$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...