Cooking for just one or two means that it is hard to take advantage of bulk discounts. This is how I do it to take advantage of bulk buys. Standard package sizing means that there are often ingredients left over when cooking for two. These recipes are designed to have overlapping ingredients - so that you can use that other half a can of sauerkraut or corn in another meal later in the month.
meats
The meats are the backbone of most of the meals - this is what i would typically buy for two people in one month. The portions that I use are the ones that are recommended for a serving. Commercial American meals are heavier in meat than those in other countries.
chicken - 10lbs leg quarters. these are usually the most economical. I boil or bake them til just done. spread them out to cool quickly and bone them. I package and freeze 1 cup for each chicken dinner recipe. This usually yields 10 pkgs or 10 dinners for two people. I also look for markdowns on breasts or thighs.
ground meat - 5 lbs leanest available. usually a combination of 3-4 lb ground beef with the rest ground turkey or sometimes chicken or pork. This yields 10 pkgs(1/2 lb) or 10 dinners for two people.
hotdogs - I use beef but 1 lb makes 2 pkgs or 2 dinners for two people.
lunchmeat - I usually buy 1 lb lunchmeat and freeze it in small 3-4 slice packs for a quick sandwich
roast - 1.5 -2 lbs - usually chuck or round, sometimes pork or veal or porkchops. I usually roast the meat with root vegetables. I eat 1/3 and the veggies, freeze 1/3 for stew, and 1/3 for a casserole or stirfry. This usually yields 3 pkgs or 3 dinners for two people.
smoked meat - 1 lb ham or beef sausage - this is divided into thirds and used with beans or eggs for additional protein. This usually yields 3 pkgs or 3 dinners for two people
How it works:
The dinner count so far:
chicken . . . . . . . . . . .10
ground meat . . . . . . . . .10
hotdogs . . . . . . . . . . . 2
roast . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
smoked meat . . . . . . . . . 3
-------
subtotal. . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Now add:
frozen fish or other. . . . . 2
tuna. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
corned beef . . . . . . . . . 2
---------
Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Although groceries keep going up - maintaining this basic routine should be around $100 min per person per month. Of course that includes the dairy, produce, canned stuff and staples.
dairy
butter - 1 lb should last a month if you are not extravagant with it. Other 'butter' products or margarines can have added water which makes them a bad buy and you cannot use them in scratch cooking. Margarine and spreads also have hydrogenated vegetable oils that are just as bad for your arteries as butter but don't taste as good. Mix butter half and half with oil to saute with max flavor and min cals. Avoid canned shortenings, squirt and spray stuff. Good buy - butter dish.
canned biscuits - are handy for meat pies or potpies or quick breakfast or cobbler.
cheese - cheddar 24 oz or 1.5 lbs sharp cheddar is added to many meals. It is best hand grated fresh. Pre-grated cheese is a bad buy. A cheese slicer and grater is a good buy.
cheese- pepperjack - about 8 z month in mexican casseroles and chili.
cheese - swiss - 8 oz or less for sandwiches and casseroles
eggs - 2 doz ( I use less than that usually for baking)
milk
yogurt - a big tub plus: cottage cheese, pint of buttermilk and sourcream
fresh produce
anything in season - extra grocery money goes for fruits and veggies.
apples - granny smith for cooking
bananas - about 6-8 per week
cabbage - small head
carrots - 1 lb
celery - 1 stalk - dice and freeze in ziplocs
bell pepper - 2 med - dice and freeze in ziplocs
lemons or limes - one or the other for seasoning
melons - are usually a good buy
mushrooms - 1 lb white or baby portabella - slice and fry in butter. put in ziplocs and freeze break off a piece for spaghetti or stew
onions - 3 lb - green onions are a better buy in the spring
potatos - 10 lbs
turnips - a few are good with a roast
GROW: tomatos, green onions, lettuce and other salad greens. Peas, corn and beans. Melons, squash and cukes.
canned stuff
This is what I usually buy in a month. Some things last longer.
apple sauce - 1 jar
barbecue sauce - bottle
catsup - bottle
corn - 3 cans or equivalent frozen
corned beef - 1 can
cream of chicken soup - 1 can
cream of mushroom soup - 1 can
greens - 3 cans or equivalent frozen
green beans - 2 cans
jalapenos - 1 jar lasts about a month
jelly - a jar lasts a month or two
mushrooms - small can
olives - small can
peaches - large can for cobbler or jello
peanut butter - we use 2 large jars a month but I think that is more than most.
peas - sweet green 2 cans or equivalent frozen
pineapple - 1 big can - half for pineapple chicken and the other half for a desert.
pork and beans - 1 can
potatos - keep a few cans for back ups if you run out of fresh. They can be drained and fried.
red beans and pintos - a couple of cans each
salmon - 1 can for salmon patties or salmon chowder
sauerkraut - bavarian sweet can - used for Meat Pies, Reubens and Pork Chops
teriaki sauce - for Teriaki Chicken
tomatos - 5 cans stewed or diced
tomato sauce - 2 cans
tomato soup - condensed 2-3 cans - 1 for Meatloaf and 1 for lunch of tomato soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches
tuna fish - 2 cans for a quick dinner of Tuna Salad Sandwiches or TunaMacPea casserole
vegetable soup - for lunch with crackers
frozen stuff
berries - 1 lb blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all good buys frozen -but watch for CHINA imports
broccoli - two pound bag spears or tops
brussels sprouts - small box
calf liver - is good fried for variety - other livers (pork and beef) are stronger and tougher
fish - catfish flounder,whiting or tilapia 1-2lb - watch it doesn't come from CHINA - breaded fish is a bad buy. pre seasoned fish is a bad buy
fruit juices - are a good buy frozen and mixed in a GLASS container at home.
lazagne - Stouffers seems to be pretty good
okra - a small bag of frozen okra is handy for Gumbo, Jambalaya or Brunswick Stew
pizza - I'm partial to Mamma Rosa's but add more stuff to it before I bake it
shrimp - 1.5 - 2lb peeled and frozen when it is on sale
turkey pot pie - it is good with cornbread dressing
vegetable stir fry mix - is a good buy with broccoli and other veggies in it - the more colors the better
check out the basic kitchen staples
or brush up on cooking basics
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