Alright, we are REALLY trying to pinch pennies around here. I need a 2 week menu full of FRUGAL meals. Here's the deal. My dh works late... so I dont really have to COOK many full meals. I really only cook a couple times a week.. and its only me and the kids eating it.. so this should help.

So gimme what ya got... whats your most frugal meal. Doesnt have to be unique.. go ahead and give me those no brainers too! Annnnnnd GO!

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~~Ember~~
Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

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~~Ember~~
Mommy to Bailey 10/02, Brooke 9/04, & DJ 6/06

my kids love taco meals. I use lentils instead of the meat. A little bag of them only costs about 75 cents. You just boil them in about 4 cups of water until the water is evaporated and then just use them the same way you would hamburger (chili, garlic, cumin, salsa) and serve on taco shells, flour tortillas or corn chips or even just taco salad.

spagetti is easy and cheep.

grilled cheese and tomato soup

stir fry over rice

(I'll keep thinkin', I've gotta stir my sauce....)

Salsa Chicken

Chicken Breast
Salsa (of your choice)
Blk Beans or rice

Put the chicken breast in the crockpot, pour the salsa over. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours. Serve over black beans and/or rice! It's also yummy with a little shredded cheddar over top once on the serving plate. To stretch it, you can roll it up in tortilla's the next day for lunch.

Or just a simple egg fried rice. That's really easy. My youngest dd loves it.

hamburger gravy (my version is just ground beef and cream of mushroom soup with a little milk) serve over noodles....I usually use elbow mac. Add a veggie and you're done!

These are my stand bys when money is tight. And it is a lot.

Sloppy joes-chip or french fries/tator tots
Spagetti-you can make a lot and have it for later in the week.
Hamburger Helper-Not my favorite, it does feed the family.
Tacos-you can always use the meat leftover for another meal. That's what I did last week. First we had taco salads. Than I mixed the meat with a box of au gratin potaotes mix, and put 1/2 bag of shredded cheddar. Than baked it and before it was done put more cheese and crushed up tortilla chips on it. Everyone loved it, we didnt have any leftovers.
Meatloaf
Chicken and rice cooked in cream of mushroom soup.
Any casserole.
I did the Hamburger Gravy too. It was good.
sandwiches and maybe a potato or mac. salad
hamburger patties with gravy and mashed potatoes
Mac & cheese with hot dogs or leftover taco meat.


That is about all I can think of. Check out the Kraft & Betty Crocker website, they have lots of good ideas for meals. Good luck.

Breakfast for supper (pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs)
Individual pizzas made from english muffins
Hamburger helper
Mac and cheese, stir in tuna and peas
Tater Tot casserole
Hamburgers/cheeseburgers, maidrites, sloppy joes
Grilled Cheeese
Goulash
Baked potato bar
Homemade pizza
chicken breasts cooked in skillet with cream of mushroom soup
chicken marinated in anything (dh likes honey mustard or Western Dressing)

Look at hillbillyhousewife.com for ideas miserlymoms.com also has a frugal recipe section

start by heading to the pantry and your freezer with a notepad and a pen.
Most people are suprised how many meals they can come up with by looking no further than right there.

It's hot(at least here anyway)if it's mainly you and kids you could always do sandwiches-tuna and egg salad are good,kid friendly,and dirt cheap(and easy to throw together late for husband-dress his up with lettuce and toasted buns).Do that with some fruit.

Another thing-kids,most I know anyway,love cereal...eat cereal w/the kids for dinner(if by chance you're tryin to lose any weight for summer-you'll be surprised what a diff this can make )Then just concentrate on dh.

Start at your pantry though!!!And check out the weeks sale ad for your store(almost all have an online site)

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when I make my two week menu to mak emy $ go furthur. I have a breakfast night, soup and sandwich night, a homemade pizza night and a left over night each week. That only leaves 3 days to come up with meals. Like meatloaf, pot roast, something that goes far, salmon cakes.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous