Meals on the Cheap - under $2 meal ideas - Page 5

[kijip]

Potato Onion Omelet.

1 cooked potato, 6 eggs, 1/2 an onion. In most places that would be about $2 for a family of 4, especially if you buy things in bulk. We used to buy eggs by the 5 dozen so 6 eggs works out to be less than 75 cents. Now we buy them at the co-op organic but even all organic, this meal comes in under $4-5. Add a little teeny bit of cheese and it's the high life.

[wife&mommy]

Oh what about french onion soup? We are having this tomorrow, its just onions, broth, cheese, and bread on top if you like.

[janerose]

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[AngelBee]

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[MissLotus]

I just made a cheap recipe I got from a link off the Nutrition & Good Eating forum here at MDC....for Honey-Baked Lentils:


http://happyfoody.blogspot.com/2006/...d-lentils.html

It took maybe 3 minutes to put together...you don't even have to chop anything up! And I only baked mine about 35-40 minutes and it came out perfectly. It honestly is delicious!

[grniys]

Originally Posted by Babytime

Egg bake -- a dozen eggs blended with a splash of milk, a handful of cheese and some diced peppers -- pour into a 13 x 9 and bake

How long do you bake this and at what temperature?

[MomToKandE]

Originally Posted by rachelagain

I'm not exactly sure if this is under $2-- but it's close!

Peanut Butter Chicken & Rice
Cook 2 cups of rice as directed (makes 4 cups)

Sauce:
1/4 c P.B.
2 T. soy sauce
2 tsp. vinegar
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 c. water
sprinkle on some garlic powder
Heat and stir w/ whisk until creamy.
Add cooked/diced chicken- mix in with the cooked rice- delicious!
I would use either 2 chicken breasts, or I normally cook a turkey, eat it one night and freeze the rest of the meat in ziploc bags, each bag probably equals 1 cup of meat.

We made this last night and it was a huge hit! I bet it would work with pasta or rice noodles too.

[Attila the Honey]

The peanut butter chicken recipe is very similar to something I make with tofu. I take firm tofu and freeze it, then thaw it and squeeze out the extra water and cut into cubes. I make that peanut butter sauce and toss the tofu in to coat it and spread it on a baking sheet and bake on 400 until browned and crispy.

It's really good!

[Red]

Originally Posted by deuxceleste

No ideas at the moment, but I just wanted to thank you all!!

Back in the day when an ex and I were living together I would do just this! I'd go to the grocery store and challenge myself to make meals for (a little more than 2) $5 or less that would feed both of us. We had lovely pesto chicken pasta, breaded oven-"fried" chicken strips, and a google of others. I'm gonna keep my eye on this thread!

Well, you really ought to love this thread, cause it's about making the meal for $2 or less, not each persons portion!

Any recipe I put in will feed four for $2.00

I made peking ravioli th other night. I didn't think it would come in so cheaP! I mixed 3/4 of a lb of ground pork with a small head of cabbage, some mushrooms, and soy sauce, etc. I made the wrappers from scratch, which took FOREVER. (be warned) But it was simple. If anyone wants teh recipe, I'll post it. If you have small kids, you'd need help, or to use wonton wrapprs from the store. We ate them for two nights, had enough leftover to call "MooShu pork" last night.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Attila the Honey

The peanut butter chicken recipe is very similar to something I make with tofu. I take firm tofu and freeze it, then thaw it and squeeze out the extra water and cut into cubes. I make that peanut butter sauce and toss the tofu in to coat it and spread it on a baking sheet and bake on 400 until browned and crispy.

It's really good!

That sounds great!

[kijip]

Originally Posted by MissLotus

I just made a cheap recipe I got from a link off the Nutrition & Good Eating forum here at MDC....for Honey-Baked Lentils:


http://happyfoody.blogspot.com/2006/...d-lentils.html

It took maybe 3 minutes to put together...you don't even have to chop anything up! And I only baked mine about 35-40 minutes and it came out perfectly. It honestly is delicious!

I made a double batch of this tonight, all organic, plus greens, for less than $4 and I did not have to leave the house. Thanks for posting it. It is delish.

[runes]

-rice and beans. we're fans of black beans and pintos around here, cooked with some garlic and cumin and a touch of salt, spooned over steamed brown rice with whatever cheese we might have on hand, a dollop of salsa, some chopped cilantro and plain yogurt if we have some. yummy, filling, easy, cheap and ohsogood.

-pasta with pesto. the pesto from trader joes is decent and it's $1.99 for a container. we use 1/2 of a container so it lasts for 2 meals. good stuff.

-homemade pizzas. i bought a brand new bread machine off of craigslist for super cheap. i found a great thin crust pizza dough recipe online and i just throw the ingredients in the machine, and 55 minutes later the dough is ready. i usually make the dough in the morning and let it ferment for the better part of the day just because it tastes better that way. it is a fraction of the cost of ordering pizza and it tastes infinitely better. tip...heat your oven as hot as you can get it, it makes for a crispier tastier crust.

-miso soup. i usually put whatever veggies i have in the fridge, so it's a hodgepodge. carrots, peppers, onion, zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash/pumpkin etc. along with a block of tofu and miso paste to taste. fast, easy, nutritious and i make a huge batch that easily lasts us several dinners and lunches.

[janerose]

Originally Posted by kidspiration

-homemade pizzas. i bought a brand new bread machine off of craigslist for super cheap. i found a great thin crust pizza dough recipe online and i just throw the ingredients in the machine, and 55 minutes later the dough is ready. i usually make the dough in the morning and let it ferment for the better part of the day just because it tastes better that way. it is a fraction of the cost of ordering pizza and it tastes infinitely better. tip...heat your oven as hot as you can get it, it makes for a crispier tastier crust.

nak

mind sharing the link? i need a good thin crust recipe! tia

[KnittingShaker]

Originally Posted by LuvMyLittles

Lentil Soup and homemade bread.

One of my favorite suppers. That is happens to be dirt cheap is a bonus.

[Blooming]

Hummmm...maybe a little over $2

rice
salsa
refried beans
cheddear cheese

Cook rice, spread in bottom of baking dish, layer with beans, the salsa, sprinkle with cheese. Stick in oven till heatedthru and cheese melted.

Thanks for all the ideas!

[1happymom]

Subbing and a BUMP! : )

[formerluddite]

Originally Posted by MissLotus

I just made a cheap recipe I got from a link off the Nutrition & Good Eating forum here at MDC....for Honey-Baked Lentils:


http://happyfoody.blogspot.com/2006/...d-lentils.html

It took maybe 3 minutes to put together...you don't even have to chop anything up! And I only baked mine about 35-40 minutes and it came out perfectly. It honestly is delicious!

something easy enough for me to make! and we have red lentils (aka: dal) around the house because dh is indian.

this was a big hit on a group trip last weekend. i threw in kabocha squash (doesn't need to be peeled), swiss chard, barley, used maple syrup since it mixes in well (honey clumps), fresh ginger, and teriyaki since that was what was in the fridge. after baking/cooling i filled a half gallon container with it and tossed it in the cooler for the trip, nuked it at the cabin. it was even better than the day i made it.

[melissel]

OMG! I haven't looked in here in awhile, I : this thread!

Also, a friend of mine throws in another for the peanut butter sauce, it was a hit at her house too. We have a toddler, so no PB for us yet I wonder how it would taste with almond butter

I'm totally trying that tamale pie recipe this week!

[rainy32]

These are probably a bit over 2$ but a great way to use things that are on hand.

EGG NESTS

Preheat oven to 350.

Take 4 pieces of wheat bread (the cheaper the better, for this recipe!) and flatten them out with a rolling pin. Spray 4 ramekins with cooking spray, then line each one with the flattened bread.

In a small bowl, combine 10 chopped mushrooms, 2 chopped scallions, salt, pepper, and some paprika (this is cheap if you have these things on hand from another recipe). Divide that mixture into the 4 ramekins.

Crack one egg on top of each ramekin mixture.

Take 2 slices of swiss or muenster cheese, chop them into little pieces, put them in the ramekins over the eggs.

Bake these 20 - 30 minutes (until eggs set). Serve with warm bowls of canned tomato soup (bought on sale, 2 cans for 1.00).

CHICKPEA SALAD

Rinse 2 cans of chickpeas (59 - 80 cents each) and throw them in the blender or food processor with 5 cloves of garlic, a handful of chopped parsley, and half an onion. Coarsley chop this -- don't puree. Fry this coarse mixture in a couple teaspoons of oil (olive, canola, safflower), until a little golden and crunchy.

Pour the warm chickpea mixture over bowls of romaine lettuce (1.00 a head). If you've got them on hand, add a couple tomatoes or cucumbers. Squirt some lemon juice over the whole thing.

Then (dh's inspiration) add some ranch dressing (which is free, because you already have it on hand).

YUM. And healthy. And good protein.

[BetsyS]

I make another chickpea salad that's really good, too. And my mom just gave me a 6 lb (!) can of chickpeas, so they are really cheap to me.

The garbanzo salad is easy and i don't have measurements. you take a few cans of garbanzos and drain them, but reserve the liquid. put the beans in a bowl with a chopped tomato, a chopped bell pepper, a chopped onion and several sliced anchovy-stuffed green olives (use regular if you must, but you're missing out). mix that all up. then you take about a cup of the reserved liquid and add a cup or so of olive oil to it, white vinegar to taste, salt and pepper. put it through the blender until it is thick and milky, then pour it over the garbanzo salad. let it marinate in the fridge for a bit before eating, and get GOOD BREAD, not crappy stuff, and dunk it in the sauce.