Today's Special 3/29-4/4

I'm posting next week's menu a little early so you have time to shop for stuff in case you wanted to make any of it .

Sunday: Crockpot Roast with Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Carrots & Rolls


Monday: Shredded Beef Chimichangas with Mexican Style (not Spanish) Rice-a-Roni


Tuesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs with French Bread & Salad


Wednesday: Burrito Bowls


Thursday: Lentil Soup (new recipe) with Rolls


Weekend: Market Street Clam Chowder with French Bread


Just so you know, I do try to plan my meals so that they are somewhat cheap and use up ingredients I already have. For example, I buy a big enough roast on Sunday so there's left over meat to shred for the chimichangas on Monday (also as a side note, I've used a beef or pork roast with the recipe I linked to). The spaghetti sauce recipe makes a lot, so I'll likely use up the rest to make lasagna next week. The lentil soup uses leaks which are not common for me to buy, but the clam chowder recipe also uses leaks, so I'm making that too. Also, the Lentil Soup calls for red peppers which in case you haven't noticed are incredibly expensive (as are yellow peppers). Not too long ago I discovered something amazing.... frozen peppers! They are mixed (red, yellow and green) and are already cut into strips (think fajitas) and are way cheaper than buying the fresh ones. Plus they taste just as good!

For the chimichangas, I just shred up the left over roast, mix it up with some green taco sauce so it's not too dry, wrap it up burrito style in a tortilla and fry them in an inch or so of oil, flipping once the first side is browned (you can use a toothpick to hold them closed if you need too).

To make the burrito bowls, I put tortilla chips as a base, then top with Mexican rice (left over from Monday), taco meat, refried beans, lettuce (left over from Tuesday's salad), salsa, sour cream & guacamole. (I buy Wholly Guacamole brand in 100 calorie pouches because I freeze them and just unthaw one pouch at a time so it doesn't go bad).

The recipe I use for rolls (thank you Rachel!) makes a ton so I just freeze them all and nuke a couple in the microwave when I need them. They taste just as good as fresh ones!

One more thing... I'll buy a loaf of french bread and probably freeze it so it doesn't get stale by the time I use it. Any left overs can be used on the weekend for French Toast!