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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Cheap Eats from Your Pantry

Maybe you're feeling a little bit of financial stress...well, you still need to feed yourself and the family, so no fear....'Cheap Eats Part 1' are the answer!

Currently we're going through our pantry/fridge/freezer and creating meals from what we have stored up from previous sales and trips to the grocery! Here's some delicious ideas from what we've created!

Gnocchi with Beef Vodka Sauce and Caramelized Onions
  • Gnocchi Package, $1.00 (bought on sale and stored in pantry)
  • 4 oz Ground Sirloin, .80 cents (bought on sale and stored in freezer in 4 oz portions)
  • 1 Spanish onion, .65 cents (bought on sale and stored in pantry)
  • Classico Vodka Sauce (1/2 jar), .80 (bought on sale for 1.75 for whole jar and stored in pantry)
  • $1.00 for 1 pound of In-Season Oranges
Boil Water (salted). De-thaw and brown beef in skillet. Drain any fat and add chopped onions. When onions are tender, add 1/2 jar of Vodka Sauce. When water is boiling, add Gnocchi - they are done when the dumplings float to the top, then drain. Plate sauce over gnocchi and enjoy with in-season Clementines and oranges on the side!
Total cost = $4.25

Date & sharp cheddar Quesadilla
It's that sweet and sharp flavor combined that are just so delicious! Yum!
  • 2 flour tortillas, .10 cents (.60 cents for package of 12)
  • 4-5 chopped pitted dates, .30 cents
  • 1 oz of shredded sharp cheddar, .25 cents
Total cost (for one quesadilla) = .65 cents

Italian Quesadilla Dippers
Great for late night pizza cravings! Makes 2 quesadillas to share with a friend/spouse!
  • 4 flour tortillas, 20 cents
  • 2oz shredded mozzarella, .50 cents
  • 1 small can tomato sauce (in pantry bought on sale), .50 cents
  • Dried Oregano
  • Garlic Powder
Make quesadilla in skillet with tortillas and mozzarella, when done, slice into 8 pieces for dipping. Heat tomato sauce (combined with garlic powder and oregano for taste) in a microwave-safe dish in microwave until hot. Total costs = $1.20

Spaghetti-O's (homemade style!)
We stumbled upon this creation that has delighted our childhood appetites! It's better than the real thing and is all natural! For my husband who loves this so much this would only be a 1 serving recipe, but for most normal people, this serves 2-3 people. (Serve with Garlic Toast to re-create childhood tradition!)
  • Orzo pasta, .35 cents (whole box was $1, bought on sale and stored in pantry)
  • 1 can of basic Tomato Soup, .60 cents
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese, .70 cents
  • Garlic Powder
Cook 1/3 box of Orzo noodles in a small amount (10 oz. approx) of boiling water. When orzo is al dente, add can of tomato soup and stir. Add 1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder and 2-3 Tablespoons of Grated Parmesan Cheese and stir in! Total cost = $1.65 cents

More adventures in cheap eats to come....new challenges....using different items in pantry/freezer including Bran, canned Chili, Beans, pineapple rings, Panko crumbs, dry ravioli and more!

1 comment:

Quesadilla Dude said...

Thanks Stephanie! I've been looking for some cheap ways to make lunch on a budget. I'm glad that I found your blog!