YNAB You Need A Budget

[jesse]

I don't have one to contribute to start with, but here's a sticky thread for some cheap recipes, per Goonky's request.

[Athenagwis]

One of my favorite dinners (makes great leftovers!):

Beef & Broccoli

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds lean beef stew meat
2 to 4 tablespoons minced garlic
1 large onion, chopped
3 cups beef broth (can be made with 3 cups water and 3 beef bouillon cubes)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 pounds frozen broccoli

First heat your oil in a large pot, or iron chicken fryer. Add the beef, garlic and onion. Stir fry the meat and vegetables until the meat browns, and the vegetables are tender and fragrant. Add the beef broth and soy sauce to the pot. Cover the dish and simmer for an hour, or until the beef is tender. Add the frozen broccoli. Cover the dish again and simmer for 10 more minutes, or until the broccoli is done to taste. Serve hot over lots of rice. Serves 6 abundantly.

Rachel

[Athenagwis]

One of my favorite snacks (also makes great leftovers if you can avoid eating it all in one sitting!!):

Kettle Corn

1/3 cup corn oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
Salt to taste

Over a medium-high flame, heat the corn oil in the bottom of a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Sprinkle in 2 or 3 popcorn kernels. When the kernels pop add the sugar, and then the remaining popcorn. Cover with a good lid. Shake the pan over the heat while the popcorn pops. When the popping stops, remove the pan from the heat. Immediately pour the hot popcorn into a bowl. Try to remove any oldmaids with a spoon or fork. The popcorn will be hot and sticky so be very careful not to burn yourself. The popcorn should be lightly coated with a beautiful amber carmel. Salt the kettle corn to taste. Makes a large bowlful.

Rachel

[Athenagwis]

Something different to do with the ground beef (Keep an eye on sales for the biscuits, with a coupon and sale I ahve gotten them under a dollar before, they can be frozen, so stock up at that price, then pull one out the morning that you want to use it, put it in the fridge to defrost and you can't tell it was ever frozen!)

BBQ Cups

1 pkg Grands biscuits
3/4-1lb ground beef
1 pkg BBQ Sauce (whatever is closest to the exp. date)
1/2 pkg shredded cheese.

Brown the beef drain and add the BBQ sauce. Mix well. Flatten the biscuits and push down in a muffin pan. Fill the middle of the biscuit with the beef mixture. Bake according to Biscuit directions. Add the cheese to the top and serve.

You can also make with pizza sauce instead.

Rachel

[Athenagwis]

Something for that spaghetti sauce (Again you can find chicken on sale sometimes for under $2 per pound, freeze it so it's available when you need it. Another option is to buy and cook whole chickens (can be found well under $1 per pound) pick the bones, then freeze the pieces. When ready to make, defrost chicken and mix it with the spaghetti sauce and put in casserole dish, follow the rest of the directions, but don't cook quite as long since you are just warming.)

Easy Chicken Parmesan

1 jar (26oz) spaghetti sauce
6 TBLS grated parmesan, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375*. Pour sauce into 13x9 baking dish. Stir in 4 tablespoons of the grated parmesan. Add chicken; turn to evenly coat both sides with sauce. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Top with mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons grated parmesan. Cook another 5 mins (uncovered) until cheese is melted and chicken is cooked thru.

You can serve this over egg noodles (or any pasta) or rice. Throw in a bag of Steam Fresh veggies and dinner is DONE!

***PS - I make it with 4 chicken breast halves without altering anything else, so don't feel obligated to the 6.

[erin]

awww Jesse, thanks! Great idea putting it on a sticky so it stays under frugality.

I'll throw a couple in, both meatless.


Taco Stew

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves
2 onions
1 tsp cumin
1 28ounce can tomatoes in their juice
8 cups vegetable stock
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
2 carrots thinly sliced
3 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 6ths, then into 1 inc chunks
a small can kidney beans
2 cups of corn

grated cheddar cheese, optional
tortilla chips, optional

Saute the carrots, onions, in olive oil and garlic and cumin till tender. Add everything else except the canned beans to a crockpot. When the carrots, etc is ready, pour it into the crock pot. Simmer 5 hours. Removed half of the soup, puree it in a food processor, and return it to the stew to thicken it. Add the beans and cook for another hour or so.

Serve with grated cheddar and corn chips on top. YUMMY.

You can vary this widely with the vegetables. If I make this on a Sunday it will give me lunch all week. I add more cumin to taste.


Cheesy Potatoes

4 large baking potatoes
tablespoon butter cut into bits
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup cubed muenster cheese
1/2 cup cubed cheddar cheese
paprika

cook the potatoes till tender. Slice them in half length wise and let cool. Scoop out the flesh and place it in a big bowl. Divide the butter and place it in the shells. Mash the potato with a fork, then add sour cream and cheese. Spoon back into shells and sprinkle paprika on them. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

I've used only cheddar cheese and sour cream and they still come out great.

If you have any questions, ask.

~ Erin

[princessschreffler]

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/

She has lots of frugal recipes up, as well as menus for living on $45 or $70 for a week if necessary. (From scratch)

[pksublime]

I actually have the above bookmarked just for those times when I have to make very little money work for a few weeks!

[Athenagwis]

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/

She has lots of frugal recipes up, as well as menus for living on $45 or $70 for a week if necessary. (From scratch)

Hehe I confess, that's where I got the first two recipes, love her site, but I had those recipes saved in word and I couldn't remember the site!! Thanks for sharing it, it's a good one.

Rachel

[pezzhome]

4 quarts of water
1 pound of Great Northern Beans
1 cup of olive oil
3 Tablespoons of minced garlic
2 Tablespoons of tomato paste
2 Tablespoons of salt (I use less)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil- crumbled
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano-crumbled
1/2 pound of small shell macaroni (cooked)

Rinse the beans, remove any grit. Heat the water to boil. Boil the beans in 4 qts. of water over high heat for 15 minutes.

Blend in olive oil and seasonings. Low boil for 1 hour 15 minutes- or until beans are tender. Add a little more water. Add the cooked pasta and let it warm up. Serve with grated cheese and ground black pepper.

This is STINKY! I guess I should say fragrant. But it's delicious. It's a big hit with good friends. (Between the beans and the garlic, I've only served it to good friends )

[Mudie]

This is one of my favorite meals.

No, it's not exactly a recipe but it's easy to prepare and very tasty. It's just enough of "something different" to bring the kids to the table quicker.

We like to call it Mexican

Cook up one box of Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese per the instructions on the box.

While stirring in the cheese pour in about half of a bottle of Pace Picante sauce. We prefer medium but it's up to you.



Sit and enjoy!

PS: Thanks Goonky for such a great idea. I'm looking forward to trying some of these.

[erin]

No problem my fellow Mainah.

I love cheap recipes.

~ Erin

[jesse]

This is one of my favorite meals. No, it's not exactly a recipe but it's easy to prepare and very tasty. It's just enough of "something different" to bring the kids to the table quicker.

If my wife ever saw me making this she'd boot me out of the kitchen. Nice!

[Rebecca150]

Brown up one pound of ground beef. Drain grease and add one can of condensed tomato soup and some veggies of your choice. Frozen veggies work well or can corn perhaps. Season to taste. I like italian seasoning for this. I heat this mixture through on the stove top and then put the mixture in a 8 by 8 baking dish.

Mix up one box of JiffyCorn bread mix and spread on top of beef mixture. Bake at the temperature on the box. It will take longer than the box says. I don't know how long it takes! I always just take a poke in the middle when it looks about done:-)

You can easily double this and use a 13 x 9 in pan. It is also possible to cook up the beef mixture and freeze it for future use. Just thaw, heat through and then top with cornbread.

[renee77]

This is my favorite crock pot recipe and soooo easy and soooo good!

Beef chuck roast- whatever size fits best in the slow cooker
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
1 envelope brown gravy mix
1/2 cup water

Place the roast in the cooker, combine the salad mixes and the gravy mix, stir in the water. Pour over meat. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or until tender.

This is my favorite way to flavor pork chops. I use boneless ones but bone in would work too.

1/4 cup packed brwn sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tabelspoon oil

Mix all the spices in a bowl and then gradually stir in the oil until crumbly. Rub over both sides of pork chops. Bake in the oven at 350 for 30 mins or until done.