menu ideas?

Question

we are a family of 4 on a tight grocery budget,, I feel like all I ever do is buy and make the same things for dinner.
ground beef= spagetti, tacos, hamburger helper, chili
roast= beef and noodles ,french dips, roast and veggies
chicken= baked, grilled, chicken noodle soup, salads
pork chops, or bbq pork roast.
sometimes shrimp or fish.
hot dogs, hambergers
HELLLLPPPP I am in a huge rut!!!

ok for those of you who are eating only PB&J's,, well since I am a mom with two kids,, I have to have more food than that in my house,, I wasn't nasty to you,, grow up and get a real job

Answer 1

A nice dish, especially for company that is not expensive

APRICOT CHICKEN

6 to 8 boneless chicken breasts
1 bottle of fat free French Dressing
1 sm. jar apricot preserves
1 pkg. onion soup (opt.)

1. Mix together dressing, apricot preserves and onion soup (if desired) in glass baking dish.

2. Place chicken into mixture and spoon over all the chicken.

3. Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

4. Serve with rice.

Answer 2

Here's a little something you can try the next time you break out the ground beef - make Shepherd's Pie!

Brown your ground beef with an onion and when it's done, I usually like to throw in a can of beef gravy, but it's optional. Put the beef mixture on the bottom of a casserole dish, then add a can of drained peas, then add a can of drained mushroom pieces. Cover all that with some instant (or real if you have it) mashed potatoes. Top with a sprinkling of parmesean cheese and bake for about 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. The last few minutes I usually turn the oven to broil and let the poatates and cheese get nice and brown.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

Sounds about like how I cook when money is tight (most of the time) Here's some I cook that is different

Chicken casserole

3-4 chicken breast (or whole chicken) boiled and shredded
1 can cream of Mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
1/2 med size bag of egg noodles- cooked and drained
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 stick butter melted
1 roll ritz crackers

mix all together except for butter and ritz. Place in casserole dish. Crush ritz and top the casserole. Drizzle melted butter on top of crackers. Bake 350 degrees til bubbly.



Noodle casserole----
1-1 1/2 lbs of hamburger browned and drained
1 can tomato sauce
8 oz cream cheese softened
8 oz sour cream
egg noodles (about 1/2 bag or a little less) cooked and drained
salt, pepper
favorite cheese

Beat together cream cheese and sour cream. Add tomato sauce and noodles to the hamburger. Layer the two mixtures and top with cheese. Bake until hot and cheese is melted.

Answer 4

It sounds like you need some inspiration. I know with today's hectic schedules it is sometimes hard to find the time but if you can spare a few minutes there are many websites that offer great recipes that are quick easy use common ingredients and are frugal. Two sites that come to mind are http://www.recipezaar.com/ and allrecipes.com. Both these sites have user reviews so you can get an idea of what people think of the recipes. they also both have extensive forums for cooking on a budget especially recipezaar. Slow cookers are also great for those on a budget as you can use cheaper cuts of meat and they come out tasting like a million bucks.

Answer 5

Lots of ideas. First a quick and easy recipe from Craig Claiborne:

Butter a casserole
Add a layer of thinly sliced potatoes. A layer of any kind of raw sausage, and a layer of any kind of grated cheese.

Repeat until casserole is full or ingredients are all used. Top with a can of cream of celery soup. Bake until done.

Or

Sausage (Italian is good) fried with green peppers and onions and served with rice.

Make a stir fry. Use sea food, chicken, etc. and add ingredients. Serve with rice.

Make spanish rice.

Answer 6

My Favorite is chicken breaded in Parmesan cheese and baked. Just lightly moisten boneless chicken with olive oil and then roll in Parmesan cheese and bake on a rack in the oven at 400 for about 35 minutes. Very moist and delicious. Serve with broccoli and rice or Orzo.

Answer 7

You know, I could give you recipes for life!! Hahaha! I learned tons of quick, cheap meals from my mother in law (world's best cook). She had NO money when she married and had to make up her own meals. She perfected them and they ate whatever she cooked, even if it was burnt, too salty or whatever. I would love to share some of my recipes with you! Here is one. You try it and let me know if you want more.

Ground beef fideo:
1 7oz package fideo mediano (skinner makes a good one)
1 lb grd. beef
garlic salt
pepper
6 cups water
3 tomato bouillon cubs with chicken flavor (Knorr makes the best)
oil (veg. oil is healthier)

In a medium pot bring 4 cups water and 2 cubes to a boil for 2 min & turn heat off. In a pan season ground beef with garlic salt and pepper and brown. When it is finished drain it, don't rinse. While you are cooking the meat, pour oil tocover the bottom of a large (not huge) pot and turn on heat to 8 or almost on high. Pour in the package of noodles. Brown the noodles and stir them almost constantly. Do NOT walk away from the noodles, they can burn from one second to the next, browning only takes about 2 min. As soon as they are brown, stand back and slowly pour in the 4 cups broth. Reduce heat to 3 or medium low, pour in ground beef and cover. Cook for about 8-10 min until noodles are cooked. While this is cooking, make the other 2 cups broth. After the noodles are cooked, pour in the remaining broth and serve.

This is best eaten with corn or flour tortillas. We are a family of 4 and this feeds us all dinner and a lunch for me and my 2 boys. Ground beef is $1.83 for a lb. at Wal-Mart, the noodles are $.55 and the broth cubes are $.67 for a package of 8. Very cheap, but very delicious meal. It sounds like a lot to do, but if you have all 3 things cooking at the same time it takes about 20 min to be ready. Like I said, I have tons of stuff I can share. Drop me a line if you want more. God Bless!

PS If you want to make it again, use 2 small or 1 large chicken breast/s. Boil chicken in water, tbsp. oil and I use a lot of salt to add flavor to the chicken. Cook it on medium heat for about 15-20min, remove from pot and pull apart into small shredded like pieces. Follow the recipe above the same. Both are delicious!

Answer 8

Wow. You have more money than me. I have been eating PB & J every night for dinner for the past 3 months and either not eating lunch at work altogether or just having spoonfuls of peanut butter because it is all I have. Quit complaining. I would love to eat like you do.

Answer 9

Try a Shepard's pie,,,meatloaf,,maybe a pork loin,,
brown off and drain some ground beef,and put it in a gravy, and put it over minute rice, or mashed potato's,,,jazz it up with onions, or what ever....

Answer 10

My daughter loves this recipe:

3 cups of cooked white rice
1 can of corn
1 pound of cooked ground beef
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
salt, pepper, onion and/or garlic powder to taste.

warm it on stove or micro