Meals on a budget

by: Shiloah Baker

There have been many times that we have very scanty amounts of food in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.  The biggest thing I have learned is creativity.  We've had missionaries or guests coming to dinner and our cupboards seem bare, but they really aren't!  All it takes is a little creativity!

If you have potatoes, here's what you can make:

Mashed Potatoes

Boil the potatoes until they are so tender that you can easily insert a fork into them.  Make sure to salt well as potatoes absorb salt.

To make a white gravy, simply put 1/4 cup oil in a fry pan.  Add 2-3 tbl. of flour and stir briskly creating a "rue".  Add 3 cups of milk slowly.  Boil and stir until thickened.

Pour over the potatoes.

Fried Potatoes

These are our family's favorite!  Peel and wash at least 6 potatoes.  Slice in 1/4 inch slices...not too thick, not too thin.  Peel and wash an onion if you have one.  Slice in rings. Put a large skillet or frying pan.  Salt and pepper well.  Add at least 1/2 cup of oil.   You may need to add more oil as you fry them up.  Fry on med-high heat with lid on.  Stir occasionally.  You may need to flip the potatoes every now and then so they don't get too brown on one side.  If you have any meat, you can add bacon or kielbasa sausage, or crumbled sausage. If not, they will be just fine!

Potatoes Au Gratin

You will need:

• 6-8 potatoes, washed, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 pound cheese, grated
• 1 small onion, peeled and cut into rings
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 stick butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Layer all the ingredients in a casserole dish and bake in the oven at 425 F for about an hour.

Don't forget about Baked Potatoes!  You can add whatever toppings you may have in your refrigerator or cupboard.  Here are some suggestions:

• butter
• chili
• cheese
• chives
• green onions
• onions
• bacon
• bacon bits
• sour cream
• mustard
• French onions

Potato Soup

6 bacon slices (opt.)

1 cup onions, chopped

1 pound potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

3 Tbsp flour

2 1/2 cups  milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup parsley sprigs, chopped (opt.)

In a large soup pot, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. When cool, chop bacon into small pieces and set aside.

Add onion to bacon drippings and cook until translucent. Add potatoes and broth to pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork (about 10 minutes).

In a small bowl or jar, blend flour and milk until smooth. Add to broth and heat until boiling, stirring frequently. Boil one minute then turn off heat.

Stir in salt, pepper, and parsley.  Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with bacon pieces.

Canned Baked Beans Can Make:

Dressy Baked Beans
A quick and easy way to dress up ordinary pork and beans. 
  
2 (15 ounce) cans baked beans
   with pork
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
2 slices bacon


Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2 In a 9x9 inch baking dish, combine the pork and beans, brown sugar, onion, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the bacon slices.
3 Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until sauce is thickened and bacon is cooked.

Beanie Weanies

Take a can of pork n beans and add sliced hot dogs.  Heat and serve!  This is a great side dish with macaroni and cheese or any other kind of simple pasta dish.
 

Tuna Fish Is Very Versatile

Tuna Shepard's Pie

4 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 stalk celery, chopped  (this can be optional if you don't have it)
1 small onion, chopped
10 mushrooms, sliced (these can also be canned) 
4 Tbsp. flour
2-1/4 cups milk (if you don't have any milk, evaporated milk always works well!)
1/2 Tsp. salt 
1/2 Tsp. black pepper
1 Tsp. lemon juice 
1/2 Tsp. dried Italian seasoning
3/4 Tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
6.5 oz. flaked Tuna, drained 
Mashed potatoes  (these can be made from flakes)
Grated cheese (optional)


Melt butter in medium saucepan until bubbly; sauté celery, onion and mushrooms until just tender; stir in flour; cook one minute; gradually stir in milk. Continue cooking & stirring until a thickened smooth sauce forms. Stir in all remaining ingredients.
Pour into greased 1 qt. casserole. Top with mashed potato and sprinkle with cheese and chopped parsley if desired. Bake at 350oF for about 20 minutes until bubbly & browned on top.
MAKES: 4 servings
 

Easy Tuna Pasta

• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can tuna, drained
• pasta, cooked and drained
• dried parsley flakes

Mix all ingredients in a pot.  Warm on a burner.  You can even add some vegetables to make it a one-dish meal!

Don't Forget About Onions

Onion Casserole:

4 large sliced onions (Super sweet onions ONLY!)
1 bag barbecued potato chips
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

 

Layer the above three ingredients. Repeat layers again. Combine two cans cream of chicken soup with one-half cup milk. Pour over layers and top with crushed chips. Bake at 350 degrees F. for one hour.

Creamy Onion Casserole

1 lb. onions, sliced and separated
1 egg, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Paprika

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium saucepan combine onions with water to cover. Bring to boil; boil 1 minute. Drain. Transfer to 8-inch square baking dish.

In bowl combine egg, cream, salt and pepper; pour over onions. Sprinkle with cheese, then paprika. Bake 25 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Make Desserts From Very Limited Ingredients

Applesauce Cake

This is so great and requires few ingredients:

2 ½ cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon allspice
1 ½ cups applesauce
½ cup water
½ cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup raisins (opt)
½ cup chopped walnuts (opt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch pan. Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. Blend on low speed until combined, scraping bowl as needed. Beat 3 minutes on highs speed. Pour into pan.  I usually put mine in a bundt pan and when it comes out I sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Bake 55-60 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares.
 

Brownie Pie

1. Spray 9-inch microwave-safe pie plate lightly with the cooking spray.
2. Place the cut-up stick of butter in a 4-cup microwave-safe measuring cup. Place in microwave oven and cook on Medium (50% or 5) for 2 minutes, until butter melts.
3. Stir in the 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the 2 beaten eggs, Add the 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and combine well.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pie plate. Cook in microwave oven on High for 5 to 7 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Rotate the dish one quarter turn after 3 minutes if your oven does not have a rotating plate.
5. Remove the pie stand to a wire rack and let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Shiloah Baker is a homeschooling mom to seven children. Her husband Ben is in the Army and is her biggest supporter as she runs two online businesses/three websites. If you enjoyed this article please join us for more at

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