Cheap Dinners?

I just recently started following a blogger/pinner called Budget Bytes. She had a good recipe for split pea, bacon, potato soup and I noticed that she breaks the recipe down by what she paid and how much it ends up being per person. I really liked that. The soup ended up being .81 cents per person. Here's a link to her pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/budgetbytes/

Just scale back. You don’t have to eliminate meat – you just have to stretch it and supplement with inexpensive fillers. Don’t tell the kids it’s because you can’t afford it – make it more of a challenge game with “less of a carbon footprint” and “better health”.

Buy in season – give up strawberries in February, and don’t buy fresh foods from halfway around the world. Give the kids the weekly circular and a sharpie marker, and have the circle the best buys (good education for them too, about what it costs to feed a family!). Get a few cookbooks from the library (free!) and have them look at pictures of what looks like fun. Make each kid the decision-maker for 4 meals each – then do one a week from each kid utilizing the fixings in an organized way (chicken 3 ways, beef 3 ways….)

What were you doing with all the leftovers when you served a meat meal with 3 sides and a dessert? That’s a ton of food so there must have been uneaten portions. Learn to re-purpose those foods in new ways for leftovers.

Put some basic staples in your pantry – things that don’t spoil: brown rice, barley, lentils, dried beans or canned (but dried are cheaper - kidney, pinto, black), pasta (I go for whole wheat – more filling, more fiber), canned tomato puree or crushed tomatoes, frozen veggies (spinach, broccoli, corn, butternut squash, peppers & onions – just plain, not the boil-in-bag with sauces), bread (buy on sale and freeze), pizza dough, chicken and vegetable stock, soy sauce, a few basic spices. Put some potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions in a dark place. Buy eggs – they are cheap sources of protein.

Buy meat when it’s on special, then split and freeze. Do you have a crockpot? It’s great for less expensive cuts of meat, and it cooks all day and then your dinner is ready. It requires prep and organization, that’s all.

Rachael Ray has done many segments on how to cook for the week on a budget – go to her magazine or TV show websites and look for creative ideas. You’ll see ideas for roasting a whole chicken or turkey, which becomes 1 meal “as is” and then the basis for soups, stews, tacos/enchiladas, wrap sandwiches, salad bars. While the poultry is roasting, cook up beans (that you soaked overnight) and brown up some ground beef or ground turkey (or half & half), and create a chili or a hearty soup. Reserve some of the ground meat and mix with onion and some bread crusts (soaked), and make a meatloaf (good for a meal and for sandwiches). Use the ground meat, cooked with some onion or just grab a handful of frozen onions & frozen peppers and frozen corn, and put them in a stripe down the center of a tortilla with some of the beans. Do 6-8 of these and make enchiladas. Put those in the oven with tomato sauce & cheese on top. Add 8 ounces frozen spinach to 3 eggs and 8 ounces of Swiss cheese (small cubes), and pour in a pie plate: frittata. Puree up some butternut squash and mix it with cheddar cheese cubes, mix with cooked pasta: mac & cheese with a veggie base.

Take what’s on sale and create a fun Chinese stir fry – cut up meat or firm tofu, then veggies, stirred in canola oil until crisp tender. Add the veggies into the frying pan for 1-2 minutes each, starting with those that take the longest time to cook (broccoli) and ending with the shortest (celery, mushrooms). I take all those veggies and use them again in soups & stews: carrots & celery in stir fry but also lentil soup or chicken soup, broccoli and zucchini in pizza, onions in meatloaf….

Scrub and trim a sweet potato and an Idaho or Yukon gold potato, add whatever veggies you wish (onion peeled & cut in quarters, broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrots….), put on a cookie sheet and toss in a little olive or canola oil and some herbs of choice (we like dill) plus salt & pepper. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes, turning once. I do this with my own chicken “nuggets” or tenders – just cut up chicken breasts in nugget-sized pieces, dip in egg and then a mix of wheat germ and whole wheat bread crumbs, quick fry in oil to crisp up, and then finish in the oven on a cookie sheet while the veggies roast in the next pan.

Pizza dough – put a small amount of sauce and some mozzarella cheese shreds on it, then top with what you have to use up. Look at the menu for any pizzeria for ideas: 2 leftover broccoli florets, 2 sliced leftover meatballs, a half cup of frozen spinach (let it defrost and drain), a half cup of chicken, what’s left of a green pepper that’s looking a little soft, …you get the idea.

Dessert: instead of pie, why not use fruit in season or on sale (apples and pears) with some oatmeal (very cheap) and brown sugar to create a fruit crisp. No expense for the effort of making a pie crust, but still sweet and heavy on the fiber.

This can be a great lesson for your kids on how to live economically in college and their 20s!

If you have questions on any recipes, let me know.

Good luck!

I'm sorry for you loss.

I rarely make a dinner that costs more than $12 but we rarely have steak.
Stew, chili, home made pizza or a ready made crust, hamburgers, enchallidas, spaghetti, pesto, lasagna, meatloaf, stir fries with rice, Soups, grill chicken and veggie skewers. We always have a veggie or salad. Grass fed organic beef and would rarely hit $20 a meal but my kids are all elementary age. We don't always have an starch if it isn't in the main meal.

Hth

Pasta and beans and potatoes are good fillers. You can do spaghetti for cheap with some garlic bread and salad. We buy pasta when it is $1 a box. One brand or another is usually on sale at least once a month. We also do breakfast for dinner, and leftovers. You should also consider vegetarian meals once a week, to cut down on the meat and lower the price for that night's meal. You can also take a lesser cut of meat and put it in the crock pot with whatever veg was on sale, or make a chili (veggie or meat). We tend to buy what is in season and at a good price, and where we can save money on long shelf life items, we may use those pennies for other things. Example, if I can get bulk paper towels for $1 each but in the big, quality rolls, I'll buy a pack or two then and not need more for a while. Bear in mind that prepackaged usually means more $$ so if you can avoid having it precut or "steam in bag", you'll save a few dollars. I also agree on changing dessert to something else or cutting back to once a week. If you can't swing steak tacos, try regular hamburger tacos. Or do steak and no pie.

http://www.recipe.com/ also has ideas.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

As far as dinners go, you can stretch the meat more by doing soups, casseroles, anything Italian or Mexican. I can do a 9x13 of Taco's In a Pasta Shell with 1 package of hamburger. It also has black beans, corn, scallions, taco seasoning, a block of cream cheese, 1 box of jumbo shells, and cheese and salsa for toppings - probably less than $15 and it will feed 6 people easily. Only 3 of the 5 people in my house eat it (my husband is super picky and my 9 year old can't stand black beans), so it lasts us for two meals.

If I have 2 chicken breasts left over, I'll make a box of Pasta Roni Alfredo and toss in the chicken. Or layer stuffing on the bottom of a pan and top it with the chicken and lots of frozen vegetables, then cream of chicken soup and cheese. All staple things in my house - this is a hit with all 5 of us.

Casseroles really go so far. I can use 1 package of chicken for something that will last 2 dinners. You can also skim back on the sides. I think it's too much even if you have all the money in the world. So if you have taco's, also do a side of rice and beans...nothing else is needed.

And dessert should be a treat - sometimes. Absolutely not nightly.

I grew up eating a dish called hay stacks. Its like mexican salad, only its on a base of corn chips and beans (these days use brown rice and beans as a base and garnish with corn chips ). Everyone adds their own toppings; lettuce, tomato, olive, onion, cheese, sour cream. Always a great crowd pleaser too. And easy to make.
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I agree to cut out dessert. Its a good practice even if you don't need to budget. Make dessert a once a week special thing.

stir frys are a great way to use up your vegetables too. Again, eat with brown rice and add a bit of meat for flavor if you want.

I would be so bloated if I ate as many courses as you describe. You described a meal i'd have if we had guests. This may be a good opportunity to simplify your diet.

Turkey goes on sale several times a year for less than $1 per pound. A small turkey is really easy to cook. Serve with potatoes and carrots and you can provide a family with at least 2 meals for $15.

Chicken legs and backs, pork shoulder, stewing hens, chuck roast, stewing beef and ground beef are all very inexpensive and versatile. Potatoes, pasta and rice are very cheap. Make sure you are purchasing the correct cuts of meat, for example, for steak taco's you shouldn't be using expensive steak like porterhouse, but cheap cuts like skirt, flank or round. Don't use pork tenderloin for pulled pork, use pork shoulder. Cook from scratch, do not purchase expensive convenience items. Wash your own lettuce for salad and grate your own cheese. Don't buy single serve items.

Only purchase fresh fruits and veggies when in season. Only purchase expensive cuts of meat and cheese when on sale. Only serve dessert once a week. Serve one meatless dish per week.

allrecipes.com has great recipes.

There is no reason a family should be spending $25-$50 per meal, that should be for a special occasion. I made homemade mexican rice and it cost me about $4, the chicken tacos & all the fixings cost me about $10, beans cost about $3, homemade guacamole was $5......and this fed 8 people. We were all stuffed.

Do you think there is a portion control issue?

Sorry for your loss, I hope you can find ways to budget.

I am going to private message you some meals and tricks for making meals turn into other meals. I only spend about $100 a week and feed myself, hubby and my 19 year old son. So you can definitly make meals for less than what your doing. You might have to cut out desserts some of the time or make them homemade and have them last several days. I only make desserts about once a month lol But I do have cookies and ice cream in the fridge.

I'm sorry about your husband.

I don't really budget when I'm preparing meals but I do shop smart. My grocer routinely has good pork chops and loins at buy on get one free. I stock up and freeze portions for our family. I buy all of my beef from my butcher and it's high end quality. I pay $15+ for a steak BUT... My family if 3 can be fully satisfied with 1 good steak and a couple of small sides.

We don't care for sweets so I don't make desserts. That's a nice chunk of change there. If you must have dessert... Make it fresh fruit or something like that instead of cakes, pies and cookies.

It sounds like you cook a lot of food. Can you downsize your portions? I have a protein drink in the morning, average, filling healthy lunch ( ex: 1/2 sandwich and soup or salad) and small dinner ( lemon chicken, pasta, etc). I don't understand what you are buying if you spend $50 a night on dinner. Granted... I often have a $50 rib roast or something like that but it's special occasions. I'd be sick if I ate that much daily and at one sitting.

Portion control and moderation help a lot with personal weight control but you also save money if you are cooking just enough and not too much food. I still throw out food but I'm learning. Hubby eats more than I do so when cooking chicken breasts I cook a nice sized one for him and small or 1/2 one for me. It takes practice to balance it out.

Save money ( and health) buy not buying junk and keeping in it your home... Sodas are a huge expense and so bad for you!!! Take advantage on healthy items to stock up on.

Cheap is not always best!!! You get what you pay for. It's not worth good cheap on your food only to end up overeating, getting sick, and not have proper nutrients.

Best wishes

I would cut out dessert except perhaps on weekends. I would shop somewhere like Costco where you can buy the larger packages of meat and then break it down into what you need for a family of 5 and then store in the freezer. One meat, one veggie, and one starch is enough. You can cut back on the amount of meat in each meal if you make chilli, soups, and casseroles. I will roast a chicken and we will eat that with a veggie and mashed potatoes one night. The next night I will take chicken meat that was left and make an enchilada casserole. The next day I will cook the chicken bones all day to make a large amount of broth. Half of that will be used to make homemade soup. You can also have many meatless nights. Sometimes we will have quesadillas and a salad. Or baked potatoes with toppings for dinner. Or veggie lasagna. Or we will have bean burritos or bean soup. Good luck with your budgeting!

I'm sorry for your loss. You've received plenty of useful advice so far.

Definitely buying in bulk on many things will be a great way to go. We go to BJ's for meats like chiken, pork, and beef. When I get it all home then the real work begins. I clean, season and separate the meats and repackage for freezing and cooking at a later time.

If your family is anything like mine you may have many members gorging themselves silly on meat. The recommended potion of meat protein is a palm size. When I dish out the food, which is often when I'm trying to control their ridiculous intake. I load their plates up with rice, potatoes, veggies, and/or beans (when not using them for a meat substitute).

You may want to see a nutritionist that could be covered by your health insurance to find out some very great things as it relates to nutrition, recipies and the like.

You won't have to lack on tastes but will need to make some changes you weren't conscious of before.

Soups and stews can be made in the crockpot.
Dessert once per week.
Buy the meats that are on sale that week.
A few days per week, sprinkle in homemade pizza, pizza rolls made with pizza dough, salad topped with grilled chicken breast, hamburgers, or other quick & easy dinners...
Breakfast for dinner
Pasta. You can use 2 lbs of meat to make enough meat sauce for two dinners.
Good luck to you!

Last night we ate red beans and rice with cornbread. A friend gave us some venison, so I used one link of venison sausage to flavor the beans.
Sometimes I add mustard greens to that meal.

Meat does not have to be the centerpiece of the meal. I can feed three people dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day by making meat an ingredient instead of an entree. For example, I can take three chicken thighs and cut them into bite size pieces, stir fry them with a bag of frozen vegetables, and serve over rice. There will be enough for all three of us to eat our fill and have leftovers for lunch the next day. If I gave each person one thigh with a side of vegetables and a side of rice, that would only be enough for one meal.

Great advice already! Thought I would add a crockpot meal I make that is super easy and cheap.
1 bag of 15 bean soup mix (dried beans)...throw out the insert of flavoring, of course you could use it, I just don't
2 cans Rotel
2 or 3 extra cups of water
Cook on low in crockpot for 8 or so hours. This is a basic recipe, but I also add chili powder, cumin, sometimes some cooked ground beef at the end of the cooking time, sometimes a ham hock or piece of ham to cook with it all day for flavoring. Sometimes we eat with rice or in a tortilla shell or in a bowl with added cheese, hot sauce, etc.
It makes ALOT and is good for leftovers and freezing.

Best of luck to your family. So sorry about your loss.

First thing that comes to mind in reading your post is to cut out dessert.
Also, cut down on the amount of sides to 1 or 2 max!
When making steak tacos, choose a cheaper cut of meat. Also, don't
make steak very often....expensive.
I have changed to making 1-2 meatless meals a week (spaghetti w/sauce
only & sauteed veggies w/rice (in place of Chinese takeout).
Use ground turkey in place of ground beef for healthier/cheaper eating.
I make meatloaf w/the ground turkey, mashed potatoes goes a long way.
Veggie or meat lasagna. Homemade or huge Stouffer's one.
For sides, I serve white or brown rice (cheap in big bags).
Make tacos w/ground turkey (get the big chubs....serves a lot), add can
of Rosarita bean OR Spanish rice.
Make taco salad. Big bowl of shredded lettuce, diced red onions, can of
drained/rinsed black or pinto beans (for protein), diced tomatoes, small
bag of crushed Doritos or corn chips, can of drained corn, mix w/sm
bottle of Thousand Island dressing.
Get a big pack of chicken legs/breasts & barbeque them up, serve with
salad, baguette of bread.
Cheap sides ($1 baguette of bread, rice, salad).
In summer when I buy corn on the cobb, i look for the best deals 6 cobbs
for x amt of money.
You could start a garden for easy things (tomatoes, herbs, lemons,
squash).
Pizza night. Serve w/salad.
When I make spaghetti, serve w/salad & garlic bread.
If you have to have dessert, buy a cheap bucket of ice cream. Also, make
your own cakes & brownies from boxes.
Make choc chip cookies from scratch & make them small so you get more.
Shepherd's pie. Makes a big pan. Use ground turkey...cheaper.
Once in a blue moon, make ribs.
Shop for deals on meats.
Again, go meatless twice a week.
I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Start watching the cooking channel & think of ways you can make that dish cheaper.
Make chicken or veggie soup, serve w/crusty bread.
Make homemade chili, serve w/crackers or cruty bread.
Make hamburgers. For ease, use premade patties. However, that's more
expensive so I'd buy a big package of beef & make your patties.
Another thing that's yummy w/chili is biscuits. Buy premade.
Anything you can make from scratch (biscuits, cakes etc) will generally
be chaper.

Sit down and write up a menu for a week. Check what you have in your pantry and use it up. Sometimes the meals come out strange but good.

If you write down the meals you plan to make for a week you can see where you can make more and freeze for a later date. Also do not be afraid to buy in bulk and divide it out into meal size portions and cook. Or cook the meat and divide into meal size portions. Use veggies and starches as fillers for the meals to fill up people. Cook from scratch and not from the box as you will get your money's worth and have less processed foods in the house.

Meat does not have to be the center piece of the meal. So you can cut back on it. Try smaller plates as people try to fill up the whole plate (eyes bigger than stomach approach). Make desserts for the weekend not every night. Serve fruits instead of cakes, cookies, pies and such.
Can you change the time of your meal since you are in Tucson and the heat has a lot to do with when people eat. I lived there many years back and enjoyed the temps.

Good luck to you. Can you grow a garden for the summer? That will help you with the cost of veggies and get the kids involved in the care of the garden.

the other S.

Part of Menu planning:

Ham for Sunday night: Ham is $25.00 or so.. (depending on size).

Ham left over for the week.

We typically have enough ham for samwhiches for the week.
I make augrauten potatoes with him for one night.
I also make Split pea soup. .

If it looks like there is more, I think of other meals, or a Freeze that portion of ham for another time.

Turkey: Have the Turkey for the Family meal on Sunday.
Take left overs for lunches
Make Turkey pot pie.
Make broth or turkey soup.

It is looking at meal planning, not just for tonight ,but for all week.
Good luck