March Menu, Recipes, and Shopping List!

Well friends, it's that time of the month--my once-a-month grocery shopping trip(albeit a bit late). I'm sure it sounds crazy to some of you, but this is one of the best time saving and money saving ideas that I've ever had! Basically, when I compared using coupons combined with sales with buying in bulk in the way described below, I found myself shopping every week and spending tons of time, but I wasn't saving a whole lot. I just couldn't do it any more.

Beefy Vegetable Soup

I discovered a way to make shopping at a bulk club like CostCo or Wal-Mart really pay off. I just plan 7-10 recipes for the month and multiply the ingredients by 3-4 meals each.  Then I can buy in bulk without buying everything in the store!  Not only that, if company is coming, I've always got extra of every ingredient on hand--very helpful. I figured if I was going to go to the trouble of posting my monthly menu, then I should at least make it more useful by posting the shopping list and recipes I use.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 

What I did today, is to post a grocery list with all the ingredients needed for the quantity that I usually by x how many times I'm going to use that recipe. It will give you a good idea about how you can do this for yourself.  (See bottom of post.) I don't do the recipes exactly as they are described on these links so I didn't add some of the ingredients. Be sure to check out each recipe, if it's something you are not familiar with, in case there are ingredients mentioned that you would like to include on your shopping list.

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

I've also added pictures and links to recipes for everything on my monthly menu for March. I'm sure this will help out my daughter, since my son and I will be at out-of- state debate tournaments from March 17 to March 29th. (I'll be posting some things, but probably not as much as usual during that time.) This post will give her recipes to use that are very similar to what I usually make. (Some really are my recipes or tutorials and are linked to older posts like this chicken, broccoli and rice casserole.)

To make it from scratch click here. 

For an Easy Version click here. 

One fun side benefit of this list of meals, pictures, and links is that you may find some cooking blogs or sources that you may not have heard of. This is one of those times when I'm going to choose to let someone else who does it better, do something, rather than me doing it all myself. :o).

Enjoy! and Happy Homemaking!

 

 A Tutorial from The Pioneer Woman Cooks 

I had heard all about her from friends, and finally went to visit! She does do great tutorials and I love her blog!

This Recipe is close to what I use :o) 

(Except that I don't put peas in it--I'd get lynched!-Ha!)

We do steamed green beans instead. I usually roast them in the oven which makes them even yummier.

Click here for recipe.

I do mine in the crockpot like this recipe.

Chicken and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

I didn't put scallions or barbecue sauce on the list, so you'll want to add those ingredients if you are following this recipe exactly.

Easy Homemade Pizza from Scratch (tutorial)  or

Easy Frenchbread Pizza  

You'll need to add bobolis or loaves of Frenchbread if you want to do the easy version. Be sure to add veges to the French bread version!

Southern Style Chicken Fried Steak and Cream Gravy (my own tutorial is coming!)
This chicken fried steak was fried up by my mom..the queen of Southern cooking. It's heavenly!

Whipped Potatoes 

Grilled Pork Chops (a great 'how to')\

and Microwaved Corn on the Cob 
or you can just boil frozen corn on the cob...whatever you feel comfortable with. By the way, this blog had a great tutorial for cooking fresh corn on the cob, whether steamed, boiled, grilled, or microwaved!


And here are the pictures of my shopping lists.
Keep in mind that my quantities are to feed a family of 5-6 adults.