Trying to come up with cheap dinners that dont taste like it...?!
Answers: I am sick of sloppy joes and tacos and ragu and mac n cheese- any body have any ideas on how to make something that tastes like you are eating expensive but is not. I am broke but still have to feed a family.
What have you got? How about meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy? Homemade pot pie - do you have any Bisquick or Jiffy baking mix? KMart has chicken legs for $.79 per lb. and we had baked "fried" chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and baked beans for dinner last night. How about homemade Chinese food or homemade pizza. Chili served over baked french fries or mashed potatoes or rice or even baked tortillas is good and filling and the kids will eat it. How about stir fry with rice? It would help to know what you have on hand, then I could give you some ideas that don't have you running to the store.
Brown your hamberger meat, season with taco seasoning or chili seasoning and add a can of tomatoe sauce. layer the meat with corn tortillas and cheese. bake until bubbley and call it mexican lasagna. (If you need a little extra punch, you can add a can of corn or diced tomatoes to the meat mixture, it just depends on what you have at hand. ) Good luck, I 've been there.
Hamburger Helper has a variety of dinners that are inexpensive and delicious. All you need to add is either hamburger meat or chicken and usually water, milk and/or margarine.
Also, Pasta Roni has easy to make noodles. They have a variety like garlic butter, tomato parmesan, angel hair and more. They are inexpensive and easy to make. They are delicious too.
There are a lot of things you can cook that are cheap and easy to make, I grew up on them, also with myself working full time and my wife full time working and in College we have a 2 year old, we find lots of things to come up with, If you contact me and tell me what kinds of meats, and veggies and stuff you guys like to eat I will send you a LOT of recepies to make, also if you go to any book store there are cookbooks devoted to just this subjuct. I hope to help you out N a t e d a w g 1 2 1 @ y a h o o . c o m
I have some really great recipes that are simple cheap and filling. Like meatloaf, chicken broccoli and rice casserole, and Teryiaki pork. I am a single mother and dont get any assistance for food. I know how hard it is to come up with good wholesome and healthy meals for your children. If you would like some of my recipes you can email me at sexxie_77@yahoo.com
There are many meals that can be prepared inexpensively and still look and taste good. Stay away from the frozen and prepared foods, and get it healthier... AND less expensive. Here's just one I make that's easy, healthy and economical.
All you need is:
Boneless chicken breasts (on sale or buy bone in and remove the bone. Of course you can make this with legs and thighs, which are generally less expensive. I just don't happen to care for the dark meat.)
jar of your favorite salsa
gr. peppers
zucchini
onions
Shredded Mexican cheese mix (optional)
(amounts all depend on how many you are serving)
Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish. Slice up strips of green peppers, thinly slice some onion, slice and cut slice in quarters green zucchini squash. Pour salsa over all and bake at 350 deg. F for about an hour (test chicken for doneness), spooning liquid over chicken periodically.
If adding the cheese, put it on about 5 minutes (or less) before taking the dish out of the oven to serve... just so it melts and starts to brown. Service with a salad.
Enjoy!
Chili is another inexpensive dish to make.
Take a lb of ground beef and mix it with a packet of brown gravy powder and about 1/3 c of water. Make into pattys and fry. Make additional brown gravy and serve with mashed potatos. You will be surprised how the gravy mix changes the texture and flavor of the meat patty, Salsbury steak, really good!