Frugal Menu Mamas

I thought you’d like to have some of the recipes I am using, so each week I will post a few. As part of sticking to my $50 per week for dinners, I will be figuring the cost of each meal. I encourage you to do the same to see where your money is going. (Some things will be estimates.)

This is a great recipe for the crock pot that the kids will eat!

Cheesy Chicken & Rice

2-4 chicken breasts ($1.77/lb. @ Kroger, approx. $3.54 for 4)

2 cans cream of chicken soup ($.49 each @ Aldi)

1 can cheddar cheese soup ($1.67 @ Kroger, used a $.40 off 2 coupon that

doubled, so actually $1.27 each)

½ tsp. garlic powder (maybe $.05)

2 cups rice ($.76 –Kroger 2 lb. bag $1.89)

corn (depends on how you like it, 1 can @ Kroger $.79,

1 bag frozen corn @ Kroger $1)

TOTAL COST $7.39 (less for my family, we only use 2 chicken breasts)

Put chicken breasts in crock pot. Mix together the soups and garlic powder. Pour over chicken.

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours (this depends on your crock pot, my cooks fast). At

meal time, cook rice according to package and serve the chicken with the soup goop over the

rice. Serve with frozen corn, canned corn, or corn on the cob.

Here is another from this week’s menu plan:

Crispy Parmesan Chicken Strips

(from Pampered Chef’s Stoneware Sensations cookbook)

1 ½ cups seasoned croutons, crushed ($.95 @Aldi)

1 ½ ounces (1/3 cup) Parmesan cheese ($.56 –Kroger brand is $2.92 for 8 oz.)

1 tsp. dried parsley (maybe $.05)

¼ tsp. garlic salt (maybe $.02)

2 egg whites ($.30—Kroger large eggs 18 ct. $2.67)

1 Tbs. Water (free)

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast ($1.77) cut into 1-inch pieces

¼ cup prepare lite ranch dressing (approx. $.50—Kroger, Hidden Valley Ranch

dressing $4.69 for 24 oz.)

Macaroni N Cheese (I am going to use Velveeta Shells N Cheese I got for $1.67 each @ Sams, to make it cheaper you could have a meal another night of homemade mac and then use leftovers for the side here)

Salad (I need cheap salad ideas! We just use a ½ head of iceberg lettuce $.47, 1/3 of a cucumber $.33, and 1/3 a bell pepper, $.66. We add cheese and croutons or eggs if we have them and they are cheap.)

TOTAL: $7.28

Preheat oven to 450 F. Crush coutons in researlable plastic bag. In cowl, combin crouton crumbs, cheese, parsely and garlic salt. Whisk egg whites and water. Dip chicken pieces into egg mixture, then into crumb mixture to coat evenly. Arrange on stone. Bake 14-16 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Serve with dressing.

THIS IS SO YUMMY!

Easy Baked Potato Soup (from an old Quick Cooking magazine—NEW to us)

3-4 medium baking potatoes, baked (approx. $.67—Kroger 5 lb. bag $1.99)

5 bacon strips, diced ($1—Kroger bacon $3)

2 can cream of potato soup, undiluted ($.99 each @ Kroger)

1 can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted ($1.27)

3 ½ cups milk ($.70 –Kroger gal. milk $3.19)

2 tsp. garlic powder (maybe $.05)

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (maybe $.10)

½ tsp. onion powder (maybe $.02)

¼ tsp. pepper (maybe $.02)

1 cup sour cream (8 oz.) ($.50—Kroger 16 oz. $1)

shredded cheddar cheese (maybe $.50)

Serve with bread. (I got a manager’s special loaf of Italian for $.99)

TOTAL: $7.78

Peel and dice the baked potatoes; set aside. In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 1 ½ tsp. drippings. Add the soups, milk, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, pepper, and reserved potatoes to the drippings. Cook, uncovered for 10 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Stir in sour cream; cook for 1=2 minutes or until heated through (do not boil). Garnish with cheese and bacon.