💰 Monday Money Madness Stretch your Dollars

Stretch 2 lbs of Ground Beef Into

14–16 Full Meals

Montreal Steak Burgers & Birria Donair

(Budget Power Move)

Groceries are expensive.

But flavour? That’s optional only if you let it be.

This week I stretched 2 lbs of ground beef into:

✔ 8 complete burger meals

✔ 6–8 complete donair wraps

And the secret wasn’t cutting flavour — it was adding smart protein and fiber.

I blended 2 cans of black-eyed peas into the beef. The result?

More servings. More nutrition. Lower cost per plate.

Zero complaints at the table. Let’s break it down.

🥣 Step 1: The Beef Stretch Method

Ingredients (Base Mix)

• 2 lbs ground beef

• 2 cans (540 ml each) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

Instructions

1. Blend or mash black-eyed peas until smooth.

2. In a large bowl, mix thoroughly with ground beef.

3. Divide mixture evenly into two bowls:

   • Bowl #1 → Burgers

   • Bowl #2 → Donair

     
     

This increases:

✔ Fiber

✔ Protein density

✔ Moisture retention

✔ Total yield

🍔 Recipe #1:

Montreal Steak Burgers

https://aspiceaffair.com/ESA-LAURA-G

Ingredients (Bowl #1)

• ½ capful A Spice Affair Montreal Steak Seasoning

• 2 cups oatmeal

• ½ cup ketchup

Instructions

1. Mix seasoning, oats, and ketchup into Bowl #1.

2. Form into 8 patties.

3. Grill or pan-cook until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).

🍔 Complete Burger Meal Build

Each plate includes:

• 1 burger patty

• 1 bun

• Lettuce, tomato, onion

• 1 slice cheese

• 1 cup roasted potatoes

🔢 Nutrition Per Full Burger Plate (Approx.)

• Calories: 650–700 kcal

• Protein: ~35 g

• Carbs: ~65 g

• Fiber: 8–10 g

• Fat: ~28 g

Balanced. Filling. High protein. Higher fiber than a standard burger.

💵 Cost Breakdown – Full Burger Meal

Total cost including buns, toppings & potatoes: ~ $36

Serves 8.

👉 Cost per complete burger plate: ~$4.50

Restaurant equivalent: $18–$22Savings per person: $13–$17

🌯 Recipe #2:

Birria-Style Donair Sheet Meat

DISCOUNT CODE: ESA-LAURA-G

📸 (Insert Birria seasoning image + rolled meat)

Ingredients (Bowl #2)

• ½ capful A Spice Affair Birria Seasoning

Instructions

1. Mix seasoning into Bowl #2.

2. Divide into 2 sections.

3. Place between wax paper.

4. Roll thin.

5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes.

6. Slice into strips.

You now have donair-style sheet meat perfect for wraps.

🌯 Complete Donair Meal Build

Each wrap includes:

• Pita bread

• Sliced donair meat

• Lettuce

• Tomato

• Red onion

• 2 Tbsp tzatziki

Optional: feta or pickled turnips.

🔢 Nutrition Per Full Donair Wrap (Approx.)

• Calories: 550–600 kcal

• Protein: ~32 g

• Carbs: ~55 g

• Fiber: 7–8 g

• Fat: ~22 g

Protein-forward and satisfying.

💵 Cost Breakdown – Full Donair Meal

Total cost (including pita + toppings): ~ $23

Serves 6–8.

👉 Cost per complete donair meal: $3.00–$3.80

Restaurant equivalent: $14–$18Savings per person: $10–$14

💰 The Big Money Math

From 2 lbs of beef, you will create:

• 8 burger plates

• 6–8 donair plates

  
  

Total: 14–16 full meals.

Total grocery spend (all ingredients included): ~ $59

Average cost per complete meal:👉 $3.75–$4.50

If you replaced just one $80 takeout night per month with this method:

You could save $960 per year. That’s real “found money.”

🧠 Why This Works

✔ Black-eyed peas stretch protein naturally

✔ Oats absorb moisture and improve texture

✔ Seasonings eliminate the need for multiple spice jars

✔ Two flavour profiles from one base mix

✔ High satiety per dollar spent

This isn’t cutting back.

This is cooking smarter.

Final Thought

Stretching meat doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour. It means making your groceries work for you. And when one batch becomes burgers and donair…That’s Monday Money Madness done right.

Stirring up goodness with The Pantry Planner,

Laura Grannary