More Budget Brainstorming!

This morning I cranked out some lunch and dinner ideas and put together a grocery list. There is only one new recipe here, the Baked Spinach & Cheese Macaroni, and it will probably go over just fine in our house. Otherwise, the recipes I chose are tried and true family favorites. I find my self asking again if these is the best I can do, budget-wise. I tried to limit the variety. Carrots can be prepared so many different ways, in lunch, dinner & snacks. Plus they are great in baby food. Dried beans are so so cheap and so so good for you, it's a no-brainer to include a meal with those; same for Lentils. Also, I had a bunch of half used bags of lentils and other grains, so the Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup was practically free. Check out the menu:

Dinner Ideas:
Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup (from Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant)
Red Beans and Rice (vegetarian adaptation of Emeril Lagasse's recipe) and corn bread
Vegetarian Burgers, French Fries and Roasted Carrots
Baked Spinach and Cheese Macaroni (from the Eating Well website)
Nuggets, left over Baked Mac & Cheese, Steamed Green Beans

Lunch Ideas:
Almond Butter and Jam Sandwich, tomatoes and cucumbers on the side
Cheese Quesadilla with Black beans and tomatoes on the side, salsa for dipping
Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Apples & Carrots on the side
Leftovers!
Leftovers!

Snack Ideas:
Gram Crackers with Almond butter & bananas
Yogurt cup with Apple slices and Almonds
Cheese & Crackers

Grocery List:
4 Onions
tomato paste
fresh parsley
2 stalks celery
1 green bell pepper
vegetarian sausage
garlic
corn bread mix
dry red beans
fake chicken nuggets
frozen french fries
carrots
hamburger buns
1 bag frozen spinach
1 bag fresh spinach
bag of shredded cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
8oz penne pasta
Flour Tortillas
1 can Black beans
2 yogurt cups
apple sauce cups

Stuff we already have:
Fresh green beans, from garden
Vegetable bullion
raw bulghur
lentils
salt
pepper
cayenne
fresh rosemary, from garden
fresh tomatoes, from garden
Bay leaves, from garden
rice
frozen vegetarian burgers
Almond butter (we buy in bulk online)
Various Jams
Salsa
Almonds (we buy in bulk online)
Sliced cheese (happen to have a lot left over from last week)
Crackers/triskets (happen to have a couple half full boxes in the pantry)

Now it's time to head to the store!