$50 Weekly Menu Plan Help: Mount Gilead, NC

This weeks $50 Menu Plan help across the USA is in zip code 27306; Mount Gilead, North Carolina. Mimisbuddy posted the following request:

I am in a very small town in NC, we have Aldi, Food Lion and Walmart. Our zip is 27306. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. there are only 2 of us and 2 small

furry babies, we have alot of our own meat like venison and wild hog, thanks to hubs hunting skills. I don't buy junk food except popcorn and fritoes(for frito pie) We are on limited income and need your help. Thanks. p.s. Our Walmart doesn't price match Aldi.

Wow! Thank you for the additional information, it's great to hear that you are able to take advantage of the resources in your area. This fall we'll share some additional venison recipes that you may enjoy as well.

Aldi Deals from this weeks Flyer: (Albermarle location which is 13 miles away)

Fresh Mushrooms .79
Grape Tomatoes .99
Baking Potatoes $1.49 (5lbs)
Zucchini $1.29 (24oz)
Summer Squash $1.29 (24 oz)
Multi-Colored Bell Peppers 1.99 (3)
Fresh Pork Shoulder 2.19lb
Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Breasts 1.99lb
Drumsticks or thighs .99lb
Hamburger/Hotdog buns .79
Cheese Slices 1.49
Flat Leaf Spinach 1.69 bag
Onions $0.89
Cherries $1.99 Pound
Kiwi 6 for $1.49
Avocado .89 each
Seedless Watermelon $3.99
Cantaloupe $1.69
Strawberries $1.99
Blueberries $2.58
Ground Turkey $1.47 lb

Aldi Everyday Prices:
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Romaine Hearts Lettuce (3 heads) $1.99
Bell Peppers $1.29
Cucumbers .99-1.29
Frozen Ground Turkey $1.47 lb
Frozen Veggies .79-.99 bag
Refrigerated Roll Dough (Like the pillsbury bread dough in a can) .99
Potatoes 10#/$3.99 (or less)
Oatmeal $1.69
celery $1.29
Bananas .39 # (or less)
Bread $1.29 a loaf (or less)
eggs .99
Sweet Potatoes 3lb $1.49
Honey $2.49
Sugar $2.19
Flour $1.79
White Rice $1.69



Ingles Market Deals from their weekly flyer: (Also in Albermarle)
Kelloggs Corn Flakes $1.18 per Box
Cream Cheese $1.18 pkg

Food Lion Deals from their Weekly Flyer
Pork Spare Ribs $1.99 lb
T-Bone or Porterhouse steaks $5.99 lb


In looking over the items available in this area, here is a sample grocery list & meal plan:

Grocery List:
Fresh Mushrooms .79
Pork Shoulder 2.19 lb
Baking Potatoes 5lbs $1.49
Zucchini $1.29
Summer Squash $1.29
Green Peppers $1.99 (pkg of 3) (Use 1 for the salad and the other 2 to make Sausage stuffed green peppers)
Spinach $1.69
Cherries $1.99
Kiwi $1.49
Eggs .99
Watermelon $3.99
Chicken Breast $1.99 (x2) = $3.98
Milk $3.18
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Grape Tomatoes .99
Celery $1.29
White Rice $1.69
Ground Turkey $1.47
1 Jar apricot preserves $1.99
1 lb Scallops Sea Queen- Aldi's in the freezer) $6.99
1 lb thick bacon $3.00 (Aldi)
Drumsticks .99lb (x2) $1.98
Loaf Bread $1.29
-----------------------------------------
Total Projected Cost $49.03

Breakfast ideas:

• French Toast
• Apricot Jam Breakfast bars
• Fruit Salad- Cut the watermelon in half, scoop the insides out, cut into bite size chunks, mix with chunks of cantaloupe, and kiwi (every other day )
• Poached Eggs on Toast

Lunch/Dinner Ideas: the Following recipes are extremely simple to prepare, even for beginner cooks:

• Shepherds Pie (leftovers for lunch next day) & Salad
• Chicken Pesto Pizza, Salad
• Broiled Sea Scallops with Apricot Chutney, Baked Potato, Salad
• Cowboy Pork Chops over BBQ Rice, Steamed Spinach
  
• Key West Grilled Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes (Serve the leftover chicken in wraps the next day for lunch or cut up over salad)
• Savory Meatloaf, Dilled Zucchini & Summer Squash (leftovers for lunch next day) (made with ground turkey)
• Egg Salad (18 different ways) Sandwiches or Wraps
• Garden Bounty Summer Saute - the leftovers can be eaten in wraps the next day
• Sausage Stuffed Green Peppers (cut the recipe in half)
  
• Honey Chipotle Sticky Chicken- (for 2 people, cut the recipe in half) - Salad

To break it down even further, if you purchased the apricot jam in the grocery list, than in this weeks menu, you'd be dividing that jar- 1/2 it into the Jam breakfast bars and the other half into the Apricot chutney in the broiled scallops recipe. The fresh spinach is also divided a bit, a few of the leaves are going to be used in the broiled scallops presentation, the remaining can be split in half due to the size of the family- 1/2 steamed one night and the other half as a flavorful addition to the salad.

The bacon can also be divided- half into the scallops recipe, the other half into the freezer or into twice baked potatoes for fast side dishes when you don't feel like cooking.


More Snack Ideas:

• Fresh Watermelon/Fruit Salad- using Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Blueberries, Kiwi
• Sliced Kiwi's
• Fresh Cherries
• Chewy Granola Bars
• Copycat Nature Valley Granola Bars
• Fruit Kebabs
• Watermelon Sorbet/Popsicles

In addition to the above listed deals in the weekly flyers, here are a few farmers markets that are available in this particular area that may offer some savings on fresh produce & meat:

The Farmers Market in Troy - offers vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, plants, honey, flowers, artisan crafts, pottery,jams, jellies, quick bread, yeast breads, etc
Location: 417 North Main Street Troy, NC 27371 - website

Berry Busy Farm- Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Black Raspberries grown pesticide free. Local honey is also available Location: 8796 Cottonville Road Norwood, NC 28128

B & L Farm- specializing in multiple varieties of peaches & Sweet potatoes Location: 354 Pooles Mill Road Jackson Springs, NC 27281

Fox Squirrel Farm- offers more than 60 Vegetable Varieties as well as flowers, herbs & poultry Location:
1815 Samarcand Rd. Eagle Springs, NC 27242 website

Stanley County Farmers Market - Location 100 Railroad Street Albemarle, NC 28001 website