Orzo for Lunch

Lunch today... Beefy Orzo.
Today there are 7 children & 2 adults for lunch. Total- $6.89

2 pkgs orzo (on sale, .75/ea) $1.50
1 lb ground beef ($3.50)
4 oz grated Parmesan cheese $1.49
1 cup whole milk (raw or at least non homogenized) .40
pepper & sea salt to taste
1 tsp each garlic & onion powder

Prepare orzo, drain, and set aside. Brown beef. Add garlic, onion, salt & pepper. Add grated Parmesan cheese & milk. Cook until melted and hot. Add drained, cooked, orzo to pan and combine well. Continue heating until hot through. Serve with side salad and carrot sticks (+ $2.00).

**To make Gluten Free, replace the orzo with brown rice.**

Organic salad cost savings tip- I buy a 3lb tub of organic salad mix at Costco for $3.99. This lasts 4-5 days. We have already planted our salad greens in the garden beds and also have some growing indoors as well.

Delicious... French Toast and Peaches $5.18

Yum... that's all I've got!

The ingredients:
1 loaf bread (HM $1.50, store bought $1.79)
9 eggs $1.15
1 cup whole milk $0.13
2 tsp cinnamon $0.10
dash orange extract ($1.00 for 2 ounce bottle) $0.05
1 lb frozen peach slices $1.00
1/2 cup honey, agave or rapadura (or water with 1 Tbs stevia) $1.00
Butter (if desired) .25

$5.18

Combine frozen peaches and sweetener in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until hot, sweet and juicy. Set aside.

Whisk your eggs, milk, orange extract and cinnamon in a 9x9 inch baking dish (easy for dipping) or a bowl if you prefer the pour over/bake method.

I prefer to dip the bread and cook on a hot, buttered griddle. Then top with butter and sweet peach sauce.

Another option is to place a layer of bread in a baking dish, pour the sweet fruit mixture over, add another layer of bread and cover with egg/milk mixture. Then bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes.

We added sliced bananas to the meal since it was a lunch to round out our nutrition guidelines. 1 egg is a protein serving... so we have protein, grain, 2 fruits and served with a glass of milk finishes things off!

To ensure one protein serving per child, you can do the dip and pour method. Mix each egg with about a TBS of whole milk, dash of cinnamon and drizzle of orange extract. Dip one side of the bread into the batter, put on buttered griddle... then pour remaining egg mixture over the bread slice.

Tasty Food Day One

For breakfast:

Oatmeal 10 servings (purchased in bulk for .42lb)
5 cups .42
10 cups water free
1 lb bag frozen peaches (from Dollar Tree) $1.00
10 Tbs of Rapadura .41
4- 1/2 cup milk servings .12
2- 3/4 cup milk servings .18
4- 1 cup milk servings .48

Breakfast for 10: .42 + 1.00 + .41 + .12 + .18 + .48 = $2.61

(Prepare oatmeal, add frozen peaches and Rapadura. Serve with milk)

For Lunch:
1 lb angel hair pasta .98 (or double batch homemade pasta .48)
4 oz grated medium cheddar cheese (Bandon 4.78 for 2 lb loaf) .60
1 cup whole milk .13 (2.00/gallon)
4 Tbs butter (Tillamook unsalted 4 cubes/ 2.00) .25
1 bag frozen broccoli cuts (Dollar Tree) $1.00
10 oz chicken from last nights roaster (purchased on a buy one/get one sale), $1.00
10 sm apples (free from friends tree)
4- 1/2 cup milk servings .12
2- 3/4 cup milk servings .18
4- 1 cup milk servings .48

(Melt butter, cheese and 1 cup milk in a saucepan over low heat. Boil pasta. Combine with cheese sauce. Dice chicken, combine w/ broccoli and add to pasta. Divide servings and top with grated cheese), serve with sliced apples and milk.
Lunch for 10: .98 pasta + .60 cheese + .25 butter + 1.00 broccoli+ 1.00 chicken + .90 milk + 0 apples = $4.73 ($4.23 with homemade pasta)

For Dinner:
1 lb ground turkey $1.58
5 cups brown rice made with 10 cups water $1.00
Cream of Mushroom soup $1.00
1 cup whole milk $.13
5 carrots, sliced $.75
1 bag frozen broccoli cuts $1.00
5 oz medium cheddar cheese grated .75
4- 1/2 cup milk servings .12
2- 3/4 cup milk servings .18
4- 1 cup milk servings .48

Dinner for 10: 1.58 turkey + $1.00 brown rice + Soup w/ milk $1.13 + $1.75 carrots and broccoli + .75 cheese + .78 milk = $6.99

(Brown turkey, steam rice, combine. Heat cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup milk in a saucepan over low heat. Combine rice, turkey, soup w/ broccoli, place in a baking dish, top with grated cheese and bake at 450 for 30 mins) Service with carrot sticks and milk.

Snacks:
AM-
4 cups dry cheerios .75 (on sale $1.50/box)
2 cups Raisins .30
water free
$1.05

PM-
4 1/2 slice servings of homemade whole wheat bread
6 1 slice servings of homemade whole wheat bread .65
1 cup peanut butter $1.00
water free
$1.65

Today's total to feed 10- $16.53

Breakfast $2.61
AM Snack $1.05
Lunch $4.23
PM Snack $1.65
Dinner $6.99