Tag: meals

Our Money-Saving Grocery Shopping Rules

MichelleLeave a comment

I started writing some about my grocery shopping process back in my practical meal planning blogpost. I ended up writing way too much to include there, so I decided to dedicate a whole blogpost to this topic. Apparently, I have a lot to say! (No surprise there.) Today, I’m sharing my money-saving grocery shopping “rules”:

  • Make a list of what you need (and stick to it)!
  • Grocery shop (only!) once per week.
  • Buy the food you need for (only!) one week.
  • Only stock up on pantry staples when they’re on sale.
  • Think about how much your ingredients cost.
  • Sometimes, your time is more important than your money.

Now that you have the basics, keep reading to hear a little more about each rule and why it helps us save money grocery shopping!

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Practical Meal Planning (& A Free Printable Meal Planner)

MichelleLeave a comment

Let me start by saying what my main goal of meal planning is: making things easier for myself. As a new mom, I struggle with getting dinner on the table each night unless I plan ahead. I think meal planning can be overwhelming for some people, but remember that it doesn’t have to be! Meal planning does NOT have to mean trying 5 new recipes in a week; you’re the one calling the shots here. That means that sometimes my meal plan looks like spaghetti, frozen pizza, and takeout. Planning my meals for the week saves me time, money, and energy – and who wouldn’t want more of those things?

Meal planning means I never run into the dreaded “it’s-4-o’clock-and-I-have-no-idea-what’s-for-dinner” situation. I don’t have to scramble at the last minute to throw something together, I don’t have to pick up fast food because I have nothing to make, and I don’t have to feel guilty about making frozen pizza for dinner because it’s planned ahead of time. This is the magic of meal planning!

That being said, I found that I needed a printable meal planner that works for me. My biggest needs in a meal planning method are: (1) flexibility, (2) a way to “look ahead” to the following week, and (3) a space for notes and meal prep plans. I couldn’t find a meal planner that worked for me, so I created one! Today, I’m sharing a bit about how I meal plan and giving you my free printable meal planner!

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Easy Stir Fry Recipe (only 5 ingredients!)

MichelleLeave a comment

This recipe is SO GOOD. Scott and I probably make it almost every week. And when I say that this is an easy stir fry recipe, I mean it – it only uses 5 ingredients and comes together in under a half hour. (And the 5 ingredients aren’t specialty or anything; they’re really easy to find in almost any grocery store!) Not only is it fast and easy – it also only uses one pot! (A must for me because without a dishwasher, I’m all about meals that mean I have to do less work after cooking them). This is one of my go-to meals for busy days, when I don’t have a lot of time to make dinner. It’s also one of my go-to meals when friends or family are visiting, because it’s different from what most people cook and you would never be able to tell how easy it was to throw together!

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Easy Stir Fry Recipe (Serves 2 + Leftovers)

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 2-3 tbsp. olive oil or other cooking oil
  • microwaveable noodle bowl
  • 1/2 cup island teriyaki sauce (the island soyaki from trader joe’s is the best!)
  • 1-2 cups frozen oriental or stir fry vegetables (we get ours from Aldi)

Easy Stir Fry Recipe Ingredients

See how simple this ingredients picture is? That’s because you need almost no ingredients for this recipe. (I wasn’t kidding when I said it was easy!)

Cut chicken breasts into cubes and season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken in heated olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or medium pot. After chicken is cooked, turn heat to medium-low and add soyaki or teriyaki sauce to pan. It’s also really easy to make this vegan – just use a vegan teriyaki sauce (the one from trader joe’s is!), and skip the chicken or substitute for another protein.

Easy Stir Fry Recipe Cooking in a Copper Pan

Add 1-2 cups of the frozen stir fry vegetables to the pan (or more, depending on how many veggies you want!). Cook 5-10 minutes or until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.

Easy Stir Fry Recipe Cooking with Noodles

Cook noodle bowl according to package directions (typically, you add the sauce and water, then microwave for a minute or two). We like to use the spicy mongolian noodle bowl by Simply Asia. Add noodles (sauce and all) to the chicken and veggies and cook for 5 more minutes on low.

Easy Stir Fry Recipe

Serve and enjoy. And there you have it – a colorful, delicious, (mostly) homemade stir fry in under 30 minutes!

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