You can't say you're poor if you haven't eaten ramen noodles. Let's face it, their cheap! Usually you can find a 5 pack at the dollar tree. It's also the main staple food for all college students. So if you're like me and currently living on these then lets me tell you some ways to add some bling to them and make them tastier.
Veggies! This is the easiest addition to add flavor and a few vitamins. Frozen veggies work great or even canned. I prefer adding corn and peas to mine.
Eggs! The way I do it is to scramble an egg in a bowl and when the noodles are almost done, pour the raw egg into the noodles and broth while stirring. It makes like and egg drop soup. Also I've seen people add fried eggs, boiled eggs, and even poached eggs to their. However why would you take the time to poach an egg to add to unhealthy noodles?
Meat! It's a great way to get rid of some leftovers. You can take something like leftover roast and dice it up and stir it in. Some people precook ground beef and freeze it. You could easily add some. Of even a leftover hamburger tastes great.
Quick Chicken Noodle Soup Add cooked or canned chicken, shredded cabbage, diced carrots, peas, and chicken flavored noodles to a pot of boiling water. Cook 3 minutes, mix in flavoring and done.
Chili Cheese Noodles Cook the noodles and drain. Place on a plate or in a bowl and top with canned chili and cheese. Sounds gross but it's great and really bad for your heart. lol
Salads! Crush the noodles and add them to your favorite salad for a little crunch.
Greek Salad Over boiled noodles, place 1 cup chopped bell pepper, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 cup chopped onion, diced tomatoes, green and black olives. Mix 1 cup canola oil with 1 cup lemon juice and pour over salad.
Tex Mex Ramen Brown 1 pound ground beef and drain. Stir in 1 packet of taco seasoning mix, diced tomatoes, chopped onion and boiled ramen noodles. Cover with shredded cheese and crushed Doritos.
There are 100's of recipes online on ways to fix ramen noodles. These were just a few ideas.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
My new invention
So I'm sure people all over the world have been eating this for years but I've never seen it or tried it so this in my cheap meal.
Smoked Sausage, tomatoes, and wild rice
As for cheap it seems smoked sausage is always on sale. In this recipe I only used two links (or one loop pack depending on what you buy), a can of no salt added diced tomatoes I got from the food bank but can be found at Dollar Tree also and a box if Uncle Ben's Wild Rice.
Just prepare the rice like it says on the box but after adding the water add the can of diced tomatoes (drained). In another pan brown the diced smoked sausage. Then a few minutes before the rice is done add the smoked sausage so that it will all be the same temperature. To spice it up a little I also added a dash of red pepper flakes.
Total meal cost: $3
Smoked Sausage, tomatoes, and wild rice
As for cheap it seems smoked sausage is always on sale. In this recipe I only used two links (or one loop pack depending on what you buy), a can of no salt added diced tomatoes I got from the food bank but can be found at Dollar Tree also and a box if Uncle Ben's Wild Rice.
Just prepare the rice like it says on the box but after adding the water add the can of diced tomatoes (drained). In another pan brown the diced smoked sausage. Then a few minutes before the rice is done add the smoked sausage so that it will all be the same temperature. To spice it up a little I also added a dash of red pepper flakes.
Total meal cost: $3
Let's talk Ground Beef
Even though ground beef prices have gone up lately you can usually find it on sale or going out of date so it's something we all stock up on when we can. We call know about Hamburger Helper and the fact that it's also cheap but you can only consume so much of the stuff before it makes you sick to even look at it. So here's some home cooked meals that are cheap cheap to make and yummy too.
Shepherd's Pie
You will need:
1 lb ground beef
2 cups Hot mashed potatoes (fresh or instant both work)
4 oz cream cheese cubed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cloves garlic minced
4 cups of mixed veggies (canned or frozen both work)
1 cup beef gravy
BROWN the meat and drain
In a bowl mix the mashed potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 the cheese. and garlic
In another bowl mix the ground beef, gravy, and veggies
Place the meat mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes mixture and top with the rest of the cheese. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.
Notes from a poor person: You don't have to use the cream cheese, you can add any type of veggies you like. Also browning onion into the meat while cooking it is yummy.
Meatloaf
There are a zillion recipes for this but this is what I grew up on. There isn't any peppers in this version either. Kids hate peppers or anything looking healthy lol
You will need:
1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 large egg
2/3 cup of milk
1/2 cup cracker crumbs (you can use bread crumbs, or even fresh bread crumbled)
1/4 cup ketchup
little salt and pepper
Mix everything together. Let the kids to it. It's messy and gooey which equals fun for them.
Form into a loaf shape and place in a baking dish. Cover with more ketchup, just smear on the top.
Bake at 350 for one hour. In the last 10 minutes I turn the broiler on to make the ketchup on top brown a little. My family loves that.
Notes: Diced bell pepper can also be added. You can also mince a carrot and cook it in it to hide more veggies from the kids. You can also use taco sauce in the recipe instead of ketchup. Also I always double this recipe because meatloaf freezes well and can be used later when you don't feel like cooking.
Hobo Burgers
This is my families all time favorite
You will need:
Ground Beef (enough for each person to have a burger)
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 egg
3 potatoes (peeled and sliced thin)
3 carrots (sliced thin)
1 bell pepper (seeded and sliced thin)
Bacon crumbles
1 onion (minced)
worcestershire sauce
57 steak sauce
powdered garlic
salt and pepper
butter
In a bowl mix the ground beef, cracker crumbs, egg, and onion. Then season with the 57, worcestershire, and garlic
Tear off about 12 inches of aluminum foil (enough for each person to have one) and place a burger patty in the center of each one.
Place the potatoes, carrots, bacon, and pepper in bowls beside the burgers. Then allow each person to add the amount of veggies they want to their packet.
Then add one pat of butter to each packet and add salt and pepper to season
Tightly close each packet and place on cooking sheet. (If cooking in campfire or on grill double the foil)
Cook at 350 for 1 hour
Note Patties can be pre made and frozen for later use
Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cups frozen tater tots
1 cream of cream of ... soup (I use cream of mushroom but whatever you have is fine)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Brown ground beef and onion and drain. Season the meat and put beef in bottom of casserole and cover with undiluted soup. Cover with tater tots. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
Notes: Cheese can be added when first removed if desired. I also add a can of drained corn to my beef after draining.
Poor Man's Main Dish
You will need:
1 lb Ground Beef
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup elbow pasta
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
Bring water to boil with a dash of salt, then add elbow pasta. Cook pasta until done and drain. In another pan brown ground beef and onion together and drain. Return meat to pan and add cooked pasta. Add tomato sauce and season. Allow to simmer 15 minutes. Cheese is a good addition when done.
Shepherd's Pie
You will need:
1 lb ground beef
2 cups Hot mashed potatoes (fresh or instant both work)
4 oz cream cheese cubed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cloves garlic minced
4 cups of mixed veggies (canned or frozen both work)
1 cup beef gravy
BROWN the meat and drain
In a bowl mix the mashed potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 the cheese. and garlic
In another bowl mix the ground beef, gravy, and veggies
Place the meat mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes mixture and top with the rest of the cheese. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.
Notes from a poor person: You don't have to use the cream cheese, you can add any type of veggies you like. Also browning onion into the meat while cooking it is yummy.
Meatloaf
There are a zillion recipes for this but this is what I grew up on. There isn't any peppers in this version either. Kids hate peppers or anything looking healthy lol
You will need:
1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 large egg
2/3 cup of milk
1/2 cup cracker crumbs (you can use bread crumbs, or even fresh bread crumbled)
1/4 cup ketchup
little salt and pepper
Mix everything together. Let the kids to it. It's messy and gooey which equals fun for them.
Form into a loaf shape and place in a baking dish. Cover with more ketchup, just smear on the top.
Bake at 350 for one hour. In the last 10 minutes I turn the broiler on to make the ketchup on top brown a little. My family loves that.
Notes: Diced bell pepper can also be added. You can also mince a carrot and cook it in it to hide more veggies from the kids. You can also use taco sauce in the recipe instead of ketchup. Also I always double this recipe because meatloaf freezes well and can be used later when you don't feel like cooking.
Hobo Burgers
This is my families all time favorite
You will need:
Ground Beef (enough for each person to have a burger)
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 egg
3 potatoes (peeled and sliced thin)
3 carrots (sliced thin)
1 bell pepper (seeded and sliced thin)
Bacon crumbles
1 onion (minced)
worcestershire sauce
57 steak sauce
powdered garlic
salt and pepper
butter
In a bowl mix the ground beef, cracker crumbs, egg, and onion. Then season with the 57, worcestershire, and garlic
Tear off about 12 inches of aluminum foil (enough for each person to have one) and place a burger patty in the center of each one.
Place the potatoes, carrots, bacon, and pepper in bowls beside the burgers. Then allow each person to add the amount of veggies they want to their packet.
Then add one pat of butter to each packet and add salt and pepper to season
Tightly close each packet and place on cooking sheet. (If cooking in campfire or on grill double the foil)
Cook at 350 for 1 hour
Note Patties can be pre made and frozen for later use
Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cups frozen tater tots
1 cream of cream of ... soup (I use cream of mushroom but whatever you have is fine)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Brown ground beef and onion and drain. Season the meat and put beef in bottom of casserole and cover with undiluted soup. Cover with tater tots. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
Notes: Cheese can be added when first removed if desired. I also add a can of drained corn to my beef after draining.
Poor Man's Main Dish
You will need:
1 lb Ground Beef
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup elbow pasta
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
Bring water to boil with a dash of salt, then add elbow pasta. Cook pasta until done and drain. In another pan brown ground beef and onion together and drain. Return meat to pan and add cooked pasta. Add tomato sauce and season. Allow to simmer 15 minutes. Cheese is a good addition when done.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Dirt Cheap Meals
I grew up poor so I guess that's why it doesn't bother me now. Actually people shock me how wasteful they are. Many weeks we've only had like $30 to feed four people to eat for a week. Everyone always thinks we eat Ramen Noodles all the time. They are a part of our diet but not that often. Here's a list of thrifty meals we eat. These are things you can always find on sale or even at your local Dollar Tree.
Chicken Rice a Roni with Smoked Sausage
Sounds gross together but it's not I promise. Just use half the package that has either one link wrapped around or two links in it. Dice the smoke sausage and brown it in the butter the Rice a Roni calls for. Then when almost done add the rice and brown it like called for on the package. Then cook just like stated on package. Diced chicken and pork also work great this way.
Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs
This is my step daughters' favorite. Just dice 3 or 4 hot dogs. Then when you add the pasta to the boiling water add the hot dogs also. Then finish cooking like stated on package.
Stew Meat over Rice
I say stew meat but any diced meat will work or even leftover roast. Just put the stew meat on to boil with two cups of water, 2 beef bouillon cubes, and salt and pepper. Boil until meat is done and tender and almost falling apart. Also let the water boil down until there's only about 1 cup left. This will strengthen the flavor. In the last 10 minutes I add mushrooms to mine also. Then serve this over rice in a bowl with some of the broth in it. I discovered this when I first got married and my husband was an avid deer hunter. This is great with canned deer meat.
Cream of Chicken Noodle Soup with Grilled Cheese or Cheese Toast
I thank boarding school for this one. Take one can of cream of chicken and add one can of milk and one can of water. Mix till there are no lumps. Then add one can of chicken noodle. I state this because you will kill the noodles if you try to mix after adding the chicken noodle soup.
As for the toast everyone says I'm a master at it. Not really I just worked in the kitchen at boarding school, in college, and in restaurants. The secret to not getting it so greasy is to not butter the bread. Add the butter to the griddle or frying pan then place the bread in the pan. Add one slice of cheese per piece of bread. Then when browned to liking flip one side onto the other, squish together and wala!
Spaghetti
My mother says she will never eat jarred spaghetti sauce and can tell when people use the fake stuff. She's an idiot! She loves mine and I fake it the whole way. I prefer Hunt's canned sauce. You can find it at the Dollar Tree. Just add a little extra italian seasoning and no one will know you faked it. You can add meatballs (also can be found at Dollar Tree), ground beef, diced smoke sausage. All work great. Then serve over your favorite pasta.
Baked Spaghetti
I'm originally from Atlanta and loved this restaurant called Fazolli's. OMG! Their baked spaghetti was awesome. Alas there isn't a Fazolli's anywhere near hear but her's how to make baked spaghetti. Once you know you may never go back to regular spaghetti. Just cook your sauce and pasta. Then in a casserole dish put a little sauce in the bottom (stops pasta from sticking). Then alternate layers of pasta and spaghetti noodles. Top it all with a ton of mozzarella cheese and cook until cheese is melted and starts to brown.
Use ziti noodles and you have baked ziti. Add pepperoni slices to the layers and you have pizza pasta.
Veggie Night
This always includes stewed tomatoes and pasta. Just cook elbow pasta and add a can of stewed tomatoes that you crushed up by hand. Then we have three other veggies; usually a bean and whatever canned food we can find in the cabinet with cornbread.
Cornbread
This is added for the northern people (stated with love). This is Southern Cornbread and sugar gets nowhere near this cornbread.
You will need:
1 large egg
2 cups self rising cornmeal
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of milk or buttermilk
1/4 cup Crisco (shortening) or bacon grease
Heat the oven to 450 in a iron skillet or 8x8 baking dish place the crisco or bacon grease in the pan and place it in the oven while it warms.
In a bowl mix the egg, cornmeal, and milk and mix. Then (with potholder) remove the skillet from the oven and swirl the now melted grease around the pan, making sure to coat the entire bottom and side. Then pour the rest of the grease into your batter and mix. Pour all the batter into the skillet and bake.
This could take 20 to 30 minutes. When golden brown and pulling from the sides it's done. Just place a plate on top and flip it over. If you greased the pan well it should fall right out.
Treet Meat and pasta
You will notice pasta and rice are common themes for me. This is because they are cheap cheap cheap.
This is extra easy!. Dice the treet meat (or Spam) and brown it in a little oil. In another pot cook your elbow pasta and drain. In a bowl mix the pasta with a little butter and add some salt, pepper, and all purpose seasoning. Then mix in the meat. My husband adds a little milk to him. A little mozzarella on this is nice also.
Trailer Park Pizza
Works on any thick bread. We use Hot Dog buns broken in half. Apply a little jarred pizza sauce to the bread then top with anything you like. We go crazy digging in the fridge for leftovers to add. Then top it all with whatever shredded cheese you have. Then put in the oven until cheese is melted.
Nachos
This is the lunch the night after we have homemade tacos. just lay the corn chips on a plate, add leftover taco meat, leftover refried beans and cheese and melt in the microwave. Then I add shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and salsa to mine. You can also use leftover beef or chicken diced up in this
Ham bone soup (the bone is no longer for the dog)
Place the leftover ham bone in the crockpot with salt, pepper. I let this cook over night. Then the next morning remove the bone and pick off any little ham pieces that didn't fall off and put them back in the broth. NOW the dog can have the bone. Then I dice a little more ham into it (if any was leftover) and add my veggies. These are veggies of choice. I usually add corn, some type of bean (if using canned make sure to rinse them first unless green beans), sweet peas, potatoes, whatever I have available. Then place it on low until you are ready to eat or if using fresh veggies, when they are tender.
Pan Fried potatoes
OMG good OMG bad for you!
Four potatoes sliced about 1/8 inch thick, stick of butter, one sweet onion diced, garlic and salt. Melt the butter, I add a dash of cooking oil so the butter doesn't burn. Then mix in the potatoes, onions, and seasoning. Mix every so often until the potatoes and onion are cooked though and browned.
We have these with a veggie and some type of meat like smoke sausage, or pan browned hot dogs cut in half.
Chicken Rice a Roni with Smoked Sausage
Sounds gross together but it's not I promise. Just use half the package that has either one link wrapped around or two links in it. Dice the smoke sausage and brown it in the butter the Rice a Roni calls for. Then when almost done add the rice and brown it like called for on the package. Then cook just like stated on package. Diced chicken and pork also work great this way.
Mac and Cheese with Hot Dogs
This is my step daughters' favorite. Just dice 3 or 4 hot dogs. Then when you add the pasta to the boiling water add the hot dogs also. Then finish cooking like stated on package.
Stew Meat over Rice
I say stew meat but any diced meat will work or even leftover roast. Just put the stew meat on to boil with two cups of water, 2 beef bouillon cubes, and salt and pepper. Boil until meat is done and tender and almost falling apart. Also let the water boil down until there's only about 1 cup left. This will strengthen the flavor. In the last 10 minutes I add mushrooms to mine also. Then serve this over rice in a bowl with some of the broth in it. I discovered this when I first got married and my husband was an avid deer hunter. This is great with canned deer meat.
Cream of Chicken Noodle Soup with Grilled Cheese or Cheese Toast
I thank boarding school for this one. Take one can of cream of chicken and add one can of milk and one can of water. Mix till there are no lumps. Then add one can of chicken noodle. I state this because you will kill the noodles if you try to mix after adding the chicken noodle soup.
As for the toast everyone says I'm a master at it. Not really I just worked in the kitchen at boarding school, in college, and in restaurants. The secret to not getting it so greasy is to not butter the bread. Add the butter to the griddle or frying pan then place the bread in the pan. Add one slice of cheese per piece of bread. Then when browned to liking flip one side onto the other, squish together and wala!
Spaghetti
My mother says she will never eat jarred spaghetti sauce and can tell when people use the fake stuff. She's an idiot! She loves mine and I fake it the whole way. I prefer Hunt's canned sauce. You can find it at the Dollar Tree. Just add a little extra italian seasoning and no one will know you faked it. You can add meatballs (also can be found at Dollar Tree), ground beef, diced smoke sausage. All work great. Then serve over your favorite pasta.
Baked Spaghetti
I'm originally from Atlanta and loved this restaurant called Fazolli's. OMG! Their baked spaghetti was awesome. Alas there isn't a Fazolli's anywhere near hear but her's how to make baked spaghetti. Once you know you may never go back to regular spaghetti. Just cook your sauce and pasta. Then in a casserole dish put a little sauce in the bottom (stops pasta from sticking). Then alternate layers of pasta and spaghetti noodles. Top it all with a ton of mozzarella cheese and cook until cheese is melted and starts to brown.
Use ziti noodles and you have baked ziti. Add pepperoni slices to the layers and you have pizza pasta.
Veggie Night
This always includes stewed tomatoes and pasta. Just cook elbow pasta and add a can of stewed tomatoes that you crushed up by hand. Then we have three other veggies; usually a bean and whatever canned food we can find in the cabinet with cornbread.
Cornbread
This is added for the northern people (stated with love). This is Southern Cornbread and sugar gets nowhere near this cornbread.
You will need:
1 large egg
2 cups self rising cornmeal
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of milk or buttermilk
1/4 cup Crisco (shortening) or bacon grease
Heat the oven to 450 in a iron skillet or 8x8 baking dish place the crisco or bacon grease in the pan and place it in the oven while it warms.
In a bowl mix the egg, cornmeal, and milk and mix. Then (with potholder) remove the skillet from the oven and swirl the now melted grease around the pan, making sure to coat the entire bottom and side. Then pour the rest of the grease into your batter and mix. Pour all the batter into the skillet and bake.
This could take 20 to 30 minutes. When golden brown and pulling from the sides it's done. Just place a plate on top and flip it over. If you greased the pan well it should fall right out.
Treet Meat and pasta
You will notice pasta and rice are common themes for me. This is because they are cheap cheap cheap.
This is extra easy!. Dice the treet meat (or Spam) and brown it in a little oil. In another pot cook your elbow pasta and drain. In a bowl mix the pasta with a little butter and add some salt, pepper, and all purpose seasoning. Then mix in the meat. My husband adds a little milk to him. A little mozzarella on this is nice also.
Trailer Park Pizza
Works on any thick bread. We use Hot Dog buns broken in half. Apply a little jarred pizza sauce to the bread then top with anything you like. We go crazy digging in the fridge for leftovers to add. Then top it all with whatever shredded cheese you have. Then put in the oven until cheese is melted.
Nachos
This is the lunch the night after we have homemade tacos. just lay the corn chips on a plate, add leftover taco meat, leftover refried beans and cheese and melt in the microwave. Then I add shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and salsa to mine. You can also use leftover beef or chicken diced up in this
Ham bone soup (the bone is no longer for the dog)
Place the leftover ham bone in the crockpot with salt, pepper. I let this cook over night. Then the next morning remove the bone and pick off any little ham pieces that didn't fall off and put them back in the broth. NOW the dog can have the bone. Then I dice a little more ham into it (if any was leftover) and add my veggies. These are veggies of choice. I usually add corn, some type of bean (if using canned make sure to rinse them first unless green beans), sweet peas, potatoes, whatever I have available. Then place it on low until you are ready to eat or if using fresh veggies, when they are tender.
Pan Fried potatoes
OMG good OMG bad for you!
Four potatoes sliced about 1/8 inch thick, stick of butter, one sweet onion diced, garlic and salt. Melt the butter, I add a dash of cooking oil so the butter doesn't burn. Then mix in the potatoes, onions, and seasoning. Mix every so often until the potatoes and onion are cooked though and browned.
We have these with a veggie and some type of meat like smoke sausage, or pan browned hot dogs cut in half.
Chipped Beef on Toast
Every poor person should know how to make this. We were raised on it. This recipe is for 4 servings because I don't have a large family but my husband can eat two serving by himself.
Chipped Beef on Toast
You will need:
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1 (6oz) package of Buddig Beef sandwich meat
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 slices of toast
Whisk flour, milk, salt and pepper together in a bowl till smooth. Dice up sandwich meat.
In frying pan add butter and melt. Slowly add milk mixture and stir constantly until thickened. Add diced meat and cook apx another five minutes until meat is heated.
Serve open faced on toast.
You can also use dried beef or corned beef. Sauted onions are also a nice addition.
Chipped Beef on Toast
You will need:
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1 (6oz) package of Buddig Beef sandwich meat
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 slices of toast
Whisk flour, milk, salt and pepper together in a bowl till smooth. Dice up sandwich meat.
In frying pan add butter and melt. Slowly add milk mixture and stir constantly until thickened. Add diced meat and cook apx another five minutes until meat is heated.
Serve open faced on toast.
You can also use dried beef or corned beef. Sauted onions are also a nice addition.
One pork roast multi meals
Buy whatever pork roast is on sale. A pork picnic works well also if you can fit it in the pot. Cook this on water with salt, pepper, and bay leaves. On night one enjoy roast with your favorite sides but DON'T throw away the broth or leftovers. Here's some ideas besides sandwiches
With the leftover broth and just a little of the meat the second night make a stew. The broth is already wonderfully seasoned. I'll list my favorite stew at the bottom.
On day three pull out the crock pot. This time you're making BBQ. The cheap way that is. This doesn't even need a recipe, it's that easy! Just dice the meat and dice an onion. Place the onion on the bottom, top with meat and add a bottle of BBQ sauce and a little water to cover. Then season with pepper. Towards the end when the meat falls apart I throw it in a pot and cook any remaining water out of it and add hot sauce. Then serve.
Great leftover pork Recipes:
Potato Rice Soup (my granny's recipe)
You will need:
Rice 1 cup
reserved pork stock
potatoes 2 or 3
and canned crushed or diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Add a little of the left over meat to the broth (diced). Dice some potatoes (as many as you like but save room also. Cook this until the potatoes are almost done. Then add one cup of uncooked rice. Let this cook until rice is half done and add your tomatoes. Make sure to stay near once you add the tomatoes because this is when it tries to start sticking to the bottom of the pot. Make sure to stir it also because the rice goes to the bottom and that's what sticks and then burns. Once the rice begins to butterfly then it's done. (get leftover but doesn't freeze well)
Leftover Pork Casserole
You will need:
1 2/3 cups HOT water
1 package stuffing (any flavor will do)
leftover pork (a least 1 cup)
mixed veggies (frozen, canned, or leftover will do)
3/4 cup of milk
1 1/2 cups of cheese
1 can cream of (insert favorite) soup
Mix water and stuffing together and set to the side. Then mix everything else together in a casserole dish. Cover with the stuffing. Cook at 350 of apx 30 minutes until hot and stuffing a little crusty.
With the leftover broth and just a little of the meat the second night make a stew. The broth is already wonderfully seasoned. I'll list my favorite stew at the bottom.
On day three pull out the crock pot. This time you're making BBQ. The cheap way that is. This doesn't even need a recipe, it's that easy! Just dice the meat and dice an onion. Place the onion on the bottom, top with meat and add a bottle of BBQ sauce and a little water to cover. Then season with pepper. Towards the end when the meat falls apart I throw it in a pot and cook any remaining water out of it and add hot sauce. Then serve.
Great leftover pork Recipes:
Potato Rice Soup (my granny's recipe)
You will need:
Rice 1 cup
reserved pork stock
potatoes 2 or 3
and canned crushed or diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Add a little of the left over meat to the broth (diced). Dice some potatoes (as many as you like but save room also. Cook this until the potatoes are almost done. Then add one cup of uncooked rice. Let this cook until rice is half done and add your tomatoes. Make sure to stay near once you add the tomatoes because this is when it tries to start sticking to the bottom of the pot. Make sure to stir it also because the rice goes to the bottom and that's what sticks and then burns. Once the rice begins to butterfly then it's done. (get leftover but doesn't freeze well)
Leftover Pork Casserole
You will need:
1 2/3 cups HOT water
1 package stuffing (any flavor will do)
leftover pork (a least 1 cup)
mixed veggies (frozen, canned, or leftover will do)
3/4 cup of milk
1 1/2 cups of cheese
1 can cream of (insert favorite) soup
Mix water and stuffing together and set to the side. Then mix everything else together in a casserole dish. Cover with the stuffing. Cook at 350 of apx 30 minutes until hot and stuffing a little crusty.
Leftover chicken meals
There are a million things you can do with chicken. However what you can do with the leftovers is even better! Here are a few ideas.
When you find chicken on sale grab it up! This stuff is gold in my house for multi day meals. Everyone knows what you can do with chicken on the first day but lets think about the leftovers or even that big bag of leg quarters you found dirt cheap. Just take the leftover chicken a dice it. If it's a little dry that's not a problem use it in a crock pot meal. You can also use the clearance rotisserie chicken found at the store at the end of the days.
Crock pot chicken and dumplings
You will need:
Leftover diced chicken or canned chicken works
1 medium onion (minced)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
chicken broth OR water and chicken bouillon
2 cans canned biscuits (regular not buttered) whatever is on sale
In the slow cooker place onions, soup, chicken. Mix together well and add enough broth/water to cover everything. Then season to your taste. I add salt, pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning to mine.
This will need to cook until the onions are done since the chicken is cooked. However if you use uncooked diced chicken then let it cook on high for 5 or 6 hours.
30 minutes before you're ready to eat it's time to add the biscuits. There are many ways to do this. You can roll them out and slice and/ot dice them or you can be lazy (like me). I just pinch off little bites. After adding one biscuit make sure to push the pieces down into the broth before adding another one. This stops them from becoming one big clump while cooking. Once all added just allow them to cook until the center is done. If you didn't make the bites to big then 30 minutes should be enough but larger bites may take longer.
Before serving just stir it one good time to bring the chicken to the top and push some dumplings down.
*Note if using boneless skinless chicken breast add a little butter at the beginning so that the dumplings don't stick*
Chicken Pot luck (husband's favorite)
Leftover turkey also works great in this meal
You will need:
Leftover chicken diced
chicken broth or water
1 onion diced
1 can cream of (insert fav) soup
2 jars turkey gravy
Seasoning of choice
This can be cooked on the stove or in the crock pot.
In a pot (crock pot) place the chicken, diced onion, gravy, soup. Add enough water or broth to cover. Cook it until the chicken falls apart and onion is cooked. If cooked on the stove make sure to stir regularly because this likes to stick. If in a hurry you can cook the onion with a little butter in a frying pan and then add.
This is great served over rice or pasta. It's also great on an open faced turkey sandwich. Leftovers of this also freeze well making yet another meal.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie (This is a Betty Crocker recipe)
You will need:
Leftover chicken (at least 1 cup)
1 bag of mixed frozen veggies or 2 cans mixed veggies (drained)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Bisquick mix
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg
You will need:
Leftover chicken
Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 onion diced
Seasoning of choice
Place diced onion on the bottom of crock pot to ensure it gets cooked well. Then place chicken and pour BBQ sauce over it. If there's not enough sauce to cover then add a little water to the bottle and shake it and pour it in the pot also. I cook this on low all day, stirring it about halfway through cooking. Since the chicken is already cooked there is no set time needed. I just cook it until the chicken falls apart and we're ready to eat.
When you find chicken on sale grab it up! This stuff is gold in my house for multi day meals. Everyone knows what you can do with chicken on the first day but lets think about the leftovers or even that big bag of leg quarters you found dirt cheap. Just take the leftover chicken a dice it. If it's a little dry that's not a problem use it in a crock pot meal. You can also use the clearance rotisserie chicken found at the store at the end of the days.
Crock pot chicken and dumplings
You will need:
Leftover diced chicken or canned chicken works
1 medium onion (minced)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
chicken broth OR water and chicken bouillon
2 cans canned biscuits (regular not buttered) whatever is on sale
In the slow cooker place onions, soup, chicken. Mix together well and add enough broth/water to cover everything. Then season to your taste. I add salt, pepper, paprika, and poultry seasoning to mine.
This will need to cook until the onions are done since the chicken is cooked. However if you use uncooked diced chicken then let it cook on high for 5 or 6 hours.
30 minutes before you're ready to eat it's time to add the biscuits. There are many ways to do this. You can roll them out and slice and/ot dice them or you can be lazy (like me). I just pinch off little bites. After adding one biscuit make sure to push the pieces down into the broth before adding another one. This stops them from becoming one big clump while cooking. Once all added just allow them to cook until the center is done. If you didn't make the bites to big then 30 minutes should be enough but larger bites may take longer.
Before serving just stir it one good time to bring the chicken to the top and push some dumplings down.
*Note if using boneless skinless chicken breast add a little butter at the beginning so that the dumplings don't stick*
Chicken Pot luck (husband's favorite)
Leftover turkey also works great in this meal
You will need:
Leftover chicken diced
chicken broth or water
1 onion diced
1 can cream of (insert fav) soup
2 jars turkey gravy
Seasoning of choice
This can be cooked on the stove or in the crock pot.
In a pot (crock pot) place the chicken, diced onion, gravy, soup. Add enough water or broth to cover. Cook it until the chicken falls apart and onion is cooked. If cooked on the stove make sure to stir regularly because this likes to stick. If in a hurry you can cook the onion with a little butter in a frying pan and then add.
This is great served over rice or pasta. It's also great on an open faced turkey sandwich. Leftovers of this also freeze well making yet another meal.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie (This is a Betty Crocker recipe)
You will need:
Leftover chicken (at least 1 cup)
1 bag of mixed frozen veggies or 2 cans mixed veggies (drained)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Bisquick mix
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg
- Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix vegetables, chicken and soup in ungreased glass pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches.
- Stir together remaining ingredients with fork until blended. Pour into pie plate.
- Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
You will need:
Leftover chicken
Bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 onion diced
Seasoning of choice
Place diced onion on the bottom of crock pot to ensure it gets cooked well. Then place chicken and pour BBQ sauce over it. If there's not enough sauce to cover then add a little water to the bottle and shake it and pour it in the pot also. I cook this on low all day, stirring it about halfway through cooking. Since the chicken is already cooked there is no set time needed. I just cook it until the chicken falls apart and we're ready to eat.
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