta and next 6 ingredients (through red pepper).
Place dough on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Pat dough into a 15 x 12 inch rectangle. Spread spinach mixture lengthwise over half of the dough leaving a one-inch border. Fold over the other half of the dough and press edges together with a fork. Cut diagonal slits in top of the dough.
Brush beaten egg over the crust. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 450˚ for 15 minutes or until golden.


And now for the shopping list. As always, double check your pantry, fridge and freezer to see if you already have any of the items listed below. This will reduce your spending and create less waste!

Shopping/Checklist

Produce
Salad – GE special on bagged salad
2 Lemons
Asparagus – GE special
Broccoli – GE special (Market District and other select stores – Why not all of them?)
Potatoes
3 large onions
Garlic
Lettuce for Sandwiches – Red leaf
Carrots or other veggies for dip – GE special
Mushrooms – if you want them in your spaghetti sauce – GE special
Fruit for fruit salad – GE special on Strawberries

Deli
Parmesan Cheese
Kaiser Rolls
Veggie Dip
Feta cheese – GE special

Spices/Oils/Vinegars/Condiments
Olive Oil
Brown Sugar
Rosemary – GE special on McCormick PLUS coupon from Wednesday
Salt
Pepper
Mayo – GE special on Hellmann’s or Costco coupon
Sugar
Red wine vinegar
Red pepper

Canned Goods/Ethnic Foods/Dry Goods
Spaghetti Pasta – GE special on Barilla - $1/box – Do Not Have to Buy 10
Spaghetti Sauce – GE special PLUS Coupon from Sunday’s paper for Classico
Soy sauce
Brown Rice
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Pine Nuts

Seafood/Meat Case/Butcher
Lean Ground Beef – GE special on 3 lb. value pack
Boneless pork chops – about 6 or 8 and ½” thick
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – about 4

Frozen Foods
Box of chopped spinach

Dairy
Canned Breadsticks – Check old coupon fliers or the internet for a coupon
Pizza Crust - Check old coupon fliers or the internet for a coupon
Sour cream
Horseradish
Eggs – GE special on GE eggs

Bread
Seasoned Breadcrumbs

Misc.


Follow the plan so you can save time, money, and a few calories! Remember – cooking our own food is healthier than ordering in and eating out any day!!! Your family, wallet and waistline will thank you!

I hope you all enjoy your week, the recipes and the savings!