I’m excited about this week’s menu! I’ve never made my own pizza crust before. I really hope it turns out well.

• Homemade pizza, side salad $2.70
• Penne and vodka sauce, side salad $1.12
• Homemade waffles, homemade apple syrup, fruit $1.52
• Taco soup $4.65
• Grilled cheese sandwiches and leftover salad or soup $0.27
• Side salads (whenever): $4.80

Total: $15.06
*I just realized I included the price of the green pepper twice (I included the total price in the salad, but I have 1/3 of it alloted for the pizza. So, I cut $0.56 off the week’s total.

Side salad:
I’m using romaine hearts, green peppers, cucumber, carrots and dressing this week. The total cost of all veggies was $5.36. I’ll use some of the carrots for other meals (and might freeze them), and some green pepper for my pizza. It’ll all be consumed this week. I don’t want to break down the cost per salad, so I’ll just add this to the week’s total.

Homemade pizza with:
mozzarella cheese $0.90
green pepper $0.56
pepperoni $0.56
marinara sauce (we’ll just use half a jar or so) $0.38
Total: $2.40. I am still deciding on what recipe to use for the crust (I don’t have a breadmaker right now, so I’m looking for hand recipes. I do have a Kitchen Aid mixer though, if I can make it in that). I don’t expect the crust to cost more than .30 though. Let’s say the pizza will cost $2.70, for now.

Update: This crust recipe looks good! Thanks for the suggestion, Michele.

Penne and vodka sauce
I got a box of penne for .69. I expect we’ll use half-3/4 of the box. So, $0.23-$0.35. The sauce I got on sale for $0.77.
Total: $1.12

Waffles and apple syrup, fruit
I bought a box of mix for $1.19. We’ll probably use 1/3 of the box, so $0.40 plus maybe $0.20 in oil.
Apple syrup: $0.17 for the sugar, plus $0.30 for the juice= $0.47
I only have canned fruit right now. Let’s say we eat the oranges for $0.45.
Meal total: $1.52

Taco soup:

I haven’t tried this before, but it sounds delicious. I’m going to make some slight changes to the recipe.

1 pound lean ground beef $1.99
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans $0.39
1 can (11 to 15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained $0.39
1 10 oz can Rotel tomatoes $0.45
1 envelope taco seasoning (I don’t have a packet. I’m going to make my own. It will cost pennies) $0.04
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes $0.90
1 sm can chopped chile peppers (4 ounces) -I’m omitting. Don’t have it
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans $0.49
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing-I don’t have it. It costs $1.50 or so to buy. I’m just going to use a squirt of bottled ranch, and add some extra garlic powder.
Total: $4.65

Grilled cheese sandwiches, leftover taco soup, remaining salad
$0.12 for the bread, maybe $0.15 for the cheese. Leftovers are already accounted for in previous meals.
Total: $0.27

For you new folks to my blog, welcome! This menu feeds myself and my husband. We eat cereal, oatmeal or waffles for breakfast. Lunches are leftovers from whenever, or a simple sandwich, applesauce, yogurt, veggies, whatever we have on hand.

For more menus, visit orgjunkie.