[scott7278]

One thing I do is make spaghetti the traditional way. You need to use a spaghetti sauce that is extremely meaty. After mixing the spaghetti with the sauce, put it in a baking pan.

Sprinkle shredded Velveeta cheese over it, then parmesan cheese. Add garlic and salt to taste. Bake for 5-10 minutes.

Put two pieces of garlic bread on a plate, then spoon the baked spaghetti over it. Cheap and easy.

[HungarianGypsy]

FOOD PING Have suggestions for future food topics? Let me know.
To be on/off the Freeper Kitchen ping list, freepmail me.

[Millee]

Cooked Noodles
Butter
Italian Dressing
Parmesan Cheese

It's yummy, cheap but probably not too nutritious. 2/3 ain't bad. ;-) (Please add me to your food ping!)

[JenB]

I like making a big pot of taco meat - I brown the ground beef, then throw it in the crockpot with a jar of salsa and cook in on low all day. This is something I like to do when I'm getting together with friends. One will bring shells and tortillas, one will bring toppings, one will bring dessert, etcetera. I use a typical-sized jar of salsa with three or so pounds of ground beef so it makes a ton.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Spices are the key to making lo-budget food taste like gourmet. Get a variety, and experiment. Most spices can be gotten fairly cheaply, and they tend to last a long time (unless you find one your taste-buds REALLY like).

One of my new favorites: Morton Hot Salt. Very tasty on salads, baked potatoes, fries, nachos, "mexican rice", etc.

There is a reason that spices have been much in demand all throughout history...

[janetgreen]

One of my old stand-bys that the kids always liked is good and not expensive to make. They called it "the noodle stuff".

Brown one pound of ground meat. Salt and pepper. One chopped onion. Some fresh chopped garlic. Can of crushed tomatoes (or fresh chopped tomatoes. Cook together, then add a box of pasta of choice and water. Cook until pasta is just done. Serve with a simple salad and hot french bread.

[proudofthesouth]

Browned ground beef, pork and beans, chili sauce. Mix together and heat throughly. Serve open faced over toasted hamburger buns.

[chapin2500]

[alwaysconservative]

I like to cook several big meals on weekends, and then freeze or refrigerate the meals and leftovers to eat all week. Luckily, my hubby loves leftovers, so I make big batches of the recipe below.

Knoepfle Soup

1 family-sized can condensed cream of mushroom soup, made with two cans water (may need more later)
1 8 oz package cheese, shredded (we like Cheddar)
4 cups flour
5-6 large eggs
Pinch baking powder
Pinch baking soda
Salt and pepper to taste
Bacon bits (optional)

Heat soup and water (or milk, if you prefer) until very hot but not boiling, (to the simmering stage), stirring frequently. Meanwhile, mix flour, eggs, baking powder and soda into a firm dough (kneading not necessary), and cut with a knife or kitchen scissors into small dumplings. Drop into simmering broth, stirring frequently, and cook until all the dumplings rise to the top, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add cheese, stirring to blend, and bacon bits and serve. This serves at least 6, and keeps well for reheating.

[Lil'freeper]

My college pasta recipe: cook noodles, toss with olive oil, basil, garlic, and parmesean cheese. Yum.

[CTOCS]

Basic Tuna Casserole

1 pkg med egg noodles ($1.59)
2 6oz cans chunk light tuna (if it's payday, use Albacore)($1.78)
1 pkg frozen peas ($1.69)
1 can Campbells Cream Mushroom Soup ($0.99)
Total cost = $6.05. It'll feed 4 people easy.
Cost per person = $1.51

Cook noodles, drain
In electric skillet, combine remaining ingredients. Cook on medium until peas are done (10 mins maybe)
Add noodles and mix well
Serve

[newfrpr04]

I go visit relatives , just around dinner time, so you get invited. Invite friends over for a pot luck, you have alot of left overs !

[SoDak]

spaghetti (or any kind of noodle), a can of tuna, and a can of cream of mushroom. I call it tuna goop. College food.

[kevkrom]

Basic pesto is a great way to look gormuet without spending a whole lot, especially if you grow your own basil:

• 1 c. basil leaves
• 3/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic
• olive oil

1. In food processor or blender, mix leaves, cheese, and garlic until the consistency of paste (if it's too wet, add more cheese; too dry, add more basil)
2. Add oil slowly, while continuing to mix, until the desired pesto consistency is reached
3. Add to 1 lb cooked pasta, serve as a side, 8 portions.

[freeangel]

One can usually find some inexpensive pork chops somewhere. Sprinkle garlic powder and paprika freely on both sides and then brown on both sides. Add a can of mushroom soup on top and spread around with 2 0r 3 tbs of water. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes and serve with noodles. The gravy is great.

[Sax]

Get a frozen turkey - pound for pound there's a lot a meat, it's relatively cheap, and it last a while. Roast it, eat it with mashed taters or stuffing, make cold sandwiches later, boil (then scrape and remove) the carcass for a tasty stew - water, carrots, potatoes, thyme, cream, pepper, onions, celery, whatever you'd like. Make turkey meat chili, tacos or enchiladas too.

[laceybrookesdad]

2 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 2 cups frozen peas, 2 cans of tuna. My kids make this all the time and I have to admit Dad likes it too!

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Spanish Rice:

1 reg.-size can of Tomato Soup
1 lb. ground beef, salt/pepper and browned
2 cups of Cooked Minute Rice
Chili Powder to taste
Chopped green peppers to taste
combine in large skillet and simmer

Pasta Salad:

2 cups of cooked Rotillini (sp)
chopped green pepper to taste
chopped red or yellow peppers
chopped Vidalias when in season or sweet onion
chopped cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped pepperoni
Small can of sliced ripe olives
Lots of Parmesan Cheese
Italian Dressing
Chill it and enjoy.
(you can throw in small broccoli flowerettes)

[tapatio]

Frito Pie

1 pound Velveeta cheese, cut in cubes
1 can (10 oz.) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 package (10 oz.) regular size Fritos
2 cans (1 pound, 8 oz. each) chili without beans or about 5 cups homemade chili
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a medium-size baking dish with non-stick spray. Combine the cheese and tomatoes in a saucepan and heat slowly until the cheese melts. Heat the chili in another saucepan.

Place half the Fritos in the baking dish. Spoon half the chili over the Fritos. Cover with a layer of cheese sauce. (There will be cheese sauce left over to use as a dip.) Scatter the remaining Fritos over the cheese. Cover with the rest of the chili and sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered about 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Yields four servings.


Tamale and Frito Pie

1 can (1 pound) chili or about 3 cups homemade chili
2 cups regular size Fritos
6 tamales, removed from the corn husks (see note)
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers, shredded

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9 x 11-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Heat the chili in a saucepan until it just comes to a boil. Remove from the heat. Crumble the Fritos and spread in the bottom of the baking dish. Lay the tamales on top of the Fritos. Cover with the hot chili.

Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and bake 5 to 10 minutes more, until the cheese melts and the mixture is bubbly.

[samiam1972]

Cheap and EASY!!!

3 can soup

1 can corn
1 can black beans (draining optional)
1 can Rotel tomatoes

Heat and serve. Approx. 4 servings. This is great with a quesadilla...throw some cheese inside a buttered tortilla and warm in a skillet til crispy. Delicious!