Creating Cheap and Easy Dinners

by: Tiana Gray

After having my baby and I quit my job I needed to save money and learn how to cook.  When I first started cooking nothing seemed to turn out or work.  I wanted to give up and felt terrible when I spent money and hours of time trying to prepare a nice dinner. Then I found some very easy and tasty meals to cook that my family would eat.

Spaghetti

I buy the pasta from Wal-Mart for only 33 cents. I also buy the canned Hunts spaghetti sauce instead of the jar for only about 80 cents. That is only like one dollar! Although I usually add hamburger, sausage, or vegetables and serve it with garlic bread.
 

Scalloped Potatoes

- 2 Tbsp. butter
-2 Tbsp. flour
-1/4 tsp. salt
-1/8 tsp. pepper
-1 cup of milk
-5 or 6 potatoes
-Half an onion
-1/2 a cup of cheese

1. Heat butter in saucepan over medium heat until melted.
2. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in milk and heat to boiling, stirring constantly and watching carefully.
5. Bring to boil and stir for one minute.
6. Cut up slices of potatoes and line in a dish.
7. Add white sauce, chopped onion, and cheese on top.
8. Cover with foil and  bake at 325 degrees for two hours.

* I often like to serve ham and green beans on the side.

 

Chicken Soup

- One large can of chicken broth or water with chicken flavored bouillon cubes
- One cup of chicken shredded
- 3 stalks of celery (chopped)
- Small bag of carrots (sliced and cooked until tender)
- 2-3 cups of egg noodles or rotini pasta
- Small bag of frozen peas

1. Put first four ingredients in a big pot on the stove.
2. Bring to a boil and then put on low.
3. Add the noodles and simmer for about 20 minuets.
4. Then add the peas and simmer for another five minuets.
* Something to offer on the side could be a cold salad.
 

BBQ Chicken

-Boneless Skinless chicken breast
-BBQ sauce from a bottle

I just cook the chicken in a skillet or put it on the grill with the BBQ sauce and serve it with instant mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

 

Hot Dogs

I love to grill them and serve them under chili. You can make your own or buy it canned and serve it with chips or a pasta salad.


 Potato Cheese Soup

- 5 cubes of chicken bouillon
-5 cups of water
-9 diced potatoes
-2 grated carrots
-1 stalk of diced celery
-1 small chopped onion
-1 Tbsp. parsley
-3/4 cube of margarine or butter
-2 cups of canned milk
-2 cups of grated  cheese
-Salt/Pepper to taste
-1/2 cup of flour
1 1/2 cups of water

1. Put first seven ingredients into a pot and cook until tender.
(15-20 minuets).
2. Add margarine, milk, salt, pepper, and cheese. Don't boil.
3. Combine flour and cold water. Add to soup to thicken.
* Serve with warm rolls and salad.
 

Chicken Alfredo with Penne

-1 small box of penne pasta
-1 small bag of frozen broccoli and carrots'
-1 jar of Alfredo sauce
-2 cups of chopped chicken
-salt and pepper to taste
-1 tsp. Basil

1. Cook pasta and steam veggies
2. Add vegetables and Alfredo sauce to pasta in the pot.
3. Stir and heat on low. Enjoy!

Try different pasta noodles, different pasta sauces, and vegetables for new easy dinners.
 

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