Laid off...need food ideas...

[sunshine]

Oh -- and about that spoonful of leftover veggies, or that little dab of meat? Save them in the freezer for next week's omelet A dab of onions, peppers, and a smidge of ham or chicken go a long way in an omelet.

[Grainlady]

Be sure to cover all food groups. I'd also suggest foods that don't require long cooking times. That also costs...$$$ Foods that can be cooked in a microwave or stir-fry as quick-cooking ideas. If you are using the oven, then bake several things at once.

-Choose foods high in nutrition and high in filling fiber. A whole apple rather than applesauce or apple juice....

-Watch serving sizes. A serving of orange juice is 3/4-cup, not a 16-oz. tumbler full. If you have cake for dessert, then count it as a bread/grain serving. A serving of spaghetti/pasta is 1/2 c. and counts as one bread/grain serving.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/thrifty...ing_sizes.html

-Take advantage of food hand-outs from Government Commodities. You'll need proof of income. Get WIC if your kid/s are young enough you can qualify. Check your local County Extension Office or Health Department for food and meal-planning help. They will have information and handouts, including recipes.

-Try meal planning around the old "Basic-4" It's less food than the new Food Pyramid, but everything will be covered.
For the day:
Bread & Cereal - 4 servings
Fruits & Vegetables - 4 servings
Meat & Meat Alternatives - 2 servings
Milk - Adults: 2 servings, Children: 3-4 servings

-Use reconstituted 100% frozen orange juice concentrate or 100% grape juice. Less expensive than ready-to-serve or individual sizes (like juice boxes). For a "treat" make Orange Cows or Grape Cows - mixtures of orange juice and milk, or grape juice and milk. If you don't like the taste of powdered milk, add some vanilla to it. Mix powdered milk with regular to hide the taste.

-Popcorn (the real stuff, not microwave) is a fun and good-for-you snack food. Find an air-popper at a thrift store, or borrow an old-style popcorn popper and use MUCH cheaper corn instead of microwave bags.

-Stir fry and homemade pizza are ways to use less meat. You can use tomato sauce to top the pizza. Freeze the leftover for another pizza or add it to other things like soup. The pizza crust mixes are very inexpensive from the grocery store.

-You'll find a good source for inexpensive meals by using Bisquick Impossible Pie meals. You can make your own Bisquick mixture or use store-brand: http://www.recipegoldmine.com/pieimp/pieimp.html
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Light-as-a-Feather Hot Cakes

In a 4-cup measuring cup combine:
1 c. milk, 1 egg, and 2 T. vegetable oil (stir with a fork to blend the egg)

Add: 1 c. flour, 1/2 t. salt, 2 T. sugar & 2 T. baking powder

Stir only until dry ingredients are incorporated. Do NOT over-mix.
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Cheeseburger Bake
1 lb. ground beef
2 T. flour
1/4 c. chopped onion
ketchup - just enough to coat the cooked meat
salt
pepper
shredded cheese
Biscuits (canned from the refrigerator case, homemade, or made with Bisquick - your choice)

Combine beef with onion in skillet. Brown and drain. Add the flour (a thickener. Stir in ketchup (enough to coat the meat), along with salt and pepper to taste. Turn into baking dish. Top with cheese, then the unbaked biscuits. Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes.
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Snack Cake (no frosting necessary)
1-1/2 c. flour
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
3 T. cocoa (can omit)
1 T. vinegar
2 t. vanilla
5 T. melted butter (or margarine)
2/3 c. honey
1/3 c. cold water

Mix ingredients in an 8-inch square pan in this order:

Combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Make 3 holes evenly spaced apart in dry ingredients. In first hole, put vinegar; in second hole, vanilla; and the third hole, melted butter. Mix water and honey together and pour over all the contents of the pan. Mix well using a dinner fork (be sure no dry ingredients remain in the corners). Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For spice cake, add 1/2 t. cinnamon or a spice mixture like apple pie mix, or pumpkin pie spice.
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Crumb Cake
1-1/2 c. brown sugar
2 c. flour
1/2 c. shortening (or butter)
1/2 t. salt
1 c. sour milk
1 t. soda
1 t. vanilla

Mix first 4 ingredients together in crumb form. Save 1/2 c. for topping. Add last 3 ingredients. Mix well. Pour into 8-inch square pan. Top with 1/2 c. crumb combination. Bake in a preheated 325°F for 45 minutes.
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If your family doesn't like oatmeal, they may like these biscuit-like scones that are made from COOKED oatmeal for a hearty breakfast bread. They also freeze well.
Cooked Oatmeal Scones
http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/print?id=46876

Good luck!