okay groceries are tight this month, i need some help with some recipes please?

Question

i have ravioli and spaghetti but no sauce.
i have a bag of chicken.
i have a ton of frozen and canned veggies.
eggs
bread
milk
cheese
different kinds of noodles.
1lb hamburger
carrots
apples
there are 4 of us, my hubby and 2 young kids.
can anyone help me out???
I ran short on money this paycheck due to licence plates for the car. so i have 6 days till we get pain again.
thanks so much!!!

Answer 1

There are lots of websites with great recipes for those on a budget, but one I particularly like is Hillbillyhousewife.com There's lots of cost-cutting recipes, and mixes you can make yourself. There's even a recipe for their version of Shake & Bake that's very good. You can also try BettyCrocker.com You can check off certain ingredients from a list, and they give you potential recipes you can make with those ingredients.

Answer 2

Ok the ravioli and or spaghetti can be sauced with this. Cook them and add a cup of milk and a handful of cheese and stir until it is coated. If you have any frozen onions fry them up and add to the rest and add some green peas if you have them too. The bag of chicken I would boil for an hour until it was tender and KEEP the liquid you boiled it in but strain it. Take out the chicken and remove from the bones and dice, replace in the liquid with small diced carrots, onions if you have them, other frozen veggies such as broccoli or cauliflower and add enough noodles to absorb most of the liquid when they cook. When the noodles are done add a cup of milk.The hamburger I would make into a meatloaf with a twist. Add to it some diced onion, salt and pepper and any herbs you like, grated carrot, a whisked egg, breadcrumbs if you have them or can make them, corn kernels. Hard boil about 4 eggs and peel them. Lay half of the meatloaf out and make a small depression in it lengthwise. Lay the whole boiled eggs in the depression and cover with the rest of the hamburger. Wrap in tinfoil if you have it and cook it at 350 for about an hour then open the foil and cook for another 30 minutes to give it some color. These meals should be able to be stretched to 2 nights each especially if you add things like bread and sides of veggies. The apples I would save for the kids for snacks.

Answer 3

Of the top of my head...

Fried egg sandwiches
Ravioli with butter and parmesan
Boiled carrots with salt as a side
Chicken cooked with any spices you have on hand in a little bit of oil if available. If not boil in salted and seasoned water.
Grilled cheeses
Stir fry with chicken and frozen veggies (don't know how good the canned would be but you could try) simple stir fry sauce - garlic, soy sauce and honey or brown sugar.
You could make a soup with hamburger and frozen or canned veggies.
Hamburger and gravy over toast. Brown and cook hamburger thoroughly, add a few tablespoons of flour and cook a minute or two. Add milk maybe 3 or 4 cups. Add salt and pepper, and whatever else you think might add to the flavor. Slowly heat until it gets thick with a gravy consistancy. Don't let the milk boil heavily and stir often. Spoon it over toast.
An egg casserole with milk, cheese and some veggies would be good too.

Answer 4

you could make a cheese sauce for the spaghetti, or any noodle and make a caserole. for the cheese sauce just heat up some milk, melt your cheese in it, add some spices, anything you want really, then add in some flour to thicken it, like if you were making a gravy. you could mix it all together, or cook up the chicken and add some (not all if you want to save it for other meals) and bake it with more cheese on top and some bread crumbs.

you could also cook the chicken by boiling it and make a pot of chicken noodle soup. you could just use some of the meat saving more for an other meal. to add more flavor to your soup, fry up some carrots, onions and celery (if you have them) with some garlic in the bottom of your soup pot then add the water and boil away! be sure to flavor your stock with plenty of salt and peper and add in some rice or noodles twards the end. it might even last a couple of days.

if you have canned tomatoes, mushrooms, kidney beans, bakes beans and corn you could make a nice chili, and add the ground beef if you'd like, or it could be vegetarian. just cook your meat (if you want) drain the fat and add all of your veggies. simmer for a while and add in salt, peper, chili powder (or a couple of taco mixes) some garlic or onions, anything really. and beans are full of fiber.
you could also add another can of tomatoes the next day and use it as a pasta sauce

you could also make a pasta sauce with the canned tomatoes, just throw them in a pot, add some basil, italian seasoning (normally oregano, rosemary, basil and garlic powder) and whatever else you'd like (caned carrots, mushrooms, frozen spinich) and serve over ravioli, or pasta!

i hope that helps a little. this is the best time to try things out while you cook. dont be afraid to mix things up, and if it doesnt turn out quite right, you'll know for next time.

Answer 5

You don't need tomato sauce for pasta;-} use olive oil.
Or you can also make white sauce or cheese sauce.
1/4 cup butter, 1 tbsp flour, dash pepper, heat & stir 30 secs.
Gradually add 2 cups milk until just boiling & thickened.
Test that it coats back of spoon, then remove from heat.
Add grated cheeses, 1 1/2 cups each, whatever types.
Stir until cheese is melted; use with any pasta.

To make a casserole:
Brown ground beef in oil, with onions, peppers, & garlic.
Chopped celery & carrots are other good flavourings.
Add over pasta or rice or beans in a baking dish.
Grate chees over top, bake in oven at 350F until bubbly.

Apples can be cored & baked with butter & brown sugar.

Answer 6

Just a couple ideas that I use:
Homemade Chicken noodle soup
Mac and Cheese (use some of the noodles if you dont have elbow macaroni)
Frittata (dinner omelette with veggies, cheese, and bits of meat, if desired)
Homemade hamburger helper (kinda like the mac and cheese but with hamburger added and even some veggies)
Homemade applesauce

I wish you all the best. I have been in a bind like that many times. It is difficult but it will pass.

Answer 7

-chicken soup (chicken, noodles, vegetables) and grilled cheese sandwiches.
-meatloaf (soak bread in milk and mix with ground beef, egg, and some cheese) serve with noodles.
-ravioli tossed with chicken, vegetables in butter or oil.
-Omlets (with cheese and vegetables).
-egg salad sandwiches.
With left-overs you should be able to stretch this out for 6 days. Good luck!

Answer 8

try: CookingByNumbers.com

Answer 9

BECHAMEL SAUCE

6 tsp. unsalted butter
6 tsp. flour
1 qt. (4 c.) milk
1 onion
1 tsp. salt

Scald 1 qt. milk while being careful not to curdle.
In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour, combine well and whisk until golden brown. Gradually stir in the scalded milk, then add the onion. Cook over low heat for about an hour, stirring occasionally.

Strain through strainer.

CHICKEN BREAST WITH BECHAMEL SAUCE

BREAST MEAT:

1 chicken breast, skinned and boned
Pinch white pepper
Pinch sage, fresh or dry
1 to 2 lg. spinach leaves
1 slice imported Swiss cheese
1 slice prosciutto ham
1 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 to 3 dry porcini mushrooms, soaked in water
Flour and bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
Vegetable oil

BECHAMEL SAUCE:

2 oz. butter
1/2 med. shallot, chopped
3 to 4 mushrooms, sliced thin
2 oz. flour
1 c. hot milk
Pinch nutmeg
Salt to taste

Flatten chicken breast evenly all around. Sprinkle with sage and pepper. Place spinach on top, follow with Swiss cheese, prosciutto, grated Parmesan and mushrooms. Fold the meat on the right and left sides and roll it making sure the stuffing is well sealed. Dredge the breast roll with flour, dip into beaten egg then into bread crumbs. Heat oil (to cover bottom) in frying pan and fry chicken until golden brown on all sides. Remove from pan and put in baking dish in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
While chicken is cooking prepare the Bechamel sauce. Saute the shallots and mushrooms with butter in saucepan until shallots are wilted. Add flour and mix vigorously. Remove pan from heat, gradually add milk, mixing with a whisk to prevent lumps. Put saucepan back on the flame and bring to a slow boil and cook for about 5 minutes. Add nutmeg and salt.

Slice chicken roll, and serve with the sauce on the side.

Serves 1.

CHICKEN ROLLS WITH BECHAMEL SAUCE

5-6 chicken breasts
6 c. water
2 lg. onions, chopped
1 lg. celery stalk with leaves, chopped
2 bay leaves
6 parsley sprigs
Salt and pepper

Place chicken in pot with water, onion, celery, bay leaves and parsley. Bring to a boil; simmer 5 minutes. Skim liquid; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 1/2 hour or until chicken is tender. Cool chicken slightly in stock; remove to a plate. Bone and skin chicken; dice in 1/2 inch cubes. (Should measure 6 cups). Strain stock. Discard vegetables. Set aside.

FILLING:

3 tbsp. butter
2 1/2 c. chopped onion
2 c. celery
6 c. diced chicken
1/4 c. chopped parsley
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

In a skillet, saute onion in butter until soft. Add celery and saute until tender. In a large bowl, combine chicken, parsley, cheese, salt, and pepper. Add onions and celery from skillet; mix well.

BECHAMEL SAUCE:

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. flour
5 c. hot stock
Salt and pepper
6 egg yolks, beaten
1/2 c. fresh lemon juice

In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour. Cook gently stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Gradually add stock stirring until sauce thickens and bubbles. Salt and pepper to taste. Add a little sauce to beaten egg yolks and lemon juice; stir yolk mixture into sauce. Simmer over low heat a few minutes stirring constantly. Add 1 1/2 cups sauce to bowl of chicken mixture; mix well. Reserve remaining sauce for topping. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Farfalle with Asiago
SERVES 6 TO 8

1 pound cooked farfalle
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen peas, defrosted
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/3 cup heavy cream or non-fat Half-&-Half
1 cup finely diced Asiago cheese
Salt to taste
Grinding of black pepper

Add the oil to the same pot that the farfalle was cooked in, mix the pasta quickly over medium-high heat with the peas, tomatoes, cream, cheese and salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter and serve.

FAMILY MEATLOAF

2 lbs ground round
1 cup bread crumbs or crushed saltine crackers
2 eggs
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 small onion diced
1 clove garlic crushed
1 pkg meatloaf seasoning mix
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 small can tomato sauce

Mix ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, 1/2 cup cheese, onion, garlic, seasoning packet, and black pepper. Pour tomato sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Place in a loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours on bottom rack of oven.
Final internal temperature should be 170°F for ground beef. Ovens vary, so check meatloaf after 1 hour.

FRENCH TOAST

3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
10 slices bread

In a large bowl, mix beaten eggs with the milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Dip a slice of bread into mixture then place on a heated griddle that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side on medium / medium-high heat or until desired doneness.

GRANDPA'S ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

SOUP:

10 c. chicken broth
1 bunch endive, cleaned and sliced
Sage or poultry seasoning
1-2 eggs
Salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese

MEATBALLS:

1 lb. ground beef
Salt and pepper
Bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese
Oregano

First, combine all meatball ingredients listed above, or use your own recipe. Roll meatballs between the palms of your hands to shape 1-inch diameter balls. Set aside.
To prepare broth, you can use canned broth or save the broth created by broiling chicken from other dishes. Freeze or refrigerate the broth so all the fat collects at the top. Skim off the fat and discard. Bring the broth to a rolling boil.

In small bowl, crack the eggs and lightly beat with a fork. Add the beaten eggs by pouring in a THIN stream. As you pour the eggs, stir the broth so the egg is broken up and appears as threads throughout the broth. (Will look like Chinese Egg Drop Soup.)

Next, add the seasonings, tasting to please your palate. Then add endive and meatballs. Allow to simmer 2 hours or more. The longer the ingredients "marry, " the better the flavor.

GRANNY'S FAVORITE APPLE PIE

Crust:

2 3/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter
2 to 3 tbsp. cold water


Filling:

4 apples (tart apples preferred)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbs starch

Crust:

Combine flour, shortening, salt, and butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Gradually stir in water to form dough. Divide dough in half and shape into a flat round shape. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper and chill for half an hour. Fit one of the circles into a 9 inch pie pan. fill with filling and cover with second sheet of dough. You may also cut the top layer into strips before placing it on top of the filling.

Filling:

Peel apples and cut into thin wedges. Combine with sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix together. Put filling into pie crusted pan. Bake at 400°F for 40-50 minutes.
Serve warm with whipped cream.

hope these help. enjoy.