I need some cheap easy ideas for dinners. My husband's hours have been reduced and we are trying to cut costs?!


Question: I need some cheap easy ideas for dinners!. My husband's hours have been reduced and we are trying to cut costs!?
We are a family of four!. Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Familiarize yourself with prices and if you see a good deal, don't just buy one, buy three and build up a little pantry of canned and dry foods!. Consider using store brands; most of them have a money back guarantee!. Be flexible with your menu - sometimes, seasonal foods are less expensive!. Example: fresh asparagus is more expensive in the wintertime!. Steer clear of prepackaged convenience foods like Shake & Bake, frozen mac & cheese and frozen pancakes and make your own for pennies!. Spend a rainy Sunday making chili or soup and freeze some in 1 or 2-cup portions for later use; a full freezer runs more efficiently, so you might as well pack it full of food!.

Bookmark these sites and read them when you have more time-

http://allrecipes!.com/HowTo/Cooking-on-a!.!.!.
http://cheapcooking!.com/
http://www!.mealtime!.org/content!.aspx!?id=!.!.!.
http://www!.betterbudgeting!.com/frugalrec!.!.!.

You can also print your own grocery coupons without having to divulge personal information-

http://www!.redplum!.com/
http://print!.coupons!.com/Couponweb/Offer!.!.!.

I could go on, but you get the general idea!. You don't have to live on ramen noodles to save money on food, it just takes some planning!.

Good luck stretching that food buck - we're all doing it!.
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Plan meals around what's on sale this week whenever you can!. Anything you can make from scratch will cost tons less (usually half the cost or even less than that) than buying it ready-to-heat or half-cooked!. If you have the time, spend that instead of cash!.

A big pot of chili with beans and a little meat for flavor will go a long way on a short budget!. Mix up some drop biscuits from scratch and serve them with the chili!.

Stew is another good way to feed folks on a budget!. Don't buy stew beef, though, unless you have to!. Buy a full cut of something and cut it up yourself to save big bucks!.

For a special meal, take a less-expensive cut of meat and cook it for several hours in a slow-cooker (like a Crock Pot or similar item) if you have one!. It comes out tender and yummy!. Throw some veggies (potatoes, carrots, etc) in with it to cook, but serve them in separate bowls to make it fancier!. Salad and biscuits will round out this meal beautifully!.

A couple of boxes of mac-and-cheese mix with some thin-sliced hotdogs thrown in and a big salad would also work for a simple meal!.







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Buy a 6 lb!. smoked picnic ham!. They're usually $1!.00lb!. on special!. Make your roast, baked potatoes & creamed corn!. 2) Ham & Scalloped Potatoes!. 3) Ham Jambalaya (cooked rice, cook onions, green pepper, celery) add 1 can tomatoes, the rice, cubed ham and 1/2 tsp sage!. Stir it up!. Delicious!. 4) Ham Pot Pie: Make a creamed sauce, stir in small mixed vegetables, cubed ham, sage!. Put in casserole with Pie crust or bisquik on top!. bake 350 for 30 min!. Grind any leftover ham with celery and green onions, mayo for ham sandwiches!. Take the bone, fill the pot with water, add soaked dried peas which u have soaked the night before with some carrots, celery for a wonderful pea soup!.Make a big pot of cabbage rolls in tomato sauce, leftovers freeze well!. Chinese Macaroni: Cook mac!., fry onions, gr!. pepper, celery, mushrooms, minced meat!. Add some soya and 2 cups beef broth (2 tbls!. powdered beef base in 2 cups water) Add mac then thicken with 2 tbls corn starch & 2 tbls cold water *important!. You'll have leftovers!. This is great!. Hope this helps!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Cut out meat, on most days,use it as a special treat!. Once I became vegetarian my grocery bills dropped dramatically!. Beans are a great substitute, they are cheap, healthy, and filling and can be used in all kinds of dishes!. If you have a grocery store with bulk foods shop those, great way to stock up on grains, beans, rice, etc!. for cheap!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Get yourself a FoodSaver and start buying in bulk!. The Foodsaver make seem expensive now, but the money that you will save buying in bulk when meats are on sale, will more than make up for the cost!. Watch your grocery store for savings on bulk items as well, like my grocery store often has Rice-a-Roni on sale 10 to $10!.00!. Tougher, large cuts of meat, like the 7 Bone roast are usually pretty inexpensive - you just have to cook them a long time to get tender!.

If you have an ethnic store near you, try shopping there for fruits, vegetables and diary!. Often an ethnic store will be cheaper, and have fresher produce!.

Try to prepare meals from fresh ingredients as much as possible!. You pay for the preservatives in more ways than one! Keep your pantry stocked with the things that you need to make meals: rice, potatoes, pasta, dry beans, flour, and sugar!. I also keep a few cans of chicken broth, canned tomatoes (sauce, chopped, crushed) for making sauces, corn and canned beans!. One other thing I have is cooking sherry, it's great for anything that has mushrooms - makes it seem gourmet!

Be creative with left overs!. I usually have a little rice left over, and that's easy to throw together a burrito, or mix with a little scrambled egg and scallion and have fried rice!.

You might also want to invest in recipe software, especially one that has a meal planner!. I'm using BigOven now, and I like it a lot!.

As for recipes, if you have any turkey left over, you could make Turkey Tetruzini (mushrooms, cream of celery soup, noodles, parmesean cheese)!. This weekend, I'm making Great Northern White Chili, and that's going to last a few days (recipe http://www!.bigoven!.com/recipe168478)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Rice really goes a long way!. You can do a lot with it without spending much!. Always buy vegetables that are in season and buy things that won't go bad in bulk!. For protein, use beans instead of meat (they are much cheaper)!. Always buy generic!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Mac & Cheese, hot dogs, split pea soup!. lentil soup, home made chicken/turkey soup!.
Dishes with rice
dishes with noodles
Watch your sale flyers for good meat sales
Corn chowder, Potatoes ( baked, mashed, boiled, fried, etc!.)
Hope these ideas help
Happy HolidaysWww@FoodAQ@Com

Pasta, meatloaf, chicken, chicken and more chicken, egg plant parmesan, omlettes and frittatas, hot dogs and beans, tuna noodle cassarole, beef and macaroni, macaroni and cheese!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I try to make big pots of things to last a couple days
veggie soup
CHILI
beef tips and rice
spaghetti
goulash
Some times i splurge and buy a brisket and make sliced beef, chopped beef sandwiches , and chopped beef baked potaotes!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

http://www!.foodnetwork!.com/quick-fix-mea!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Mac & Cheese is only 50 cents a box!. you can do that and hot dogs ( and old childhood favorite) for less than $10 I think!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

spaghetti
manwich
hamburgers
chili dogs
meatloaf
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salad with spaghetti Www@FoodAQ@Com





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