Category Archives: Food

Aldi Meal Plan October 5

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meal plan chalkboard and an aldi meal plan for this week

Do you struggle with coming up with meals to make each week? This Aldi meal plan will give you the inspiration you need to come up with a weekly meal plan for your family.

You can use this meal plan for your week as written or choose just some of the recipes from it to combine them with your family favorites or a recipe you’ve been meaning to try for months.

I’m a huge fan of using menu planning as a way to keep grocery costs down (my first point in this post on drastically reducing your grocery budget). No matter how many of these recipes you use, I highly recommend you get your downloadable menu plan template and put it to use. It has saved me so much money over the years:

Aldi Produce and Meat Sales to Check Out (10/3-10/9):

  • Grape tomatoes
  • Green grapes
  • Acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash
  • Multi colored bell peppers
  • Boneless chicken breast
  • Boneless whole port butt roast

Each week will include one or two vegetarian meals. This is a great way to keep your grocery budget down. Another tip for a lower grocery budget is to select just 4-5 of the listed suppers and eat leftovers the other nights. (This is also a time saver!)

Aldi Meal Plan

Suppers:

BBQ Pork Baked Potatoes – if not using for two meals, freeze half the bbq pork for another week or cut the recipe in half. Serve with raw veggies. (Save the rest of the bag of potatoes for a soup next week)
Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein
Chopped Salad Serve with homemade muffins or bread
Pork Tacos topped with lettuce and corn served with homemade salsa and chips (stretch the meat with black beans and freeze half for another week)
Cheesy Lentil Pie Serve with fresh or roasted veggies and fruit. (Lentils can be hit or miss at Aldi, so when you find them stock up! )
Easy Kale Sausage and White Bean Soup (Save the rest of the kale for another soup next week or use in a smoothie for breakfast)
Spaghetti (with ground beef or meatless). Serve with raw vegetables and french bread.

Snack and Side Options:

Fruit: grapes and apples
Raw Vegetables: Carrots, celery, bell pepper strips, grape tomatoes
Roasted Squash and root vegetables
French Bread
Pretzels

Frugal Lunch Ideas:

Sandwiches
Rice Cakes (with peanut butter or meat)
Leftovers
Beans and Rice
Roasted Vegetables
Salad

Frugal Breakfast Ideas:

Oatmeal
Scrambled Eggs
Baked Pancakes

What are you going to make this week? Do you use an Aldi meal plan? Basing your menu off of what’s on sale (or what you picked up on clearance or sale the weeks before and put in the freezer) is a great way to stretch your dollar and feed your family on a budget.

 

Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein Recipe

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If you haven’t jumped on the spaghetti squash train yet, this is the recipe to do it on! Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein is so good.
spaghetti squash chow mein in the shells. this recipe is so good and healthy!

I’ve had some spaghetti squash flops over the years, but this recipe is not one of them. In fact, I eagerly await squash season so I can make it again each year.

My girls (2 and 7) eat seconds of this and even my (not a fan of squash) husband gives this a thumbs up. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that one of his favorite meals is the regular kind of chow mein.

This dish is loaded with veggies. If you want it to be vegetarian, leave off the chicken. For the omnivores out there, the chicken adds a tasty touch.

A lot of spaghetti squash recipes don’t hold up well as leftovers, but we enjoy this one the next day just as well. I’m all about cooking once and eating at least twice!

This recipe, as written, fed my family of 5 twice, so I’d say it would serve 6-8 as adult portions. I bought 3 spaghetti squashes that totaled 6 pounds.

The method of cooking spaghetti squash that’s in this recipe is my go to. It always turns out fabulous and once I cut the squash in half, it’s super simple.

Another of my favorite spaghetti squash recipes is this one: Tex Mex Spaghetti Squash! Yum!
A bowl of spaghetti squash chow mein. Amazing and healthy recipe that even kids love!

Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein

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Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein
Serves: 6-8 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 6 pounds spaghetti squash
  • 6 stalks of celery, thinly sliced (around 3 cups)
  • 4 carrots, peeled and grated (around 2 cups)
  • 2-3 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup soy sauce, coconut aminos etc
  • 1-2 cups diced, cooked chicken (optional)
  • Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
Instructions
  1. Cut spaghetti squash in half and scrape out the seeds and stringy insides. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool until you can handle them. Use a fork to scrape across the squash short ways to make "noodles".
  2. In a large skillet heat a tablespoon of oil and saute the onions 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to cook a few more minutes.
  3. Add the carrots and celery to the skillet. Stir and cook a few minutes.
  4. Add the cabbage and cook until all the vegetables are tender.
  5. Add the spaghetti squash to the skillet and combine.
  6. Drizzle ¼ cup of soy sauce (or alternative) over the mixture.
  7. Season with salt and pepper and additional soy sauce to taste.

 

I’m curious, where do you stand on spaghetti squash: lover, hater, or never tried? If you are a fan, what’s your favorite way to eat it?

P.S. If you are curious the way I made it and it flopped, it was a spaghetti squash carbonara recipe. I’m perfectly okay never attempting that one again. 😉

spaghetti squash chow mein in the shells. this recipe is so good and healthy!spaghetti squash chow mein in the shells. this recipe is so good and healthy!A bowl of spaghetti squash chow mein. Amazing and healthy recipe that even kids love!

The Best Homemade Fluffy Pancakes

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Mmmmm. Light, airy, hot off the griddle. This is the best homemade fluffy pancakes recipe out there.

Homemade Fluffy Pancakes stacked on a plate is one of the best sights. You'll never make pancakes without these tips again.

This post uses affiliate links. See the disclosure page for more info.

Many a Saturday morning growing up, my dad would pull out the big giant green Tupperware bowl and mix up a humongous batch of pancakes. We ate dozens of these things each week. I can remember him even feeding numerous neighbor kids.

Now that I have kids of my own, pancakes or waffles are a typical Saturday lunch.

(I have an apple whole wheat pancake recipe right here for another fun option.)

Maple syrup is our go to topping but fruit and/or butter would also be delicious.

There are two things that help make these pancakes extra fluffy.

Let’s start with the buttermilk.

Buttermilk makes amazing pancakes (and rolls – I’ll have to share that recipe soon). If you don’t have buttermilk, you can do the trick of adding a little vinegar to the milk and letting it sit a few minutes.

*Decrease the amount of milk mixture by 1-2 tablespoons if not using real buttermilk.*

You can also use almond milk and vinegar for a dairy free substitute.

The egg whites.

This is the second secret. Separate your eggs and beat the egg whites until they are stiff. The final step before cooking your pancakes will be to fold the egg white mixture into your batter. I love using a silicone spatula for this. Mine are from The Pampered Chef, but these ones on Amazon seem to have good reviews too!

You guys, this is so good! You might dirty an additional bowl but it’s worth it.

This recipe also calls for an optional extra – a little bit of cinnamon. Give it a try!

In the pictures above, I made a triple batch.

Freezing Instructions:

I love to whip up a giant batch of these homemade fluffy pancakes and put the leftovers in the freezer. Be sure and freeze them in a single layer and after the pancakes are frozen transfer them to a zipped freezer bag.

To eat, pull one out of the freezer and put it in the toaster for the perfect, easy weekday breakfast.

Homemade Fluffy Pancakes stacked on a plate is one of the best sights. You'll never make pancakes without these tips again.

P.S. We even make these into whole wheat pancakes! Freshly ground soft white wheat is the best for that.

Homemade Fluffy Pancakes

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Homemade Fluffy Pancakes
Serves: 6-7 pancakes
 
Ingredients
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk (see notes for substitute)
  • 2 T oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 C flour
  • 1 T sugar
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • ½ t soda
  • ½ t salt
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • opt.dash or two of cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and optional dash of cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
  2. Separate the egg.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk, oil, vanilla, and milk.
  4. Pour over the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until lumps are gone.
  5. In another bowl beat the egg white until stiff.
  6. Gently fold the egg whites into the pancake batter with a silicone spatula.
  7. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
  8. Put a ⅓ of a cup of batter onto a hot skillet and cook until golden. (Watch for small bubbles to come up and the edges to look a little more firm.) Flip and cook the other side.
  9. Serve with toppings of choice.
Notes
Buttermilk Substitute: use regular milk or almond milk, decreasing amount by 2 tablespoons. Add a scant tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and let stand for 5 minutes.

 

If you are looking for some other breakfast ideas, check out:

 

Yummy! Homemade Fluffy Pancakes stacked on a plate is one of the best sights. You'll never make pancakes without these tips again.Homemade Fluffy Pancakes stacked on a plate is one of the best sights. Please make this! Amazing recipe.

Best Simple Fried Rice Recipe

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I love, love, love fried rice! When you combine it with easy and get a simple fried rice recipe, it’s a winner all around!

best simple fried rice recipe

Affiliate links are used. Thank you!

Secret ingredients are always a good sign! This recipe has a couple and the extra pop of flavor makes it the best fried rice.

I love using basmati rice when making this. I’ve even used brown basmati. If you don’t have that, try using a long grain white rice.

Try using cauliflower rice if you are limiting your carbs. Shredded cabbage you saute with the rest of the veggies would also likely work.

bowl of dry rice for simple fried rice recipe

If you have a super busy day, this recipe is perfect because you can prep your vegetables the day before (or even several days before). You can also use leftover rice because day old rice makes the best fried rice. See, I told you this is a simple fried rice recipe. 🙂

Did you know you can also freeze fried rice? (I wouldn’t do this with cauliflower rice.) Simply make the fried rice and let cool completely. Place in freezer storage bags or food storage containers and place in freezer. Pull out of the freezer the night before or morning of when you are going to use them and let thaw in the fridge. Saute in a skillet for 5-10 minutes until warm

simple fried rice recipe ingredients

If you don’t mind reheating in the microwave, this would also be perfect to freezer in single serving amounts to pack for work lunches.

Secret Ingredients!

There are a couple ingredients that put this simple fried rice recipe over the top.

  1. Fresh ginger. Of course fresh garlic is involved, but the ginger adds a little something special.
  2. Toasted sesame oil. If you’ve never had this, you are missing out! My picky, opinionated 5 smelled the bottle and proclaimed how good it smelled. Do yourself a favor and get some for this recipe and for making the best Asian salad dressings. (I’ve linked to it on Amazon, but I’ve found it at Aldi for a great price before.)
  3. Sambal. Okay, this is totally optional. My kids don’t use it, but I’m obsessed. It adds a kick and a little extra punch of flavor. I blame my dad for turning me onto this years ago. You could also use siracha (I’ve also found the equivalent of this at Aldi).

simple fried rice recipe square picture

Favorite tool!

I LOVE using a microplane for the ginger and garlic. It makes it fast and super easy.


P.S. I love using fried rice to sneak in lots of veggies. 🙂  In these pictures, it’s the amounts listed in the recipe, but often times I add in extra.

Simple Fried Rice Recipe

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Best Simple Fried Rice Recipe
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • ½ inch ginger, peeled and minced/micro-planed
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced/micro-planed
  • 2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 6 cups cooked cold rice
  • 1-2 cups cooked, diced meat (optional)
  • 3 scrambled eggs (optional)
  • oil
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Sambal or siracha (optional)
Instructions
  1. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add a little cooking oil (can use butter).
  2. After heated, add the onions and stir and cook 5 minutes. (Lower heat if needed.) When beginning to soften add garlic and ginger and continue to cook another 3-7 minutes until fragrant and tender.
  3. Add carrots and continue to saute. After a few minutes add the frozen vegetables and continue to saute until everything is hot and tender. (Add meat at the end of this time if using.)
  4. Add rice to the pan and stir over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes. Add soy sauce and and sesame oil and stir to combine.
  5. Take off heat and adjust soy sauce and salt and pepper if needed.
  6. Add scrambled eggs if using.
  7. Serve with sambal or siracha on the side.

 

The best simple fried rice recipebest simple fried rice recipe ingredients

 

Easy Gluten Free Meals You Need to Try

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Easy gluten free meals.

Easy gluten free meals that are tasty and healthy! These will make menu planning to much easier. Ideas for breakfasts, lunch, snacks, supper, and dessert!

Affiliate links are used. 

We’ve been talking wheat free the past couple of weeks. I shared about our wheat free experiment and gave 9 suggestion to make going gluten free easier for your family (and on a budget). One of the hardest things can be coming up with recipes. A comment I heard several times from friends was “I just don’t know what I would do if we had to go wheat free. I wouldn’t know what to eat”.

Today, I’ve compiled a list of easy gluten free meals to help make your menu planning a little easier.

They are recipes that use ingredients you likely already have in your house or can easily purchase at your local store. Hopefully you can find some great meal ideas whether or not you are wheat free and also see that there is an abundance of food you can still enjoy even if you are cutting out wheat.


If you are new to gluten free eating, on the recipes that use soy sauce, be sure you read the labels because many contain wheat.

Easy gluten free meals that are tasty and healthy! These will make menu planning to much easier. Ideas for breakfasts, lunch, snacks, supper, and dessert!

Easy Gluten Free Meals:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Supper:

Snacks:

Desserts:



Easy gluten free meals that are tasty and healthy! These will make menu planning to much easier. Ideas for breakfasts, lunch, snacks, supper, and dessert!

What are your favorite easy gluten free meals? I’m always looking for new, tasty recipes to try!

Easy gluten free meals that are tasty and healthy! These will make menu planning to much easier. Ideas for breakfasts, lunch, snacks, supper, and dessert!