DiscussionsEasy Weeknight Dinners

Feeding a family can be a challenge in many ways, including keeping costs in line.  What's your favorite budget-minded weeknight dinner?

Below is a Quick weeknight dinner our 3 year old loves!

Preparation:
Mac and cheese (microwavable) 3 min
Sauté some hamburger in onion - 7 min
Steam some broccoli - 7 min

Serve:
Mix the hamburger in the Mac and Cheese and serve the broccoli on the side.
Prep Time: 15 min!

I have a easy cheap fudge recipe I would like to share with everyone.

      1 box confectioner's sugar         4tbs. milk

       1/2 cup cocoa                          1 tbs. vanilla

       1/4 tsp. salt                             1/2 cup chopped nuts

       6tbs. butter

             Combine all wet ingredients in double boiler til melted. Add the sugar and cocoa

  til melted smooth, then and the nuts and stir til well mixed. pour into a toaster oven tin foil tray. The tray holds one batch perfect. I t's that easy and very good. People think I spent hours making it but it actually takes about 10 minutes

What I like to do is get Flour Tortilla ,Lettuce,Tomatoes,Hamburger,Refried Beans,Mexican Cheese in Bag,Top with Sour Cream with mild taco sauce.But,the great idea is.Everyone makes it there self.

Yummy!

Great Food,Cost Less,Fun Idea for busy nights...

OK, here's a family favorite:

1lb. lean ground beef, chicken or turkey

1/2 c. chopped onion

1/2 c. chopped green pepper

Brown meat with veggies, drain and set aside.

Combine 1 can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese. 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. black pepper. Add to meat mixture.

Open a can of Pillsbury biscuits (maybe 2, depending on which kind you use - I like to use Grands), split them in two, and use 1/2 of them to line the bottom of a 9X9 inch baking dish. Top with beef mixture, then top that with remaining biscuit halves. Sprinklw 3/4 - 1 c. shredded cheddar on top and bake at 350 for between 20-30 min, until cheese is nice and "melty". Remove from oven and let it stand for 10 min. before serving.

We often add veggies to the beef mixture or serve our favorites and a salad on the side. You can mess around with this recipe, adding spices as desired. It's great served with some salsa and extra sour cream on the table. Good luck, and keep on cookin'!

Cook 8 ounces of your favorite noodles until done, then drain. Add a can of undrained, water packed tuna, a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, a drained can of mushrooms, 1/2 soup can of milk, a healthy tablespoon of butter, and 3/4 - 1 cup of grated parmeasan cheese, mixing well over med-low heat until warm enough to eat. Serve with salad or veggies on the side, and don't forget the Pillsbury biscuits!  YUMMY, good for you, cheap and filling. Can be easily doubled for a crowd!

Goulash for 6  

1)Brown about 2lbs very lean(@ least 93% lean) hamburger and  1- 1 1/2 large chopped onion,  add  salt and pepper to taste . Drainoff excess fat and return to pot. 

2)Next add a cooked box of cooked whole wheat elbow noodles(or shells which ever you preer) and 3-4 large cans of undrained chopped tomatoes . Its that simple and very fast. ***I have doctered this up with green peppers, corn whatever vegtable that is left over (or sounds good). You can also add taco seasoning and top with cheese and chilis for something different. Mix it up, and use what you have.

I have four children (two of whom are teenage boys) this always satifies them and we have leftovers for later in the evening when they go back for round two. We serve this with som sort of cooked rifridgerator biscuit or bread and a salad.

EASIEST,QUICKEST AND CHEAP:

1 BAG OF CHEDDAR BROCCOLI RICE A RONI OR ANY OTHER BRAND(I USE GREAT VALUE,ITS DELICIOUS!)

1/2 CUP CHOPPED COOKED LEFTOVER OR CANNED CHICKEN

OPTIONAL: 1/3 CUP OF SALSA, 1 TBL BUTTER OR MARGARINE

PUT ALL INGREDIENTS IN ONE POT WITH 2-1/4 CUPS WATER(PACKAGE WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH) HEAT TO A BOIL. BOIL UNCOVERED FOR 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL RICE IS TENDER!!!MY FAMILY LOVESSSS!! THIS DISH

WHENEVER I MAKE THIS DISH I DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RECIPE CAUSE I HAVE 2 TEENAGE BOYS AT HOME AND THEY ARE BOTTOMLESS PITS!!