$0.59 per serving ~ Ham and Mashed Potato Casserole with Cheesy Veggies

Josh requested mashed potatoes on Monday... I wound up with way too much left over. This was based on one of my grandma's old recipes with a few changes.

Ham and Mashed Potato Casserole ~ $2.70 total cost, $0.34 per serving
3 cups hot mashed potatoes (free!)
2 eggs, separated ($0.20)
1 cup evaporated milk ($0.50)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
salt
white pepper
garlic powder
1 cup diced deli ham ($1.00)
2 tbsp butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.00)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix lemon juice into evaporated milk and let stand 5 minutes.
2. Blend together mashed potatoes, egg yolks, milk, and spices.
3. Fold ham into potatoes.
4. Separately beat egg whites until stiff. Fold egg whites into potatoes.
5. Butter a large casserole dish. Place potatoes into dish, and dot top with remaining butter.
6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
7. Top with cheese and bake 10 more minutes.
Makes 8 servings

The Verdict
This was a HUGE success. Josh ate 3 servings, Julia 2, and Jim 2, plus Josh wants it for breakfast in the morning! I served it with frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots in a light butter sauce ($1.00, $0.25 per serving.) I know what I am doing with leftover potatoes from now on!

$0.90 per serving ~ Creamy Beef & Potato Stew

I am so glad I put food in the crockpot last night... I have a wicked cold and we would have been eating microwave pizzas tonight if I hadn't!

Creamy Beef & Potato Stew ~ $0.90 per serving
1 lb. ground beef ($2.00)
1 16 oz. package frozen cut green beans ($1.00)
1 pkg. dry au gratin potato mix ($0.75)
1 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 cups water
1.5 cup half and half ($0.75)
Grated cheese to taste

1. Crumble ground beef into crock pot. Cook on high for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until meat is completely cooked. Drain and return beef to crockpot.
2. Add green beans, potatoes and sauce mix, and spices. Stir and pour water over mix. Cook on low 7-8 hours.
3. Stir half and half into meat mixture. Cook about 30 minutes or until completely heated. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Makes 5 servings.

The Verdict
I didn't like this much, I thought it was kind of bland. Jim and Josh really enjoyed it though. I think I need to add more cheese. Cheese makes everything better!

$2.04 per serving ~ Buffalo Wing Soup and Mashed Potato Pie

Buffalo Wing Soup ~ $1.60 per serving
Adapted from "A Year Of Crockpotting"
2 cups cooked and cubed chicken ($2.00)
2 tbsp minced onion
3 stalks celery, chopped ($0.25)
1/4 cup unsalted butter ($0.25)
1/4 cup flour ($0.10)
2 cups milk, no higher content than 2% ($0.75)
3/4 cup chicken broth ($1.25)
4 oz Velveeta ($1.40)
1/2 cup hot wing sauce ($0.40)

1. Make a roux with the flour and butter.
2. Chop up the onion and celery, and dump it into your crockpot. Add the cooked and cubed chicken. Pour in the chicken broth and milk. Add Velveeta.
3. Stir in the flour and butter mixture. Add hot sauce.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4. The soup is done when the celery and onion reach desired tenderness and the flavors have melded.
Makes 4 servings

Mashed Potato Pie ~ $0.44 per serving
3 cups mashed potatoes (free, leftovers!)
1 cup shredded mozzarella ($1.50)
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs ($0.25)
Grated cheese to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cheese and breadcrumbs into mashed potatoes.
2. Spread mixture in 8 inch pie plate. Top with grated cheese and a sprinkling of breadcrumbs.
3. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
Makes 4 servings

The Verdict
The soup was delicious, we each added a splash of ranch dressing. Mashed potato pie is a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes... add MORE cheese if you want it super gooey!

$2.25 per serving ~ An All-American Dinner

In honor of election day, we went all-American!

Hamburgers (Burgers $4.00, day old rolls $1.00)
Baked Beans ($1.25)
Green Beans ($0.75)

Baked Basil Fries ~ $0.50 per serving
1/2 cup grated cheese ($1.00)
2 tbsp. olive oil
dried basil
garlic powder
4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes ($1.00)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine cheese, oil, basil, and garlic powder in a bowl.
2. Cut potatoes ontp 1/4 inch sticks. Add to cheese mixture, toss to coat. PLace in a large baking pan coated with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn potatoes, bake 15-20 minutes longer.

The Verdict
Quick, easy, delicious, and pretty healthy. Always a crowd pleaser, and Jim has leftovers for lunch tomorrow.