What's your favorite cheap recipe?

Brain of J.Lo
Brain of J.Lo Posts: 3,259
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
In light of rising grocery costs, I'm obsessed with finding cheap ways to feed my family. What's your favorite cheap recipe?
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • mindi
    mindi Posts: 1,862
    spaghetti is always cheap.

    soup and sandwiches

    Let me think on it, my kids are killing each other right now, gotta go break up a fight.
    To 10c; "Your PJ tshirt should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady." - bionicamy
  • _Crazy_Mary_
    _Crazy_Mary_ Posts: 1,299
    Well, I don't shop organic, so that saves $$ right there. I try to buy whatever protein is on sale. Today I bought chicken for $0.99/lb. I bought a package of fresh green beans for $2.50 and I'll serve those with short grain brown rice (which costs $2.20/package but I'm only using 1/4 of the package). So the entire meal will cost about $6-$7 for my family to have a healthy dinner.
    I really screwed that up. I really Schruted it.
  • ledvedderman
    ledvedderman Posts: 7,762
    Buffalo Chicken Dip...it's heaven on Earth
  • mindi
    mindi Posts: 1,862
    Eggs are coming back down in price. I was paying about $10 for 5 dozen. Now they are a bit more than $7 for 5 dz.

    My kids love eggs. Boiled,fried,scrambled they don't care. You can make egg salad too. Great cheap source of protein.

    I shop the sales too. And look for discounted stuff that is close to the use by date.
    To 10c; "Your PJ tshirt should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady." - bionicamy
  • TrixieCat
    TrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Beans.
    I love to buy a bag of dried beans and cook a pot.
    They are great with rice, in burritos, with chicken.
    Cheap, cheap, cheap
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,164
    Pasta-make a big lasagne or a baked rigatoni (you can get as fancy with the ingredients as you like) on Sun and it is good for at least three meals

    Beans. Dried preferable, but there is almost no end to the dishes you can make-soups, chilis, burrito filings, simple bean salads-black beans, lentils and chick peas are my favs, very cheap and good.

    Look for the best prices on fruit and veggies, sometime I go to three stores for produce depending on price.

    I spend a fortune at the butcher and the fish market I try to find other ways to cut costs.
  • _Crazy_Mary_
    _Crazy_Mary_ Posts: 1,299
    I have to agree that beans are a great deal. Dried beans are dirt cheap!
    If it were up to me, I wouldn't make pasta. I'm actually mad at myself for having pasta today, but I guess once every 6 months isn't that bad. If you're looking to feed your family for cheap, then by all means, make pasta. If you want to feed your family on the cheap and be healthy, go with beans.
    I really screwed that up. I really Schruted it.
  • Lukin66
    Lukin66 Posts: 3,063
    I love hamburger helper stroganoff :o
    deep, deep blue of the morning
    gets to me every time
  • gabers
    gabers Posts: 2,787
    Two words:

    Frito Pie
  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,164
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Beans.
    I love to buy a bag of dried beans and cook a pot.
    They are great with rice, in burritos, with chicken.
    Cheap, cheap, cheap


    didnt see that, great idea
    ;)
  • TrixieCat
    TrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Get_Right wrote:
    didnt see that, great idea
    ;)
    :)
    I love that you cook beans, you being all savvy with meat and seafood.
    I don't know if I ever did garbanzos. I love doing a huge pot of black or pinto.
    I don't know if it is the iron my body craves, but sometimes I just crave beans.
    :o

    Oh and soups. Cheap, cheap.
    I have a great market near me that sells fresh produce for great prices. I will buy a butternut squash, some carrots, onions and celery. And add some spices. So yummy and awesome for you.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • Phantom Pain
    Phantom Pain Posts: 9,876
    Buffalo Chicken Dip...it's heaven on Earth

    We make that everytime we have people over

    It's gone in no time

    I prefer the celery sticks with it rather than crackers
    My drinking team has a hockey problem

    The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill



    A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
  • Collin
    Collin Posts: 4,931
    When I was hitchhiking in the States my primary source of food was Campbell's beefaroni and bread.

    But I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for :D
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


    naděje umírá poslední
  • TrixieCat
    TrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Buffalo Chicken Dip...it's heaven on Earth
    Recipe please.
    Thank you.
    Or I could get off my lazy hag butt and google it.
    :)

    This? Sounds healthy. :p

    INGREDIENTS

    * 2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained
    * 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
    * 1 cup Ranch dressing
    * 3/4 cup pepper sauce, such as Franks® Red Hot®
    * 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
    *
    * 1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
    * 1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers


    DIRECTIONS

    1. Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • Trailer
    Trailer Posts: 1,431
    I love girls who know how to cook.:D Out of all the girls I have dated, I've always been the one who is better in the kitchen:eek: Some day I'll find one:rolleyes:...
    Whoa, chill bro... you know you can't raise your voice like that when the lion's here.
  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,164
    TrixieCat wrote:
    :)
    I love that you cook beans, you being all savvy with meat and seafood.
    I don't know if I ever did garbanzos. I love doing a huge pot of black or pinto.
    I don't know if it is the iron my body craves, but sometimes I just crave beans.
    :o

    Oh and soups. Cheap, cheap.
    I have a great market near me that sells fresh produce for great prices. I will buy a butternut squash, some carrots, onions and celery. And add some spices. So yummy and awesome for you.


    mmmm garbanzos make a great little salad, with thinly sliced purple onion, olive and vinegar, and oregano. Season to taste. And always better the next day! They are nice in an indian or morrocan style stew/tangine as well.

    You crave good food. Beans are good food. :)

    Soups, I dont make enough of them. I think its because I havent found a store bought stock that I like and I always feel like I need to make it from scratch-and who has time for that???

    Everything is expensive near me. Premium gas is $4.35 right now!!!!
  • TrixieCat
    TrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Get_Right wrote:
    mmmm garbanzos make a great little salad, with thinly sliced purple onion, olive and vinegar, and oregano. Season to taste. And always better the next day! They are nice in an indian or morrocan style stew/tangine as well.

    You crave good food. Beans are good food. :)

    Soups, I dont make enough of them. I think its because I havent found a store bought stock that I like and I always feel like I need to make it from scratch-and who has time for that???

    Everything is expensive near me. Premium gas is $4.35 right now!!!!
    I eat alot of garbanzos...i just don't think I have ever cooked them from scratch.
    You said tangine. :)
    Pea soup is inexpensive and really yummy too. :)
    Oh and lentils. :)
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • HailHailVitalogy
    HailHailVitalogy Posts: 6,020
    ramen + beer
    2003: Uniondale, MSG x2 | 2004: Reading | 2005: Gorge, Vancouver, Philly | 2006: East Rutherford x2, Gorge x2, Camden 1, Hartford | 2008: MSG x2, VA Beach | 2009: Philly x3 | 2010: MSG x2, Bristow | 2011: Alpine Valley x2 | 2012: MIA Philly | 2013: Wrigley, Charlottesville, Brooklyn 2 | 2014: Milan, Amsterdam 1 | 2016: MSG x2, Fenway x2, Wrigley 2 | 2018: Rome, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 2 | 2021: Sea Hear Now | 2022: San Diego, LA x2, MSG, Camden, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver | 2023: St. Paul 1, Chicago x2, Fort Worth x2, Austin 2 | 2024: Las Vegas 1, Seattle x2, Indy, MSG x2, Philly x2, Baltimore, Ohana 2 2025: Florida x2, Atlanta x2, Pittsburgh x2
  • mindi
    mindi Posts: 1,862
    My kids love ramen! I try to limit it since it is really crappy healthy wise. They love when I add stuff to it. Their favorite is to add scrambled eggs to it. They like vegies in it. I add whatever is leftover in the fridge.

    We eat a lot of frozen vegies.

    I can get a 10 lb bag of chicken leg quarters for under $5. we cut the leg and thigh apart and bbq the legs for the kids and put hot sauce on the thighs for us.
    To 10c; "Your PJ tshirt should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady." - bionicamy
  • meme
    meme Posts: 4,695
    I just blew 40 dollars on lamb chops with smashed green peas and pita. But I think it was worth it :o
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.