Cooking on a dime

The fact that food prices are rising, while paychecks are dwindling is news to nobody.  Cooking can be cheap, tasty, nutritious, and filling - so long as you follow a few simple tips. We put together some ideas for eating on a dime without feeling like a pauper.

Basic tips for the bargain gourmet:

• Utilize those leftovers!- Leftover meats and veggies can easily be made into a soup for the next day using some plain chicken, vegetable, or beef broth. Try using leftover meats in a sandwich or wrap the next day for a unique brown bagged lunch for your children or yourself

• Packaging DOES make a difference, for example canned beans vs. dried beans. Try cooking all the dried beans and storing them later. Out of season fruits and vegetables can be purchased cheaper in the frozen foods section. Frozen produce retains nutrients.

• For staples you buy often, like flour, sugar, rice, beans, dried pasta, frozen veggies etc, purchase in bulk quantities.  Be sure to only do this for items that will keep well.  Like the package says, keep them in a cool, dry place.

• Freeze foods! Most foods are good for up to six months in the freezer, and meats for up to a year. Avoid freezing pastas you have already boiled, they defrost very mushy and the consistency of the sauce just isn't that good. If you are freezing milk be sure to empty about a cup out of the gallon- It will expand.

•  Invest in some herbs and spices- using these saves a lot of money as compared to pre made and packaged sauces and flavoring packets.

• Check out discount bakery thrift stores such as Mrs. Baird's outlet for bread, tortillas, and snacks on the cheap. These items freeze well. Type in your zip code here to find a bakery thrift store near you.
  

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  Put down the ramen

  Cheap food doesn't have to taste terrible. Here are a few cheap and crowd pleasing recipes.

  Ham & Cheese rolls (About $6.00, Serves 4+)

  Ingredients

  • 2 cans of biscuits  ($1.50-$2.00 each)
  • Lunch meat ham ($1.50-$2.50)
  • Shredded cheese (about $2.00 for half the bag)

  Directions

  Preheat over to 300-325 degrees. Roll the biscuits out two at a time onto a cookie sheet, put a slice of ham and shredded cheese on each, rolling them up as you go. Let bake until slightly browned, or about ten minutes.

  You can change this up by switching out the meats and cheeses. For an Italian version, try pepperoni and mozzarella cheese and serve with marinara sauce.

  Grandmas Italian Chicken (About $5.50, Serves 4+)

  Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast ($3.00-$4.00)
  • I can tomato soup ($0.69-$1.00)
  • 1/3 bag shredded mozzarella cheese ($1.00 for 1/3 of bag)
  • 1 package Italian dressing mix ($0.50)
  • garlic seasoning (Negligible)

  Directions

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Brown chicken breast in a frying pan. Place in oven-safe dish, set aside. In a separate bowl, mix tomato soup(DO NOT add water), Italian dressing mix, and garlic seasoning. Pour over the chicken, and let bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add the cheese and continue baking for 5 more minutes.

  Fun Sloppy Joes (about $6-7 )
  

  Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef ($2.50-$3.00)
  • 1 packet "sloppy joe" mix ($1.00)
  • 1 can vegetable soup w/ ABC noodles ($0.69-$1.00)
  • 1/2 can mixed vegetables ($0.69)
  • 1/2 can water (free)
  • 1 package hamburger buns ($1.00)
  • ketchup and mustard (neglible)

  Directions

  Brown meat in frying pan. add soup, water, mix, and vegetables. Add mustard and ketchup to taste. Serve over toasted hamburger buns.

  Great Websites for Additional Recipes

  • Frugalrecipes.com
  • Hillbilly Housewife
  • Ms. Frugal
  • Thrifty Fun ("Recipes" section)
  • Low Budget Vegetarian

Also check out Cooking on a Dime, Part 2!