CHEAP Good Dinner Ideas?

Question

I would like to cook something really good and tasty tonight for my fiance. Nothing to fancy because I am limited on money. I need any good recipe's please. Give all the details. Thanks a bunch!!!

Answer 1

3 1/2 pounds medium-sized waxy potatoes (all purpose), peeled and quartered lengthwise

Olive oil

7 ounces butter, cubed

1 bunch fresh rosemary, leaves picked and chopped

1 whole bulb garlic, quartered or smashed

5 medium red onions, peeled and quartered

1 1/2 cups cheap balsamic vinegar

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the pork:

1 small bunch fresh rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons freshly ground fennel seeds

1 (3 1/2-pound) boneless rolled pork loin, preferably free-range or organic, skin off, fat scored in a crisscross pattern

Olive oil

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1 medium red onion, peeled and quartered

2 stalks celery, trimmed and chopped

4 bay leaves

2 wine glasses white wine

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the potatoes into a pan of boiling, salted water and cook for around 8 minutes, then drain and return to the pan. Chuff them up a bit by shaking the pan.

To prepare the meat, scatter a handful of finely chopped rosemary leaves over a large chopping board. Sprinkle over some salt and pepper and the ground fennel seeds. Roll the pork across the board, pressing down hard so all the flavorings stick to it.

Get a large roasting pan that your pork will fit snugly into, and place it on a burner over a medium-high heat. Pour in a little olive oil and place the pork in, fat side down, sprinkled with any flavorings remaining on the board. After a few minutes, when the pork fat is lightly golden, turn it over and add the garlic cloves, onion, celery and bay leaves to the pan. Place on the bottom shelf of your preheated oven for 1 hour, basting it halfway through. (For the last 20 minutes of cooking, you may need to cover the pork with a bit of damp waxed paper to stop it coloring too much.)

Get another roasting pan, into which you can fit the potatoes in 1 layer, and heat it on the stove. When hot, pour a glug of olive oil into it and add the butter, rosemary and garlic. Add the potatoes and toss them in all the flavors. Add the onions and all the balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes on the burner to reduce the balsamic vinegar a little. Place the pan on the top shelf and cook for around 50 minutes, until the potatoes and onions are dark, sticky and crispy - removing the pan to toss the onions and potatoes halfway through.

After 1 hour, the meat should be cooked. Prick it with a sharp knife - if the juices run clear, it's done; if not, pop it back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, keeping the potatoes warm. Remove it from the oven and let it rest on a plate for 10 minutes. Pour away most of the fat from the pan and mash up the garlic and onion. Place the pan over the burner and add the white wine. Simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, scraping all the meaty, marmitey goodness off the bottom to make a tasty little sauce, and season if necessary. Pass through a sieve into a serving pitcher. Then slice the pork and serve it with your incredible baked onions and potatoes, drizzled with the pan juices. This meal goes great with some nice greens or an arugula salad.

Answer 2

Pasta is easy and inexpensive.  Buy a pound of your favorite noodles and pre-made sauce.  The best pre-made sauce is found in the refridgerated section!  Alfredo is indulgent.  Marinara is classic and pesto is flavorful.  Spicey sausage goes well with any of those sauces.  To cook, just remove the sausage from its casing and saute it for 8-10 minutes in a little olive oil. At the same time cook the pasta according to the directions and heat the sauce.  Combine and serve

Answer 3

I made this a couple nights ago & it was a major hit with my husband. Super affordable & health...

http://sammyw.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/d...

Answer 4

I've made this one a few times. It's cheap...under 10 bucks to make, but I get the regular mozzerella since it's cheaper..still tastes good.

***Baked Ricotta and Spinach Rigatoni***

1 pound rigatoni

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 tablespoons butter

1 large shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water

2 cups ricotta cheese

2 eggs, lightly beaten

8 ounces smoked or fresh mozzarella, grated

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook rigatoni for 5 minutes in a pot of boiling, salted water. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.

To make the bechamel sauce:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the shallots and garlic. Sweat the shallots and garlic for a few minutes until softened and but not colored. Add the flour and stir until a smooth paste forms. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking constantly and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, to taste. Let cool slightly.

Transfer cooled bechamel to a large mixing bowl and add the spinach, ricotta, and eggs. Mix in rigatoni and transfer to a greased 9 by13-inch baking dish. Top with grated mozzarella. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until cheese is lightly browned on top, the center is no longer runny, and the sides are bubbly.

Answer 5

cook a nice pot of spaghetti, meat sauce and meat balls or linguini and alfredo sauce, make a salad (greek salad, cesear salad, garden salad...) cook up some garlic bread and make a dessert (pie, cake...) and serve them in servings. For example, first serving would be the garlic bread, second, the salad, third, the pasta and fourth the dessert. It should be a big hit! Dress up the table with a white lacy table cloth and have two candles and serve wine in wine glasses and use fancy silverware and plates. Good luck!

Answer 6

box macaroni

1 pd hamburger

1 onion cut up

1 green pepper cut up

1 large can of tomato sauce

velvetta cheese or any cheese you like

cook mac

cook hamburger , onion, green pepper ,,salt and pepper

drain hamburger mixture

add to cooked mac

add tomato sauce

in casserole dish layer ,,,then add cheese to cover layer,,,repeat until top layer is cheese

bake 375 for approx 45 minutes or until the desired browness on top

serve with a french bread and salad

Answer 7

Can't go wrong with Pasta!

Answer 8

Hmm. The last meal i cookd that was pretty cheap was chicken sauteed with peppers, brown rice & cauliflower. If you r not much of a cook you can pick up the perdue chicken that is already cut up into little slices.

1.Slice up some onions,red, green & orange peppers- throw that in the pan until they're soft. Take them out and put them to the side.

2.Put the chicken in the pan and season_when that starts to brown, put the peppers in the pan with the chicken and let them simmer together.

3.Rice and cauliflower are simple to cook.

(For Rice: there should always be twice the amount of water than rice)

The most this should cost is $15.

Hopefully this works- Best wishes