Do you have some great recipes that involve few and inexpensive ingredients?

Question

Our family has recently had to cut back on the cost of groceries (darn this economy). So I am looking for some great recipes that only call for a few simple and inexpensive ingredients. Both entrees and side dishes are wonderful.

Thanks!

Answer 1

1. cook spagetti or any oasta according to the package - add 1 tbsp of butter per serving

2. cook rice according to the package- add butter and soy sauce (1/2 tbsp each per serving)

if you have some more $$ to spare---

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

5 to 6 corn tortillas (6 inches), cut into strips

8 cups cubed cooked chicken breast

1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish, layer half the tortilla strips, half the chicken and half the chilies. In a bowl, combine the soups and sour cream; spread half over the chicken. Top with half the cheese. Repeat layers.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

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Taco Bake

1 bag of tortilla chips

1 lb ground turkey or beef

1 small can of diced green peppers

1 bottle of medium taco sauce

1/2 onion diced

shredded cheese

1 can of refreid beans

Directions:

Cook the ground meat and diced onions in olive oil. Cook until meat is fully cooked. Add the can of diced green peppers and the bottle of taco sauce and stir together.

In a baking pan layer the bottom with tortilla chips, add some beans, cheese, and meat, then another layer of chips, beans, cheese, and meat. Keep layering.

Cook in the oven at 350 for 25 minutes

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EGG SAUSAGE CASSEROLE

1 lb. bulk sausage

6 eggs

2 c. milk

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

2 slices bread, cubed

Brown and drain sausage. Beat eggs with milk, salt, and mustard. Layer bread on bottom of buttered casserole, sprinkle sausage, top with cheese. Pour egg mixture over all. Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees for until top is browned.

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Broccoli and Bacon Casserole

Ingredients:

1/2 pound bacon (cooked & drained)

6 eggs beaten

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon each salt, dry mustard, chives

6 slices leftover bread or biscuits

1 cup grated sharp cheese

1 box of frozen broccoli, (cooked & drained) mushrooms-optional

"Can be mixed the night before." Mix together and pour into casserole dish, sprayed with pam. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

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Campbell's® Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1 1/3 cups water

3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice

2 cups fresh or frozen vegetables

1/2 tsp. onion powder

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Stir the soup, water, rice, vegetables and onion powder in a 12 x 8” shallow baking dish.

2. Top with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover.

3. Bake at 375°F. for 45 min. or until done. Top with cheese.

TIP: Italian: In place of onion powder, use 1 tsp. Italian seasoning. Substitute 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan for Cheddar.

Mexican: In place of onion powder, use 1 tsp. chili powder. Substitute Mexican cheese blend for Cheddar.

Answer 2

I would make something that would last awhile like lasagna. Meat, tomato sauce, cheese and noodles.

Answer 3

Buy and look for recipes that contain lots of rice, pasta, and beans as fillers. If you live in a metropolitan area, find a large asian market for produce, rice, and fish- much cheaper than the american markets. Look for meat on sale in bulk.

Crock Pot Chili

1 lb. ground beef

2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with onion and garlic

2 cans (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 envelope McCormick chili seasoning

garlic powder to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon

2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Brown the hamburger with the onion. Drain. Add hamburger and rest of ingredients to slow cooker/Crock Pot (or other methods maybe used) and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Serve in bowls over rice, with shredded cheddar cheese.

  

Deviled Chicken: buy whatever chicken pieces are on sale. Mix 1/2 mayo with 1/2 mustard and spread all over chicken. Roll in breadcrumbs and put in a shallow baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spray a bit of cooking spray over the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 40-60 minutes depending on the pieces.

Look for whole chicken roasters on sale- make roast chicken the first night, chicken tetrazzi for the scond meal, and chicken tortilla soup the next-

Tetrazinni:

CHICKEN TETRAZZINI  

1 lb. pasta, cooked

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms

1 stick butter

2/3 cup flour

1 large onion, sliced

5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

4 c. chicken broth

2 c. light cream

4 c. diced chicken, cooked

1 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook and drain pasta according to package directions. Slice the mushrooms 1/8 of an inch thick and sauté in 2-3 tablespoons of the butter, along with sliced onion, and chopped garlic until lightly browned. Combine the remaining butter with flour and add chicken broth, stirring over low heat until thickened. Add the cream, salt, pepper,  and garlic powder.

Divide the sauce in half. And one half of the chicken meat, and half of the mushrooms and cooked pasta. Butter a casserole dish and turn the pasta mixture into the casserole leaving a well in the center of the pasta.

Turn remaining cooked chicken half into the center of the pasta mixture. Top with Parmesan cheese, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.





For soup:  cut off all the meat from the chicken, and boil the bones with an onion, a celery stalk, a few peppercorns for an hour . Pour stock in to a bowl with a cover and refrigerate overnight. Scrape off fat from top the next day and set aside. In a saucepan, heat 1 tbs butter and cook 1 chopped onion until soft. Add 1 jar of mild salsa, 2 cans of corn, 1 can of pinto beans, and the broth. Let cook for about 20 minutes, and add reserved chicken meat. Top with shredded cheese and a few tortilla chips.

Answer 4

Salmon Patties

1 can salmon, bones removed

1 egg, beaten

1/4 onion, minced

1/2 sleeve saltines, crushed fine

1/2 tsp seasoning salt, garlic salt or cajun seasoning

In bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. Form into patties and fry in oiled skillet.

TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

1 1lb. bag egg noodles

2 tbsp. butter

2 cans water packed tuna, do not drain

1 can cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup

1/2 cup sour cream

Boil noodles according to directions, drain. Add butter, tuna, soup and sour cream, mix well.

DELI STYLE POTATO SALAD

8-10 large potatoes

half of a medium onion, diced

2 tbsp. sweet pickle relish (or dill relish)

1/4 cup celery, sliced thin

1 1/2 cups miracle whip

2 tbsp. prepared mustard

1/2 tsp. celery seed

sugar, salt and pepper to taste

Peel potatoes and place in a large pot of boiling water. Cook until tender, drain and refrigerate until chilled. Chop coarsely. In large bowl combine miracle whip, mustard, celery seed, sugar, salt and pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup of dressing. Add onion and potatoes to dressing. Mix well and refrigerate overnight. If salad is too dry, add 2 tbsp. of water to reserved dressing and mix into salad to loosen. Add salt and pepper to taste.

EGG SALAD

6 eggs

3/4 cup-1 cup mayonnaise or miracle whip

1 tbsp. sweet pickle relish

1/4 onion, minced

2 tsp. prepared yellow mustard

1 stalk celery sliced very thin

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring saucepan of water to boil. Boil eggs 8-10 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool 5 minutes.Remove from hot water and peel under running water, making sure to remove all of the shell. In bowl, mash the eggs, add onion, relish and celery. Mix in mustard and mayonnaise. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours  to allow flavors to mingle. Add salt and pepper to taste before using.

Mom's Potato Soup

8-10 large potatoes, peeled and diced

1 large onion, diced

4 stalks celery sliced

Water

6 cups milk

Salt and pepper to taste

In large pot, combine potatoes, onion and celery. Cover with water and simmer 1 hour or until veggies are tender. Add milk and heat through (do not boil!). Salt and pepper to taste.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

1lb. Hamburger

1 box macaroni and cheese

¼ cup milk

2 tbsp. Butter

1½ cups shredded cheese (your choice)

(Optional) Mushrooms, onion, green peppers, chopped

Prepare macaroni and cheese according to box directions. Brown hamburger in a separate skillet, drain grease. Combine macaroni mixture and hamburger, add milk and butter, macaroni cheese packet and shredded cheese. Mix well to combine.

Mom's American Goulash

1 lb. Hamburger

2 small cans tomato sauce

1 can diced tomatoes with juice

1 lb. Large elbow macaroni

2 tbsp. Butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

Brown hamburger until no longer pink, drain any grease. Prepare macaroni according to package directions. Combine hamburger and macaroni in a large bowl or pot, add sauce, tomatoes with juice and butter. Allow to sit 15 minutes on warm so that macaroni absorbs some of the sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.  

Bubble Pizza

2 tubes biscuits (pillsbury, etc.)

1 lb hamburger, browned

2 cup shredded cheese, can use 1c moz and 1c cheddar

1 jar pizza sauce

Preferred pizza toppings

cut biscuits into quarters and place in a 9x13 baking pan, stir in all other ingredients and bake according to biscuit tube directions. Top with extra cheese if you like.

Answer 5

It isn't the sides you need to cut back on but the mains.

Don't buy chicken tenderloin, try the drums or thighs

Buy cheaper cuts of steaks and lamb or pork and adapt your cooking style to suit the meat.

Buy the veggies that are cheap that week.

Avoid all of those canned, tinned, 'just add water' heat and eat meals. Learn to make them yourself.

Don't turn your nose up at a good soup once a week, and make enough for left overs.

If you are buying a bunch of fresh spinach cook what you need and not toss out the rest that you don't eat.

Soup: Chicken & Rice.

(by Dune 31/1/08)

Chicken Chunks.

Rice.

Diced Carrot.

Diced Celery/Sliced Leek.

Diced Onion .(medium)

More Vegetables.

Add all except the Rice and Extra Vegetables to a decent sized pot or stock pot.

Stir fry until the chicken has a little colour and the other vegetables are soft.

Add a little water to de glaze the pot and add as much for the size you want. (2 litres)

Bring to a boil and add rice. Return to boil then reduce to a rolling simmer.

Go through the freezer and take out all of those part bags vegetables and add.

Go through the fridge and look for what else to add.

Stir from time to time.

The rice will absorb a lot of liquid so that may need to be topped up.

Season to taste, and plate up.

Serve with Garlic Bread.

Answer 6

And for desert - peanut butter cookies.

1 c peanut butter

1 c sugar

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla.

Mix peanut butter and sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla. Place dough balls on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten. Bake at 350F 12-15 minutes.

Answer 7

yes, I do have some. Thank you for asking.

Answer 8

On foodtv.com Rachel Ray has a great recipe for lentil soup. It makes a big batch and is inexpensive.  

Answer 9

Ramen Noodles

I, personally, only get Maruchan brand. They have the best flavor in my opinion, but onto a simple and very tasty recipe.

First thing's first, the recipe.

1 package Chicken Ramen Noodles

(Three Options)

   - 1 small pinch of Celerey seeds

   - 1/2 stalk Celerey sliced thin

   - pinch/dash of celery salt

2 pinch/dash granulated Garlic

1 pinch/dash Black Pepper

1 pinch/dash Basil

1 pinch/dash onion powder

Cook until desired texture. I suggest cooking a little longer if cooking with fresh celerey

-With Beef Flavor-

use bell pepper rather than celery

Answer 10

Boil the required quantity of any  brand of spaghetti according to directions. Add a small amount of oil into a wok. Add garlic cut into small pieces and washed ground meat (any one that is on sale) and stir till the ground meat is all separated out. Cover till meat is brown. Add boiled spaghetti and canned tomato pulp. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This also keeps well and can be re-heated and eaten for the next couple of days.