eMeals Leaves You More Time (and money) to Do What You Love!
This year I began using eMeals for our meal planning again. Our family of eight is super busy and I simply don’t have the time to pore over cookbooks for hours to plan menus. If I don’t plan, things get even crazier and I make far too many last-minute trips to the store for convenience food. Our food budget has gotten nutty and something had to change.
I’m happy to say that since using eMeals since last month, we shaved $200 off of our grocery bill! Not only that, we made NO last-minute trips for take out or frozen pizza. We also have had tasty leftovers for Dakotapastor to take to church for lunch, which means he is eating healthier and we cut down on the lunchtime drive through habit.
All of this leaves me more time to do what I love; cook! Yes, though I hate meal planning, I love cooking and I love the adventure of trying new recipes every day. Sometimes it is preparing a familiar food in a different way, and other times it is learning a completely new recipe.
Each week, eMeals puts together a money-saving menu for me which works around the sale prices and low-priced food items in my grocery store. I am able to pick up items for 7 dinners for our family of eight for around $85-90 a week. I also add in some snack foods, breakfast foods and beverages, which brings our total to about $150/week. The best part is that I then have everything that I need on hand to create those seven dinners (and side dishes as well). I have eliminated those last-minute trips for one important ingredient.
I can glance at the menu at the beginning of the week and decide when I want to prepare certain meals. There is almost always at least one slow cooker meal, and usually one or two super quick to prepare meals. Also, if one recipe calls for something like a cup of crushed croutons, a later menu item will call for the rest of the bag of croutons to be used in a salad. No more wasted food!
eMeals meal plans are great for working parents. Prep items in advance and leave directions for older children to get dinner started, or assign a different family member to each meal!
Another thing I love about eMeals is how great they treat their subscribers! Periodically they offer free bonus menus for their members. This month, eMeals subscribers have access to A Valentine’s Dessert Menu, a Simple Gourmet Valentine’s menu or a Valentine’s Paleo Menu.
Here is a fun and easy recipe from the Valentine’s Dessert Menu (I’m going to have my resident cookie baker, Will take this one on!)
Cocoa powder, Nutella® and chocolate chips combine in these oh-so-chocolaty cookies, making them an instant favorite.
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups flour
- ⅔ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ⅓ cup chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella®
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ cup milk and/or white chocolate chips
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside.
- Combine butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.
- Add chocolate hazelnut spread and vanilla; mix until combined.
- Add half of flour mixture, then milk, and remaining flour mixture, stirring well between additions.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Refrigerate dough at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake 8-10 minutes, or until set but still soft.
- Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes; transfer to wire racks and cool completely.
eMeals is hosting a fun contest with some great prizes!
View all the details on of the contest here.
If you subscribe to eMeals use the code HEART for 10% off of your order!
Disclosure: as an eMeals blogger, I received a one year eMeals membership. However, all opinions are completely my own!
I’ve also tried eMeals since January. With this, I am able to plan healthy meals for the family and I was able to properly budget my food expenses.
I love chocolate cookies .. I am really happy to read your article.
Thanks for the tasty post.:D
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