What a fun week! I tried some different dishes that we haven’t had before from around the globe, like pumpkin curry, bahn mi and shrimp pad thai. Lately I’ve been working on lots of fun super flavorful fall dishes and a toddler culinary world traveler. Introducing kids to new cultural flavors young sets them up for a great palate as an adult, and is a fun way to talk about new places. Kick those nuggets and fries to the curb this week, and get bold with these new flavors!
This is my weekly dinner meal plan on $60 or less! (my average prices do not include common spices, butter, oil, etc)
Monday
Pumpkin Curry Chicken (@$8.75)
- Chicken $4.05 ($2.99lb, Fresh Market)
- Pumpkin Curry Sauce $2.49
- Rice $0.58
- Naan $1.49
Fall means PUMPKIN!! This slightly spicy dish was a great start. I diced the chicken breast and simmered in the sauce for 30 minutes. Served over rice with garlic naan. The sauce was a jar I found at Kroger, Private Selection Brand pretty cheap and it was superb! I love introducing new flavors to my toddler and teaching her about foods from other cultures! She’s a culinary world traveler!
Tuesday
Sausage & Potato Foil Packets (@$9.75)
- Polish Sausage $2.50
- Baby Red Potatoes $3.00
- Green Beans $2.69
- Mushrooms $0.99
- Sweet Onions $0.48
The hardest part of this recipe was the prep, but I did that during nap time so i could focus and get it all cleaned up right away. I cut the potatoes into smaller pieces to make sure they cooked through, if they are all different sizes some may come out slightly raw in the middle and that is no good! These pouches can be done on the grill too, but I opted for the oven method (425 for 20 minutes) because I had other things to do inside while it baked. I laid out all my squares of foil on the counter and then divided up the food portions individually, making a smaller one for the toddler of course and no mushrooms for one picky eater roommate. (recipe)
Wednesday
Bahn Mi Burger(@$12.50)
- Ground Beef $4.50 (1 ½ lbs, 2.99lb Fresh Market)
- Buns $0.99
- Radishes $0.42
- Carrots $0.45
- Jalapeno $0.11
- Lime $0.39
- Sliced Cheese $0.99
- Mixed Herbs $0.99 (variety bunch, Farmer’s Market)
- Rice Vinegar $0.50
- Soba Noodle Salad $3.16 (recipe)
I actually used my grill for this recipe and subbed in white cheddar instead of regular cheddar, because why not? Also, I chose to chop my herbs because I don’t like to bite into a whole mouthful of leaves, and the subtle flavor blends with each bite better. Don’t you hate when one flavor overpowers a bite and you can’t taste the actual meal? If you have never had the real deal bahn mi, you are missing out and need to eat one ASAP!
Friday
Buffalo Chicken Sliders (@$12.25)
- Chicken Breast $3.88 (2.99lb Fresh Market)
- Buffalo Sauce $2.59
- Broccoli Slaw Mix $0.99
- Blue Cheese Crumbles $0.50
- Buns $1.25
- Veggie Chips $2.99
I use chicken breasts I have at home and usually put them in the oven around lunch time (and shred in my KitchenAid) to cook ahead of time slow and low. I did end up using different (cheaper) buns than the recipe calls for this time, buy what’s on sale to save a few dollars, bread is bread. If you want to cut back the cost, you can use a different side or change the slaw to a side instead of a topping, do what makes sine for your household. (recipe)
Saturday
Shrimp Pad Thai (@$10.75)
- Shrimp $4.24
- Peanuts $0.49
- Rice Noodle $1.99
- Lime $0.39
- Fish Sauce $0.75
- Tamarind Paste $0.37
- Mung Bean Sprouts $0.65
- Shallot $0.57
- Egg $0.33
- Scallion $0.99
Most of the ingredients for this recipe we purchased at the Farmer’s Market, which makes it a lot easier to just buy exactly what you need. The recipe looks intimidating at first, but it was actually quite easy! I used Palm Sugar since I always have it on hand but you can use brown sugar instead. Much cheaper than ordering out, and so fresh! Plus, you get to support local farmers, and that just makes me happy!
5 meals for under $55
This weeks’ bonus is Chocolate Banana Bread! Some weeks my toddler eats 10 bananas a day and other weeks she eats zero, and of course every week I buy a ton of bananas because of the dreaded toddler meltdown that occurs if we are out of bananas. With that said, I am always looking for what to do on the weeks I have leftover bananas. So here is my latest find! (recipe)
Trader Joe’s is majorly helping me with my pumpkin spice addiction lately, so I may have to highlight some of my favorites in the near future. Be on the lookout for those soon!
Enjoy!
