Lasagna and salad

Here's a pretty simple recipe to make lasagna from scratch (minus the noodles--I use store bought).

1/2 pint of sour cream (.11)

8 lasagna noodles (1.25)

1 8oz can of tomato sauce (.69)

2 cups of Italian cheese (1.89)

9 grape tomatoes (.69)

1/4 cucumber (.15)

1/5 head of lettuce -- just a bit for each plate (.18)

**Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Step 1:

Cook lasagna as directed on package. Place a layer on the bottom of your cooking dish.

Step 2:

Spread a layer of sour cream over the noodles (the end taste of the lasagna will not reflect the sour cream taste for those that don't enjoy the taste of sour cream alone).
Step 3:

Spread a layer of tomato sauce over the sour cream.

Step 4:

Pour some cheese over the layer and then continue until you run out of noodles.
Step 5:

Stick it in the oven for about 15 minutes until cheese on top is bubbling.
Put together your salad and you're ready to go!

(I added some homemade bread leftover from a previous meal)

Total cost of meal: $4.96

Southwest Chicken Salad

This is a salad that even those who aren't "salad people" (ahem..my husband) will enjoy. :)

Ingredients:

1/2 head of lettuce (.78)

1/2 lb of chicken tenders (.97)

1/2 of a cucumber (.35)

1/2 lb of grape tomatoes (1.74)

1/2 bag of taco seasoning (.25)

1/2 cup of cheddar cheese (.24)

1/2 cup of ranch dressing (.30)

Step 1:

Tear your lettuce and place it in a bowl (note in advance: you may want to do this salad in a bowl with a top. I like to be able to shake it all up at the end to spread the dressing more evenly).
Step 2:

Put your chicken strips, tomatoes and cucumbers in with the lettuce.
Step 3:

Get out your 1/2 cup of dressing.
Step 4:

Pour the taco seasoning into it.
Step 5:

Mix the two really well.
Step 6:

Pour the new dressing over your salad, top it with cheese then shake it up.
And you're ready to serve!
Total cost of meal: $4.63