Tonight supper will be simple. Monday nights are dance nights for the girl so it is always busy and rush rush. Every time I say pork chops I go back to that Brady Bunch episode where Peter was trying to talk like Humphrey Bogart and Says "pork-chops and applesauce".
I hit the meat mark-down day at the local grocery store and scored a pack of thin cut center chops (5 total) for $3
As I mentioned before my husband likes the boxed/fake taters so tonight he wins, I scored big time with catching them on sale and having a .50 coupon that doubled. I always keep canned peas on hand, this is not cost effective because J likes those silver canned ones, ya know the ones that are like $1.69 EACH CAN...but you can save by using frozen or even store brand.
There really is no rocket science to this meal. I soak the chops in buttermilk for at least 2 hours (don't have buttermilk? make your own, 1 TBSP of lemon juice or vinegar in a 1 cup measuring cup add milk to make 1 cup let sit 5 minutes.) I happen to have some bread crumbs that I made from left over crust that the kids (and I) don't eat. If you don't have any you can purchase it fairly cheap or dry out a few slices of bread in the oven. I mix a little salt, garlic powder, pepper and sometimes a tad of oregano or thyme, whatever I am feeling like at the moment. I pan fry them just long enough to get the crust golden then finish them off in the oven (350 for a few minutes the thin ones don't take long at all).
Tonight Betty crocker is making my potatoes, it cost me about $1.00 total to use that and it is super quick.
If you want to make them from scratch here is what I do. I peel (if desired) and slice the potatoes not to thin but not to thick about 1/4" or so, you can dice them too if you don't want to be all precise. Grate or dice one onion. Put the onion and potato in a large pot with salted water and a tad of milk, boil until ALMOST TENDER. put the parboiled potatoes in a casserole dish, salt and pepper and fresh grated cheddar cheese and some evaporated milk (I usually use about 6 large russet potatoes and just about an entire can of milk) If you don't have evaporated milk you can use regular milk. (or you can also make a roux in a pan with butter and flour then add part of your cheese and milk to that and pour over your taters and top with more shredded cheese, I find both ways are great but one is less time consuming)
The peas, well there isn't much to talk about there, dump the can into the pot, add some butter, salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar let them get hot. However if you want to get all fancy and technical you can add a little cream (or half n half) and some flour you can even throw in some of those cute little frozen pearl onions too.
The youngest (the picky one) will eat the pork chops because I will lie and tell him it is a chicken nugget, we will make him eat the peas, there is no way around that one. Any suggestions on making peas fun?
Today my entire menu was:
Breakfast for the kids Scrambled eggs (4) .50 slice of toast with butter .30
My breakfast was one egg scrambled with a bit of onion, garlic and green olives. .30
Lunch:
1 PB&J (for the picky one) .50
1 box of Mac and cheese for The girl and I to split and have a serving left over. $1
J packed so he had left over beef stew and saltines (no cost since it was left overs)
Snack
cookies and fruit cocktail $1.75
Supper:
See above So the entire day cost less than $15
Tuesday's tentative menu:
Breakfast: dutch baby with strawberries
Lunch: grilled cheese with Carrots and ranch dip
Snack: fruit
Supper: crockpot Turkey breast (applewood smoked) Mashed potatoes and green beans.
The turkey breast will leave left overs for sandwiches and the mashed potatoes will leave left overs for potato cakes.
Wednesday's tentative menu:
Breakfast: Potato cakes and sausage
Lunch: Turkey sandwiches
Supper: Chili
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Monday, January 2, 2012
Pizza Night
When money wasn't so tight pizza night was an every week ordeal that we all looked forward too. Me because it was simple, them because, well duh, it was pizza. With these menu ideas you can keep that pizza tradition but now it is more cost effective, still simple and much more fun. There is no better way to get your kids involved in the kitchen then having a pizza (or taco night) allowing them to top their own little pizzas and you pop them in the oven. They will gobble them up because 1. they helped and 2. well duh, it is pizza :)
Stromboli this will feed 2-3 adults or 2 adults and 2-3 toddlers
Refrigerated Pizza dough
Can of tomato sauce seasoned with basil and oregano (if using this add a tad of garlic salt to the sauce before using) or favorite marinara
Cheese (mozzarella)
and your favorite pizza toppings Pepperoni is the most popular here but I like mine with lots of veggies and sometimes bacon (cook and crumble the bacon first).
Roll your dough out and spread the marinara on the dough leaving one inch on each side spread your cheese and toppings on half the dough leaving one inch on the sides, fold the dough half with only marinara over the half with toppings pinch edges shut. Grease a cookie sheet and set Stromboli on the pan, prick holes in the top for steam to escape and bake on 350 for 15-25 minutes
Mini Pizza
One can of mini biscuits
Marinara sauce
Cheese (and any other toppings)
Flatten the biscuits with a rolling pin add marinara, cheese and toppings and cook according to can instructions, watch them closely because the time may be 2-3 minutes less than suggested.
Pizza bites
One can of crescent roll dough
Marinara sauce
cheese and any other toppings you like, I find that the diced pepperoni or ham work best in these
Before rolling your crescent rolls according to the package directions add your sauce, cheese and toppings to the widest end, roll, bake according to the package instructions
Calzone
1 loaf of frozen bread (double to feed 4-5 people, 1 loaf is enough for 2 adults and 2 (picky) toddlers)
1/2 lb of your favorite meats (deli meats such as ham, salami or pepperoni work best)
about a half a cup of marinara sauce
Shredded cheese
Roll loaf out until it is about 8" by 12"
Layer the meat down center (length wise 12" side)
Top with cheese
Fold in the two short sides about a half an inch
Roll (so that the roll is the size of you long side)
Bake, seam side down on a greased baking sheet @ 375° for 20 minutes or until browned
You should get 8 pieces per roll, serve with the warmed marinara sauce
*tip When adding these items to your menu you can purchase cheap spaghetti sauce for $1 or less (store brand) Freeze into 1/2 cup containers so that you don't waste it and it is always there for a quick meal.
Stromboli this will feed 2-3 adults or 2 adults and 2-3 toddlers
Refrigerated Pizza dough
Can of tomato sauce seasoned with basil and oregano (if using this add a tad of garlic salt to the sauce before using) or favorite marinara
Cheese (mozzarella)
and your favorite pizza toppings Pepperoni is the most popular here but I like mine with lots of veggies and sometimes bacon (cook and crumble the bacon first).
Roll your dough out and spread the marinara on the dough leaving one inch on each side spread your cheese and toppings on half the dough leaving one inch on the sides, fold the dough half with only marinara over the half with toppings pinch edges shut. Grease a cookie sheet and set Stromboli on the pan, prick holes in the top for steam to escape and bake on 350 for 15-25 minutes
Mini Pizza
One can of mini biscuits
Marinara sauce
Cheese (and any other toppings)
Flatten the biscuits with a rolling pin add marinara, cheese and toppings and cook according to can instructions, watch them closely because the time may be 2-3 minutes less than suggested.
Pizza bites
One can of crescent roll dough
Marinara sauce
cheese and any other toppings you like, I find that the diced pepperoni or ham work best in these
Before rolling your crescent rolls according to the package directions add your sauce, cheese and toppings to the widest end, roll, bake according to the package instructions
Calzone
1 loaf of frozen bread (double to feed 4-5 people, 1 loaf is enough for 2 adults and 2 (picky) toddlers)
1/2 lb of your favorite meats (deli meats such as ham, salami or pepperoni work best)
about a half a cup of marinara sauce
Shredded cheese
Roll loaf out until it is about 8" by 12"
Layer the meat down center (length wise 12" side)
Top with cheese
Fold in the two short sides about a half an inch
Roll (so that the roll is the size of you long side)
Bake, seam side down on a greased baking sheet @ 375° for 20 minutes or until browned
You should get 8 pieces per roll, serve with the warmed marinara sauce
*tip When adding these items to your menu you can purchase cheap spaghetti sauce for $1 or less (store brand) Freeze into 1/2 cup containers so that you don't waste it and it is always there for a quick meal.
Mexican skillet meal under $9 (cheaper if you use leftovers!)
This meal is one of my Husbands favorites. He requests it all.the.time.
I threw this thing together one evening when I had failed to have something ready for supper. I had some left over rice and I had some turkey kielbasa that needed to be either used or frozen that day.
If you catch them on sale the butterball turkey sausages can be bought for $2.50 a pack. The key is to dice it to make it "look" like more in the skillet. I could probably get by with using only half if I diced but usually I slice and use the entire thing.
Here is what you need
about 2-3 cups of rice (measurement is for cooked rice) (perfect for leftover costing you nothing, even if you need to cook it its pennies on the dollar)
Can of black beans drained (or use dry beans, about a half a bag soaked overnight)
1 package of kielbasa (I use turkey kielbasa) Sliced or diced
2tbs butter
1/4 - 1/2 cup Chicken broth ( you can substitute water, or even bouillon water to be more cost effective, Chicken broth is something I always have on hand)
Onion (grated or diced)
1 Clove of Garlic minced
Mozzarella cheese (I always preach about buying block cheese and grating your own but this is one meal that when I am fixing on the fly I tend to grab a bag of shredded cheese, Trust me, it is so much better with the real McCoy but whatever is more cost effective for you)
Spices (this is all entirely up to you) I use salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and a tad of chili powder (and sometimes cumin).I also add a squirt or 3 of sirachi sauce (great stuff I should be their spokes person) but you can just use plain ol' Tabasco or do without the hot factor.
Now the good part, In a skillet add your butter, saute your onion and garlic (you can add other veggies too, whatever is on hand this dish is a throw together meal to fit any budget or taste bud) Add the sliced kielbasa, cook until starting to brown. Add your beans (we also like red kidney beans in this meal or even garbanzo beans would be great), add your rice, add a bit of your broth just so it doesn't dry out, add your spices, cover and simmer to heat everything through, watch it carefully though so that it doesn't get too dry and stir often. (if it starts to dry out add more broth/water) I salt mine at the end once the flavors have melded. top with cheese cover just long enough for it to melt and there you have it! Now the great part, EATING IT!
Other items that would work great in this dish are Corn, salsa or canned tomatoes, you could even use ground beef or chicken instead of kielbasa. This meal is usually enough to feed us plus my husband has enough for work for one or two days.
I threw this thing together one evening when I had failed to have something ready for supper. I had some left over rice and I had some turkey kielbasa that needed to be either used or frozen that day.
If you catch them on sale the butterball turkey sausages can be bought for $2.50 a pack. The key is to dice it to make it "look" like more in the skillet. I could probably get by with using only half if I diced but usually I slice and use the entire thing.
Here is what you need
about 2-3 cups of rice (measurement is for cooked rice) (perfect for leftover costing you nothing, even if you need to cook it its pennies on the dollar)
Can of black beans drained (or use dry beans, about a half a bag soaked overnight)
1 package of kielbasa (I use turkey kielbasa) Sliced or diced
2tbs butter
1/4 - 1/2 cup Chicken broth ( you can substitute water, or even bouillon water to be more cost effective, Chicken broth is something I always have on hand)
Onion (grated or diced)
1 Clove of Garlic minced
Mozzarella cheese (I always preach about buying block cheese and grating your own but this is one meal that when I am fixing on the fly I tend to grab a bag of shredded cheese, Trust me, it is so much better with the real McCoy but whatever is more cost effective for you)
Spices (this is all entirely up to you) I use salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and a tad of chili powder (and sometimes cumin).I also add a squirt or 3 of sirachi sauce (great stuff I should be their spokes person) but you can just use plain ol' Tabasco or do without the hot factor.
Now the good part, In a skillet add your butter, saute your onion and garlic (you can add other veggies too, whatever is on hand this dish is a throw together meal to fit any budget or taste bud) Add the sliced kielbasa, cook until starting to brown. Add your beans (we also like red kidney beans in this meal or even garbanzo beans would be great), add your rice, add a bit of your broth just so it doesn't dry out, add your spices, cover and simmer to heat everything through, watch it carefully though so that it doesn't get too dry and stir often. (if it starts to dry out add more broth/water) I salt mine at the end once the flavors have melded. top with cheese cover just long enough for it to melt and there you have it! Now the great part, EATING IT!
Other items that would work great in this dish are Corn, salsa or canned tomatoes, you could even use ground beef or chicken instead of kielbasa. This meal is usually enough to feed us plus my husband has enough for work for one or two days.
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