Help! Extra super short on $$ and need recipes!

helenamonks

I'm super short on money right now and can't really afford to buy the food I'm used to buying so I'm having to cook more stuff as a large meal. Roasts, Red beans, etc.

I live in Lousiana so most of the food I'm used to going the farthest is great with a side of rice. Im ok with that as far as rice n gravy goes b/c I'm good with portions, but I need some new recipes that are extra super cheap to make!!

amcmillan730

looking to see answers for this also!

KarenJean81

We buy and freeze boneless chicken breast when its on sale, there are tons of things you can do with it. It picks up flavors nicely so you can bake it or stuff it with nearly anything.

wendyleach

i have a rice recipe.

basic recipei and adapt how you like or by whats in your fridge
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 stalk of broccoli, broken into little flowerettes
1-8oz pkg. or 1 cup of grated vegan cheddar cheese (also can use Soymage)
3 cups of cooked brown rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup or other creamed soup (check ingredients)
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In medium size pan pour in 1/2 cup of water and add broccoi and diced onion. Simmer over medium heat until broccoli is just slightly soft. Save water.

In a greased casserole dish, add cooked rice, broccoli, onions, and their water along with cream of mushroom soup. Mix well. May need to add more water if mixture is too thick. . Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle grated cheese on top.

Put in oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until knife goes through dish and comes out clean. This is unbelieveably delicious.

but i start with onion, celery, garlic, Add brocolli, califlower, grated carrots, bell perpper any color, corn black beans, anything you like and have in the fridge. You can youse any kind of cream soup you like. last time i did it i used to cans of soop 6 cups of rice and 8 cups of veg and made 2 casaroles and froze some. Had about 200 calories per serving. I also add herbs and spices of choice

vegweb.com has lost of great bean and rice options

PNCTink

I use lentils in quite a few dishes. I substitute them for meat in tacos, burritos, sloppy joes, and shepherd's pie. I also use them for soup and stir-fry with frozen veggies and rice, or multi-grain pasta.

BrickHouse2011

you can always buy fish. I buy tallapia fillets that are already individually wrapped. season with salt and pepper throw into the oven on 450. 15 minutes later its done with a side salad or veggies. I have been eating this meal almost everyday for 2 weeks. I am soo addicted now and it is cheap.

amcmillan730

you can always buy fish. I buy tallapia fillets that are already individually wrapped. season with salt and pepper throw into the oven on 450. 15 minutes later its done with a side salad or veggies. I have been eating this meal almost everyday for 2 weeks. I am soo addicted now and it is cheap.

I know have the song Brick House stuck in my head! lol

SlimNana48

I have a few recipes’ that only require 5 ingredients or less & the cost is cheap & the food is very delicious. Add me as a friend & I’ll be glad to share. I just don’t know how to get pack to these threads later once I leave here to add the information for you.

ladybg81

I second th talapia thing. I buy 6 individually frozen fillets at walmart for 4.78. Use brown rice instead of white for some extra nutients and the costs is pretty much the same. Also, chicken breasts can be made 1001 different ways. Our portion sizes at home are half of a regular chicken breast and it goes a lot futher that way. We only use 2 and have 1/2 left over for a lunch.

NeuroticVirgo

Tostadas are easy to make (and might give you a break from rice + stew foods lol).

Bake the corn tortillas in the oven. 350 degrees for a few minutes (watch because they can go from not cooked to burned in like am minute lol). For some flavor, I spray mine with "I can't believe its not butter" spray, and sprinkle on some substitute salt before baking. Set them aside.

You can either make your own refried beans (from pinto beans), or buy canned....but either way beans = cheap. lol

(Link to make them homemade: http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/refried-beans/)

Put about 1/4 cup of beans on each tortilla, then add lettuce, tomato and a little cheese. They are low calorie and yummy.

I have a blog post about how to make them w/ pictures - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/NeuroticVirgo/view/tostadas-w-baked-corn-tortillas-100-cal-71996

The pineapple chicken is a really good one, from MFP.

Link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/149164-crockpot-pineapple-chicken-80-cal-per-ck-breast

BLT (Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato) sandwiches are pretty cheap except the bacon...but if you get it on sale then it is.

add a side of baked fries (potatoes are also fairly cheap) and its a yummy meal.

Link to fries: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/183988-baked-fries-prep-freeze-too-pics

Planning my meals ahead has helped me save money. That way I only buy what we need that week.

kmjenkins

A big bag of shrimp is $5.00 at Wal-Mart, you can make shrimp and rice or shrimp and pasta, cans of tuna are about $1.00 (for the albacore in water), tuna and noodle casserole with whole wheat noodles, flank steak is cheap, beef stroganoff with 98% fat free soup, Greek yogurt and whole wheat noodles. Both those casseroles will stretch very far and are about 50-70 cents a serving. Check out Bisquick's website they have tons of meals that are super easy, cheap and delicious!

Good luck!

~Kelly