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Frugal Fridays–Feeding My Family for Fifteen (or Less!)

Crystal Paine is taking a blogging break, but I’m going to post my Frugal Fridays post anyway!   I’ll just miss checking in on so many other people’s frugal ideas, too!

 

Two of my daughters do the bulk of the supper cooking.  Usually Sunday nights are either junk nights, or clean out the refrigerator and junk nights! 

 

So again, my 16 year old daughter came up with a yummy meal that actually costs $18, but again, we had lunch the next day!  So I will say $10–we had cucumbers and cherry tomatoes out of our garden!  Yum!

 

Sweet ‘n Saucy Meatballs

(unknown origin! : )

 

3 lb. ground beef                         

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. oats

2 1/2 c. water

3 3/4 c. ketchup (we make a simple one at home)

2 1/2 c. sugar (we use evaporated cane juice)

 

In a big bowl, combine beef, eggs, and oats.  Mix well.  Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Place in a greased 9X13 pan (you may need two).    Mix together water, ketchup and sugar.  Pour over meatballs.  bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until done.  Makes about 16-18 servings or 80 meatballs.  Enjoy!

 

 

Quick Homemade Ketchup

 

1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce

1 c. sugar

4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. vinegar

 

Mix well.  Yields 3 cups.

 

Sour Cream Enchiladas

(from Goose Berry Patch A Pinch of This, A Dash of That)

2-10 3/4 cans cream of chicken soup (you can make your own–recipe follows)

1 c. sour cream

2 c. cheddar cheese, grated

4 1/2 oz. can chopped green chiles, undrained

1 sm. onion, diced

2 T. picante sauce

2 doz. corn tortillas (she made it with flour tortillas, although corn would be somewhat healthier!)

Garnish:  shredded lettuce and sour cream

 

Combine all ingredients except tortillas in a large saucepan.  Heat and stir over low heat until cheese melts.  Soften tortillas in very hot oil in frying pan, for a few seconds on each side.   Drain on paper towels.   (You can warm these in a non-stick skillet without the oil).    Spoon 2 tablespoons of soup mixture onto a tortilla, roll, and place in a baking dish.  Continue with remaining tortillas.  Pour remaining soup mixture over rolled tortillas and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Top with more cheese just before serving.  Serve with shreeded lettuce and sour cream.

 

 

Uncanned Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

(from Whole Foods for the Whole Family)

 

3 T. butter or oil

3 T. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning or sage

1 1/4 c. milk (can use half chicken broth)

(can add a bit of chopped chicken, too)

 

Melt butter or oil in saucepan.  Stir in flour and seasonings.  Cook over medium heat until bubbly.  Add milk slowly, stirring with wire whisk.  Cook until thick.  Makes 1 cup or 1 "can" condensed soup.

 

Oatmeal Rolls

(from recipefiend, June 26, 2006 entry)

 

2 c water

1 c oatmeal

3 T butter

 

Bring to a boil and cook 1 min.  Cool to lukewarm.  (Or you can use leftover oatmeal;  heat it to lukewarm and add butter).

 

Dissolve in a large bowl:

 

1 pkg. yeast

1/3 c warm water

 

Mix in:  Oat mixture and remaining ingredients:

 

1/3 c brown sugar (we like to use Sucanat in place of brown sugar)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

4 c flour

 

Beat until smooth.  Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.  Knead until smooth about 6-8 minutes.  Let rise one hour.  Punch down.  Let rest 10 min. Shape into 18 balls.  Place in a greased 9X13 pan.  Let rise until doubled (about 45 minutes).  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Hope this helps you as you plan meals your meals!   If you have some thrifty yet fairly healthy recipes/menus, please share in the comments, or if you have a post, link with Mr. Linky!

 

Blessings!

 

~ ..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
"Home and family seemed by providence
to be my special field of duty."
                                     ~America Holton Ford, 1889~

2 Responses to “Frugal Fridays–Feeding My Family for Fifteen (or Less!)”

  1. chezdak says:

    I noticed you were one of my Mum's freinds on HSB. Oh, yes, that place called Innerpeffray is actually in Scotland.

    Chezdak

  2. Tinab says:

    thanks for sharing the recipes!!! yum!!!

Leave a Reply to chezdak