Favorite recipes that are easy on the budget?

[swampy]

Hi ... DH and I are both in grad school right now, and will be for probably 3-4 years still. Living on student stipends == must economize!

I cook 6 days a week usually, and have gotten into the habit of buying the cheapest chicken or pork, marinating in whatever Silver Palate brand marinades are on sale at the store, and tossing on the Forman grill. It's easy and cheap and quick to clean up, but I think we both would like a change.

We just got married and have lots of new kitchen toys -- a saute pan, a roasting pan, 2 stock pots, a mini food processor, a mixer, and some other neat things, and I have no idea what to do with them. I've gotten so reliant on the Forman it's not even funny.

Any ideas for meals that won't break the bank? We try to spend about $70 at the grocery store/week.

[gayle]

Omeletes are a great quicky meal that is inexpensive and won't break the bank. You can put almost anything in them too.

Some others:

Stews (freeze some)
Chili
Soups
Roast a turkey,then cut it up and freeze packets to use in other dishes (there are abazillion things you can make with cooked turkey)

Tuna casseroles
Macaroni casseroles

Rice casseroles

I'll think of more for you, but that's a start!

[Camdynlyn]

We cook Pizza Bread often. We buy a loaf of Italian bread ($2) and cut it into quarters. I like to spoon out a little of the bread in the middle of each of the pieces. I then put pizza sauce on it ($1) and add Pizza cheese and pepperoni (or your choice of whatever) and broil until the cheese is melted. Add seasonings to taste. Oh so cheap and will make enough for 4 people if you just want 1 piece. We pair it up with a salad.

[Camdynlyn]

Oh, we do pasta dishes all the time too:

Penne Pasta
Vodka Sauce
Grilled italian seasoned chicken cut into pieces.

YUMMY!

[paiger]

if you have a roasting pan or crockpot, then you should get a whole chicken and roast it. whole chickens are super cheap at the grocery, and they come (usually) cleaned out already. here is a recipe from the WC in their crockpot thread, which we need to start over here by the way. if you don't have a crockpot, you could roast the chicken w/ the spice rub on it. one really great thing about the crockpot is that you can freeze your left overs. i get at least 2 dinners for both DH and I and 1 lunch typically when i fix crockpot. so, eventhough you might need to get a big piece of meat you have to think in terms of the amount of meals you can get out of it.

ROAST STICKY CHICKEN
From Mimi Hiller at www.cyber-kitchen.com

4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. white pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 large roasting chicken* (I think it helps to remove some of the skin or it's too fatty.)
1 C chopped onion

In small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices. Remove skin and giblets from the chicken; clean the cavity well and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and rubbed deep down into the skin. Place in a re-sealable plastic bag; seal and refrigerate overnight. When ready to cook chicken, put it in a crock pot and do not add any liquid. As the cooking process goes on, it will produce its own juices. Cook on low, 8 to 10 hours (my crockpot overcooked at 8hrs so adjust), and it will be falling off the bone tender.

*Also good with chicken parts.

[mrsfromage]

I make spaghetti with ground turkey and crushed tomatoes. Brown onions and garlic (onions should turn golden), then brown the meat, mix in a can of crushed tomatoes and make pasta. It's very yummy and easy and can really last for days.

Lasagna is also great for leftovers.

[BethElena]

Meat loaf :o I've always hated it, but FH made me make it and it's pretty cheap and good!

Tuna noodle casserole

Homemade pizza

I look through http://www.allrecipes.com/ whenever I get a chance. I just type whatever food is left in the kitchen, like say "chicken breast" and it comes up with all kinds of recipees...

[Katie&Micah]

I made the french bread pizza that was mentioned tonight. Boy was it good!! I think I spent about $8 total (got several different toppings) and got enough to make at least 8 servings. Walmart has the huge loaves of french bread for $1 and 1/4 of that was more than enough for me and filled dh up. Very good and very inexpensive.


We've really cut down on the amount of meat we eat in the past year or so. I package hamburger into 1/2 pound servings rather than 1lb so that we aren't tempted to eat more than necessary. We eat tons of pasta which is really inexpensive. I also add veggies to just about everything because it helps fill you up without adding meat. I always add corn to my chili.. and have added green beans as well as corn. I add whatever I have on hand to pasta.. zuchini, corn, squash, celery, mushrooms, olives, etc.

[swampy]

:) Wow, some really good ideas everyone. Thank you all so much for the brainstorming!

The bread-loaf pizza sounds great -- cheap and really quick to put together (always a plus).

Omelets also sound good -- I loooove eggs, although DH has to watch his cholesterol for hereditary reasons, so that might be a once-in-a-while meal.

I'll try searching at allrecipes, also. In the meantime, does anyone have recipes for stews/soups or casseroles? I have never made either, and while both categories of food sound right along the lines of what we're looking for, I'm a little at a loss re. where to start.

[laura]

I don't really like casseroles, but my husband loves "Mexican Chicken" casserole. It isn't my recipe, but it goes something like this:

* 1 can cream of mushroom soup
* 1 can cream of chicken soup (I use 2 cans 98% fat free instead of any cream of mushroom b/c my husband doesn't like mushrooms)
* 1/2 can rotel (I use 1 diced tomato, 1/2 white onion diced, 1-2 jalepeno peppers or 1/2 green pepper diced - depending on what we have)
* 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I use reduced fat, and I don't really measure it; that's just an estimate)
* 1 bag Fritos, crushed (the normal sized bag, not the huge one)
* 3/4-1lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 350. Cube chicken & saute; set aside. In a bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, except the Fritos. Reserve a little bit of cheese (maybe 1/4 cup?). In your casserole dish, layer 1/3 of crushed fritos, 1/3 of soup mixture, 1/3 of sauteed chicken. Repeat 2 more times. Top with cheese and a handful of crushed chips & bake for ~45 minutes.

I serve it with spanish rice and salad, plus it makes enough leftovers for my husband to take 2-3 lunches.

Something else that's good are fritattas (sp?). I like those more than omelets, personally, but they are similar. They are a good way to use up leftover veggies, etc.

Buying meat in bulk at a place like Costco or Sam's is an easy way to make better cuts of meat more affordable. We buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts in bulk at Costco for $2.99-$3.99/lb. vs. ~$6/lb. in the supermarket. As a bonus, they are pre-packaged individually, so we can just toss them in the freezer as-is. We buy steaks at Costco, too. Not cheap, but a lot less expensive than the regular supermarket around here.

[camberne]

Cheap and easy were my mother's two requirements when we were growing up... one of my favorites, we called "Soup Macaroni & Cheese".

You boil elbow macaroni noodles until tender. Drain and put into a glass baking dish (depending on how much you're making, I always used the big, deep oval one). Open 2 cans of Campbell's Beef Vegetable Soup (or 1 family sized one) and spread it over the top of the macaroni. Then put cheese slices on top of the entire thing. Broil in the oven until the cheese melts and starts to brown in a few spots.

Voila! My son really enjoys it... and it's still good reheated for lunch/dinner the next day.

[JRPAGV]

Tuna casseroles
Macaroni casseroles
Rice casseroles
Gayle: Do you have the recipes for any of these casseroles? I've found some on the Internet, but I like to try recipes that people I "know" have tested and recommend. KWIM?

ETA: I know we don't know each other, but I trust your opinion from seeing you on the boards over the past couple of years. ;)

[thedoorchick]

In the Mexican Chicken casserole that Laura posted, I've taken to using cut up corn tortillas instead of Fritos. Much cheaper and healthier too.

If you make the Sticky Chicken, leftovers are great in this and other chicken casseroles.

I make red beans and rice in the crock pot quite a bit. I like to add sausage to mine, which adds a bit to the cost (otherwise it would be just pennies a serving), but even with that it's a pretty economical meal. And it makes a ton and freezes great.

Also when we have veggies, I freeze the leftovers. I keep adding to the container as the weeks go by, and eventually I have enough for soup.

I make beef stroganoff quite a bit. Just brown some ground beef and onion, and add 1/2 teaspoon each of thyme, oregano and marjoram. Add 1 can cream of mushroom soup and 1/2 can water. Just before serving, stir in a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, and serve over rice or egg noodles.

[Jodi AKA BostonTeacher]

SALSA CHICKEN: super easy and yummy

Bake chicken (or cook on George)

When it's just about fully cooked top with salsa, crunched up tortilla chips and shredded cheese.

Put it in the oven until the cheese melts/browns.

[gmb4503]

SALSA CHICKEN: super easy and yummy

Bake chicken (or cook on George)

When it's just about fully cooked top with salsa, crunched up tortilla chips and shredded cheese.

Put it in the oven until the cheese melts/browns.

I make the same and coat the chicken with taco seasoning before baking. YUM!!


Chicken and Rice Casserole

½ stick margarine (non-cholesterol)
1 cup rice
6 chicken breast halves, salted
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken gumbo
1 ½ cans water

Melt margarine in baking dish; cool slightly. Pour rice over margarine; arrange chicken pieces over rice. Sprinkle with onion soup mix. Mix mushroom soup in water; pour over casserole. Cover tightly (use aluminum foil) and bake at 350° for 1 hour and 30 minutes

*freezes very well!

[Ohana]

I make a huge batch of chili and freeze it for future dinners. Here's the recipe:

1 lb ground beef or turkey (I buy it on sale for about 2 bucks a pound)
1-2 cloves garlic
1 small onion, minced (about 50 cents or so?)
1/2 - 1 bell pepper, minced (buy them on sale for 50 cents each)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes ($1 on sale)
2 15 oz cans kidney beans (60 cents each on sale)
1 small can tomato sauce (19 cents)
1/4 cup ketchup
chili powder, salt, pepper, cayenne to taste

Sweat onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Add ground beef and allow to brown, breaking up beef as it cooks. Once the meat is cooked through, add the rest of the ingredients and allow to simmer for 30 minutes.

This is usually enough to make dinner and lunch leftovers the day I make it and then I freeze enough for another dinner and lunch leftovers. The recipe can easily be doubled. I buy the canned stuff whenever I see it on sale and make the chili when the meat goes on sale.

[Mentul77]

I have a good veggie soup recipe and browned ground beef can be added if you have it and/or some uncooked bowtie type pasta can be added near the end of cooking.

Veggie Soup

2 cans chicken broth
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 bag frozen california veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
1 can kitchen cut greenbeans
salt & lemon pepper to taste

put in a big pot and let simmer as long as desired
the longer it simmers the better the flavor

if it simmers down too much of the chicken stock you can add more, or just add some water -- this will almost always be necessary if you decide to add pasta

You can also add different veggies if you want. I know corn, peas and even canned potatoes are good.

[Mentul77]

Oh, I have a tuna casserole recipe too. It sounds really odd but I love it and so does my former roommate and just about anyone I've gotten to try it.

1 box mac & cheese (either powdered or the more expensive velveeta one)
1 can peas (drained)
1-2 cans tuna (drained)

If you use the powdered mac and cheese, you may also want 1 can cheddar cheese soup

Make the mac & cheese according to box directions
add the peas & tuna (& cheese soup if desired) -- salt and pepper to taste

I usually like it without any more heat but some people prefer to stick it in the oven for a little while after adding the peas and tuna to get it good and hot.

It is also good with breadcrumbs or crumbled crackers on top and then baked.

[MrsD]

I was going to come in here and post Salsa Chicken too! Mine's a little different:
Dip chicken breasts into taco seasoning (to your own tastes)
Put in baking dish, dump salsa over top of each chicken
Bake at 400 degrees 20-25 minutes until juices run clear
Top with shredded cheese, bake for 5 more minutes until melted
We top ours with sour cream, and serve with mexican rice and corn

My tuna and noodle recipe:
Mix a package of cooked noodles with the following:
1 can cream of chick/mush/whatever soup
fat free cream cheese
1/2 cup milk
shredded cheddar cheese
peas
top with bread crumbs and bake at 400 for 30-40 min

Other ideas:
Spanish rice mixed with ground beef (or try any Zatarran's meal kits)
Bake chicken breasts topped with cream of xxx soup and california mixed vegetables
Refried beans and cheese quesadillas

Two mustard chicken
mix 1/4 cup of honey with 1/4 cup of course grain mustard and 1/4 yellow mustard, baste chicken breasts, bake until done

[mir322]

I'd love to hear some ideas so I can cut down my grocery bill :)

Thanks,
Miriam

[Hello Kitty]

Almost every one of our meals is $5 and under. I do it by NOT buying prepackaged/convenience foods, mainly. What also helps is limiting the portion size of meat. We only eat really lean cuts, but just a few ounces instead of half a pound. We do more 'special' meals, but I watch for sales to pick up those ingredients for a better price.

Here are some ideas. Sorry they're not exact recipes - it's stuff I've adapted and made myself, and I just copied it from our meal list:


Barbeque cups - press biscuit dough into muffin tins, add bbq-ed cooked ground beef & cheese bake at 400 for 10 min
Shish kabobs - marinated cubes stacked with some veggies and grilled
Beef & Noodle Casserole: brown, layer 14oz noodles, 1lb beef, 1 can tomatoes, 1 can cr chicken soup, 1/4c shredded cheese, bake one hr
Pork Loin sliced, dipped in egg/milk wash, coated with seasoned breadcrumbs, browned then baked
Fish tacos - tiliapa breaded and shallow fried
Roasted red pepper chicken skewers - marinate chicken cubes in r.p. and mayo, skewer, grill/broil
Rice (1c) - with 1 can black beans, 1 can tomatoes, salsa and cheese to taste
Panini sandwiches: toast & squish good bread with cheese, tomatoes, chicken, etc.
Black Bean Burritos (from dried beans)

[Katie&Micah]

I haven't tried this yet but it sounds pretty good..

Cheese Enchiladas


by Nikki Willhite

www.allthingsfrugal.com

Exhausted from the Holidays? Tired of Cooking? If you're not, congratulations! For the rest of us mortals, who need "relief", here's a quick and easy recipe.

This recipe is an acquired taste. The first time I had it, I thought "Where's the Beef?" However, now it is one of my boy's favorites. (My husband is still looking in vain for the beef).

Ingredients

One of the criteria of a simple recipe is that it have very few ingredients. This recipe only has 5 of them:

One package corn tortillas
One small IMO or Sour Cream
One can cream of chicken soup
One can diced green chilies
1 1/2 Cups grated cheedar Cheese (or to taste)
Mixing Instructions

Fry the tortillas in just enough oil (for a few seconds) to make them soft and pliable. Put on paper towels, and when cool enough, wipe off all the grease you can.

Mix the can of soup, the imo (or sour cream), and can of green chilies, and a little of the cheese together in a bowl.

Use a baking pan 13x9 inches or smaller. Put some of the soup mixture on the bottom. Then spoon a heaping Tablespoon of the mixture onto each tortilla and roll up as for an enchilada.

After the tortillas are in the pan, take the rest of the soup mixture and spoon it over the top. Add the rest of the cheese. Be sure that the tortillas are covered with the soup and cheese so that they don't dry out during baking.

Baking

Bake in a 325-350 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Do NOT overcook. Keep tightly covered during baking. Good served with green beans and applesauce

Note: : If you feel really lazy, you can skip frying the tortillas and just rip them into piece and mix everything together. As long as everything is moist it will taste good, and is probably healthier without the oil. However, they do come out better the first way.

[jimmysgirl424]

Buffalo wings are a favorite at my house! I also make homemade, hand-cut french fries to go with them, which DH is now addicted to and begs for them at least once a week. Anyway, here is my recipe for wings; notice they are baked, not fried! I use fresh, whole wings, not the kind that are already separated at the joint, but you can use whatever kind you want! I do not, however, recommend using the frozen, pre-bagged kind of wings. Oh, and you can skip the Old Bay seasoning if you don't like it.



Heat oven to 400. Line heavy duty baking sheet with foil. Spray heavily with non-stick cooking spray.

Place desired amount of wings on sheet. Coat wings thoroughly with Old Bay seasoning .

Bake wings for one hour.

Remove from pan, place in large bowl. Pour wing sauce over and toss to coat. (We use Bill Bateman's Buffalo Sauce. If you can't get that, Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Sauce is very good!)

[Medako]

**copied from a cookbook I put together for Christmas last year**

Oven-Fried Chicken

Chicken Breasts
Biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
Salt
Pepper
Paprika (optional)
1-2 T. Margarine


Preheat oven to 375 F. Melt 1-2 T. margarine in a shallow baking dish.

Mix biscuit mix, salt, pepper & paprika in a large ziplock bag. One at a time, coat chicken breasts in the mixture. Place in baking dish & bake for 35 minutes. Turn chicken & continue cooking for another 15 minutes.




BBQ Chicken

Chicken Breasts
BBQ Potato Chips


Preheat oven to 350 F.

Crush BBQ chips into crumbs and coat the chicken breasts. Bake on a cookie sheet or pizza pan for approximately 1 hour ~ or until juices run clear.



Indian Summer Chicken


Chicken Breasts
½ c. Apricot preserves
½ t. Soy sauce
¼ t. Garlic salt

Preaheat oven to 350 F.

Mix preserves, soy sauce, & a dash of garlic in a shallow bowl. Generously coat the chicken & place on a baking sheet. Spoon some of the excess preserves onto the chicken before baking. Bake for approximately 1 hour ~ or until juices run clear.



Spicy Chicken & Rice

1-2 Cooked & Shredded chicken breasts
3 c. Instant Rice
3 c. Water
1 small jar of Salsa


Bring water to a boil. Add rice & chicken. Cook according to rice instructions. When rice is soft, add salsa. Heat through & serve.



Honey Lime Chicken
(That Chicken Adam Likes)

Chicken breasts
Lemon herb marinade (optional)
Honey
Lime juice
Garlic
Basil
Sage
Paprika


Marinate chicken in a mixture of the ingredients above. Grill or steam until juices run clear. Serve with rice.

**Any combination of spices taste good. Experiment with what’s in the cabinet ~ you can’t go wrong!



King’s Ranch Rice

1 ½ c. cooked & shredded chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can diced tomatoes & chilies (Rotel)
3 c. prepared rice


While the rice is still hot, add chicken, soup & rotel. Heat through & serve.



BBQ Cups

Prepared biscuit mix (or 1 tube of biscuits)
Browned hamburger
BBQ sauce
Grated cheese


Line muffin tins with biscuits. Mix hamburger & BBQ sauce. Fill tins. Bake according to biscuit directions. Top with cheese & melt.


Easy Quesadillas

Cooked & shredded chicken
Salsa
Grated colby/Jack cheese
Flour tortillas


Mix chicken & enough salsa to hold the meat together. Place a tortilla on a hot griddle. Sprinkle a little cheese on half of the tortilla, then add a small spoonful of meat and a little more cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Turn once when golden.

Serve with guacamole, sour cream, more salsa, or eat by themselves.



Taco Soup

1 lb. browned hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Canned or frozen corn (or mixed vegetables)
1 lg. can stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
Water

Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low heat for several hours until thoroughly heated.

Sprinkle with grated cheese or add a dollop of sour cream before serving if desired.



Chicken & Stuffing

2-4 chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 box of stove-top stuffing


Boil chicken breasts until cooked through. Place in a shallow baking dish. Pour mushroom soup over the chicken. Add stuffing. Pour the broth from the chicken breasts over the stuffing. Bake at 350 F for 30-45 minutes, or until broth is absorbed.



Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

1 loaf French bread, sliced
Grated mozzarella cheese
Sliced tomatoes (optional)
Basil

Preheat griddle.

Spray one side of each piece of bread with a non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with basil. Layer cheese & tomatoes between the bread slices. Toast on each side.

[mgrace]

bump, bump, bump!

Our cheap meals include pasta, cheese and bean quesadillas, veggie chili and eggs and toast.

[looch]

***bump****
i wrote a whole long reply with a recipe earlier but my DSL acted up right as I was ready to post it!

Medako...mmmm your recipes are great. i am going to print those out and add them to my recipe binder.

[bethnjim]

We are saving money right now too...I will be out of work soon...and we have started with our "must eat everything out of pantry" savings. We are basically going through our cabinets and making a meal for every night that is out of our pantry and/or freezer. We shop at Sam's Club quite a bit so we have lots and lots of meat, canned beans and veggies, etc. I also go over www.allrecipes.com and get good ideas from there. I made pumpkin muffins this weekend with an old can of pumpkin, spices and leftover chocolate chips. They were so freaking good.

Can anyone post a red beans and rice recipes using the italian sausage. I have a pack of that in the freezer and I think that would be a great combo!

[smartgrrl]

playing around with pollenta, risotto or grits would be fun - they're all cheap so it wouldn't cost a lot of money, while at the same time, they are not your usual dishes...

[Trillian]

There are some tasty, inexpensive recipes on www.kraftfoods.com. The recipes call for Kraft brand products, but I usually substitute the generics. Last night, I made the Maple Apple Baked Chicken, and it was really tasty and tender. Here's the recipe:

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1/2 of a medium onion, sliced into rings
2 medium red cooking apples, sliced
1/2 cup maple-flavored or pancake syrup
1/3 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing



PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Spray large nonstick ovenproof skillet with cooking spray. Heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 min. on each side or until lightly browned on both sides. Remove from heat.
PLACE onion on top of chicken; place apples around sides of chicken. Mix syrup and dressing; pour over chicken.
BAKE 20 to 25 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Spoon syrup mixture in skillet over chicken just before serving.

----

I used the maple syrup, which was kind of pricey, but I really think it would have been just as good with a cheaper pancake syrup. I served it with this stuffing, which was SO easy and not too expensive:

Cranberry and Toasted Walnut Stuffing
1-1/3 cups water
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1/2 cup PLANTERS Walnut Pieces, toasted



BRING water, cranberries and margarine to boil in saucepan.
STIR in stuffing mix; cover. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min.
FLUFF with fork. Stir in walnuts.

[Astara]

I also posted this in the thanksgiving menu thread but its good anytime! I love it.. its def. one of my favorites and inexpensive to make~

Green Bean Casserole
Prep Time: 5 mins. Cooke Time: 35 mins.

3/4 Cup milk
1/8 tsp pepper
10 3/4 oz can cambells cream of mushroom soup
2 cans cut green beans, drained -OR- 2 (9oz) pkgs frozen cut green beans, thawed.
1 1/3 cups french's original fried onions

In 1 1/2 Qt casserole, mix all ingredients except 2/3 cup french onions.

Bake 30 min at 350F or until hot; stir.
Top with 2/3 cup onions Bake 5 min or until onions are golden
serves 6

[isign]

What is it you make when you are on a tight budget? Growing up it was spaghetti, which I detest now :) What do you cook when funds are a bit tight?

[Adaya]

Our budget meal is anything with chicken wings. We can usually get a family pack which may have about 18-20 wings on sale for about $6. Then I'll make rice-a-roni, and sliced tomatoes and cucumbers (our favorite). Or I'll throw in some frozen french fries and salad. Or frozen green beans and a baked potato.

[myshel]

I make a lot of dishes with ground beef (or ground turkey, if you're willing to go that cheap). Some of our "budget" favorites include:

* Fiesta rice-- rice, diced tomatoes (seasoned), and ground beef. This can be topped with cheese, sour cream, or salsa

* Hamburger Helper-- pretty self explanatory

* Maid-rites-- browned, seasoned ground beef on a bun. I usually pair this up with frozen fries and some sort of frozen veggie.

* Goulash (or what my mother called goulash growing up)-- elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, and ground beef. I usually season all of this with garlic and paprika

* Modified cabbage rolls-- Sliced green cabbage cooked in tomato sauce (seasoned with garlic) with brown rice and ground beef. On this one, you can skimp on the ground beef because thr rice is very filling.

We also tend to buy frozen chicken breasts in bulk packs. There are a million things to do with chicken, but most often I make a huge salad and top it with cooked breast chunks or I season the breasts and serve them with a veggie and pasta-roni.

Hope this helps.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

Slow Cooker Hickory BBQ Pork Sandwiches

1 boneless pork shoulder (2 lb.) (usually can be found for $0.79/lb)
1 env. onion soup mix
2 small onions, sliced
1 cup KRAFT Hickory Smoke Barbecue Sauce
8 sandwich buns, split
8 KRAFT Singles

PLACE meat in slow cooker. Top with soup mix, onions and barbecue sauce; cover with lid.
COOK 4 to 6 hours on HIGH (or 8 to 10 hours on LOW). Remove meat from slow cooker; cut into small pieces or shred with fork. Return meat to slow cooker. Mix with sauce.
SPOON meat mixture evenly onto bottom halves of buns; top with Singles. Cover with tops of buns.

[KrissyCat7]

Spaghetti, bean burritos, soup and grilled cheese sandwhiches, tuna helper

[vwinkel]

My budget meal that DH loves is the tater tot casserole. It makes great lefovers for mulitple meals:

Tatertot Casserole
1 lb ground beef ($1.50)
Frozen Tater Tots ($1)
Shredded Chedder ($1.50)
Cream of Mushroom Soup ($.39)
Yellow Onion ($.40)

1. Brown ground beef with chopped onion. Drain fat.
2. Mix ground beef and onion with can of mushroom soup and cheese.
3. Place beef mixture in a casserole dish.
4. Line tatertots up on end to form an even layer. (should use almost whole bag)
5. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until tatertots are done. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake 5 minutes.

[Aletheia]

I wanted to point out that beans are a great value nutritionally for the money. They are good for you, not too full of sodium, have both protein and carbs, and are quite versatile.

Look for bean salad recipes... I'm away from my collection right now, or I'd share some. They are esp. good in the summer!

[mgrace]

Bean and rice burritos are good. Use black beans and rice and then add some veggies--corn, onions, peppers--and some cheese and throw them in the oven until cheese on top of burrito is melted.

[hmbay]

Biscuit Hotdish

1 pound ground beef
1 can beef vegetable soup
1 can refrigerator biscuits
1/2 cup water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Brown and drain beef. Mix in soup and water and simmer for 5 minutes. stir in 1/2 of the cheese and pour into a 2qrt round casserole dish. Place biscuits over the top to form a crust (you can have gaps between them) and bake 25 minutes until light golden brown. Top with rest of cheese and bake another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

[mgrace]

I just thought of another one--homemade pizza. Make your own crust and top with your favorite toppings.

Here's the recipe for the crust:

Crusty Pizza Dough
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 1/2-3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl.
Add salt, olive oil, and 2 1/2 c. flour
Attach bowl and dough hook, turn to speed 2 and mix 1 minute.
Continuing on speed 2, add remianing flour, 1/2 c.
at a time, until dough clings to dough hook and cleans sides of bowlKnead on speed 2 for 2 minutes.
Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top.
Cover, let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour).
Punch dough down.
Brush 14 inch pizza pan with oil.
Press dough across bototm of pan forming collar around edge to hold filling Top with fillings and bake at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Makes one 14 inch pizza

[Medako]

Chicken Pot Pie

1 2/3 c. frozen mixed veggies
1 c. cooked chicken (I use one "good sized" chicken breast and then chop it into small pieces)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. biscuit mix (bisquick)
1/2 c. milk
1 egg

Mix veggies, soup, and chicken. Layer into 9" pie plate.
Mix bisquick, milk and egg and pour on top of chicken. Bake for 30 minutes at 400 F.

**I like more breading on mine, so I usually double that part.



Cornbread Casserole

1 lb. browned hamburger
1 c. salsa or 1 can diced tomato & chilies

1 c. cornmeal
1/2 t. soda
1 t. salt
1 c. milk
1 can cream corn
2 eggs

Brown hamburger & mix in salsa. In a separate bowl mix remaining ingredients. Layer 1/2 of cornmeal mixture into 9x13" pan, layer on meat, (sprinkle grated cheddar if desired), then remaining cornmeal. Bake at 350 until cornbread is baked through.

[TriSigmaNC]

I do a chicken pot pie almost the same, just a slight variation...that's one of my cheap dishes.

Other cheap dishes:
Spaghetti
Raviolis or tortellinis (the frozen kind with sauce and bread)
Grilled pork chops (the thin one's are cheap) and homemade mac and cheese
Home made pizza (get a martha white pizza mix, sauce, cheese)
Mexican chicken burritos
Zatarans jumbalaya with turkey sausage
BBQ grilled chicken breasts and any veggies
Fried rice (make the rice the night before and use the Bird's Eye packet)
Teriyaki chicken and rice (veggies too)

[eli1126]

DH dislikes cream of mushroom soup, but many of the recipes that are for tight budgets call for it. I have thought about using another cream soup, but am afraid I'll ruin the recipe. Could I substitute and still be able to eat it? TIA!

Beth

[jarm]

I believe that you can sub a different cream soup and it would be fine. Cream of chicken is a good substitute.

[myshel]

DH dislikes cream of mushroom soup, but many of the recipes that are for tight budgets call for it. I have thought about using another cream soup, but am afraid I'll ruin the recipe. Could I substitute and still be able to eat it? TIA!

Beth

DH hates cream of mushroom too. I've experimented and find that cream of chicken gives the best flavor. Sometimes, if a recipe calls for a couple of can of cream of mushroom soup, I will use almost all cream of chicken, but will sneak in one cream of mushroom.

[kindermom]

Wow. We eat pretty cheaply (or did up until recently). I do not thing I ever made a casserole.

We usually ate a meat, veggie, and starch. I think the key is to shop the sales. Chicken breast goes on sale for $1.79/#? Buy 10 pounds. Frozen vegetables go on sale 5/$4. Stock up with 10 bags. Sure I spent about $70-$100 every week for DH and I but some weeks it was just canned goods and produce. All in all we tend to eat fresh foods and low-fat. As a result we do not frequently use coupons (how often do you get a goupon for chicken breast, KWIM). The key is to shop the sales. Right now I have about 15 things of chicken broth which I bought really cheap. I also have about 15 cake mixes bought in sale. Pasta was stocked up at 3 #/$1. I have alot of cheese in my fridge becasue it was $2/#.

Sample Meals:

Omelets
Omelets are great if you use egg whites as well. We actually use about 6 egg whites and 3 yolks for an omelet for 2.
-add in spinach, garlic, cheese, mushrooms, ham (from that whole ham you cooked and froze during the Easter sales).
--Eggs $.50, Milk $1.00, Cheese $.50, Spinach $1.00, Portebello mushroom $1.00, Bread $.50 --> Total = $4.50

Quiche
I use frozen crust just because I am bad at crust. basically I fill a shell with quiche mixture and just add in less milk.
--Eggs $.50, Milk $1.00, Cheese $.50, Spinach $1.00, Portebello mushroom $1.00, Pie Crust $1.00 --> Total = $5.00

Chicken parmesan
Boneless chicken breast coated in 1 egg beaten and seasoned bread crumbs (with some parmesan cheese mixed in. Bake in a pan in the oven until done (20-30 minutes). Serve with pasta and sauce.
--Chicken $2.00, Breadcrumbs $.50, Egg $.10, Cheese $.25, Pasta $.25, Sauce $.50 --> Total $3.60

Steak with roasted potatoes and broccoli
Lightly coat a London Broil with EVO, salt, and pepper. Broil until you each proper doneness. In a sautee pan, put a TBSP of EVO in the pan. Add 1 clove garlic and brown. Add 2 diced potatoes (unpeeled). Suatee until golden brown. Steam chopped broccoli in the microwave for 5 minutes.
--Steak $2.50, Potatoes $1.00, Brocolli, $1.00 --> Total $4.50

[strwbrygirl]

DH hates cream of mushroom too. I've experimented and find that cream of chicken gives the best flavor. Sometimes, if a recipe calls for a couple of can of cream of mushroom soup, I will use almost all cream of chicken, but will sneak in one cream of mushroom.

I do the same thing. My DH swears that he can still taste the mushroom soup sometimes, but hilariously, it's been both times that I *didn't* sneak it in, and I was able to show him the leftover "cream of celery" cans. I don't make things with cream soup very often anyway, but the holiday green bean casserole is a requested item in the winter.

[looch]

I've spent some time searching for frugal meals, and a lot of them seem to rely on cheap cuts of meat, condensed soups and other random ingredients. So, in an effort to save some money, i just cook simpler. I try to shop the outside lanes of the store, because the stuff in the interior tends to be more expensive!

For example,I buy fruits and vegetables in season, and if I happen to buy too much, I blanch them and then vac seal them for the freezer. I do this with larger cuts of meat. I also buy roasts and grind the meat myself. So much better than ground beef that you buy in the store. I don't eat a lot of chicken, but when I do, i roast a whole one. so much more flavor, and there really is a lot of meat there. The carcass is frozen, for use in stocks later on.

I also make my own breads and cakes. The expense is greater at the beginning, but once you have the main ingredients, it's pennies per loaf, unless I make the brioche!

I have high cholesterol, and in an effort to get that under control, I am trying to eliminate dairy: cheese and ice cream are the main offenders. I now buy soy milk, which can be more pricey, but it's better than a scrip for Lipitor LOL!

A typical day's worth of meals for us is like this:
Breakfast: oatmeal or cheerios with skim milk or an egg white omelette
Snack: tomatoes, snap peas, carrots, peppers, celery, reduced fat cheese wedge
Lunch: lean protein, vegetables, something crunchy
Snack: popcorn or nuts, edamame
Dinner: lean protein or pasta (it's the italian in me, i can't give it up), veggies and salad
Bedtime: vitamins, tea or milk, with graham crackers (which are also off limits right now, as I attempt to get the sweet tooth under control)

HTH someone!

[laura]

My husband doesn't like cream of mushroom soup, either. For the I think one thing I make that calls for soup, I just use 1 can of cream of chicken (reduced fat/low sodium) in place of the cream of mushroom and it still tastes fine.

[Adaya]

Just sharing....I've noticed that a lot of Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals are budget friendly. I think it's mainly b/c most of the ingredients she uses we already have.

[Ohana]

DH can't have the Cream of XX soups, because they aggravate his gout. Whenever I have a recipe that calls for a cream soup, I substitute by sauteeing a few TBSP of minced onion and maybe a handful of diced mushrooms in 2 TBSP of butter and a touch of olive oil. When that's softened, add 1/4 cup flour and stir well, allowing the flour to cook. After 1-2 minutes, add 1 can of chicken broth, stir well. Thin with water or additional chicken broth if required.

It takes a bit more work than a opening a can of soup, but it's cheaper and healthier.

[greenbunny]

Bumping--need to eat cheaply to stay on budget this month!

[mindy2137]

bump

[sublime311]

~ Sloppy Joe's/Manwiches are always easy and pretty cheap.

~ Baked potatoes with chili and cheese on top, serve with steamed veggies.

~ Tostadas (store bought shells with taco seasoned ground beef, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and salsa) serve with spanish rice (leftovers make good nachos the next day).

~ BLT's (pretty cheap depending on the cut of bacon you buy - add avocado for a change)

~ breakfast burritos for dinner (use tortillas, eggs, ham, cheese and frozen potatoes for filling)

~ Chili dogs

~ Keilbasa fried with homestyle potatoes (cut into "chips") and onions (we serve with creamed corn)

~ burger packets (burgers cooked on the grill in foil with veggies - carots, onions, potatoes)

~ gulash (American style!) - browned grown beef (cooked with onions, green peppers, and garlic - we like lots of each of these) add spicy V8 - whole large bottle, dark red kidney beans, whole box of pasta, we like rotini or bow ties, spices to taste (salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, Emeril seasoning) bring to a boil - cook until pasta is done.

[Ohana]

I think kindermom had great advice. Shop the sales, and stock up on non-perishable items when they go on sale.

As well, I plan my menu in advance and always shop with a list. When the grocery store flyers get to our house, I spend some time comparing who's got what on sale. Then I plan our dinners for the next week and make my list according to what we need. Unless it's a staple like milk, I won't buy it unless it's on sale. For the 4 of us (including pet food, etc), I spend about 70-80 a week for groceries. Since we only eat out twice a week (date lunch with DH on Friday and family night out on Saturday), I feel we do pretty well in keeping our grocery budget low.

Since I WOH full time and have 2 small children, I really don't have time to cook during the week. So I make something big on Sundays. If chicken is on sale, I find a recipe for chicken in the crockpot. If it's ground beef, I make burrito casserole, taco spaghetti, or chili. Either way, I make a huge double batch and freeze leftovers in smaller amounts. I've been doing this for a while now and have about 20 dinners "banked up" in my freezer.

Finally, I know the warehouse stores seem to be super cheap, but I've found that's not always the case. Costco here, for example, sells their frozen chicken breast for 1.99 a pound every day. If I wait for a sale at the regular grocery store, it's more like 1.69 a pound. Sure, I'm only saving 30 cents a pound at the store, but I'm also saving the membership fees, too. I've found this to be the case with just about anything. Sales at regular stores get you bigger savings than the warehouse stores.

[rene']

**copied from a cookbook I put together for Christmas last year**

BBQ Cups

Prepared biscuit mix (or 1 tube of biscuits)
Browned hamburger
BBQ sauce
Grated cheese


Line muffin tins with biscuits. Mix hamburger & BBQ sauce. Fill tins. Bake according to biscuit directions. Top with cheese & melt.




O.K., I want to try this recipe tonight. Do you just put the biscuits in the bottom of the muffin pan or do you need to cover the whole muffin cup with the dough? Also, what are the measurements for the ground beef, bbq sauce and cheese? Will one pound of hamburger meat work? I am horrible at estimating ingredients!

[Medako]

wow, I havent' been in here in ages....sorry for the delay, I'm sure you're long past wanting to make these...

but, for anyone else wondering.

I line the entire muffin tin with the biscuit, making sort of a bowl. Then fill with the HB. I can get 1/2 lb. of HB to make 6 muffin cups. As far as BBQ sauce, I just add enough to make like a sloppy joe consistency.

[KK812]

bumping this up...anybody have any new ideas?

[Baby Lust]

Tater Tot Hotdish
1 lb lean ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 soup can milk
1 can french style cut green beans (and/or corn, mushrooms, etc.)
1 package tater tots

Brown hamburger, drain.
Add mushroom soup and veggies.
Spread in baking dish (8x8 or 9x13, depending on volume of mixture).
Top with tater tots.
Bake according to tater tot directions.
Optional: Add shredded cheese once baking is done.

*Recipe is easily doubled!

This is one of our favorite meals and if you can get hamburger on sale, it is a pretty cheap meal, and we always have a little left over! So easy too!

I'll have to find some more that are inexpensive!

[Rosebud]

Bumping this up. With food prices through the roof, I'm looking for some less expensive meals (but still healthy).

We've been eating a lot of turkey burgers. Also, whole wheat pasta with turkey meatballs. Turkey is less expensive than beef, and better for you, too. We're getting lettuce and other veggies at the farmer's market for big salads-- prices are better there than at the store and the quality is better. I'm replacing chicken breasts with chicken thighs in some of our favorite easy recipes, like the ever-popular Apricot Chicken. Thighs seem to be less expensive.

Any more good ideas?

[ManteoChik]

I do A LOT of spaghetti, in fact I just made it last night.

Whole wheat pasta, LEAN ground beef (or like last night I used ground turkey), and sauce. I pair it with a salad as well.

I cook the whole package of hamburger and mix with the whole jar of sauce so that I can throw it in the fridge and just boil some more pasta for leftovers.


I also always keep things on hand for "breakfast for dinner" items. Omelets, pancakes, french toast, etc.


SO travels a lot for work so I'm home alone quite a bit. I'm not a big leftover eater so I try to cook things that I can only make one serving of.

[ManteoChik]

Here's another one from when I was a kid:

1 Box of (beef flavored) Rice-A-Roni
1 Package LEAN ground beef.

-cook and drain ground beef, set aside.
-cook package of rice-a-roni per instructions
- when rice is almost finished, add in the hamburger and continue cooking.

This makes *several* servings and its surprisingly good. Its also one of the few foods I will actually eat leftover for some reason.

[looch]

Ok everyone, it's time to get serious with the menu planning, because food prices are out of control here in Europe. I can't think of any new ways to prepare cheaper meals, I have to be creative. I think the only way to do it here is to eliminate convenience foods. So, that means very simple meals, but there has got to be something I am missing.

I was thinking that we could do a vegetarian meal a few nights a week, I hope DH will go for that.

[Yolanda]

Sloppy Joes have been mentioned already, but I wanted to share my recipe.

1 lb. Ground Turkey
1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c. bbq sauce
8 oz. tomato sauce

Brown the turkey and once done add the other ingredients and heat to a boil. Serve on hamburger buns or I like to use rolls.

We also like ham & beans in the crockpot.

2 ham hocks (here they are usually around $3 maybe a little less)
1 lb. dried beans

Soak the beans over night in 5 cups water (I soak mine in my crockpot dish), add the hamhocks and let it cook for 8-10 hours. Very yummy and very cheap.

[CarolinaGirl]

This is super easy, cheap, and yummy:

"Brown" Rice with Pork Chops
1 cup of white rice (I've tried brown rice, but it didn't absorb the liquids)
1 can French Onion Soup (NOT the dry mix)
1 can Beef Consumme
Pork Chops

Stir together the rice with the soups in a casserole dish. Add the pork chops on top. Cover and cook at 350 for 1 hour.

I also make Salmon Croquettes:

1 can Salmon
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup self rising flour
1 onion, diced
Oil for frying (I just use enough to cover the bottom of the pan so the croquettes don't stick).

Drain salmon and combine with egg, flour, and diced onion. Make patties or drop by spoonfuls into a skillet with heated oil. Fry on each side until golden. (Then I drain off the excess oil on a plate lined with paper towels.)

[Anna Low]

My mother makes the rice/pork chops dish and addes a slice of green pepper and a slice of tomato onto each chop. They add lots of flavor during the baking. Truth be told, my DH isn't terribly fond on my mother's cooking, but he loves this dish.

We do a lot of beans - I buy the 15 bean soup dry beans and cook them in water in the crock pot. (I don't follow the package directions) About 2 hours before they're done, I add an envelope of vegetable soup mix and a can of diced tomatos. DH loves this over rice or cous cous and it gets better after a day or so in the refrigerator.

Also, we've developed a love for the TJ simmer sauces. I add diced chicken and frozen vegetables to most of them, although I used the thai green curry one the other evening with baked haddock and it was divinely yummy.

Sloppy Joe's are a staple, as are sandwiches and salads. At my grocery store, I'll buy the bag-o-salad when it is on sale and that week will end up being mostly "salad" week.

This week has been BBQ week. I got a great deal on a pork tenderloin, which is again, one of DH's faves.

[andrew&shannah]

I'm an avid Top Chef watcher and they just did an episode on cooking for a family for under $10. While I don't think all of the dishes can be made that inexpensively, they are easy on the pocketbook.

I made the winning dish, Stir Fry with Whole Wheat Noodles (http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/top_chef/season_4/episode_8_1/stirfry_vegetable_chicken.php). It was tasty and I would definitely make it again.

Meat Loaf Muffins (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1160601) are also a fave in our house and one batch is 2 meals typically.

[kindermom]

With the kids we have been eating alot of...
...Cheese quesadillas with black beans and rice
...Pasta with sauce (no meat)
...Pancakes with syrup and fruit (no meat)
...Sandwiches (PBJ)

[Dan's*Girl]

Here are a few of my go to dinners for the tight weeks.

Breakfast for dinner-Scrambled eggs, toast and sausage links

Lasagna rolls-Lasagna noodles($1), 1/2 lb beef ($2), ricotta cheese ($2), red sauce ($1). Boil noodles, brown beef, drain, mix with ricotta and seasonings,spoon into middle of noodles, roll up, seam side down in pan, cover in red sauce, bake for 40 mins. Yum. Feeds 4 adults for $6

Frozen pizza and bakes fries ($6)

Crockpot chicken and rice ($5-$6)
2-3 raw chicken pieces (breast or thigh is best) cut in chunks, 1 cup dry white rice, 1 can each of cream of chicken,mushroom,celery. Mix all in crockpot and cook on low 8 hours (do not stir). Serve with can of veggies.

Tuna casserole
1 bag egg noodles ($1), 1 can cream of mushroom (.50), 1 can tuna ($1), 1 c. sour cream ($1), 2 c. sharp cheddar ($2.50), can mixed veggies (.50)= $6.50 and feeds 4 adults with leftovers
boil noodles, drain, mix soup,tuna,veggies and sour cream in with noodles. mix 1/2 cheese into that. put in greased 9x11 pan. top with rest of cheese. bake for 20 mins at 400


grilled cheese and soup

baked tilapia w/ lemon, rice, veggies and rolls ($6) for 4 adults
bake tilapia with lemon slices on top until done, make 2 c. white rice according to package but use broth instead of water. add can of veggies and some crescent rolls.

I'll come back when I think of more.

[kristine80]

Hey girl!! Those lasagna rolls sound yummy!! :) What temp you cook them at? TIA!

[Dan's*Girl]

Hey girl!! Those lasagna rolls sound yummy!! :) What temp you cook them at? TIA!


400 for about 25 mins or until done. Enjoy! Muwah!

[smilewithme]

I'm an avid Top Chef watcher and they just did an episode on cooking for a family for under $10. While I don't think all of the dishes can be made that inexpensively, they are easy on the pocketbook.

I made the winning dish, Stir Fry with Whole Wheat Noodles (http://recipes.mt.bravotv.com/top_chef/season_4/episode_8_1/stirfry_vegetable_chicken.php). It was tasty and I would definitely make it again.

Wish I had seen this episode! Thanks for posting the link to the winning recipe, I will have to make that one.

[KiKi'sMommy]

I totally copied this from someone on this board, so if someone recognizes it, I am sorry! :) Anyway, this soup is super cheap and has gotten RAVE reviews from everyone I have made it for. I usually make the chicken in the crock pot the night before and then make the soup the next day. So easy and delicious. You can easily double it and freeze the leftovers too!

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

INGREDIENTS:
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
crushed tortilla chips (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 5 hours.
Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

[Dan's*Girl]

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

1 lb lean stew meat ($3)
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup (.50)
8oz sour cream ($1)
1 small can sliced mushrooms-drained (.50)
1 cup water
salt n pepper
diced garlic (i used a few shakes of powdered)
1/2 cup diced onion-optional (.50)
1 bag egg noodles ($1)


In pot mix all ingredients except noodles and sour cream. Cook on low for 8 hours, turn to low and add sour cream. Heat thru for 10 mins. Boil noodles and drain. Cover with beef mixture. Makes 4 adult sized portions.