Pork 'n Beans 'n Biscuits

Not the healthiest meal, but fast and easy and cheap too! This reminds me of camping. :-)

Pork 'n Beans 'n Biscuits
4 cans pork 'n beans
1 pk hotdog- diced
~heat through in oven proof skillet~

Drop Biscuits
2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. oil
1 c. milk
Drop by spoonfuls over pork 'n bean mixture. Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until biscuits are lightly brown.

Meal cost

4 cans beans $2
I pk hotdogs $.68
biscuits $.30
Meal Total: $2.98

Lentil Chili

I've posted this recipe before, here, but have changed it enough from HBHW's recipe, I figured I would tell you what I do. (And I see I angled the camera in such a way that it makes the bowl of chili seem quite small under Brian's hand... but it was a normal size bowl, really!)

Lentil Chili
1 lb. package lentils
Water to cover with about 1 to 2 inches above the lentils. Bring to a boil, then turn down and let simmer with a lid slightly cocked on the pot. Simmer until the lentils are soft- about 30 minutes.
Add:
4 c. freshly chopped tomatoes
1/4 c. finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 heaping Tb chili powder
4 to 5 shakes of tabasco sauce
Simmer for approximately 30 minutes and serve with chips and sour cream.

Meal Cost:
Lentils: $.72
Tomatoes: free- from garden
onion: ?? cheap
Chips: $1.
Meal Total: $1.72

This feeds our family of 5 big eaters with 1 bowl leftover.

Zucchini Pizza

This was a big hit last night. I think next time I'll put on more artichoke heart- but even without much of it, it was great.



Zucchini Pizza
4 c. grated zucchini
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/8 tsp. oregano
1/8-1/4 tsp. garlic salt (I just shook it over, so not sure on exact amount)
3 eggs, beaten
Mix all together and spread into well greased/oiled skillet*. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
Add whatever toppings you want and then stick back into the oven to heat through and melt the cheese.
We put on:
Pepperoni
Artichoke hearts
chopped fresh tomatoes
grated cheddar cheese (just a thin layer- to hold it all together)

* a 12" skillet worked best- the 10" one is more 'quiche-like', as it is thicker. If you are going to use pie pans, I would probably put it in two 9" pie pans. This sticks a little- it comes off the cast iron best.

This is a really inexpensive meal- if you have a garden, the only real cost is the cheese and toppings.

Creamed Tuna & Peas

I got this from the Hillbilly Housewife and we really liked it. It reminded me of a dish my grandma used to make when she would host a ladies brunch- Creamed Shrimp on Toast. The only difference was, well, toast, tiny shrimp and she would put some diced hard boiled eggs in. It was so delicious- and this was very similar, so I enjoyed the memories that came with dinner. :-)


Creamed Tuna & Peas


Cost:
Tuna: $1.
Peas: $.44
Milk: $.50
Rice: $.40
Meal Total: $2.34

Skillet Hash

I'm always wanting to make different things with leftover venison roast*- there is always sandwiches, but this is a nice alternative:

Skillet Hash
4 c. chopped cooked meat
4 c. chopped cooked potatoes
2/3 c. chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4-1/2 c. olive oil
2/3 c. water

Add everything except the water, fry and stir in large skillet for about 15 min. Add water, stir and stick in oven to broil for 5-10 minutes, till it has a slightly crispy top.

Cost:
Potatoes: $2.
Roast: $1.64
Onion... $?
Meal total: $3.64

*This roast had really good flavor, which made the Hash have a wonderful flavor. I had cooked the roast with a packet of organic french onion dressing mix.

Ham and Cheese Bake

Ah, leftover Easter Ham... YUM!








Ham and Cheese Bake
16 oz spaghetti pasta, cooked & drained
2 c. diced ham
2 c. shredded cheese (I don't think it matters which kind- I used cheddar)

Mix all together and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until cheese is thoroughly melted.

Cost:
Pasta: $.72
Ham: $2.25
Cheese: $1.84
Meal total: $4.81

Fried Rice

This is so fast and easy- and you can make most things ahead- like cooking the rice, browning the meat, etc- then heat it together.

I don't have a set recipe- so you'll have to guess a little yourself.

Fried Rice
6 c. cooked rice (2 c. uncooked)
1 lb. ground meat, browned and crumbled
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 c. bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. onion, chopped
1/4 c. carrots, chopped
3 eggs, scrambled

Mix veggies, meat and eggs and season with:
soy sauce
sesame oil
garlic salt
Mix rice in and heat through.


Cost:
Ground Meat: $2.
Rice: $.40
Veggies: $.50
Eggs: $.45
Meal total: $3.35
(or with venison: $2.17)

Lentil Nachos

The other night we had Lentil Chili for dinner. We had a little bit of leftovers- not quite enough for one serving (at least the amount that we eat), so I made some Nachos with it for lunch while the boys were home on Spring Break.

I laid out some chips, sprinkled on cheese, dolloped on the Lentil Chili and baked it until the cheese melted. Then topped it off with sour cream, salsa, lettuce and tomatoes.


Cost:
Chili $Free (I already claimed the cost of this on another day, so not going to count it twice- will just consider it "free" food)
Cheese: $.92
Lettuce and Tomatoes: $ Free (leftovers)
Chips: $1.
Meal Total: $1.92

Grandma's Casserole

This week the boys are on Spring Break. I had this scheduled for dinner earlier, but a friend of our asked if they could bring us dinner (woo hoo!) so I made this for lunch the next day- and yes, it's sitting next to our week-long Monopoly game (in which Luke is winning... must be why he likes to play... hm).
Anyway, this is really tasty.


Grandma's Casserole

1 lb. ground meat
1/4 c onion, chopped
1/4 c. green pepper chopped
6 oz can tomato paste
10 oz can italian tomatoes
15 oz can creamed corn
12 oz. pasta, cooked
1 to 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Brown meat, onion and green pepper in oven proof skillet, over medium heat. Add tomato paste, tomatoes and corn, mix well. Stir in cooked pasta, mix thoroughly. Top w/ cheese and bake at 350 until cheese is melted.

Cost:
Ground Meat: $1 (ground turkey on sale)
Tomato Paste: $.35
Creamed corn: $.45
Italian tomatoes: $.89
Rotini Pasta: $1.04
Cheese: $.92
Meal total: $4.65

Lentil Chili

This is so delicious- I am so impressed. I have made this several times and just can't get over how much we like this!
This is another Recipe from Hillbilly Housewife:

Lentil Chili

I did have to double it- and there have never been leftovers. I left out the bouillon and added some salt in it's place. We plopped on some sour cream and used chips to eat it-- like a chip dip. YUM!

Cost:
Lentils 16 oz: $.72
Large can of tomatoes: $.98
Tortilla chips: $1.00
Meal Total: $2.70

Mexican Hamburger Rice Bake

Another one of the sites I've been looking through lately is The Family Homestead.

I haven't been able to look at all of it, she has alot of info on there, but I did find some good sounding recipes- this is one of them. And it was good! The boys said it was a "little spicy", but I thought it was great- and Naomi ate it too and didn't seem to mind the spiciness.


Mexican Hamburger Rice

Cost:
Ground meat: $2.
Rice: $.40
"Rotel" $.62
Tomato sauce $.30
Cheese: $.92
Meal Total: $4.24
(or with venison: $3.08)

Spicy Peanut Sauce Over Spaghetti

I love peanut sauce. This one is a little different than my regular one but I was looking forward to it since it has a little spice to it. It didn't disappoint-- it was very good.
I have looked through the Hillbilly Housewife site quite a few times and am really impressed with all the info she has. This is one of her recipes.



Spicy Peanut Sauce
I added some left over chicken pieces as well- this would be the best over rice noodles, with a green salad, but I didn't have that on hand.

Cost:
Pasta $.34
Peanut Butter: $1.71 (Adams Natural)
Soy sauce: $.25
Chicken $.66
Meal Total: $2.96

Hamburger Roll Ups

My mom used to make these when we were growing up. I have a thing for gravy, if you haven't noticed. :-D

Biscuits:
2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 T. oil
3/4 c. milk

Mix together, roll out on floured surface. Sprinkle browned meat, roll up and cut like cinnamon rolls. Place on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, should be golden brown on tops.

Gravy
Brown and crumble one 1 lb ground meat
Remove most of the browned meat, use on biscuit dough.
Whisk 3 c. milk and 1 c. flour, add to grease.
Stir with whisk until thickened on a med to med-hi heat.
Salt and pepper to taste


Cost
Ground meat: $2
6 c. milk: $1.10
3 c. four: $.27
Meal Total: $3.37
(With venison: $2.22)

Skillet Rice

This is a stand by for me-- it's so easy and most of the time I have something I can throw into it.


Skillet Rice
6 c. cooked rice (2 uncooked)
1 lb polish sausage, quartered & diced (or browned ground meat)
1-2 c. chopped veggies (zucchini, carrots, bell pepper, onion, broccoli, etc)

In skillet heat sausage, then add the veggies and rice on top, let cook for about 5 minutes- so they can "steam" a little. "Stir-fry" until the veggies are done to your liking.
Serve.


Cost:
Rice $.40
Sausage $1.25 (I buy a 3lb pkg, that has about 16 "dogs" in it and use 4)
Veggies: $1.25 (I used broccoli, 1/4 of a bell pepper and 5 mini carrots, chopped)
Meal Total: $2.90