Looking for cheap, homey, and delicious recipes?!
Looking for cheap, homey, and delicious recipes?
I would prefer home cooked everything but taking some help from a box or a bag doesn't bother me. Just looking for some new stuff.
Answers: Cheap, homey, delicious
Okay well..here are a few ideas for you, takes some help from pre-made items but it still tastes delicious
Options:
1) Spaghetti and chicken : buy a bag of spaghetti (i like angel hair, the really thin ones), boil until cooked, about eight minutes for al dente. Set aside. Buy two cans of Four Cheese pasta sauce at your grocery store, or any other flavour you might enjoy. Add a bay leaf, lots of basil, pepper, salt, whatever spices you like. Cook until heated through.
In the oven you will be placing coated boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just bread them in bread crumbs and bake about half an hour until white and tender in the middle. Place a piece of real mozzarella on each then bake again until cheese is melted. Serve over spaghetti. On the side, a salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and italian dressing.
2) Chicken fajitas
Buy chicken strips or boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut into strips. Fry in a skillet with some oil and add fajita seasoning in a package - OR; add some lime zest, cilantro, pepper, salt, chili powder and cumin. Next, get your flour tortillas out and ready. Grate alot of cheddar/monterey jack cheese and have it on the side. Shred some lettuce. Fry up some onions and red and green bell peppers, and some mushrooms altogether. These are all your toppings. Then pull out some sour cream, piquante salsa, and guacamole. I like italian dressing on mine too, or some ranch. Let your family choose their toppings. Buy alot of tortillas, cause these will go fast! Could also do with some strips of steak.
If you want a side dish, cook up some Spanish rice.
3) Casseroles
Casseroles are the simplest way to make a home-cooked yummy meal in a small amount of time. I like to use ground beef for the base, browned and drained, mixed with 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cream of chicken soup. Then I add some cooked green peas and cooked baby carrots. Next to the top I add cooked instant mashed potatoes, could also use real obviously, and i top it all with cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven in a casserole dish until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are warmed through. Could also top with parmesan cheese or breadcrumbs.
5) Some other ideas:
kraft dinner mixup - if you like kraft dinner, youll love this. just add a can of tuna or some ground beef to some cooked mac n cheese, add a package of taco seasoning, and a small can of crushed tomatoes. Throw it all together, throw some more cheese on top, any kind, and bake in the oven for a few more minutes. Add parsley or basil or whatever you want to make it more of a "meal"
Look up recipes for chicken thighs - theyre cheaper than breasts and taste just as yummy. I like to marinate mine in italian dressing for a few hours then coat them in crispy shake and bake and wrap with a few strips of turkey bacon (i dont eat pork but of course you could use it). Bake as you normally would, then serve with some cheesy scalloped potatoes and a nice green salad.
Pita wraps are also awesome - just stuff with ANYTHING - meat, cheese, veggies, dressing...could also do a pizza pita! stuff with pepperoni, mozzarella, and marinara sauce.
Speaking of pizza, make pizza bagels. Toast the bagels, and get everyone to add their favourite pizza toppings. Then throw them in the oven. Delicious and easy to make and if you have kids, they will love them.
How about breakfast for dinner? Its pretty cheap and always feels homey. Grab some bacon, eggs, make some french toast and serve with lots of fruit.
Crockpot recipes are always so easy and yummy - just throw in a roast and surround with chopped veggies and some cans of cream of mushroom soup. Add a bit of milk and seasonings, leave it on low heat all day and when you get in from work itll smell SO good in your house!
Also look into some shrimp recipes, i dont know iff you like seafood but could also do with pork or chicken...i have a recipe that is so simple it basically just takes shrimp, rice, and some bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and chili peppers. To that add soy sauce, a bit of thai fish sauce, some peanut butter, and some hot sauce and just get it really hot. Look for stirfry recipes cause theyre a great way to mix all your leftover meat n veggies together in a more modern way!
Hope those helped...basically my advice is to look at foods in a different way...try to make simpler recipes from your favourite dishes and try to stretch your money out! Look for sales at your grocery store and buy things in bulk, keep meat in the freezer and just thaw whenever you feel like throwing together a simple and yummy meal. good luck Try going to Recipezaar.com; i find all kinds of recipes there. Look up on food network. com and look for Semi homemade. Sandra Lee prepares food with mostly boxed foods and add a special touch and the recipes are wonderful. Chicken-Mushroom Fricasee over Biscuits
1 whole roasted chicken
4 1/2 cups water
4 strips bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces sliced button mushrooms
1 onion, thinly sliced
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons flour
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 1/4 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
8 large biscuits, split in half, for serving
Thinly sliced scallions, for garnishing, optional
De-bone chicken and tear meat into large, bite-size pieces. Place chicken carcass and skin in a medium saucepan and add 4 1/2 cups of water.
Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
Strain mixture through a fine sieve.
Discard solids and reserve stock; you should have about 3 1/2 cups.
If not, add enough water to bring level up to 3 1/2 cups.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add bacon and cook until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.
Remove bacon and set aside on paper towels to drain.
Add the butter to the rendered bacon fat in the skillet and, when melted, add the mushrooms.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are soft and lightly golden around the edges, about 4 minutes.
Add the onion, salt and pepper and cook until the onions are wilted, about 2 minutes.
Add the flour and continue to cook, stirring, until flour is a medium brown color, slightly darker than peanut butter.
Add the stock and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and smooth, 10 to 15 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and cook until they release their liquid and begin to break down slightly and the sauce is a nice consistency, 10 to 15 minutes.
Add the chicken pieces and cook just until warmed through, 5 to 10 minutes.
Stir in the parsley and serve ladled over split hot biscuits. Garnish with thinly sliced scallions, if desired.
Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Paella
1/4 cup olive oil
1 chicken, cut legs, drumsticks and thighs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
1 large onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
4 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 pound Spanish style chorizo links, cut into slices on the bias
2 cups short-grain rice (recommended: Valencia or Arborio)
Pinch saffron threads
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas
Lemon wedges, for service
Heat a paella pan or very large, shallow skillet or pot, preferably with 2 handles over high heat.
Note:
A large cast iron skillet would work here.
Pour in the olive oil and let it heat up.
Season the chicken all over with salt, pepper and paprika.
Sear in the olive oil until browned all over.
Transfer to a plate with tongs.
Lower the heat to medium and saute the onions and bell pepper until softened.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and chorizo.
Bring the liquid to a boil and then stir in the rice and saffron.
Add the browned chicken pieces.
The rice should be completely covered with liquid.
Cook the paella without stirring for 20 minutes.
When the liquid has all been absorbed, pour the peas over the top of the pot, turn off the heat and cover the pot with a kitchen towel.
Let stand 5 minutes and then serve with lemon wedges.
Onion, Ham, and Cheese Frittata
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, sliced
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup diced ham
1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, like parsley, thyme, or dill
1 cup grated Swiss or cheddar cheese
Position a rack about 8 inches from the broiler and preheat.
Melt the butter in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Add the onions and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions get very soft, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and milk in a medium bowl with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper until smooth.
Transfer onions to a bowl to cool.
Reserve the skillet.
Stir the onions, ham, herbs and cheese into the eggs.
Heat the non-stick skillet.
Pour the frittata mixture into the pan and stir to make sure the fillings are evenly arranged.
Cook, stirring gently a couple times in the first minutes of cooking. Then let the mixture cook undisturbed until the bottom sets, about 5 minutes.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil until the eggs are just set and brown, about 5 minutes.
Take care not to overcook or the eggs will be dry.
Remove from the oven, cover, and set aside for 5 minutes.
Invert the frittata onto a large plate or platter. Cut into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
hope these help. enjoy. I love to just play around with the classics...Like roasted chicken stuffed with apples and fresh sage...or lemon wedges and thyme.
Pasta tossed with bacon, garlic and olive oil - yum! Be sure to add some freshly grated parmesan!
Pasta with Arugula pesto - super easy and delicious...just sub arugula for basil in your favorite pesto recipe.
Flank steak marinated in red wine, garlic, onions, rosemary, thyme and a touch of olive oil - grill it until it's medium rare (about 7-8 minutes per side)...sliced thin and sided with potatoes and a salad - outstanding!
Poaching has really made a comeback - think about poaching some fish in white wine and butter. what I like to do is look up recipes on yahoo.com or .ca to find new delicious recipes!!!!!!!!<ab> Easy Cheap and Yummy Casserole [ready in 1 hr; 8 serv]
1 (28 ounce) can baked beans
2 (16 ounce) packages hot dogs, sliced
1 (7.5 ounce) package corn bread mix
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Pour the can of beans into a 9x13 inch baking dish so they cover the bottom. Arrange hot dog slices so they cover the beans as completely as possible. If too much juice seeps through to the cornbread, it will take longer to cook. Prepare cornbread mix according to package directions. Spread the batter evenly over the hot dog layer.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cornbread is cooked through. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
---------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------
Holiday Chicken Salad [12servings]
4 cups cubed, cooked chicken meat
1 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 cup chopped celery
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup minced green bell pepper
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
ground black pepper to taste
In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise with paprika and seasoned salt. Blend in dried cranberries, celery, bell pepper, onion, and nuts. Add chopped chicken, and mix well. Season with black pepper to taste. Chill 1 hour.