Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Dinners On A Dime 1st Weekly Post



Dinners On A

Last night I told you how Katie from Cincinnati Cents and I are teaming up to bring you dinner ideas based on the sales at the local stores each week. Tonight I am putting up my recipes and she is putting up hers.

We are putting up a cost at the end, but I want you to understand that our costs may be a little different than yours if you are just starting out. We have been couponing and stockpiling for a while which cuts our costs down pretty low and that's the name of the game. You will notice in my recipes that several of the items are free or guestimated (spices). I have listed the stores where the items were purchased from when I could remember them. In time, as you build your stockpile, you will be able to make these dishes for the same cost or even lower than our costs. With regards to the sausage, I used the Mega Event this week to purchase items at a cost which would leave me an overage so that I could get the sausage and turkey for free or nearly free.

For example the first purchase was 9 Hormel Chili Masters at $1.29 = $11.61 + (1) 1 Johnsonville Brats @ 2.99 + 1 Dole Garden Salad @ $1 = $15.60.
Math = $15.60 - $9 (Hormel) - $1 (Johnsonville) - $5 Instant Coupon = $.60. I figured I got the sausage for free and paid $.60 for the Dole Salad (10/$10)

Turkey Chili Cheddar Bake

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey ($.80 at Krogers during the buy one get one free sale)
8 ounces tomato sauce ($.33 previously at Walgreens)
½ onion diced ($.20)
1 package chili seasoning (Free from Meijer's over summer)
1 cup water
1 lb elbow macaroni (Purchased free previously at Meijers)
8 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded ($.49 at Krogers this week)
½ stick butter diced into little chunks ($.19 purchased at Wal-Mart for $1.50 4-stick pack)
Total Cost = $2.01


Directions:
Brown turkey in frying pan over medium low heat.

Add tomato sauce, onions, chili seasoning and water. Bring to boil then lower to medium and cook until sauce thickens a little bit (about 20-30 minutes) Stir occasionally . While sauce is cooking, cook pasta according to package directions. Once pasta is cooked, drain. Get a 9” baking dish and put about ½ inch of pasta in bottom, put a layer of sauce, then a layer of cheese and dot with some of the butter. Continue to layer with the last layer ending in cheese.

Bake in 400 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes until cheese is nicely melted and starts to brown around the edges.



Stuffed Turkey Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
5-6 Medium size bell peppers (5 free during Mega event - paid for $1 for one in 10/$10 sale)

1 lb ground turkey - ($.80 at Krogers during the buy one get one free sale this week)
1 medium onion chopped ($.25)
1 can whole kernel corn ($.35 at Meijers couple of weeks ago)
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
Salt and pepper to taste ($.10 for grins because I have no idea how to price this)
2 cups cooked rice ($.75 Uncle Bens Instant Rice)
1 8 oz can tomato sauce ($.33 at Walgreens about 6 weeks ago)
Total Cost = $3.63

Directions:
Fill large pot with water and bring to boil.

Cut tops off bell peppers and clean out pulp and seeds. Boil peppers for 3 minutes. Remove from pan and drain.

Cook ground turkey over medium-low heat with onions. Remove pan from heat and add remaining ingredients. Stuff peppers and bake in shallow baking dish for 30 to 35 minutes on 350 degrees.



Sausage Stir Fry


Ingredients:
1 package Johnsonville Brats ($.10 Kroger Mega Event)
1 Package Stir Fry Vegetables ($1.40 @ Wal-Mart)
2 tbsp Olive Oil ($.30 guestimate here)
2 cups hot cooked rice ($.75 Uncle Ben's Instant Rice)
6 tbsp of Sweet N Sour Sauce (If you don’t have a bottle of this and you have little packets from a recent Chinese food run, that works great too – use 6-7 packets. That's what I did.)
Total Cost = $2.55

Directions:
Heat oil in frying pan on medium. Cut brats into bit side slices and add to pan. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add stir fry vegetables and cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Add Sweet and Sour sauce and stir 1 minute. Serve over cooked white rice.


Zesty Italian Sausage Pasta


Ingredients:
1 pkg Johnsonville Italian sausage ($.10 at Kroger Mega Event)
1 box spaghetti noodles (Free previously at Meijers)
3 tbsp olive oil ($.40 guestimating again)
1 small onion diced ($.25)
1 tsp minced garlic ($.10)
1 can diced tomatoes ($.20 at Krogers over summer)
1 can chicken broth ($.49 previously at Meijers)
2 cups broccoli florets ($1.49/lb at SuperValu)
Total Cost = $3.03


Directions:

Prepare sausage according to package directions. Let cool slightly and slice into ¼ inch pieces

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain.

Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to simmer. Add broccoli and cooked pasta. Cook until broccoli is tender. Add sausage, toss to combine and continue to cook another 1-2 minutes until sausage is heated back up.


Note: Each of these dishes could be paired with a salad and you have a great dinner each night for $4 or less. And don't forget to stop over at Cincinnati Cents to get the following recipes:

Tater Tot Casserole

Chicken Bake

Sausage & Egg Casserole

Southwestern Vegetarian Chili





This post is part of the Becentsable Gathering
Compensated Affiliate

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