There are a number of reasons to stretch your grocery budget. Sometimes you dig into the pantry just to clear out the cans of forgotten foods. There are other times when you are nearing the end of the month and the money is just not there. And then there are those times like today when I just couldn't bring myself to do the grocery store thing.
It amazes my husband at the dishes that I can create from the pantry, but if I would do it more often then we could probably save about $3600 per year! Just writing that makes me want to tighten up the grocery budget.
Cheap Meals that Save Money
1. Chicken Ramen Casserole - this was going to be Ramen noodles but the middle son came in while I was cooking and announced that he didn't LIKE Ramen noodles. So I mixed in a can of cheese with the noodles, covered the bottom of a casserole dish with Ritz crackers and poured the noodles and chicken over the crackers. I topped it all of with a cup of shredded cheese and then popped it into the over until the cheese melted. All the kids loved it, my husband loved it and I loved it as well. The whole casserole cost around $6.00.
2. Mini pizzas - (this can be a great way to use leftovers). Toast up some English muffins. Lay the muffins out and top each one with about a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce and a pinch of cheese on each one. Top the muffins with your favorite toppings. Ours cost around $5.00 for the whole meal.
3. Strudel - this is a family favorite. Roll out a couple of pieces of puff pastry. Cover each piece with a quarter cup of cheese and whatever meat or veggies you have in the frig. We do ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, and breakfast straddle with egg, bacon (or sausage) and cheese. Roll each piece of puff pastry up and then pinch the edges closed. Cook according to directions for the puff pastry. Total cost is around $6.00 - and you use up all of your leftovers!
The key to creating a casserole that saves money is to take several elements from your pantry or frig and just throw them together. A pasta with a meat and some cheese or sauce makes a great meal almost any night of the week.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น