$0.93 per serving ~ Ground Beef Biscuit Stew

I was feeling ambitious...

Ground Beef Biscuit Stew ~ $0.93 per serving, $5.53 total
1 lb. ground beef ($2.00)
1 medium onion, chopped ($0.25)
1 10 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables ($0.88)
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce ($0.25)
1 14.5 0z. can of diced tomatoes, drained ($1.00)
2 1/4 cups baking mix ($0.50)
2/3 cup milk ($0.15)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($0.50)
1 tbsp. spicy brown mustard

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Saute beef and onion over medium heat until fully cooked.
3. Stir in vegetables, sauce, and diced tomatoes. Heat through.
4. Pour into greased 11x7 baking dish. Cover. Bake for 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, stir baking mix, milk, cheese, and mustard together until a dough forms.
6. Remove dish from oven and uncover. Drop dough by spoonfuls over the casserole.
7. bake 15 more minutes until golden brown.
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
This went over well. Jim said "not thrilling, but nice." Josh said very little but ate most of it. I want to tweak it with more seasonings next time.

$1.31 per serving ~ Better than McNuggets Chicken Fingers with Green Beans, Cheesy Rice, and Cole Slaw

I'm back with a new recipe!

Better than McNuggets Chicken Fingers ~ $0.81 per serving, $3.25 total cost
2 cups french fried onions ($1.00, Aldi's brand)
2 tbsp. flour
1 egg, beaten ($0.25)
4 boneless chicken breasts, sliced into "fingers" ($3.00)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine onions and flour in a gallon size zipper bag. Crush as finely as possible.
3. Dip chicken in egg, then coat in onion crumbs. Place into baking dish.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Makes 4 servings

The Verdict
I served this with green beans ($1.00) and Rice a Roni brand Broccoli au Gratin rice ($1.00) and there was no talking at the table... just empty plates. I will enjoy the leftovers at lunch. The chicken was so flavorful!

$0.35 per serving ~ Cowboy Chicken Mac N Cheese

Yes, I know, I know. I've been stuck in a rut and not making anything interesting, so I've had nothing to post for AGES! But Puttanesca is back!

Cowboy Chicken Mac N' Cheese ~ $0.35 per serving, $2.10 total cost
1 box of macaroni and cheese, prepared ($0.80)
3 leftover BBQ chicken cutlets, cooked and diced (FREE!)
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted ($0.50)
1/2 cup milk ($0.10)
1/4 cup BBQ sauce, plus some for topping
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided ($0.70)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions.
2. Stir in chicken, soup, milk, BBQ sauce, and half of the cheese. Pour into greased baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and drizzle BBQ sauce over the top.
4. Bake uncovered at 350 for 20 minutes.
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
I served this with green beans on the side, which are always a hit in my house. Josh took one bite of this and said "Mommy, you make the best dinners!" That in itself is made of win. But Jim said nothing... he just ate 3 servings and smiled. Definitely a winner! I got an incredible sale on mac n'cheese (discussed in the last post) so I stockpiled a TON. I will be doing a lot of mac n' cheese experimentation this summer...

Help me, faithful readers!

So due to a great sale at the Acme and some really great couponing, I have stockpiled 45(!!!!) boxes of mac n' cheese at a price of about $0.35 per box.

So, what's YOUR favorite way to tart up mac n' cheese? What do you like to serve it with? Do you mix other ingredients into it? Inquiring Puttanescas want to know!!!!

What to do with all those veggies?

You know your kids need to eat veggies, but they don't like them. Your hubby won't eat them. YOU don't like them....

Veggie Pancakes or Fritters
2 cups cooked vegetables, broken into small pieces
4 eggs, beaten
garlic
parsley
salt and pepper
3/4 to 1 cup Bisquick

1. Add vegetables to beaten eggs and stir to coat.
2. Add garlic, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
3. Mix with Bisquick, a little at a time, until a thick batter forms.
4. Cook like pancakes on a preheated pan or griddle, or fry in preheated oil until golden brown.
5. Serve hot.
Makes 10 - 15 pancakes

The Verdict
I made these with leftover cauliflower and this was a HUGE hit with Josh, Jim, and my father- and stepmother-in-law. They are also good with broccoli, grated zucchini, or grated carrots. A great way to use up extra veggies. Josh likes them cold for snacks too!

Holidays a la Puttanesca

We're on Spring Break here, and I'm vacationing in many ways, including not stressing out about food, but just eating what's in the house. I did learn a little about holidays on the cheap this year though!

Easter Dinner:

2 Kosher Chickens, roasted with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon. (lemons $0.50, the chickens were FREE!)
Fried Corn (corn $3.35, heavy cream $0.50, butter $0.50, honey, salt, and pepper)
Italian-style broccoli ($3.00 for broccoli, bread crumbs, grated cheese, balsamic vinegar)
Bourbon Sweet Potatoes ($2.50 for potatoes, butter $0.50, brown and white sugar $0.25, mini marshmallows $0.50, bourbon, vanilla)

Total Cost for Easter Dinner: $11.60

Want the recipes? Comment and let me know!

$1.00 per serving ~ Apple Pie Pork Chops with Stuffing

My sister mentioned a recipe like this and I searched high and low to find something close!

Apple Pie Pork Chops with Stuffing ~$1.00 per serving, $6.00 total cost
1 can apple pie filling ($2.00)
6 boneless pork chops ($3.00)
1 box stuffing mix, prepared ($1.00)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray bottom of 11x7 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Spread pie filling in bottom of pan. Top with pork chops, followed by stuffing. Cover with foil and bake 30-40 minutes.
3. Uncover and bake 10-15 more minutes, until pork is fully cooked.
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
Jim and Josh both went nuts for this! I served it with some steamed snap peas and baby carrots. I was not nuts about it, but told Jim I would like to try it with peaches or apricots instead.