The "~$5 Meal Ideas~" thread...

[crystalanne79]

I've gotten many great ideas from this thread and I want to share one of mine.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf whole wheat bread ($1)
8 eggs ($1.50)
3 cups milk ($.75)

cinnamon
sugar

Mix together some sugar and cinnamon for topping. Tear bread into cubes and place half in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Mix the eggs and milk together and pour half of mixture over the bread and sprinkle with topping mix. Place the rest of the bread cubes in pan and repeat egg mixture and topping mix. Cover and refridgerate overnight (or over the day). Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Cover with foil and bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes. Serve with butter and syrup.

This is a great way for your whole family to be able to eat french toast at the same time! It reheats great as well. I usually cut it into servings and put each one in a freezer bag once it has cooled and then my DD can have french toast any morning she wants. Just thaw in microwave and it's better than the eggo waffles...and cheaper

[xamybethx]

I made this tonight, taste pretty good and it's easy.

1 box kraft ranch pasta salad (about $1.50)
1 pkg cubes hm (1lb found at walmart) ($2.50)

Cook ham in a non stick skillet and cook pasta according to box and then add the ham and chill. I tasted a bite of it and it tastes pretty good, we're having this for dinner.

-Another meal that was very cheap was sausage ($3) and pierogies ($2). Very filling, easy and cheap!

[crystaldawn_23]

Per request, bbq krispy meatballs

For meatballs:
1 lb ground beef (ground chuck/round is on sale for 1.89-$2 per lb almost every week here)
1egg
1 C rice krispies, divided (I even use stale ones that the kids won't finish off)
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 T dried onion (I add a small amt of water and let it sit to rehydrate)

For sauce mix: (I often double this because it is yummy)
6 T brown sugar
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 t nutmeg
2 t dry mustard

Combine ingredients for meatballs using about 3/4 cup of the cereal and saving 1/4 cup, add about half of the sauce to the meatball mix. Form into meatballs. place on a greased cookie sheet about two inches apart. Put more of the remaining sauce on the top of each meatball, sprikle with remaining rice krispies. Bake at 350 for about 30 ish minutes til cooked thru. I make them about an inch in diameter but you can make them bigger or even smaller for appetizers.

[heidisue]

Pizza Rolls

2 canisters of pillsbury croissant rolls ($1)
1 can tomato sauce ($0.15)
pepperoni ($1)
shredded cheese ($2 - but you don't need the whole package, not even close)

Lay the croissant rolls out and put a layer of tomato sauce, 2-3 pepperoni, and some shredded cheese on top. Roll them up and bake according to the directions on the roll canister. If you want them crispier then bake the flattened rolls for about 5 minutes before you put on the toppings.

Personally, I think they go great with green beans ($0.33).

[xamybethx]

Chili cheese frito burritos

Burrito size tortillas
2 cans generic no beans chili (or beans if you prefer)
1 sm pkg velveeta
1 bag corn chips

Heat up chili and velveeta in a sauce pan.
Place fritos on a burrito, cover with chili/cheese mixture, roll up and enjoy!

You could add chopped onions or shredded cheese. The kids ate this like frito pie. It tastes similar to Sonics frito wraps and Taco Bells. I loved it, if it's too cheesy use 1/2 the small velveeta.

[lamia]

have you ever tried Bertolli meals? (found in the frozen meals section )the farfalle with chicken and spinach is simply to die for and tastes far better than most dishes at restaurants.!

These are on sale at Kroger for 4.99 this week. most places like walmart and target have them for 5.99 every day

you can print out 2, 2.50 off coupons off the bertolli site.

http://www.bertollinightsin.com/coupon.aspx

add about a cup of cooked pasta to it.It has a bit more sauce than pasta in it.so the extra pasta will absorb the sauce better.
I also add red chilli powder to it to give it a little taste.you can also add cajun spice or shrimp to make it taste even better!
This will serve 3-4 people with a salad on the side.Kroger has Dole salads on clearance for $1 each every other day if you go late in the evening. There is a $1
coupon out off any bag of dole so free salad!.

Even better www.coupons.com has a 50 cents off coupon off 1 lt of Pepsi .kroger doubles coupons upto 50 cents everyday so free pepsi to go with the dinner!

Hope this helps someone! Have a queen's meal on a beer's budget.!

[taralynnel]

thanks, i can't wait to try these recipes!
here's my contribution:
Tuna Potatoes
4 baking potatoes, cooked (I do it in the microwave)
2 cans tuna, drained
1 cup mayonaise (we use Mircle Whip)
1/2-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I just eyeball it- we love cheese!)
chopped onion optional (I never put it in since my kids won't eat it)

cut baked potatoes in half and scoop out inside into a bowl (set aside shells). mix tuna, mayo, cheese, onion and potatoes together until well blended. scoop back into shells (i never do this but my mom always did).

it sounds gross, but it's really good and my kids LOVE it (even my picky 4 year old).

[luvin4kidz]

Curly noodles & Pork

1 lb pork tenderloin cit into 1/4 in strips
red bell pepper cut into strips
1C broccoli florets
4 gr. onions cut into 1in. pieces
1T veg. oil
1-1/2 cups water
2pkgs pork ramen noodles
1T soy sauce

Cook Pork and veggies in oil until meat is no longer pink. Add water, noodles, contents of seasoning packets, and soy sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 3-4 min. or until noodles are tender.

I also make this with chicken, beef, or hamburger and use oriental ramen instead of pork flavored.

[*lovestef*]

We love to make pizza! It is so quick and easy You can make your own pizza dough (for REALLY cheap pizza) but I like to get the dough at the grocery store when they go on sale for .75 each.
One pizza will feed about 3 people if you serve it with a salad
dough .75
few spoonfulls of sauce .10
1/2 package of shredded mozz 1.00
toppings (veggie or meat, whatever you like) about .50?
Total $2.35 (or less) for the equivalent of a small pizza at a restaurant and it tastes better too!

[ittybittycoconuts]

one of my favorite creations, also works well with boneless thighs. I generally have everything except the lemon and chicken already on hand. Serve with steamed rice and seasonal vegies.

Takeout style lemon chicken

Ingredients
for chicken:
4 boneless chicken breasts ($1.75lb on sale)
2 tbsp corn starch
1 egg (.20)
a few dashes salt and pepper
oil for frying
Lemon sauce:
juice of 1 lemon (.50)
1 c. water
1/3 c sugar
2 tbsp vinegar
few dashes of salt
2 tbsp corn starch

Directions
pound chicken breasts out until even
heat 1/4" of oil in frying pan
In a small bowl beat the egg with corn starch and salt and pepper
dredge chicken in mixure and add to frying pan. cook until done, set aside
For sauce:
in a small sauce pan add lemon, water and sugar bring to a boil stirring occasionally until sugar is desolved, reduce heat to low simmer
add vinegar and pinch of salt
in a separate bown mix 2 tbsp corn starch with 2 tbsp cold water until smooth. slowly pour into lemon mixture and stir until thickened.
To serve:
slice chicken into strips and pour sauce over, serve immediately. For a prettier presentation paper thin lemon slices can be used as garnish

Adjust sauce to taste by adding more vinegar if necessary (I prefer mine a little tangier so I add a little more than is called for)