Archive for the Category » frugal meal «

12
Jul

stir fry squash and rice

This is one of those throw it in the pan recipes so there are no amounts. It is more a recipe idea. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

  • diced yellow squash or zucchini
  • diced red peppers
  • sliced mushrooms
  • diced fresh garlic
  • chopped green onions
  • about 2 T. olive oil
  • cooked rice
  • optional ~ pita pockets
  • salt and pepper to taste or a little Cajun seasoning

Sauté all of the vegetables in the olive oil in a med hot skillet until the veggies are soft but not mushy. Serve over a bed of rice, or with rice in pita pocket. Really easy and very yummy.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, side dish or snack, vegetable, vegetarian  Tags: , , ,  3 Comments
05
Jul

Italian Pasta bake

This is like a budget version of Spaghetti Pie, I will post that recipe soon. But this is a good one too and lots less expensive. It is very simple and you can just use the amounts for your family size.

  • Cooked pasta, cooked and drained
  • chunky spaghetti sauce
  • grated Italian blend cheese 8 oz or so

Mix your pasta and sauce in a bowl then add to a buttered casserole dish, then place cheese on top and bake until cheese is bubbly. That is all. Super simple but a little better than plain spaghetti.

Category: frugal meal, italian, main dish  Tags: , , , , ,  3 Comments
28
Jun

chicken pasta salad

This is one of our favorite summer dishes and a hit at every pot luck or covered dish supper. You can make it with or without the chicken.

  • 1 box colored spiral pasta and one box macaroni, or two bags of wacky pasta
  • 2 bottles of ranch dressing
  • 1 diced onion
  • diced peppers, any kind you like
  • diced tomatoes, 2 or 3 or how ever much you want
  • 2 chicken leg quarters, boiled or baked and meat taken off bone and diced

Cook your pasta according to the directions. Drain and put in fridge to cool. When cool, in large pot, add all ingredients and stir well.  That is it! Keep cool till you serve. Easy stuff.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, salads, side dish or snack  Tags: , , , , ,  8 Comments
28
Jun

ground beef gravy

Since we have all the milk a family could ever use, we do a lot of creamed dishes and gravies. Fresh raw milk is wonderful.

You will need,

  • 1 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • diced peppers, bell, or whatever you like, as much as you like
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • milk, about 1/2  gallon

Add your ground beef, onion, and peppers to a skillet and cook on med high until done, stirring often. When done keep over heat and add flour while stirring constantly. when the meat is well coated slowly begin to add milk. Add enough until it is pretty soupy, keep stirring until gravy gets as thick as you desire. You can add more milk if it gets too thick. This can be varied. Add season to taste, we usually add some Cajun spice.

Ground beef gravy is great over boiled potatoes and carrots, or baked potatoes, or thick sliced bread, or rice or even pasta. It is a great frugal meal.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
14
Jun

budget ground beef stroganoff

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 sweet red pepper diced
  • 1T chili powder
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 6 cups milk
  • 3   8 oz packages macaroni noodles
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Cook and drain the noodles. While they are cooking, in a skillet on med heat cook ground beef, pepper, and onion, stirring occasionally until well cooked. When the meat is cooked add flour and continue stirring, when meat is well coated with flour, slowly pour in milk while still stirring. Continue on med heat until mixture thickens. About 5-10 minutes, still stirring. It should be like gravy. Then add thickened meat sauce to the noodles. Add sour cream and stir well. It should be slightly soupy. Cover dish and let sit for 15 minutes then serve. The pasta will absorb some of the gravy so it ends up more like a casserole.

serves 8-10

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish  Tags: , , , ,  2 Comments
23
May

budget fajitas

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion cut in strips
  • 1 bell pepper cut in strips
  • 2 jalapeno peppers cut in strips
  • 3 T. fajita seasoning
  • homemade corn tortillas
  • toppings- grated cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes, lime slices or juice, cilantro
  • 3 cups cooked rice (optional)

 

In a skillet on med heat cook the ground beef, onion and peppers with the fajita seasoning until the meat is cooked. You can add the cooked rice to stretch it a bit further if desired. Serve in fried tortillas and add toppings as desired.

This is one of those meals that can be really budget or a little more extravagant according to what you add on top. We use what is handy or on sale. Not as tasty as steak but will do :) . This makes enough to feed my big crowd.

Category: frugal meal, mexican style  Tags: , , ,  One Comment
18
May

stuffed quesadillas

these are really easy, you will need

  • cooked filling, leftovers are great, meat, veggies, rice etc.
  • tortillas – corn or flour
  • extras like diced onions and/or tomatoes, and/or chili peppers
  • grated cheese, Mexican style is best
  • vegetable oil
  • toppings, sour cream or guacamole

Warm your skillet and add a small amount of oil, just enough to cover the bottom. Take a tortilla and on one half add filling and cheese and any extras, not too much, you are going to fold over the half without anything onto the filled half. It should no be so full that the stuffing is falling out. Then place in skillet and fry until golden brown, turn carefully and fry the next side. The cheese should be getting oozy. Cut into quarters with a big knife or pizza cutter and serve with salsa and toppings. Really yummy and really easy. Our favorite is to use our jalapeno chicken and rice.

Category: frugal meal, main dish, mexican style  Tags: , , ,  22 Comments
16
May

easy hot summer pasta

I am making this real easy for you. Here are the ingredients, except you need lots more tomatoes. The amounts are you to you, cook enough for your family. Cook and drain the pasta, add 1/4 cup virgin olive oil, several diced fresh from the garden tomatoes, some minced garlic to taste (I like lots), a diced bell pepper, stir altogether and sprinkle some shredded Italian blend cheese. Really easy, really economical.

Category: frugal meal  Tags: , , , , ,  4 Comments
11
May

cheeseburger casserole

Our cheeseburger casserole is one of those “big family” meals. Filling, hearty, easy and frugal. It is similar to a homemade hamburger helper but a thousand times better.

Since all of the ingredients are things I have in my price book (see my Bless-my-budget.com site for price book info) I can easily add up the cost of this dish.

here are the ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef (I paid $1.37)
  • 3 16oz packages of pasta (I paid 50cents each = $1.50)
  • 1 large onion ( I paid 99 cents for a bag so 25cents)
  • 1 8oz bag shredded cheese ( I paid $1.67) I use the Fiesta Blend Cheese
  • 1 16oz can tomato sauce,  (94cents, if I don’t have it from the garden)

 

This is super easy, boil your water and cook your pasta in a large pot. While that is cooking, brown your ground beef with your diced onion. After both of those are done, drain your pasta and then add the cooked meat and onions and the tomato sauce and the shredded cheese to the same pot and mix well. You can put in serving bowl and serve as is or you can put in a casserole dish and add more cheese to the top and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted. this dish easily serves our big family of 10 with some homemade rolls and salad. The main dish should cost under $6 if you shop like I do :) .

Category: frugal meal, main dish  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
13
Nov

easy chili for a crowd

  • 2 pounds ground beef, or ground chuck, or venison, or stewing beef, or sausage, or any combination that amounts to 2 pounds 
  • 3 onions diced
  • handfull of peppers of your choice, diced
  • 6 pound can of tomato sauce
  • 6 pound can of diced tomatoes
  • 6 pound can of pinto beans
  • your favorite seasonings

In a large skillet brown meant and onions and peppers. Then add all ingredients to a very large crockpot or electric roaster. Season according to your preference,  we use lots of chili powder and cajun seasoning. Cook on low about 4-6 hours, or until the aroma makes your stomach growl. Serve with a topping of fresh diced tomatoes, fresh diced onions, shredded cheese and sour cream. Also great to have cornbread muffins on the side.

Category: frugal meal, main dish  Tags: ,  3 Comments
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