$5 Dinner Challenge -- Nachos

I've posted this before, but I wanted to share it with $5 Dinner Challenge over at $5 Dinners.  I also wanted to add some thrifty ways to make these so the cost is cut back.


Nachos

1/2 ground beef (80 cents)
1 cup refried black beans (40 cents)
1/4 cup taco sauce (15 cents)
1 cup tomatoes (free from garden -- frozen or 60 cents)
1/4 cup onion (10 cents)
1 tsp dried cilantro (5 cents)
1/2 to 1 cup cheese depending how much you like ($1)
Taco shells ($1)
 2 to 4 Tbsp Veg. oil (20 cents)


Total: $3.70 to $4.30

1. Heat vegetable oil on medium in small skillet.  Add taco shells for 20 seconds each side. Set aside to cool.
2. Ground beef. Drain.
3. Place tortilla shells on platter or casserole dish.
4. Mix together ground beef with black beans and taco sauce.
5. Mix together tomatoes, onion and cilantro. Blend in food processor if desired.
6. Place ground beef/bean mixture on top of tortilla shells. Pile toward middle.
7.  Place tomato mixture on top of beef/bean mixture.
8. Sprinkle cheese over all.
9. Bake on 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.



**I use corn taco shells that are about $1.20 for a 12 pack.  I will use about eight shells and fry them in a little oil about 15 seconds each side.  This gives the shells a really good crisp taste.  I simply break the taco shells a part into tortilla chip size.**


**Homemade black refried beans make this meal a little cheaper, yet.  Here's a good tutorial on how make dried beans.  To make them refried, warm up in skillet and add fat.  I added shortening, but you could use butter, oil, bacon fat.  Just keep adding more fat until they are mashed about a 1/4 cup.  They will not look like canned refried beans.  When you add the taco sauce with the ground beef they come together really well.  The taste is great, too**

This post is also linked to Life as a Mom recipe swap!

$5 Dinner Challenge -- Scallops and Bacon Spaghetti

The original idea for this came from this recipe, which tastes so good. Tonight I changed it up a little and added scallops (my grocery store sells small scallops on sale for $1 for 8 oz) and broccoli. Granted they aren't the highest quality of scallops I could buy, they still taste pretty good. This recipe could easily be done with fresh scallions and broccoli from the garden cutting the cost down in order to buy higher quality scallops.

Scallops and Bacon Spaghetti

16 oz small scallops ($2)

2 slices bacon (.80 or less)

1 broccoli head, chopped (.99)

1 cup scallions (.10)

3/4 lb spaghetti (.75)

2 cloves garlic (.25)

1 tbsp lemon juice (.15)

Total = $5

1. In large pot cook pasta. Drain when done and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.

2. While pasta is cooking, fry bacon in large skillet on medium until browned -- 6 to 8 minutes.

3. Put bacon on paper towel using slotted spoon.

4. Add broccoli, scallions, and garlic to skillet. Cook, stirring frequently.

5.Add scallops for 3 to 5 minutes.

6. Add 1/4 cup of pasta water and bring to just a boil.

7. Add scallop mixture and lemon juice to pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Thin sauce with pasta water as needed.

8. Sprinkle with bacon on top.

For more frugal recipes, check out the $5 Challenge!

$5 Dinner Challenge - Chicken Soup

Here's a cheap alternative to canned chicken soup.  I like using ingredients I have and I always have these ingredients around.  For more $5 dinner ideas, go here!

Chicken Soup

1 lb chicken breasts

1/2 cup chopped carrots

2 celery stalks chopped

1/4 cup peas or corn

2 can chicken broth

1 tsp pepper or more to taste

3/4 cup to 1 cup noodles (depending what you use)

1 to 2 cups water

1.  Cut chicken in bite size pieces.

2.  Boil chicken in pot of water for 15 minutes.

3.  Put broth, cooked chicken, carrots, celery, peas (or corn), pepper, noodles and a cup of water in pot.  Cook on stove on low for a couple hours or cook to boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

**You can substitute chicken bouillon for the broth or use 3 can of broth instead of water**

$5 Dinner Challenge

I've posted this before and thought it would be good for the $5 Dinner Challenge. Check out more $5 dinner recipes here!

Tuna Mac and Cheese

1 box of Kraft Mac and Cheese
2 tbsp butter
½ cup onion
¼ cup green pepper
¾ cup milk
1 can cream of celery
1 6 oz can of tuna
1 cup carrots sliced (you could use any veggie -- I had baby carrots on hand)
½ cup French fried onions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Set aside the cheese sauce packet.
3) In a saucepan, cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
4) In the same pan, saute onion and green pepper in butter.
5) Return macaroni to the pan.
6) Add milk and contents of cheese sauce packet; stir until smooth.
7) Stir in the soup, tuna, and carrots.
8) Pour into a casserole dish.
9) Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.
10) Sprinkle with French fried onions before serving.

**You could make your own mac and cheese to cut cost or make even healthier**

This recipe is also linked at the Grocery Cart Challenge recipe swap.  

$5 Dinner Challenge

I just love reading $5 Dinners blog every day.  As part of the $5 Dinner Challenge, I'm posting a simple, mild and tasty recipe.  Check out more $5 Dinner Challenge recipes, here!

Crockpot Chili

1 lb ground beef ($1.79)

1 small onion (.30)

1 can tomato soup (.40)

1 15 oz can stewed tomatoes (.75)

1 can kidney beans (.50)

1 cup water

1 cup macaroni noodles (.40)

1 mild chili seasoning pack (I use McCormick's) (.80)

Estimated cost $4.94

1. Brown ground beef and onion. Drain.

2. Add soup, beef, stewed tomatoes, kidney beans, water and chili seasoning in crockpot. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

3. Cook noodles one hour before serving and add to chili.

$5 Dinner Challenge

You have to check out $5 Dinners for more ideas for cheap meals. I love all the ideas I get from reading this site.

Here's my recipe for the $5 Challenge this week. I always have a hard time figuring exact cost. My prices are estimated. I have posted this recipe before here.

Potato Casserole

1 head green cabbage of 15 oz can of sauerkraut (I use cabbage -- .75)
1 1/2 lb ground beef ($2.25)
1 small onion chopped (.30)
5 cups potatoes, sliced ($.75)
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom (.50)
1 (10 oz) can cream celery (.50)
1 can of water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut cabbage and boil for 15 minutes in large pot. (if you use cabbage otherwise start with step 2)
2. Brown ground beef with. Drain.
3. While beef is browning and cabbage boiling, peel and cut potatoes.
4. Lay potatoes on bottom of greased casserole dish.
5. Place ground beef on top of potatoes.
6. Place cabbage (or sauerkraut) on top of beef.
7. Mix soups and water together, then pour on top of everything.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours

** You can use an combination of cream soups. **

Be sure to check out this week's giveaway -- free box of Kashi Cereal Bars!

$5 Dinner Challenge

You have to check out $5 Dinners. There are some great ideas posted every day. Each week she has a challenge for her readers to come up with even more $5 dinners. Here's my selection for the week.

Vegetable Soup
Cost is hard to break down, but is easily less than $5.

1 can of beef broth (beef bullion and water works too)
1/4 cup fresh potatoes (cut up)
1/4 cup fresh carrots (cut up)
1 stalk of celery (cut up)
chopped onion to taste
1/4 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup frozen peas
1 to 2 Tbsp barley (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Pour broth in medium size pot.
2. Place fresh vegetables and barley in broth and bring to boil.
3. Let simmer 10 minutes on medium low.
4. Add frozen vegetables.
5. Let simmer another 10 minutes on medium low.
6. Serve up.

**Any combination of fresh or frozen vegetables works. Keep in mind frozen vegetables don't usually need as much time to cook. You can always add more of one or the other, too. Leftover meat, such as steak can be added. Also a can of water can be used to thin out the broth. **

$5 Dinner Challenge

This is part of the $5 Dinner Challenge.

This one is a little hard to break down the cost because usually these are products I have on hand except for the ham. If you use leftover ham or ham steak this easily costs around $5. And it is so yummy. Original post of this recipe.


Ham & Cheddar Cheese Casserole

2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1 cup carrots, sliced
2 ribs celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth to cover veggies (you can use less, dilute with water or use chicken bullion)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, minced
2 cups fully cooked ham, cubed
7 tbsp butter, divided (I use a lot less)
3 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
salt & pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese


Directions
1.In a sauce pan bring the potatoes, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 15 mins. Drain, place back in pot.
2. In a skillet, saute the ham in 3 tablespoons of butter until golden brown. Add to the drained potato mixture.
3. In a sauce pan, melt the remaining butter, stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper.
4. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat and add cheese and stir until melted.
5. Pour over potato & ham mixture.
6. Place mixture in a greased 13 x 9 pan.
7. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 25-30 mins. or until heated through. You can sprinkle the top with some of the cheese or bread crumbs.


Check out some of my other recipes!

$5 Dinner Challenge -- Mac and Cheese Casserole

As part of the $5 Dinners Challenge, I am re-posting this family favorite. Original post of this recipe here. My prices are estimated.

Mac and Cheese Casserole
1 box of Kraft Mac and Cheese ($.75)
1 lb of Ground Beef ($1.50 -- we buy a quarter cow once a year)
1-2 cups of Corn or Green Beans (any vegetable would work -- I use frozen, but canned or fresh would be fine) ($.75)
1 can of Tomato Soup ($.75)

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Ground beef. Drain.
3) Make mac and cheese as directed on box.
4) Mix ground beef, prepared mac and cheese, vegetable and tomato soup together in a casserole dish.
5) Put in oven at 350 degrees for about a half hour.

**You can dilute the tomato soup and make your own mac and cheese if you prefer)

Total cost $3.75