Here are some possible recipes and an optimized list of ingredients for two weeks' worth of meals, based on the web search results. The recipes are easy and cheap, and the ingredients are common and affordable. The list of ingredients is based on the market price of the ingredients as of January 2022.

Week 1:

Monday: Easy Mexican Casserole
Ingredients: ground beef, taco seasoning, tortilla chips, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, shredded cheese, salsa

Tuesday: Aunt Carol's Spinach and Fish Bake
Ingredients: frozen spinach, butter, bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, fish fillets, shredded cheese

Wednesday: Unstuffed Cabbage Roll
Ingredients: ground beef, onion, garlic, cabbage, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, salt, pepper

Thursday: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Ingredients: elbow macaroni, butter, cheddar cheese soup, evaporated milk, milk, shredded cheese

Friday: Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage
Ingredients: butternut squash cubes, olive oil, salt, pepper, ground beef, onion, garlic, rice vinegar, brown sugar, tomato sauce

Saturday: Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Ingredients: chicken thighs, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, ginger powder

Sunday: Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers
Ingredients: pre-made tamales (frozen or canned), canned chili with beans (or vegetarian chili), shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack), bell peppers (any color), sour cream (optional)

Week 2:

Monday: Hearty Pasta Fagioli
Ingredients: pasta (any shape), olive oil, onion, garlic, carrot, celery stalks (optional), canned white beans (or kidney beans), chicken broth (or vegetable broth), jarred tomato sauce (or canned tomato paste), dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt,
pepper

Tuesday: Cheeseburger Cups
Ingredients: refrigerated biscuit dough (or homemade biscuit dough), ground beef (or turkey), ketchup (or barbecue sauce), Worcestershire sauce (optional), onion powder (optional), garlic powder (optional), shredded cheese (cheddar or American)

Wednesday: Gnocchi Chicken Skillet
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or thighs), salt,
pepper,
garlic powder,
onion powder,
olive oil,
gnocchi (frozen or shelf-stable),
jarred sauce (marinara or alfredo),
shredded cheese (mozzarella or parmesan)

Thursday: Grandma's Tomato Soup
Ingredients: butter,
onion,
flour,
chicken broth (or vegetable broth),
tomato juice,
sugar,
baking soda,
salt,
pepper,
heavy cream (or half-and-half)

Friday: Hay and Straw
Ingredients: ham steak,
butter,
flour,
milk,
salt,
pepper,
frozen peas,
egg noodles

Saturday: Cowboy Stew
Ingredients: ground beef,
onion,
garlic,
potato cubes,
carrot slices,
beef broth,
tomato paste,
Worcestershire sauce,
dried thyme,
salt,
pepper

Sunday: Air-Fryer Lemon Chicken Thighs
Ingredients: chicken thighs,
lemon juice,
lemon zest,
butter,
garlic cloves,
dried rosemary (or fresh rosemary),
salt,
pepper

Optimized list of ingredients:

- Ground beef - 4 lbs
- Taco seasoning - 1 packet
- Tortilla chips - 1 bag
- Cream of mushroom soup - 1 can
- Cream of chicken soup - 1 can
- Shredded cheese - 4 cups
- Salsa - 1 jar
- Frozen spinach - 2 packages
- Butter - 1 stick
- Bread crumbs - 1 cup
- Garlic powder - 1 tsp
- Onion powder - 1 tsp
- Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
- Fish fillets - 4 pieces
- Cabbage - 1 head
- Diced tomatoes - 2 cans
- Tomato sauce - 2 cans
- Water - as needed
- Brown sugar - 2 tbsp
- Elbow macaroni - 2 cups
- Cheddar cheese soup - 1 can
- Evaporated milk - 1

Here are some tips for saving time and money when grocery shopping for these two weeks' worth of recipes while maintaining a balanced and nutritious meal plan:

- Plan ahead and make a list. Before you go to the store, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what you already have and what you need. Make a list of the ingredients you need for the recipes and stick to it. This will help you avoid impulse buying and food waste.
- Compare prices and look for deals. Check the flyers, coupons, and online ads of different stores to see where you can get the best prices and discounts on the items you need. You can also use apps or websites that compare prices and show you the best deals in your area. Some examples are Flipp, Grocery Pal, and Basket Savings.
- Buy in bulk and freeze or store. Buying in bulk can save you money and trips to the store, especially for items that have a long shelf life or can be frozen or stored. For example, you can buy ground beef, chicken thighs, cheese, butter, bread crumbs, pasta, rice, beans, broth, tomato sauce, and canned goods in bulk and freeze or store them for later use. Just make sure to label and date them properly and use them within the recommended time frame.
- Choose generic or store brands. Generic or store brands are usually cheaper than name brands but have similar quality and taste. You can save money by choosing generic or store brands for items that don't make a big difference in your recipes, such as flour, sugar, salt, pepper, spices, condiments, canned goods, frozen vegetables, etc.
- Shop seasonally and locally. Shopping seasonally and locally can help you save money and support your local farmers and producers. Seasonal and local produce are usually fresher, tastier, and cheaper than imported or out-of-season produce. You can also find seasonal and local items at farmers' markets, farm stands, or community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.
- Cook from scratch and avoid processed foods. Cooking from scratch can help you save money and eat healthier by avoiding processed foods that are often expensive and high in sodium, sugar, fat, additives, and preservatives. You can make your own sauces, soups, casseroles, pies, etc. with simple ingredients that you already have or can buy cheaply. You can also make your own bread crumbs by toasting and grinding stale bread or use leftover cooked rice to make fried rice or rice pudding.
- Use leftovers creatively and don't waste food. Using leftovers creatively can help you save money and time by avoiding food waste and making new meals out of old ones. You can use leftover chicken to make chicken salad sandwiches or chicken noodle soup; leftover beef to make beef tacos or beef stroganoff; leftover vegetables to make vegetable frittata or vegetable curry; etc. You can also freeze leftovers for later use or pack them for lunch the next day.

I hope you find these tips helpful and enjoy these recipes. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know. I'm always happy to help you with your cooking and shopping needs. 😊
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