Gluten Free [Cooking School]

So last week, I spent way to much at Walmart and have no grocery budget left for the rest of the month. Everything I’m making this week is coming straight out of the pantry. Luckily, we have a good supply of staples on hand  and this week’s menu wasn’t very difficult.  Next week may be a different story =)

What do you do when your grocery budget is running short?

Our Menu:

Sunday: Tofu Reuben Sandwiches, Apple & Carrot Salad

Monday: Nana’s Texas Spaghetti (substituting kidney beans for the meat)

Tuesday: Spinach & Kidney Bean Meatball Sandwiches

Wednesday: Greek Lentil Soup and Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches

Thursday: Last of the Sweet Potatoes Soft Tacos with Flour Tortillas

Friday: Peanut Sesame Noodles

Saturday: Baked Spinach & Artichoke Noodle Casserole

P.S. I think that I’ll send the recipes and shopping list for this week’s menu plan out to my menu plan subscribers. The menu will have vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and casein-free options. If you haven’t signed up for the menu plan mailing list, click here to check it out.

Now on to the Gluten Free Menu Swap Roundup:

I’m hosting the Gluten Free Menu Swap Roundup this week. This is a weekly blog event in which gluten free bloggers post their menus for the week, and then submit their menu posts to the host so that they can be featured in the roundup.  (If you’d like to submit your menu, leave me a comment or use the “Email Mary Frances” link to send me your permalink.) I’ll keep adding to the roundup as menus are submitted, so be sure to check back late Monday night or early Tuesday for the full list.

Living Free
First up this week is Kimberly at Living Free. Kimberly has been suffering through a bit of a cooking slump so she’s filled her menu with some of her favorite recipes to induce herself to stick to the menu this week. If you’ve been wondering what to do with tempeh, leave her a comment to ask about the Marinated Tempeh Kabobs.  I think tempeh is delicious, but it is one of those foods that is best when you have a really great recipe to start with.

Book of Yum
If you love ethnic foods, then you have to start reading Book of Yum.  Sea’s recipes feature foods from around the world and they are always delicious.  This week’s menu features meals from the Middle East, China, and America as well as an Allergy Free dinner of Rice Paper Vegetable Wraps.

Gluten Free is Life
Kim at Gluten Free is Life is new to the Menu Swap this week (and new to blogging).  If you’re looking for ideas for family meals, be sure to check her menu.  Kim is cooking for a mixed family - she and her son (12) are gluten free, but her husband and daughter (6) are not.  The thought of cooking for two kids scares me, but Kim manages to make it look easy.  All of the meals she’s planned for the week look like they should be easy to get to the table, even if she’s dealing with homework and other kid activities.

Gluten Free Goodness
The garden is overflowing at Gluten Free Goodness and Cheryl has planned a recipe to use some of her fresh produce.  Many of the meals will be vegan, but Cheryl will also be grilling buffalo burgers this week.

Asparagus Thin
Today is National Potato Day and Manda at Asparagus Thin is celebrating with a week’s worth of meals featuring potatoes.  Her post contains a ton of interesting facts about potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams and she explains why potatoes really are good for you.  I love to cook with potatoes as autumn comes around and can’t wait to try the Rocky Mountain Blue Ranch Potato Salad that she is serving this week.

Gluten Free Sox Fan
Karen at Gluten Free Sox Fan has a busy week ahead of her, but she has at least “planned to be unplanned”.  She’s jotted down some meal ideas and purchased the groceries for them, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when they’ll be eaten.  If you’re kitchen is too hot for cooking, be sure to check out this menu since Karen is planning to grill a couple of nights.

Gluten Free Gobsmacked
Korean BBQ Short Ribs are on the menu at Gluten Free Gobsmacked and I’ve heard they are out of this world. The shrimp tacos sound pretty good too. Kate is working on some posts about gluten free lunches now that since school is starting or about to start in the U.S., so be sure to check for those posts in a few days.

The Lilac Kitchen
Esther of The LIlac Kitchen has piqued my curiosity with a dish she is calling “Jewelled Rice and Meatballs”. However, this is not the real name of the dish; the real name is as she put it ” a little coarse for polite socity”. Head over to her blog to see a picture and maybe somebody can guess what the true name is =)

Angela’s Kitchen
If you need some inspiration for cooking or housecleaning, head over to Angela’s Kitchen. She has combined her menu list and to-do list and it look’s like she’s going to be busy this week. This is another great list for those of you who are looking for recipes for this week. Angela has already posted recipes for 3 of the meals she’ll be making this week and they all look delicious.

Cooking & UNcooking
M-Elle at Cooking and UNcooking is making lots of sandwich wraps and salads this week, which is perfect for summer weather.  Wraps are also great for packed lunches, so her menu may give you some new ideas if you pack a lunch every day. Her chicken caesar salad wraps sound really good!

Fresh Ginger
Fresh Ginger has a bountiful harvest this week and she is using that produce in a themed menu. From the bistros of Paris to to Italy to Thailand to Vietnam. If you’re looking for some new meal ideas, you’ll get some new ideas here. Fresh Ginger is also the host for next week’s Gluten Free Menu Swap and the special ingredient will be Eggplant.