In need of cheap, healthy, easy-to-make recipes! Do they exist?!

Hope - posted on 06/15/2010

i went through gastric bypass two months ago and i found this recipe good and cheap

1 can of fat-free refried beans

1 cup of fat-free or reduce fat-free shredded cheese

1 tbsp of fat-free sour cream

1/2 pkg of taco seasoning

mix all together and heat up stove top til done

then dice up some tomatoes

lettuce

taco sauce

i dont use taco shells for this recipe cause shells are not healthy and this is great just on its own and the cost is real cheap and safe for toddlers if u dont use the tomato,lettuce and its a very healthy meal

TerriJo - posted on 06/13/2010

I love this dish! A friend made it with duck and red wine for a work party, but I toned it down at home...

2 pkgs long grain and wild rice

1 can chickpeas or lentils

1 can water chestnuts

1 can mushrooms

2 boxes of chicken or beef broth

Chicken or Beef (a breast/small roast, or several cans if you don't want to have to brown it first)

Parsley, Salt, Pepper, Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, or season to taste.



Brown meat (unless using canned) and throw all ingredients except stock into crock pot on low. Add water to cover, then add stock. You can also add a can of beer or a cup of white or red cooking wine, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower. Make in the morning and it will be done by dinner time!



This is another one my hubby likes:

(May need to adjust ingredients for size of family)



1 pkg broccoli, cauliflower, carrots medley (steam in bag type)

1 pkg shredded mozzerella

1 pkg shredded cheddar

1 can lite Spam

1 can mushrooms

1 leek

2 eggs

1 cup milk

2 cups crushed oyster crackers or bread crumbs



Steam veggie medley in microwave while chopping up spam and leek (or onion). Mix veggies, spam, leek, crackers, and 1/2 cup of each cheese in a small casserole dish (9x9 size equivalent). Mix eggs and milk in small bowl and pour over top. Season with salt, pepper. Add another cup of each cheese to top and cook at 350 until cheese is bubbly (about 20 minutes). You can use other meat if you have it on hand (in a pinch I've used lunchmeat, leftover easter ham, leftover thanksgiving turkey...you get the idea). You can also add other veggies your family likes, such as a can of corn or potatoes.



*Note for anyone on WIC: google "WIC recipes" and you can find tons of great ideas for using the items from food vouchers during your meals...because sometimes it's hard to come up with a new way to do beans and rice!

Nafisa - posted on 06/12/2010

Try this recipes:
http://healthmad.com/health/chickpea-spi...
http://notecook.com/appetizers/sandwiche...
http://notecook.com/soup/curried-scrambl...
http://notecook.com/salads/pineapple-sal...

Lovellia - posted on 06/11/2010

Bettycrocker or Marthastewart.com is your stop

Kara - posted on 06/11/2010

My go-to recipe when I'm in a hurry is 6 can Chicken Tortilla soup. My kids love it and all of the ingredients can be kept on hand in your pantry. 2 cans of chicken broth, 1 large can of canned chicken, 1 can of black beans, 1 can of corn-drained and one can of mild Rotel tomatoes and chiles drained. Mix it all together and heat it up on the stove and serve with cheese and tortilla chips if you want. In fact we had it tonight!

Mandy - posted on 06/11/2010

I make my version of shepards pie and my kids love it use ground hamburger browned i season with onion, garlic powder or fresh, salt and pepper to taste, drain grease put in baking dish and i pour cream corn on the meat i put mashed potatos (season the potatos as you like)on top if i have it i add cheese to the potatoes as i am mixing them bake until browned and bubbly

Lura - posted on 06/10/2010

these are all great recipes. I am going to have to give some of these a try.

Rachel - posted on 06/10/2010

I DONT KNOW IF THIS WILL HELP.. BUT U CAN USE LEAN HAMBURGER MEAT OR TURKEY MEAT... OK WHAT U NEED IS ...

TURKEY MEAT OR LEAN HAMBURGER MEAT

A BOX OF ANY TYPE OF STUFFING MIX

A BAG OR TWO OF SHREDDED CHEESE

A JAR OF ORIGINAL OR MILD SALSA

SEASONAL SALT

(YOU CAN ADD BELL PEPPERS OR ONIONS IF U WANT I DO THAT SOMETIMES)

ONE OR TWO EGGS DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF MEAT U USING... ONE FOR A SMALL AMOUNT, TWO FOR A BIG AMOUNT

NOW ALL U NEED TO DO IS....

IN A BIG BOWL, YOU MIX THE MEAT AND EGGS THEN THE BOX OF STUFFING MIX MAKE SURE THE STUFFING GETS ALL OVER THE MEATS

THEN ADD ALITTLE OF SALSA, (DEPENDS ON UR PREFERENCE OF SALSA)

ADD AS MUCH CHEESE THAT WILL STICK TO THE MEAT AND STUFFING

U CAN MAKE THEM IN MUFFIN SIZE MEAT BALLS AND PUT FOIL INSIDE OF THE MUFFIN PAN THEN PLACE THEM IN THE PAN

OR YOU CAN MAKE IT IN A MEATLOAF CASSEROLE TYPE PAN

COOK AT 325 C TIL THE MEAT IS THROUGHLY COOKED

THEN WHEN MEAT IS THROUGHLY COOKED

TAKE OUT AND SPREAD SOME SALSA ON TOP AND SPREAD CHEESE ON TOP

PUT BACK IN OVEN TIL CHEESE MELTS

TAKE OUT LET IT COOL THEN SERVE

Cynthia - posted on 06/09/2010

Thanks again, ladies! Tami, that sounds delicious!!!

Tami - posted on 05/29/2010

Pick up a bag of frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts (3 lb, I think) and dump them in the crock pot...no need to thaw. Pour a jar of salsa over the top, set on low and go to work. When you get home in the evening take out some of the liquid if it seems to be too much, drop a brick of cream cheese over the top, cover and let it cook for another 45 minutes to hour while you go through backpacks, help with homework, put a load of laundry on, whatever...When the cream cheese is melted stir the whole pot and it will just fall apart. You now have the most amazing shredded chicken for tacos, salads, burritos, enchiladas, Mexican lasagna, or anything else you can imagine. I freeze the leftovers in single serve portions and use it on salads that I bring to work for lunch or in larger portions for another night.

Rhonda - posted on 05/29/2010

I have a recipe for Taco soup that lets your crockpot and can opener do all the work, and better yet all the ingredients are very inexpensive as they can be purchased at the Dollar Store. 1 can whole kernel corn, 1 can chicken or leftover baked chicken skin removed and shredded, 1 can black beans, 1 can chilli beans, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can chicken broth, 2 cups water, 1 packet taco seasoning, and 1 packet ranch dressing. Dump all ingredients into the crockpot and mix well. Start in the morning and let simmer on low all day long. Serve with a salad and you have a complete meal. I hope this helps! God Bless!!!!!

Brittany - posted on 05/28/2010

Tater tot casserole omg its so good
Bag of tater tots can of campbells cream of chicken
Hamburger and chesse
but you must try it with sour cream and tabasco sauce this is by far my favorite meal cheap and easy!!!!

Hannah - posted on 05/28/2010

Hey there... I too am on an extreamly tight budget! I have found that buying in bulk when possible and seperating into individual sized packets makes a big difference in my grocery bill! I always try to find chicken and gbeef on sale and portion it out for meals and freeze! Frozen veggies are usually cheaper then fresh and work well for spicing up any pasta dish. Favorite quick fix HEALTHY recipe- Italian Turkey Meatloaf- This is the moistess turkey meatloaf Ive ever made and it even pleases my husband who "hates" spinach!

1 1/2 lb gr turkey
1/2 cup italian style bread crumbs
1 10oz box of frozen spinach defrosted and water squeezed out
1/2 cup ketchup
1 small onion and 1 to-2 cloves of garlic diced and sauteed in olive oil till soft and translucent do this step FIRST and let cool before adding to rest of ingredients
1/4 cup lowfat or 2% milk this keeps meatloaf from drying out
2 eggs or egg whites your choice
salt, peppeer and Italian seasoning to taste.
Mix all ingredients and form into loaf bake at 350 for about 35-50 mins depending on your oven until turkey is cooked
in last 15 mins of cooking bast top of meatloaf with ketchup. Hope this helped! Good Luck

Cynthia - posted on 05/28/2010

Thanks a lot ladies! Some good ideas here.



Aleigha- I am gonna try a couple of those! I have some VERY picky eaters at home, so it's not easy finding a meal that makes everyone happy! Haha... That's one of the reasons it's so easy to just go with the same stuff all the time, boxed and frozen. Not everyone's willing to try new things, and it's hard!

Colleen - posted on 05/27/2010

hi somthing i do which is quick and easy and fills u up is pasta and i buy the continental bolanaise sauce in the can. i just boil the pasta and throw the sauce over it and then dish it up and throw grated cheese on top. it tastes great and my boys david 8yrs and sean 4yrs love it oh and so does my partner lol, if theres any left over i usually put it in containers and they take it to school the next day.
i hope this helps.

Aleigha - posted on 05/26/2010

Here are some recipes iv tried and liked i hope they can help with your dilema:

MAIN MEALS:

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Weeknig...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Easy-Cr...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Low-Fat...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Gnocchi...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Honey-G...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/P-F-Cha...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Funky-C...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Portabe...





SIDE DISHES:

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Pumpkin...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Easy-Ho...

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/simple-...



If you like the look of any of these recipes please let me know and i can help you out some more. Im not sure if they are quick you will have to check out the time to make

Emily Jane - posted on 05/26/2010

i tend to make a tuna mornae which is all cheap ingrideints and u make a big batch and freeze it separate containers for those nights you are busy..my 3 year old loves it!
Serving: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes





1 12 oz can tuna
1 11 oz can corn
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. butter
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 lb grated cheese
1 cup dry bread crumbs
a squeeze of lemon juice






1. Fry butter and onions until onions are cooked. Remove from heat and add flour.

2. Replace on heat and cook flour for approximately 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add milk, stirring so as not to get lumps.

3. Replace on low heat. Drain tuna and break into flakes (not chunks). Drain corn as well.

4. Add remaining ingredients except for breadcrumbs and about 1/2 cup of cheese.

5. Mix ingredients together trying not to create a mess. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs and reserved cheese together.

6. Place tuna mix into a casserole dish and sprinkle breadcrumb mix over allowing the mixture to cover the whole dish. Place into a moderate oven but not over hot as you are just warming all ingredients together, for about 15 minutes.

7. For remaining 5 minutes place under a griller until breadcrumb mix is golden brown. Serve hot just by itself

Sumer - posted on 05/26/2010

I agree slow pot meals are generaly cheap and easy. i made a roast the other night. with beef stock carrots potatoes and celery. it was gooood... lol. and we are on a tight budget being a military family

Victoria - posted on 05/26/2010

you should definitely try slow cooker meals. its such a live saver!

Bethanie - posted on 05/26/2010

Check out http://www.5dollardinners.com/ She has lots of easy and quick recipes using fresh ingredients and she posts product/coupon deals. It really is cheaper to cook things from scratch. If there is some prep involved-chopping, marinating, etc--it can be done while the baby is napping or at night once the kids are in bed. It takes a little bit of effort and some of your time, but feeding your family something fresh and NOT from a box will set them up for life to make good food choices.