This week King Soopers has Laura’s Lean Ground Beef on sale for $2.99 a lb. (Yes, I buy organic when I can!) So I’m going to buy up. I won’t eat ground beef every night, but I will pre make some meals. This saves a huge amount of time for future meals. I also have meals prepared which curbs that desire to eat out when I just don’t seem to have the time to make dinner.
Ground beef is one of the easiest main ingredients to do this with because it’s so versatile. Add a different seasoning and you have a whole new dish.
So, here is our shopping list:
5 lbs. ground beef $15.00 (this will be less if you do not buy organic)
1 package Sara Lee Buns (get $1.50 off a lb of ground beef. I am going to apply that $1.50 savings to the cost of the buns. On sale 2 for $5. Buy one at $2.50 with $1.50 savings - $1.00)
Van Kamps Beans (1 can) $0.44
Potatoes
Sm bag frozen corn
Sm bag frozen peas
Can or two spaghetti sauce
2 can kidney beans $0.88 (sale)
1 can black beans $0.44 (sale)
A packet taco seasoning
1 package tortillas
Cheddar cheese (Kroger cheese $1.88 sale)
Chili Seasoning
Meals to make:
Keep 1 lb out to make hamburger patties. Patties are super easy to make and cost much less than buying pre made patties. I add a packet of the onion soup mix. Grill these up and place on your hamburger buns. Serve with Van Camps Pork and Beans (on sale for $0.44 each) and Mini Watermelon $2.50 each. Possibly some grilled corn on the cob (4 for a $1)
Cook the remaining 4 lbs together. This is my biggest time saver. When I can, I make more than one meal or at least cook an ingredient for a future meal. This is where menus come in handy. I know what I’ll need to make for dinners that week.
Here are the meals from the cooked hamburger:
Shepherds pie
Spaghetti starter
Chili
Mexican casserole
Divide the cooked meat into 4 equal parts.
For the spaghetti starter place meat and a can (or two – depends how saucy you like it) into a freezer safe container or plastic bag. Freeze. To use, just defrost in a pan, make some noodles serve with salad.
Shepherds Pie, place meat in a foil pan (I get mine from the dollar store). Place half bag of defrosted corn and peas on top. Cover with mashed potatoes (made from 4 potatoes). Cover with foil and freeze. To serve, place in oven at 350 for about an hour. Serve with salad and brown gravy.
Chili, mix chili with can of kidney and black beans. Add seasoning and simmer with instructions of seasoning packet. Freeze. To serve, defrost and warm up and pan. Serve with rice or noodles. Top with cheese and sour cream. Serve with salad.
Place layer of tortillas in 9x13 pan. Mix meat with taco seasoning and make according to package. Mix with kidney beans. Lay down over tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese. Layer again with tortillas. Sprinkle top with cheese. Cover and place in fridge. Make the same week. To eat, place in oven and heat up until cheese is melty and insides hot. Serve with salad.
