Best Bang For Your Buck Recipe

[a2ms4chickens]

Since we are financially challenged, right now, I have been making mac n cheese with ham.

1 box of kraft mac n cheese (.50- 1.00)
1 can of hormel smoked ham (1.52 @ Walmart)

I just run a fork through the ham to make small pieces and put in in the prepared mac n cheese. Heat up and serve with veggies.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

In the "homeade hamburger helper" vein...

do the hamburger, onion, green pepper, etc... cooked. Cook your pasta, then instead of the taco seasoning, try gravy mix or cream of mushroom soup with whatever seasonings you prefer (like cajun seasoning, or some such). Also, this tastes good with a big dollop of Cream Cheese melted into it to make it thicker.


By far, however, our favorite "cheap" meal is.... ETA - forgot to say that this will feed easily four people (parents and two teenage boys. in our case).

Take a 1 lb. package of sausage (like ekrich or similar) and slice it into 1/4 inch slices - if you wish you can cut those in half, also, like half moons. Fry this up so it is browned on the outside, then add in about three onions and a green pepper - cook a little, but make sure the onions and green pepper are still a bit crispy (not overcooked). (also tastes good when if you don't like the green pepper, you can leave it out).

Meanwhile, be cooking some rice - white, brown, doesn't matter, whatever rice you prefer.

Then just dump the sausage mixture over the rice - I like to put some soy sauce on my rice before I put the sausage stuff on it.

You won't need seasonings or anything else in this (unless you really want to add them) it is fantastic just the way it is.


Hmmm... made myself hungry for this, now, Gonna have to thaw out a package of sausage.

meri

 

[LA~Poulet]

Beans beans beans! Cheap & great source of protein. If you don't have a crockpot or pressure cooker, put them to boil the night before, turn off the heat, cover & soak all night, then rinse & cook as desired the next day. Usually less than $1/lb. dried, and will make several meals.

Black Beans: Use for black bean & spinach burritos, black bean soup, or black beans mixed with spanish rice, & corn in a stir fry type mexican dish. Also good with eggs.

Pinto Beans: refried beans, bean burritos, bean enchiladas, chili

White Beans: Delicious with ham or bacon

Red/Kidney Beans: & Rice! With sausage or bacon if you splurge

Taco Soup:
Black Beans
Navy beans (white)
Kidney beans
corn (can or frozen)
Tomatoes (aprox. 2 cans stewed, or equivalent)
1 chopped onion
1 pkg. taco seasoning
ranch dressing mix
1 lb. gr. meat (if you like).
Cook all together and serve plain, over chips, over rice, great topped with a little sprinkle of cheese
^this recipe makes a great pot that can feed a family of 4 at least twice if not 3 times... it also freezes well.

 

[backdoorchicken]

Ingredients:

* 1 lb. spaghetti pasta
* 4 slices bacon
* 2 egg yolks
* 2 Tbsp. milk
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
Cook the bacon in a heavy skillet until crisp. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Set bacon aside.

Cook the pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, combine the egg yolks, milk, and garlic in a medium bowl and beat until well blended.

When the pasta is cooked, drain and immediately return to the pot. Stir in the egg mixture and toss thoroughly until combined. Add the bacon and cheese and toss again to coat. Serve immediately. Serves 4

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Or you can by it ALL and fill the freezer! I found Morrell brand bacon for $1.99 at Fry's. I bought 10 of them. It doesn't take long for bacon to thaw, and $1.99 is way better than $4.99 for Bar S brand.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Or you can by it ALL and fill the freezer! I found Morrell brand bacon for $1.99 at Fry's. I bought 10 of them. It doesn't take long for bacon to thaw, and $1.99 is way better than $4.99 for Bar S brand.

Yup. I always check the meat dept. for markdowns. Almost always find something we want. Never buy expensive items like baby back ribs unless they are marked down. Refuse to pay over $1.99 for bacon.

Periodically they sell 10 lb. bags of chicken thighs and legs for $.49 a pound (yes, I buy that awful store bought chicken.) Makes several meals when prepared similar to Hamburger Helper, but homemade. There are gobs of recipes online for chicken casseroles. I often make them on the stovetop even if they call for baking.

 

[bwebb7]

Peanut Butter French Toast

Spread peanut butter between two pieces of bread.
Dip in usual french toast egg mixture.
Cook as you would french toast.
Add a side of fruit for a complete meal.

High in protein and my kids loved it.


OK, I made this for me and my 10 yo son and we both loved it!
I am constantly spreading peanut butter on his pancakes and waffles-I don't know why I didn't think of this!
Thanks

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Biscuits and gravy, buy the cheap biscuits can get 4 pkgs for around $1-1.50 or I make my own biscuits. Then I use either sausage gravy or chipped beef gravy. Chipped beef gravy you melt butter in the pan and add enough flour to soak up the butter and let that cook for a few minutes then you add enough milk to make the gravy until desired consistancy and then add the chopped chipped beef. Sausage gravy you brown your sausage and then I add some flour to soak up the grease and let that cook for few minutes before I add the milk and bring it to desired consistancy.

Spaghetti is another cheap meal, spaghetti sauce and 1 package noodles, and any leftover buns/bread we butter and sprinkle with garlic salt and toast in the oven.

Quesadillas are my kids favorite, just tortillas and cheese and then sour cream/salsa to dip.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Potato noodle ball soup, my personal favorite. Dice potatoes and add enough water to cover, boil for 10-15minutes until fork tender then add some milk and bring to a boil. I then mix eggs & flour together to make a dough and drop "balls" of dough into the boiling water and allow them to cook. If I've got it I also add some velveeta but not alot. Then season with celery salt and pepper.

 

[sred98]

We do all kinds of beans. The kids love them!

I also do a version of Dirty Rice:

I use Basmati rice from the big bags at Sams/Costco. They last forever.

I brown hamburger meat with onions, garlic, spices, then pour in the amount of rice I want, cover with water and cook til the rice is done. The kids love it.

We also do breakfast suppers. Whatever meat is on sale, homemade biscuits and EGGS! LOL!

Shelly

 

[wildorchid053]

we eat dog food.. take 1 lb of hamburger brown with onion and green pepper if you like.. dissolve beef boullion cubes and pour over and thicken with flour to make a gravy.. pour over mashed potatoes cheap and filling