Pork Loin Weekly Menu

This is not actually our menu this week, but since pork loin is on sale this week at Kroger for my preferred price ($1.99/pound), I thought I'd show how to make the most of this for an inexpensive series of meals for your family! I do this series every couple of months around here:

Buy a LARGE roast for this menu. Before you roast the meat on Day 1, cut off enough pork chops for your family for use later. If you haven't already frozen your roast, you can freeze the pork chops in the marinade on this day, too, and they'll be ready to go later in the week. (See Day 4) It's also worth pointing out that the cooked roast freezes well, too, so if you're squeamish about holding leftover cooked pork in your fridge for this many days, cut up what you'll need after dinner on Day 1, label it in ziploc bags, and pull it out on the appropriate night.

Day 1 (Sunday or whatever day you tend to have a meat + three type meal--for us, that's usually Monday night): Sunday Pork Loin plus whatever sides you want (mashed potatoes are a good option as are Speedy Rosemary Green Beans).

Day 2: Pork Loin sandwiches on good bread (Easy French Bread makes a terrific option if you're being super frugal and want to make your own); we like our sandwiches with a bit of lettuce, cheese, onion salt, and mayo (and sometimes some BBQ sauce). Sides are cut up fresh veggies and chips. Incidentally, I've discovered that I only need to buy ONE bag of chips for this. We eat a modest serving each at dinner and there's enough for everyone to have sandwiches and chips the next day at lunch. And then the chips are GONE.

Day 3: Pork and Noodle stir fry (several options here--Noodles with Broccoli and Meat or sub in the leftover pork in something like Penne with Chicken and Broccoli) plus salad or fruit

Day 4: Marinated Maple Mustard Pork Chops, sweet potatoes (or winter squash also works well), salad (or something green)

Day 5: Fried Rice using any last bits of pork if you have them!