Cheap Meals

RE: Cheap Meals Post By Lori (Guest Post) (07/22/2008) Here are a couple of cheap (and easy) meals. Chunky Sirloin Burger Soup--heat 1 can on the stove or microwave and serve it over 3 cups of cooked white rice. I put 1 1/2 cup of rice in a bowl, and half of the coup over each bowl. I always clip coupons for the soup and use them on double coupon day. This is an easy meal for 2, and costs about $3. I work 2 jobs and it's great for a night when I'm worn out and don't feel like really cooking. Meat, rice and veggies all in one bowl. Chili Mac is great too! A great way to S T R E T C H that chili out is to cook plain macaroni noodles and mix it with the chili. If you have shredded cheddar cheese, sprinkle some on the top. As a child my mom made lots of Chili, and she made Chili Mac with the leftovers to get one more meal out of it. You can always freeze the chili for later. Easy chili recipe 2 lb of browned ground hamburger (or deer meat if you can get it, it's FREE) 1 diced medium sweet onion, I throw it in with the hamburger. 2 cans of chili beans (whatever is on sale) 2 cans of tomato sauce 2 cans of petite diced tomatoes 1-2 cans of water 1 package of williams chili seasoning. I don't skimp on that...but there are lots of reasonable chili seasonings out there. I add salt to taste, because the williams seasoning is salt free. Good luck with your cooking! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By sugarplumbabe (Guest Post) (07/18/2008) Thank you to all of you that have contributed to this site. I've raised 7 kids (4 of them step kids) and cheap meals is a way of life for me. I now teach nutrition to young moms on a fixed income. I will be sharing these recipes with them. Thanks for your input. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Laurie (Guest Post) (07/16/2008) Here's a couple more that we LOVE! POTATO SOUP 1 white potato per person 1 large onion 1 can evaporated milk (2 if more than 6 potatoes) half stick of butter water salt and pepper Peel and cube one potato per person and place in a large soup pot, salt and pepper to taste, just cover with water--not too much--just cover the potatoes up --boil until tender. Reduce heat--do not drain! Add half a stick of butter, let melt. Place back on heat--medium. Add evaporated milk--cook until it JUST starts to boil--don't let it boil hard.. You can sprinkle with cheese, bacon, green onion if you want--this, however, is very good just as it is...serve with crackers...and a half a sandwich. This is a thin soup, but if you want it thicker--put 1T cornstarch in .5 cup water--dissolve, then add to final mixture, stirring until thickens. CHILI BEANS This is a wonderful recipe, and it is cheap to make!! 2 (15.5 oz) cans red kidney beans 1 pound hamburger 1 medium onion, chopped green pepper if you can find them cheap, chopped 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes 1 (8oz) can tomato paste 1-2 T chili powder 1 T. Balsamic vinegar 1 T. Worcestershire 1 t. Tabasco 1 t. garlic 1 t. oregano 1/2 t black pepper 2 bay leaves Mix all and simmer. Very healthy and high fiber meal. Adjust the seasoning to what is in the pantry--you don't want to break the bank for spices--all you REALLY have to put in it is chili powder. PANCAKES Use a mix, or try this homemade recipe--serve with canned fruit and a breakfast meat if its in the menu--make them nice and you won't realize you're eating cheap Make them really nice by heating a cheap bottle of syrup a bit in the microwave. Add a T of chopped pecans on top--just a tiny bit. Sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar on top. Serve with a small handful of blueberries or a couple of fresh strawberries--you can make those go a long way and give the feeing that you're eating a grand meal. 3 cups flour 1 t. baking powder 3 t. baking soda 1 t. salt 2 T. sugar 2 c. milk 1 c. plain yogurt 2 eggs butter (for greasing griddle) This will feed a bunch for cheap, cheap, cheap! FRENCH TOAST 1 egg, well beaten 1 T. milk 1 slice bread 1 T. butter dash of cinnamon mix egg, milk and cinnamon in a bowl. Melt butter in a skillet. dip bread into the egg mixture, then brown on both sides in the skillet. Serve with syrup or jelly. FUN CHEAP SWEETS oil for deep fat fryer 1 can of cheap biscuits white sugar or powdered sugar. Cut the biscuits in fourths--fry in hot oil until slightly browned, roll immediately in sugar or powdered sugar--serve hot! A really cheap, but really special treat! OATMEAL (Make it VERY special, you won't know it's cheap at all) 3 c. skim milk 1/2 cup brown sugar (extra for sprinkling on top in bowl) 3/4 t. cinnamon dash salt 1.5 cup old-fashioned oat meal 2-3 ripe bananas, mashed 2 T. butter 2 t. vanilla Place all ingredients in a heavy pot over medium-high heat and get comfy--to make this really good, you will need to stir non-stop for a good while-about 10 minutes--this is REALLY worth it, though--this is delicious oatmeal--you won't believe how good it really is...don't let it stick--reduce heat as needed--turn burner off, but leave pot on the burner--continue stirring until it cools enough that you are sure it won't burn now--cover and let sit about 15 minutes. Serve with a little more brown sugar on top--maybe a few slices of banana--maybe a couple of pecans. Serve with a can of fruit--to add protein--boil one egg per person GRITS are CHEAP and filling--serve with eggs and a breakfast meat, and fruit. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By (Guest Post) (07/15/2008) 4 words - pigs in a blanket. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Laurie Ashley (Guest Post) (07/15/2008) Get ready for some REALLY cheap meals here. HOMEMADE SALMON CAKES 1 can salmon, cleaned 4 white potatoes, peeled, cooked, mashed a few bread crumbs (can be canned, or you can just use some bread ends, stale bread, hotdog buns, hamburger buns--whatever--you just need a little--about a half a cup in all) 1 egg can add chopped onion form into patties--they should be nice and sticky fry in hot oil--these are GREAT! I serve them with a can of peas mixed with a can of carrots and one of those cheap boxes of mac and cheese (store brand). It feeds my whole family for about $8. NOODLE STUFF 1 package egg noodles 1 pound hamburger, cooked and drained 1 package taco seasoning mix 1 can tomato paste several cans of water brown and drain meat, add taco seasoning mix, tomato paste, water cook noodles, drain add all and serve....really tastes great and VERY cheap!! SMOKED SAUSAGE AND RED RICE 1 pound of smoked sausage or polksa kielbasa--whatever you like, sliced to your liking--I go about .75inch... 1 1/2 cup uncooked rice 1 (15.5oz can tomato sauce 1 can cold water onion and bell pepper, optional 2 T oil brown onions and peppers if used add rice--stir in oil and brown a little add sauce and water, bring to a boil place sliced sausage on top, cover and reduce heat CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE 1 can corned beef 1 head cabbage a little oil clean adn slice cabbage as desired boil in salted water to desired tenderness drain place a couple of T of oil in the bottom and sort of saute the cabbage just a bit put in a can of corned beef, use a fork to tear it up and mix it around SO GOOD, SO HEALTHY and costs about $5 for the family Serve with cheap mac and cheese and cornbread--make Jiffy--costs about a buck TURKEY DINNER 1 slice of deli turkey per person--you'll need to get this specially cut at the deli because you need it to be pretty thick 1 package stuffing, fixed according to directions 1-2 jars of turkey gravy place about a half a cup of stuffing on each piece of turkey and roll them, place in a baking dish, cover with gravy, bake serve with a can of green beans a can of jellied cranberry sauce and a can of sweet potatoes or yams with a little brown sugar and a pat of butter after plating It's very cheap, but it won't feel cheap! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Jennifer Batiste (Guest Post) (07/09/2008) Try this one. When I was younger my dad made this for us 5 kids and we loved it.. 1lb of hamburger, fry until fully cooked, mix with a family size of pork n beans. Bread is really good with this if you have it. I have 8 children and this one meal they love and if mad on thursday will become sundays meal. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By (Guest Post) (07/08/2008) I figured this out one night when i thought I had the right ingredients for stroganoff. It is still a little similar. 1 bag of frozen egg noodles 1 lb of hamburger 1 package of country gravy mix boil egg noodles for 20 minutes. While noodles are boiling cook hamburger until brown. Then in the hamburger add the water needed for the country gravy mix and then add country gravy mix. Stir until thick. When the egg noodles are done. Mix everything together. I had to add pepper and salt to taste. It ended up really good. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By JC (Guest Post) (06/23/2008) Oooh, I have one for pasta & crab or shrimp and it's super fast & simple plus it's inexpensive! Boil angel hair pasta Drain Toss with olive oil, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Mix in crab meat or shrimp. That's it. Serve w/ toasted garlic bread and a tossed salad. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Keri (Guest Post) (06/17/2008) Here's another idea for a cheap meal I came up with one night when there was more month than paycheck at the end of the month! Enchilada Sauce Soup 1 lb hamburger or ground turkey, browned and drained 1 large can red enchilada sauce 1/2 lb frozen mixed veggies 1/2 lb tri-color rotini pasta seasoning packet from beef ramen soup (save noodles for another use) Combine all ingredients in a pot. Add 1 enchilada sauce can of water. Cook until veggies are tender and pasta is cooked to your liking. This recipe is also really good when made with leftover taco meat or shredded chicken. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Keri (Guest Post) (06/17/2008) Wow! These are some great ideas!! I learned some great ideas for cheap meals when I was a nanny for a family with four boys. I'm sure you all know how much growing boys can eat, so it was essential to have cheap meal ideas to keep them fed without "losing the farm"! Here's my favorite. It sounds a bit odd, but it sure tastes great! 1 lb hamburger or ground turkey 1 lb wide egg noodles, cooked al dente and drained Ketchup Seasoned salt Cook the hamburger or ground turkey until no longer pink, crumbling up as it cooks. Drain off fat. Mix in cooked noodles, enough ketchup to make it all moist, and seasoned salt to taste. Serve with veggies or some salad and you've got a cheap, quick meal that everyone will love! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By guest (Guest Post) (06/06/2008) Yummy cassarole favorite 2 lbs of grond beef or ground turkey 1 package of broad noodles 2 cans of mushroom soup 1 can of celery soup salt and pepper to taste -Cook and drain the meat, add cooked noodles,soup and salt/pepper and mix in a big pot. Really Tasty and goes a long way! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Karen (Guest Post) (05/22/2008) There is a market in Romulas Michigan in the middle of town that sell meat very cheap. Ground beef goes for $1.00--$1.50 a pound and many other cuts at great prices. Also the hostess out-let is down the street for bread and snacks for lunches. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Nicole (Guest Post) (05/20/2008) I learned how to make this when I was a child in Brownies (Girl Scouts) and we called it Brownie Stew, not because it has brownies in it. Cook chopped hamburger meat, or turkey, drain. Add to vegetable soup or minestrone. That's it. Delicious with garlic bread! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Kari (Guest Post) (05/14/2008) Here's one to try- kind of like goulash elbow macaroni browned ground hamburger can of diced tomatoes any kind of cheese (cubed mozzarella works well) corn if you want Mix all the ingredients and serve warm or cold! Another idea: grilled/baked chicken cubed can of mandarin oranges box of wild rice w/seasoning mix Cook rice and chicken and mix them all together with the oranges. Also good warm or cold:) Spaghetti cooked served cold with ranch dressing When in season avocados sliced with sliced tomatoes on bread (sandwich) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by CindyM56 (51) | (05/13/2008) Contact Now, since you've seen umpteen dozen entres, and they all sound scrumptious! Here's something cheap and sweet. I know you guys are gonna think I'm nuts! Well, I am! But that's beside the point. The best way to make this is with sweet cornbread, but some don't like it sweet. If you aren't making cornbread from scratch, the best in my books are those little boxes of jiffy. They are usually about 3 for $1. at the dollar store, make up two or three of em, so the cornbread will be kinda thick. When it's done cooking, cut a big square out, slice it open, slap some butter in there, and pour pancake syrup on it! I know, everybody is going ew! I did too the first time around. But we were poor, broke and I had a sweet tooth that was on the verge of sending me out to steal a candy bar or something! Not really, but it was bad. My friend fixed this and I thought she'd lost her mind. She finally convinced me to try it and I've been a fan ever since, and so will you if you'll only give it a try! I guarantee it tastes better than you'll think! That's a poor man's dessert right there! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By cheyene (Guest Post) (05/09/2008) I love this website, so happy I found it cause we got kicked out of our old place that we paid 360 for. Now we're paying a 1000 and my mom has to use that money to feed us and then find a way to come up with the rent. It's just constant struggles and every thing about money, money. Plus now my sis is pregnant. My mom goes days without eating to feed us and then we have two boys and me so thanking God I found this website. I can't eat if like not every one eating and my sis and her boyfriend go on eating if front of people. Thank you if I think of anything I will let you guys know Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By heather. (Guest Post) (05/02/2008) Thanks everyone for all the ideas. My mom used to make this and my family loves it now. Plus its really simple and quick. 1 package breakfast sausage links.(regular not the sweet ones) penne noodles big can of tomato sauce salt pepper and basil Cook sausages in frying pan, cook and drain noodles then mix everything together. I save money on seasonings by buying them bulk at Winco. Health/natural food stores usually have bulk seasonings also. Then I can just buy what I will use and not pay $4 (or more) for an ounce Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Jenn-a-Lou (Guest Post) (04/21/2008) Lots of great ideas to use! I can't wait to try some of them! Thanks! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By nicholas (Guest Post) (04/12/2008) Fried rice is very easy. Take some chicken or pork and cook it in a non stick frying pan. Then put in some chopped garlic and onion. for health reasons put in some chopped collard greens (they are cheap and healthy.) Add some mushrooms, broccoli, some soy sauce and a little bit of fish sauce. Make sure it all stays moist. If needed you can put in a bit of oil in the beginning. Lastly add about four servings of rice. This will be great left over as well. You can also add a couple of eggs for protein. if you do not have meat, it still tastes great! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Mel (Guest Post) (04/05/2008) One of my favorite things my mom made us as kids was "pea patch chicken". Take as many chicken pieces as you need (usually she would make 6 pieces, and whatever we had on hand, legs, thighs, boneless skinless breasts, etc) and brown them in a large skillet with some oil, salt and pepper. Once the chicken is well browned, and over half way done, add 1 family size can of cream of mushroom soup and a 16 oz bag of frozen peas. Then cover and simmer on medium until the chicken is completely cooked. Serve over hot rice. Another thing she would make that us kids love is hamburger gravy...you brown hamburger and either add brown gravy or a family size can of cream of mushroom soup and serve it over hot rice. Sometimes I add sliced up mushrooms and onions and sauté them with the hamburger and stir in some sour cream at the end. You can serve that over hot pasta or rice. And lastly, my favorite things to make when we are broke or in a hurry is a box of pasta roni or rice a roni and add some cooked meat to it and/or some "matching" veggies. For example, to the broccoli and cheddar rice a roni, I add chopped cooked chicken, a bag of frozen cooked broccoli and sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top. For the shells and cheddar pasta roni, I would mix it with some cooked broccoli and diced ham. with the mexican rice a roni, add a can of kidney beans, a bag of frozen corn and some taco meat, and top it with salsa and sour cream. You can even serve it with tortilla chips or as a burritto filling. And to the red beans and rice, I'll add some browned sausage, bell pepper, andsome tobasco. All of those boxed sides, I just use as a base and create a real meal and it really stretches to make a few meals. I will cook 2 boxes at a time and it feeds me and my husband for dinner and lunch the next day (and he's a big eater) and sometimes even another lunch for me the following day. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By elaine vance (Guest Post) (04/03/2008) Times are getting tough, I try to save any way I can. Thanks for meals. They sound Great! Report Spam or Abuse Mock Stroganoff Post By Lacey (Guest Post) (03/31/2008) I love all these ideas and thought I would throw in one of my family favorites! I call it mock stroganoff and it is cheap and easy and most importantly, delicious! Mock Stroganoff Ingredients: 1lb ground beef or turkey 1 packet french onion soup mix 1 family size can of cream of mushroom soup (any brand is fine) milk 1 cup of sour cream 1 package egg noodles -Mix together ground meat and onion soup mix -Make meatballs or patties out of the meat and brown in a skillet. *my kids love the meatballs! -When meat is cooked through add the large can of cream of mushroom soup plus 1/2-3/4 of the can full of milk to the skillet with the meat. -Mix together and let simmer until thick and bubbly. -Boil the egg noodles according to package directions. -Finally add the sour cream to the soup/meatballs and let simmer for about 5 minutes. I also season the sauce a little bit with salt and pepper. -Serve hot meatballs and sauce over egg noodles. This is so good! I usually add a vegetable or salad on the side to make sure the meal is well balanced. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Becky (Guest Post) (03/31/2008) One of my kids favorites (and a classic) tuna casserole, 1 can of tuna, i can of peas, 1 can of cream of mushroom(or chicken) soup, and 1/2 a package of egg noodles. Boil the noodles and add all the other ingredients to drained noodles and heat up in a pan, quick and really good Costs about $2.50 if you buy from Walmart or the dollar store. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by mandilu202 (2) | (03/07/2008) Contact A few other cheap ideas: Totino's frozen pizza, which I believe costs less than 2 dollars. Not the healthiest thing, but you know. Rice and beans! We get the kind that is just dried rice and beans in a bag with spices and everything already in it. It's very cheap, probably less than 2 dollars. Put it with a veggie and you have a good meal. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by mandilu202 (2) | (03/07/2008) Contact Thank you for the Tater Tot Casserole recipe! It was a childhood favorite and no one I know can remember the recipe! Here are some of my own ideas: First, cheap, balanced meals that you might not have considered. Soup and grilled cheese, Banquet Crock Pot Meals (only 5 or 6 dollars, with meat included, feeds a family of 4). Eat breakfast for dinner (pancakes, eggs, hash browns, all very cheap). Spaghetti, and my favorite... Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese as directed. Add 1 can of tuna and 1 can of mushroom soup. This stuff is delicious, works well for lunch, and I eat it hot or cold. I love it, and a few friends I know that have recently tried like it, too. Report Spam or Abuse A few cheap meals Post By Mike (Guest Post) (02/18/2008) This site is awesome! And here are a few recipes for anyone who wants to try something! 1 Kielbasa sausage/polish sausage 1 box Pierogies 1 tbsp butter salt and pepper to taste Begin by boiling a pot of water for Pierogies, frying your sausage during this period. When water boils, add box of Pierogies, and boil them until they are soft, or float. After this, take 1 Tbsp butter and add to a pan, and fry pirogies on each side, until golden brown. Add salt and pepper to taste. There ya go, some sausage and Pierogies, so good! Costs like 7 dollars Heres another...just kidding! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By dawn in oregon (Guest Post) (01/30/2008) I do chili this time of year and freeze what's left over Ground beef is at a low this time of year. So i take 1/2lb of ground beef 1 onion and diced chilli's brown it all up. Open a Can of diced petite tomato's with chilli's I get for .50 a can and two cans of beans (30 cents a can) i like navy and red kidney and handful of chili powder a tsp of cumin and cook over low heat for about an hour comes out great and really cost me 3.00 or less depending on price of beans and makes two meals for my family of 4. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By heather (Guest Post) (01/24/2008) Thanks a lot we are on a very tight budget with a 15 month old little girl and these recipes are going to really help out a lot. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Tom - Buffalo NY (Guest Post) (01/09/2008) Potato pancakes Peel 4 or 5 potatoes, cut up and put in blender or grate by hand. Add 1 egg, salt and pepper to taste and enough flour to thicken to a good pancake batter. Add chopped onion if desired. Cook on well buttered hot pan, turning over once, when golden brown on bottom. Good for breakfast, dinner or as a side dish with dinner. Top with plenty of butter. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by crazylady4christ2007 (53) | (12/09/2007) Contact mommas old fashioned baked beans i can of baked beans in a casserole dish add beans ketchup about half a cup some slices of raw bacon and brown sugar about a quarter of a cup..stir up and bake in the oven for about 35 to 40 minutes when done make a corn bread...and serve with any meat if left overs put in the fridge and make a bean sandwich the next day on bread with a little mustard is delicious... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by crazylady4christ2007 (53) | (12/09/2007) Contact one more and then i am off to bed make a crock pot roast buy a shoulder blade roast they are ussually the cheapest roast in the meat section...brown it on the stove top til lightly brown on both sides then put it in your crock pot with a can of cream of mushroom soap..any brand is good...use an envelope of lipton onion soup mix cut up you vegetables i use potatoes and carrots but you can use any that you like add a can of water...put the crock pot on high takes about 5 hours to cook and when it done its delicious and the gravy is already in the pot...another cheap meal on a cold night...the next day you can toast some bread and pour it on top and heat in a microwave it tasted good for a left over also...you can make home made tea cheap keep a gallon container from milk and wash it out...put about 7 tea bags in leave string hanging out of opening so you can easily remove it later fill the jug full of hot water...and set in the sun for about an hour if its freezing temps out side then set near a window that has sun light streaming in...after tea is dark bring in and remove tea bags and pour over ice in tall glasses this tea taste good wuith out sugar but if you want it sweet add sugar and lemon to taste...cost less than a dollar to make and lasts quite a while in fridge.. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by crazylady4christ2007 (53) | (12/09/2007) Contact make meat loaf go to the butcher and ask for a pound of veal, hamburger, pork...add this in a bowl with one egg italian bread crumbs and add a couple of squirts of ketchup enough to cover the top use about a half of a cup of bread crumbs add some diced up onion...or open a package of lipton onion soap mix and sprinkle lightly on the top about 2 teaspoonsful..after you add ingredients put your hands in the bowl and need it like you would do with bread..after its mixed place the meat loaf in a bread loaf pan place about a quarter of a cup of water in bottom of pan...preheat oven about 15 minutes at 400 then bake at 350 degrees about half an hour depending on oven when the top is brown and the middle is no longer pink its done...cook with mashed potatoes and a vegetable meatloaf taste good with some mustard on it and if there are left overs its delicious cold on a sandwich for lunch the next day...we have packaged meat loaf mix here in the meat deparment at meijers it costs about 2.49 cents Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by crazylady4christ2007 (53) | (12/09/2007) Contact if you dont have a crock pot buy one...its an inexpensive way to cook...go to the store and buy western style spare ribs...you can get them for about 3.50 a package brown them in a pan then cut them up and put them in a crock pot with a bottle of open pit and a half of cup of water and cut up potatoes and i like baby carrots a package but you can use regular carrots and cut up a small onion and put it in turn up the crock pot to high about 5 hours when its cooked the meat will be tender and delicious...it makes enough to serve 5 peole with left overs to...then get you a package of jiffy corn bread mix and make it and eat it with this its an excellent cheap meal.. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by crazylady4christ2007 (53) | (12/09/2007) Contact my recipe is called poor mans stew my mother made this during tight times when we were kids you buy a package of hamburger fry it in a pan with a little oil and some diced onion until brown drain grease put in a crock pot with a can of tomato sauce and a can of small tomato paste and about a cup of water to cover then you add cut up potatoes and let cook til potatoes are tender than you add a package of frozen peas and carrots and let cook some more til tender...before serving add brown sugar to taste to take the tartness off the romato sauce..you can also add a can of corn to this recipe...it taste great heated up the next day or two it doesnt cost alot to make and the kids really love it... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Jenn in Montana (Guest Post) (12/09/2007) Tater Tot Casserole 1 pound ground beef (or turkey) 16 oz bag of tater tots 1 can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken) 1 soup can of milk or water Preheat oven to 450 (or as directed on tater tots package). Place tater tots in a metal 13x9 inch baking pan (glass works too, but doesn't crisp up tater tots as well). Start them cooking while you brown hamburger. Drain hamburger. Pull tater tots out of oven and reset temp to 350. Sprinkle hamburger over tater tots. Mix soup and water or milk in small bowl. Pour over tater tots and hamburger. Bake 25 minutes. Kids love it. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By scott (Guest Post) (11/28/2007) Check this out- Take some corn tortilla's and fry them in a little bit of oil until they're soft. Pat with paper towel to remove excess oil. Zap some hot dog's in the microwave, let cool a couple minutes. Cut the dog's half way through lengthwise. Take some cheese slices and cut into strips. place 2 strips of cheese into the slice in the hot dog. Place the dog onto tortilla and roll up. Secure the seam with a toothpick. Bake them in oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes or until cheese drips out of the ends. This is a great after school snack and I guarantee the kids will love 'em! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Tasha (Guest Post) (11/19/2007) Cheap Sausage meal 1 pkg. kielbasa or sausage link 1 big can or 2 small cans of green beans with potatoes Couple pats of butter/margarine Salt & Pepper to taste Cut kielbasa/sausage into round slices. Drain the cans of vegetables. Mix cans and sausage slices and place in a casserole dish. Place pats of butter on top and season. Bake at 350 till heated through. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by 4libros (15) | (11/12/2007) Profile | Contact Sausage & Rice Casserole 1 lb. kielbasa, cut into pieces 1/2 lb. cheese, grated 1-2 small zucchini or yellow squash, sliced 2 cups rice 4 cups water Boil rice, squash and kielbasa in water till rice is done. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Spy Sandwiches (from Harriet the Spy) sliced tomatoes mayonnaise (or other spread) bread Easy and fun for kids. I add cheese to mine, though. Don't forget one of the easiest and least expensive meals - grilled cheese sandwiches. When I was a kid and Mom got sick, Dad always cooked his "egg series." This was essentially anything he wanted to throw in a pan with eggs. One of his more popular combinations -sounds- awful, but it's great! Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, jelly on the other. Fry eggs over easy (or hard, if you prefer), then place on one side of the bread. Top the egg with cheese. Meats are optional - ham or bacon or even sliced bologna - then, top with the other slice of bread. Don't criticize before you try it. ;) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Reggie (Guest Post) (11/12/2007) THE AMERICAN DREAM!!!!!!! When I was an alcoholic living in New Orleans, this is all I would eat. Ya take a Bubba Burger. Cook it. Cut it all up. Ya take a Frank. Don't bother cooking it. Just slice it. Throw that in a pot of baked beans. AND THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM!!!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Michael the Moe (Guest Post) (11/01/2007) I had to throw in my two cents worth (pun intended!) since I got all these great recipes from you all. Kielbasa or hot dogs with mac -n- cheese: You can slice up either and cook along with the noodles, then prepare per box directions. Good, cheap and filling. Faux Lasagne: One can of beef or cheese ravioli and a tablespoon of cottage cheese. Cook the ravioli and then add in the cottage cheese (more if you like). It gives a good twist on just plain ole ravioli! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by theseamstress (321) | (10/19/2007) Contact HASH BROWN CASSEROLE 1 cup onion, diced 1/4 lb. (1 stick) butter, thinly sliced 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream or plain yogurt (optional) 1 (8 oz.) pkg. Kraft Cracker Barrel sharp cheese 1 can Cream of Chicken soup 1 (2 lb.) bag frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed 1/2 to 1 cup potato chips or corn flakes Stir together well the diced onion, sour cream or yogurt, grated cheese, thinly sliced butter, and Cream of Chicken soup. Add the hash browns and mix well. Spread this mixture evenly in a casserole dish and top with crushed chips or corn flakes. Bake at 350°F 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Makes 8 to 12 servings. I think these are called Beetle Caps my friend years ago made them they were so good Take a slice of bolona brown in a skillet make some instant mashed potatoes set aside to let set so they are on the stiff side have some mild pimento cheese spread on hand then add a scoop of instant potatoes to your bolona then some pimento cheese then top with a slice of american cheese. All will melt together and its so tasty & filling. And for a very tasty snack or appetzer take a pack of mini polish sausages put them in a pot on your stove top and add equal parts of mustard & grape jelly I always add 2 tablespoons of each and let it heat up until the sauce has mixed and disolved. They are soooo good! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By new mom (Guest Post) (10/19/2007) We just had a baby, so money is tight! We love this meal, though. A good way to use leftover baked chicken. It is fast and east to make, leaves lots of leftovers if you make double! Chicken Cassarole ~1 cup shredded chicken ~1 cup elbow mac ~1 can cream of chic soup (store brand is just as good) ~1 cup milk ~1 cup cheddar cheese ( add more or less chicken, cheese to taste) Mix it all together in a cassarole dish and cook at 350 for about 45 min. Enjoy!! ( It heats up GREAT, too, if theres leftovers.) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By ashley. (Guest Post) (09/17/2007) awesome cheap meal I made was a smash hit and no one could get enough plus its versatile first, the shopping list 1 bag frozen chicken drumsticks with skin 4$ and its a 4lb bag 1 clove of garlic @.25$ 1 bundle of cilantro .25$ 1 lime you can 5 for 1$ 1 8oz tub of sour cream .99$ 1 pack tortilla off brand is fine 1.99$ 1 bag shredded cheese 2-3$ or another variation uses rice then you need the spices, they may not be so cheap but you'll find cooking cheap is much more enjoyable if you first invest in good spices I used red, black, and white pepper chile powder cheap hot sauce a fajita seasoning packet oregano you can spice it however you like Now what you do, in a large pot pour in chicken and vegetable stock as much and as much seasoning as you would like spice it up pretty well because this is whats going to flavor your chicken,chop up a couple cloves of garlic to very small pieces and some of the cilantro put that in the pot with all your spices, let it come to a boil and then take the frozen chicken and put it in the pot, lower the heat to medium and cover, this may take a while but its well worth it, it will take probably an hour maybe longer ( when I cooked it it was on one of those burners you plug in so it took me longer because it doesnt generate enough heat) you'll have to check it to see, when the meat starts falling off the bone its time to pull the bones and skin as well as grissle out of the pot the way I did it was just pull the whole drumstick out pull the skin off and then the meat after you do that put the meat back into the pot ( it should be somwhat like shredded chicken just falling apart) let it simmer for 10 more minutes to get more flavor, after that remove the chicken place it on paper towel to drain off excess liquid and you can make burritos, or quesadillas or cook the rice leave the chicken in the pot and you have an awesome stew, this dish is soo good and you can eat it soo many different ways that you wont get tired of eating left overs so fast, for such a cheap meal it was the best idea I have ever had all in all you spend roughly 12 dollars and it made 4 meals for 2 people so thats roughly 1.50 per meal per person and trust me, it wont taste like a 1.50 meal Ive even made this for guests at dinner parties and they were highly impressed Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Sarah (Guest Post) (09/05/2007) This may sound odd, but when I was in college I had to get very creative with a microwave and a very small budget. Make instant rice (I made a fourth to half cup for just me) set aside. In another bowl heat salmon and 1 tsp soy sauce. (I used the salmon packet by the tuna cans in the store but you could probably use salmon in a can too) add a can of green beans and heat again 1 minute. Combine all ingredients then add more soy sauce to taste. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by Silentnyt (1) | (08/27/2007) Profile | Contact Pizza Burgers This recipe is cheap, quick, easy, and kids love it. 1 lb ground beef 1 small onion, chopped (optional) 1 jar pizza sauce 1 pkg shredded mozzarella cheese Italian seasoning 1 pkg hamburger buns Brown onion in a little oil. Add ground beef and cook until done; drain well. Stir in pizza sauce. Separate hamburger buns and lay halves on baking sheet. Divide hamburger mixture over bun halves. Top each bun with shredded cheese then sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted. Makes 16 pieces. Serves 8 Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by praise_dancer (2) | (07/23/2007) Contact I have several suggestions. One is Salmon & eggs. Take a can of salmon, drain, and pour in a bowl. Mix in one egg for each family member and scramble well. Heat a little oil in a skillet, and cook mixture til dry. Season with s & p, lemon pepper, or whatever your taste. I like to eat this with white bread. Stroganoff Brown a pound of ground beef with some chopped onion to taste. Add a drained can of mushrooms and some chopped garlic, or garlic powder & s&p to taste. Sprinkle about 2 T flour over and brown for a couple of minutes. Mixture will be thick. Add one can of cream of chicken soup. Heat for about 5 minutes til thickened. Add 8 oz. of sour cream. Stir, and heat just til warmed through. Serve over cooked and drained egg noodles. Garnish with extra sour cream. I like to eat cooked spinach or sweet peas with this. Pizza Rolls Take about a pound of ground beef, browned and drained, and pour a jar of pizza quick sauce in it. Simmer till thickened. Take a pack of 16-count mini-French rolls. Press your thumb into the middle of the roll to hollow or pinch out the middles taking care not to tear the bottom of the roll. Scoop a portion of meat into rolls. Top with cheese. I use mozzarella, but cheddar or American would be good. Follow instructions on roll package to brown rolls. Watch because they tend to burn quickly. These are delicious!! Corned beef & cabbage Cut a cabbbage up into eighths and separate leaves into a large pot. Add about half a cup of water. Simmer. When cabbage has reduced a little, add a can of corned beef. Use a fork to break it up. Continue to simmer til cabbage is desired tenderness. Season with s&p, and add a little onion if you like. Serve with cornbread. 2nd cheapest soup ever Macaroni-Tomato soup 1 28 oz. can tomatoes, diced 1 tomato can of water 3-4 slices bacon, uncooked, cut into small pieces 1 small onion, chopped or 1 T. dry chopped onion 1 cup macaroni noodles s&p, to taste Mix all ingredients. Simmer til onions and noodles are tender. May need to add water to cut down on tartness from tomatoes. Serve with cornbread. Yummy!! Hope this gives y'all some ideas! God bless! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Mona (Guest Post) (07/20/2007) Awesome site! I will try several of these. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Cj (Guest Post) (07/17/2007) After my year in college I totally know what you mean by "lean times". Here are a few things that got me through my first year without suffering from starvation! Chilli - just brown little hamburger, use a dash (or more if you prefer it sweet!) of brown sugar, a couple of cans of beans and let it simmer in the crock pot. You can actually buy the cans of beans pretty cheap but check prices and you might be better off to soak your own - it just depends. Either way add your mild / hot / whatever chili powder and you're good to go! You can cook for one or the whole football team! ALSO - rice is so soooo cheap and very filling! Try chicken and rice soup! wal-mart chicken is VERY inexepensive. Use some chicken and or mushroom soup, add celery / carrots / mushrooms / onion as the budget allows. Prep rice in oven - stir soups together on stovetop adding at least a cup of chicken broth (or in a pinch water with yoru bullion cube). Saute whatever veggies, add to soup mixtures, stir in rice and your chicken. It's cheap and healthy! Oh and don't forget that a few cups of flour will get you home made noodles! Just take aa small chunk of roast or chicken and have a nice meal of plump, delicious noodles or dumplings! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By V (Guest Post) (07/01/2007) Easy Casseroles: 1 pkg egg noodles 1 can mushroom soup 1 can peas (or other vegi) 1 can tuna Cook Noodles as directed, ad vegi then add soup plus half can of water ta da it's done. You can also put it in a casserol dish top with cheese or crushed potato chips and bake at 350 till browned. Tip: Put canned vegi and tuna in the bottome of the collendar to drain then pour the hot water and noodles over to warm them quickly, then put it all into dish or back into the pan, add the soup and stir. Variations: use chicken or left over turkey or go meatless and just add fresh or frozen vegis. Leftover Turkey; 1 box stuffing 1 can cream chicken soup 1 can celery soup Leftover turkey choped or shredded Cook stuffing according to the instruction for stovetop preparation. Add soups and turkey to the stuffing then transfer to a casserole dish. Bake 350 for 20-30 min. Also great with tofu or a combination of both. One last quicky: Box mac and cheese can of vegi can tuna Cook noodles to al dente put vegi and tuna in bottom of collandar to drain, then pour the hot water and noodles over top till drained. Add cheese mix, milk and butter as you would for plain ol mac and cheese, mix and serve. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Pookie (Guest Post) (05/13/2007) French Dip One French Bread WalMart 1.79 Walmart Angus Roast Beef 6.99lb Walmart Deli Provalone 1/2 lb 3.00 Beef Consume Cambells 1.09 Will feed 4 people Under 3.50 per person. Turn oven on to broil Heat consume in skillet, add roast beef in until hot. Cut bread into servings. Put in broiler to get slight brown crust. Take Roast beef and cheese and place on bread stick back in oven on broil until cheese melts. Put left over consume in bowls and use as Au Jus. Very Very Very Good!!!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Lori, mother of seven (Guest Post) (05/11/2007) Japanese Cabbage Brown one pound of bacon in a Dutch oven. Remove bacon. Chop one head of cabbage. Cook the cabbage in the drippings. We like the cabbage translucent. Place eight packages of ramen noodles-pork or beef- in a large bowl of hot tap water for about three minutes. Drain. Add one third to one half a bottle of Kikkoman Stir Fry sauce. Sprinkle in seasoning packs from the noodles. Stir completely. Break bacon into one inch pieces and place in bowl for people to sprinkle on their noodles. Very Good! Serves eight with leftovers. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By niki harris (Guest Post) (04/25/2007) olive garden soup. 1 lb sausage.(from the meat guy at your store) 1 - 3 russet potatoes sliced into rounds 1-3 cups kale (most stores have it) chicken broth heavy cream pepper flakes 1 tiny pinch per 2 cups of broth NOTE:(Use 1 cup chicken broth to 1-tbs of heavy cream) cook sausage. mix all the above ingredients together how ever you want (I have never had it turn out bad). make sure all ingredients are covered by the liquid. When the potatoes are done you are ready YUMMY! serve with french bread Cook on stove top in a big pot: Simmer on low Crock pot: Low 7-8 hours High 3-4 hours Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Kelly, Toronto, Ontario (Guest Post) (04/02/2007) Wow some awesome ideas! Thanks everyone! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Christi (Guest Post) (03/16/2007) Great ideas...thanks everyone! I have a quick, cheap recipe to share. Beef and Rice Casserole: Put 2 cups instant rice (uncooked) in a 9X13 casserole dish. Pour 1 can French onion soup and 1 can beef broth on top. Place a stick of butter or margarine on top and cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. While that bakes, brown 1 lb. ground beef. Mix ground beef in with rice mixture and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes or so. This is really yummy served with broccoli and cheese. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By (Guest Post) (03/14/2007) Chicken Noodle Casserole (will feed family of 4 easily, costs less than $4) 4 Tbsp butter 3 Tbsp flour 1 cup milk Salt and Pepper Bag of egg noodles 1-2 cooked chicken breasts (or leg meat, rib meat, whatever) 1.5 cups frozen mixed veggies (corn, carrots, peas, green beans), mostly thawed Parmesan Bread crumbs (optional) Boil noodles Melt butter over med heat Stir in flour, cook for 1 minute Stir in milk Bring to a light boil, then turn down to simmer Add salt and pepper Shredded or dice cooked chicken Put cooked noodles in 13x9 casserole dish Mix sauce in thoroughly Add chicken and veggies, sprinkle on parmesan and crumbs Bake at 425 for 20 minutes Chicken Fried Rice (recipe is for 3-4 people) 1 cup white rice cooked according to package 1 cooked chicken breast 2 eggs 1 cup frozen mixed veggies (whatever you like, i use peas, corn, carrots, green bean mix) cooked according to package 3 Tb butter soy sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or teriyaki sauce (optional) After you've cooked and diced your chicken, set aside. Scramble the eggs, set aside. Cook veggies, set aside. Melt butter over med heat and add rice to pan until golden. Stir in all other ingredients, serve in large mixing bowl. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Veronica (Guest Post) (03/07/2007) I cook better than I speak English, so I hope you understand my directions! Here is my favorite quick & easy recipe: 1 large potato Butter (I prefer unsalted) Cheese (your favorite one!) Pepper Using a fork, pierce the potato 2 or 3 times. Put it on a microwave safe plate and microwave it for about 5 minutes. Using the fork again, check if the center of the potato is soft, if not, put it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds and check again. Try to not over cook it, smaller potatoes will be ready in less than 5 minutes. Cut the potato in half and spread the butter on it, making some incisions with a knife, so the butter go deeper. Sprinkle with pepper and put some grated cheese. The potato will be really hot, so the cheese will melt, but you can cover with a paper napkin and microwave for just 15 or 20 seconds so the cheese get some heat and melts faster. You can add steamed vegetables and crispy bacon to make it a meal. Note that I am not adding any salt, depending on your taste you may want to add some. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by imaqt1962 (816) | (02/06/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact SWEDISH MEATBALLS 1 PACKAGE(1 POUND) FROZEN MEATBALLS 2 CANS(10.5 OZ)BEEF GRAVY 1 C SOUR CREAM HEAT MEATBALLS AS DIRECTED ON PACKAGE IN SEPERATE PAN ADD GRAVY AND COOK JUST UNTIL HEATED STIR IN SOUR CREAM AND POUR OVER MEATBALLS WE SERVE,OURS OVER COOKED NOODLES Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by Cindyc (1) | (12/20/2006) Profile | Blog! | Contact My sons favorite meal... take 1-1 1/2 lbs hamb. enough potaoes to make a good size pan of fried potatoes.( I cut them into cubes) and velveeta cheese. ( I get everything at Aldis) Crumble and fry hamb. until no longer pink. Drain well. Fry potatoes until crisp. Mix hamb. potaoes in pan top with sliced velveeta cheese place lid on pan until cheese has melted. ( or can be placed in baking dish and put in oven until cheese has melted Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Michawn (Guest Post) (12/01/2006) ACTUALLY, frozen fruit or vegies are the NEXT best thing to fresh. They are not truck or gas ripened, they come out of the harvest ripe and then are flash frozen. Now while SOME vitamins are lost during this process, it's a lot less than if you get canned. Plus you know that you are eating fruit that was ripe when picked, not weeks away and then gased to get ripe!!!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By (Guest Post) (12/01/2006) hi there cheap food is a good idea but don't forget your long term health , the most important things are a good source of quality protein which can be vegetable or nuts not just meat or fish, then fruit and vegetables fresh preferrably, then complex starches like pasta and rice and also fibre for the gut found in multi grain products and wholemeal items such as bread, sometimes the cheapest items are the freshest and simplest items which are unprocessed, biting into a juicy apple has to be more rewarding than a can of something or a high fat sausage or burger which is really junk food, a person could probably live on fresh milk, bananas and baked beans and not a lot else, well maybe not but u get my point , u need vitamin b12 which the body can't produce found in eggs, dark meat such as beef or fish, then u need at least one egg a week or portion of fish for health, then vitamin c in tomatoes or oranges, then calcium from dairy products, fibre from fruit and vegetables, u could try converting a portion of your garden for growing vegetables even window boxes or hanging baskets can yield tomatoes. I would personally avoid all frozen or tinned produce and try to prepare your meals from scracth it is always better for your health than rocessed items with added chemicals hormones or fat and salt, life should be a pleasure and even on a budget a nice bowl of cooked macaroni and cheese or mashed fresh potato with real butter is more enjoyable than a can of anything, you can boil chicken carcasses with vegetables for real chicken soup u dont need a tin of white thickened chemical wallpaper paste just keep it simple and it will always be cheap, cook it yourself and u will know exactly what is in your food on the plate you are building a body not just cutting corners, treat yourself occasionally to a expensive quality item such as steak or prawns or whatever the equivalent in the USA is why shouldnt u enjoy luxury items eating quality food is one of the few pleasures in our lives and shouldnt be just to fill a hole it should be a sensual enjoyable experience , i would go so far as to say cut corners everywhere else and to hell with the food bill , let everything u prepare be made with love and shared with your loved ones they will remember it for a lifetime carol xxx in the UK not very well off but i feed my family the best quality produce i can find Report Spam or Abuse Pizza Casserole Post By Lisa (Guest Post) (11/30/2006) This is so simple, cheap and FILLING...This is such a filling dinner that a 13 x 9 pan, gave our family of 4, three nights of dinner plus my husband taking it in his lunch. 3 boxes GENERIC Mac-n-cheese (prepared as directed) 1 jar spaghetti sauce (use the smaller size jar) 1/2 lb. sliced pepperoni 1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese While mac-n-cheese is still in pan (already prepared as directed) pour in the jar of spaghetti sauce and mix throroughly. (when you make 3 boxes at one time, the water does get a bit white and starchy, but it won't affect the outcome) In a 9 x 13 pan, pour in 1/2 of the mac-n-cheese & sauce mixture and spread to cover bottom of pan. Top that with a single layer of pepperoni, and sprinkle 1/2 of mozzarella cheese on. Then spread the other half of the mac-n-cheese mixture carefully over the bottom layer. Again layer pepperoni and cheese. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve this with dinner rolls or garlic bread for a really great meal. It will feed ALOT so it's great for a family gathering or group. It's amazing AND tasted JUST like pizza, so kids will love it as well! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by fishingal (9) | (11/11/2006) Profile | Contact Cheap Meals: You can always pick up cans of beef stew at local dollar stores for about a dollar a can--we heat and eat on toasted bread--pretty good, and filling. Hamburger Casserole: 1-2 lbs burger, browned 1 onion 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup 1-2 potatoes, peeled and diced brown onion and burger, layer burger/onion, potatoes and soup. Bake at 350 until potatoes are tender. I either dice the potatoes really small or boil them before baking them or they are still a little crunchy. Cheese on top is good too. Veggie Soup 1-2 lb Hamburger 1 Onion 2 Cans Country Style Veg All 1 Can Tomato Juice Brown Burger and onion Add Vegall and Juice, Bring to boil, turn down and simmer approx 15-30 min. Serve with crackers. SOS: 1 lb hamburger Homemade white gravy or package gravy mix toast brown burger, mix with gravy, eat over toast. (season to taste with salt and pepper). Bean supper Cook a pot of pinto beans with a slice of bacon thrown in. (Remember dried pinto beans double in size when cooked). Look beans for rotten places, rocks, etc take these out. Rinse looked beans and place in bean pot. Fill pot with water. Put in slice of bacon. Cook on medium heat for 2-3 hours. You will have to fill up pot with water again at least once, before beans "cook down" and get tender enough to eat. Cook a pan of cornbread to go with it about the last 30 minutes of beans cooking. ( 1 cup cornmeal mix 1 egg enough milk to make batter Mix and pour into greased skillet or cake pan Bake at 400 degrees until browned Eat with cooked beans and sliced onions. Some cheap, but pretty good southern 'eatin'. Another Hamburger Casserole: 1 Lb hamburger Doritos Nacho cheese chips 1 can celery soup Velveeta cheese Brown burger, layer all in casserole, bake at 350 until cheese melts. Enjoy. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Trina (Guest Post) (11/03/2006) Delicious, cheap and EASY zesty soup recipe that uses only 6 canned ingredients! Serve over tortilla chips, and top with shredded Cheddar cheese. Throw away the cans and no one will know that it is not from scratch! Ingredients: 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken 1 (15 ounce) can black beans (rince) 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained Directions: Open the cans of corn, chicken broth, soup, chunk chicken, black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Pour everything into a large saucepan or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Megan (Guest Post) (09/29/2006) I'm a recent college grad, and live from paycheck to paycheck. One of my favorite meals is chicken stir fry. What you need: -chicken (I buy frozen chicken breasts in bulk to cook whenever I need them) -dry stir fry mix (under $1 - comes in packets like taco seasoning. Kikkoman brand is good) -bag of frozen vegetable mix (cheapest brand is just as good as expensive, and you can pick anything from a stir fry mix to plain broccoli) Cook the chicken and cut into strips or chunks. Set aside. Heat a little vegetable oil in a frying pan, and add veggies. Cook til desired consistency, then add chicken. Follow directions on sauce packet, and add it to the skillet. Heat, then eat! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By briana gregg (Guest Post) (09/22/2006) a great easy cheap meal 1pound ground turkey or chuck browned with onion and green pepper. boil any style noodle and add to meat. pour can of tomato soup in with meat and noodles and mix till coated. you can taste all the ingredients. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post by grammaoftwo (35) | (09/14/2006) Profile | Contact Thanks for all the ideas going to try some this next week. Appreciate all the time everyone put into putting these together for everyone to share!!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Kris in Texas (Guest Post) (09/13/2006) Taco Soup 3 lbs. of hamburger meat 3 packages of taco seasoning 2 cans of "Rotel" tomatoes and green chilis (or store brand) 2 cans of corn (not cream style) 2 cans of beans (pinto or ranch style, whatever your preference) Other optional ingredients to make more soup: 2 cans of cut green beans or sliced potatoes Mix all the canned items, including juices in a large pot and add taco seasoning and 3 cans of water. Let simmer while you brown hamburger meat. Drain grease from meat and add it to the pot and let simmer covered for 30 minutes to an hour. Instead of eating it with a spoon, we like to scoop it up with tortilla chips. It is really good. It costs about $15.00 to make, but my family eats it for 3-4 days so it turns out to be less than $5.00 a day. Kris Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Glass Recipes (Guest Post) (09/13/2006) One thing that we do when money is tight is make "Hash", our twist on corned beef hash. Boil about 5 or 6 potatoes peeled and diced, set aside. What we do is take as much hamburger as you will need and brown it. Drain, and add about 2 cans of mushroom soup to every pound of hamburger, we add 1 can of milk to every 2 cans, but when we have my sister over who is lactose intolerant, we add water, both is good. Now add the potatoes and cook until the soup is done, you can make it creamier or thicker if you like, we sometimes add diced onions to the beef as it is frying...another variation...no potatoes, add mashed potatoes to the hamburger and soup and it makes it more creamier its just as good, we usually bake this variation topped with cheese. You can substitute beef for spam or turkey burger instead. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By (Guest Post) (08/20/2006) Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas 1 Medium Yellow Onion, cut into strips 1 pkg boneless, skinless chicken breats cut into strips 1 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 1 pkg tortillas (a pack of 20 will make 10 quesadillas) 1 block monterey cheese 2 tbsp butter or preferred substitute 2 tbsp minced or torn cilantro Sweat onions in butter over medium heat, once the butter is absorbed and the onion strips are soft, add the chicken strips, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, cover and reduce to low heat. Allow this to cook until chicken is cooked all the way through. Arrange tortillas on baking sheet, shred cheese, add a layer of cheese to each tortilla, spoon chicken mixture on top of the cheese, add another layer of cheese and another tortilla. Add cilantro to taste. Bake quesadillas at 375 until they become crispy and begin to brown, chicken mixture and cheese will also bubble out of the sides. Allow to cool for a moment before slicing, otherwise they'll fall apart. Serve with more cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, whatever you like. Mexican rice and or refried beans make good sides to this dish. If you don't like spicy food, substitute deseeded jalapeno peppers cut into slices for the chipotle, and add any sort of smoky sauce - bbq, chipotle marinade, etc - in place of the adobo. The most expensive item is the chicken, everything else is relatively cheap. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Cheap Meals Post By Tasha (Guest Post) (07/19/2006) I learn this from some of the students staying the the community college dorms. package of hogdogs, your choice (or even left over hot dogs from cookouts) 1-2 packages corn muffin mix (normally about .25-.35 cents) milk, eggs, ketchup, mustard (which normally is on