Meals for WELL UNDER 5.00?

[Mamaof2rugrats]

I'm always looking for ways to stretch my already small grocery budget. Right now I feed 3,sometimes 4 with constant family guests for meals and do it under 150 a month.
Before long I'll be moving (mo to tn so the cost of living is right about the same,if not a little cheaper here) anyways I'll be feeding 3(the kids and I),the new husband, new hubby's dad and a growing number of children( think the Duggars) so we were dicussing food budgeting to make sure we're on the same page about it all.
I saw a topic in here awhile back with 5.00 meals but to me that seems very pricy for 1 meal. Any dollar meals? Gosh that would be nice.
Anyone have any cheaper meals? Keep in mind I buy everything genaric and in bulk so it's already pretty cheap but I'd just like some actual ideas. Also, farmers here ( well when I finally move) so alot of what I'll make will be home grown so probably cheaper than buying it at the store.
Anyways,any full meals for a dollar? 2? ideas?
Crockpot ideas are especially welcome!

[Jskell911]

This is a favorite for my family:

Taco Pie Recipe

Taco Pie

1 Lb ground beef
1 C rice
1 C Shredded Cheddar
1 C corn
1 Pkt Taco Seasoning

**Cook the rice separately according to directions
** Brown Beef and drain. Mix in taco seasoning

In a large casserole pan layer items:

Beef, then corn, then rice, and top with shredded cheddar. Bake at 350 for approx 1/2 hr.

This comes out like a Sheppard's pie and can be cut into squares. It can be served alone or accompanied by a salad. We like to serve it with fresh baked bread.

I am sure there are many variations. We like these:

* Try Ground turkey or chicken for a lower fat alternative
* Try Shredded chicken, possibly from leftovers
* Mashed potatoes can be used instead of rice
* Montery Jack or Pepper Jack can be used instead of cheddar
* Top the casserole with Cornbread mix before baking

[TheRootedNomad]

I don't think there are too many "meals" out there that will feed a family for a dollar anymore. (Although it would be very neat to see how many we could come up with) There is another thread posted
$3.50 or Less Meals For 4 Using A Basic Garden???
that asks for $3.50 or less using basic garden ingredients. I think to get other than a couple of beans n rice recipes you'll either have to hunt, garden, or forage for the under a dollar ones. The $5 meals for 4 thread also had several listed that were well under $5.

Without useing the garden here are a couple of the least expensive ones I use

---pasta w/sauce and a bag of frozen peas
---lentils with carrots and fresh fruit (in season)
---potatoe soup withwhatever veggies I have in the fridge or pantry
---split pea soup with hommade bread or crackers
---white rice with a bag of stirfry veggies on top
---potaotes and cabbage (minus the meat and it's still filling)

Here's the link to the $5 thread as well. There are several on there for well under the $5.

[ame="http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94061"]$5.00 Meals for 4???? - Frugal Village Forums[/ame]

[starsapphire]

Here's one of my cheapest dinners and its fast, easy, tasty, and I have everything in the cupboard for it already most of the time.

Southwest Pasta Sauce

1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 can diced tomatoes or stewed tomatoes broken up
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp oregano

Mix all together in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
Serve over rice, pasta or fill tortillas with it.
I usually like to top mine with cheese and chopped onions.

[familyof3]

We love these! Tasty and cheap.

Lentil tacos
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1 teaspoon oil
1 cup dry lentils, rinsed
1 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
2-1/2 cups broth
1 cup salsa (the recipe calls for this to be added into the pan, I don't and usually do it at the table)
taco toppings of choice
12 hard taco shells or tortillas

saute the onion and garlic in oil
Add the lentils, chili powder, cumin and oregano, cook for 1 minute.

Add broth; bring to a boil. cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Uncover and cook for another 5 minutes or until it gets thicker. Stir in salsa(see above.)

[mom2matty]

Lots of great info........thanks everyone

[AmyBoz]

I don't have any recipes to contribute, but am definitely watching this thread with interest! Anything to cut down is useful!

[Mamaof2rugrats]

So far what I'm thinking is-( in addition to yalls recipes thanks!)

Breakfast-
Biscuits and Gravy
Grits and Gravy
Sugar Toast
French Toast

Lunch/Supper-
Spaghetti ( meatless or with ground meat either all meat bought in bulk or homegrown/butchered)
Grits with Gravy and Greens
Tuna Salad
Soup beans with cornbread
Red Beans and Rice
Chili
homemade cheese pizza

Can certainly make all these for a buck or two for a family.

[G'MaDebbie]

Here is a cheap recipe that we love!!

1 can tuna
mayo
1 can corn
1 lb pasta any type
corn tortillas
hot sauce

cook pasta
drain tuna and corn
mix together pasta, tuna, and corn. Add mayo

fry corn tortilla until crispy

pile on as much of the mixture as you can to the tortilla shell, add hot sauce
very yummy!

you can subtitute the corn tortillas with tostada shells that are already made and packaged in the store.

[jolenegreen2]

Something yummy I always make is...Fry up some potatoes and onions...stir up some eggs in a bowl, dump ontop of potatoes and stir until eggs are scrambled. Eat inside a warmed tortilla shell. Hubby and kids both like this. Most of it is made with stuff I have around anyways. Sometimes I fry up hotdog with the potatoes and add a little cheese as well. Its good with salsa too! LOL

[cab54]

I make macaroni, cheese and tomato casserole. My mom's 'stretch your budget' meal. (made cheaper for her because she used tomatoes we canned from the garden.)

Cook up a box of the cheapest macaroni you can find.
When cooked, drain and add 2 cans (15 oz?) of tomatoes (whatever you like--diced, stewed...). And an old bag of the crumbs of potato chips--if you don't have chips, use soda crackers (saltines)--crushed.

Layer in casserole--enough tom. and mac to cover the bottom, then a layer of cheese (again, whatever you like, but mild cheddar or colby are good). Then tom. and mac. again, then cheese, etc. finish with cheese. Top with crushed crackers or chips.

Way better than it sounds.

[littlefoot]

Don't forget about the good 'ole rubber chicken! I purchased a bunch of Pilgrim's Pride chickens with recent MFr coupons. The large $3.00 hen I roast tonight to feed 5 of us will have its carcass boiled afterwards. Then we'll enjoy chicken-vegetable soup tomorrow for lunch. Any leftover meat will be packaged to enjoy in another dish. Not a bad use of $3.00!

Leslie

[Momto2Boyz]

Tonight we had homemade "hot pockets". They turned out really well.

Hamburger buns (4) $0.47
Turkey ham (3.00 for a ham, I used about 1/4 of it) $0.75
Shredded cheese (2.69/pkg, used 1/4) $0.67
Garlic powder (no idea on price on this one, I buy it for .50/bottle, so I'll guess) $0.02
Mayo (2 Tbs, again, it was pennies) $0.02

Mix together everything except buns. Take buns and pull out the insides to make pockets (Save in the freezer for meatloaf or anything that calls for bread crumbs). Place filling into the buns, wrap in foil and place on grill or open fire. (Youc an do in the oven too, just heat up and melt cheese).

Anyhoo, these were really good and were under $2, when I buy everything at Aldi's. We put some green beans on the side and it was still only around $2.50 for the whole family.

They were delicious, I think next time we'll try them with pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. I thought they would also be delicious as a dessert, with some pie filling on the inside! YUM!

[Jskell911]

I make calzones too for a cheap meal. Just make dough, roll it out and fill with whatever you have on hand. We like tomato sauce, cheese, and either ground beef or sausage. You can also use deli meats, peperoni, any veggie blend w/ cheese. I guess the fillings are limitless depending on what you like. Fold dough over the filling and pinch closed. I make individual ones, my boys' like that.

[StaceyS]

I make fried rice (or fried "noodles" using angelhair). I use a can of mixed vegs (to save on using lots of different veges - the only strange thing in it is the potatoes). Just fry and egg in cold rice (or angel hair - it really is as good!) with butter and the veges with soy sauce. Yummy!