How to Make Inexpensive and Quick Recipes

In times of increased frugality, cutting food costs is one of the most important ways families get by on less.

Less costly meals can actually taste better than expensive restaurant meals or even those with pricey ingredients.

Below, you'll find general frugal cooking tips as well as several cheap and easy recipes. Here's how to make inexpensive and quick recipes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Buy staple ingredients, such as beef, chicken, pork, flour, beans and rice in bulk to save as much money as possible. It may be necessary to save up for these purchases, but buying in bulk can mean incredible savings.
   
   Considering purchasing beef by the side through a local rancher or butcher. Call around for the best prices and look for a deep freezer, which is important when stocking up for inexpensive and quick recipes.
   
   My family buys beans, rice, raisins, and wheat berries in bulk through a natural food co-op for less than grocery and discount store prices.

2. Watch grocery store sales each week to stock up on the deeply discounted "loss leader items." You'll recognize these as items that are selling for about half their everyday price or sometimes less.

3. Look for scratch n' dent stores and food auctions in your area to buy groceries cheaply. Sometimes, recently expired or almost-expired foods that are still perfectly fine go very, very cheaply.

4. When planning meals, think of the less expensive ingredients for each of the main food groups, such as:
   
   Meat/ protein: Ground beef, chicken thighs, eggs, cheese, beans, tilapia fish.
   
   Vegetables & Fruit: In season items, local from farmer's market or farm stands, or discounted/ sale produce in supermarkets. Stock up when frozen veggies are on sale. Carrots, cabbage, spinach, bananas and apples are good buys year round.
   
   Starches: Potatoes, homemade whole grain bread, brown rice.

5. Inexpensive and Quick Recipes: Chicken Supreme
   
   - 2 slices bacon
   - 1 medium onion, chopped
   - 2 cloves garlic, minced
   - 1/3 cup apple juice
   - 1 10 oz can condensed mushroom soup
   - 1/4 cup evaporated milk
   - 2 carrots, sliced
   -`4 chicken breasts, boneless skinless
   - 1 cup shredded Muenster cheese
   
   Cook bacon until crisp; crumble and place in refrigerator.
   
   Saute onions and garlic in bacon drippings for 2-3 minutes until onions soften. Stir in apple juice, soup and evaporated milk. Place in a medium slow cooker and add carrots and chicken breasts on top.
   
   Cover and turn on low heat. Cook for 6-7 hours, until chicken and carrots are tender.
   
   Sprinkle bacon and muenster cheese on top and turn on high heat for 5-10 minutes, lid on, until cheese melts.

6. Inexpensive and Quick Recipes: Veggie Beef Macaroni All-in-One
   
   - 15 oz can creamed corn
   - 10 oz can condensed cream of tomato soup
   - 5 potatoes, thinly sliced
   - 1/2 pound ground beef, browned
   - 1 medium onion, diced
   - 2 cups cooked macaroni
   
   Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine creamed corn and tomato soup in a bowl.
   
   Grease a two-quart casserole dish with butter or coconut oil.
   
   Layer ingredients in the casserole dish in this order; potatoes, beef, onion, macaroni. Pour the corn/soup mixture evenly over the top.
   
   Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

7. Inexpensive and Quick Recipes: Tuna Patties
   
   - 2 6-oz cans tuna, drained
   - 1 egg
   - 8 crackers, crushed
   - 1 tsp soy sauce
   - garlic powder (to taste)
   - salt & pepper to taste
   - 1/2 to 1 cup coconut oil or lard, for frying
   - 4 hamburger buns
   
   Mix together the first six ingredients. Add additional crushed crackers if the mixture is too moist and won't hold together.
   
   Form into 4 patties. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add oil when hot. When oil heats, place patties in the skillet. Cook for 4 minutes on each side.
   
   Serve on buns with slices of cheese, tomatoes and lettuce.

Tips & Warnings

• Swap recipes with frugal friends and family. When making inexpensive, quick recipes, variety is key to enjoyment both for cook and those eating.
• Don't neglect important food groups, such as meat, dairy and fresh vegetables, even on a tight budget. Find them as inexpensively as possible, but don't skip them altogether.

Resources

• The Tight Budget Cookbook: Delicious and Nutritious Recipes for the Frugal Cook
• Meals for $5 - How to Feed 5 People 5 Meals for $5.00 - $8.00 or Less!
• Buy an Inexpensive Reliable Car
• Take Inexpensive Family Vacations
• How to Go on Inexpensive Getaways
• The $7 a Meal Slow Cooker Cookbook: 301 Delicious, Nutritious Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

[bluemoongoddess]

on 9/6/2009 Thank you for the great recipes, I am saving this to my favorites.

[belldandy112]

on 7/21/2009 I love those "scratch & dent" stores. I have one near me, and I save boo-coos of $$ on my grocery expenses. The variety may be slim, but you can't beat the $1 frozen enchilada dinner! :)

[Rachellewms]

on 7/20/2009 Chicken & Bacon....what could be better? Great Article on frugal cooking! 5*