Meals on the Cheap - under $2 meal ideas - Page 13

[beansricerevolt]

Shepherds Pie :

Filling
Leftover veggies
1 large tomato or 1 14 oz. canned tomato undrained
2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 C. leftover beans of any kind, cooked
1/2 tsp. basil
salt
1 TBS.Braggs or soy sauce

Topping
3 med. Potatoes
1/4 C. Soy milk or milk
1 tbsp. of butter or olive oil
salt


Saute veggies until tender. Add beans and basil and salt and Brags. You can even mash beans prior to mixing if you want. We usually mix them whole. Stir and simmer.

Mean while, after potatoes are cooked, mix ingredients together and make mashed potatoes.

Put veggie mixture in pie pan and layer potatoes on top..


Bake 15 min. at 350 f

[Michaels-Mommy]

:

[LeahC]

This is my new favorite meal! It makes a lot and freezes well! I usually half the recipe and it still makes a ton.

Sweet Potato Burritos

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups canned kidney beans, drained (I use black beans and use dried)
2 cups water
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 tablespoons soy sauce
4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
12 (10 inch) flour tortillas, warmed
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash. Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.
3. Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm flour tortillas. Top with cheese. Fold up tortillas burrito style, and place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and serve.

[bright_eyes]

LeahC, that recipe sounds so yummy! How many cups of black beans do you use (dry)?

[bright_eyes]

Here is one of our favorite meals. It is really good with grate cheese sprinkled on top and a bit of plain yogurt.

Black Bean Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic minced
2 carrots, chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups vegetable stock (I make it w/ chicken stock)
2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8.75) can whole kernal corn (I use frozen)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

Directions:
In a large saucepan, heat oil over med. heat; cook onion, garlic and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened.
Add chili poder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add stock, 1 can of beans, corn and pepper, bring to boil.

In food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Another favorite it this one. It asks for ground beef but we like it way better with ground turkey or chicken (which makes it slightly more expensive, though).

Taquitos

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for brushing on the taquitos
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1 cup salsa, plus more for dipping
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
10 (6-inch) flour tortillas
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack
Sour cream

1. Heat the oven to 400°. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook them for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add the beef and use a wooden spoon or a spatula to break it up while it cooks, until it is no longer red, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of the salsa, the chili powder, and the salt and pepper. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

2. Place the tortillas on a plate and cover them with damp paper towels. Microwave them until warm and pliable, about 45 seconds. Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the beef mixture, spreading it to an inch from the edges. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the beef.

3. Roll up the tortillas and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet with the seam sides down. Brush the taquitos lightly with vegetable oil, then bake them until the filling is heated through and the tortillas are lightly browned, about 8 to 12 minutes. Serve them hot with sour cream and/or salsa. Serves 4 to 6.

[LeahC]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

LeahC, that recipe sounds so yummy! How many cups of black beans do you use (dry)?

I'm sorry, I just saw this!

I tend to use 1 pound of dried black beans when I make the recipe, so 1 traditional sized package of black beans.

[apple_dumpling]

oh those sweet potato burritos sound sooo yummy!! Lots of great ideas on this thread!! :

[Mamatolea]

I do turkey stuffing quiche(works great for leftover holiday stuff too!)

2 1/2 C. leftover stuffing -- (2 1/2 to 3) or a box of generic stuffing mix
1 C. chopped cooked turkey(or ground turkey)
1 C. shredded Swiss cheese(or another cheese, I use mozz)
4 beaten eggs
1 Can evaporated milk

Press stuffing into a 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish, forming a crust. Bake in 400 degrees oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine meat and cheese. In another bowl, beat together eggs, milk and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle meat-cheese mixture into hot crust. Pour egg mixture on top. Lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake quiche 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.

YUM! Even DH loves it and he is pretty picky!

[captivatedlife]

bumping - I had to go searching for it!

[rsummer]

[neetling]

subbing

[Tilia]

Pasta bake:

1 box of pasta (my favorite right now is Gemelli) $1.00
1 can of chicken broth $0.50
1 teaspoon garlic salt $0.05
1 teaspoon italian seasoning $0.05
1/2 cup parmesan $0.20

Total cost: $1.80

Prepare the pasta according to the package, drain. Dump it into a casserole dish. Pour the broth over the pasta, add the seasonings and mix well. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or so.

[Tilia]

Stir-fry with pasta:
double recipe

1 lb carrots $0.75
8 stalks of celery $1.00
2 yellow or white onions $0.40
1 box mini farfalle $1.00
1 can chicken broth $0.50
1 T. garlic powder $0.05
1 T. paprika $0.05

Total $3.75 for double recipe


Chop the veggies and saute them in olive oil until the onions are clear.

Cook the pasta according to the directions. I use a stock pot because its a double recipe and it won't fit in a dutch oven.

Drain the pasta, put it back in the pot, and toss in all the ingredients. Cook on low until its all warm.

[freespirited]

This is a true to the thread under $2 meal!

Macaroni 'n Tomatoes

3 cups elbow macaroni
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/4 cup butter (original recipe calls for 1/2 cup!)
1-2 tbsp Lawry's Seasoning Salt (no substitutions)

Cook and drain noodles, add butter and seasoning salt, mix to coat, add tomatoes, heat through.

I tried this for the first time last week and it was sooo yummy! This size above fed me, a hungry dh and our 2 LOs. It's a keeper.

[MaShroom]

Here is something I picked up from my bil who would eat black beans for every meal if my sister let him. You can use chicken in it too, but I don't. If you do, just precook and cube or stick a filet on top or the side. It is supa cheap and easy and even the people in my family who don't like onions chow down. I don't ever measure anything, I just guess and always cook extra so I can have leftovers so this is subject to any quantity you want. It turns out different every time, but always good! : The following will feed 4 normal people which means it will feed 2 people in my house.

Caramelize an onion in oil. Throw in a regular size can of tomato sauce and some jarred sofrito. Add the sofrito to taste, a couple of tablespoons is good to me. Add a can of black beans and simmer for a few minutes. Serve over rice and yuuuuuum!

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by LeahC

This is my new favorite meal! It makes a lot and freezes well! I usually half the recipe and it still makes a ton.

Sweet Potato Burritos

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups canned kidney beans, drained (I use black beans and use dried)
2 cups water
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
4 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 tablespoons soy sauce
4 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
12 (10 inch) flour tortillas, warmed
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash. Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.
3. Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm flour tortillas. Top with cheese. Fold up tortillas burrito style, and place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and serve.

This recipe is a favorite at our house too! It is so yummy : And it freezes really well, too.

[~Megan~]

Under $2 is hard to get so I'm posting a meal that is $3.50 and delicious.

1 T oil of choice -pennies
1 package of beef sausages (on sale)- 2.15
4 potatoes - 0.35
1 sweet onion - 0.65
handful of spinach - 0.25
several good pinches of sea salt
couple grinds of pepper
shake of garlic powder
shake of oregano

Coarsely chop it all and put in a lidded pot with the oil. Cook on medium for 20-30 minutes until onions are translucent and potatoes are soft. Serve with a shake or parmesan cheese if desired.

I just gave dh, myself, and 2 kids generous portions and have one leftover for dh's lunch tomorrow.

I bet some finely shredded carrots or chopped kale instead of spinach. Mushrooms or zucchini would be good too!

[Serenagirl]

Originally Posted by Realcraftymama

Day One
Baked Chicken, salad, homemade bread, veggie of choice.

Day Two
Chicken carcass, slow boil all day, strain and add carrots and celery - leftover veggies, salad w/croutons made from leftover bread and garlic powder.

Day Three
Pasta, sauce w/ground turkey, salad, homemade bread.

Day Four
Leftover sauce, kidney beans, chili seasoning, ground turkey, cheese and sour cream.

Day Five
Roast beef w/potatoes, carrots, onions, homemade bread and salad.

Day Six
Hot roast beef sandwiches on leftover homemade bread, salad.

Day Seven
Pancakes, turkey sausage, eggs, hash browns from leftover potatoes plus green pepper, onion and cheese.

This is a typical week of meals around our house, under fifty dollars for the four of us, including two boxes of cereal for the finicky.

:

I need a recipe for great homeade bread!!!

_____________________________
Serena DW to Nicolas DS1 DS2 DD::

[karne]

Originally Posted by grisandole

Where are you finding Nori so cheap? I just bought some today, 5.00 for 10 sheets....I'm rural, so we don't have an Asian market here....Maybe I should try online?

I love sushi, we do veggie sushi, or add eggs for protien. My 4yo LOVES it!

For cheap, I do pea soup. Even if I buy organic peas, it's still cheap!

Buckwheat and bean chili is cheap and filling, too, I'll post the recipe when I have more time

We love pea soup! Whenever i have a ham bone I make as much stock as possible. Peas are cheap, and the soup is so filling.

We also make veggie soup out of any veggies in the fridge, and water, with a little stock. I find that my kids love any soup as long as there is fresh bread and grated cheese to sprinkle on top!

[Surfacing]

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