Budget Eating

I am going to give you some ideas on how to make that food budget go farther. I grew up in a house where no one was ever turned away from the table because of the lack of food. We learned how to stretch what we had. If you are looking for meals from a 5 star restaurant then Look some where else. Here you will find simple fixes that will taste good and help the check book. This is an on-going Hub. I will be adding new recipes often so check back soon. Don't forget to tell me what you think below.

Let me start by saying that these recipes are intended to give you a starting point. They can be changed in any way to fit your tastes. It is just easier to build on an idea than it is to start from scratch. I make no claim of calorie value, only that a little goes a long way.

Mac Cheese and Tuna

This is a simple one pan stove top casserole dish.

Ingredients;
1 Box Mac and cheese
1 can drained Tuna (in water not oil)
1 15oz can drained green peas

Make the Mac and cheese according to package, when completed add the Tuna and the peas. You may need to add little more milk. Warm over low heat till Tuna is hot. Season to taste and you have a quick easy meal that will feed 4 for around $4

You can easily replace the Tuna and Peas with a can of Chili with or without beans for Chili Mac for about the same cost.

You can turn either of those into a baked dish by simply putting the finished dish into a baking dish, layer the top with sliced cheese and Bake till the cheese is a golden brown. Quick, easy and cheap.

Salmon Patties.

1 can Salmon
1 can cream style corn
1 heaping tablespoon flour
2 eggs
Corn meal.

Open the Salmon drain, de bone (remove skin if so desired) and put in mixing bowl.
to that add the corn, flour and eggs. Mix well. Add corn meal till the mixture is to a point where patties will hold together. Form patties to the approx size of a hamburger patty 3/4" thick. You can also at this point roll into balls the size you would for spaghetti. Pre heat approx. 1/2" oil in a skillet. Place patties in skillet and cook till golden brown on each side. Turning them one time should do the trick. Remove and place on paper towels to absorb any extra oil. Serve with your choice of sides. Mashed potatoes and ranch style beans set the meal off great.

Hamburger Mushroom Rice

Ingredients;

1 pound Hamburger meat (you can get 90/10 from the butcher at a discount just ask)
3 cups dry Rice (Success or Uncle Ben's works well here)
1 can cream of Mushroom soup

Cook the rice as directed
In a 9" skillet scramble and cook the hamburger meat till done seasoned to taste and drain. Add the soup and 3/4 can of hot water to meat. Once the soup starts to simmer remove from heat and stir in the rice. Serve in bowls while hot. Sprinkled with a little parm cheese is a plus, if you have it. Serves 4 at around $6

You can also substitute cream of Chicken soup for the Mushroom soup

Cheap, Quick and easy Stew.

1 lb Hamburger meat
2 1lb cans Tomato sauce
1 can new potatoes (drained)
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 can sliced carrots (drained)
1 can Green beans (drained)
spices to your taste

In a large sauce pan (spaghetti pot size) Brown and scramble the hamburger meat, I add the garlic and onions right before the meat is done along with salt and pepper. To the hamburger meat add the tomato sauce and stir in well. Let simmer for about 5 minutes then add the canned veggies. Let simmer for another 10-15 minutes stirring from time to time. You may need to add some more sauce. Taste and add seasonings to your taste. I use Basil, Oregano, allot of garlic and just for fun add about 1/4 cup of Pace's medium Picante sauce. You should be able to go from start to table in about 30 minutes or so. If you have time to allow the stew to simmer it will thicken up some and have a better flavor. But if not it is still a good tasting fast meal.  Another big plus of this meal is that it can all be done in one Pot so there is allot less clean up.

Serve hot with a side of Corn Bread and you have a cheap meal that sticks to your ribs.

1 pkg Hot Dog
1 can canned bicuits or cresents
10 slices of Bacon
10 slices of cheese

Open the can of biscuits or cresents. Roll them out flat to about 1/4" in thickness (the thinner the better. Take the Hot Dogs and slice them long way about 1/2 way through from end to end. In the slot you just made put the cheese slice in it,braking the cheese so it covers the entire slot. Next take a slice of Bacon, starting on one end of the Hot Dog wrap the dog with the Bacon, it should be enough to cover the dog. Next take the wrapped dog and roll it in a biscuit or cresent that you have rolled out already. Place the Dogs on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 350 until golden brown. These make a great finger food for the kids and they love them.

You can also do the same thing to the little cocktail sausages to make a great finger food for parties. For these I would use the Cresent rolls instead.

Redneck Keish

1 pound Ekrich sausage (I use skinless)

1 Dozen eggs

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup grated cheese (I use cheddar)

Take all the eggs and break them into a large mixing bowl. Add the milk, to that add 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. (more or less to your taste) Beat by hand, when eggs are beaten add the cheese and mix well. Take the sausage and slice into round disks about 1/4 inch thick. Put the sausage into a lightly oiled 9x12 baking dish. Pout the egg and cheese mixture over the top. If desired grate more cheese over the top. Bake in the oven at 375 untill golden brown. Take out of the oven and let stand about 5 minutes. Cut into sections and serve hot. Serve a side of Picante sauce to spice things up a bit.