What are some cheap meals for four people?!

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I find that using a inexpensive waterproofing material that can be purchased at most
local do it yourself centers and using a hudson sprayer is the cheapest way to water proof wood products.

Spaghetti is very filling and very cheap, maybe a little meat if you want but it's not necessary, a loaf of French bread ($1.09 at most grocery stores) and and you are set. Hot dogs are winners in my house and feed a crowd. For something special try chili dogs with cheese and you are still not breaking the bank. Frozen burger patties are also cheap and burgers definitely feed a crowd.

Get creative for snacks and do flavored popcorn by adding spices. Check out some recipes here:
http://www.ifood.tv/network/flavored_pop…

7 layer dip is cheap and feeds a crowd and you can omit whatever you don't want:
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/seven-laye…
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/seven-laye…

Be sure to ask your friends to pitch in so that it is not just a burden on you. Assign each person something to purchase or a certain amount to pitch in so that it's fair. They shouldn't be upset about that and that way you can maybe get some dessert!

Crispy beef

Ingredients
2 cups spiral pasta
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup diced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes (I like the fire-roasted kind)
1 10 3/4 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, sharp as you like
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup sour cream
1 2.8 ounce can french-fried onions

Method
Heat oven to 350

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and the onion is translucent.

Drain pasta; add to the beef mixture with the tomatoes, soup, cheese, sour cream and salt.

Transfer to a greased 2 quart baking dish and top the surface with the onion rings.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes until hot and bubbly and the top is deep golden brown.



Spicy bruscetta chicken bake

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 14 1/2 ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 6 ounce package Stove Top for chicken
1/2 cup water
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, Dell'Aple recommended
Big pinch kosher salt
Pinch red pepper flakes

Method
Heat oven to 350 and spray a 9 x 13 pan with Pam

Lay the chicken in an even layer in the bottom of the pan and sprinkle with the cheese.

Mix tomatoes, stuffing mix, water, garlic, and Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes together until stuffing mix is moistened. Mound the stuffing mixture on top of the chicken and the cheese in an even layer. Bake 30 minutes or just to the point when the chicken turns opaque.

Soup..clean out the fridge and make a home made soup .. warm, filling, inexpensive.
Stew or chili are hearty meals and fairly inexpensive. Simple bacon, eggs and toast or quiche are great too. Spread tuna/mayo mixture, or peanut butter and jam, or meat and cheese or even refried beans/rice on wraps..roll..slice for appetizers that look great and are cheap to make..you can do veggie ones too with a dip. If you don't have wraps on hand, cut the crust off sliced bread, flatten with rolling pin or sturdy glass, spread any mixture and roll to slice..works great too. Oatmeal for breakfast goes a long way for little money and hits the spot on cold mornings. A simple salad with a few chicken fingers sliced up in it and/or boiled eggs and some grated cheese overtop can be a meal on it's own. People tend to eat more if you serve finger foods, so stick to a good meal and you can serve a dessert (cake is cheap and easy) a couple of hours later..cuts back on the food bill. Get up and just have coffee (or whatever you want) and a visit with friends and serve brunch..this cuts back on a separate breakfast and lunch. Pancakes are cheap and filling too..lots to choose from if you just think of simple basic cooking for inexpensive ideas.

Any type of pasta dishes-spaghetti, lasagna etc. hamburgers on the grill, we did last week in the blizzard in Chicago,casseroles,beef stew,tuna casserole etc. and get some items that don't need electricity just in case the power goes out. MILK,bread, eggs , omelets. etc.

pro chef,,,,, been there, done that

Pasta. You can buy the sauce in the jar or cans and add frozen meat if you like.

Chili

Cup O Noodles

You can buy meat and store in the freezer, like Tri Tip, steak, chicken

hamburgers, macaroni and cheese,if you have the supplies spinach and artichoke dip,nachos and buffalo wings

personal experiences

mac n cheese (homemade isn't expensive)
Chili (lots of inexpensive beans)
Lasagna - might cost $10 bucks for a large lasagna that will serve many meals

one frozen pizza.

quarter it.

voila

bon appetit.

local newspapers in your area , tv special for that time of year, and looking up different places on the net.

Homelesness

pasta and beans are cheap.

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If you like a tasty meat lasagna though - then this is it! We save this for special occasions and it always goes over really well.


Ingredients

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions

In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.