Casseroles are about the BEST way to go when cutting your budget, and you can use most any type (brand) of ingredients and still make things taste good lol

 

Our favorites are: Tuna Casserole, Enchalada Casserole, Franks and Beans and Chicken Casserole.

 

Try some cheap cuts of meat, Brisket has become a favorite in our house, and with a crock pot you can make so many things quick and don't have to worry about heating up the house in the summer!

 

We LOVE: Bean Soup, Brisket, Chili, Chicken and Dumplings, Ribs, Roast...

 

Just find the meat sales and stock up if you can, if it's a tougher cut of meat, put it in the crockpot earlier to make it tender. For me, if I put it in at 8 am by dinner (around 4) it is fork tender and wonderful!  Walmart usually has bagged chicken (thighs, legs and breast) pretty cheap so we stock up on that, yes, you get tired of chicken after awhile so we will throw in some brisket or a roast in now and again, and Eye of Round is REAL tender, might not be as flavorful as expensive steaks but this is a GREAT marinade if you would like to try it:

 

1/2 C Soy Sauce

2    T Sugar

2    C Water

1    T Garlic (or two cloves crushed)

1    Green onion sliced thin

 

Mix all ingredients until sugar is dissolved and place meat in marinade, a couple ours is good, over night and you won't want to stop eating it! This works for just about any type of meat and especially great with tough cuts of meat :o)  Also great for the grill!!! Oh now my mouth is watering lol

 

Another GREAT dish that is inexpensive and oh so good is Egg Fu Young. Just mix whatever you like in the eggs then scoop into oil and fry until golden brown. Then make the gravy and you are set!  We like to dice up pork (any kind is fine) and brown it let it cool and then add it to the eggs along with green onion and mushrooms, mix it up like you would for an ommlet and then just scoop it into the oil.

 

Ok, that's all I have for now!

 

Michelle