Category: Budget Friendly

Posted in - Poultry, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Lemon Chicken Bowtie Pasta

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Lemon Chicken Bowtie Pasta

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Servings 6

8 oz Farfalle (bowtie pasta) – $.78
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast – $4.25
5 Green Onions – $.75
1 clove Garlic – $.10
2 Tbsp Canola Oil – $.04

White Sauce:
2 Tbsp margarine – $.10
2 Tbsp Flour – $.04
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper – $.01
1/2 Cup fat free milk – $.21
1 cup chicken broth – $.56
1 1/2 TBsp Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard – $.56
1/4 cup Lemon juice – $.46
Salt and pepper to taste – $.02

Total Cost – $7.88
Cost Per Serving – $1.31

Prep Day: Cook pasta unitl al dente. Drain and set aside. Cut chicken into 3/4 inch pieces. Set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add green onions and garlic and saute one minute.

Add chicken and saute, turning chicken occasionaly until cooked through, about 12 -15 minutes.

Add pasta, toss and set aside.

Make white sauce. In microwave safe dish, Melt margarine about 20-30 seconds, add flour and cayenne pepper and mix well. Add milk, chicken broth and salt and pepper and stir until completely blended. Microwave on high, pausing to stir every 30 seconds or so, until sauce is thick and bubling, about 1 to 2 minutes. While sauce is still hot stir in lemon juice and mustard and immediately toss to mix.

To Freeze: Cool and place in freezer quality plastic bag.

Serve Day: Thaw overnight in refridgerator and heat in microwave for 4-5 minutes.

Posted in - Red Meat, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Stuffed Blue Cheese Burgers with Red Wine Sauce

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Stuffed Blue Cheese Burgers

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Serve 4

1-1/2 lb. ground 80% to 85% lean beef, preferably chuck – $5
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce – $.06
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – $.02
4 oz. crumbled creamy blue cheese – $2.95

Red Wine Pan Sauce:
4 Tbs. unsalted butter – $.44
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots – $1.20
1 cup lower salt beef or chicken broth – $.71
3/4 cup red wine – $1.25
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar – $.13
2 tsp. Dijon mustard, preferably grainy – $.14
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – $.02

Total Cost: $11.92
Cost Per Serving: $2.98

Prep Day –

Burgers: Gently break the meat into large pieces in a large bowl. Add the Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper and gently mix with your hands; avoid overworking.

Wet your hands and shape the meat into 8 equal 1/2-inch-thick patties. Make a slight indentation in the center of 4 of the patties to hold the cheese. Divide the blue cheese into 4 equal portions, shape into disks, and set a disk in each of the 4 indentations. Top the cheese with the remaining patties and gently but firmly seal the edges to completely encase the cheese. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours or wrap individually and freeze in a labeled freezer bag.

Pan Sauce: In a medium sauté pan, heat 1 Tbs. of the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring often, until softened but not brown, about 2 minutes. Cool. Then put it in a quart size freezer bag. Add the broth, wine, vinegar, and mustard. Mix and freeze.

Serve Day –

Burgers: Thaw. Prepare a hot charcoal or gas grill fire. Grill the burgers, covered with vents open, until nicely marked and cooked to your liking (2 minutes per side for rare, 3 minutes per side for medium rare, 4 minutes per side for medium). Don’t press on the burgers while they’re cooking—you want to keep the juices and cheese inside the burger, not on your grill. Serve with the Red Wine Pan Sauce.

Pan Sauce: Thaw. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil pan sauce until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 9 minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the remaining 3 Tbs. butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Posted in - Meatless, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Baked Ravioli

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Baked Ravioli

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Serves 5

1 bag (25 Oz. Bag) Frozen Ravioli – $4.39
1 jar (26 Oz. Jar) Marinara Sauce – $1.59
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $3.29
Parmesan Cheese, For Sprinkling – $.88

Total Cost – $10.15
Cost Per Serving – $2.03

Prep Day: Spray bottom and sides of a 9×13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 3/4 cup of the pasta sauce in baking dish. Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce; top with half of the remaining pasta sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Serve Day: Cover with aluminum foil and freeze. Thaw. Heat oven to 400°F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot in the center. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.