Cheap Eats

This item has been on my to-post list for a while, so it's time to post it.

Every now and then we have a really on-the-cheap meal. For us, it's scrambled eggs with a little Spam and cheese mixed in, and hashbrowns. All the ingredients are really cheap, especially if I cube up some leftover baked potatoes to make the hashbrowns. Better still, it is as quick to make as it is inexpensive.

Fried rice is another good, inexpensive option. I always have some leftover peas or peas and carrots in the fridge. Scramble in a couple of eggs, toss in a handful of cubed ham (or Spam, like we do) or other leftover meat, a packet of seasoning, and there you are. Lunch!

I love this recipe for Oriental Chicken Salad. It's especially cheap if you use leftover chicken from another meal (I grill chicken breast in Yoshida's sauce and garlic, and these leftovers are fantastic in this salad).

Oriental Chicken Salad

adapted from "Eat Up Slim Down"

2 envelopes low-fat chicken ramen soup mix

2 c cubed cooked chicken breast

1 head cabbage, thinly sliced (6 c)--I use a bag of precut coleslaw mix

1 celery rib, thinly sliced (I use celery seed)

1 red onion, thinly sliced (I use minced onion)

3 T seasoned rice vinegar

1 T canola oil

1 t sugar (optional)

Set ramen seasoning package aside. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add water and soak for 10 minutes. Drain. Add chicken, cabbage, celery, and onion.

In a small bowl, combine ramen seasoning package, vinegar, oil, and sugar. Pour over salad, cover and chill 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.

Slow Cookers

I've always had a slow cooker, but it wasn't until this past Christmas when I got a programmable one, that I really fell in love with slow cooking. Using a slow cooker has become one of my favorite tools in my war against eating out. One of the things that made a basic slow cooker less- than useful to me is that I had to time when I put the meal into the pot just right so we didn't have an overcooked mushy mess come dinnertime. With my programmable, I can put a meal in anytime, and program it to cook for however long I want, then it shifts automatically into a WARM setting so the food stays at a safe, warm temperature, but does not continue to cook.

Last night was a prime example of why this is useful. I had a training class from 4:30-8:00, my husband was going to have to work late, my oldest had swim team until 6, and my youngest was at home, just hanging out. I put a meal in this morning, programmed it, and everyone had a hot meal when they wanted it (actually, after the boys ate, I had them put the leftovers away and hubby and I heated it in the microwave when we got home).

I like being able to put the meal together in the morning, when I have more energy and time, and having it ready and waiting for us. We have saved lots of money and time by not having to eat out on those nights when everyone is going in different directions.

Now, all I need to do is find more slow cooker recipes (anyone? anyone?). This is what we had last night:

Campout Casserole
(reminds us of foil dinners)

Spray slow cooker with PAM. Place the following in the slow cooker in order, sprinkling each layer with minced onion and pepper (or you can use real onions if you aren't cooking for picky people)

1 2-lb bag baby carrots
4-6 potatoes, skins on, scrubbed, and cut into chunks
2 lb ground beef, browned and drained

Smother with 2 cans tomato soup and 1 can cream of chicken (or mushroom or celery) soup mixed together (no water, just the soup). Cover and cook on high for 8 hours.

Free Nonstick Bakeware

I just ordered a free silicone non-stick, non-burning mini muffin pan from EasyBakeware.com. Well, technically, not free. I did have to pay $7.95 shipping and handling for a product that would have originally been $19.95 before shipping. So, I guess it would be more accurate to say I got a mini muffin pan for less than half price. I've always wanted one, but never justified the expense before. It will be fun to try it out!

Summer Heat-busting Recipes

One thing I am really consistent about is planning weekly menus and shopping lists. But, I'm not as adept at anticipating what the weather will be during the week. This past week, the Pacific Northwest had its version of a heat wave (temperatures pushing 90 for several days in a row). For those of us without air conditioning and used to much cooler temperatures (the average high for this time of year is 68 degrees), it can get pretty miserable. Our house tends to get especially warm in the afternoons thanks to our western exposure.

Anyway, last week during the heat wave, we ended up opting to grab fast food at a nice, air-conditioned fast food establishment rather than cook and add heat to the already sweltering house. Prior to this summer, we didn't think twice about doing this. Now, that's a different story. We can easily spend upwards of $30 at Wendy's or McDonald's, and that is just not going to fly in our single-income household.

So, this morning I spent some time going through my recipe books looking for some good summer recipes for salads (both main dish and side) and grilling recipes that I can add to my menus for these summer months. If I find any that pass the test of my uber-picky family, I'll post them here. I figure even if I use some convenience foods (pre-cooked chicken strips, etc.) in these meals it will be cheaper than eating out.

If anyone would like to share a good summer salad (pasta or otherwise) recipe, or suggest other things that we can either eat cold, grill outdoors, etc., let me know! I'll try to make this a recurring theme for posts throughout the summer.