With the kids being busy in sports right now (baseball, karate, t-ball, dance, etc) dinners have become more difficult. I love to cook, but unfortunately, I don't have time to make a complete meal from scratch more than a couple of nights a week. However, I do not want to sacrifice our health. Things like artificial dyes, foods high in sodium, high fructose corn syrup, and over-processed junk is not coming into the house regardless of how much or little we are home.
Normally, I don't purchase very many frozen foods- but lately, a few of them have been finding their way into my cart, and they are not too shabby! Tonight, I wanted to share with you some of my easy dinners, for less than $10 a family that can be made in 30 minutes or less...
First, tonight's meal.
Carmelized Onion Quiche, Creamy Potato Soup, Fresh Salad, and Rolls- Costco is now carrying delicious frozen quiches. A two-pack is only $10 and they are 9 inches in diameter-- enough to feed everyone a good-sized slice. Aldi's store brand of Creamy Potato soup mix is only $1.69 and makes four servings, which when added to quiche and salad is plenty for my family. Toss in a bag of fresh spring mix for $1.99 and dinner is served-- the rolls were not in my plan, but since the end of the tube of the crescent rolls popped off, and they started escaping their package, they will be made this evening, adding 99 cents. : ) Total-- $9.67
On Wednesday, I have time to cook-- I am making spaghetti and meatballs served with garlic bread and a mixed green salad. Since we buy our beef roughly 400 pounds at at time, there is plenty of it in the freezer. I will take out 2 pounds to make meatballs. My meatballs are hand-rolled with fresh parsley (50 cents), about 2 cups of ricotta cheese ($1.69 at Aldi), a couple of eggs, bread crumbs to firm it up, salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Garlic, onion, and olive oil start the base of a great sauce, and with only a couple of cans of stewed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste-- they turn into a pot of tasty. It may be closer to 40 minutes, but it doesn't take too long. A box of pasta (79 cents for Barilla last week at Tampico Market) and we are good to go. Garlic bread (pre-made-- I know, I am cheating) $1.69 and more greens $1.49...and it is on the table. Total-- $6.16 (because I already have beef and other basic ingredients).
Thursday-- Panko Crusted Pork Fillets with Spatzle Noodles and Green Beans (surprisingly, another super quick meal!) Pre-cut thin pork chops were $3.65. Brush with an egg and coat in panko crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Cook in a little butter or olive oil about 5-7 minutes until brown and crispy. Spatzle noodles were a special feature at Aldi for $2.49. I like to boil them as directed (which is about 8-10 minutes), drain, and add them to a few sauteed onions and then season with a few of my favorite herbs. Green beans (going frozen on this one!) were 99 cents. Total-- $7.13
Friday night-- Good Friday and while we aren't busy with kids' activities, we will be at church between 5 and 7 pm...so dinner has to be early and fast. Nothing is faster than pasta. Aldi is actually carrying a rigatoni that is stuffed with portobello mushrooms that we think is great! It comes frozen with its own seasoning packet, so all you do is boil as directed, drain, and add the herb mix and a little olive oil. You are done in less than 15 minutes, it serves my family, and is $2.99). To go with it, I will grab a loaf of crusty french bread (2 for $1.50 at Tampico Market-- baked fresh that day) and some asparagus ($1.99/lb this week). I like to cut the rough ends off of the asparagus, lay it in a 9 by 13 inch pan, and pour a few tablespoons of butter over it. Then, I sprinkle a little garlic salt and pepper and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Yum! Total--$6.48
Friday night, I will take the extra loaf of french bread and turn it into baked french toast. A few eggs, some half and half, vanilla, and sugar-- and it is ready to bake when you get up in the morning and for about $3.00 total cost. Great idea for Saturday mornings when kids have baseball and t-ball practices at 9 am. Aldi also has a few of our other breakfast staples. Their mini whole wheat bagels are $1.89 and a tub of whipped cream cheese is $1.59- and that lasts a full week for 3 kids (plus me, those mini bagels are good!) Cantaloupes are 99 cents right now and are a great addition to the other fresh fruit we have been grabbing at Costco. The strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are awesome. Thrown in yogurt-- even better, if that is possible.
Saturday and Sunday I don't have to cook because of Easter gatherings. I do, however, have to make a tiramisu for 20 people....good thing Aldi had lady fingers for only $1.49 a pack!
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