The Sustainable Couple: Meal Planning & Recipes

Meal planning is one of those tasks each week that I don't necessarily enjoy, but is a necessity for John and I to eat clean, healthy foods and keep our budget in mind. Additionally, meal planning also helps us eat in season - whether that's from our abundant organic garden or from our local food co-op.

There are days when my inspiration wanes and I fall into a meal planning rut. In the spring of 2016 I discovered Real Plans, an intuitive online meal planning site that offers fully customizable meal plans for just about every diet and food need out there.

If you are visiting this page to get inspiration from one of our homestead meals, especially our growing collection of meals for two people, you will find some goodies listed below. I would also highly encourage you to check out Real Plans, even for just a month. I know you'll love it as much as we do.

Dips and Appetizers
Cheryl's PARTY Cottage Cheese Dip
Kara's Texas Caviar
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Dry Salsa Mix

Sweet Breads
Homemade Croutons
Applesauce Muffins
Aunt Glenda's Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Cinnamon Rolls {from scratch!}
Naturally Sweetened Shortcake

Soups
Simple, Fast French Onion Soup for Two
Mom's Ham & Bean Soup for Two

Main Dishes
Beef
Dawn's Classic Beef Lasagna
Enne's Porcupine Meatballs
Linda's Sloppy Joes
Beef and Pesto Lasagna
Pantry-Pleasing, Quick Beef Stir Fry
Sweet and Savory Meatballs for Two

John's 1/2 Pound 'Date Night' Cheeseburger
Applesauce Meatloaf for Two

Feta Cheese Stuffed Burgers with Onion & Mushrooms
Korean {Ground} Beef for Two
Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles for Two

Pork
Brown-Sugar Rubbed, Smoked Pork Loin + How to Butterfly a Pork Loin
Gramma Jan's Pork Carbonara Pasta
Smoked Pork Loin
Italian Pork Loin Kabobs with Summer Vegetables

Savory BLT Wontons for Two
Authentic Beer Brats with Onions (using your cast iron skillet)
Chinese Barbecued Pork {for a crowd}

Chicken
Aunt Julie's Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Sheryl's Chicken Pot Pie
Fajita Seasoned Beer Can Chicken
Oven Roasted Lime Jerk Chicken
Sweet & Smoky Grilled Chicken Hindquarters

Garlic Chicken & Garden Vegetable Stir Fry for Two
Chicken Thighs with Garlicy Mushrooms and Onions
Fancy-Schmancy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts