Budget Meals

[JennyCup]

Some of our tried and true cheap meals are:

*Chicken pot pie - Bisquick recipe using canned chicken & mixed veggies and adding seasonings to both mix and the crust. (estimated meal cost: $2.00)
*SOS - country gravy with diced ham lunchmeat pieces over toast (estimated meal cost: $1.75)
*French toast (estimated meal cost $1.50)
*Denver egg scramble - eggs mixed with veggies, cheese, and diced ham lunchmeat. (estimated meal cost $1.50)
*Filled baked potatoes - use chili, cheese, broccoli, chives, bacon, etc. (estimated meal cost $1.50-$2.50 depending on ingredients used)
*Cheese dog subs - frozen roll dough, thawed, then wrapped around a cheese wrapped hot dog. (estimated meal cost $2.50)
*Nachos - tortilla chips, chili, and cheese baked in layers and served with sliced green onions and sour cream. (estimated meal cost $2.50)

*All meal costs are for the entire meal making 3 servings.

[flutterbye0419]

sometimes when I get down to almost nothing I will make a pack of Macaroni and Cheese (about 75 cents) throw in a can of drained tuna and a can of drained peas. There you have it a really cheap but tasty meal and the kids love it

[lmorgan74]

Re: Budget Meals


My favorite bare bones meal is instant mashed potatoes served with
canned beef stew. Another one of my favorites is boxed macaroni with
canned tuna mixed in. I try to keep these on hand at all times

OMG! I used to LOVE this growing up. Thanks for reminding me!

Lori

[Gran2Dausha]

Thickened potatoes. Make potato soup with cubed potato pieces and water. when it cooks some add cornmeal, stirring slow & constant to prevent lumps. Add butter,salt and a little milk. YUMMY. My granny made it for us all the time.

[flutterbye0419]

That sounds so yummy!

[mdowdy]

Ok, let's say it's the day before pay day, and you're broke. The cupboards are almost empty.

What is your favorite "Bare Bones" Recipe or meal? Most people have some stock items they try to -always- have on hand, whether it's canned mushroom soup, or instant rice, or condensed milk, or whatever.

What could you come up with if you only had a few items on top of your stock items? Cheap easy meals that you can scrape together from the pantry!

Please share with us!

Chicken Alfredo

noodles
leftover chicken from a deboned whole chicken
jar of alfredo sauce

I use ragu for about 1.50 a jar noodles about .50 chicken is leftover .00
Total cost 2.00

[rtebalt]

I have several "Stand By" Meals:

1.) Black Beans & Yellow Rice
2 cans black beans (drain 1 can & partially drain the other)
1 medium onion, chopped
3-5 tsp minced garlic
1-2 pkts Sazon Goya
1-2 tsp Sofrito
1 pkg yellow rice

1.) Cook rice as package indicates.
2.) Saute onion in oil. Add garlic & sazon & saute 1-2 minutes longer. Add beans & Sofrito. COntinue cooking while rice cooks. (I mash the beans a little with a potatoe masher. That way all the ingredients really do mix together well.)

[lcove2000]

It's usually some yummy omelets for us. When I am out of milk, I make powdered milk or have even used coffee creamer to make the egg base with some garlic salt. Then it is whatever we have left around. A little ham and cheese with spinach or chopped broccoli is great. Some onions and peppers with cheese and chicken, also works. You name it. Add some toast and jam and my kids love this meal.

The other thing that works is a double box meal of mac & cheese with hot dogs or ham cut up in it. The kids love it.

When food items are really low it is usually breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, etc.

[mdowdy]

When you said chopped broccoli it brought something to mind. When my 15 year old was little he loved broccoli and cheese and hated most breakfast items. So I fixed him a broccoli and cheese omlet and called it "Ricky's special" he still asks for them to this day.

[lcove2000]

What a sweet memory...Thanks for sharing. My little one does not like veggies and this is one of the tricks I used to slip something green into the diet occasionally.