The Blue Collar Kitchen

One of the reasons we make quick trips to the grocery store and/or order delivery and take out is because we don't want to eat the same old thing again. This ends up adding to our grocery budget at a quick pace each month. The best way to prevent this from happening is to mix up your recipe book.

Most of us get comfortable making 10-15 recipes and serve them over and over again. While there is nothing wrong with this, don't be afraid to try new recipes with the same ingredients. I try to add one new recipe a week. That is four new recipes a month and 48 new recipes a year. In one year, you could cook a different recipe every day for 7 weeks and never have to repeat a recipe.

Here is an example of a few simple recipes you could make using chicken breast.

1. Chicken and Rice Casserole

2. Grilled Italian Chicken Breast with Roasted Vegetables

3. Chicken and Dumplins

4. Chicken Alfredo

5. Chicken Spaghetti

6. Chicken Pot Pie

7. Chicken Salad

8. Fried Chicken

These are just a few examples on how you can take one ingredient and make multiple quick and easy recipes.

I recommend setting a goal of picking 4 main ingredients. Start a homemade recipe book and divide into four sections. Label each section with your four main ingredients. Every week, add at least one new recipe that you would like to try with each ingredient. After a few months you will have more recipes to try than you will have days in the month.

Cooking new recipes will help prevent food burnout and will help cut the grocery budget down. Always try to make eating out, picking up take out, and ordering delivery a special treat for your family. This can greatly reduce your grocery budget each month.