What's for dinner? Was it "budget"?

[Adi12982]

That's right. Either it's leftover from another meal, or was out of the pantry (and not this month's grocery money ). Trying to use up what's on hand and clean out the pantry/freezer, etc. Should be interesting to see how many 'new' meals we can come up with!

Oh - I count the cost even if it was grocery money from month's ago, to get a clear picture of what my meals actually cost. The only time I do not count the $ is it I counted it a previous time and we are having leftovers.

 

[carissanboys]

Tonight will be pot roast.

The beef was on sale - $5

I have tons of potatoes that I'm still trying to use up and some carrots. I'll estimate the meal at about $6-$7 to make, but we'll have quite a bit of leftovers too.

Has anyone ever cooked a pot roast in a pot on the stove (as opposed to the crock pot - which we don't have - or the oven)?

 

[babytrees]

Oh - I count the cost even if it was grocery money from month's ago, to get a clear picture of what my meals actually cost. The only time I do not count the $ is it I counted it a previous time and we are having leftovers.

that's the way I do it!!

Gotta look back through the thread....I have no clue what to have for supper tonight.

The girls are already clamoring for upside down night tomorrow...so I can't do that tonight.

 

[Sorsha]

Last night's dinner was steaks cooked on the grill - can't remember what they cost... probably in the $6-8 range...but I didn't care, I was SO craving grilled meat. Just seasoned with a little grill seasoning and grilled till just medium/medium rare. DROOL.
With them I served a box of instant mashed sweet potatoes. This was free, cause someone gave it to me a long time ago and it has been taking up space in the pantry. They were quick, and I figured it was time to use them up. WE NO LIKEE. No one finished their servings, and the leftovers went right in the trash can. BLECK.
I also served a head of fresh cauliflower, steamed, with cheese sauce for those who like it that way.

I have no idea what we are having tonight. It is grocery-shopping day, so I will see what's on sale.

 

[carissanboys]

Last night's dinner was steaks cooked on the grill - can't remember what they cost... probably in the $6-8 range...but I didn't care, I was SO craving grilled meat. Just seasoned with a little grill seasoning and grilled till just medium/medium rare. DROOL.
With them I served a box of instant mashed sweet potatoes. This was free, cause someone gave it to me a long time ago and it has been taking up space in the pantry. They were quick, and I figured it was time to use them up. WE NO LIKEE. No one finished their servings, and the leftovers went right in the trash can. BLECK.
I also served a head of fresh cauliflower, steamed, with cheese sauce for those who like it that way.

I have no idea what we are having tonight. It is grocery-shopping day, so I will see what's on sale.

I've never even heard of instant sweet potatoes!

 

[momx2]

Oh - I count the cost even if it was grocery money from month's ago, to get a clear picture of what my meals actually cost. The only time I do not count the $ is it I counted it a previous time and we are having leftovers.

That's what I do too. That's why I was confused.

Tonight baked pasta:

Whole wheat rotini: $1.25
Ragu: $1
8 oz. lowfat ricotta: $1.75
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese: $.80
1/2 bag broccoli: .50 cents

Total = $5.30

 

[Sorsha]

I've never even heard of instant sweet potatoes!

They were made by Betty Crocker and came in a box just like the other flavored (roasted garlic, butter and herb, etc) mashed potato mixes. Difference being, for an occaisional quick meal option, those are fairly edible.... these, not so much!

 

[Adi12982]

Tonight -

turkey Chili (made and frozen previously, so the cost was already accounted for when I made the chili)
Tortillas - $1.20 (we buy a huge pack of 24 from costco for $3.50, so $0.15 each)
cheese: $1
condiments: (sour cream, salsa, etc) $1

So, $3.20 for two adult dinners and one adult lunch (if I had made the chili today it would have been like $4-5 more, but makes enough for two dinners and lunches or more, I usually make and freeze half).

 

[branv]

Last night was Shimp Feta pasta...oooohh, droooool:

2/3 lb of 31-40 shrimp: $4.00
can tomatoes: .50
olive oil: .25
1/4 cup feta (from bulk size): .50
box linguini: $1
garlic: .10
1/4 cup red wine: (I always freeze leftover wine into cubes, so I'm really guessing here on cost) $1
dried herbs: .25

$7.60 for 3 servings or $2.80 per serving (you could get more out of this if you served the pasta with salad and bread...which I was too lazy to do last night )

 

[HeatherC]

I just made the yummiest ham and potato soup. Tastes just like the kind you get in a restaurant.

I used: (all things I had on hand)
1 cup celery
1 cup onion
1 cup leftover ham
5 potatoes
2 cups of milk
1/2 stick of butter
Flour

Pretty affordable ....hopefully the kids will eat it!!

Heather

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't know what we're having. Either a cobb salad or sloppy joes. The kids will eat the salad if I toss some goldfish in it. Learned that trick from a restaurant.

 

[Adi12982]

Tonight -

turkey Chili (made and frozen previously, so the cost was already accounted for when I made the chili)
Tortillas - $1.20 (we buy a huge pack of 24 from costco for $3.50, so $0.15 each)
cheese: $1
condiments: (sour cream, salsa, etc) $1

So, $3.20 for two adult dinners and one adult lunch (if I had made the chili today it would have been like $4-5 more, but makes enough for two dinners and lunches or more, I usually make and freeze half).

I changed my mind. . .

I'm going to use the free chili (see above how/why it is free)
Corn muffins ($0.35 mix, $0.10 egg, $0.05 1/4 cup milk) = $0.50
Rice (DH "needs" more than the muffins) = $0.25
Veggies (for me)= $0.25
Drinks = $0.50
TOTAL: $1.50 (if I made the chili today it would have been $4-5 more) This will be enough for two adult dinners and at least one, if not two, adult lunches

 

[bellebuzzandpooh]

Black bean chili for dinner here. Mmmmmmm...

 

[stahshee]

well my turkey in my dinner is really budget infact I will pat my self on the back for my turkey dinner find

I bought a turkey around Thanksgiveing for 6 $ and I cooked it and divided it up into 4 dinner size servings and then froze it. So tonight I am using some of the turkey
with mozzerella cheese I paid 4$
fresh Broccoli 5$
home made dinner rolls2$
a can of cream of mushroom soup75 cents
I am guessing for my family it is 15 , but that is for 6 people

the only deal was the turkey

 

[njsweetP]

Oh - I count the cost even if it was grocery money from month's ago, to get a clear picture of what my meals actually cost. The only time I do not count the $ is it I counted it a previous time and we are having leftovers.

That's what I do too. That's why I was confused.

Tonight baked pasta:

Whole wheat rotini: $1.25
Ragu: $1
8 oz. lowfat ricotta: $1.75
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese: $.80
1/2 bag broccoli: .50 cents

Total = $5.30

Ok, sorry guys, from now on I'll include the total for all ingredients. But since they have been lurking in the pantry and/or fridge, chances are I really don't know the price I paid for them anyway.

 

[marcyinPA]

Tonight is leftover potato soup for DH and I, DS8 will probably have eggs and toast, and DS12 is eating a youth group. Dinner probably costs $1?? Who knows!

I took DS8 out for lunch today because he had a 1/2 day for conferences. I try to do this with each of my kids on conference days. We ate at this little hole in a wall luncheonette place...he had a huge, handmade cheeseburger, I had grilled cheese and bacon sandwich, we shared an order of cheese fries, and he had a coke. With tax, it came it $8.50. Cheap lunch for sure!! We're both still stuffed, so that's why we're having the cheap dinner tonight!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I changed my mind. We're having ham and cheese quiche. Not sure what we'll have with it. Maybe some carrot sticks and/or applesauce. Still not up to par. Tired and my throat is irritated. No fevers though. Weird. Whatever it is, it's hanging on!

 

[MomtoGKC]

I'm new to this thread, but my kids and I are eating pancakes for dinner - very cheap! I think I'll use my last frozen chicken breast for DH and cook it up with whatever Zatarains box I have on hand.

 

[babytrees]

Ok, sorry guys, from now on I'll include the total for all ingredients. But since they have been lurking in the pantry and/or fridge, chances are I really don't know the price I paid for them anyway.

guesstimating is your friend!!


I've got a humdinger of a headache.....don't feel like cooking....trying to think of an inexpensive but healthy way to get food to go.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We had salads, I cooked some chicken to put on top with cheese and chinese noodles.. They are very good and low fat with my fat free dressing..