Money conscious dinners

I've been working on meals that I can make in great quantity and a low price so that no only can I pull meals quickly from the freezer, but I know what to buy when it's on sale. I try to combine a meat with a bean/lentil to keep protein high, fat content low, and costs down. Generally, I aim to spend about $1 on canned goods and $2/lb on meat/beans. I live in Canada so I don't know if the pricing will be the same. I also buy things in bulk (like rice, onions and carrots).

Here are some cheap recipes that I use regularly (keep in mind that you can alter the spices to match your flavour preference). You'll need to buy a crockpot:

Pork Stew - 14 portions - 1 cup each

Chopped Onions 2 bulbs
Chopped celery 2c
Chopped carrots 2c
Diced Tomatoes 796ml can 4 cans
Canned Peaches and Cream Corn 1 can
Canned Black Beans 1 can
Garlic Powder 2 T (optional)
Cumin 1 T
Coriander 1T
Oregano 1T
Paprika 2 T
Pork Loin roast/stewing meat 1kg

Serve with Jasmin Rice 1/4c / adult / meal

1. Brown all sides of the pork roast in a hot pan so that the outsides are golden brown.
2. Place pork roast in a crock pot on high.
3. Add everything else but 2 cans of tomatoes. If you are worried about spices, then hold back and add more later.
4. Cook until the pork roast can be pulled apart by forks - about 6 hours.
5. Add everything into a very large pot (or half the ingredients over two pots) and add the remaining 2 cans of tomatoes. Adjust spices.
6. Freeze meal portions in tuppaware containers. (1 c/adult, 1/2c/child would be my guess)
7. Serve with rice

Red Lentil & Beef Sloppy Joes - 8 adult portions
Onions (chopped) 2
Ground Beef 1 lb
Garlic Powder 1T
Diced tomaotes 2 cans
Dry Red Lentils 1 cup
Ketchup 1/2 cup
Cider vinegar 2T
Worcestershire sauce 1T
Ben's Hamburger Buns 8
Olive Oil Margarine

1. Sweat onions in a bit of olive oil or margarine.
2. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain excess fat.
3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on med (to med low) for 10-15 minutes or until lentils are tender.
4. Serve on toasted hamburger bun halves with side salad or green vegetable.
5. Freeze meal portions in freezer.

(adjust lentil content to your own preference)

Crockpot Chili: 10 adult portions

Ground Beef/turkey/pork 1 lb
Red Kidney Beans 1 can
Diced Tomatoes 796ml/can 2 cans
Onions chopped 3c
Carrots choped 2c
Celery chopped 2c
Cumin 1T
Cayenne 2t (optional)
Paprika 1T
Oregano 1T
Garlic Powder 1T (optional)

1. Brown beef in a pan and drain excess oil.
2. Add all ingredients into a crockpot on high.
3. Cook until well combined - 2 to 3 minimum, 6-8 hours is better.
4. Taste and adjust spices. Serve with rice.
5. Freeze meal portions.


Congee (Chinese rice soup)

Not the most appealing to look at but darn delicious and cheap as can be!

3/4 cups long rice (Jasmin works well)
9 cups chicken stock
Leftover shredded/diced chicken or cooked ground beef
Garlic powder 1tsp (or to taste)
Salt
White pepper
Hot sauce
Soy sauce

1. Bring the rice and chicken stock to boil, then reduce heat to low/med and simmer for 1 hour 20 mins or until rice has completely come apart and the soup looks like white mush.
2. Add salt and white pepper to taste (it's fine to use black, just tastes a little different and has black specs)
3. Add diced or shredded leftover chicken or ground beef.
4. Enjoy with hot sauce, soy sauce, and/or cilantro if you would like.