Easy Supper Casserole

2 cans pinto/black beans or 1 can beans & 1/2 lb lean hamburger ($.50-$1.25)
1 tsp oregano ($.01)
1 onion, chopped ($.33)
1/2 tsp chili powder ($.01)
1 cup dry macaroni ($.25)
1/2 tsp salt ($.01)
2 1/2 cups tomato juice ($1)
1/4 tsp pepper ($.01)
1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese ($.50)

Brown hamburger/beans & onion. Cook until onion clear. Turn down heat. Add macaroni, juice and spices, stir to combine. Cover pan & simmer for 20 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir & sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let sit until cheese melts.

Serves 6.

TOTAL: $2.62

Bean Loaf

Bean Loaf MUMMIFIED

My kids never realized they weren't meat because they were just thrilled to be eating "mummies" and cheese! I thought they were good. "Just add Ketchup!"
(works great in place of meatloaf, or with some meat) - yummiest with Cheese

3 cups pinto beans, cooked, drained & mashed $1
1 small can tomato sauce $.20
1 cup bread crumbs (FREE from homemade bread)
1/4 c finely chopped onion $.10
1/4 c quick oatmeal (I used about 1 cup) $.10
1 egg $.05
1/2 tsp salt $.01
pepper
garlic powder
1/4 c ketchup $.10
1 T soy sauce, optional $.01

Mix all but ketchup together. Place in greased loaf pan & flatten. Spread ketchup on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

$1.62

MUMMIFIED!
Make mini-men loaves (just blocks with a tiny squish for the neck will do fine as mummies have their arms to their sides anyway. - I was able to get 6 good sized men) Bake in pan, then remove and follow below.

Mozarella Cheese sliced thin and then in small strips. Lay strips over baked beanloaf with opening for eyes - I used about a 1/2 lb. Bake until melted about 5-10 minutes.

Burrito Filling

1 can enchilada sauce (or a pkg with the fixings) ($.75)
1-2 cans black beans ($.50)
1-2 cans pinto beans ($.50)
1 can corn ($.50)
1 bottle salsa (16 oz) ($1)
1 small can chopped green chilies (optional) ($.33)
1 1/2 cups minute rice (I use pre-cooked rice) ($.25)
3 Tbsp lime juice ($.30)
Fresh cilantro, chopped ($.50)

Can also add:
3 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts - I can't tell much of a difference in taste, just cost

SERVES: about 18-20 (or 2-3 meals and lunch leftovers for my family)

INSTRUCTIONS: Put first 6 ingredients (and chicken, if desired) in crock pot. Cook on low 8-9 hours. Shred chicken with fork (if used). Add rice, lime juice and cilantro. Cook 10-15 minutes more. Place in flour tortillas and add cheese, sour cream, salsa, & guacamole, as desired.


TOTAL COST ~$6 or about $2-3 per meal (or up to $8-9 or about $3-5 per meal with chicken)

Black Bean Burger

1/2 onion, diced ($.30)

1 can black beans, well-drained - mash until almost smooth ($.50)

1/2 cup flour ($.10)

2 slices bread, crumbled ($.05) I make homemade bread

1 tsp garlic powder ($.01)

1 tsp onion powder ($.01)

1/2 tsp seasoned salt ($.01)

S&P to taste ($.01)

Oil to fry or PAM ($.10)

Saute onion. Add to other ingredients (but add flour a few Tbsp at a time). Mix well. Form into patties. Freeze.

Makes 6 yummy patties.

TOTAL COST $1.09

White Chicken Chili

2 lb White Beans, rinsed, & soaked ($1)

12 cups chicken broth (or 12 cubes + 12 cups water) ($.50)

2 tsp chicken chicken bouillon (.10)

1-2 onions, chopped (.50-$1)

1-2 Tbsp oil (.10)

1-4 cloves garlic, minced (.10)

2-3 tsp cumin (.10)

1 can diced green chilies (.50)

3 Tbsp lime juice (.25)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (.01)

*Can also add 2 tsp oregano & 1-2 tsp lemon pepper (.02)

2-4 cups cooked & diced chicken or turkey ($2-3)

Combine beans, brother, bouillon, lemon pepper, & cumin. Bring to boil and cook (simmer) for about 1 1/2 hours. Then saute onions and garlic in oil. Add these to soup, plus spices, green chilies and meat. Simmer another 30 minutes.
Garnish with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, chopped green onion, chopped tomatoes, chopped cilantro, green chilies sliced, salsa, or green taco sauce.

Serves 10-12

Total Cost = $4.50 + toppings, so about $6-7; freeze half and you spend about $3.50 per meal

Vegetarian Chili

2 cups dry beans (mixture of white, kidney, pinto, black, garbanzo, etc.) ($.30)

1/2 cup dry soup mix (.01)

3 Tbsp olive oil (.30)

1 Tbsp minced garlic (.05)

3/4 cup diced onion ($.50)

3/4 cup diced carrot ($.25)

1/3 cup dry green/red peppers - reconstituted (to 1 cup) (.25)

1 cup canned diced tomato ($.50)

3/4 cup tomato juice ($.30)

1/3 cup water

1 tsp cumin (.01)

1 tsp chili powder (.01)

1 tsp oregano (.01)

1 tsp basil (.01)

1 bay leaf (.01)

2 tsp salt (.01)

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp Tobasco sauce (.01)

2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar (.05)

Soak beans overnight. Cook in pot with 1/2 cup dry soup mix for 1 1/2 hours. Drain and cool. In large stockpot, saute garlic, onions, carrots and peppers in olive oil for about 10 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato juice, and spices until Salt, simmer 1 hour. Then season with S&P, and other seasonings.

Serve with bread & salad.

Total Cost = $2.58 (probably at least 1 other meal to freeze) SO about $1.29 per meal