Category: Budget Friendly

Posted in - Red Meat, Budget Friendly

Budget Bites: Amazing Lasagna

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Amazing Lasagna

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Serves 6

1/2 box (8 oz) Lasagna Noodles ($.80)
1/2 lb. ground beef ($2.16)
1 oz. pine nuts, toasted and chopped ($1.56)
2 tsp. Italian seasoning ($.20)
1/2 lb. ricotta ($1.04)
1/2 lb. mozarella, shredded ($3.36)
2 oz. Parmigiano Reggiano, grated ($2.36)
1 egg (free)
1 (15 oz.) Can Tomatoes, drained ($1.59)
1 small onion, chopped ($.05)
1 clove garlic, smashed ($.15)
1/4 oz basil, chopped ($.51)
salt and pepper to taste ($.05)
olive oil ($.10)

Recipe Cost: $13.99
Cost per portion: $2.33

Prep Day Directions: Assemble all ingredients and equipment. Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat with a splash of olive oil. Add ground beef, and cook thoroughly. Add pine nuts, and mix to combine. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp. Italian seasoning.

Combine ricotta, mozarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and egg in a mixing bowl. Reserve a handful of the mozzarella and Parmesan to top the lasagna. Season mixture with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until transluscent. Add tomatoes, 1 tsp. italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Taste to check seasoning. Saute for about ten minutes. Turn off heat, and stir in chopped basil.

Once all of the lasagna components have cooled, begin layering them in a baking dish, starting with tomato sauce and then adding pasta, ricotta, more sauce, beef, and repeat until the lasagna is completely built. Top with mozarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Wrap and freeze until ready to bake.

Serve Day Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and a drizzle of olive oil over the top and bake for about 45 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.

Posted in - Poultry, Budget Friendly

Budget Bits: Lunch Time Pizza Bread

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Lunch Time Rolled Pizza Bread

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Adapted from $5 dinners

6 servings, 2 slices in a servings

Dough:
1 cup warm water
2 Tbsp olive oil ($.20)
1 Tbsp milk ($.01) You can use rice milk!
1 tsp salt
2 cups white flour ($.40)
1 cup wheat flour ($.28)
1 packet active dry yeast ($.25)
1 tsp sugar ($.01)
1 tsp Italian seasonings ($.05)

Toppings and Sauce:
1 6 oz can tomato paste ($.49)
1 tsp Italian seasonings ($.05)
Couple dashes salt and pepper
About 1 cup turkey pepperoni ($1.50)
1 green pepper, seeded and diced ($.20)
Couple pinchfuls of cornmeal ($.05)
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese ($.75), you can use 4 slices dairy-free mozzarella cheese
And any other favorite pizza toppings will do!

Carrot sticks, or other veggies ($.75)

Cost Per Serving = $.83
Total Cost = $4.99

Prep Day: Place the dough ingredients in the bread machine, in the order listed. (By hand directions here.)

While the dough is in the bread machine, prepare the sauce by whisking together the tomato paste with one cans worth of water, and the Italian seasonings and salt and pepper.

Chop the turkey pepperoni and the green peppers.

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease 2 9×5 loaf pans.

Gently knead the dough and divide into 2 dough balls. Toss out a little cornmeal and then roll out each dough ball into a long rectangle that’s about the width of the loaf pan. Add the sauce, turkey pepperoni, chopped green peppers, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Roll it up and place into the greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool wrap and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw. Serve sliced Pizza Bread with dipping sauce and a side of carrot sticks or other veggies.

Posted in - Poultry, Budget Friendly

Budget Friendly Bits: Chicken Nuggets

Posted on by Northerly Nosh

Chicken Nuggets

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Total Cost: $6.10
Cost Per Serving: $1.02

Serves 6

3 chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds), cut into 1/2 in. strips – $2.99
2/3 c. Bisquick mix – $.53
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese – $2.30
1/2 tsp. garlic salt – $.03
1/2 tsp. paprika – $.07
1 egg – FREE (since we have backyard chicken)
3 Tbsp. butter, melted – $.18

Prep Day: In a 1-gal. plastic bag, mix Bisquick (or flour), cheese, salt, and paprika. Dip the chicken strips into the egg; place in bag and shake to coat (do half at a time). Place on cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen place in freezer bag and put back in freezer.

Serve Day: Do not thaw. Cook from frozen. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. Drizzle butter over chicken. Bake 25 min. turning halfway. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.