INTRODUCTION:
I never wanted to be a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom-for the uninitiated), I had worked hard in college, done well, landed a great job, making good money, stock options yadda yadda yadda. I kind of hand that whole Lean In attitude about SAHMs-where I felt like they could do more for women in society if they were breaking down the glass ceiling (I am so sorry about that, moms). It wasn't my plan, though. Then I became a mother and suddenly- very suddenly-it wasn't about society, or women's movements or what I thought before hand, or even about me: it was about a person. One little person. He thinks I'm the world. So, as with all my endevours, I am going to work hard to be great at this!
One of the things that has become important, is a family budget. Now, I can't really change what the cable bill goes for (although, you should cancel cable and get Netflix and Hulu-eff Comcast), I can work on the food budget! Before the baby, my husband and I spent a lot on take out. We drove in and out of Boston every day for work and it was usually 6pm or later when we got home. No one was trying to be Martha Stewart, although I do love to cook.
Now, I have a new baby and not a ton of time, so stuff I can cook and prep ahead has become really important. Or if I can prep 2 meals at once, put one in the fridge, you get the idea. What I also do now, is find recipes that are similar enough that I can buy more of what I was already buying at the store, (you get better unit prices the more you buy of something in most cases), but different enough that my husband doesn't riot and order $60 worth of delivery sushi.
So, let's talk about some recipes I've tried and like and what it cost me to make them.
Meal 1: Shepherd's Pie:
What it is: Layered hamburger, then creamed corn, then mashed potatoes, cooked at 375F for about 30 minutes.
What I did: cooked 3lbs ($10) of hamburger (sauteed onion ($1) in olive oil, then added in hamburger) took half the cooked hamburger out and set it aside for next recipe. I put the remaining half in a glass Pyrex pan 8x8, as the first layer. I drained the juice for this recipe. I put on 1 can of creamed corn as the next layer, you can add a little more if you want ($1). Finally I cooked (boiled) 1 bag ($3) of peeled and chopped baking potatoes. I split those in half for the next recipe. 1 half I made into mashed potatoes. I added heavy cream ($2) and like half a stick of butter (.40) in mashed potatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Then, add it as the last Shepard's Pie layer. Get some aluminum foil, cover it and toss in the fridge for tomorrow. Done.
Meal 2: Hamburger Potatoes-crockpot
What it is: Cheesy hamburger and potatoes in a crockpot that tastes like a yummy beef stew.
What I did: Take half the hamburger you already cooked, the potatoes you already cooked and throw them in your crock pot. Mix in a small bowl: tomato paste, cream of mushroom cooking soup and french onion cooking soup. I went with Campbell's and those were $1 or less. Pour that mixture over your potatoes and hamburger. Lastly take a 2-3 handfuls of shredded cheddar cheese ($5) and sprinkle on top. Set the crockpot to low and let it cook for 3 hours. Done.
**If you're counting that's 2 meals, for $26: 4 servings each, so $3.25/serving.
Meal 3: Crockpot Lasagna:
What it is: Bake ready lasagna noodles 1 box ($1), 1lb hamburger ($5), ricotta cheese 15oz tub, ($2.79), 1 jar pasta sauce ($1.50) mozzarella shredded cheese ($2), 1 green pepper, diced (.89)=$13.18. 6 adult servings=$2.31/serving.
What I did: cooked hamburger as described above, in onion and diced pepper, mixed in a bowl with ricotta cheese. Layered sauce, then noodles, then hamburger mix, then sauce, then noodles then hamburger mix, then noodles, then sauce, then mozzarella cheese. Cook on low for 4 hours. I added some Italian seasoning which I already had. Done, and my in-laws came to visit the baby and we had that. TA-DA.
Meal 3: Spinach Tomato tortellini
What it is: tortellini family size package ($7), petite diced tomatoes, 1 can ($1.50), 1 can spinach ($1), garlic ($1-I had this in my fridge), 2 tbsp flour (I had this), heavy cream 1.5 cups (from above, or $2) Parmesan cheese on top, which again I had in my fridge. total: $10.50 4 servings=$2.63/serving
What I did: boil tortellini while sauteeing garlic in large saute pan or wok. Add in drained tomato and drained spinach, continue cooking. Whisk cream and flour in small bowl, set aside. Drain tortellini mix into spinach and tomatoes a little at a time-add cream last, continue mixing. Add Parmesan to taste and serve. Done.
Meal 5: Chicken Tortilla Bowls-Crockpot
What it is: 3 Chicken breasts ($4), 1 can black beans ($1), 1 can chipotle black bean, Campbells ($1), 1 jar salsa ($2), garlic (from above or $1), (chili powder to taste), 2 cups of rice-cooked ($1) and Mexican cheese ($2)= $12 4 servings, $3/serving.
What I did: Put chicken in crock pot, cover with everything except cheese and rice. Make sure chicken is covered, cook on low for 8 hrs. Cook rice in last 10 minutes, put cooked rice in bowls, top with chicken mix from crock pot, add cheese. Done.
CONCLUSION:
That's 5 recipes, 22 servings, which for us is 11 meals, for about $62 at Stop and Shop. Now obviously saving your leftovers is important so you can use them for lunches-or leftover night, however you do at your house. These are my first adventures in meal planning and I am by no means an expert! If you have great recipes or ideas, please send them in! I'd love to learn from more seasoned Mamas! We worked out that we could save ourselves about $1000 a month by planning a little ahead! How do you do this?!