Thanks for all of the suggestions! I am sending them a crockpot via Amazon. I asked and they don't have a Costco membership, but one of their friends does, so they could go together once in awhile.
I'm not 100 percent sure on this, but I think if you have a Costco gift card, you can use it even if you aren't a member.Â
Thanks for all of the suggestions! I am sending them a crockpot via Amazon. I asked and they don't have a Costco membership, but one of their friends does, so they could go together once in awhile.
Id suggest you also send them a meat thermometer - digital and leave-in during cooking. Roasting meats (roast beef, whole chicken) is incredibly simple, inexpensive and delicious. The hardest part is not over cooking it, which a meat thermometer completely solves. Even the newest cooks can salt/pepper a few chicken thighs and put them in the oven with a few baked potatoes, even a veggie. Roasting, even once a week is a great option with great results.
Soups for sure. You don't have to use a ton of meat (or expensive cuts) and a pot will feed you for days.
One of my go to broke ass meal plans is to roast a chicken for dinner one night, then pick all the extra bits of meat off the bones and the next night, throw it into a soup with rice and whatever veggies we have. Very filling and super cheap.
I just threw the carcass in a crockpot, filled to the top with water, added carrots, celery, onion, parsley and thyme. Turned on low, left over night and in the morning had enough chicken stock for soup.
Plus we might have enough chicken for fajitas one night.
If we do a roast or pork loin we usually have stir fry the next night
Chickpea stuffed peppers - cheap, easy, and tasty. It can usually fill three or four medium sized peppers.
Saute one can of chickpeas (drained) in evoo with salt, pepper, and garlic Add one can of diced tomatoes (drained) and saute a few more minutes Remove from stove, add feta cheese (or mozzarella) and some rosemary or basil Stuff mixture into the hollowed out peppers (whatever color you like, but green is the cheapest) and cook for 30 minutes at 350
I usually cook rice on the side for DH and Frank, but you can also add it to the mixture.
Definitely crockpot recipes. Chicken thighs can be used in a lot of recipes, like this one for pulled pork. I also do one with a packet of taco seasoning and can of rotel or regular diced tomatoes. Can be used for tacos, sandwiches, nachos, over rice etc.
Post by cabbagecabbage on Jan 17, 2016 14:09:23 GMT -5
My big tip is to freeze casserole stuff (lasagna, enchiladas, whatever) in foil loaf pans. It's a perfect size for two very generous servings and there is so much less waste. I never have to look at 2/3 of a lasagna and know it's getting tossed before we finish it. I can split a large recipe into 4-6 pans. I look for the pans at the dollar store.
He will need a box of pasta(I use rotini or penne if I don't have bow ties) sauce, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, sour cream and ground beef (as well as a few basic spices) When I make this, I freeze half of it in a glass 8x8 dish and use it another time. This recipe makes a ton of food. It's nice eating the leftovers because you heat it in the oven and add a littlue extra cheese and sauce.
Serve with salad from a bag and some garlic bread Very easy
This sounds like a recipe I make, from my MIL, that we call crazy noodles. We use 1 pound rotini pasta, 1lb grated mozzarella cheese, 1/4 sour cream, 1 can diced tomatoes. I have started making with mild Italian sausage instead of beef and it is crazy good.
Just use whatever ground beef is on sale and drain, then use cheese that you grated yourself along with other ingredients on sale. Makes a HUGE 9 x 13 pan and you can eat off of it for 2 or 3 days easily. I bet it freezes good as well.
A package of smoked sausage (I like turkey sausage) cut it into slices. Put in a skillet with frozen broccoli. Cook in medium heat until broccoli is done. Serve over rice or pasta. Sprinkle with parmesean cheese or red pepper flakes. About $5 for 3-4 servings.
In college I would make instant Spanish rice and toss some black beans in it. It's not super healthy but it's dirt cheap and pretty filling.
Bake chicken or pork loin in a little olive oil, salt and garlic. Really easy. Frozen veggies and roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes are really good, cheap sides.
Post by adeliepenguin on Jan 17, 2016 18:03:47 GMT -5
I make a veggie chili in the crockpot that I then portion out for lunches.
3 cans of beans (I use kidney, black and pinto, but whatever) 1 can corn drained 1 can hominy (because I like it - but certainly could leave out) 1 can rotel 1 bag shredded carrots (because I am lazy, but you could cut your own) 2 each of zucchini and yellow squash, cut into chunks 1-2 peppers cut into chucks 1 pack of chili seasoning.
Cook on high 4-5 hours in the crockpot.
So easy. Mostly opening cans. So good. You could stretch or bolster with rice.
One of my favorite easiest dinners is a package of boneless skinless chicken (I prefer thighs but breasts would work too). Stick in crockpot with a can or two of golden mushroom soup and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Serve with microwave steamed veggie and applesauce.
I also like baked tortellini: cook frozen tortellini. Mix in a casserole dish with half jar of marinara sauce and half jar of Alfredo sauce. Top with mozzarella and parm cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes until cheese is brown and melted. Serve with garlic bread and salad.