Convenience Foods?

[FrugalWitch]

There's a cookbook called Desperation Dinners that should help. I don't remember who wrote it, but they also have a second cookbook called Cheap, Fast, Good! that I've seen at the library. Another idea would be cookbooks that have recipes for only 4-5 ingredients, those should be very quick and easy. I hope this helps some.

[foxxyroxie]

If convenience is what you're looking for...Marie Calender has pretty good pre-made dinners and pot pies, however though they're tasty, they're loaded with calories and fat grams. Stouffer's also has some pretty good heat-and-eat entrees available at a somewhat reasonable price.

Try shopping at Aldi's or Save-A-Lot. They have pretty reasonably priced convenience items like Stouffer's I mentioned and also has chicken nuggets, patties, etc. We like to get the turkey nuggets (like the chicken ones only $1 cheaper -- I don't know why but they are). Stick those babies in the oven with some fries and dinner is ready in about 20 minutes. They also have their store brands of frozen fried chicken and pot pies.

The flavored rice packets are a good deal, but I find it's just as easy to cook regular white rice in water with boullion added. The same is true with noodles.

Try to keep plain frozen skinless boneless chicken breast available. You can saute them in a skillet and add all kinds of stuff like salsa and cheese, or french dressing and chunk pineapple, or BBQ sauce, or sweet and sour sauce, or whatever else comes to mind. Bake a potato in the microwave and heat serve with a tossed salad and dinner is served.

Hope this helps.

[tbs727]

I just thought of one more thing, but I don't know about pricing or availability in your area (I've never heard of a razorback, so not even sure where your area is). Maple Leaf, which is a large Canadian meat company, makes fully cooked roasts, packaged in gravy. I don't know if they operate in the States, or if there is another company doing something similar there, but you might want to keep an eye out for them. They come in a box, and are ready in 10mins. They are not frozen, so our stores usually have them at the end of the meat aisle. You just heat them up in the microwave. It's not like a tv dinner, it's a one-meal family sized roast - you have to add your own side dish.

Yum! That sounds good.

I am in Fayetteville, AR, which is the location of the University of Arkansas. The Razorback is our mascot.

[hollyhill]

There are some very nice frozen fish entrees like cajun sole or teryaki salmon fillets which are sometimes offered at 2 for 1 sales here. They cook very quickly. And actually any fish fillet fresh of frozen is very healthy and quick to prepare. I also, like the roasted chickens you can pick up at your supermarket, way cheaper than eating out and there are leftovers. Also, roast beef slices fromt the deli on a bun with beef broth for a "dip". Corned beef on rye with kraut and swiss cheese for a reuban. And vegetable pasta. Quesidillas. Omlettes. All are in my get dinner on the table fast repertoire.

[JEM]

OK I was trying to find some good frugal ideas for dinner and I got a ton from here, but I have a meal that I think the poster was lookin for (I hope)
We buy Zatarains(sp) Dirty Rice mix. It has a recipe on back or you can cook up hamburger & cook with it (I love this) But while I love it no one else does. So one night I tried Kielbasa. This was a better hit at my house. So you follow the directions and then when the rice is cooked I fry it with sliced kielbasa and add a vegie and rolls. The rice takes a while to cook but requires no work at all!
Another thing I do is just cook up slices of chicken and buy the already made up chicken chowmein. I dont like the chicken but like the sauce so I pick out the chicken and add my own. This can be spendy but everybody likes it and its easy. I boil some teriyaki noodles with it and a fried rice mix. But for quick and easy just do the chicken chow mein with bbq pork.
Probably this was mentioned but fry garlic and onion (garlic could be the diced in a jar and frozen onions if you like) boil pasta, pour spaghetti sauce over and some cheese then put in oven at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes salad and garlic toast.
DH loves this but I hate it he makes it when I am working at 2nd job. 1/2 pound hamburger cooked, 1 or 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, can of green beans (drained) mix altogether and cover with tater-tots put in oven 350 for 45 minutes or so.
THis is another one that takes a while but requires no attention (I hate to cook! but somebodies gotta to do it )Anyway its chicken breast with vegies and then wrapped in foil with a little butter and seasoning. I usually do mushrooms, onion, garlic, broccoli, carrots, celery. Really whatever you like then 350 oven for 45 min. to an hour. You could also do frozen or just buy already chopped vegies.

[starsapphire]

JEM just reminded me of a quick easy dish I like to make. I get the Zatarain's jambalaya mix and just before I'm ready to turn on the stove to get it cooking I slice up some sausage and throw it right in with it. I like to put in some turkey italian sausage but you can use just about any kind.

There's a thread in here somewhere with a recipe from Bethany thats really good. You get some pasta cooking, and while its cooking you saute about a pound of sliced white mushrooms in olive oil and 2 cloves minced garlic. When they're tender, pour them in a food processer or blender and add in one whole can, undrained, pitted black olives. Add a bit of salt and a touch more olive oil if needed. Pulse until blended but still somewhat chunky. Serve on the pasta, top with parmesan. It takes longer for the pasta to cook than to make the sauce. This is a hit in my house.

[2boys2girls]

I have to say that I have been relying on conveinence foods more since I've been pregnant because I'm so tired.
I have small kids, so some of these are pretty kid friendly. Also, I take the time when I can to brown up several pounds of ground beef with onions and freeze them in ziplocs. That way I can pull it out quickly for spagetti, tacos and casseroles. I do the same with chicken sometimes.
A few things we like are:

Tater Tot Casserole
Spagetti w/meatsauce
Chicken pattie sandwiches w/fries (frozen Tyson chicken patties)
Grilled sandwiches on the George Forman
Pizza made w/powdered mix, very quick and easy
Biscuit pizzas (roll bisquits into rounds and top)
Pop overs(roll out bisquits flat, fill with whatever and foldover and bake)
Meatball subs (frozen meatballs simmered in spagetti sauce on hotdog buns)
Cheese bagels and soup
Fish sticks and mac and cheese
chicken nuggets and fries
Potato pizza (baked potatoes with pizza sauce and cheese
Mac and cheese w/ground beef
Tacos
Bean burritos

Like I said, most are pretty basic and kid like, but you get the picture.

[crazyBMB]

Thanks 4 the all for some of the quick an easy meal ideals

[watchingpennies]

ok..this is going to sound really pathetic...but, if you are trying to save money and eat at home and don't have time/knowledge to cook and you are in a pinch, what about cans of pasta (dora, winnie the pooh, alphagettis etc.) on toast or cans of baked beans with bread??? Those are my standbys for when I am totally exhausted and am tempted to get takeout because they are just as easy as going through the drive thru! I also keep a "store brand" lasagna in the freezer for when I forget to take meat out in the morning.

[tbs727]

Wow, you guys have really given some great ideas! I knew I could rely on you!!! Thanks!

[PrairieRose]

We always had a frozen lasagna in the freezer for 'emergencies'. That was always a welcome sight. A quick salad and some garlic toast and yum. One thing that we do with roasts sometimes is to cook it so that it doesn't simmer in the grease that comes out of (like I crumple up some foil under it) and put some liquid smoke on it with garlic salt and pepper. Cook all day and shred and eat like fajitas or roast burritos on flour tortillas with salsa and cheese. I usually cook some onions and green peppers with it too. VERY easy and soo good.

[staceyy]

Italian sausage sauteed with onions and green peppers and add a can of tomatoes, baked beans and kosher hotdogs, turkey burger patties fried and topped with salsa, grilled cheese and soup. Fried ham slice with applesauce and green beans. Taco or chicken salad, stuffed omelets, grilled or baked salmon.Rotisserie chicken, deli coleslaw and Stouffers frozen macaroni and cheese.

[jenloveschip2001]

here are a few fast ideas for supper in a hurry, probally not the healthiest though and we consider potato chips to be a side dish LOL.

Ramen Noodles
Canned checken noodle soup
popcorn
nachos and cheese ( melt some velvetta in the microwave and stir in some salsa for the dip)
corn dogs with a side of chips
hot pockets
microwavable macroni
microwaveable hamburger helper
Betty Crocker has microwavable side dishes
Salad
Tuna sandwich with chips
If Schwans sells in your area they have some very tasty meal that are already premade you just stick them in a pot and heat them up. A little pricey but still probally cheaper than eating out, and the best thing is it is delievered to your door. If you want to be a little healther you could eat pretzals for sides instead of chips.

[MandiDawn]

If you want something fast - look in the frozen foods isle at your grocery store. The frozen perogies are pretty good. I get the french bread pizzas sometimes. Also my BF really likes the hungry man dinners. Both cook up fast when you don't have time to actually cook. When we went hunting this year we lived on french bread pizzas and hot pockets.