Create inexpensive meals to trim your food budget
The holidays may be over, but for some the holiday-related bills have just started to arrive. When the balance due is a little higher than expected, it may be time to make a few budget alterations. With recipes that create meals for well under a dollar a serving, it’s easy to reduce the grocery budget without depriving your family of a good meal.
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This recipe works for dinner as well as breakfast.
Drop Biscuits and Gravy
Biscuits:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon butter or margarine, melted
Gravy:
1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
1 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 450 degrees; lightly grease a baking sheet. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, combine milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients until just blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, cook the sausage until no longer pink. Stir in butter until melted. Sprinkle with flour. Gradually stir in milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Serve over biscuits. Makes 4 servings.
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Tomato Spinach Spirals
1 8-ounce package spiral pasta
1 10-ounce package frozen creamed spinach
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare spinach according to package directions. Drain pasta; place in serving bowl. Add the spinach, tomatoes, 4 tablespoons of cheese and salt; toss. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 241 calories, 7 grams fat, 35 grams carbohydrates and 3 grams fiber.
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Pantry Pointers
A slow cooker is an excellent tool for turning tough—and inexpensive—cuts of meat into tender meals.
Some markets mark down the price of their meat a day or two before the expiration date. This meat is a good deal if you cook it or freeze it immediately.
Buying cookbooks at garage sales, thrift stores and clearance sales is a great way to get more recipes without spending a lot of money.
Sit down once a week with the supermarket flyers and plan out your meals for the week. This allows you to take advantage of coupons and sales. Don’t forget lunch items as brown bagging is a lot cheaper than eating out.
The Practical Pantry ©2005 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com
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