How to Eat Cheaply for a Week

Rising food costs have left a dent in many wallets, calling for creativity in planning family meals. Here is an inexpensive one week dinner plan that will make you smile.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• One roasting chicken or turkey
• Olive oil
• Frozen stir fry veggies
• Soy sauce and ginger
• Cornstarch
• Potatoes
• Fresh herbs
• Onions
• Pasta
• Rice
• One inexpensive frozen pizza
• Chicken broth
• Two fresh salad packs

1. On Sunday night, coat your roasting chicken or turkey with olive oil and salt and pepper it inside and out. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place some fresh herbs and a halved onion in the breast cavity of the bird.
3. Bake the chicken or turkey for about 1 1 /2 hours, depending on its size. Toss in a few potatoes during the last half hour of cooking to make it a complete meal, along with a side salad.
4. Refrigerate the leftovers for the rest of the week.
5. Monday night, eat the frozen pizza for a change of pace.
6. On Tuesday night, mix soy sauce, ginger and cornstarch in a bowl and set aside. Cut up some of the left over chicken breast, and stir fry with some oil along with the frozen stir fry vegetables. Add the sauce during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve over rice.
7. On Wednesday night, fill a saucepan with a combination of chicken broth and water. Add in the leftover stir fry ingredients and top up with rice and additional pieces of leftover chicken to make a nice soup. Serve with a salad.
8. On Thursday night, prepare a pasta according to the directions on the package. Heat cubed pieces of chicken along with one can of chicken broth and some fresh herbs. Blend some cornstarch with water until thick and free of lumps and add to the chicken mixture. Toss with the pasta and serve.
9. On Friday night, take the chicken skin and place in a saucepan with some water and herbs until boiling. Blend cornstarch and water, and add until you have a thick gravy. Season to taste, and serve over the rest of the chicken on bread as open faced sandwiches. Serve with a salad.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy all the ingredients together when shopping, this saves time and allows you to see the total cost.