tight wad/ frugal recipes

[tybash]

Hello ya all, I need some help. I have a limited grocery bill about 300.00 every two weeks sometimes less. I have 4 monsters under 11 yrs old and a girl who lives down the street who pops in every week at least 4 times for dinner. So we usually need a big recipe that will leave us leftovers. I have cooked chili, vege soup, potato soup, pea soup yuck. I am a fairly good cook when i'm not absorbed in something. I made a really goood clam chowda also. What i need is some recipes that will feed a ton and that are semi quick with not of alot of expensive ingrediants. I love leeks but at 5 dollars a pound no way. I really would appreciate it if you could help me out. If you don't feel comfotable about posting you may leave me a private message. Thanks again. I will check in tonight to see what you have come up with thanks.

[like2opr8]

Thank goodness they are not teens yet! Teen boys eat A LOT!

Anyway, I may not be of much help but I use www.recipezaar.com all the time for different recipes. What I like is you are able to adjust the recipe up or down to suit your needs. So if you want leftovers you can adjust it and it will tell you the exact amt of ingredients to use. I usually have something in mind like cornbread for example. I type it in and then sort by rating and read most reviews before I make it.

I know you are probably tired of soup so maybe you could search for casseroles or hamburger. Stuff like that. I have to eat on the cheap too most of the time and I find this site very useful for different ideas and budgeting ingredients etc............

Hope this helps.:)

[tybash]

bless your heart for posting. I was thinking no body liked me no more.:scratch
I will check it out thanks.

[Biblecat2]

This seems to be a crowed pleaser with kids, and it fills a pot and cheep.

Cook one pound of hamburger with diced onion and drain
Two boxes of Kraft Extra Creamy Mac and Cheese
Mix it all together

Another variation

One can of chicken, or use leftover chicken pieces
two boxes of the Mac and cheese
Two cups of heated broccoli

Serve with rolls and fruit. I noticed that most kids won't eat vegetables if they're on the side as you probably know. :lol2

[HSmomto4]

Right now I can feed my family of 6 for about $500 give or take a little a month. My husband and I are actually writing a book on it because we have so many people ask us how we do it. My best advise right off the bat is to theme your weeks out and menu plan.

[wife]

Rice and bean.. You can make a lot. Casseroles are good for stretching out ingredients too.

There is a lady on foodtv who does a show where she cooks with leftovers. Robin Miller I think is her name

[like2opr8]

You can also google "frugal meals". There are a lot of websites that come up.

[Holding Pattern]

Spend the money for either a wedge or Parmesan or Romano cheese. Grate it over salads, pasta, and other foods...always grate a little extra and save the scraps!
First, grating the fresh cheese is a very inexpensive way to make your meals seem a little tasiter and feel like you're treating yourself. Kids love to help grate the cheese as well (make sure the grate is a microplane with a handle so you don't have grated Johnny on your salad.)

The best part are the scraps...keep them in a baggie in the freezer and keep adding to it...take the cheese and thaw it well...sprinkle the gated bits into 2-3 inch circles in an ungreased teflon cookie sheet. Heat your oven to 350 degrees or so, we use gas and it runs a little hot. Put the cheese bits in the oven for 5-7 minutes (it takes a time or two to get the hang of it in your oven) but when they cool for 5 minutes or so they turn into crispy cheese crackers.

You can add spices to them before baking (oregano & basil are my favorites, Brian likes a little sea salt and black pepper)

You can also mold them into shapes when they are still warm, before they crisp...but you have only a few minutes. Small glass dishes or whatever small shape you want, you can mold them and fill them. They make great pasta cups, we usually try to fill them with leftovers since they are made of leftover scraps.

[like2opr8]

Spend the money for either a wedge or Parmesan or Romano cheese. Grate it over salads, pasta, and other foods...always grate a little extra and save the scraps!
First, grating the fresh cheese is a very inexpensive way to make your meals seem a little tasiter and feel like you're treating yourself. Kids love to help grate the cheese as well (make sure the grate is a microplane with a handle so you don't have grated Johnny on your salad.)

The best part are the scraps...keep them in a baggie in the freezer and keep adding to it...take the cheese and thaw it well...sprinkle the gated bits into 2-3 inch circles in an ungreased teflon cookie sheet. Heat your oven to 350 degrees or so, we use gas and it runs a little hot. Put the cheese bits in the oven for 5-7 minutes (it takes a time or two to get the hang of it in your oven) but when they cool for 5 minutes or so they turn into crispy cheese crackers.

You can add spices to them before baking (oregano & basil are my favorites, Brian likes a little sea salt and black pepper)

You can also mold them into shapes when they are still warm, before they crisp...but you have only a few minutes. Small glass dishes or whatever small shape you want, you can mold them and fill them. They make great pasta cups, we usually try to fill them with leftovers since they are made of leftover scraps.

OOOHhh that sounds good. I like cheese.

[farmgirl]

Bean tostadas (My kids like to top them and make crazy faces with the lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.)

Bean burritos.

Spaghetti, make your own sauce with a can of tomato sauce and a can of diced tomatoes, a 1/2 pound of beef, garlic, basil, and oregano

Basically think ethnic. Most people of the world use a carbohydrate base (pasta, rice, beans, potatoes, cornmeal etc) then add small amounts of meat and vegetables because that's the cheapest way to eat. So cut down on meat, use more beans and grains. Spaghetti sauce is still good with half a lb of beef instead of a lb. Cheese is great, but try to use small portions because its expensive.

Eggs are a good source of protein. Have a breakfast dinner.

Buy bulk at Costco or or discounted food places. Use local fruit stands.

Fix oatmeal and grits, or homemade waffles most mornings instead of dry cereal.

I had to feed six (2 teenage boys) on $300 a month this winter. Its doable. Not fun, but doable. :thumb