Zucchini Bread

My middle daughter has started requesting this dish again recently. I used to make it quite often, but haven't made it much in the past few years. The only problem is that even though this recipe makes two loaves, it doesn't last very long. Good thing the little one loves to help me bake!

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups grated zucchini
• peel of 1 washed orange, minced

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375º. Butter 2 loaf pans and dust with flour.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 
• With an elective mixer, beat the eggs, then blend in the oil. Add dry ingredients in small batches.
• Fold in zucchini and orange peel with a spatula or wooden spoon. 
• Divide batter evenly in the 2 pans and bake for 50 minutes.

Lasagna

I love to make lasagna. I have perfected my recipe over the years. I currently use a modified version of The Pioneer Woman's spaghetti sauce recipe with a modified version of Blazy's Pepperoni-Studded Lasagna. It is sheer perfection, to pat myself on the back.

Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 pounds ground sweet Italian sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 pack baby portobello mushrooms, diced
• 1/2 cup radishes, diced
• 1/2 cup zucchini, shredded
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup white wine
• 3 large cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 can Hunt's spaghetti sauce- I go cheap and haven't tasted a big difference between Hunt's or a $6 jar of sauce.
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• handful of fresh basil leaves (from my herb garden), chopped
• 4 whole bay leaves
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• handful of fresh spinach, chopped

Directions

• Brown the meats in a large stock pot over medium heat. Drain and set aside. Do not clean pot.
• In the same pot, sauté fresh vegetables*. Cook until onion is translucent.
• Pour in the wine and bring to a small boil. 
• Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and spaghetti sauce. Add in oregano, thyme, basil, bay leaves, sugar, salt, and red pepper. 
• Return meat to pot and let simmer for a couple of hours. Remove lid, add spinach, and let simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves.
• Set aside what you need for the lasagna and portion the remainder into containers and freeze until later. Now you have a quick and easy weeknight meal in a rush!

*This is the recipe how I made it this time. No two sauces ever come out the same. I add in whatever vegetables I have on hand. Sometimes it is as simple as peppers and onions. Other times I go all out and add in 6 or more varieties of fresh vegetables.

Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 pound no-cook lasagna noodles**
• 1 package pre-sliced pepperoni
• 4 cups pasta sauce
• 1 pound ricotta
• 1 pound shredded mozzarella
• 3/4 grated parmesan

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375º.
• Spray 2 square foil baking dishes with nonstick cooking spray. Cover bottom and sides of pans with pasta sauce.
• Layer lasagna, ricotta, mozzarella, pepperoni, parmesan, and sauce. Repeat two more times. On the top layer, add sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan. 
• Cover one pan with foil and freeze for later use and place the other in the oven for 45 minutes. If cooking from frozen, add an additional 20 minutes to cook time. 
• Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. 

**I know some people have a problem with the no-cook noodles getting too crispy. I have found that if I cover all the noodles with a sufficient amount of sauce, they come out nice and smooth. If you would prefer, you can get regular noodles and cook according to package directions. I just hate dealing with slippery noodles.

Biscuits and Gravy

I love biscuits and gravy. And I love having enough for leftovers for the next morning! I do a drop biscuit  and then make my own gravy. I don't use a recipe, per se. I just kind of eyeball it and have a different amount each time.

Sausage Gravy

Ingredients

•  1 tube ground breakfast sausage
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• flour
• milk
• salt
• pepper

Directions

• Brown sausage in medium saucepan over medium heat. Drain and set aside.
• Add butter and melt. Start adding flour and milk, constantly whisking. Keep adding until you have a consistency and amount that suit your personal tastes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add sausage back into pan and serve over biscuits.

Buttermilk Waffles

I use a very basic recipe for these. I make a double batch and then freeze it. They fit perfectly in the toaster for a quick breakfast during the week. I like mine topped with fresh fruit and powdered sugar or for a great on-the-go breakfast I top them with peanut butter.

Buttermilk Waffles

Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk- I don't keep buttermilk on hand, so I "make" my own. 1 Tablespoon of either white vinegar or lemon juice for each cup of milk. Let sit for 10 minutes.
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/4 cup self-rising flour- Again, I don't keep this on hand. I only buy all-purpose flour and then "make" my own specialty flour. For each cup of flour, add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

• Add all ingredients to a blender or mixing bowl and blend until smooth. 
• For waffles, add batter to a preheated waffle iron and cook until golden. For pancakes, add 1/4 cup batter to a lightly greased, hot griddle. Cook until tops are covered in bubbles and sides are starting to look dry. Flip and cook on other side.

Monthly Meal Plan #1

For this Meal Plan, I'll list my breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options for a 28-day period. I'll add additional posts throughout the month broken down with the recipes for the dinner plans, including shopping lists. I'll also have a master shopping list attached to this post, basically to show how much of everything I needed. Now, onto the food!

Breakfasts

• Cereal with Berries
• Oatmeal- My current favorite way to prepare is with chocolate protein powder, peanut butter, and chocolate chips!
• Biscuits and Gravy with Scrambled Eggs
• Cheese Toast on Cinnamon Raisin Bread and a Fried Egg
• Buttermilk Waffles
• Zucchini Pancakes and Bacon
• Coffee Cake
• Amish Cinnamon Bread
• Bacon and Cheddar Quiche
• Zucchini Bread
• Braided Nutella Bread
• Scrambled Eggs, Grits, and Toast

Lunches

• Waffles with Berries and Trail Mix
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Chips and an Apple
• Pepperoni & Cheese with Crackers and Tomatoes
• PB&J with an Orange and Chips
• PB&J with Pretzels and a Peach
• Ham & Cheese with Crackers and a Pickle
• Ham, Leftover Pasta, and Carrots
• Turkey & Cheese Sandwich with Chips and a Plum
• BLT with Egg & Avocado and Blackberries
• Coffee Cake, an Apple, Trail Mix, Pizza, Applesauce, and Yogurt (some days you just need a bigger lunch)
• Granola Bar, Chips, Turkey & Cheese with Crackers, a Peach
• Pepperoni & Cheese with chips, an Orange, Fruit Leather, Tomatoes, and a Cookie
• Leftover Quiche
• Cheese, Hardboiled Eggs, Fruit Leather, a Banana, Pretzels, and a Cookie
• Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, Goldfish Crackers, Tomatoes, a Banana
• Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, Tomatoes, Applesauce, Hummus with Crackers, and a Cookie
• Turkey & Cheese Sandwich, Granola Bar, Chips, Raisins, and Applesauce
• Ham & Cheese Wrap, Raisins, Blackberries, Chips, Granola Bar
• Leftover Pasta, Raisins, Pretzels, String Cheese, a Banana

Snacks

• Milk
• Fruit- Blackberries, Oranges, Bananas, Apples, Peaches, Plums, Grapes
• Hardboiled Eggs
• Graham Crackers with Peanut Butter
• Carrots or Celery with Hummus
• Fruit Smoothie- I do mine with fruit juice, frozen fruit, chia seeds, spinach, Greek yogurt, and honey.
• Banana with Peanut Butter
• Almonds
• Greek Yogurt with Honey and Blackberries
• Brownies
• Applesauce
• Oatmeal
• Zucchini Bread
• Ice Cream
• Apple with Peanut Butter
• Popsicle
• Popcorn
• Goldfish Crackers
• Granola Bar
• Chips
• Pudding
• Protein Bar
• Babybel or String Cheese
• Pretzels
• Cereal with Bananas
• Peach Cobbler
• Energy Bites
• Animal Crackers
• Cinnamon Raisin Bread with Peanut Butter and Banana
• Trail Mix- I make my own with dried fruit, chocolate chips, and nuts.
• Pickles
• Protein Shake- I make mine with chocolate almond milk, a banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, Greek yogurt, and chia seeds.
• Olives
• Cherry Crisp

Dinners

• South African Pirri-Pirri Chicken with Couscous and a Salad
• Lazy Day Casserole
• Polenta with Mushrooms
• Beef Taco Bar with Rice and Refried Beans
• Lasagna, Salad, and Garlic Bread
• Cheddar Ale Soup with Crispy Shallots and Beer Bread
• Crab-Stuffed Portobellos with Salad
• Spaghetti Squash Casserole
• One Pan Mushroom Pasta
• Chile Colorado Burritos with Rice
• Spaghetti with Garlic Bread
• Pork Posole with Cornbread
• Stuffed Portobellos with Biscuits
• Honey-Lime Chicken Enchiladas and Rice
• Million Dollar Spaghetti with a Salad
• Chili and Cornbread
• California Chicken and Grilled Veggie Rice Bowls
• Fried Green Tomato BLT with a Salad and Peaches
• DIY Pizzas
• Baked Potatoes Stuffed with Chili and a Salad
• Chicken Tortilla Soup with Rolls
• Calzones and Salad
• Brats & Beer Cheddar Chowder with Beer Bread

Shopping List
Frozen Items
(1 bag) Chicken Strips
(1 bag) Frozen Tater Tots
(1 pint) Ice Cream

Dairy
(3 gallons) Milk
(2- 18 packs) Eggs
(4 packs) Sliced Cheese- We use Swiss, Provolone, and Havarti
(1 large carton) Heavy Cream
(4 small blocks) Cheddar Cheese
(3 blocks) Parmesan Cheese
(3 bags) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
(3 packs) String Cheese
(1 small block) Monterey Jack Cheese
(1 small block) Pepperjack Cheese
(16 oz) Ricotta Cheese
(1 small tub) Sour Cream
(1 block) Cream Cheese
(1 small tub) Cottage Cheese
(40 individual containers) Greek Yogurt

Grocery
(2 bags) Mini Chocolate Chips
(1 bag) Unsweetened Flaked Coconut
(12 multipacks) Pudding
(3 multipacks) Jell-o
(1 tub) Hummus
(2 bags) Chips
(2 bags) Pretzels
(2 boxes) Cereal
(5 loaves) Bread
(1 loaf) Cinnamon Raisin Bread
(2 packs) Soft Flour Tortillas
(2 cans) Refried Beans
(2 small cans) Red Enchilada Sauce
(2 small cans) Green Enchilada Sauce
(1 jar) Pickles
(6 cartons) Chicken Broth
(1 carton) Beef Broth
(2 cans) Black Olives
(2 cans) Dark Red Kidney Beans
(1 can) Pinto Beans
(1 can) Hominy
(1 can) Pineapple
(3 small cans) Diced Tomatoes
(3 large cans) Crushed Tomatoes
(1 small can) Tomato Paste
(1 Jar) Pasta Sauce
(1 box) Lasagna Noodles
(4 boxes) Assorted Pasta
(2 jars) Pizza Sauce
(8 packs) Applesauce Squeeze Packs
(5 jars) Peanut Butter
(10 bottles) Juice

Health Foods
(2) Large tubs Plain Greek yogurt
(12 boxes) Multipack Fruit Leather
(1 bag) Chia Seeds
(2 bags) Pirate Booty

Produce
(5 pints) Blackberries
(2 bags) Apples
(2 bunches) Bananas
(1 bag) Clementines
(3 whole) Lemons
(2) Limes
(1 bunch) Grapes
(8) Peaches
(8) Plums
(1 bulb) Fennel
(6) Shallots
(2 bags) Onions
(3 whole) Tomatoes
(2 whole) Green Tomatoes
(2 pints) Cherry Tomatoes
(5 whole) Baking Potatoes
(1 bag) Potatoes
(2 whole) Yellow Potatoes
(2 bunches) Carrots
(5) Bell Peppers
(2 Bunches) Celery
(5 bags) Lettuce or Spinach
(1 bunch) Radishes
(4 packs) Mushrooms
(10) Large Portobello Caps
(5) Avocado
(3) Zucchini
(2) Cucumbers

Meats
(5 lbs) Ground Beef
(1 lb) Beef Stew Meat
(5 lbs) Chicken Breasts
(1 lb) Pork Chops
(1 tube) Ground Breakfast Sausage
(5 packs) Bacon
(1 lb) Sweet Italian Sausage Links
(2 lbs) Ground Italian Sausage
(1 pack) Brats
(2 packs) Deli Ham
(3 packs) Deli Turkey
(3 packs) Pre-sliced Pepperoni
(1 lb) Lump Crabmeat

Bulk Items from Sam's Club (or other big box store)
Flour (25 lb bag lasts me 2-3 months)
Sugar (Same as flour)
Rice
Vegetable Oil
Almonds


*I didn't include some of my pantry staples, such as spices and herbs. I also had a large portion of other items in my pantry and did not need to purchase them. 

Inaugural Post

My first post here. I guess a little about me...

I just turned 40 and am fortunate enough to get to stay home and take care of the home front while my awesome husband works. We have 3 beautiful daughters. I'm always looking for a deal and a way to save money so that we can put the money saved towards home improvements, family vacations, or just playing. And the best way I've found to cut costs is with my grocery budget. I follow sales and cut coupons to build onto my stockpile. I'm not one of the so-called "extreme couponers," but I do well enough that we always have a stocked pantry and we will not want for shampoo for the next year.

The best way I have found to stick within my self-imposed budget and save money is to meal plan. And I don't just plan out 5-6 meals a week and leave it at that. No, I'm a bit obsessive. I plan out an entire month of meals at a time, trying to take into account upcoming plans that will either have us away from home for a meal or cut into our normal mealtime so we need to have something quick and easy. I also plan out breakfast, lunch, and snacks for 5 people for a 4 week period.

I was doing my grocery trips every 2 weeks. This was working well for us. We were staying right within our budget. Little to no food waste. This last trip I did a large, one-shop haul for the entire month. I managed to stay within my budget, but we just don't have the space to store all that fresh food! With school starting back up and with my husband now taking his lunch 4 days a week, we will be getting more fresh produce and groceries each month, so I have decided to drop back down to shopping weekly. I am going to stay within the same budget, and will still plan everything out a month at a time. Just my shopping trips are increasing.

Now that I have laid out who I am and what I am looking to accomplish, onto the fun stuff!