Is everyone enjoying getting your gardens growing and Spring cleaning done?  I am!  I have also found a ton of recipes that I will be experimenting with and hopefully passing them down.  Here is what we are cooking this week-

Monday: Burgers on the grill
Tuesday: Mushroom and Steak Linguine
Wednesday: Pork Chops with veggies
Thursday: Chicken Parmesan
Friday: Salmon Cakes

Tags: dinner ideas, simple recipes, what to cook for 4

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil ($0.05)
1 cup chopped onion ($0.10)
2 cups water
2 chicken bullion cubes ($0.20)
6 cups of chopped broccoli ($0.75)
1 cup evaporated skim milk ($1.00)
4-6 ounces of Velveeta cheese ($2.15)
1/2 cup sour cream ($0.25)
Dash of red pepper flakes
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Start by pre-heating a stock pot to medium.  Add the oil and onions.  Cook for about 3 minutes or until the onions become translucent.  Add the water and bullion cubes.  Bring to a boil and let cubes dissolve.  Add the broccoli and reduce.  Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Whisk in the evaporated milk and red pepper flakes.  Cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the Velveeta cheese and stir until melted.  Take off heat and add the sour cream.  Add salt and pepper as needed.
Serve and enjoy!

Total Cost For 4 Servings: $4.50 OR $1.12 a serving

Tags: broccoli soup, cheese and broccoli soup, cheese broccoli soup

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

It’s May!  There seems to be a lot going on in May, but that shouldn’t distract you from making healthy, budget friendly meals.  There are a ton of yummy marinades and grilled recipes to try so you can continue to eat at home and enjoy the nice weather!

Monday: Italian style marinaded chicken on the grill with noodles and veggies

Tuesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad

Wednesday: Chicken Pasta Toss

Thursday: Mostaccioli Beef Casserole

Friday: Pizza or out to eat…

Tags: east dinner ideas, low budget dinner ideas, what to make for dinner

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Chicken divan is super yummy and a great meal to have any time!  I love having it during the Spring because it is figure friendly with the chicken and broccoli, but warm and hearty with the soup and rice.  I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken
Salt and Pepper to taste
5 cups of broccoli
1 can of cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 cups of cooked rice, if you so desire

Directions:
Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly salt and pepper your chicken on both sides.  In a 10 or 12 inch skillet, cook chicken breasts over medium for about 4  minutes on each side.

In a 9 x 13 glass baking dish, place frozen broccoli on the bottom.  Top with the cooked chicken breasts.  Scoop out the cream of chicken soup and place over entire dish.  This does not have to be exact, just big dabs over the chicken and broccoli is fine.  Top chicken with cheese.  Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes.  Serve with rice.

Tags: chicken and broccoli dish, east dinner ideas, quick chicken dish

(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

So recently people I have bumped into are really complimentary of the site- so THANKS for all the great feedback.  One thing that they are asking for are some quick lunch ideas.  I know it is very hard to get into the routine of making and preparing dinner and then using the leftovers right away the next day.  There are a lot of people who don’t even like leftovers.  So, more people want simple, quick fix, budget friendly lunches.  Here are some of my favorite lunches to make:

1-Tortillas with ____ (fill in the blank).  I enjoy going to the store, getting some different kinds of lunch meats and cheeses and filling them up.  You could do a ham and cheese wrap with honey Dijon mustard.  Try roast beef with pepper jack cheese and lettuce.  You could go all veggie or create your own.  Right now, you probably have ranch dressing, some mustard, mayo, and a few veggies laying around waiting for you to create your perfect wrap.  Plus, they make so many flavored wraps it is incredible! 

2-Tuna fish on wheat bread.  I love making tuna.  It is light and super affordable.  I add a little onion and celery to mine with about a tablespoon or two of mayo and there you have it. 

3-Grilled chicken salads.  I LOVE lettuce!  I would eat it for every meal.  I love grilling up some chicken the night before, letting it cool, and then shredding it up and placing it in my salad for the next day.  Here again you can go crazy- add some veggies or even toss in some croutons or even cheese.  It is a healthy meal full of the protein you need to help you make it through the afternoon.

I hope these little hints get your mind going and makes your lunches a little bit more enjoyable.  What types of lunches do you like?  What do you wish you ate more of… I would love to hear from you!

Tags: lunch ideas, quick lunch solutions, what to make for lunch

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)