Dirt Cheap Meals

[jtyangel]

There was a thread about this once before as some of you all will recall. I'd like to see it again. It involved homemade hamburger helper, frito pie, etc. You know, those last few bucks but it makes a lot type of meals. Let's list them again. I know Undies and Mia had a few...

[Miss Mia]

There was a thread about this once before as some of you all will recall. I'd like to see it again. It involved homemade hamburger helper, frito pie, etc. You know, those last few bucks but it makes a lot type of meals. Let's list them again. I know Undies and Mia had a few...

Oh, I don't know what I said before.

But I do like pinto beans and rice.  And sometimes I'll add a little sausage to it.

My favorite poor meal:

I take a diced potato and onion and sauté (just with some canola oil) them together.  And I'll season with kosher salt, pepper, garlic power.  And I'll add in some smoked sausage. 

Oh, this is a good one.  It's not dirt cheap, but pretty cheap depending on what beef is going for. 

I'll George Foreman some hamburger patties.  In a skillet I'll throw in some onion, garlic, bell pepper, season with salt and pepper.  I do the onion and garlic together for about 4 minutes, add bell pepper for another 4 minutes or so, until they're soft.

But I also will throw in some sliced mushrooms if I have them and also a can of diced tomatoes. 

I serve rice with the hamburger patty and the veggie mix all together.  My boyfriend likes to add worcestershire sauce to it.

[Chris_]

I made some fresh soup tonight.  I think I spent all of $10 on it and five minutes of actual work.

2 cans of whole white potatoes
1 1/2 cups of beef broth
2 beef bullion cubes
2 medium onions, cut into small pieces
1 can of sweet corn
1 can of mixed peas and carrots
A cheap roast from the discount meat rack at Kroger, about 2 or 2 1/2 pounds

Spices:
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons of Worchestershire sauce
Cumin and lemon pepper

Dissolve the cubes in the beef broth.  Drain the canned vegetables and dump everything in a covered 2-gallon pot.  Put the pot in the oven for ten hours at 200 degrees. 

I wish I had some bread to go with it, but it was pretty good for my first batch of soup.  Sure beats anything I've had from a can. 

[Chris_]

College student Hamburger Helper:

Penne Pasta: $1.00 ($2.00 but you only use half)
Brown Gravy Mix: $1.00
Ground meat: $4.00

In a 10" skillet, brown Ground meat -- after a little brown, add 1/2 of the Gravy Mix
In a separate 1 qt pan, poil the pasta until al dente then drain.
Throw the pasta into the skillet.
Add the remainder of the gravy mix, and slowly add water until the pasta, gravy and meat are of a consistency that you like.

Serve to yourself and refrigerate the rest and microwave.

Tastes great and helps you be ready for when you grow up and are on your own.   

Dang, now I am hungry.

[Lord Undies]

Oh good lord!  I've posted my "emergency dinner" before.......Learn, people!

-Make some boxed Macoroni-n-Cheese according to the directions on the box.  That's your pasta!

-Drain a can of green peas.  Squirt in two blasts of Miracle Whip.  Screw in that last bit of a jar of pimento from Thanksgiving.  Some chopped onion if you feel good.  Add a dash of hot sauce and two spoons of sweet relish.  That's your salad!

-Cut a package worth of Eckrich Sausage into quarter-inch pieces and fry them in the microwave.   That would be two five minute sessions.  That's your main entree!

-Open a can of Pork-n-Beans and pour them into a platsic bowl.  Add a splash of Mrs. Butterworths and some cracked pepper.  That's your veggie!

You can eat like a king and serve four for less than $6.00. 


 

[DixieBelle]

Ghetto hamburger helper:

browned ground beef (drained)
one package of Lipton dry soup mix (onion, beef or any similar flavor)
one can of Campbells beef broth or consumme
one pound of cooked pasta (macaroni or twists or whatever you have)
simmer until flavors are melded

Under $10 and feeds a lot!

[Flame]

Chicken and noodles

1 can of chicken (white meat chicken in a can, like tuna)
1 bag of egg noodles
1-2 packages chicken gravy mix, prepared per packge directions


Cook the noodles, fix the gravy, mix all the ingredients together, voila.

[Miss Mia]

Okay, I made this up the other night and it turned out pretty good.

Brown 1 lb of hamburger meat with some diced onions.
Season with salt, pepper and chili pepper.
Add 1 can of corn (drained) and a can of Rotel.
Cook until hot.

Serve over rice and top with cheddar cheese.

[Lord Undies]

Okay, I made this up the other night and it turned out pretty good.

Brown 1 lb of hamburger meat with some diced onions.
Season with salt, pepper and chili pepper.
Add 1 can of corn (drained) and a can of Rotel.
Cook until hot.

Serve over rice and top with cheddar cheese.

That doesn't sound bad.  Skip the corn and throw in a can of Ranch Style Beans a can of tomato sauce and you'd have my famous Snooze Alarm Chili.

[Chris_]

This is so easy, I probably should bother posting it, but this is fun if you have kids around.  We made donut holes with fried pizza dough at a few places I've worked. 

Home-made Donuts
1/2 cup regular sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
vegetable oil for frying
1 12-ounce tube buttermilk biscuit dough

Mix the sugar and cinnamon and set aside for dusting
Fill a wide saucepan with 1 inch of oil.  Heat to 375*
Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out the center of each biscuit.  Save the scraps to make donut holes
Drop the donuts into the oil and cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown, flipping if neccessary
Transfer the donuts to a cooling rack or baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon and serve warm.

[cottondress]

This is so easy, I probably should bother posting it, but this is fun if you have kids around.  We made donut holes with fried pizza dough at a few places I've worked. 

Home-made Donuts
1/2 cup regular sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
vegetable oil for frying
1 12-ounce tube buttermilk biscuit dough

Mix the sugar and cinnamon and set aside for dusting
Fill a wide saucepan with 1 inch of oil.  Heat to 375*
Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, cut out the center of each biscuit.  Save the scraps to make donut holes
Drop the donuts into the oil and cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown, flipping if neccessary
Transfer the donuts to a cooling rack or baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon and serve warm.

AAAHHHHH...Did this 20 years ago when the kids were little and they wanted a treat. Was great fun and tasted great! Thanks for the memory

[Chris]

I don't remember what reminded me of this... probably a simple desire for some sugared donuts.  Fried bread dough - as long as it was already proofed and had risen - works great.

[Inga]

Here's a cheap meal:

1 can of Pillsbury french bread
Ground meat cooked or slice ham lunch meat
Swiss cheese or American cheese
Bacon cooked and crumbled
Chopped green onions
Small can mushrooms optional

Roll out dough, layer ingredients, cook, slice and serve.

You can also do this with any meat and cheese combo.(ground meat, spaghetti sauce, and cheese)

Great for get to gethers.