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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 26, 2015 22:08:47 GMT -5
Please post your cheap meal ideas here.  |
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 26, 2015 22:09:06 GMT -5
From MrsD
Breads & pastas are relatively inexpensive filler uppers. Adding extras of these to your menus will help stretch the budget w/o depriving the family.
Rather than serving meat as an entree, you can use less of it as an ingredient in a casserole.
Grilled or steamed veggies over rice is a tasty, satisfying & inexpensive entree.
We enjoy a breakfast supper now & then. Pancakes or waffles (especially made from scratch) are inexpensive & *very* filling.
Meatless soups are another idea. Potato, tomato, veggie, broccoli cheese, etc., etc. Lots of soups w/ little or no meat!
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:12:31 GMT -5
Ideas from Buckeyes
We like a casserole w/ kidney beans, rice, cheddar cheese, and salt and pepper. Vegs on the side. I Don't recall how big your family is, but you just dump stuff in! Boil the rice; rinse and dump in the beans; add shredded cheese, and spices. It's filling VERY good, and needs just fruit or a green veg on the side.
Potatoes au gratin are also good. If you like, get a package of "pressed" beef or ham, chop and add. The brand name is Carl Buddig, but there are Save A Lot and ALdi versions. one package is about 39c (generic) and it adds LOTS of flavor to the taters. :-)
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:12:53 GMT -5
Ideas from Tifferjo
i have cut all of our meat in half-so what ever calls for a pound of meat i now use half a pound. that helps with health and $$.
Spaghetti is pretty cheap
institute a baked potato night (esp. when they are 99cents for a bag)
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:13:21 GMT -5
Stir Fried Veggies with Fried Rice from Eightisenough
stir fried veggies with fried rice
Cut up carrots, onions, broccoli, bell pepper, celery, and mushrooms. You can also use pea pods, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts.
Heat (medium heat) a large pan with a couple tablespoons of oil. Add some chopped garlic and stir. Add about 1/4 of the onion and cook til opaque. Next add the carrots and stir fry for a couple minutes. Continue to add the veggies one at a time in order of the most dense. Add salt and pepper for taste and a dash of soy sauce. Once the veggies are cooked you can make a sauce with cornstarch and chicken broth. Add mushrooms, bean sprouts and water chestnuts just to heat them through at the end. You can also use left over bits of chicken or pork. If you use beef then substitute beef broth for the chicken broth. The sauce will thicken while it cooks. Serve with white rice or stir fried rice.
Fried rice is really easy. Start with a medium hot pan with oil and chopped garlic. Add diced carrots, onions and celery. then add cold cooked rice. Stir them until heated through. Add soy sauce to flavor and color the rice. Add frozen peas and heat through. Scramble a couple eggs and then add them into the pan. You can also use left over bits of meat to make it a chicken, pork or beef fried rice.
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:13:50 GMT -5
from KD75
Bean Burritos w/Homemade Refried Beans & homemade torillas
bean burritos with homemade refried beans and homemade tortillas.
Flour Tortillas
Ingredients:
3 cups of white all purpose flour
½ tsp of salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ cup of lard or vegtable shortening
1 cup of hot water
Instructions:
Mix the flour and salt. Mix in the lard by hand until the mixture resembles small peas. Add the water slowly until you have a soft elastic ball. You may need to add a little more or less water, but do it slowly. You may not really need as much water as you think you do. Knead until smooth. Cover with a damp towel and then let rest 15 minutes.
Make about 7-9 equal size balls. Flatten and roll each ball into a flat round disk. Cook on a very hot cast iron skillet. No oil is necessary. Flip when bottom side is golden, the top should be bubbling slightly when ready. Use a spatula to lift the edge and check for doneness before flipping completely. Keep the cooked tortillas warm by covering with a damp towel.
Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil or lard (I substitute w/ water from cooking the beans)
2 cups cooked Pinto Beans (recipe follows)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Heat lard in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Pinto Beans; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Mash beans; stir in chile powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Add more oil to skillet if necessary; cook and stir until a smooth paste forms, about 5 minutes. Garnish with shredded cheese if desired.
Yield: 4 servings
Pinto Beans
4 cups water
1 pound dried pinto or black beans (about 2 cups)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic
1 slice bacon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin seed
Instructions
Mix water, beans and onion in 4-quart Dutch oven. Cover and heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 1 hour. Add just enough water to beans to cover. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until beans are very tender, about 2 hours. (Add water during cooking if necessary.) Drain; reserve broth for recipes calling for bean broth. Cover and refrigerate beans and broth separately; use within 10 days.
Yield: 8 servings
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:14:11 GMT -5
by KD75
Homemade Pizza
here is the crust...
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups lukewarm water
1 package yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt,
5 1/2 cups of flour
Mix the water, yeast and sugar together. Let sit for 10 minutes. Mix olive oil, egg and salt in mixing bowl. Add the water-yeast-sugar mixture to the olive oil mixture, then add the flour. Knead or process until dough is mixed. (you may need to add a little more water). The dough should seem slightly sticky. Knead by hand for about 5 minutes on a floured surface. Let rise (covered) for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours in a greased bowl. Divide into three portions. You may then use the dough or freeze it. It's good for about 3 months in the freezer. I usually make two batches (6 portions) at once.
Then top with a good sauce (I use hunts traditional spaghetti sauce at .99 a can) and mozzerella cheese. You can have a veggie pizza or any toppings you would like. I also use the same crust and sausage gravy and cheese, add scrambled eggs and it is a breakfast pizza.
Bake at 500 degreesfor about 12- 15 minutes.
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:15:06 GMT -5
Homemade Casserole From Hsmom71
2 cans cream of chicken soup OR 1 can cream of chicken, 1 cup sour cream.
1/2 c. milk
canned biscuits, or make your own
whatever veggies you have on hand (I like broccoli and corn)
diced chicken (optional)
Onion, sauteed (optional)
1/2 c. shredded cheese
Combine all but the biscuits and place in dish.
Cook at 350 for 15 minutes, remove from oven, cover with biscuits and cook until biscuits are done.
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:15:28 GMT -5
Beef Stuffing Bake From LyndainPA
1 lb ground beef
1 package beef or pork stuffing mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 small can mushrooms
1 cup water
1 cup frozen vegetables
Cook beef and drain. Put into ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish. In a bowl, combine soups, mushrooms, water, seasoning pack and vegetables. Sprinkle stuffing over beef and pour soup mix over both.
Bake uncovered @ 350° for 30 minutes
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:15:41 GMT -5
Easiest fudge around From Gretti
The easiest fudge around
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is a recipe I learned from my Pampered Chef lady:
Take a container of vanilla frosting and melt it in a saucepan, stir in a bag of milk chocolate chips (or any flavor - - make up your own concoctions). Then line a square baking pan with parchment paper, and pour the fudge in and place pan in refridgerator until set. It's soooo good, and tastes like you slaved over it!
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:16:07 GMT -5
Several ideas by KD75
breakfast stuff: biscuits & gravey, or pancakes, etc.
meatless meals are less expensive.
I think making your own pizza is alot cheaper then buying - and they taste better too!
Potatos are very cheap.... getting a 10 lb bag.
potato soup, french fries, hash browns, baked, boates with lots of toppings, mashed w/gravey.....
Macaroni goulash, chicken and rice, fried rice, potato soup, spaghetti, black beans and rice, breakfast stuff(as long as you don't use pork, that's expensive!), taco salads, meatless chili, vegetable soup...
Macaroni goulash - this is my cheap/filling/everybody likes it...I use one box of mac n cheese(I get the cheapo 25cents a box at Wal-mart), one can corn(50 cents at walmart, or less sometimes), one can diced tomatos(50 cents), 1/2 lb ground beef if you've got it(50 cents - I refuse to pay more than 99 cents a lb for ground beef, and I rinse it to reduce the fat content). I just boil the macaroni, add the meat, tomatos, cheese packet, and corn and stir it up until hot.
Chicken and rice...I usually use chicken thighs(probably about $1.69/lb here, and I use 1/2 lb, so 85 cents) for this, but you could use the cheapest - if it was bone-in I'd just boil it...also you don't need a lot of chicken, think of it more as seasoning than the main deal. Anyway, I cook my chicken, then remove it from the skillet - add about 1.5/2 cups of rice(I buy 5 lb for 99 cents and I can't figure out how much one cup would cost...it's cheap though), the equivalent of one can of cream of chicken soup(that recipe is on the recipe board, easy and cheap), some milk or water if I don't have milk to equal 2.5 cups liquid. Stir it up and wait until it comes to a boil, put the chicken in and cover...reduce heat to low and cook until done. I usually will have some kind of vege - green beans, or maybe a fruit, stewed apples.
Fried rice...I cook rice, then "stir fry" it with a scrambled egg, whatever veges I might have available(last week it was 1/2 a tomato, a carrot, and some peas), soy sauce, and bacon if I have some. You can also add meat, but it ups the cost a bit...however, you don't have to add a lot, maybe just 1/2 a lb or something.
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:16:32 GMT -5
Ground Beef Dish from Danica
danica:
ground beef dish
1 1/2 - 2 pounds ground beef
1 med. onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small carrot grated
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
elbow macaroni
brown the ground beef and add salt and pepper to taste. a dash of chili powder or whatever else you like.i also put in a about a tsp. of sugar. cook the onion and celery in some butter or oil until softened. drain the ground beef and add the onion and celery. then the carrot, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce....with about half of a can of water. (if you like it more brothy-more...more meaty-less) simmer over medium heat.
prepare the macaroni. i usually make a cup (dry measurer) when it is done drain and add to the ground beef mixture. this makes alot of food! 4 of us eat it with plenty leftover for the next day!
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:16:55 GMT -5
Beef Taco Skillet from Ohiomom
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1 lb. ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 cup chunky salsa or picante sauce
1/2 cup water
8 flour or cor tortillas (6 in.) cut into 1 in. pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cook beef and drain. Add soup, salsa, water, tortillas and 1/2 the cheese. Bring to boil, cover and simmer 5 min.
serve with remaining cheese.
serves 4
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:17:17 GMT -5
Ideas from Writermom
Budget crunchers I have some food dishes to share
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my cupboards are empty and I mean empty. We are on a squeaky budget and not able to fill up the pantry at all. So...I said a prayer each day so far, before opening my cupboards, that God guide me to making a delicious and healthy meal for my family and have fun doing it!
Monday - 4 cups of instant rice (4 cups because we have a big family), 1 can of Fiesta Nacho Cheese soup, 1 can stewed tomatoes, and one can of whole kernel corn drained. My dk's loved this and I just threw it together with what I had - next time I will add some roasted potatoes, and chicken for a fried mex. rice flavor! Very good for a no meat dish!
Tuesday - 1 can of canned milk, 1 can cond mush soup, 1 can tuna drained. Boil whatever noodles you have, drain, in pot melt 1/2 stick butter and add milk, soup and tuna, heat, add cooked noodles and some cheese if you have it. This is our tuna and noodle stovetop dinner -we used different noodles.
Wednesday - macaroni salad without the celery and with a can of tuna added! Great summer dinner and the dk's loved it!
Also trying a double chocolate cookie (lowfat and budget friendly) as we speak.
FlyinHigh:
actually started this last saturday with a few
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PB &J nights in between. Forgot tomorrow is wed. Losing my mind! Just checked the cupboard and it's going to be interesting tomorrow...
-1 box cornbread mix
-canned corn, peas, and carrots (not mixed)
-1 can chicken noodle soup (small can)
-canned chicken broth
-dry mashed potatoes
.....oh..oh...we'll have pancakes! Yeah!
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Post by kidsandpets on Jan 28, 2015 20:17:45 GMT -5
Vegetarian Chilic-Mac From Missyluvsgod
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My dd loves this
1 large can tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
liberal dash of chili powder and black pepper
The spices can be adjusted to your taste and the ingredient amounts can be adjusted to fit the size of your family.
Serve this on top of cooked elbow macaroni
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