Secret stash: let us know of your secret $$-saving meals

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
Banquet TV dinners - eat 2 per meal, total cost: $2.00

I've tried that. 2 is not enough, unless you're on a diet.

 

[iamme]

Oatmeal!!!

healthy, cheap, filling, and great way to start off cold mornings

 

[vi edit]

1 bag of frozen stuffed manicotti shells: $2.50
1 jar of Prego sauce: $1.50
1 box of pasta $.89
1 box of Garlic Bread $2.00

That makes 4 meals. Less than $2.00 a meal.

-------------------------------------------------------

Or...

1 pork chop: $2.00
two sweet potatoes: $1.00
Green onions: $.50
Can of chicken broth: $.75
Can of tomato sauce: $.50
Spices: $.50 by bulk
1 can white beans: $.50

Makes a Carribean stew that serves 6 for around a $1.00 a serving

-------------------------------------------------------

Box of spanish rice mix: $1.00
Two boneless chicken breast: $3.50
Jar of salsa: $1.50

Cook in crock pot. Serves 2-3 for at or under $3.00 a serving

------------------------------------------------------

 

[SMOGZINN]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
1 pound of fresh crowders ... $0.50
1 hambone ... $0.50
2 loaves of day old bread from the thrift bakery ... $1.00
A weeks worth of Slow cooked goodness for only $2.00
Staying warm at night ... Priceless!

What are "crowders"?

??!
Something like black-eyes only with a lot more flavor.

 

[Lasthitlarry]

Biggest bag of rice you can find
Good sized pot with lid
Stovetop
Water
Salt
Butter

-feeds you for a whole year, doesn't cost much, sort of good for you
(spices, beans, cream of chicken, REAL chicken can be added, with slightly higher cost)

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
1 pound of fresh crowders ... $0.50

What are "crowders"?

??!
Something like black-eyes only with a lot more flavor.

Might be a regional thing. I've never heard of them (and I live in Oregon.)

 

[Nitemare]

rice plus can or two of cream of chicken soup

2 cans of soup for $1 plus 6 cups of rice in the ole rice cooker.

4-5 meals easily

 

[vi edit]

You can also do a couple pork chops for $3.00, a can of cream & mushroom soup for $.80, and a box of instant stuffing for $1.00. Throw the cream of mushroom over the chops and bake for an hour @ 350. Then just put the stuffing on the side.

Two meals for under $2.50 a meal.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: SMOGZINN
1 pound of fresh crowders ... $0.50

What are "crowders"?

??!
Something like black-eyes only with a lot more flavor.

Might be a regional thing. I've never heard of them (and I live in Oregon.)

Might be a southern thing, or they could have a different name there. Maybe someone here knows? Either way if you like black-eyes I would highly recommend them. Slow cook them just like black-eyes with a little pork. They will form a dark sauce that is excellent with cornbread.

 

[TheGizmo]

TACO BELL #1
celeste pizza for 1 (you can get em for $1 a lot of the times.. put on your own toppings)
sandwiches.. i'm a vegetarian so these are cheap
eggs.. definately a lot of meals for cheap and fast

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Kraft Deluxe Rotini & White Cheddar Cheese w/ Broccoli


LIKE OMFG.....it is to die for @ $2.49 at my local store

omfg, I live off that stuff. It's soooo goood

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Lasthitlarry
Biggest bag of rice you can find
Good sized pot with lid
Stovetop
Water
Salt
Butter

-feeds you for a whole year, doesn't cost much, sort of good for you
(spices, beans, cream of chicken, REAL chicken can be added, with slightly higher cost)

shens, I can go through a 25 lb bag of jasmine rice in a month or two just by myself. Less than a month if I entertain.

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: Lasthitlarry
Biggest bag of rice you can find
Good sized pot with lid
Stovetop
Water
Salt
Butter

-feeds you for a whole year, doesn't cost much, sort of good for you
(spices, beans, cream of chicken, REAL chicken can be added, with slightly higher cost)

rice FTW.
tastes boring without anything tho.

 

[ggnl]

po--ta--toes

boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew

all for roughly $0.25/lb.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: PHiuR

Originally posted by: Lasthitlarry
Biggest bag of rice you can find
Good sized pot with lid
Stovetop
Water
Salt
Butter

-feeds you for a whole year, doesn't cost much, sort of good for you
(spices, beans, cream of chicken, REAL chicken can be added, with slightly higher cost)

rice FTW.
tastes boring without anything tho.

All you have to do is add anything to it...
chicken
soup
veggies
you name it

 

[Kerouactivist]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
1 bag of frozen stuffed manicotti shells: $2.50
1 jar of Prego sauce: $1.50
1 box of pasta $.89
1 box of Garlic Bread $2.00

That makes 4 meals. Less than $2.00 a meal.

-------------------------------------------------------

Or...

1 pork chop: $2.00
two sweet potatoes: $1.00
Green onions: $.50
Can of chicken broth: $.75
Can of tomato sauce: $.50
Spices: $.50 by bulk
1 can white beans: $.50

Makes a Carribean stew that serves 6 for around a $1.00 a serving

-------------------------------------------------------

Box of spanish rice mix: $1.00
Two boneless chicken breast: $3.50
Jar of salsa: $1.50

Cook in crock pot. Serves 2-3 for at or under $3.00 a serving

------------------------------------------------------

That carribean stew sounds awesome how do you make that?

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: iamme
Oatmeal!!!

healthy, cheap, filling, and great way to start off cold mornings

oatmeal warms you like a furnace when you digest it.

 

[Bryophyte]

I'm seeing a lot of suggestions, but very few of them are actual meals Most of them are just for a single item and don't include fruits/vegetables/whole grains. Many of them don't sound like healthy or well-balanced meals. Who eats *just* eggs, salmon, steak, rice or pasta individually as a whole meal?

 

[vi edit]

That carribean stew sounds awesome how do you make that?

1.5 pounds of pork loin/boneless chop grilled
1 13.75oz can of chicken broth (I get the stuff with chopped garlic in it)
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
1 pound sweet potatoes
2 teaspoons of Onion powder
2 teaspoons of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of a cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1/8 (but I use a half) teaspoon of crushed red pepper
1 red pepper ( I don't normally use)
1 green pepper (I don't normally use)
1/3 cup of Orange Juice (depends if I have it or not)
1 cup sliced green onion

Combine all ingredients except OJ, peppers, and onions in a crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours. Add OJ and green onions a couple minutes before serving and stir them in.

Lately I've been adding some white beans for a bit of filler. I also replace the red & green peppers with more crushed red pepper and some hot green chili pepper powder.

It's a major hit with friends and family in the winter

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
I'm seeing a lot of suggestions, but very few of them are actual meals Most of them are just for a single item and don't include fruits/vegetables/whole grains. Many of them don't sound like healthy or well-balanced meals. Who eats *just* eggs, salmon, steak, rice or pasta individually as a whole meal?

umm...every college student I've ever known

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
I'm seeing a lot of suggestions, but very few of them are actual meals Most of them are just for a single item and don't include fruits/vegetables/whole grains. Many of them don't sound like healthy or well-balanced meals. Who eats *just* eggs, salmon, steak, rice or pasta individually as a whole meal?

Most people who are either cooking for themselves or cooking for leftovers for lunch will only make a "main" course and then just grab something from the fridge or pantry for sides.

That's how it works around my house any way. Make a main course, maybe throw some cottage cheese or small salad on the side. Maybe nuke some frozen veggies. Whatever. But the main thing is just to have a main meal I can throw in a tupperware dish to nuke in the microwave tomorrow. I'll throw in a fruit cup or small bag of pretzels or something to go with it.

 

[Pegun]

Originally posted by: ggnl
po--ta--toes

boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew

all for roughly $0.25/lb.

Combine this with:
Walmart Thin crust pizza - .99 - can feed you for two meals
combine with doritos - 2.50
Microwave the potatoes for 5 minutes each, cut into bitesize pieces, throw em in a frying pan
add some garlic powder (assuming this isnt adding to the cost). With the above estimate
you get probally 2 pounds of potatoes which is like 5. That can feed you for 4-6 meals with
the pizza and doritoes factored in as well

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
I'm seeing a lot of suggestions, but very few of them are actual meals Most of them are just for a single item and don't include fruits/vegetables/whole grains. Many of them don't sound like healthy or well-balanced meals. Who eats *just* eggs, salmon, steak, rice or pasta individually as a whole meal?

Most people who are either cooking for themselves or cooking for leftovers for lunch will only make a "main" course and then just grab something from the fridge or pantry for sides.

That's how it works around my house any way. Make a main course, maybe throw some cottage cheese or small salad on the side. Maybe nuke some frozen veggies. Whatever. But the main thing is just to have a main meal I can throw in a tupperware dish to nuke in the microwave tomorrow. I'll throw in a fruit cup or small bag of pretzels or something to go with it.

My point was that either the meal price they quote is lower than the actual cost (the sides are usually not free) or that people are trying to save money by eating garbage, robbing their bodies of necessary nutrients.

 

[vi edit]

My point was that either the meal price they quote is lower than the actual cost (the sides are usually not free) or that people are trying to save money by eating garbage, robbing their bodies of necessary nutrients.

The sad part is, I'm probably better off *not* having a salad smothered with ranch dressing. Depending on the type of salad. Romaine and iceberg salads have very, very little true nutrients. Some fiber, and a little bit of this or that. But when you load it up with calorie laden dressings like most people do, you just took two steps backwards.

If you are using a light vinegarette or some of the other low calorie/fat dressings that's fine. But the regular leaded ranch dressings can add another 300-500 calories to the meal depending on how much you lather on there. I'm better off skipping the salad and having an extra scoop of main course.

I'll take a multivitamin for the rest.

 

[DainBramaged]

3 Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheesburgers.