Wednesday, July 3, 2013

40+ meals for less than $8 a day!

I saw on Pinterest, which led me to www.whoneedsacape.com, that a mom prepared 40 meals in 4 hours. I was excited by this post because mealtime was becoming the bain of my existence. All I could wonder is what we were going to eat for lunch and dinner. None of my previous attempts to plan meals worked and I was willing to try anything.

I approached 40+ meals in 4 hours as a personal challenge. I made 37 meals in 5 hours but later realized that I used too much meat in some recipes and had a lot of leftovers. Think of it this way, an actual chicken only has 2 breasts, 2 thighs and 2 wings so try not to use more than this in a recipe that calls for chicken.

Go to www.whoneedsacape.com for a master grocery shopping list but you may have to do some of your own research to determine how long certain frozen items last in the freezer or deep freezer; the type of freezer makes a slight difference.

I've also included the MASTER GROCERY list that I used BELOW. All recipes can be cooked on low between 6-8 hours in a CROCKPOT.

My favorites are Mongolian beef, Curry Chicken, Pollo Guisado (Stewed Chicken) and Ropa Vieja. Those were the most delicious to date.

Ultimately, I spent $272 on groceries and made 37 meals. That's $7.35 per meal! I've attached the recipes.


BJs & Local Supermarket Prices

  •  3 cans of Diced Tomatoes    6 @     $6.29
  • 72 Hefty 1-gal Storage bags              $8.49
  • Soyvay Teriyaki sauce                      $3.29
  • Agave Nectar                                    $6.49
  • 1 Sweet Baby Ray Buffalo Sauce     $1.99
  • 2 Sweet Baby Ray BBQ Sauce        $2.00
  • 2 Real Lime                                       $3.98
  • Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb                  $4.99
  • Lipton onion soup (4 or 6 pack)        $5.99
  • Italian Dressing                                 $3.00
  • Pataks Chicken Tikka Masala 2@    $4.99
  • Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard            2@ $6.99
  • Goya Sofrito                                     $3.99
  • Garlic Stuffed Olives                        $6.99
  • Brown Sugar  (4lb)                           $2.99 
  • 12 pk boneless chicken breasts         $20.81
  • 12 pk boneless chicken breasts        $20.36
  • 12 pk boneless chicken breasts        $18.39
  • 12 pk boneless chicken breasts        $23.56
  • 12 pk chicken thighs                        $10.14
  • 30pk chicken wings                         $17.04
  • 4 Pork Tenderloins                           $15.09
  • 2 split chicken breasts (4lb)              $13.00
  • 4 lb beef stew chunks                       $16.20
  • Top round steak                                $17.08
  • Baby back ribs (2 racks)                   $15.10
  • Bag of frozen peas                            $6.49
  • bag of frozen peppers and onions     $5.99


                                                         Total: $271.68

Other spices needed (I already had):
  •   cumin
  • ground mustard
  • ground nutmeg
  • ground thyme
  • dried oregano
  • salt
  • pepper
  • allspice 
  • soy sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Ketchup
  • All purpose flour
  • 2 c. plain greek yogurt
  • 1 quart of heavy cream
  • 2 cans (20 oz) diced pineapples
  • Curry powder
  • chili powder
  • cayenne
  • paprika
  • garlic salt
  • Onion powder
  • sesame seeds
  • 2 fresh onions
  • 20 fresh garlic cloves
  • 2 oranges
  •  fresh ginger
  • 3 bags baby carrots
  • garlic oil
  • vegetable oil
  • olive oil
  • peanut oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • white vinegar
  • Dried Chipotle peppers

 RECIPES: (REPLACED all HONEY with AGAVE)

·     Agave Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin (See pic) X2

    BBQ Ribs (see pic) X2
  •     Cook on low 6-7 hours and then broil in oven for 5 min for char


·      Jerk Chicken X2
  • 2 skinless chicken breasts
  • 1c. water
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg &  allspice
  • 1 tsp salt, cayenne pepper & ground ginger
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp ground thyme
  • 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 c. frozen onions and peppers

·      Curry Chicken (my recipe) X3
o   4 breasts
o   3 tbsp curry powder
o   2 c. frozen peas
o   1 can diced tomatoes
o   1 c. heavy cream
o   1 tbsp garlic salt
o   1 tsp ground black pepper
o   1 tbsp garlic oil
·      Chicken Tikka Masala X2
o   2 breasts
o   1 jar patak’s tikka masala mix
o   1 c. yogurt
    1 tsp cayenne pepper or 8 oz of pineapple juice (it will cut the acidity)

Or you can follow recipe below.

·      Buffalo Chicken Wings X3
o   Pour Sweet Baby Ray's Buffalo sauce onto wings until they are covered
    • Bake covered for 45 min at 350 degrees F
    • Bake uncovered for 15 min (bake longer as needed so that skin is crispy)
    • Broil for 5 min 

·      Pollo Guisado (stewed Chicken) X2
  • 1/2 GOYA Sofrito container
  • 1/2 can tomato sauce
  • 3 chicken breasts
  • 1-1 1/2 c. of water


·      TeriyakiChicken X2
o   4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
o   small bag of baby carrots
o   1 20 oz cans of pineapple, undrained
o   4 garlic cloves, chopped
o   1 medium red onion, cut into chunks
o   1 cup Teriyaki Sauce
·      OrangeChicken X2
o   1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite size pieces)
o   3 tbsp peanut oil
o   juice of 2 oranges
o   1 tsp fresh ginger
o   3 tbsp Soy Sauce
o   handful of cashews (as garnish)
·  Chipotle Lime Chicken X3
    • 1 lb Chicken Breast
    • juice of 4 small limes
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp dried chipotle pepper
    • ¼ tsp onion powder
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 handfuls chopped fresh cilantro
·      Garlic & Herb Marinated Chicken X3
o   4 breasts
o   1 c. Italian dressing
o   3 tbsp Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herbs
o   1 red pepper
·      Ropa Vieja (old clothes)/Shredded Steak (see pic) X3

·      Peruvian Beef Stew (see pic) X 1

·      MongolianBeef X3
o   1 lb. stew meat
o   2 tsp. olive oil
o   1 onion, thickly sliced
o   1 tbsp. minced garlic
o   1/2 cup soy sauce (I used wheat free tamari)
o   1/2 cup water
o   1/2 cup brown sugar
o   1/2 tsp. fresh minced ginger
·      Agave Mustard Chicken Thighs (see pic) X3

·      Lechon (pork tenderloin) (see pic) X2

GOOD LUCK!!!!


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