Third $8 Menu
Planning meals on such a tight budget takes time and determination. The goal is to collect a number of menus that can be shuffled around on a rotation addingin new recipes on occasion. These menus are also only a guide - you can plan your own just make sure you keep on budget. All of the menus and per day per person allowance is based on preparing food for 4 people and occasionally doubling up on a recipe to make one for now and one for later to be frozen. Keep in mind the portions here are equal, for children or ppl with smaller or larger appetites you may want to adjust accordingly. Also if you bake cookies or a dessert on Sunday and make a large batch feel free to add a cookie for dessert to a dinner or lunch menu just calculate the price per serving.
Day #3 * indicates recipe included
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs (2 eggs per person) .30 cents
1 slice of toast w/ 2 teaspoons strawberry jam .31cents
Small navel orange .52 cents
4 oz. milk .40 cents
8 oz. coffee .75 cents
Total per person $2.28
Lunch: 2 oz Hummus .58 cents
Carrot & Celery Sticks .30 cents
Apple .60 cents
4 oz. Plain Yogurt w/ 1 tablespoon jam .63 cents
1 oz. Potato Chips .21 cents
8 oz water FREE
Total per person $2.32
Dinner: 1 sliced roma tomato .32 cents
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce .31 cents
1 oz. Italian Vinaigrette .26 cents
1 slice Garlic Bread .29 cents
Baked Ziti* $2.17
Total per person $3.35
Total per person for the Day: $7.95
Baked Ziti
makes 6 servings, Dairy
Ingredients:
16 ounces rotini noodles or ziti, rigatoni, etc $1.16
½ cup reserved pasta liquid
4 cups homemade or jarred spaghetti sauce $3.52
2 cups cottage cheese $3.00
1 egg whisked .14 cents
2 cups shredded cheese mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan or a mixture $5.18
Total $13 six servings @ $2.17 each
Step -By- Step Directions:
Preheat oven to 350℉.
Cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions state in salted boiling water. Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup cooking liquid.
Mix the cooked pasta and reserved cooking liquid together with the sauce, cottage cheese, egg, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
Pour into a large 9x13 pan or casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole is warmed through.