Vintage Frame of Mind is now PovertyBliss.com

Hi there. I am happy to announce that Vintage Frame of Mind has been rebranded to Poverty Bliss. The content of the website and blog will be very similar. Instead of focusing on the science of nutrition, I've decided to focus more on my passion of sharing wholesome recipes that a family can use to save money.

You'll continue to find delicious recipes with cost breakdowns and nutritional information per serving. However, I won't be highlighting an ingredient in each post to discuss nutritional components and benefits.

On Poverty Bliss, I hope to share more D.I.Y. and outdoor recreation posts as well. Think of it as a blog celebrating the simple life. I hope you'll join me!

www.povertybliss.com

With Love,
Jess

Italian Style Fall Dinner Meal Plan

This meal plan will last 2 weeks for under $80! These are a bunch of recipes that our family makes fairly often. Plenty of hearty meals to keep you full during long winter nights.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Frittata Florentine

Unstuffed Pepper Bake

Italian Subs

Caramelized Onion & Potato Frittata

Italian Goulash

Pizza Diavola

Scalloped Potato & Ham Chowder

Lasagna Soup


Grocery List:

Measurement	Item	Price
10 lb. bag	Potatoes	$2.98
1 bag	Spinach	$1.98
5 lb. bag	Yellow Onions	$2.48
2 heads	Garlic	$0.76
2	Carrots	$0.28
1 head	Celery	$0.98
4	Red Bell Peppers	$3.52
1	Green Bell Pepper	$0.68
12 oz	Ditalini Pasta	$1.47
16 oz	Spaghetti	$0.98
8 oz	Rigatoni	$0.47
1.5 cups	Panko Bread Crumbs	$1.98
1.5 cups	White Rice	$1.44
8 oz	Parmesan	$1.68
5 cups	Shredded Mozzarella	$5.00
1 bag (1 1/2c)	Shredded Swiss	$2.50
16 oz	Ricotta	$3.49
2 cups	Shredded Cheddar Cheese	$2.50
18 count	Eggs	$2.49
1 lb	Bacon	$2.74
3 lbs	Italian Sausage (hot/mild)	$7.96
1 bag	Pepperoni slices	$2.99
2 lbs	Ground Beef	$5.80
8 oz	Tomato Sauce	$0.27
15 oz	Tomato Sauce	$0.58
(2) 28 oz	Crushed Tomatoes	$1.96
(3) 6 oz	Tomato Paste	$1.23
28 oz	Italian Stewed Tomatoes	$0.98
15 oz	Diced Tomatoes	$0.58
(5) 14.5 oz	Chicken Broth	$3.30
15 oz	Cannellini Beans	$0.68
16 oz jar	Peperoncini Peppers	$3.89
5	Submarine Rolls	$2.40
1 bottle	Cooking Wine (White or Red)	$4.00
	Total:	$77.02

Pantry Items:

Milk
Olive Oil
Worcestershire Sauce
Vegetable Oil
Butter
Dry Mustard
Italian Seasoning
Red Pepper Flakes
3c Bread Flour
Salt
Active Dry Yeast
Sugar
Oregano
Basil
Garlic Powder
Cayenne Pepper

Italian Subs

$5.77 total / $1.15 per sandwich

After doing all of the work of prepping the marinara and meatballs, this meal comes together like a dream on a busy week night. It is super quick and above all, it is loaded with flavor!

Nutritional Highlight: Peperoncini Peppers. These peppers range from mild to fairly hot. The capsaicin, what gives peppers heat, kills bacteria in the stomach that can lead to ulcers. It also boost immunity and decrease blood cholesterol. 

Italian Subs  (serves 5)

Leftover Marinara
Leftover Meatballs
5 Submarine Rolls
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced
1 cup Sliced Peperoncini Peppers
1 Onion, sliced in half moons
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 Tbsp Olive oil

In a large pot, heat up leftover marinara and meatballs together over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute the bell pepper and onion until softened. Add in the peperoncini slices. Saute for 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, prep rolls by slicing them in half and toasting them under the broiler if desired.

Plate by layering rolls with 3 meatballs with marinara sauce, top with the mixture of peppers and onions, and then mozzarella cheese.

Nutritional Analysis:

Per sandwich: 565 calories, 22.6g fat (9.4g saturated, 2.6g polyunsaturated, 10g monounsaturated), 59.7g carbohydrate, 32.1g protein. Extremely high in Calcium, Phosphorus, Selenium, and Thiamin. Very high in Iron. Also high in Vitamins B-12 and B-6, Magnesium, Niacin, and Riboflavin.

Lasagna Soup

$9.77 total / $1.22 per serving

This soup is a satisfying meal on cold fall/winter nights. It gives the flavor and comfort of lasagna without all of the fuss. My husband particularly loves the additional cheese topping; it is what really makes this soup taste like lasagna. Enough talk, let's get to it!

Nutritional Highlight: Red Pepper Flakes. Not only will this spice add some heat to warm you up on a cold winter night, the capsaicin will also help protect you from some types of cancer. Some research indicates, it may also help curb appetite to aid in weight loss.

Lasagna Soup (serves 8)
Adapted from A Farm Girl's Dabbles

2 tsp olive oil
1 lb. hot or mild Italian Sausage, per preference
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp tomato paste
28 oz can Italian stewed diced tomatoes
8 cups chicken stock
8 oz. rigatoni
2 tsp dried basil

Cheesy Yum:
8 oz ricotta
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 cup shredded mozzarella
pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color.

Add diced tomatoes and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. 

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients.

To serve, ladle soup in a bowl and top with a dollop of the cheesy yum! Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis:

Per serving: 403 calories, 20.7g fat (11.1g saturated, 3g polyunsaturated, 11.1g monounsaturated), 28.3g carbohydrate, 25.3g protein. Extremely high in Vitamins A, B-6, and C, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Selenium, and Thiamin. Very high in Vitamin B-12, Manganese, and Zinc. High in Vitamin E, Folate, and Pantothenic Acid.