Dee &  I were talking about this the other day and seeing that Debbie (hmsclmom) is looking to be more frugal in the cooking department we all could help each other out by posting our favorite frugal dishes. The tried & true, low in price, big on taste, using everyday ingredients recipes.

Can you help?:thumb:

 

Apricot chicken
1 whole chicken cut up
1 c. French dressing
1 pkt. onion soup mix
1 c. apricot preserves

Mix all ing. and pour over chicken. Bake at 350* one hour covered. Then same for half hour uncovered for 30 min.
Serve over rice
This is one we eat a lot it has a lot cook time but short prep time and it is frugal and yummy

That apricot chicken sounds yummy. I'll be watching this thread too. ;)

Oh, I also make chicken fettichini alfado (I know I butchered the spelling on that)
chicken breasts baked in Italian dressing in the oven
fettichini noodles
broccolli
alfredo sauce I buy the packets and doctor them with sweet basil and garlic and oregano

cut up the chicken into bite size pieces and mix all together
I know that you have to buy the sauce but I don't know how to make it from scratch so if anyone has a recipie for that....
you use very little chicken for this and lots of pasta. I always use spagheti b/c it's cheaper. This makes alot and I always have some left for lunch the next day.

We have hamburger meat (browned with chopped onions, drain the grease off) and ranch style beans served with salad or fried taters or something easy like that every now and then. Pretty easy and frugal (not gourmet though;) ).

Potato Cheese Soup

I cook more by method than recipe so here is how I do it!:D

Peel and chunk up lots of potatoes (I do about 12). Boil those in chicken broth (I use chicken bullion cubes). When the potatoes are soft, mash them all up good in the stock they have been cooking in. Add either milk, cream or condensed milk (not the sweetened kind) and cheese to taste. If it is too thin, add some potato flakes to thicken it up a bit.
*you can also add a sauteed onion, sour cream, ham chunks, bacon bits, green onions and more salt if you need it. The chicken stock gives it a nice rich flavor that you won't get if you just boil that potatoes in water.

great thread. i'll be watching this too. we just had coney dogs.
hot dogs
buns
hamburger, drained (add ketchup and brown sugar to taste)

very easy and yummy too. would also be good with onions.;) let me see what else i can come up with.

We've been alot of pasta these past few weeks with little or no meat...

I often make this..I don't even think it's a recipe...

*cook spagettini, or any noodle you have
For each plate, ADD:

*some cooked frozen veggies or those you have.
*1 tablespoon of olive oil for each plate
*salt and pepper to taste
*sprinkle a little cheese if you have some.

Voila! Quick and simple...Yes maybe too simple in taste, but it is frugal.:)

I'll be checking to add some more, as we are getting very tight with money here....lol...so tight, we can't see the it! :laugh:

Vegetarian Vegetable Soup

1 lg can tomato juice (cheapest is fine) or V8
leftover bits of vegies from your freezer OR 1 can each
canned corn, green beans, peas, veg-all or equivalent
1 chopped onion
seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, garlic, bay leaf, parsley

Place ingredients in slow cooker with lid on low and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, if desired. If soup begins to thicken (even after it has cooked all day) add a little water. It seems to get more flavorful the longer it cooks. You can add any number of vegetables and/or beans to it (or even meat, if you prefer), although my personal tastes say steer clear of broccoli in it!

Here's a cheap & tasty:
1 potato
1 can of tuna
mustard

*boil potato (or zap in microwave), mash, add tuna and mustard, mix, form into patties and pan-fry!

Chocolate Pudding

Mix- 1C powdered milk
2/3C sugar
6 Tbsp cornstarch
1/3C cocoa (more or less)
1/4 Tsp vanilla

This is for storage. To use: Add 1C water to 1/2C mix stir well and cook over medium heat, stirring until thick. Remove from heat and add 1 Tbsp butter and 1/42tsp vanilla. Makes 4, 4 oz servings.

Mexican Rice

1C rice
1 large tomato, chopped fine
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped fine
2C water
In microwave safe covered casserole, pour 2C liquid over rice and vegetables and nuke for 15 minutes on high covered. When done, fluff with fork and serve. Makes (at least) 4 servings

Egg Drop Soup

2C water
2 chicken bullion cubes
1 egg, beaten
cornstarch slurry (optional)
yellow food coloring (optional)

Bring water to boil, add bullion and stir until dissolved. While at rolling boil, whisk in egg. To add color add a few drops of yellow food coloring. Thicken if desired by adding 1 Tbsp of corn starch to 1/2C cold water and pour into boiling soup, stirring constantly until thickened. Makes 4, 1/2C servings.

Fried Rice:

2 strips bacon
2C cold cooked rice
1 onion, chopped
about 3-4 Tbsp soy sauce

Cut bacon into small pieces and fry onion until translucent, add cooked rice and break up any lumps. Add soy sauce to color and taste preference. For added flavor, add one pre-cooked scrambled egg diced finely and 1/2C frozen or fresh peas, giving a quick stir to heat through. Makes 4, 1/2C servings.

American Stir Fry Vegetables (Chow Mein):

! head cabbage, chopped finely
1 onion, chopped
1 large carrot, cut into coins
1/2C peas
2 large stalk celery, diagonally cut
2-3 Tbsp cooking oil
1C water
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
4 tsp soy sauce

Combine water, cornstarch, bouillon and soy sauce in small bowl or cup and set aside.

Put oil into pan and stir fry first the carrots and celery, add onions, and cabbage stirring quickly until tender crisp. Add peas and stir until hot. Pour water/cornstarch mixture over vegies and stir and stir until mixture boils and thickens (about 3 minutes). Serve. Makes at least 4 servings.

Oven-Baked French Fries
Wash & cut into desired lengths, cover w/ cold water & let stand 30
minutes. Drain & pat dry. Dip prepared potatoes in melted butter, bacon fat
or melted shortening, sprinkle with salt & pepper or any desired spices.
Bake at 400 for 40 minutes. Turn occasionally. Yum.

Crock pot Rice Pudding

1/2 ga Milk
1 c Rice long grain
1 c Sugar
4 tb Butter (OPTIonal)
Salt
Cinnamon
Raisins

Place Milk, Rice and Sugar and a pinch of salt
Crock on Hi. Cook for 1 and 1/2 hours. Stir and
at
this time if you like raisins add them, a couple
of
hands full and sprinkle in some cinnamon. Cook
for
another 1 1/2 hours keeping a check on the last
hour
stirring often. As soon as it starts to thicken
turn
it off if you like it real creamy, let cook
longer
if
you like it thick. It will thicken a lot after it
cools. I use skim milk, omit the butter, and
sometimes
if I have it on hand add a can of evaporated
milk,
gives a little creamer taste, but either way it
is
just as good this way and a lot less fat etc.

Pecan Pie Muffins

1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted


Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of
the mixture. Beat eggs until foamy. Stir together eggs and butter; add to
dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Place foil baking cups in
muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray. Spoon batter into cups, filling
2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until done. Remove
from pans immediately and cool on wire racks. Makes 9 muffins.

Slow Cooked Pork Steaks

1 1/2 lbs. pork steaks
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Place pork steaks on foil lined pan- sprinkle onion soup mix over meat, then spoon undiluted cream of mushroom soup over all. Seal well in foil and bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours.

Taco Cornbread Pizza


1 pkg. (8.5 ounces) corn muffin mix ($.28 Wal-Mart brand)
1 lb. ground beef ($.99 on sale)

1 pkg. ( 1 1/4 ounce) Taco seasoning mix ($.40 Wal-Mart brand)

1 pkg. (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided ($1.50 on sale or buy generic block and shred yourself)

1. Prepare corn muffin mix as directed on package. Spread batter into greased 12 inch pizza pan (or use parchment paper on a baking stone). Bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly brown.

2. Brown meat; drain. Add Seasoning; prepare as directed on package. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over baked crust. Top with meat mixture and remaining cheese.

3. Bake 4 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

It tastes great by itself, but if you want to dress it up, top it with favorite taco toppings like lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and salsa. Serves 8 at $.40 a serving!

Busy Day Dessert Cake

1 can cherry pie filling (21 ounce)
1 can crushed pineapple, undrained (20 ounce)
1 box cake mix (any brand)
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Spread pie filling evenly over the bottom of a well buttered 13x9
inch pan. Distribute pineapple evenly over filling. Sprinkle cake
mix over filling and pineapple, then dribble melted butter over all.
Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50
minutes. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

This can be made with just about any fruit and I've even made it with
only one can. I prefer to use yellow cake mix but any flavor will
work and be delicious.

Wow, there are some great recipes here!!! I'm going to keep an eye ont his thread and then do some serious cut and paste and printing!:D

Lemonade Pie

Makes a good cool dessert for a hot summer day.
Servings: 8

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust


In a large bowl, mix together concentrate and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in whipped topping. Pour filling into crust, and freeze before serving.

Nacho Popcorn
Ingredients:

1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup melted butter
10 cups freshly popped popcorn
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheeseIn a small bowl, stir paprika, chili powder,
and cumin into melted butter. Gently toss butter mixture with popcorn,
coating evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss until coated. Makes 10
cups.

"Birdseed" Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups biscuit-making mix (e.g., Bisquick)
½ cup cold water
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 T. butter or margarine
2 T. sesame seeds
2 T. salted sunflower seeds or other chopped nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Mix 2 cups of baking mix, ½ cup cold water, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder to a soft dough in a bowl with a fork.

2. Pat the dough on ungreased cookie sheet into a 10 inch circle.

3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Brush the dough circle with the melted butter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sesame seeds and 2 tablespoons sunflower nuts. Firmly press the seeds and nuts into the dough with a rubber scraper or spatula or the back of a spoon.

4. Cut the circle into 12 equal wedges (like a pie), but don’t cut all the way through. Just deeply score.

5. Bake in 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with honey if desired. The bread should easily break into wedges for serving.

Thank-you Sunshine!!!:)

Sunshine, you have been one busy lady!!!! Thanks so much for posting all those yummy sounding recipes!!!:hugz:

Wow, thanks Denise and all you other wonderful cooks. I'll be adding some of my own later.:thumb:

Originally posted by sunshine
Lemonade Pie

Makes a good cool dessert for a hot summer day.
Servings: 8

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust


In a large bowl, mix together concentrate and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in whipped topping. Pour filling into crust, and freeze before serving.

 

I'm glad you posted this.  My grandmother use to make it all the time for me and when she passed away and I had tostart making it DH was sure I was making it up.

(I have all the stuff on had to make one minus the graham cracker crust....I could eat it with out it acutally...lol)

Oven Fried Veggies

1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs (I like the italian versus the plain)
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon paprika
2 cups 1/4-inch-thick zucchini slices, onion rings, squash or okra
reduced-calorie Italian salad dressing (enough to drizzle over the veggies so the bread crumb mixture sticks)

Directions
Spray a cold cookie sheet with nonstick spray coating. Set aside.

In a 9-inch pie plate stir together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and paprika until well mixed. In a medium mixing bowl place zucchini, onion rings, or cauliflower. Drizzle vegetables with salad dressing; toss until coated. Then, roll vegetables in crumb mixture until coated. Place the coated vegetables in a single layer on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake vegetables in a 450 degree F oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden. Makes 4 (1/2-cup) servings.

This one is MY version of the Mac & cheese recipe on the back of Velvetta shells & cheese.

Brown 1 lb of hamburger meat
add 2 cups of water and the macaroni.

Stir occasionally. When the macaroni is tender add the cheese and 1 can of Rotel tomatoe (hot or mild). Heat through and serve.

(I think the recipe on the back calls for ketchup, but I'd rather have the tomatoes in mine instead.)

How about what I am making for supper...lol It only has 4 ingredients.

Dried beef gravy (AKA Chipped Beef Gravy or SOS as my grandpa called it in the army)

Here is how I make it.

1 large jar (4.5 oz) of Armour sliced Dried Beef.
4 cups milk
2 tbsp flour

First I melt a little butter in a large sauce pan. I rinse off (since it is so salty) the dried beef and rip it or cut it up. I sautee it in the pan until it is warm but not long enough to get it crisp (about 5 minutes).

I then add milk until it covers all the beef. Add the flour a little at a time until it begins to thicken. Serve hot (DH thinks I'm nuts because I've been known to put mine back in the microwave before I am finished because it cooled off to soon....lol)

I mostly serve it over toast. But my mom would also serve it over white rice as well.

Creamed Turkey:
1 soup-sized can cooked, chopped turkey (I get it from a local turkey farm-- a couple cans of chicken would work, too)
1 can mushroom soup
mashed potatoes or bread or both

Simmer the turkey with the mushroom soup until thickened and heated through. Serve over leftover mashed potatoes, bread, or both!

------------------------------

Dh likes this-- I don't care for that too much myself, but DH loves it & says it really fills him up.

Hamburger Hot Dish
1 lb hamburger
1 large can mixed vegetables

Brown hamburger & drain, stir in veggies and heat through- that's it! Of course you could add all sorts of things to stretch it to feed a crowd-- I usually pour in a good amount (maybe 1/2 cup) ketchup and add onions.
---------------------------------------

I have plenty more recipes... I'll try to post more another day when I have time to pull out my recipe file. Great thread!

Thanks for all the great and frugal recipes, Sunshine! I want to try the egg drop soup one soon. I had ED soup Monday night (when dfil treated the whole family to Chinese :) ) that was sooo good. It had lots of veggies and shrimp in it that could be added to your recipe (although not neary as frugal!)

How did I miss this before?!?! Thanks gals - I'm going to try some of these this week.....wish I had some to add - I'm not a good cook, but I'm trying to learn!

I use to have a "5 or fewer" cookbook and they were so easy and sound so great. I think it got thrown out during the move but I did copy a few. If/when I find them I'll paste them as well.

the only one i know is

2 slices sandwhich bread
peanut butter
jelly


:laugh:

kind of like the one that goes

take 2 slices of bread

add cheese.

enjoy

LOL Melissa! That works too. ;)

One off the top of my head -
1pk ramen noodles
frozen/canned veggies to taste
hotdog (optional)

cook noodles and veggies per pkg/can directions. I add hotdogs to the boiling noodle water (sometimes)

Fast quick lunch :)

Denise, thanks so much for all your recipes! :)

LOL, Kat I like yours too!
oh, oh, oh i have a real one!

one pkg kielbasae or smoked sausage, cut into chunks
orange juice
brown sugar

put sausage in a frying pan and brown. add enough juice to make the liquid come up to a bout half the height of the sausage pieces.simmer. add in enough brown sugar to make a thin syrupy sauce. skewer with toothpicks. you can add in pearl onions to the sausage when you start too. Makes sweet and tarty appetizers. I love this and it is one of my fav comfort foods.

We use to make up stuff with ramen noodles too.

We would cook the noodles
add carrotts and corn and scarmble a couple eggs to go in it.

It was almost like Fried rice but with noodles instead of rice.

you can have the one i just posted for a meal if you serve it over rice or egg noodles.

Banana Jam
6 1/2 lbs. very ripe bananas
2 1/2 C liquid honey
1 C orange juice
3/4 C lemon juice
2 pkgs know unflavoured gelatin(optional)
Peel and remove any bruised sections of bananas.Slice
into 1/4 inch pieces.Combine bananas,honey and juices
in large kettle.Bring to a boil and cook,stirring
constantly for 10 min.Reduce heat and simmer stirring
frequently for 15 min. Remove from heat and pour into
hot sterilized jars.Seal. Place in hot water canner
and process for 15 min.(You can add the gelatin during
the last 5 min. of cooking if you want a thicker
jam)Makes about 8 pints.

Poor Man's Perogies

Recipe By : Real Food for Real People
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Casserole Pasta
Vegetables

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
12 Lasagna Noodles
1/2 cup Chicken Broth -- low sodium optional
1/2 cup Sour Cream, light
2 tablespoons Butter Buds® -- or other similar product
4 medium Onions -- diced
11 medium Potatoes
1 pound Velveeta
1 pound Parmesan Cheese -- grated
8 dashes Black Pepper -- freshly ground

Sauté chicken broth and the diced onions until tender. Cook lasagna noodles
as directed on the package. Boil potatoes until tender. Cube cheese.
After potatoes are cooked, add cheese, sour cream and Butter Buds; mash well
(do not add any liquid). In a 9 x 13 pan, layer: 1/3 of onions on bottom,
layer of noodles, 1/3 of potatoes. Repeat layers ending with mashed
potatoes. Top with parmesan cheese and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees F for
30 - 35 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot.

OOOHHHH ~ Speaking of Kielbasa......

1 pkg Kielbasa, chunked
potatoes, peeled & chunked
onions, wedged
green pepper, cut into strips

combine all ingredients, layer in a baking pan, add ½ cup water or beef broth or beef bouillon in water, cover with foil, bake at 425° for about an hour or so - till potatoes are tender!

Yummie!!!!!!!!

Chicken Potato Bake

1 broiler/fryer chicken cut up (about 3 pounds)
1 pound red potatoes cut into chunks (you can use more if youreally like potatoes like me...lol)
1/2-3/4 cup italian dressing
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
3/4-1 cup (or more or less) grated Parmesan cheese


Place chicken in a greaseed 13x9 x2 in baking dish. Arrange potatoes around the chicken. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with the seasoning and cheese.

Cover and bake at 400 for 20 minutes uncover and bake 20-30 minutes longer or until the potatoes are tender and chicken juices run clear.

Serves 3-4

Blackberry Banana Smoothies

2 cups OJ
1/3 cup vanilla yogurt
2 medium bananas cut in thirds and frozen ahead of time
1/2-3/4 cup fresh or frozen blackberries

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Cover and process until well blended. Serve immediately.

Hash Brown Potatoes

4 medium baking potatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbsp flour
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
salt and pepper to taste

Pierce potatoes and place them on a microwave safe plate. Microwave uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until tender.
Cool slightly, peel and cube (if you like the peels you can leave them on).
Place potatoes in a bowl and add the onion. In another bowl mix flour, milk, salt and pepper until smooth. Pour over potato mixture and toss.
In a large skillet melt butter. Add potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until potatoes are golden stirring occassionally.
Serves 4-6

*If you like cheese you can sprinkle shredded chedder or what ever cheese you desire on top of the potatoes and a few parsley flakes for color*

CREAMY VEGGIE CASSEROLE

1 16oz pack frozen vegetable mix (you can use whatever veggies you like but the recipe originally called for Broccoli, carrots & cauliflower)
1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup, undiluted
1 carton (8 oz) spreadable garden vegetable cream cheese
1/2-1 cup seasoned croutons

Prepare the veggies according to package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl. Stir in soup and cream cheese. Transfer to a greased 1 qt baking dish. Sprinkle with croutons. Bake uncovered at 375 for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 4-6

STROGANOFF BEEFBURGERS

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 T. flour
1/4 t. salt
pepper to taste
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
10 hamburger buns

Brown ground beef with bacon and onion in skillet, stirring frequently; drain. Add flour and seasonings; mix well. Stir in soup. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sour cream; mix well. Heat to serving temperature; do not boil. Serve on toasted buns.

HAM 'n' CHESSE MASHED POTATOES

2 cups mashed potatoes
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup diced fully cooked ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped

Combine potatoes and garlic salt in a mixing bowl. Spread in a greased 1-1/2 qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with ham. Fold the cheese into the whpped cream and spoon over the ham. Bake uncovered at 450 for 15 minutes or until golden.

PIZZA DOGS

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 c. chopped onion
2/3 c. tomato sauce
1 c. chopped American cheese
garlic salt to taste
8 hot dog buns

Bronw ground beef with onion in skillet, stirring frequently; drain. Add tomato sauce, cheese and seasoning; mx well. Spoon onto buns. Wrap in foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.

Sloppy Joes

Browned ground meat, add onions if you like them

1 can of chicken gumbo soup

a big squirt of mustard

a big squirt of ketchup

heat through and serve on hamburger buns

I don't have a recipe for these, but I love them! :D

Potato Packets

Wash and slice enough potatoes for your family. (I leave the skins on)
Sliced onions
butter
salt & pepper
aluminum foil

On sheets of aluminum foil, layer potatoes and onions, add a dab of butter and salt and pepper to taste. Place packets on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

Make up individual packets and place in hot coals or on your grill for summer time cooking.

These can also be made in an oven proof dish and placed in the microwave on high for about 10 minutes. (I make them this way in the winter, I hate to turn on the oven for just the 2 of us and this way is much faster.)

To make this a meal add cubed ham, sausage etc. whatever you can think of. You can also add grated cheese or make a potato/veggie/cheese packet. Use your imagination. :D

:bump:

Colorful Coleslaw

1 small head of purple cabbage
2 sweet apples (2 red or 1 red and 1 green)
Miracle whip
vinegar
about 1 T of sugar

Core and chunk up your cabbage and put half of it in your blender along with lots of water. Use the chop setting and pulse it. Drain and put in bowl. Repeat with other half of the cabbage. Next, quarter and seed your apples. Add to blender with water about 3/4 of the way full. Use the chop setting and pulse. Drain and add to bowl. Mix some Miracle Whip, vinegar and the sugar to taste. Add to the cabbage and apple mixture and refrigerate for about an hour before serving. Really yummy and festive looking!

Fish Cakes

Left over mashed potato, a big cup full.
Chopped medium onion.
Tin salmon.
1 egg.
Breadcrumbs

Squelch all the above together in a bowl and form into patties. Dip in egg and breadcrumbs to coat. Let them sit in the fridge for an hour to firm up before frying in a shallow pan until golden.

Serve with french fries and salad or on a bun with salad.

This is what my daughter & I call Mac cassarole
take a box of macaroni & cheese, prepare as directed
season & cook stew meat until brown
add can of whole kernal corn or other favorite veggie
mix & serve:D

Orange Chicken
Makes 4 Servings

1 Cup Orange Marmalade
1 Tbs. curry powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 Cup water
4 chicken breasts halves
Preheat oven to 350° F

In a small bowl combine the marmalade, curry powder, salt and water. Mix together. Place chicken pieces, cut side down, in a lightly greased 9x13in baking pan and spoon marmalade mixture over chicken.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, spooning sauce over chicken several times. (If sauce begins to stick to the baking dish, add an additional 1/4 cup water).


Crockpot Apricot chicken

1/2 cup apricot preserves
1/3 cup bottled Russian dressing
1/2 envelope onion soup mix
6 frozen chicken breasts (not thawed)

Mix the first 3 ingredients together. Place chicken in Crock Pot and cover with apricot mixture. Cook on low 5 to 6 hours.

http://www.recipezaar.com/browse/top/382/32/
http://www.geocities.com/alta_mom3boyz/tp_5orless.html
http://lightfocus.com/recipes_5_ingredients.shtml

Crockpot Chicken and Noodles

Add 4 chicken quarters to the crockpot, cover with water and cook on low 6-8 hours. The chicken will fall off the bone! Seperate the meat from the skin and bones. Put the broth in the fridge while doing this so that you can skim that fat off. Add the chicken and broth to a pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Add in some homemade egg noodles! Cook for about 2-3 minutes and enjoy! This is really really good over rice or mashed potatoes. You can add a little flavor by adding chopped veggies in the crockpot.

Beef Stroganauff

1. Brown one pound (if cutting meat, use 1/2 pound and a little more noodles) of ground beef. At the same time boil 2-3 cups of your choice of noodles.

2. Drain beef and add 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 can of milk. Stir until well mixed.

3. Add in noodles and mix well.

4. Enjoy with some homemade rolls!

Scalloped Potatoes

4-6 potatoes-peeled and sliced 1/4 in. thick
4- onions-sliced 1/4 in. (rings)
milk
5 pats of butter
s&p

In an ungreased casserole dish
arrange potatoe slices, top with sliced onions
Cover with milk until covers potatoes. Top with about
5 slices of butter, scattered. Sprinkle s&p

Bake @ 400 for 45 or until potatoes are tender.
Should be medium brown when done.
simple yet delicious

Tomato&Rice

1-can tomato sauce
2-cups cooked white rice
1- green pepper chopped
1-onion chopped
butter or oil

Saute onion and pepper in butter until carmelized.
In skillet add sauce to cooked rice w/ peppers&onions, simmer on low
until sauce is hot. 5min.

Apple Sauce Pie

1- X-Large Jar of Apple Sauce
gram crackers crushed
1 stick of butter melted aprox. use your judgement
1/4 cup sugar

I use my own judgement when mixing crackers w/butter and sugar. Figure enough for bottom and top of pie plate. Can always
make more!
In pie plate cover bottom & sides w/ gram cracker mixture. Pour jar of apple sauce over crust. Top with about 1/2 cup of cracker mixture. You want to cover all of the apple sauce, use more if needed.

Bake @ 350 for about 25min. or lightly brown cool
Put in fridge for an 1-1/2 to set. Slice top with coffee ice cream
if you like. You can also heat up a slice in the microwave to warm.
It slices nice after refridgeration.

I have a lot of Ramin noodles, pasta, frozen vegetables, few potatoes, four bags of seperated porkchops. Does anyone have any suggestions for a meal tomorro night? I am not much of a cook but due to income and health wise I have to cook from scratch. I hope noone will fill offended but I don't like to cook unless the meals are quick and easy to do. I have a very short attention span. I would greatly appreciate any ideas because I don't have any. My brain is sore for thinking about what to cook tommorrow. I messed up my menu planner so I am lost in cooking space.:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

classic hamburger pie

one pound hambuger
16oz can green beans (two if desired)
10oz can tomato soup
2 to 3 cups of cooked mashed potatos
one small onion chopped
shredded chesse

fry the hamburger, drain then adding the onion. Dump the green beans and tomato soup and hamburger in a 2 quart casserole. Drop mashed potatos on top in small mounds. Sprinkle with chesse if you want to. Bake 350 for 25 minutes. Feeds four people.
Sometimes I use less hamburger if I don't have alot and add more green beans. I like to spread the mashed potatos out on top and sprinkle with chedder chesse.

Goulash

Boil 2 cups of noodles and cook 1 lb. hamburger (or 1/2 lb. burger and more noodles for more frugality); Combine once cooked and add one can diced tomatoes. DH's fave with added garlic salt. Sometimes I add chopped green peppers and onions for added flavor.

Parmesan Basil Fries

These are really good! Chop one potato into 1/4" fries. In a seperate bowl/ziploc bag combine 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 Tbs Basil, 1 Tbs olive oil, and 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder. Toss the fries in mixture to coat, and place in large baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Cook at 425 10 minutes, flip and cook for 10 minutes more.

Dinner Rolls

If you don't want to go through the process of making your own dough, I find this to work extremely well! Take one roll of frozen bread dough. Heat over to 125 and once it preheats, turn off. Boil one quart of water, and place in the bottom of the oven. Put the bread dough on a greased sheet and place in oven. Watch until it double in size (2-4 hours). Take out dough,punch down and divide into the amount of rolls you want. I place mine directly onto parchment paper on a baking sheet. When rolls have doubled again, usually about an hour, heat oven to 350 and cook till golden brown!

Originally posted by sarahlyons8
I have a lot of Ramin noodles, pasta, frozen vegetables, few potatoes, four bags of seperated porkchops. Does anyone have any suggestions for a meal tomorro night? I am not much of a cook but due to income and health wise I have to cook from scratch. I hope noone will fill offended but I don't like to cook unless the meals are quick and easy to do. I have a very short attention span. I would greatly appreciate any ideas because I don't have any. My brain is sore for thinking about what to cook tommorrow. I messed up my menu planner so I am lost in cooking space.:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

I like plain chops, so I might not be much help in that aspect. What kinda veggies do you have?

For the sides, I suggest cooking the noodles, drain, add a tiny bit of butter and garlic salt, really good! You could even mix in some veggies for a colorful side dish.

As for porkchops, I like to just broil with a little garlic and onion salt.

Do you have any rice? If you did, you could steam it and serve as another filling side, then use any leftover for the next night as Fried Rice, with chopped up leftover chops for Pork Fried Rice!

:smball: Thank you for the great idea.:D

:bump:

Fried bread dough is a hit in our house.....I just take some dough and melt a bit of butter in a fry pan, shape bread dough into patties , as the patties heat up in the pan the bread dough rises some and when brown on one side flip it over and repeat on the other side......add butter or marg the same as you would for pancakes....very little......serve with pancake syrup.

A little boy that I watch sometimes had never had it before and now when he comes over every now and again he will say "Fried bread dough please"

When making homemade bread I usually freeze some of the dough for this reason.....it is very filliling and delish:)

Heather

Quick and Easy Pork Delight

6 pork chops or steaks
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Place pork chops in casserole dish. Add soup. Bake at 350 degress for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Yield 4-6 servings and very delicious. Sometimes I'll add sliced raw onions before baking. This also works well in the crockpot.

I tried this same recipe using a turkey breast with onions in the crockpot and dh loved it. He keeps asking me to make it again.

Sheperds Pie

1/2 to 3/4 pound of hamburger cooked and drained (can use 1 pound if desired)
1 can of cream corn
enough mashed potato to cover about 1 to 1 1/2 inch in height

In a casserole dish layer hamburger,cream corn and top with potatoe, cover in 350 oven for about 30 minutes then take off cover and finish baking for about another 10 minutes till potato crisps a bit more around the edges.


Heather

Thanks ladies!

I think that I got this website from here:) and one of the members there posted this

http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5771


$30 a week

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you could only spend $30 a week on groceries what would you buy? And say that you do not have a stocked pantry. Please list your recipes as well.
Price will vary on where you live of course and if there on sale. Some of my items were on sale this week.
MEALS
Spaghetti- $1.66- everything for it was on sale this week.

Chicken & Dumplings
Easy Chicken And Biscuits
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups milk
2 cups cut cup chicken
2 cans refrigerated biscuits (10 to can)
sm. package of frozen mixed vegetables

Mix soup, milk, chicken, and vegetables in bowl. Set aside. Lay unbaked biscuits in 9x13 pan. Pour soup mixture over biscuits. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

soup-1.25
milk- was on sale this week for .88 1/2 gal
chicken (bag of chicken breasts, 6.00; I used 2; 1.20
biscuits on sale for 5 for 1.00; .40
vegetables on sale for .69
Total cost is $4.04 and this includes your vegetable serving

Potato Hotdish-$3.44
1 lb. hamburger (browned, drain fat)
6-8 med. potatoes (peeled and cut into bite-size pieces)
1 can tomato soup
1 can vegetarian vegetable soup ("ABC" vegetable will work if you can't find vegetarian)
Combine browned hamburger, cut potatoes and soups in a 2 qt. caserole dish. DO NOT ADD WATER - this will thin it out and make it very "soupy". Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.

Pizza Burgers $3.71

1 lb gr. beef ($1.49)
1 jar any kind pizza sauce (.58 cents)
1 pkg. mozzarella cheese ($.99)
1 8 count hamburger buns (.65 cents)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Separate buns in half and place on baking pan, heat for 5 minutes.
3) Brown gr. beef and drain, add pizza sauce.
4) Spoon gr. beef onto buns, and top with mozzarella cheese.
5) Bake for 10 minute or until cheese is melted.
Makes 16 pizza burgers.

This is so easy.....and yummy..
you need 2 to 3 cans of regular biscuits, 2 cans cream of chic. soup...and fill 1 can of milk...
1st, you slice the biscuits in strips, then put soup and milk in pan until boiling then add biscuits...that's it..

Eat leftover spaghetti add a salad .99

Crockpot Porkchops $5.55
4 Pork Chops
Red Potatoes, quarted, no set amount
1 onion, sliced into rings
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup (sometimes I use roasted garlic soup, instead)
Salt and Pepper, to taste

I put the pork chops on the bottom of crock. Season chops with salt and pepper. Layer the potatoes on top and season. Last layer will be the onions. Pour the soup over all of this.
Cook in crockpot 6-8 hours on low.

Grilled cheese & tomato soup $2.08

LUNCH
Use leftover sauce from chicken and dumplings and make flour dumplings and serve over that.

PB & J 2X that week $2.00

Banquet Frozen Dinners 3 days $1.98

Any other leftovers

BREAKFAST
Eggs in a Basket- $.59
Cereal 3X .98 for a box
French Toast Free because we have all the ingredients for it.
Baked Apples -$1.50
Breakfast Burrito- Use some leftover tortillas, cheese and eggs, ham. $.99

SNACKS
Popcorn .89
cucumber .39
carrots .99
elephant ears Free- use leftover tortillas and deep fry them and add sugar and cinamon

DRINKS- Water-milk and juice .59
TOTAL $30.59 over by 59cents Which is ok as long as your not over by $1

This is the frugal biscuit mix which I always have on hand....I usually add enough milk when making up a batch so that I don't have to roll them out about (3/4 to 1 cup of milk per 2 cups of mix).....instead I just drop by the spoonfuls on a cookie sheet or on top of a meat pie dish instead of using a pie crust....This was posted on www.prairiehomemaker.com and the member who posted this recipe is Lambie (Katy)


Large Batch Biscuit Mix:
12 cups flour
7 tsp. salt
20 tbls. shortening
12 tbls. baking powder
Mix and ziploc bag, store To Use: 2 cups mix plus enough premade dry milk to form a soft dough
Variations: Cheddar cheese: 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic, 1 large handful shredded cheese
Herb: 1/4-1/2 tsp. favorite herb
Fruit: 1 large handful favorite dry fruit
Roll out on floured surface, cut and bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 15-20 min. at 350 degrees
spice: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, or 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Meat: 1/2 cup chopped ham, cooked sausage etc. (can add handful of shredded cheese and pick an herb...)

I thought this was neat and inexpensive, I got this off of I believe it was miserly moms website I will have to check..as I can't quite remember. Now when I find a recipe etc that I find interesting I copy and paste the website as well but when I first started doing that I never thought about doing that .:bang:

The Frugal Fathers Chili muffins

1 can of chili (any brand on sale)

1 can of 8-10 biscuits (storebrand if you can)

Place biscuits into a muffin tin and pinch around until the dough is
flat to the sides of the muffin tin.

Place a tablespoon of chili into the pinched dough.

Bake according to the directions on the biscuit can.

Serve with a salad or soup for a complete supper or lunch. Makes
8-10 muffins depending on the size of the biscuits purchased.

Just wanted to add that with the frugal fathers chili recipe above that it would be even cheaper to freeze some left over chili which you have had prior and then later on take it out and use the frugal biscuit mix which i posted above too:) you could sprinkle it with cheese and or sour cream too.

Heather

Another recipe which I got from the same website as the fathers frugal chili muffins,


Polish smoked hotdogs (maybe sausage too?)

This is a recipe I use quite often that is cheap, easy, and tasty.

1 pound smoked polish hot dogs. About 1.15 a pound when you buy the 3 pound
package. (I freeze the rest for another day)

1 large green bell pepper .50 (when not out of my garden)

1 large onion or 2 med size ones .50

5 potatoes .50

1/2 cup Italian dressing .25 when bought on sale


Wash potatoes well (do not peel), take the outer skin off the onion and
discard. then cube the pepper, onion, potato, and polish sausage into
large chunks. Throw it all in a large plastic bag, add the Italian
dressing and shake well. Empty contents of the bag into a large
baking dish and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until potatoes are
tender. This cost about .75-.80 a serving and that is "big portions".

Me again:toothy: ........here is the website for those recipes;

http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes2.htm


Heather

This recipe is not mine I just copied and pasted it :)

Heather

=========================================

Cheesy Potatoes
Copyright © 2001 by Michelle Jones, editor of BetterBudgeting.com

I threw this dish together the other night and it turned out delicious, it's similar to scalloped potatoes.

* * *

Ingredients:

8 medium sized potatoes

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1 can of mushroom soup

Directions:

Wash, peel and slice potatoes into 1/8-1/4" thick slices.

I started to layer the potatoes and cheese, then top them with the mushroom soup, but decided to lightly stir it all together after I put everything in the pan (no need to mess up another bowl). You can do it either way.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or more, until the top begins to brown lightly. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving because it will be very hot.

Yum!

Red Beans and Rice
Copyright 2003 by Michelle Jones, editor of BetterBudgeting.com

This recipe was contributed by Patrick and Ashley, who say it is their favorite comfort food recipe. Ashley writes, "

* * *

Ingredients:

1 bag small dried red beans
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, diced (or crushed)
1 Bay Leaf
About 6 cups of water
1 lb smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces (Eckridge's skinless variety is my favorite. If you like a little spice, substitute Tasso or Andoulle sausage, where you can find it, and add a little Tony Chacheres Cajun Seasoning.)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Soak the beans overnight.

2. Throw it all in the crock pot on high for about 6 hours.

(You can also make it in about 2 1/2 hours by simmering it all on the stove.)

Serve hot over hot rice with some crusty bread or cornbread. It's delicious and filling.

Serves 6

Use your own homemade chili or what I do is I use up homemade taco meat......when I make up my taco recipe I 3x it and freeze individually so that I can later have this meal , I also will put salsa , sour cream and lettuce on it:toothy:

I think that I got this following recipe from betterbudgeting.com too.

============================================

Chili Fries

Here's a recipe I grew up with in Southern California, I didn't see it listed so I thought I'd pass it on. It's a meal kids love!

* * *

Ingredients:

3 Cans Hormel Chili
1 large bag frozen French Fries (or if you have it in the freezer, tater-tots will do nicely too)
2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

Cook Chili and Bake Fries (or for those with a deep fryer you can make your fries that way) as directed on can and package. When done, put 1/2 a cup of Fries into each serving bowl (more or less depending on each individual) and pour hot chili over the top of them. Sprinkle cheese on the top. Serve.

Makes about 4-6 servings.

We are having Pasta and Broccoli tonight for supper, it is really good and it is out of my recipe book ""Not Just Beans"



Pasta and Broccoli


1 medium head of broccoli
3 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
1 med onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced (I always pick up the ready minced garlic in a jar)
1/2 cup chicken broth ( can use homemade or bouillon)
salt and pepper to taste
12 oz. pasta, cooked
Parmesan cheese, grated .


Wash and cut broccoli into bite-size pieces. Steam until just cooked. Drain well and set aside. In a pan, melt butter or margarine and olive oil. Saute onion until translucent. Add garlic and simmer for 1 minute. Add broccoli and broth and simmer 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper. In a large bowl, mix drained pasta with brocolli mixture. Toss well. Top with grated cheese and serve immediately. Serves 4

I also sometimes chop up some cooked bacon (already precooked and in freezer:toothy: ) and I will also throw some bread in the toaster and then spread with garlic spread .

Heather

Thanks ladies!

I make something simular to your pasta & broccoli Heather, except mine has white beans and lemon zest in it. One of my fav meals. Thank you!

Soupy Crock Pot Chicken

4 chicken breasts (or whatever pieces you have)
1 pkg. dry italian dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup.
1 c milk

Place chicken in crock. Sprinkle dry dressing mix over all. In a bowl, mix cans of cream soup and milk until smooth. Pour over all. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serves with noodles or rice.

This is a very yummy (and cheap) side dish!

Corn Casserole

1 15oz. can of corn (undrained)
1 15oz. can of cream-style corn
1 8oz. box of Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1 cup of Sour Cream
1/2 cup of Margarine (or Butter)

Mix all ingredients and pour into a baking dish and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

YUMMY!!!!!!;)

:bump:

With hetic summer season approaching, I thought we'd like to look this over again.

brown sugar pork chops
put 1 T brownsugar and 1 t butter (marg) or each pork chop and bake. They are soooo yummy with rice. Pour the sauce from the chops over the rice

Thanks so much for all of the great recipes just when times are tight too

This thread has been around a long time. Thanks for bumping it. It's an oldie, but a goodie

I'll revive it by adding a few of my own.

Grandpa Stew

a layer of carrots
a layer of potatoes
a layer of browned ground beef
2 cans of condensed vegetable or cream of mushroom soup (or tomato soup)
1 - 2 cans water

Layer it in the crockpot with carrots on bottom and working your way up from there. Cook on high for 6 hours. Eat.

Golden Lentil Soup

Serving Size : 3

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 lg onion -- peeled and chopped
1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 lb dry red split lentils
1 qt vegetable stock
2 tsps lemon juice
salt and pepper

Saute chopped onion in butter in saucepan.

Add lentils and stir 1 to 2 minutes.

Add stock or water. Bring to boil and let simmer 20 minutes, covered.

Beat soup or puree in blender. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.

Description: "A simple, cheap, flavourful soup when made with vegetable OXO cubes."
Cuisine: "Low Fat"
Source: "The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine"
Yield: "6 c"
Serving Ideas : Serve with crusty whole wheat rolls or garlic bread. Or with baking powder biscuits.

NOTES : Double this recipe for one multiple for our family (4-6 adults).

Cream Peas on Toast
Serving Size : 6

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/4 c margarine
1/4 c flour, all-purpose
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 c milk
3 c peas, frozen
12 slice toast slices

Melt margarine. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook about a minute.

Add milk and whisk till smooth. Add peas. Heat till boils. Turn down and keep warm.

Toast bread and serve with cream peas overtop.

Description: "Old time recipe from my childhood. Thanks Gram!"
Serving Ideas : Serve cream peas over toast. Or, make popovers and serve cream peas over them. Another variation is to add other vegetables and/or tuna to the cream pea mixture.

Potato Soup
Serving Size : 4

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
5 c potato -- diced
1 stalk celery -- chopped fine
1 tbsp chives
OR
1 tbsp onion
1 tbsp butter
OR
1 tbsp oil
3 c stock
salt and pepper -- to taste
1 med carrot -- diced
3 c milk

Saute onion and celery in butter or oil.

Add diced carrots and potatoes, and stock (can be made from OXO cubes and water). Simmer for about 20 minutes, until carrots and potatoes are cooked.

Add milk, salt, pepper and chives (if using them instead of onions).

Description: "A favourite comfort food."
Source: "Original"
Serving Ideas : Serve with homemade baking powder biscuits.

Refried Beans or Frijoles Refritos
Serving Size : 8

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 tbsps oil
5 c cooked kidney beans
1 1/2 tbsps oregano
1 1/2 tbsps minced garlic
1 tbsp chili peppers -- crushed
1/2 lb cheddar cheese -- grated

Place oil, beans, oregano, garlic and chili peppers in a heavy, deep frying pan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Mash until all the beans are broken up.

Stir in cheese and cook until it melts. Serve in tortillas.

Source: "The Harrowsmith Cookbook vol. 1"
Serving Ideas : We sometimes serve this as a replacement taco filling, with lettuce, green pepper, chopped tomato, etc. to round it out.

NOTES : Almost any kind of beans can be used for this recipe, including pinto beans and black beans. Chili peppers can be replaced by 1/2 tsp. cayenne.

Jean

This is both frugal and wonderful - if you like cabbage rolls.
Cabbage Roll Casserole
1 lb. ground beef,
salt & pepper
1/2 cup water
3 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
1 can tomato soup
3 tablespoons rice
Brown beef and add salt and pepper, add tomato soup, water and rice and mix well. Stir in cabbage, place all in a casserole and cover and bake at 325° for 1½ hours.

Three Step Dinner
Brown 1 to 1 1/2 pound hamburg
Stir in contents of Kraft Dinner, including cheese
2 cups water
Large jar of pasta sauce

Simmer l5 minutes - stirring occasionally
Blend in 1 cup shredded cheese.

Lazy Day Perogies
15 lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup margarine
2 cups chopped onions
4 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper
Cook and drain noodles and put 5 noodles in bottom of 9x13 pan. Mix cheese, potatoes, salt & pepper and spread half over the layer of noodles. Cover with 5 more noodles and then the rest of the potato mixture. Put last five noodles on top. Saute onions in the margarine, pour over noodles and bake at 350 ° for 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream.

Thanks ladies for your good ideas. I used to be more creative when my family all lived at home and we had boarders. I haven't been eating properly lately and became very anaemic. Actually I am reading this thread in bed, it's way past supper time but reading all these recipes has really stimulated my appetite! :cheese: :munch:

This I got from a friend and has become one of my hubbies favorites.

1 lb of smoked sausage
potatoes - you decide how many
1-2 cans of green beans

Cut up sausage, potatoes. Dump all in Crock pot. Cook all day. Eat

Can also be done on stove top!

Vegetarian Taco Pie:cheer4:

(My little girlies love this one -- if you are a meat eater just add browned ground beef to one or more of the layers)

4 large flour tortillas
Refried beans
Homemade cheese sauce
Salsa

Spray the bottom of a cast iron frying pan or a pie pan with cooking spray. Layer one tortilla then spread with beans. top with a little salsa and the cheese sauce. Lay down another torilla and repeat til you put on the last tortilla. Top that one with a little salsa, then cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover then top with shredded cheese and bake until melted.

Let cool for 10 minutes then slice like pie. You can top it with more salsa or with sour cream.

Stir Fried Noodles in Peanut sauce :pblow:

Cook a package of ramen noodles. Mix together 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, and 1/2 cup of gingerale. Saute some garlic and broccoli in a frying pan, then stir in the noodles and sauce. If you like spicy food add some crushed red chili peppers to taste.

This was one of my mothers favorite dishes and now my fiance loves it to

Peas and Meatballs

I make homemade meatballs and freeze for quick use

Take one package frozen peas ( cook slightly ) drain off and extra water
12 homemade meatballs

Make a medium white sauce
Add peas and meatballs
Salt and pepper to taste
Serve on toast or mashed potatoes or rice


Medium White Sauce (makes 1 cup )

2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk


Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt(can add dash of white pepper )
Add milk all at once. Cook quickly stirring constantly until thickened and bubbles. take off heat. ( can add cheese or other seasonings and stir til smooth.

Cabbage cassarole

Brown 1 Lb. ground beef with a diced onion. Drain and set aside. Cut up cabbage, enough to cover the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. More if you like it. Top with ground beef mixture. Then spread 1 to 1 1/2 cans tomato soup over the top and top with mozzarella cheese. Colby or cheddar works well too. Cover and bake 45 to 60 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Season with a little salt upon serving if you like.

This is one I cook often..

I saute cut up fresh tomatoes( a can of diced would work too) , in olive oil, add some basil and cut up garlic , and mix your pasta of choice in the pan with it to coat it well and serve. Goes great with a salad.
It's cheap and good!

It's lunch time here and I am about to have some soup made from leftover mashed potatoes.

saute some diced onion and a little finely diced salami (3-4 slices) or pepperoni (something to leave a bit of the smokey taste), add a teasp. of tomato paste (or dice up that wrinkley tomato nobody wants to eat anymore), add chopped parsley or chives for a minute before adding potatoes. Add broth until desired thickness has been reached, bring to boil, simmer covered for a few minutes to half an hour and serve with hot dogs, wieners or savoury pancakes.

This is such an excellent thread! Thanks so much to everyone!

It is nearly 1 a.m., but I am making the busy day cake that was posted on this thread. It was simple to make and it smells delicious already! I will let you know how it turns out!!!

Andrea

How about what I am making for supper...lol It only has 4 ingredients.

Dried beef gravy (AKA Chipped Beef Gravy or SOS as my grandpa called it in the army)

Here is how I make it.

1 large jar (4.5 oz) of Armour sliced Dried Beef.
4 cups milk
2 tbsp flour

First I melt a little butter in a large sauce pan. I rinse off (since it is so salty) the dried beef and rip it or cut it up. I sautee it in the pan until it is warm but not long enough to get it crisp (about 5 minutes).

I then add milk until it covers all the beef. Add the flour a little at a time until it begins to thicken. Serve hot (DH thinks I'm nuts because I've been known to put mine back in the microwave before I am finished because it cooled off to soon....lol)

I mostly serve it over toast. But my mom would also serve it over white rice as well.

LOL, we eat this on nights when hubby doesn't have to take a lunch the next day. It's a meal my mom used to make all the time and we love it. We eat it over hot grits W/slices of toast, or I serve over hot split biscuits W/grits on the side. LOL, always got grits!

I use this recipe alot cause it's easy, tasty, and feeds 12 easily. I have two 6 qt. crock pots, so when I can get two pork roasts on sale, I cook and shred both and freeze the leftovers for future quick meals. This is also wonderful for pot-lucks.

Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 lb. boneless pork shoulder roast
1 can Campbell's french onion soup
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3-4 tablespoons packed brown sugar
12 toasted sandwich rolls

Heat oil in skillet. Add roast and brown on all sides. Place roast in 5 qt. slow cooker. Mix soup, ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar; pour over roast.
Cover and cook on low 8 - 10 hours or until done.

Remove roast from cooker, leaving sauce in crock. Cover roast with foil and allow to cool slightly. Shred pork, using two forks. Return shredded pork to sauce in crock and heat through. Serve pork and sauce on toasted, sliced rolls.

I serve with coleslaw, baked beans and dessert. Hubby puts his slaw on top of pork.

For our quickie: Our Taco Bell wannna be
Can of warmed chili with a can of rinsed black beans (to stretch the beans)
Placed in a tortilla with a pinch of cheese, sometimes tomato cut up in chucks, sour cream, and sprinkle of Tabasco for a kick. Then we fold it all in and finish off toasting it on a griddle to hold its shape.

Fast Fiesta Soft Taco's

1 lb. ground beef
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 cup picante or taco sauce
8 flour tortillas (8 in. ) warmed
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (have used heated cheddar cheese soup)
diced tomatoes
sour cream

Cook beef and chili powder in skillet until browned. Drain and return beef to skillet and add picante or taco sauce and heat through.

Spoon about 1/4 cup of beef mixture down center of each tortilla. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.

For dessert, serve Cinnamon Tortilla Crisps

I remember when Taco Bell served these years ago. I loved them then and I love them now!

You can also make make them plain for dipping into salsa, or I have made them using taco seasoning for serving with salads.


1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
6 ea 8-inch flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350. In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Brush melted butter over tortillas; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Cut each tortilla into eight wedges. Spread half of the wedges in a 15x10x1 inch pan.

Bake for 5 - 10 minutes or until dry and crisp. Repeat with remaining wedges. Cool completely.

12 servings

My dh loves these either by themselves, or with vanilla ice cream. I sometimes make several pans of these and store them in an air-tight container. They don't last long though.

Easy Tex-Mex Rice Salad

I got this recipe from the back of a box of beef Rice-a-Roni years ago and I still make it today. It's one of our favorites.

1 family sized box of beef Rice-a-Roni
1 lb lean ground beef
1 16 oz. jar of your favorite salsa (or homemade)
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese (or warmed cheddar cheese soup)
Diced tomatoes
Sour cream

Cook Rice-a-Roni as per package directions. When done, cover, keep warm and set aside. Cook ground beef until no longer pink and drain. Add cooked hamburger to Rice-a-Roni, along with salsa. Stir well to combine. Serve warm. Can either serve in pita bread, in taco shells, or do as I do and make your own tortilla salad bowls.

Tortilla Salad Bowls

Heat oven to 350. Cover either a stainless steel or glass heat proof bowl with a flat bottom with aluminum foil. Use bowls that will work for whatever size tortilla's you will use (I make small ones for grandbabies). Brush both sides of tortilla's with melted butter and place on bowls to form a bowl shape (you may have to smooth with hands to get the shape you want depending on the bowl you use). Place bowls on baking sheet and bake for 5 - 10 minutes until dry and crisp. Remove from oven and let cool completely before filling.

Fill with above warm salad and top with what you like.

Cheese Muffins

These are quick and wonderful with soups and stews.

1-1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups coarsly grated cheddar cheese
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 stick melted butter

Grease muffin cups. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in cheese and combine until all of the particles of cheese are coasted with flour. Beat eggs with the milk and stir into the flour mixture just until blended, then add melted butter. Bake for 20 minutes.

I know that this is an old thread but there are so many terrific recipes that people have shared. I am sitting here and reading these and thinking wow, wow, wow.

I wrote down a bunch of great frugal recipe ideas, I can't wait to incorporate them into our monthly menu. I love inexpensive food ideas, and I like that so many of the recipes are things you might already have in your pantry:)

I am really trying hard to use what we have in the house. The fewer ingredients I have to use for a recipe the better I feel and the more it feels an accomplishment to me. I feel like I am beating the cooking "system". LOL
:yippee:

Busy Day Dessert Cake

1 can cherry pie filling (21 ounce)
1 can crushed pineapple, undrained (20 ounce)
1 box cake mix (any brand)
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Spread pie filling evenly over the bottom of a well buttered 13x9
inch pan. Distribute pineapple evenly over filling. Sprinkle cake
mix over filling and pineapple, then dribble melted butter over all.
Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50
minutes. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

This can be made with just about any fruit and I've even made it with
only one can. I prefer to use yellow cake mix but any flavor will
work and be delicious.


Ok, I made this cake A few hours ago and it didn't turn out. I've seen different versions so I am wondering if something is missing here in the ingredients or directions since this is the recipe I used?

I followed the recipe to the letter, even checked to make sure my oven was at exactly 350 but still, this didn't turn out.

I am wondering what could possibly have gone wrong? It didn't seem to be cooked. The flour from the cake mix is still "raw" tasting and somewhat dry despite my having the melted butter over it. I tried putting it back in for a few more minutes but that didn't help. GOSH! I really hate to toss it all away after what I paid for the ingredients! One can of pie filling alone was $2.69, can you believe it?

Anyone else tried this recipe?

I found several other versions of this recipe (called dump cake) and many said to Bake 1 hour at 350ºF, so that may be why mine didn't turn out. Some say to add pieces of butter as well as the melted, some say drain the pineapple and mix with the melted butter and various other suggestions that were a little different. Some even suggested stirring in the cake mix. Some were exactly like the recipe, word for word.

What none of them said was that this doesn't turn out anything like a real cake but more like a fruit crumble (what my daughter called it) or a crisp.
:remind:

Handymom,
Maybe you could try a smaller box of cake mix (Jiffy brand - only makes enough for 8" or 9" pan) for the cake recipe - not sure if that would help or not.

:bump: an oldie but goodie

try this website:

http://busycooks.about.com/od/fiveingredientsorless/a/500fiveingredie.htm

This is one of the cheapest & quickest meals we make. I'll add this to the community cookbook too.

Tomato Macaroni

1 (16 oz.) can whole tomatoes
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt & a few grinds of the peppermill
1/4 tsp. dried oregano leaves
8 oz. uncooked elbow macaroni
Grated Parmesan cheese

Cook macaroni as directed. While macaroni is cooking~Heat tomatoes with liquid (squish the tomatoes a bit so they are smaller pieces, use your hands, it's fun :toothy: ), butter, teaspoon salt, pepper, and the oregano to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. Arrange in serving dish, pour sauce on hot macaroni & serve with parmesan cheese.
Serve with a tossed salad.<!-- / message --><!-- sig --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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This thread is too long to check to see if someone already said this, but check out www.meals.com It's an excellent site when it comes to good meals.

I only read through half the pages so I don't know if someone else mentioned this, but recipezaar has an option to search for recipes with 5 or less ingredients (http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/5-or-less-ingredients) :) It comes up with 49K recipes!! But you can filter by ingredient, etc.

ALFREDO SAUCE

1 tbsp. butter (butter)
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
Pinch nutmeg
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
3 c. low fat milk
1/2 tsp. pepper
Cooked fettuccine

Melt butter-butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisk in milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, whisking; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Toss with Parmesan cheese and cooked fettuccine.

Nice to have the links but any more tried & true ones out there? Love making things you all have made, the FV seal of approval so to speak.;)