Does anyone have a really yummy FRUGAL recipe (other than the usual lasagna or spaghetti) for a family that had a baby recently? I really want to make a meal for them, but usually make a recipe that has a lot of expensive ingredients. Thanks!
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This one is moderately frugal, but if it's only the two of them eating you could make two and freeze one with the one recipe. Then it would be frugal for sure.
You will need 1 pound hamburger, 2 cups salsa (can use Sam's from Walmart and have leftover salsa), one can canned corn, one can canned peas, one package jiffy corn bread mix, some shredded cheese.This make the best tasting casserole and everyone who has tasted it loves it even though it sounds gross.
Brown and crumble hamburger, drain fat. Put back in pan. Add 2 cups medium hot salsa.Keep warm on low. In another pan, heat the liquid from the two cans of veggies to point of boiling but just.Pour out about a third of liquid and place veggies in hot liquid and turn to low until heated through. Don't boil.In a minute pour into hamburger and salsa mix and stir gently.Add a little salt and pepper here. Then pour into one or two glass casserole pans, depending on whether for one or two meals. In a bowl follow directions for corn bread mix with the jiffy mix and add just a little extra spoon or two of milk extra ( up to double the milk which would be 2/3 cups at most)...You want the corn bread mix to be just runny enough to pour over the meat/veggie mix and cover it. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, usually cheddar, but whatever you have. It doesn't have to be a huge amount if you make sure you get a shred or two everywhere. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until corn bread topping is nicely golden. You can serve it with a dollop of sour cream if you like, but Louisiana style hot sauce (not tobasco) is very good on it. It's hard to explain, but all the flavors blend and the texture is wonderful. I call it
Picante Meatloaves: Someone made these for my husband and I after we had our first child. It has been on the menu ever since. It is awesome! My children LOVE it too!
Meatloaves
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/3 c. bread crumbs
Picante Topping:
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. ketchup
1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Mix meat with egg and bread crumbs. Make into tiny meatloaves (enough to fit balled in your palm). Bake 30 minutes @ 350 degrees, turning halfway and draining any fat.
Meanwhile, heat topping ingredients in saucepan until hot.
Top meatloaves with sauce or leave for everyone to do their own.I always make this with boiled red potatoes (skin on) cut into quarters.
I make this once a month, and it's a meal in itself for four dinners/lunches. I get a box of cheap stuffing mix, and once cooked, I line the bottom of a 4 quart baking dish with it. Then, I put down a layer of sliced turkey, leftover chicken, any white meat (preferably). Then, a layer of grated or sliced cojack or mild chedder cheese, a can of drained corn, and top it off with left over mashed potatos or a package of Idahoan instant spuds, or any instant potato.
Cooked rice (white or brown), stewed beef (don't throw out the juice afterwards but do lightly drain)season to taste while cooking, Cream of mushroom soup simply mix all and serve w/ a salad or veggies. Get creative and do add ins too.
Steamed veggies w/ salad toppers and salad dressing
mac n chz w/ Kielbasa
Hamburger Helper
Scalloped potatoes with maybe sausage.
How about chicken fajitas? Easy to make. Fairly inexpensive. I use chicken breasts, or whatever we can buy cheaply. Cut into strips and cook in a small amount of olive oil, along with sliced onions and bell peppers (green is fine, but you can use other colors to make it pretty) you can add jalapenos to taste, although if the new mom is nursing, you probablly want to skip that!
My mom made this all the time growing up and everyone loved it. I still make it and my family loves it!
Hamburger Casserole
Brown some ground beef (about a pound), cook a small package of elbow macaroni (drain), add 6 ounces of sour cream, a can of corn, some minced onion, salt and pepper to taste, a can of mushroom soup and a can of cream of chicken soup. Mix together, put in a casserole dish and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
It's like Stroganoff, but better (and cheaper). It also makes a TON, so you can give one and freeze one.
How about shepards pie Place some ground beef on the bottom of a cassarole dish them add a can of corm and top it off with either left over mash pototates or instant. Place in the oven and bake for about a half an hour or until top of potatoes becomes golden. I like to make on freeze on in a foil pan and use at a later date.
Hey - congrats on the new baby!
Here's a good one - that my mom always made and I now make.
Hamburger Pie
1 lb of ground beef ($3.75)
1/2 medium onion - chopped finely (.50)
salt, pepper, and garlic to taste (you probably have this!)
1 package of instant mashed taters (.88 - $1)
1 frozen pie crust ($3 for 2)
1 cup of colby jack cheese ($1.50)
about $9 for all ingredients and it serves 3-4 adutls
Take frozen pie crust and let it sit out on counter for about 15 minutes (until thawed). Prick the bottom with fork several times. Bake crust until done (lightly brown). Set aside when done.
Cook hamburger until brown with onion, salt, pepper and garlic. Drain grease off hamburger - really drain it on a paper towel - the meat should be pretty dry. Set aside.
Cook instant mashed taters according to directions. Set aside.
In baked pie crust add a sprinkle of cheese to the bottom then all of you hamburger mixture. Spread all the mashed taters on top of the hamburger mix. Put the rest of your cheese on top of the taters.
Put it in the over for about 10-15 minutes and let everything get really warm and the let the cheese melt.
Pull out and serve with you favorite canned veggie.
My husband puts tabasco sauce on it for extra flavor. I use BBQ sauce or picante.
Leftovers stay good and can be microwaved or popped back in the oven at 350 degrees.
:)
How about making a bowl or tub of either tuna salad, chicken salad or pimento cheese spread & deliver it with a box of crackers, or tortillas, or homemade bread? They could make up sandwiches as they need it & the salad spreads would keep indefinitely in the fridge.
Put a pack of chicken legs with some cut up potatoes and a can of green beans and can of cream of chicken soup and a can or two of water cover and cook on stove top for about an hour. Dinner for about 6 bucks
Tater Tot Hotdish.
Very easy and cheap!
2lb tater tots
1lb hamburger
1 can milk
16oz can green beans
1 can cream of chicken soup
Line bottom and sides of casserole dish with part of tater tots. Next, add browned hamburger. Next, add green beans, drained. Then put tater tots that are left on top. Mix soup with 1 can milk and pour over dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 1 hour 1/4 mins.
Enjoy!
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