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What's For Dinner?

Easy, Frugal Recipes from our Readers

I was given this recipe from my mother-in-law: 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 pound of ground beef - brown the ground beef and mix the can of soup with it (don't add water). We make sandwiches with it. It's good!

Taco Cornbread Pizza 1 pkg (8.5 oz.) corn muffin mix, 1 lb. ground beef, 1 pkg taco seasoning mix, 1 pkg (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese. Prepare corn muffin mix as directed on package. Spread batter in greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake at 400F for 8 to 10 min til lightly browned. Brown meat, drain, add seasoning and prepare as directed on package. Sprinkle 1 C cheese over crust. Top with meat and remaining cheese. Bake 4 to 5 min. til cheese is melted. Serve with desired toppings. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Andrea from Beautiful New Jersey, 34 years young! Pasta Fazioli Chop 1 large onion Add 1 tbl. spoon of minced garlic (out of the jar is fine) brown in a pan with 2 tbl. spoons of olive oil Transfer to either a crock pot or a very large soup pot. 2 24 oz cans whole peeled tomatoes- cut into chunks. Add both the tomatoes and the liquid. 1 16 oz can chicken broth- you can substitute a powder chicken stock and water to keep your cost very low. 2 cans of cannelini beans (white beans) (I add them whole, but if your kids will not eat them you can sneak them in by mashing them- this will make the soup VERY thick.) Salt and pepper to taste. Pour 1/2 - 3/4 cup of parm. Cheese on the top of the soup- (Don't stir in yet because it will stick to your pot!!) Let it boil on the stove for about 1 1/2 hours or simmer all day in the crock-(I find the crock pot MUCH easier) Just before serving make 1 pound of ditilini pasta. Save the water and add some to the soup- the starch from the pasta water acts as a thickening agent. Stir the soup several times near the end of cooking to mix in the yummy cheese. Pour the soup over the pasta and serve with sprinkles of Parm on top. We like to make Italian bread and a simple salad on the side. This alone will be a hardy meal... even for your hungry husbands! IMPORTANT_ Do NOT put the pasta directly into the soup for left overs- it will soak up the liquid and you'll end up with mush- Total prep time is about 10 minutes with a crock pot- longer with stove top. (Not including boil time for the pasta). GOOD LUCK, ENJOY and Try this on a rainy/snowy night!!

My mother used to make a dish when she was short on time and money (which seemed to be all the time)She called her dish Spanish Rice but as I grew up I discovered it's really nothing like the real Spanish Rice. I've since twisted the recipe to be healthier, low-fat, and more appealing to my family. (I also gave my own name) Chili Rice 1 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey 1/4 c. green bell pepper, chopped 1/4 c. onion, chopped 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes 1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans 1 c. frozen corn 2 c. minute rice 1 c. water 1 packet dry chili seasoning or taco seasoning *(you can make it lower in sodium by using garlic powder, chili powder and cumin instead of the seasoning packet.) In a 12" skillet saute the ground meat, peppers and onions untill the meat is browned and the peppers and onions are tender. Carefully, add 1 cup of the water and the seasoning packet and stir until blended. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, except the rice, and bring to a boil. Stir in the rice, turn off the heat, and cover for 5 minutes. I love this recipe because it's very hearty, I can make it in about 20 mins. (less if I buy chopped peppers and onions in the frozen food dept. at the grocery store.)And because it easily serves 6 for about $7.00, it freezes beautifully, and the only fat in it comes from the meat I use!

Keep large flour tortillas shells handy. They freeze well. Just about any meat leftover tossed with salsa, cheese and leftover veggies taste good in a wrap. Heat in the microwave until cheese is melted. You could also just toss in a fry pan like a quesadilla to heat instead of wrapping the ingredients up. My kids like them either way and it takes about 15 mins. to get dinner on the table. Then all they need is a big glass of milk. Dee

Keep a bottle of Italian dressing on hand. You can use it over a cheap roast in the crock pot. Or, use it over raw veggies for a nice salad/side dish. Also, add to pasta for a change of pace from red sauces. Any brand or variety will do. I stock up on it when it's one sale.

Here is my most easiest and frugal recipe. Tuna Casserole 1 can tuna Drained 2 boxes of generic Macaroni and Cheese 1 can of generic mushroom soup Grated cheddar cheese (about 1 cup) Prepare Macaroni and cheese as directed on the box, however you will need to add a little more milk (about 1/4 cup extra). After the mac and cheese is ready add mushroom soup and stir. Add Tuna and stir. Add Cheese and stir. This recipe is good and makes a lot, but the best part is the cost. It should only cost about $1.50 to prepare. For an even healthier option you can add a can of peas when you mix in your cheddar cheese OR you can add some fresh broccoli to your boiling noodles. Just drain and prepare macaroni as directed. Melanie from California

OK so this might sound gross, But I promise it is very good.. I take a fry a pd of hamburger meat. In one big bowl I put the meat in the bottom, them I add instant mashed potatoes, then sweet corn, then on top to finish I add Macaroni and cheese... Trust me sounds weird but taste very GOOD... My Kids love this with Garlic Bread.

Chicken Barbeques: 4 chicken breasts and a bottle of my favorite barbeque sauce. Place chicken in crock pot. Top with sauce. Cook on low approx 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork an hour or two before serving. Leave shredded chicken and sauce in crock pot to simmer the last 1-2 hours. You can serve on buns with cheese or whatever you like on your barbeque. This is cheap as well as low fat.

Greek Chicken (I overheard two women at a meeting talking about the recipe, and went home and made it. I've made it hundreds of times, and everyone loves it.) Chicken thighs--any amount kosher salt oregano olive oil You put the chicken in a large pan. Rub olive oil on it, then sprinkle oregano and kosher salt on it. Bake at 300 for 2-3 hours. The skin will be crispy, and the meat is so tender it falls off the bone. There will be lots of fat in the bottom of the pan, so just drain that off. Delicious!

Chicken Tuna Noodle Casserole

1 can chicken noodle soup 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can tuna (or 2 if desired) 4 cups crispy rice cereal Mix all ingredients together in a bread loaf pan or small casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Might be a little salty for some, using low sodium soups would help. Stacie

Garlic Biscuits which taste a lot fancier than just biscuits ... Melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine, stir in 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Put canned biscuits in pie pan, pour melted butter mix over biscuits and let it pool in the bottom. Cook according to biscuit directions. Simple, cheap, and really good!

Get a box of Suddenly Salad and then chop up chicken in the salad and there you go, a fast good meal. Carrie, Channahon IL

Creamed Beef over noodles: Brown 1 pound ground beef. Stir in one can cream of mushroom soup mixed with a little milk. Let that simmer on low while you make your noodles. Serve the beef mixture over the noodles (we like to stir about 1/2 stick of butter into the noodles, first) and serve with a veggie of your choice. :) Enjoy! Jess

My hubby and 1 year old LOVE this. Leftover mashed potatoes and broccoli can be used for a gourmet breakfast! Line a glass pie dish sides and bottom with the potatos and bake 5-10 min at 375F (till light brown), add chopped onion if you like, then broccoli, any kind of cheese, mix 3 eggs with 1 cup of milk and pour over. Bake at 375 for 20-30 min (until egg is cooked). A wonderful, tasty and cheap quiche like breakfast from leftovers! Jodi-24

I call it "Green Bean Stuff" It is so simple and "cheap" and my family loves it. 3 cans of green beans 3 packages of smokey links (Cut into bite sized pieces) 6-10 potatoes Peal and chunk potatoes into bite size pieces. Boil, covered in water until fork can easily pierce. Do Not Drain. Add the green beans. Add the Links. Stir. Add more water if necessary, concoction should be just about covered. Heat until beans and links are hot. Drain if desired, or just serve with slotted spoon. Enjoy! Jamie From Indiana

My mom and her mom and I made this traditional meal for our Yugoslavian family and it was our favorite. Be warned, it didn't include any meat, so we ate it when dad wasn't going to be home for supper. Noodle Ingredients: flour, egg, water, salt Additions: 1) 1 head of cabbage, butter (margarine or cooking spray can be used}salt and pepper 2) 4 large potatoes, butter (margarine, or Butter Buds can be used as well) milk, 1 small onion, oil, paprika, salt and pepper A noodle is made by cutting the batter with a teaspoon, first dipped in a pot of hot water, (to keep the batter from sticking to the spoon) and dropping the batter into boiling salted water. The batter ingredients: 1 egg to 1 cup of flour and a small amount of water creating a slightly thicker than pancake batter. The batter should "stick together" with a slight elasticity. Cook the drop noodle batter till it floats, then cool in cold water and drain. Saute a head of shredded cabbage in butter or butter flavored cooking spray, salt and pepper to taste. Mix sauted cabbage into noodles according to your taste. OR Cook potatoes, mash as you normally would or use leftover mashed potatoes. Saute finely chopped onion in a small amount of butter or oil till browned. Mix 1 TBSP hungarian paprika into onions and stir into mashed potatoes. The potatoes should be a nice redish-orangy color. Stir potato mixture into noodle mixture and thin slightly with milk if necessary, but chunky is good. Either of these can be served with meat as a side dish or just serve with a salad for vegetarian. Janet Williams

Brown up some ground beef, mix with some cooked pasta (like elbow mac or wheels), add some mozzarella cheese and canned tomatoes. Bake until cheese is melted. If I'm being daring, I add Rotel tomatoes instead of plain.

Red beans and rice - one can of Blue runner creole red beans, long grain rice, and a box mix of Jiffy corn muffins. The meal will feed 4 and costs about $1.50!

Rice, Beans and Cheese 3/4 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked (not instant or converted rice) 1 1/2 c water 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar or Colby cheese 1 can chili beans, undrained 1 tsp chili powder Combine water and rice in medium saucepan, cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and let cook without uncovering or stirring for 20 minutes. When rice is cooked, stir in cheese, beans and chili powder until heated through. Don't forget to keep stirring! Serves 4 I like to serve this with a side salad. Yummy as-is, or: -Roll up in tortillas and lightly brown each side of it in a frying pan. -Serve with salsa, hot sauce or taco sauce -Use as burrito filling along with lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, sour cream. This is quick and easy, and although it may not look very appealing to parents I've NEVER met a kid that doesn't love it. It has a great mild tex-mex flavor without being too spicy.

Fritatta! Mix up 6 eggs, cheese, meat & veggies of your choice. Put in a frying pan with some oil & cook on medium for 20 minutes. Yum.

Want something to warm you and your family up in the cold? Try my Super EZ Chili! Ingredients: 1lb. Ground Beef 1 can Tomato Sauce 2 cans Ranch Style Beans Instructions: Brown your ground beef and season as you wish. Drain and add the sauce and beans. Cook on low for about 20-30 minutes. You can add pepper to make as hot as you'd like. Or, add corn chips and cheddar for Frito Pie. Enjoy!

Poor Man's Dinner....4 cups Water....2 cups Rice....1 tsp salt....1 Tsp butter....bring Water, Salt and Butter to boil and add Rice, lower heat to low and cover with lid, Don't peek !!!!! cook for 20 minutes and flake with fork. While rice is simmering, brown 1 1/2 lbs ground beef and drain grease. Add 1/2 cup soy sauce and toss meat with sauce well. Microwave 1-2 cans French cut Green beans until very warm approx 5 mins. On a plate layer each individual serving as follows.....Rice as the base layer, cover with ground beef mixture and then a layer of drained beans. put Soy sauce on the table for those who want more...I love to serve this with bread and butter....My kids love this and it is easy for me to make as well as squeeze into my budget....:) Michelle Guagliardo Punta Gorda Florida

Super-quick pizza craving quenchers! Our favourite five-minute dinner, straight from an Italian kitchen... Sliced bread - in toaster until just brown-ish, don't toast too much. Lay on baking tray, top with tomato sauce, diced mozzarella cheese, oregano and a pinch of salt. Drizzle of extravirgin olive oil, bake until cheese melts and bubbles. Watch them disappear! Serve with a salad and you have a good meal. Enjoy! Fabrizia, Milan, Italy

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