Taco Pie

For those of you who are into watching the deals at Publix, you are well aware that the Old El Paso dinner kits are often B1G1 and coupled with a coupon you can get these kits for less than $.50. This meal is cheap, easy (one pan), freezable, and relatively healthy.

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You need:

-vegetables

-shredded cheese

-a can of beans

-a dinner kit (I recommend the soft shell dinner kit)

-optional: meat/tofu/chicken (1 lb.)

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Directions:

1. Saute in a big skillet: onion, 1 lb. meat (I omit this part), lots of vegetables that are hanging out in your fridge (I have used broccoli, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, corn, edamame, peppers, etc.)

2. Add the powder seasoning packet to the cooking meat/vegetables. Saute until vegs. are soft and/or meat is done.

3. Open a can of beans (I use black but any will do) and stir in about half the can.

4. Cover all of it with the soft taco shells (tear as necessary to make them fit).

5. Open the liquid sauce packet and squirt half of it on top of the tacos. Top with remaining beans and then shredded cheese (as much as you want).

6. Cover all of it again with the soft taco shells, then rest of sauce packet, then cheese.

7. Put a lid on the skillet, turn the heat down to low, and let the cheese melt.
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Thank you, Marie for sharing this budget conscious meal. If you have a frugal friendly meal to share, email me so I can share it with our readers.

Frugal Pasta Dish

We are going to try something new for our readers. Each week I am going to try to put a new recipe up that correlates to items that were on sale this week (or even past weeks.) The deal is I need you the readers to help me or the magic will not happen.

Here is Danielle's Pasta Dish. She mentioned it is wonderful hot, but is also great as a cold pasta salad the next day. Two frugal ingredients are definitely the pasta and canned tomatoes (if you coupon as long as I have, and that is not long) you have a shelf devoted to Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes.)

Pasta Dish/Salad

2 cans of diced tomatoes (you can drain them or leave the juice in- I like it drained better)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tbsp dried basil
2 Tbsp. chopped red onions (I left this out once and it was still great)
1/2 cup Italian Dressing (I used my homemade balsamic dressing)
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
1 lb. pasta, cooked, drained

Cook pasta, drain and then mix with all ingredients in large bowl.

*I think peppers or olives would also be a great addition.

Thanks, Danielle!

$5 Dinners - Pork Roast with Apples and Asparagus

Well I recently started visiting $5 Dinners (a website whose name says it all) and boy is my kitchen getting the pleasant aroma of today's delicous meal. Today's dinner (which was NOT $5, more like $10-perhaps if I planned ahead with the meat it would be cheaper) creates a lovely fall smell to this 80 degree weather. Here is what I made today:

Pork Roast with Apples and Asparagus

Ingredients

1 lb Pork RoastWater or Broth

Salt/Pepper

2-3 Apples, peeled and sliced

1 t cinnamon

2 T brown sugar

2 T lemon juice1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 bunch asparagus

2-3 T EVOO

1 cup rice

Directions

1. Place 1/2 inch water or broth in base of crockpot. Place roast into crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add onions around the roast.

2. In bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, cinnamon and brown sugar. Toss well. Pour over roast in crockpot. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

3. Snap ends off asparagus. In another bowl, drizzle EVOO over Asparagus. Let sit 30 minutes or so. Then saute for 5-7 minutes until tender, yet crispy.

4. In saucepan, boil 2 cups water. Add rice. Bring to boil, then cover and simmer 20 minutes.

P.S. It tasted even better than it sounded!!!