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Budget Meal-Spicy Thai Chicken Salad
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t eat well. Rice and a package of coleslaw stretches the chicken in this tasty chicken salad. Here’s what you’ll need… 6 ounces of grilled chicken, cut into about ½ inch strips 3 cups cooked rice 6 cups of coleslaw mix 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1 jar of Thai peanut sauce 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup water 3/4 cup coarsely dry-roasted peanuts, chopped In a large bowl, combine the chicken strips, rice, coleslaw mix and cilantro. In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut sauce, oil and water. Add to the rice mixture and toss well. Garnish with peanuts.
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Budget Meal-Black Bean Salad
Black beans are inexpensive and full of protein, add some superfoods like pumpkin seeds and you’ve got a low-cost meal that packed with nutritionally dense items. Here’s what you need… 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup frozen corn, thawed 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered (gently squeeze out seeds) ½ cup minced onion 2 medium cloves garlic, chopped finely ½ cup diced red bell pepper 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Salt and black pepper to taste Mix all ingredients together. This salad will keep for a couple of days and gets more…
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Budget Meal-SLOW-COOKER SEAFOOD CHOWDER
This time of year, fish is on sale so it’s a great time to stock up or at least buy a large bag and make several meals with it. Here’s a recipe for a seafood chowder that uses a slow cooker. It’s quick and delicious combined with bread and/or a salad. Here’s what you’ll need… 2 lbs. frozen fish filets 1/4 lb. bacon, diced 1 medium onion, chopped 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 cups water 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 can evaporated milk Thaw the frozen fish in refrigerator and cut into bite-sized pieces and place in a slow cooker. In a skillet, saute the…
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Budget Meal-ALL DAY MACARONI AND CHEESE
It’s comfort food and it’s also affordable but who says you have to serve mac and cheese from a box just because you’re on a budget. Here’s a version that adds a few more ingredients and best of all, uses a Crockpot to save on your energy bill too. What you’ll need- 8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained 4 cups(16 ounces) shredded sharp Chedder Cheese (divided) 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk 1 1/2 cups milk 2 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Place the cooked macaroni into the Crockpot that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Add the remaining ingredients but keep back 1 cup…
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Budget Meal-Calzones
Calzones can be made with just about any ingredient and this version uses ground beef and some taco seasoning for extra taste. If you can make your own pastry that’s great but if not, you can pick some up next time your supermarket has a sale. What you’ll need… 1 (15-oz.) package refrigerated pie crusts 1 pound ground beef 1 (4-oz.) can diced green chiles 1/4 cup water 1 (1.25-oz.) package Taco Seasoning Mix 1 cup shredded mild Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, divided Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Brown the beef in a large skillet and then drain off the fat. Add the chilis, water and seasoning…
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Budget Meals-Fiesta Eggs
I like to think of this as a fancy breakfast but you could also enjoy it for lunch or even dinner served with hash browns and sour cream, maybe even a chopped avocado. Eggs, while more expensive than they once were, are still a bargain protein to enjoy. This recipe called Fiesta Eggs is taken from my new cookbook One Pot, Low Cost, Easy to Fix Meals… What You’ll need- 1 15 ounce can chili beans 4 slices of bread, toasted 1/3 cup salsa 1/3 cup shredded cheese 4 eggs Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray four ramekin dishes with non-stick cooking spray and place them on a baking sheet.…
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Pantry Challenge-Five Tips to Help Build a Pantry
What have you discovered during this pantry challenge? Could you put together an emergency meal or if illness strikes or the grocery stores are closed, how many meals could you make from what you have on hand? If these questions put you into a panic then set a goal to start to put together a pantry. Here are five tips to help you do that on a budget- If you don’t eat it don’t buy it I’ve seen things on sale and grabbed them thinking they’d be perfect for the pantry but sometimes it’s something we don’t really like. Only buy things you know you eat or it’s a waste…
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Budget Meal-BREAKFAST PITA POCKETS
Although this is a breakfast recipe, you can eat it for lunch, even for dinner by pairing it with something like an apple or even a fruit salad depending on your budget. No matter what time of the day you eat this, it’s tasty. And yes, eggs aren’t as cheap as they once were but they’re still a good source of protein for the price. What you’ll need- 1 pita bread, cut in half. You can serve this cold or warm it slightly in the oven or even toast it lightly 2 eggs, beaten salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup peeled and diced potatoes Oil of your choice Optional-salsa,…
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Pantry Challenge-Make a Meal
How did you get on with the first challenge of taking stock of items you have on hand in your pantry, fridge, freezer? This week’s challenge focuses on using what you have. If you had to put together a meal only using things you have on hand, what would you make? Maybe you’ve got some canned chicken, some rice, a can of soup, a bag of frozen vegetables etc. Do some brainstorming and see what you come up with. Feel free to share what you made by leaving a comment. Sharing with others can also help people get ideas on what to stock and how to put together a quick…
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Budget Meals-SALSA CHICKEN & RICE
Here’s an easy meal that’s perfect to make when chicken is on sale. What you’ll need- 2 cups cooked white rice, kept warm 1 tablespoon oil 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into strips 1 medium onion, chopped 1 small red bell pepper, sliced 1 jar (16 oz.) Salsa 1/2 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese Sour cream (optional) Chopped fresh cilantro (optional) Over medium high heat and in a large skillet, heat the oil. Add the chicken, onion and bell pepper and cook stirring occasionally for 10 to 12 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the salsa and bring to a boil then remove it…