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

[Sorsha]

Found deli roast beef on sale yesterday, so dinner tonight will be French Dips topped with melted provolone, with lots of Au Jus for dipping. I have a bag of "garlic-parmesan" frozen potatoes stashed away in the freezer, I think I will cook those up too. Also raw carrots and celery sticks, with Ranch for dipping.

The beef cost me $6 for about a pound-and-a-half of meat. The crusty poor-boy rolls were about $2, and the provolone was about $1.50. The potatoes, Au Jus mix, and veggies were stashed away in the pantry or fridge.

Have a great day!

 

[Liberty Belle]

We grilled out. I got a box of 12 Bubba Burgers at Target last week for $5.50 a box, so that makes each patty only 46 cents each. I also got buns on sale at Kroger, for about 9 cents each, so not counting condiments, etc, the hamburgers were only 55 cents each.

My family of four was able to split one hamburger between us...just kidding.

We also had corn (can't remember the cost), salad (cost more than I would have liked, with all the extras - cheddar cheese, spinach, croutons, onions, cubed ham, eggs, peas, dressing).

Oh, and we had strawberry shortcake for dessert. The strawberries were handpicked (by my parents) on a friend's farm for free. So it was budget, too.

 

[pjlla]

I have a tasty, easy Swedish meatball recipe. You probably already decided for tonight, but here it is for the future. Straight from the French wife of a full-blood Swede (my MIL).........
It is really just a doctored up white-sauce.

Make a medium thickness roux with (real) butter and flour (I usually use 2 Tb. each).

For liquid add 1/2 C beef stock and 1/2 C milk (any kind is okay, including lowfat or evaporated). When the liquid is all in, add a heaping tablespoon of onion soup mix. (Salt and pepper to taste at this point) Let cook on low to medium until the sauce thickens, stirring frequently. If it gets too thick I add another 1/2 cup or so of stock, until it is the right consistency. I usually either add the meatballs directly to the sauce, or pour the sauce over the meatballs in the crockpot. It can cook on low for a long time and still taste okay. Just be sure to have the heat low so that the sauce doesn't catch and burn.

For options you can add mushrooms, celery, or garlic (saute with the butter when making the roux), or cheese (add when the sauce is thickened and stir until melted).

My family likes this a lot. I usually serve the sauce and meatballs over egg noodles with a green veg on the side. HTH.....................P

 

[grumpy28]

Bean and Cheese Quesadillas
Assorted Fruit
Ice Pops

Beans-1.00
Cheese-1.50
Tortillas-1.00
Sour Cream-free w/q
Fruit-2.00
Ice Pops-.10??

Total- $5.60

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

Tonight we are having grilled chicken chili. My DH is grilling the chicken as we speak, about $3 worth of frozen boneless skinless breasts, and of course pinto beans are super cheap.... I'll probably have a side salad with mine, made with $1 a bad lettuce and salmonella-free tomatoes we bought for $1.99 a lb....

 

[bookgirl]

I put a whole chicken in the crock last night and let it cook while we slept. water, broth, poultry seasonings and a dash of sherry. Salt, garlic salt, peper and Maceo's seasonings to the skin and under the skin and some lemon juice inside the cavity. Shredded/chunked it this morning. Chicken, leftover brown rice and veggie for dinner tonight, left over chicken frozen for enchiladas next week.

Had everything in pantry except the chicken $4.80.

 

[kmchar1]

We had Lemon Butter Shrimp with thin spaghetti and broccoli. Shrimp: $3.50, spaghetti: 1.00, broccoli: .50 (half a bag), lemon juice, butter and seasongs (?..pennies).

For dessert we had pudding (.50)

So, $5.50 to feed 3. Not bad and soooo tasty.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

cube steaks ($4.00) drizzled with:
secret sauce (little italian dressing, little ketchup, little bbq sauce simmered for a bit) might sound odd but very tasty. ($0 already in pantry)
smashed califlower ($1.00)/ herb&garlic cheese spread mixed in ($1.50) *we do this instead of mashed potatoes*
roasted asparagus ($2.00)

 

[Kycha]

My family of four was able to split one hamburger between us...just kidding.

Now that's budget!

I made meatloaf in the crockpot. I have been planning to make this for 3 days. But, my meat wouldn't thaw. Added some mashed potatoes and baked beans for a total of $6. And we'll be able to get at least 2 more meals out of this.

 

[babytrees]

Now that's budget!

I made meatloaf in the crockpot. I have been planning to make this for 3 days. But, my meat wouldn't thaw. Added some mashed potatoes and baked beans for a total of $6. And we'll be able to get at least 2 more meals out of this.

I gotta ask...how do you make meatloaf in the crockpot??

 

[Kycha]

I gotta ask...how do you make meatloaf in the crockpot??

I got the recipe from the Lipton onion soup website. It was pretty simple but I imagine any recipe would work.

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Onion Soup Mix
2 lbs ground beef
3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients. Arrange meatloaf in Crockpot. Cook, covered on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 4 hours.

Now, after reading through this, I just realized I forgot to add the water. Anway, I thought it turned out really well. It was tender and tasty and I like that the ketchup is incorporated into the meatloaf rather than on top. I did add a pound of sausage(total of 3 lbs of meat), chopped onions(1/2 cup) and I used seasoned bread crumbs rather than plain. I would have used grated carrots as well, but I didn't have any. Oh, and one other thing...definitely use a crockpot liner for this one.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I got the recipe from the Lipton onion soup website. It was pretty simple but I imagine any recipe would work.

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Onion Soup Mix
2 lbs ground beef
3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients. Arrange meatloaf in Crockpot. Cook, covered on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 4 hours.

Now, after reading through this, I just realized I forgot to add the water. Anway, I thought it turned out really well. It was tender and tasty and I like that the ketchup is incorporated into the meatloaf rather than on top. I did add a pound of sausage(total of 3 lbs of meat), chopped onions(1/2 cup) and I used seasoned bread crumbs rather than plain. I would have used grated carrots as well, but I didn't have any. Oh, and one other thing...definitely use a crockpot liner for this one.

I'm glad you shared that! I'm going to put it on file. Next time I cook meat loaf, it'll be in the crockpot!

We had hamburgers using a Kraft recipe (BBQ sauce & Mozzerella). They were good! And corn on the cob. We weren't super hungry tonight.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We're having burritos tonight and I'm getting ready to make a blackberry dump cake. Yum!

What about you guys?

 

[marcyinPA]

We had marinated boneless pork chops on the grill, Suddenly Salad pasta salad, and corn. Not too exciting...we're trying to use up what we have on hand before we leave on our cruise on Sunday.

 

[Kycha]

Tonight was $5 subs from Subway. But, that will be 2 meals for me. Plus some freshly picked strawberries with poundcake...so another $2 for dessert.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Tonight was meatball subs and salads. Cinnamon buns for dessert...

Meatballs $1.00
rolls leftover
sauce $1.00
cheese $.50
salad $1.00
cinnamon buns $1.00

$4.50

 

[OceanAnnie]

We had marinated boneless pork chops on the grill, Suddenly Salad pasta salad, and corn. Not too exciting...we're trying to use up what we have on hand before we leave on our cruise on Sunday.

Wow! You guys are going to have so much fun! Happy Birthday to you! That is so awesome! What will be your stops (is that what they call them?)? You know you'll have to tell us all about your trip when you return!

 

[Adi12982]

Tonight we are having:

pasta ($1)
sundried tomato alfredo sauce ($2)
lemon chicken (~$3 with ingredients)
and broccoli on the side for me ($0.50)
drinks ($0.50)

$7 for four servings. . . way cheaper than eating out.

 

[grumpy28]

Tonight we had chicken salad sandwiches, sweet potato fries and blueberries.

Chicken- 3.00
onion- .25
bread-.25
sweet potato fries-3.25
blueberries-1.00

Total- 7.75 with leftovers for lunch tomorrow

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

Last night was Papa Murphy's pizza, but it was super budget because my MIL bought it as a "thank you" for all the driving her that we do (she doesn't drive)
Tonight I am thinking I'll do spaghetti. I am not feeling great, I kind of wish the "meal fairy" would show up and make something for us.....