Menu for 1/30-2/6

Here's the menu for this week, starting this Saturday. Take time to get to the store by this Saturday to get some good deals. I'm using mostly sale items in my menu this week, so hopefully, we'll see some good savings.

Saturday: Slippery Ham potpie

Sunday: Tortellini w/pasta sauce, salad

Monday: Hamburgers, homemade potato wedges

Tuesday: Chicken Italiano, broccoli

Wednesday: Beef Stroganoff (crockpot recipe)

Thursday: Hot ham and cheese sandwiches, tomato soup

Friday: Shane's birthday...going out!

Notes/recipes for this week's meals:

*buy extra hamburger and chicken this week while they're on sale. Good staples for the freezer!

*buy ham loaf mix this week. It's on sale at Butcher Shoppe for $2.59/lb!

Slippery Ham potpie: Cook off 1 ham hock (shank). Reserve broth. Strip the bone of the ham. Add water to broth to make 4 cups liquid. May need to add some ham bouillon, if the broth is not tasty enough. Heat to boiling. Add 2 peeled and sliced potatoes. For potpie dough: Mix 1 egg, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 6 Tbsp. COLD water in a small dish. In large mixing bowl, measure 1 1/3 c. flour. Add liquid to make a stiff dough. Knead several times and roll out as thin as possible on floured surface. Cut into 1 inch squares. Drop into boiling broth, pushing them under the boiling broth if needed. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. I double this recipe for my crew, since it's such a family favorite.

Totellini w/ pasta sauce: Tortellini on sale for $2.00/bag at Giant. Sauce on sale for $1.00/jar at Giant. Salad on sale at multiple places. Should be a cheap meal.

Hamburgers, potato wedges: Hamburger on sale $1.99/lb at Giant. Stock-up!! Potatoes B1G1 at Weis and Giant. For potato wedges: Slice 6 large Russet potatoes into 8 wedges. Season with season salt (we prefer Tastefully Simple brand). Bake at 400 degrees till desired tenderness.

Chicken Italiano: Chicken on sale $1.99/lb at Giant, bowtie pasta on sale at Giant $1.00/box. Bacon on sale $2.00/package at Giant. Broccoli on sale $1.00/bag at Giant. Fry 1/2 lb bacon in large skillet until crisp. Drain, reserve 2 Tbsp fat. Remove bacon from pan. Cut chicken into bitesize pieces. Cook in reserved bacon fat, along with 4 cloves of garlic, until done. Remove chicken from pan. Add 4 large, chopped tomatoes, (or 2 cans chopped tomatoes), 2 Tbsp water, 1/2 c. chicken broth (if have on hand--if not, add water and chicken bouillon), 1 1/2 tsp each basil, oregano, thyme, and marjoram, and 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper. Cook for 10 min (or until most of liquid has evaporated). Return chicken to tomato mixture, lower heat. Boil bowtie pasta in separate pot. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and parmesan cheese.

Beef Strganoff: Stew meat on sale $2.99/lb at Giant. Use coupon for egg noodles (in Sunday paper 2 weeks ago, I think). Coat meat in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook meat in skillet, on medium heat until browned on all sides. Drain. Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Place meat in cooker. Combine can of cream of mushroom soup with 1 c. whole milk or half and half. Add 1/2 c. chopped onions, 1 Tbsp worchestershire sauce, 2 tsp beef bouillon granules, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Pour soup mixture over meat. Cover and cook on low heat 5-6 hours. Increase heat to high; add 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, and cook till cheese is melted. Serve over egg noodles.

Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches: Bread is $0.50/loaf at Weis!!