That is a great idea, my 5yo would probably love it. She is a huge fan of buttered egg noodles.

AHHHH I made this 2 nights ago!! I doubled the recipe SOOOO delicious and easy!! Today is actually day 2 of leftovers for lunch for me!

__________________
Working Mommy to
{DD 1::3/02}{DD 2::1/04}{DD 3::5/07}{DSS 1::12/05}

1st Timer Goal for May: $500 for family of 6

wow. There are some great ideas here. I am going to start using them. Thanks

[u]Goulash[u] serves 4 or 5
1 Tbs olive oil (may omit if using higher fat ground beef)
1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
1 large onion, chopped (about a cup)
1-14.75 oz can diced tomatoes
1-15 oz can tomato sauce
1.5 Tbs soy sauce
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1-2 cloves garlic, minced (I use 1 tsp chopped garlic from a jar)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

Brown meat in oil (if using). Add onion, cook 5 minutes. Add everything else except the macaroni. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Add macaroni and simmer, covered, for additional 20 minutes. Tastes best if allowed to sit for 15-20 minutes before serving. Awesome leftover, even if cold. Great, cheap potluck/picnic food. (I double the recipe and put it in crockpot on low after macaroni is done.)

I don't know if anyone's said this one or not: we have SMOKED SAUSAGE AND FRIED POTATOES:

1 link smoked sausage or kielbasa
enough potoatoes for your family

Chop the potatoes thinly, so they'll fry up quickly. Fry them in oil. When they're almost done stir in the sausage (slice it first). Heat and you're done.

Nothing better than fast and cheap!

You all have wonderful ideas.... We also do the hamburger gravy -- sometimes with tater tots or french fries instead of mashed potatoes. This is a big time saver.

1 pkg. tater tots or f. fries
1 lb. hamburger
cans brown gravy or gravy packet

Brown hamburger till cooked through ( add onion or onion powder for extra flavor). Add brown gravy and heat in same pan.

Bake tots in the oven as pkg. directs. Ready!

When serving each plate simply layer your tots first, then your gravy/hamburger. Kids love it!!! So does my hubby.

For Dinner

~ Homemade Chicken Soup w/Rice - cheap, healthy, makes enough for several meals. I add potatoes, onion, carrots & get fryer chickens on sale CHEAP.

~ Split pea soup w/ rice, carrots, potatoes and a small amount of ham. (split peas are like 69 cents... cheap!) - makes enough for several meals.

~ Homemade Chili - cheap and makes enough for several meals.

~ Quesadillas - tortillas, cheese and maybe small amounts of chicken, beans, rice, spinach... anything you have on hand.

~ Rachel Ray's Pasta Carbonara - makes a lot of food, but with few ingredients and very cheap.


For Breakfast

Pancakes (homemade)
French Toast (homemade)
Oatmeal (homemade)
Toast w/ peanut butter on top
Scrambled Eggs

chicken chilli

1pound of chicken 1.99
1 can of white beans .69
1 envelope of white chicken chilli seasoning .99
half cup of frozen corn less than .50 cents

less than 4 dollars total

i make sloppy joes unconventional
brown ground beef w/onions drain a large can of van de camps pork and beans add to beef add bar b q sauce dont forget to rinse the bottle and add good good with 2# beef i use the big tall can serve open face on bread or on buns
salmon patties (fake) about 2 a batch
i use can makerel About $1 a can pour can into bowl take out big bones and skin (little bones will fry away) add 1 or 2 eggs stir together and break up fish if only alittle juice in can add a bit of water add garlic fresh or powdered lemon juice add i pkg corn muffin mix or a little flour and then corn meal till it looks like pancake batter add alittle oil pan fry to deep fry make thicker batter i make 2or3 cans at a time as they reheat very well also good cold on sandwiches

Just thought I'd add my favorite quick and inexpensive meals. I bake potatoes in microware. Heat up some chile, top potatoes with chili then sprinkle on grated cheese, and dollops of sour cream. All takes about 10 minutes to make.

Cheese Soup:
Mac Noodles, 8-10 slices of cheese, 3 spoonfulls of chicken broth paste.
You can meat or veggies if you like, but we like it plain.
~~~~
Homemade Spaghettios:
Ring Noodles, Tomato Soup, and Hotdogs
~~~~
Meatloaf
~~~~
Egg Tacos:
Scrambled Eggs, Tortillas, Peppers and Onions
~~~~
Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup:
Cook the package, then at the last minute add a couple raw eggs to it and finish cooking.
~~~~
Tuna Boats:
Tuna mixed with mayo, add to buns, add your choice of shredded or slice cheese on top then bake in oven until cheese melts.
~~~~
Any fresh meat on sale, and fresh fruit and veggie on sale can come for less then $5 all the time.
I often just cook the fresh foods on sale for cheap.

__________________
Daycare mom