Menu Plan Monday: Cheap and Easy foods


My kitty is a good attack cat…he makes sure his humans stay safe, largely because we have opposable thumbs and can open the food container, and he can’t.

I got a comment on one of my last posts asking for ideas of cheap and easy meals, so I thought that would be a great theme! It’s one of the questions I get most often at work. In a nutshell, it’s largely all about using real foods, not GF specialty foods. I rarely buy GF pasta, GF baked goods, etc. and all of the stuff that gets super expensive. I do use GF flours, but more and more I’ve been playing with grain free cooking and using nuts and seeds as the “flour”.. Fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, dairy, rice and wild rice, etc. are no more expensive on a GF diet, and often eliminating processed foods is cheaper overall, too. So almost all of my food recipes are naturally GF, but I’m also someone who enjoys exotic ingredients so some are more economical than others. And that was the case long before I’d heard of gluten.

I’m sure everyone will have lots great ideas, and can’t wait to see what you come up with! I will be out until late-ish Monday so my apologies in advance if some of the posts are delayed.

Calling all hosts:
We’ve thinned out during recent menu plan Mondays. I’m able to host about once a month, but that’s about it, and more than that isn’t much fun. So if there’s enough interest, I’d be happy to continue, or we can agree to retire GFMPM as well. Or if anyone has thoughts on how to get the word out and get more participants, I’m all ears…

So last week was a fun one for me but busy, too. I posted chocolate sunbutter cookies, which I enjoyed too many of for sure and I made a Nana skillet cake, which is one of my favorite easy delicious recipes.

Monday:
Beef in coconut curried sauce with roasted cauliflower

Tuesday:
Lemony Mint Quinoa with avocado

Weds:
Roasted rosemary salmon and broccoli with garlic

Thursday:
Turkey nightshade stew with gobs of fennel (I just LOVE fennel!)

Friday:
leftovers…

Baked goods:
Hazelnut cookies

Heather of Celiac Family has a birthday bonanza (3 birthdays!) and an Easter celebration, too.

I love the idea of clay pot chicken, and Heather also has a list of some cheap and easy GF recipes, including a crock pot pulled pork.

About Cheryl Harris

Life played a funny trick on me. I've studied nutrition for years, and much to my surprise, found out that I could manage many of my health issues via diet. I've been GF for years, and I've got a bunch of allergies and sensitivities. But it definitely doesn't keep me from cooking, baking and enjoying my food. Thanks for stopping by.
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7 Responses to Menu Plan Monday: Cheap and Easy foods

  1. Pingback: Gluten-Free Menu Plan for a Week.

  2. Heather says:

    Everything sounds really good: curry beef, rosemary salmon…yum! I can’t believe I haven’t tried that lemony mint quinoa yet. My MIL just brought me a large bag of quinoa, so I think that it must be on my menu next week!

  3. Pingback: Menu Plan Monday – March 29, 2010 « Angela’s Kitchen

  4. Angela says:

    Yummy menu! Heather, the quinoa is one our family LOVES, you have to try it. I sometimes skip the tomatoes and add dried apricots so that I can save extra for breakfast. Thanks, Cheryl! So tasty…

    My post for the week is finally up: http://angelaskitchen.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/menu-plan-monday-march-29-2010/

    I can take a week hosting when you need it, with coconut as the theme. I can do about once a month hosting if you need it. I can help with the round up also, if you need a bit of a break. I would like to keep it going instead of ending it. Let me know! 🙂

  5. Denise says:

    I’ve been cooking grain-free for over three years, using mostly almond flour. I’m going to be trying coconut flour soon, too.

  6. Heather,
    Check out quinoa, you won’t be disappointed!

    Angela, I’m glad you like it and am looking forward to a coconut week

    Denise:
    like your tips for travel! coconut flour is good but dense, best with eggs.

  7. Pingback: Menu Plan Monday – March 29, 2010 | Angela's Kitchen

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