ALDI Vegetarian Meal Plan

BUDGET RATIONALE

Why these meals: You'll get a lot of mileage out of a few ALDI sale buys this week. The two packs of Campari Tomatoes on the Vine ($4.98) go into Monday's tomato and egg skillet and again into Wednesday's lentil shepherd's pie, and the two Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes ($4.98) cover Tuesday's pot pie and Friday's crescent pockets. Eggs are the protein on Monday and Thursday, while white beans carry Tuesday and Friday, so the pantry cans get used twice. One bag of Season's Choice green beans is split between Tuesday and Wednesday, so nothing is left over in the freezer. Thursday's breakfast-for-dinner is the easy night, with a 3 lb bag of Gala apples at $1.99 for sauteing and slicing next to the mandarins and blackberries.

5-DAY MEAL PLAN

Monday
Meal: Campari Tomato and Egg Skillet with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Description: Eggs are poached right in a simmering sauce of chopped Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, onion, garlic, cumin, and paprika. Soft L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls are used to scoop up the runny yolks and sauce.
Sale items used: Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Prep time: 30 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg Campari Tomatoes on the Vine (1 lb), 8 eggs (2 per person), 1 pkg L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls shared among 4. Cook in a large lidded skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes after the sauce simmers.

Tuesday
Meal: Creamy White Bean and Vegetable Pot Pie with Pie Crust Top
Description: Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, and white beans simmer in a sauce of butter, flour, and Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream. A Bake House Creations pie crust goes on top and the pie is baked until golden.
Sale items used: Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters, Bake House Creations Pie Crusts
Prep time: 65 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg squash or sweet potatoes, 1/2 pkg green beans, 1 can (15 oz) white beans, 1 cup Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream, 3 tbsp butter, 1 pkg Bake House Creations Pie Crusts (top crust only). The filling can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, then topped and baked just before dinner.
Recipes:
- Vegetarian Pot Pie
- White Bean Vegetable Pot Pie
- Thyme & White Bean Pot Pies

Wednesday
Meal: Lentil and Tomato Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potato Topping
Description: A savory filling of simmered lentils, Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, green beans, and onion is spread in a baking dish. It is topped with Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes enriched with butter and baked until the edges brown.
Sale items used: Campari Tomatoes on the Vine, Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans, Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters
Prep time: 55 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg Campari Tomatoes on the Vine (1 lb), 1/2 pkg green beans, 1.5 cups dried red lentils, 1 pkg Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes, 3 tbsp butter. Bake uncovered at 400 F for about 20 minutes.
Recipes:
- Easy Lentil Shepherd's Pie (vegetarian)
- Easy Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie
- Lentil Shepherd's Pie

Thursday
Meal: Soft Scrambled Egg Croissant Sandwiches with Butter-Sauteed Gala Apples and Fruit Bowl
Description: Eggs are scrambled gently in butter and tucked into split Bake Shop croissants alongside sauteed New York Gala Apple slices. Mandarins and Blackberries are served on the side for a bright, fruity breakfast-for-dinner night.
Sale items used: Bake Shop Mini or Large Croissants, New York Gala Apples, Mandarins, Blackberries, Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serving note: 8 eggs (2 per person), 1 pkg Bake Shop Mini or Large Croissants shared among 4, 1 bag New York Gala Apples (3 lb; about half sauteed in 2 tbsp butter, the rest sliced on the side), 1 bag Mandarins (3 lb), 1 pkg Blackberries (6 oz) tossed with the peeled mandarin segments.
Recipes:
- Croissants stuffed with scrambled eggs, apples, brie

Friday
Meal: White Bean, Squash or Sweet Potato Crescent Pockets with Cranberry Sauce and Crispy Onions
Description: Pillsbury Crescent Rolls are filled with mashed white beans and mashed Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, then baked until golden. They are topped with Chef's Cupboard French Fried Onions and served with Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce for dipping.
Sale items used: Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes, Chef's Cupboard French Fried Onions, Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Prep time: 40 minutes
Serving note: 1 pkg Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, 1 pkg squash or sweet potatoes (cooked and mashed), 1 can (15 oz) white beans (mashed), 1 pkg Chef's Cupboard French Fried Onions (sprinkle on during the last 3 minutes of baking), 1 can Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce served on the side.

SHOPPING LIST

Buy on sale:
- Campari Tomatoes on the Vine (x2 packs): $4.98
- L'oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (x1 pack): $1.99
- Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters (x1): $1.99
- Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream (x1): $4.59
- Bake House Creations Pie Crusts (x1): $1.89
- Chef's Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes (x1): $1.85
- Season's Choice Frozen Extra Fine Green Beans (x1): $2.49
- Simply Nature Organic Squash or Sweet Potatoes (x2): $4.98
- Bake Shop Mini or Large Croissants (x1): $2.79
- New York Gala Apples (x1 bag, 3 lb): $1.99
- Mandarins (x1 bag, 3 lb): $2.69
- Blackberries (x1 pkg, 6 oz): $1.69
- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (x1): $2.97
- Chef's Cupboard French Fried Onions (x1): $2.89
- Sweet Harvest Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce (x1): $1.59

Pantry staples needed:
- 16 eggs
- 2 cans (15 oz) white beans
- Dried red lentils (about 1.5 cups)
- Onions and garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Cooking oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Ground cumin and paprika
- Milk or water for the mashed potatoes