$0.50 - 12 Fresh Jalapenos
$0.96 - 10 oz Cream Cheese Spread
$0.82 - 8 oz Chopped Bacon Ends and Pieces
Cut Jalepenos in half and devine. Scrap out seeds unless you prefer them to be extra spicy. Level cream cheese into each jalapeno half. Press chopped bacon pieces in the cream cheese. Place stuff jalapenos on aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Cook in oven until bacon pieces are brown and crisp. (About 15 minutes)
$2.29 total. 24 poppers $0.10/each appetizer
Veggie Bean Tomato Sauce
$0.50 - 4 oz Frozen Mixed Veggies
$0.57 - 15.5 oz Can Red Kidney Beans
$0.97 - 36 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
$0.12 - 2 TBSP Italian Dressing
$0.45 - 1/2 pound Penne Pasta
Directions: Simmer all ingredients on top of stove in sauce pan until noodles are ready.
Directions: Prepare noodles according to package. Drain, do not rinse. Put directly into serving dish and top with sauce. Serve immediately.
Total: $2.61. Serves 5: $0.52/serving.
Don't let the presentation fool you. This is such a fast, healthy crowd pleaser! I am thinking even chicken breast/tenders would be a big hit with this recipe but our family loves the way this turns out with Tilapia (Pollock or white fish) that we keep this a seafood dish....
Seared Tilapia
$0.12 - 2 TBSP Olive Oil
$0.09 - 4 TBSP Soy sauce
$0.01 - 1/2 TBSP Garlic Powder
$0.005 - 1 TBSP Lemon Pepper Saesoning
$0.005 - 1/2tsp Cayenne Pepper/Paprika
$0.03 - 1 TBSP Lemon Juice
$2.67 - 3 Tilapia Fillets
Directions: Mix marinade and add fish: in resealable food storage bag or container with lid that allows fish to lay single layered. Marinade atleast 4 hours. I sometimes do this overnight and keep in fridge until dinner time the next day. Prepare rest of meal before cooking fish. Heat a pan on high heat for approx. 5 minutes. (Large pan that allows fish single layer without touching.) Very important that the pan is very hot so it will sear the fish as soon as it hits the pan. Sear for 2 minutes. Turn carefully. Sear for 2 minutes.
Mango Salsa:
$0.25 - 1/4 Cup Diced Mango
$0.06 - 1/4 Cup Diced Tomato
$0.02 - 4 TBSP Diced Tomato
$0.01 - 1 tsp Lime Juice
$0.005 - 1 TBSP Chopped cilantro
$0.005 - 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
$0.005 - 1/8 tsp Onion salt
$0.005 - 1/8 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Directions: Mix together and let marinate in refrigerator
Rice:
$0.23 - 1 Cup Rice
Directions: Prepare according to package. I usually leave salt and butter out of recipe since it will be flavored by other ingredients.
Steamed Carrots:
$0.04 - 1/2 Cup Sliced Carrots
$0.03 - 1 tsp Steak seasoning
Directions: Rinse carrots, put in plastic baggie, sprinkle seasoing and zap on high in microwave for 1 minute. (1 minute per half cup if you're making large quantities.)
Presentation: Put one cup of ric ein the center of your plate. Scoop carrots onto one side, fish/chicken fillet on another side and top with mango salsa. See photo below.
$3.59 Total.
Yes, it's baked, but don't tell anyone and I swear they won't complain! This recipe has a been rated a 10 by all my "diners". Yummy! (It even stays crispy after being microwaved!)
Southern Baked Chicken
Ingredients:
$2.65 - 5 Chicken Leg Quarters (Split into drums and thighs)
$0.12 - 1 cups plain bread crumbs.
$0.01 - 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
$0.02 - 1 tsp Salt
$0.01 - 1 tsp GroundBlack Pepper
$0.01 - 1/2 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
$0.13 - 1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Split chicken into drums and thighs. Toss Chicken in Olive Oil. In seperate bowl, mix all dry ingredies together. Tredge chicken in bread crumb mxture to coat individually and put onto a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
($2.95 for 5 servings. $0.59/per person.)
I paired this with a bag of Frozen Corn ($0.99). Mashed Potatoes ($0.25), Chicken Gravy ($0.02) and 10 slices of Sandwich Bread ($0.30)
Fast Microwave Mashed Potatoes/ Chicken Gravy
Ingredients:
$0.25 - 5 Potatoes
Free - 2 cups chicken stock (I always keep stock in freezer.)
$0.01 - 1 TBSP flour
$0.001 - 1 tsp salt
0.001 - 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Directions:
Wash potatoes. Pat dry, a little moisture left is good. Poke a fork or knife tip in each potato once. Put in plastic grocery bag. Microwave on high, 6 minutes. Remove and put in serving dish. I cut into potatoes and mash with a fork. Whiloe waiting for potatoes to cook in microwave, I put chicken stock, flur salt and black pepper. Whisk over medium heat until thickened. Served with potatoes. ($0.27)
$4.55 total dinner for 5 people. $0.91/per meal.
Scrap it up Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
$0.24 - 2 eggs
$0.24 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
$0.16 - 1 cup white sugar
$0.04 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
$0.16 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
$0.02 - tsp baking soda
$0.005 - 1 tsp baking powder
$0.001 - 1/4 tsp salt
$0.01 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
FREE! - 2 cups carrot peels
Directions:
Preheat ovn to 350 degrees. Grease 8x8 or 9x9 pan. (See *Keep It Cheap* Page, Reduce Re-use Recycle Index) Whisk together eggs, oil, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Fold in carrot peels. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clear from center or cake. Turn onto plate when cooled and frost. (I like to cut into petite squares and frost individually. It's so pretty!) ($0.867)
Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
$0.08 - 4 TBSP butter/margarine, softened
$0.37 - 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
$0.16 - 2 cups confectioners' sugar
$0.02 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Stir ingredients until smooth. ( In a plastic container with lid. I find that when making petite squares, I always have left over frosting.) ($0.63)
9" x 9" Square/9" Round Cake Total $1.47.
9 slices = $0.16 per slice
Extreme comfort food... Creamy homestyle Chicken and Dumplings served over mashed potatoes. It's another oldie but goodie that takes you back to the ranch.
Chicken 'N' Dumplings over Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
$1.06 - Chicken leg quarters
$0.14 - 3 stalks Celery Chopped
$0.16 - 2 Carrots diced
$0.03 - 1 TBSP Salt
$0.05 = 1 TBSP Ground Black Pepper
$0.40 - 8 potatoes skin on diced for boiling
Directions:
Boil Chicken in large stock pot in 4 quarts of water for 30 minutes thawed quarters/1 hr for frozen. Remove quarter from water and add celery, carrots and salt. Shred chicken and add back to pot. Vring soup to rolling boil. Mix 2 cups instant biscuit/pancake mix to 1 3/4 cups of water in a seperate bowl. Drop biscut mix into boing soup mix. (Remember that these biscuit will double in size.) biscuit/pancake mix will cook in approxiamately 30 minuts. Add salt and pepper to taste. In another large pot of water, boil potatoes in water until tender. Drain and smash with potato masher or with a mixture. I do not add milk of butter to these since we serve Chicken 'n' Dumplings over the top of them but this is at your discretion.
Total Meal: $1.84. Serves 10: $0.18 per person.
At $0.03 a cookie, you just can't lose! These are so easy and uber yummy, make some and put in an air tight container. Well, just make them, you won't have them long enough to go bad...trust me!
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
$0.06 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
$0.09 - 1/3 cup brown sugar
$0.16 - 1/2 cup softened margarine
$0.12 - 1 egg
$0.01 - 1 tsp imitation vanilla extract
$0.06 - 3/4 cup flour
$0.01 1/4 tsp baking soda
$0.50 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips
$0.17 - 1 cup quick oats
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Cream granulated & brown sugars with margarine. Stir in egg and vanilla extract. Mix in flour and baking soda. Fold in chocolate chips and oats. Drop in spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown. (About 10-15 minutes.)
Makes 3 dozen cookies: $1.18. $0.03/cookie.
It was a semi-rough day at the office. I came home with a migraine and zero ambition to cook. I thought about what to make but I told (that WONDERFUL) hub-ba-who of mine that I had no ideas, he quickly accepted the hunger challenge.
Granted this is an "ol' ranch favorite" that he made frequently with Dave in Wyoming, I have to admit, it was perdy darn delicious!
Chili Mac
Ingredients:
$0.99 - Can of Chili w/ Beans
$0.50 - Box of Macaroni and Cheese
$0.08 - 4 TBSP Margarine
Directions:
Add water and macaroni noodles to pot. Bring to a boil and stir freqently untilo noodles are al dente. Drain noodles. Return noodles to pot. Add margarine and cheese sauce packet. Stir until well mixed. Add chili and stir until well mixed.
We paired this with 4 slices of sandwich bread ($0.12) and 2 TBSP margarine ($0.04).
We did not add any veggies but even if we added 1/2 pound frozen corn ($0.50) we would have met the hunger challenge.
Total meal with corn: $2.23/3 ppl = $0.74 per person.
Carl’s Favorite Pizza Pie
$0.24 Sauce
$0.51 Crust
$1.93 Toppings
---------------
$2.68 per 14” 3-Topping Pizza (Corporate Chain’s Large Size)
Price vary depending on what toppings you use. I often find Shredded Cheese on sale. If you buy big chunks from the Deli and shred it yourself, you can really get good savings that way too. I was just lazy the last time I went to the grocery store. I hope you try this out. Don’t be afraid of pizza. It’s sooo easy!
Tomato Sauce (Enough Sauce for two 14” pizzas)
Ingredients
1- 8 oz can of Tomato Sauce ($0.24)
1/5 Green Bell Pepper Chopped ($0.10)
1/4 Small Onion Chopped ($0.06)
1 tsp Garlic Powder ($0.03)
1 tsp Italian Seasoning ($0.03)
1 Tbsp Corn Starch ($0.01)
1 cup Water
Directions:
Put all but Corn Starch and Water into Blender. (Carl loves veggies but dislikes chunks of onion on his pizza, also a great way to get picky children/husbands to get the veggies by blending them. If they can’t see it, are they REALLY eating it? LOL) Pour sauce into sauce pan. Pour water into blender to get remaining goodness out of there! Swish water around and add liquid to sauce in pan. Whisk in corn starch and warm to thicken.
Pizza Crust (Yields one 14” thin crust)
Ingredients:
1 package Jiffy Pizza Crust Mix ($0.49)
1/4 cup Corn Meal – OPTIONAL ($0.02)
Directions:
Make Pizza Crust according to package instructions. I use corn meal on my pizza stone. Makes it taste like take out! (With a dine in price!)
Toppings
1 Beef Bratwurst Chopped ($0.50)
15 Pepperoni Slices ($0.33)
½ Jalapeno Pepper finely diced ($0.10)
4 oz of shredded Cheese ($1.00)
Directions:
Spread sauce on crust. Add toppings (Meat first Cheese Last). Bake at 450F for 15 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is melted.
$2.68 total. Serves 3. $0.89 per serving/4 slices.
Carne Adovada Tacos with Sautéed Onions, Homemade Corn Tortillas, Beans and Spanish Rice calls for a Fiesta!
Carne Adovada Meat Filling
Ingredients:
2 Chile Pods ($0.08)
1/2 pound shredded pork ($0.50)
1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
1/4 tsp salt ($0.0020 We’ll round up to a penny)
2 Cups water
Directions:
Boil Chile Pods in water. Let cool to room temperature. Put liquid and Chiles into blender and blend until smooth. Keep 1 Tbsp for Onions if you like. Add Chile Sauce and all other ingredients together and cover. Cook on Medium heat while preparing rest of food. I usually check this often to see if more water needs to be added to prevent burning. You want the meat to be tender but not swimming in broth.
Sautéed Onions
Ingredients:
1 Medium Onion Sliced ($0.25)
1 Tbsp Butter or Margarine ($0.09)
Directions:
Sautee Butter and Onions in pan with Chile sauce if you reserved some. Cool on Medium-Low to simmer down until the onions are translucent.
Kidney Beans
Ingredients:
1 Can Kidney Beans ($0.50)
¼ tsp Mexican Chili Powder ($0.01)
Directions:
Warm beans and powder on stove or in microwave.
Rice and Tomatoes
Ingredients:
1 Cup Rice ($0.27)
½ can tomatoes with diced Chiles ($0.25)
¼ tsp Salt ($0.01)
Directions:
Make rice according to package directions. Stir in Tomatoes and salt.
I make the tortillas last because they are best when served warm.
Corn Tortillas
Ingredients:
½ cup Corn Meal $0.04
1 Cup Flour $0.09
1 egg $0.14
¼ tsp Salt ($0.01)
1 ½ cups water
1 Tbsp cooking Oil ($0.05)
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together. Spread Oil on griddle just to coat. Pour ½ ladle of mixture onto a hot griddle like a pancake. When Tortilla is ready to be flipped, the edges will pull away from griddle on their own. Flip to other side and put on plate. Cover with a dish towel to keep them warm until all 12 tortillas are done.
$2.33 total. Serves 5. $0.47 per serving.
RSS Feed