# Firehouse 48-Hour Meal Planning System

This project contains a 60-dinner cookbook, an ingredient price and shopping reference, a formula-driven meal planner, a printable 20-tour rotation, and station kitchen quick references. The standard recipe yield is five. Enter actual crew size and current local shelf prices in the workbooks before shopping.

## Files

- **Firehouse Cookbook.pdf**: Print-ready cookbook with 60 recipes, recipe index by protein and time, ingredient cost estimates, five-serving quantities, cook-along instructions, substitutions, make-ahead notes, leftover safety, nutrition estimates, and the 20 core pairings.
- **Firehouse Cookbook.docx**: Editable version of the cookbook.
- **Costco Shopping Guide.xlsx**: Costco package references plus editable WinCo comparison, unit costs, source/status notes, storage guidance, staple stock targets, and ingredient-to-recipe crosswalk.
- **48-Hour Meal Planner.xlsx**: Select two recipes per tour, enter crew size, track pantry inventory, compare per-tour costs, and calculate net package quantities for ten planned tours. Yellow cells are editable; formula cells recalculate in Excel.
- **Firehouse Meal Rotation.pdf**: Printable 20-tour cycle with Day 1/Day 2 dinners and five-person estimated costs.
- **Firehouse Kitchen Quick Reference.pdf**: Printable recipe cards, 15-minute active-prep ideas, shopping/prep/storage guidance, pantry checklist, substitutions, and food safety temperatures.

## How the files work together

Start with the rotation PDF or choose meals directly in the website planner. Website pairings keep the main protein together and favor shared ingredient value. The planner also finds two-tour bundles across four dinners that minimize the gap between package checkout and ingredient value used; it keeps four dinner styles distinct and may repeat a protein to fit a bulk package. Day 2 often uses Tex-Mex, but the planner can use a non-Tex-Mex meal when it makes a better pantry match. The planner scales servings and subtracts pantry stock. Use the downloadable shopping workbook for package sizes, leftover use, storage, and Costco/WinCo planning. The website shopping guide adds smaller Walmart online references and labeled estimates checked October 30, 2026; those prices are not Boise shelf quotes. Enter local WinCo shelf prices for an exact comparison. Follow recipe directions in the cookbook; keep the quick reference near the stove. Update the price book with actual Boise or Meridian shelf tags when available, then the planner's cost and package estimates update from that data.

Pork-category recipes use pulled pork; sausage recipes use Italian or smoked sausage. Pizza recipes use homemade dough.

## Price and cost interpretation

Price references checked October 30, 2026. WinCo local shelf prices are not prefilled because current Boise/Meridian prices could not be verified; enter each local package size, price, and checked date in the site price guide. The planner chooses the cheaper package checkout item by item. Most Costco package figures are historical published Same-Day examples retained from the starting workbook. Same-Day delivery prices may be higher than local warehouse prices. Some pantry estimates have no public quote. No item number or local shelf price is claimed as verified where the source did not establish it. Food-used cost is the value of recipe ingredients consumed; purchase checkout is the full package cost, with unused balance retained for later tours.

## Source materials and safety

The original workbook and station whiteboard photo were used as project inputs. The price workbook contains source links, checked date and notes. Food safety guidance references FoodSafety.gov / USDA: poultry 165°F, ground meats 160°F, whole pork 145°F plus a 3-minute rest; refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F) and reheat leftovers to 165°F.