Beef Goulash

Ingredients:

1lb of ground beef (.95--this was one of those buy it in bulk and split it up deals)

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (.98)

1/2 cup of water (free)

1 tsp paprika (.10)

1 tsp brown sugar (.05)

2 tbsp flour (.05)

1/4 cup of water--to be used separately from the one above (free)

1/4 cup of sour cream (.25)

1/2 box of pasta (.39)

1 tbsp of minced garlic (.50)

Step 1: Brown beef, drain and set aside.

Step 2: Add tomatoes (plus juices), beef, water, paprika, s/p to taste, garlic and brown sugar.

Step 2: Mix water (1/4 cup mentioned second) with the flour to form a paste.
Step 4: Throw in your paste with the sour cream and mix it together well. Cook pasta according to box directions. Let mixture simmer for about 15 minutes while pasta cooks.

Serve over pasta and enjoy!

Total cost of meal: $3.27

Chicken In Red Sauce

Didn't really have a clever name for this one. What you see is what you get, I guess.

Ingredients:

1 8oz can of diced tomatoes (.57)

1 4oz can of tomato sauce (.25)

1 tbs Italian seasoning (.10)

1 tbs of garlic salt (.05)

1 tbs of olive oil (.10)

4 chicken thighs (1.60)

1/2 package of angel hair pasta (.75)

2 ears of corn (1.00)

1/4 cup of cheese (.45)

**Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

**This recipe takes about an hr so this is not the meal to make when you're starving.

Step 1: Mix diced tomatoes, olive oil, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and garlic salt together in a small mixing bowl. Place chicken in a baking dish and cover with sauce.

Step 2: Place in the oven and set your timer for 50 minutes. When it hits 50 minutes, pull chicken out, cover with cheese and put it back in the oven for 10 mins. While this is cooking, throw your corn into some boiling water for 30 minutes and cook your pasta according to box directions.

Step 3: Take it out and you're ready to serve!
Enjoy!
Total cost of meal: $4.77

Baked Ziti w/ White Sauce and Spaghetti Squash

This dish was easy and really yummy. It's a quick spin on an old classic.

Ingredients:

6 Tablespoons of all purpose flour (.10)

1 16 oz box of ziti (.74-Walmart has GREAT deals on pasta)

4 tablespoons of butter (.25)

1 Cup of cheese (.94--I made it with cheddar because it's what we had left in our fridge, but it probably would have tasted a little more authentic with mozzarella cheese)

2-3 Cups of milk (.40--this depends on how creamy you like your ziti, more milk, creamier pasta)

1/2 Spaghetti Squash (1.70)

**preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

**cook noodles according to package.

Step 1: Start with your squash, because it will take the longest. Split it in half lengthwise (yes, this is quite a challenge--keep at it, it will eventually split). Put it face DOWN into a baking dish with about 1/4 cup of water in it and stick it in the oven for 40-50 minutes.

Step 2: Melt your butter in a large saucepan.

Step 3: Mix the flour in with the melted butter to form a paste.
Step 3: Add your milk. It's going to look very soupy at first (like below) but after about 4-5 minutes it'll get thicker as it warms.

Step 4: Spread your ziti noodles in your baking dish and then pour the sauce over them.
Step 5: Cover your dish with the cup of cheese and stick it in the oven for 15-20 minutes (until cheese is bubbling).
Step 6: Pull it out of the oven (along with your squash).
Step 7: Scrape the "spaghetti strings" out of the squash to serve. We sprinkle brown sugar and a bit of butter on the top for taste (very little goes a long way--even for picky veggie eaters). You're ready to serve!

Total cost of meal: $4.23

Tacoroni and Cheese

A great new spin on an old classic!

Ingredients:

1 8oz box elbow noodles (.79)

1 15oz can of tomato sauce (.69)

1 15oz can of Rotel (1.34--next time I will use a coupon for sure)

1/2 lb of ground chuck (1.78)

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (.12--found a GREAT sale!)

Step 1:

Cook noodles as instructed on package. Drain and set aside.

Step 2:

Brown beef and drain.
Step 3:

Put stovetop on medium heat. Add Rotel, tomato sauce and macaroni to the beef and mix.

Step 4:

Add cheese and mix.

Step 5:

Don't forget your side dish! Mine? A loaf of homemade bread (.25)

And we're ready to eat! This recipe actually makes enough for about 5 people. I put the leftovers in some tupperware and will be having it for lunch tomorrow!

Total cost of meal:

$4.97