Affordable and Easy - Let's Cook

 Hello to all and a good day to you.

Yesterday was a chilly day and breezy.

This morning is damp with drizzle, and very cool.  Weatherman says 60*, my thermometer says 65*.  Looks to be cloudy with some mist all day today and cooler.  We have warmer days coming again!

Yesterday was a day of tips on ways to get more affordable groceries and to stretch that budget.

Today just some ideas on ways to make meals for yourself or your families on less money.

You guys get a listing every week of my meals - so you know I have a variety of meals, and I keep it easy and tasty.

It isn't a 5-course meal - some have no meat - yet they all fill my body and give me nutrition.  That is what is important.

Here are some visuals that makes my mouth water.  Ideas can be anything - use what you have.  

You can mix and match things and experiment a little.  In my world there really are 'no' recipes!!!!  I just go for it.

Ideas:

Baked potatoes topped with anything

Lentil or split pea soup

ALL kinds of soups - homemade cream of soups are so easy and filling.  Hamburger (or other ground meat) vegetable soup is always a hit

Baked spaghetti is super filling

Good old wraps - a tortilla with anything you have in it, maybe a little dressing or cheese (you can use leftovers too)

Waffles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, burritos, eggs/biscuits

Bean and cheese enchiladas

Beans and rice

Soup beans

Chili - the way you like it

Grilled cheese and soup

Potato hash - chopped potatoes, ground meat (or chopped), carrots, onion - all fried together

Egg (toad) in a hole (eggs cooked in a bread slice).  I have eggs with a lot of meals - great protein

Pizza made with tortilla or breads

Tuna can be made into patties or croquettes, just as salmon can be.  Make it up the same way.  It has a milder taste than salmon.  I have even formed into strips (instead of patties) to make my own fish sticks!

These go along with our "semi-homemade" we were talking about yesterday. Click on the pictures to enlarge for easier reading.    There can be variations of any these, again using what you have.

Get creative.

My mom used to stretched hamburger on 'hamburger' (Saturday) night, by making her version of White Castles.  Many folks know White Castles.  Tiny thin little burgers on little buns - steamed and lots of onions.  She made them and fries and it was a treat.  Now you can buy slider buns, which are little buns.  Back in the day buns were not big like they are now.  I have made them myself.  Glen used to love them.  Great way to stretch the meat.

We always loved Swiss steak, but not the price of the beef.  I make (as did mom) hamburgers, cook, and smother with veggie soup and simmer and serve with mashed potatoes.  We called it Poor Man's Swiss steak.  I still make that; it is real comfort food for me.  I like to add a little thyme - makes it taste a little hardier and more homemade.

I also make skillet meatloaf!!  Mix up your fixings for meatloaf and make up patties like any burger - and fry.  Tastes just like meat loaf, and I don't have to make a huge amount and they freeze well after cooked.

Keep this on hand!  These small packets cost .49 or .59 at Kroger and I always try to have on hand.  It is great for making your own Rice a Roni.  Add rice and vermicelli together and some bouillon and whatever you want.  Super cheap and easy.  Make a simple broth and add some of these to give it a little bulk - think the old time Lipton chicken noodle packets!  Add some to an easy egg drop soup.  So many uses.

SIDES - steamed and/or seasoned rice, rice salad

Mashed potatoes, twice baked, fries, fried, scalloped, au gratin, roasted, potato cakes ...........potatoes a plenty!!!!!!

Steamed or roasted veggies of all sorts - veggies can be made into patties or croquettes as well - just chop up, add egg and a binder - fry up

Buttered nooodles

Cabbage (cheap) and can be fixed a multitude of ways

Corn casserole

A combo of veggies and rice w/sauce or pasta

Biscuits (scones), crackers, fresh bread, cornbread

Dressing - use up that old bread

Salads - in any combo of things you have.  Salad doesn't always mean lettuce to me - just a bowl of goodies

SWEETS = Easy and fun - Haystacks (haystax) - use whatever type of chips you have on hand to melt with oriental noodles - pretty inexpensive.  You can do pretzels and chocolate as well.

No bake oatmeal cookies

Rice Crispy (or what you have) squares.  I recently bought marshmallows 2 bags for a $1 on clearance - use a cheap version cereal and YUM.  Any cereal can be used.

Bananas are still very cheap (around here) - use to make breads, cookies, muffins, etc.  Even in pancakes.  Sweet breads are easy and use what you have around (add-ins) and they can be rustic with pumpkin, squash, etc.  They go far, and kiddos as well as adults usually love it.

You can even get marked down bananas (a little riper) and cut up and freeze and make a fun version of ice cream with them or dip in chocolate and freeze - what fun.  Smoothies

All fruit is a great snack!  Veggies and a little dip/dressing are good treats as well.

Jello and pudding - make in little cups for snacks

Heck, if you have them - even cake mixes/brownie mixes are great.  You can add things if you want or just make plain.  I always have a couple around when I see on clearance - last ones cost me .65 ea.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE

There are sooooooo many ways to keep costs down in the kitchen.  Many of us have been eating tomato sandwiches this summer with our harvests.  Fried green tomatoes and squash.  Stuffed peppers.  Garden harvests have been great for the pocket book.

Get creative and use it up.  Leftovers become soup and or casseroles.  They can be lunches.  Just USE IT ALL.  Like I said recipes are suggestions - do your thing.  You may create the next huge family favorite.

Do you have a simple and easy meal that you care to pass on?

Let us know.

Have a fantastical day!!!!!!