Cheap Meal Ideas

So, now that the Lumberjack has been laid off, we are trying to majorly cut our expenses.

One of those expenses is eating out (which we would do about two to three times a week before he got laid off, and not at all now), and eating in/buying groceries. Since we don't eat out often, we generally have some nice meals in. For example, every Sunday, we have a steak dinner. It's something we've done since we got married. Luckily, I still have about 4 more cuts of steak in our freezer, so we'll have steak dinners on Sundays for the next few weeks still.

In order to save money, I will be making a list and posting the recipes for some yummy cheap meals.

1. Spaghetti. A pound of spaghetti, which feeds 4, costs about $1. I dress it up with shrimp ($6), olive oil, a little garlic salt, and butter for about $7 total. Or, two chicken breasts breaded and a jar of tomato sauce for about $5. Or, I buy a pound of Italian sausage ($4) and add a jar of tomato sauce ($2). Even though it's just the two of us, I make this meal for 4 so that we have leftovers the next day. Besides, for four meals, that works out to less than $2 per meal!

2. Chili. I have a great chili recipe that I got, which I now cannot find the origins of. But, that's the great thing about chili. It's a whatever-you-have-in-your-fridge/pantry meal. The recipe I have calls for 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can white kidney beans, green pepper, onion, ground beef, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, tabasco sauce, 2 cans tomato puree, chili powder and one other spice I can't remember. Last time I made it, I had a can of red beans that I threw in for one can of kidney beans. And I added red pepper flakes. I normally serve this up in a bread bowl ($2) with a handful of shredded cheddar cheese on top ($1). All of the ingredients, especially if you already have the spices, cost less than $10. I normally get 6 to 8 full meals out of this. If I use it as a side dish, I could get more like 12 to 16 sides out of it. Yum!

3. Breakfast. Eggs, a box of busquick, some bread, and bacon (if you're being fancy) are all you need for a first-class breakfast. Since the Lumberjack is Dutch, he loves a stack of two pancakes with two fried eggs on top, followed by two more pancakes, all covered in maple syrup. Or, we make egg sandwiches. Our favorite is from the movie "Spanglish"--two slices of sourdough bread toasted, slather mayo on one side, top with tomato (with salt and pepper) and lettuce. Add two fried eggs on top, a slice of jack cheese, and two slices of bacon or salami. Finish that the second slice of bread and you've got one yummy sandwich. Or, french toast is always a favorite at our house. Two meals probably cost $5.

4. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. This is seriously the simplest meal, and super tasty. Plus, it's cheap! Less than $5 for 2 meals. (And, I highly recommend getting a cast iron skillet to make the grilled cheese. It makes ALL the difference, I promise!)

5. Potatoes. In America, we eat these as a side with a huge steak. In Europe, this IS the meal. They add everything to baked potatoes, from ham to tuna, seriously. While tuna on potato hasn't won me over, I have fallen for potatoes for dinner. Personally, I prefer potatoes baked in the microwave as the oven gives them a tough skin that I don't like to eat. I cook them, cut them open, and then spread butter, cheddar cheese, chopped ham (low sodium, applewood smoked, honey baked, etc.), sour cream and chives (for those that like them). And, it's good to go. I put 1/8 to 1/4 pound of ham on each potato. All together, even with Boar's Head ham, this meal costs about $5 for two people.

6. Mexican food. Being that Mexican food is heavy on beans and rice (cheap and cheaper!), it is a great money-saver when it comes to food. Bean and cheese burritos, carne asada tacos (Costco has cheap carne asada!), ground beef tacos with lawry's taco seasoning, quesadillas and chicken tortilla soup are all fantastic dinners that can be made for under $4 a serving.

7. Chicken bake. My mom used to make a variation of this for dinner. It was our comfort food--or at least my dad's, since I hated it as a child. Now, I've found a variation of it that I love, and I make it all the time. I make a big recipe, using 2 cans Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups rice, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. curry powder, and 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Mix all of the ingredients together, minus the chicken breasts, in a casserole dish. When mixed, lay the chicken on top and add another sprinkle of paprika and curry. Cover, and bake, for 45 minutes or until done.

8. Macaroni and Cheese. Yes, I know. This isn't an adult dish. BUT, it's cheap and yummy. I like Velveeta shells with the cheese pre-made, so you don't need to mix a powder with milk and butter. Then, I put a few breaded chicken breasts on top and serve. Yum!

9. Hot dogs, or brats. As I kid, I also hated hot dogs. Something about the taste--yuk! But, about a year ago, I tried them again, and realized they are delicious. My favorites are Hebrew National and Boar's Head. For $5 for a package of Boar's Head franks (10 hot dogs), we get 4 meals. A package of hot dog buns costs maybe $2.

10. Potstickers and Rice. This might not count as a full meal to some people, but it is to us! Trader Joe's sell chicken postickers in the frozen section that are delicious. I make about 6 or 7 per person, and then a cup of rice per person. I doctor up the rice with a tablespoon of butter, and a good shake of salt and pepper. This meal costs about $5 for two servings.

That's all for now! Have fun cooking!