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

[Mouseless2Long]

Dh had some leftover carrots and onions (already used up the celery though... doh!) from some chicken soup made as part of a church dinner, so that was technically free (they would've just been thrown out if left at church... perish the thought!). I through them into a pot of water with some close-to the date boneless chicken breast that had been marked down... $3.44 for the meat. That made enough chicken for about six meal's worth, though I like to take some of the chicken out and make chicken salad out of the boiled chicken so that the leftovers used for next day lunch seem different. Still, a little mayo, onion powder, salt, and poultry seasoning does not exactly add a lot of cost. I can safely say that each meal came to less $1, probably closer to about 65-70 cents. Since I eat low-carb, I don't add rice/pasta to the soup or bread for my chicken salad. Just meat and veggies are good enough for my body and my wallet!

Never heard of poultry seasoning in chicken salad. How much do you use? It sounds delicious!

 

[mkaccountant]

Dessert was a vegan bread pudding made with stale whole wheat bread, apples, raisins and bananas - first time I made it and it is very good! I plan to have the leftovers for breakfast.

Teresa

Can I get the bread pudding recipe?

Thanks!!

Love this thread!!!!

 

[grlpwrd]

I made a simple stirfry made with chicken, celery, and broccoli with dashes of soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, olive oil, and sesame oil. Nothing fancy.

I am trying to use up what we already have. I also served brown rice.

 

[mkaccountant]

We liked the beans! They were pretty good. I can't remember exactly what flavor I got...they were bbq I think. I'd buy'em again...with a coupon! LOL

I have a can to try when appropriate in a week or so. As a heads up, there was a $1 coupon on them a week ago or so in the paper (I think smart source). Wal-mart around here had the beans for $1.25. So whether we like them or not, we will get the .25 out of them.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Well we WERE going to have salsa chicken from the crockpot (chicken - 1.00, salsa - 1.00, white rice - not such a bargain anymore - 0.50 and corn on the cob - 0.75) byt DH had to go to a funeral. So DD and I are home having mac and cheese (bought by my mom so free for us!) and we'll have the salsa chicken for tomorrow's dinner.

So free tonight and 3.25 tomorrow.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Fairly low budget tonight...since we are leaving for vacation tomorrow. I used up what was left in the fridge.

Bacon (1.00...1/2 package)
French Toast (1.00 total?)
1 pear, 1 kiwi, 1 apple (1.25 total?)

3.25...not too bad.

Meals for the next two days will be definitely *not be budget as we head out to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, and Great Wolf Lodge! <though I did get a $99 a night special at the lodge so that was budget!>

 

[artsymom083]

I make this casserole that my husband and son both love and it's very cheap, easy, and kid friendly.

1 lb. ground beef (1.80)
1 bag of egg noodles (1.10)
2 cans of tomato soup (.80)
1 8 oz. pack of cheddar cheese
(you can add onions and peppers if you don't have picky eaters in your household!)

Cook the noodles and brown the ground beef. Layer the noodles and beef in a casserole dish. Spread the cheese all over the top. Mix the soup with one can (from soup) of water. Pour over the entire dish and bake in a 375 degree oven until brown and bubbly on top.
It's not very healthy I'll admit, but it's very cheap and there is always enough left over for lunch the next day, so it's budget friendly which I love.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I make this casserole that my husband and son both love and it's very cheap, easy, and kid friendly.

1 lb. ground beef (1.80)
1 bag of egg noodles (1.10)
2 cans of tomato soup (.80)
1 8 oz. pack of cheddar cheese
(you can add onions and peppers if you don't have picky eaters in your household!)

Cook the noodles and brown the ground beef. Layer the noodles and beef in a casserole dish. Spread the cheese all over the top. Mix the soup with one can (from soup) of water. Pour over the entire dish and bake in a 375 degree oven until brown and bubbly on top.
It's not very healthy I'll admit, but it's very cheap and there is always enough left over for lunch the next day, so it's budget friendly which I love.

My mom used to make something like this when I wa a little girl only she would also add a can of creamed corn. Yum!

 

[TifffanyD]

I make this casserole that my husband and son both love and it's very cheap, easy, and kid friendly.

1 lb. ground beef (1.80)
1 bag of egg noodles (1.10)
2 cans of tomato soup (.80)
1 8 oz. pack of cheddar cheese
(you can add onions and peppers if you don't have picky eaters in your household!)

Cook the noodles and brown the ground beef. Layer the noodles and beef in a casserole dish. Spread the cheese all over the top. Mix the soup with one can (from soup) of water. Pour over the entire dish and bake in a 375 degree oven until brown and bubbly on top.
It's not very healthy I'll admit, but it's very cheap and there is always enough left over for lunch the next day, so it's budget friendly which I love.

Oooh maybe I will try this for dinner. I have ground turkey (don't eat beef) and mexican cheese (we buy huge bags of it) and a bag of egg noodles DF requested ages ago and never used. Any idea how long it takes to cook? Thanks!

 

[artsymom083]

I would say it takes about 30-40 minutes. It probably just depends on your oven. One thing that is good too... if I know we are going to be busy one day, I go ahead and make this a day in advance and just reheat in a microwave the next day. I actually like it better when it's leftovers. I think it has more flavor after it has sat in the fridge over night.
The corn also sounds good. I believe you could add several different types of veggies if you wanted to. Kind of like Shepherd's Pie... I always see recipes with dozens of things different in each one. You can probably change this to fit your own tastes.

 

[TifffanyD]

I would say it takes about 30-40 minutes. It probably just depends on your oven. One thing that is good too... if I know we are going to be busy one day, I go ahead and make this a day in advance and just reheat in a microwave the next day. I actually like it better when it's leftovers. I think it has more flavor after it has sat in the fridge over night.
The corn also sounds good. I believe you could add several different types of veggies if you wanted to. Kind of like Shepherd's Pie... I always see recipes with dozens of things different in each one. You can probably change this to fit your own tastes.

Thanks for the info - I am going to try this tonight! I might add a can of corn into it (not creamed tho) since someone suggested it - we'll see. I even bought some tomato soup because I was out and wasn't sure I had it (I think I do but i'd hate to find out I didn't... and who doesn't need tomato soup constantly in stock)

 

[SnowWhite607]

I got some of those Grillin Beans yesterday. Didnt someone say they put them with porckchops in the crockpot?

 

[marcyinPA]

Last night I made a Rachael Ray recipe for Ziti with Sausage and Beans. It was good, and I have enough leftover to feed an entire army for a week! I used 1 lb ziti, 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, 1 can cannelini beans, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 large can crushed tomatoes, 1 can Italian diced tomatoes, and a bunch of fresh basil. Of course, lots and lots of Parm cheese on top!! My DH, DS12 and I liked it....my DS8 not so much.

 

[momx2]

We leave for Disney in 2 weeks, so it is clean out the fridge and pantry time. This week will be great, next week might get a little scary. Here's my menu for this week:

Monday: Chicken Caccitaori (spell?)
1/2 bag frozen chicken thighs
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 onion
Italian seasoning and garlic
Serve over white rice and with 1 can peas on the side

Tuesday: Barbeque Chicken
1/2 bag frozen chicken thighs
1 jar barbeque sauce
1 box scalloped potatoes
2 cans green beans

Wednesday: Beans and Sausage
2 lbs. brown beans (left overs used tomorrow)
1lb. lite smoked sausage
1 can turnip greens
homemade cornbread

Thursday: Tacos and Refried Beans
1lb. ground turkey
taco seasoning
hard and soft shells
lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream
Refried Beans (made from left over brown beans)

Friday: Store-bought pizza (every Friday night or my kids freak!)
Must buy

Saturday: Hamburger Steaks
2 lbs. hamburger steaks
1lb. sauteed mushrooms (must buy)
1 bag onion rings (must buy)
Bag of frozen corn

Sunday: Pork Roast
2lb. Pork Roast
1 jar pork gravy (must buy)
California Veggie casserole
Mashed potatoes

 

[OceanAnnie]

Fairly low budget tonight...since we are leaving for vacation tomorrow. I used up what was left in the fridge.

Bacon (1.00...1/2 package)
French Toast (1.00 total?)
1 pear, 1 kiwi, 1 apple (1.25 total?)

3.25...not too bad.

Meals for the next two days will be definitely *not be budget as we head out to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, and Great Wolf Lodge! <though I did get a $99 a night special at the lodge so that was budget!>

Ok, inquiring minds have to know! How'd you do that?! That's a GREAT deal! Good for you guys!

 

[SnowWhite607]

We had sausage and potatoes (fried) with a salad and backed apples with whipped cream for dessert. Not sure, but I would guess about $5-$6 for 3 of us.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We had tacos and all the fixings. Had enough left overs for lunch for me tomorrow.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Williamsburg, and Great Wolf Lodge! <though I did get a $99 a night special at the lodge so that was budget!>

Ok, inquiring minds have to know! How'd you do that?! That's a GREAT deal! Good for you guys!


I got it from the Budget Board...using the code EDGE will get you $99 for some nights until late June. Just put in Edge and it will show you a calendar when they are available. We had a BLAST!

 

[Priorityonecb]

Tonight we had:

Coconut shrimp $5
Baked potatoes .50
Bag of frozen corn 1.00

$6.50...more than our usual nightly budget, but we went a little crazy one day at BJ's and bought crap we would *never have had we not gotten a 60 day free trial!

 

[bettyann29]

Tonight it was spagetti with meatsauce and garlic bread

spagetti noodles- $1.50
sauce- $2.50
meat- $2
garlic bread- $1.50

$7 for a family of 6.. I think we did pretty good.

Plus we have enough for leftovers tomorrow night..

so technically this meal was $3.50