favorite food on a budget?

[The_Natural]

I lived off of Chili Mac in college.  I had it down to a science.  I could get two meals out of a box of Great Value Macaroni and Cheese mixed with a can of Great Value Chili with no beans.  Two meals for under $1.40.

[The_Natural]

The gross one...

I cook ramen noodles, save the flavor packets for later, drain the water, mix the noodles with cottage cheese, and spice with salt and pepper.

When I tell people that, they look like they want to puke. ;D

My mom invented 'green noodles and cottage cheese', which was spinach noodles mixed with cottage cheese.  It ruled....

[looking4structure]

Ramon noodles with cheese and cut up summer sausage has always worked for me.

[Slip Gun]

Ok heres a good meal on the cheap - I made this at college for my whole fraternity for our Christmas party. Takes about an hour to make.

Baked Ziti with Motz

1 Tbs Olive oil *can use other oil if none around its expensive*

2 garlic cloves

1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes

2 tbs fresh basil *can substitute about 2-3 tsp dry*

1/4 tsp sugar

1 pound ziti pasta

8 oz shredded motz *if your using a block put it in the fridge for 30 min to an hour before trying to shred it makes it much easier*

1/4 cup grated Romano cheese *more never hurts **can use parm*

1. Begin water boiling

2. Get a large non stick skillet add oil and minced garlic cook until you can smell the garlic *minute or three*

3. add cans of tomatoes to garlic in pan and bring to simmer if using dry basil add now.

4. If not using dry basil add after it has been cooking for about 15-20 minutes, after its thickened. At this point also add your sugar and salt to taste.

5. Add salt to boiling ziti water and cook ziti till still firm but cooked.

6. Drain ziti, toss with thickened sauce. *note you may reserve sauce at this point to losen the sauce but I do not recommend it personally I find it comes out just right without it.

7. oil *pam is good* 9x13 inch pan and spread half of ziti in bottom. Now add half the cheese motz and romano.

8. add the remainder ziti then add remainder cheese

9. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes until browned

This will feed two people for about 3-4 meals atleast for around $15 bucks

[Catt]

Smothered Chicken (feeds 6-8 for under $15)

Prep Time: 2 hours

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 (3-pound) fryer chicken

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup flour

¾ cup vegetable oil

½ diced onions

½ diced celery

¼ diced bell peppers

1 tbsp minced garlic

2 cups chicken stock

½ cup sliced green onions

½ cup chopped parsley

Method:

Cut fryer into serving pieces and season well with salt and pepper. Lightly coat chicken in flour then set aside. In a 1-gallon Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Saut é chicken, a few pieces at a time until golden brown on all sides, remove and set aside. Using same oil, saut é onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Place chicken on top of saut éed vegetables in Dutch oven. Add 1 cup of chicken stock and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook chicken 45 minutes, stir occasionally, adding chicken stock if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Add green onions and parsley. Continue to cook 45 minutes or until chicken is tender. Serve over steamed white rice.

[Branuss04]

This thread has me in the mood for a giant Tri-Tip!!  

[Tokyo Tony]

large bag of puffed Cheese Doodles + tv = an amazing experience

[I.rar]

good stuff guys.

my fiance has made a couple dishes that were super cheap. her grandparents (or great grandparents?) made them during the depression. i think one of them was published in a cookbook as well.

spanish delight

egg noodles

flour

tomato soup

corn

and ground beef.

ill get the exact quantities later.

brown the beef.

mix the soup , flour , corn and noodle (not sure if they cook in the oven , or you precook them).

throw in the oven for 40 minutes on 350* and cover with shredded cheese.

soupy spaghetti

angel hair noodles

tomato juice - 64oz jug. i think you add water to it as well.

beef - 1lb

onion

mix the juice , browned beef , diced onion in a pot. cook the noodles in that. simple , cheap and excellent on a cold day. ive tried to add peppers and over stuff in there but the fiance wont let me lol.

[lightsout]

 Lived alone for about a year and a half a while back, and I hated spending a ton of money on food for just one person. I got to be pretty good at savin a buck. Friends wouldnt believe me when I would go grocery shoppin and eat good for 2 weeks on 40 bucks or so.

Heres a few tips:

Cube steaks- You can get a huge pack (usually 5 or 6 big "steaks" ) for 5 or 6 bucks. If your not a food snob, these cook really fast and taste great.

Chef boyardee canned spaghettis and the like- you can catch em on sale for less than a dollar at times, and it makes darn near a full meal.

Oatmeal- A box goes a long way

mixable drinks- lemonade, cool aid, and my favorites were the gatorade propel types. Big lots has a 10 pack for .90

One thing I liked to do was hit a discount store like big lots first, often they have killer deals that you might not expect. Then go to a grocery store and get whatever you have left there.

Also if you pay attention to the date, most places have a day where they mark down items in the meat section...keep your eye out for that.

If you hunt or have access to venison its really versitle and quite tasty if you know what your doing.

This thread's makin me hungry!!!!!

[Simp]

Totinos frozen pizzas. and sometimes those $1 microwavable meals .

[Slip Gun]

Totinos frozen pizzas. and sometimes those $1 microwavable meals .

X2 I love those pizzas! but it turns out after eating em for a bit they make you feel kinda weird.

[bilgerat]

3 lb pack of ground beef. Breadcrumbs, a couple of eggs, and whatever seasonings you have on hand. Make a truckload of meatballs. Bake them then freeze them.

Large can of crushed tomatoes can be had for a buck on sale. Same for a 1 lb box of pasta.

Lots of filling meals there and spaghetti makes for good leftovers.....

A crock pot is a great budget way to cook tasty meals . You really can't screw them up and cheaper (tougher) cuts of beef will be fork tender after 5 - 6 hours of slow cooking.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

ooddles of noodles,sardines,vienna sausage,i could live off this if i didnt have the reaallllllllllllllyy gooood free stuff "DEER" 8-)

[mrlitetackle]

as for the one you mentioned.......

i always called it "college casserole".

my version was...

1 box shells and cheese

frozen peas

1 can tuna

2 tbl spoons mayo

cook shells and 1/2 pack frozen peas.

when done, add the tuna (drained)

then add the cheese sauce and 2 spoons of mayo...

mix and enjoy!

**if you really want to jazz this up, put the final creation in a casserole dish,

top liberally with coarsely crushed plain lays potato chips,

and bake in 350 degree oven for about '10 min.

....makes it fancy!!!

....my favorite super cheap meal,

none other than bo-bo-chicken-pesto!

need,

1 pack bowtie pasta

2 chick breasts (i use the cheap bags of individually frozen ones )

2 powdered sauce packs of pesto

self explanatory at that point,

cook pasta, cook chicken, make sauce....

put all together.......

top with parmesan....(it makes this go from great to AWESOME).

...cheap or not, i love this stuff....... i tend to make it at least once a month!

[grimlin]

as for the one you mentioned.......

i always called it "college casserole".

my version was...

1 box shells and cheese

frozen peas

1 can tuna

2 tbl spoons mayo

cook shells and 1/2 pack frozen peas.

when done, add the tuna (drained)

then add the cheese sauce and 2 spoons of mayo...

mix and enjoy!

My mom makes that for cookouts.Oh man,now i gotta make that sometimes this week! I haven't had that in almost 7 years.

Here's mine.....

1 head of cabbage

1 big can of tomato soup

1/2 bag of celery

1/2 bag of carrots

1 onion

Get a big pot and pour in tomato soup,cut up onion,carrots,celery and cabbage to small bite sizes.Put it all in the pot and let it sit on a medium-high heat covered.Stir occasionally till everything is tender and soft.  

You can make a bigger batch and freeze leftovers till you want it again.

I recommend some Italian bread buttered up to slop up the soup with.

[guitarkid]

Peanut butter sandwiches and pepperoni sandwiches.

                  -gk

[adclem]

Grilled cheese, Ramen noodles, Totinos pizza, frozen burritos, El Charriot mexican meals, pot pies.

Later,

[Red]

Cook up a pack or two of beef flavored ramen noodles, drain and then mix in seasoning.  then add a can of dinty moore beef stew or campbells chunky sirliion burger soup over top.  salt pepper and i add a touch of butter to mine.  or make a peanut butter and dill pickle samich!!! mmmmm!!!  ;D

[Koop]

Take a pack of cheap burritos, like the 8 pack that costs $3. Put it in a cassarol dish, cover with a can of enchilada sauce ($1) and cover with shredded cheese. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Another idea, buy a baked chicken at the grocery usually about $5 and a pack of hamburger buns.  Shred the chicken and have sammiches... this will last for a few meals.

[pa mountain man]

I thought of another, though not as cheap.

Our local butcher offers hamburg at $1.75 per pound if you buy 10 or more pounds.  Its limitless with hamburg, hamburgers,meat balls, meatloaf, ect, ect. I like to marinade hamburgers in Italian dressing over night, it's awsome!

[scootz]

my grandpa used to take about 2 pounds of hamburger meat and some pintos put them in a pot and let it simmer all day, that with a cake of cornbread, will last one person about 3 days. Some milk and hot sauce and you are in heaven. helped me through about 6 months of living alone.

[I.rar]

even with all these suggestions , im still going back to mac and cheese with tuna. its so amazing lol. i did add some mayo to my last batch and it came out great.

im gonna try out the shredded chicken soon though. i love pulled pork and i would imagine its very similar. yum.

[RoLo]

Among the cheapest, most nutritious foods is a peanut butter & jelly sandwich (very tough to beat).

Utilize 100% peanut butter, unsweetened jelly and whole-grain bread.

Roger

[mrlitetackle]

ahhh,

its been quite some time since my last PB and J......

me thinks a trip to the store is in order!!!!

[FordNFishinLover]

ima big time lover for the PB and J.

If you think about it next time you make one, make an extra, and set it in the freezer. When shes nice and cold and partly frozen, it makes it delicious!