Feeding Your Family The CHEAP Way

I really do love to cook.  But there are some things that drive me crazy about cooking at home.  I hate grocery shopping.  I know there are some that love it.  Maybe I should give them my list and have them go shopping for me. 

I hate cleaning up the mess that I make after cooking dinner.  Where are the guys behind every cooking show cleaning up after them?  Why can't I have those?  I really want them.  I also want them to do all the prep work so I just have to show up for the fun.

I also hate the cost.  It's expensive to feed a family of 5 these days. 

I think I've found a solution to all my problems!  Guess what I've been doing lately?  I'm doubling up on my recipes cooking one then and freezing the other one.

I just finished up the grocery shopping for the next 2 weeks.  That includes breakfast, lunch and dinners.  Guess how much I spent?  $105!!  That is without coupons folks.  I used to be a huge coupon clipper but I really don't have the time for that right now.  That doesn't include toiletries and other items like that.  We are eating well too!

Here's the menu:

Chili

Spaghetti Beef Casserole

Quick Pizza Rolls

Chicken & Sausage Manicotti

Creamy Chicken Casserole 

Spaghetti

Chicken, Salad and Bread

Guess what?  I won't have to cook next week!  Sure we'll have to rotate the same menu until I have more meals stocked up but who cares?  I've tried the whole "once a month cooking" thing.  It's great but it's a TON of work.  I've found that doubling up a recipe is really not any more work or mess than cooking one meal at a time.  So what do you think?  Want to try it too?  Want the recipes?