No spend august take along

1. Leftover pizza
2. Hot dogs, potato salad, fruit and veggie tray.   Outside; 99 degrees 
3. Nachos 
4. Egg muffins, fruit 
5. Tacos
6. Leftovers 
7. Chicken w rosemary butter sauce, loaded baked potatoes garden salad 
8. Clam strips and french fries.   (Out) 
9. Jalapeño mac and cheese, broccolli, toasted bread with parm and parsley.  
10. Taco salad 
11. Sausage and cheese quiche 
12. Salmon patties, rice , peas 
13. Beef vegetable soup, cheddar bread, 
14. Hamburgers, corn on the cob, fruit salad 
15. Sausage, peppers and potatoes 
16. Popcorn shrimp, fries, veggie sticks 
17. Ribs, potatoes, veggies 
18. Mac and cheese revisited -with fresh tomatoes, parm, herbs 
19. Leftover vegetable bean soup on rice.   (Frozen ) Split pea soup, rolls
20. Fish and chips, coleslaw
21. Pizza , homemade 
22. Shrimp, french fries, cantaloupe
23. Beef  enchaladas -scratch
24. Hot dogs, pasta salad,fruit
25. Veggie omlettes, toasted English muffins 
26. Chicken.parm, cucumber salad.freshn green beans.
27. Buttermilk, blueberry pancakes, bacon, cantaloupe.    
28. Chicken salad , rolls 
29. Out
30. Mac n cheese, glazed carrots
31. Tacos, Spanish rice
32. 
    

1. 
   

Chain store ads for the week

Alberways

Extra lean (7) ground beef 3.97
Salad .79
Johnsonville dinner sausage 2.99 - just for you coupon
Refresher soda .99 - just for you coupon


QFC  (kroger )
Red, orange or yellow peppers .88
Tillamook ice cream 2/5
Kind bars 1.00


Buy 5, save 5

Ritz crackers 1.79 @@
Cheerios 2.49@@
Jiff 3.49
Goldfish, tortilla chips .99


*****
Yoplait 10/5@@
Pie 2.99

Pint blues 2.99
Corn 2/1
Sweet baby rays 1.00

Salmon , baked

Bread crumbs
Dried onions , crushed
Lemon pepper seasoning
Spicy brown mustard

Mix crumbs, onions, and lemon pepper to taste.  
Rub salmon pieces with mustard
Coat with bread crumb mixture.  

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until fish is done and flakes.  

BBQ sauce

1 onion, chopped
2T vegetables oil
1 cup cider vinegar
2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
Salt, red pepper flakes.

Put all ingredients in a saucepan.  Cook over medium heat to a soft boil, reduce heat and simmer  for 20 minutes or until the onion is cooked soft and the flavors have developed.  

Refrigerate up to 10 days.  

Cook Book Review

Costco has soft cover books and magazines for thirty or more percent off all of the time.

Cooks County cook it right.   Perfecting the classics/

They start with chocolate chip cookies.   A true American icon.

Many good recipes, some a bit too detailed for me....I like quick and easy , but scratch.   i know, a tall request, but there are recipes like that and having the right equipment helps.   I want recipes that fit into a budget, are scratch, not too hands on time consuming, and don't have a bunch of things I can t pronounce.

My challenge is to make food that has less salt, sugar, fat:  saturated fat, hydrogenated oils, and trans fats, HFCS, sometimes called natural sugar, and chemical preservatives.    And, do it on a four dollar a day budget.    (Per person).  Most of the time that happens.    We are sitting at fifteen dollars a person per WEEK.   This does not include keeping a stock.  

I digress.


Cook it right

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Meatloaf
Burglary Pot roast
Kansas City bbq Brisket
BBQ ribs
Grilled shrimp skewers
Baked fish fillets
Slow cooker beef stew

These are a budget buster for four dollars a day, but attainable as a treat if you average with less expensive meals.

Pulled Pork
Grilled pork chops
Breaded chicken cutlets
Grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Roast chicken
Sheet Pan Pizza
Classic Mac and Cheese
Meatballs in Marinara sauce
Hearty whit bean soup
Quick chicken broth

Almost no-knead bread....
Soft and chewey rolls
English muffin bread
Buttermilk pancakes

Eggs Benedict
Parmesean and basil frittata
Fluffy dinner omelet

Blueberry pie
Deep dish apple pie
Chocolate layer cake

Some of these are basics and a good gourmet inexpensive meal.    Its always good when gourmet meets the budget.

Sausage Minestroni

3/4 pound of sausage, cooked and de-fatted.
1 /2 green pepper, chopped
2 cups green beans
2 cups water
2 cups kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes with italian seasoning
2 cups of chicken broth
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup dried orzo or small elbow macaroni

Place all ingredients in the insta pot and set it on slow cooker for 6-8 hours.
Meanwhile, cook the 1/2 cup of pasta in water on the stove or in the microwave.   Add to the pot.  

3 dollar basket coupon....Alberways

Keeping  your cart at a thirty dollars gives you the best value for your coupon.

3 pounds apples 2.94
Breaded chicken  2 ea 10.00
String cheese 3.00
Old El Paso taco shells 1.00
Suddenly salads (4). 4.00
Oscar Mayr lunch meat 3.99
Total 24.93 less coupons
Five dollars left

Fill in with
Tissue (160 ct) 1.00
Grands biscuits 1.00


Actual haul

Total 29.71

Savings 49 percent 

2 chicken pattie packages -foster farms -5.00 retail 6.50 

4 -160 count tissue boxes-1.00 ea 

2 suddenly salads 1.00 less .50 is .75 ea 

12 ounces string cheese -3.00

3 taco shells -1.00 coupon, 1 dollar each ]

Chex snack mix 1.00

3 grands biscuits 1.00

Ham and turkey lunch meat 3.99

Donut ( granddaughter  ) 

3 lb apples 3.02 

What put me over was the treat for granddaughter and two extra taco shells.   The taco shells were a dollar and I had a coupon for a dollar if i bought 3.   It made them .66 each 

Tex mex salad

I am using the insta pot.   The same recipe can be used by substituting canned beans . Dump in a salad bowl:

• 1 cup Cooked, cubed chicken**
• 2 cups black beans 
• 1 small can sliced, black olives **
• 1.5 cups grape or cherry tomatoes , cut in half and seeds removed.  
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped fine 
• 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed. 

Dress with italian dressing of choice 

Chill. 

*** notes 

Cook a batch of chicken breasts in the insta pot or in the oven.  Season with your favorite seasoning blend.   

Beans can be cooked in the insta pot or you can use a can of black beans, rinse throughly . 

Black olives are cheaper in a small can and you save the time not chopping.   Sliced are better than chopped.  Considering that there is less water and less air taken up in the can as apposed to whole olives, you are getting a better value.    

This would taste good with an avacoado slice added just before serving.    

Almost Labor Day !

It's almost Labor Day and Hot Dogs are on sale all over.   Many different qualities , you ave to be the judge.   I saw Nathans for 3.30 and the same ones for 5.99.  That's why it pays to know who has the best prices.  

Pasta salad

6 ounces dry pasta, cooked and drained.
1 can sliced black olives, drained
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half an de -seeded
1 small zucchini, washed and chopped fine. (No seeds)
1/2 bell pepper, chopped fine
2 green onion stalks
Parsley, salt and pepper to taste

Dress with a vinaigrette

Chill.  

New - No knead pizza dough

I thought that I had found the ultimate no knead pizza dough.   I really like it because it takes ten minutes, doesn't need a rise time and I can make it the day of dinner and store it in the fridge.  

The cost is about .19 for a 14 inch pizza.  

I did find another pizza dough recipe.   The pizza makes four 10 inch pizzas and takes twice the amount of flour and less olive oil, yeast and salt.   Cost .34.  Both can be made in a mixer or food processer, but the new one has to have a rise cycle, so it takes longer to make.   It, however, also makes more pizzas and you can freeze the dough for up to three months and refrigerate for up to three days.   Thaw dough in fridge overnight.   

Simply receives-http://www.simplyreceipes.com/recipes/easy no knead pizza dough/

Copywrited  recipe; thats the best shot I have at giving you the recipe.    

Either recipe is better because its fresh.

Cheaper....much cheaper than take out or frozen 

Faster:   Even the rising dough version, considering that it makes four pizzas, is faster than going for take out or waiting for delivery.   My five yo granddaughter can make the pizza in just a few minutes after I process the dough.    So, I would have to say its really doable.   

Nacho cassarole

In skillet, combine

2 cups refried beans 2 cups salsa.

 Bring to a boil and turn off heat. Add cooked taco meat.

Place:
2 cups tortilla chips in bottom of a medium sized baking pan.
Top with meat mixture

Top with :
Chopped tomato,
Peppers
Onion
Black olives
Mexican blend cheese

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes

Serve with lettuce, tomato , ripe olives and cheese toppings.  


**. Prepping bulk meat is a good way to save money and time in the kitchen at the dinner hour.
Taco meat and crumbles cooked ahead from hamburger on sale is part of that idea.

Refried beans can be made in the insta pot or purchased.
Salsa can be made or purchased.

Chicken enchaladas with cream green sauce

Chicken enchaladas with cream, green sauce

• 1/2 to 3/4 cup chicken pieces cooked  **
• 1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese 
• 1 small can diced green chilies , divided **
• 8 -8 inch flour tortillas 
• 
  
• 2 T butter or vegetable oil 
• 2 cups of chicken broth 
• 2 T flour. 
• 1/2 cup sour cream 
• 
  
• Additional cheese for top 

1. In medium sized bowl, mix chicken,  cheese , 1/2 the DRAINED chillies, and enough sauce to combine.  
2. In saucepan, make roux with flour and butter or vegetable oil.  Gradually add chicken broth and heat until thickened, stirring constantly.   Fold in 1/2 the drained green chillies and sour cream.   
3. Lay flour tortillas on cutting board and place 2 plus tablespoons on tortilla on the third part of the tortilla.   Roll the tortilla.   
4. Pour enough sauce in a greased 9X9 baking pan to cover bottom.  \
5. 
   

1. Place rolled tortillas seam side down in pan, sides touching. 
2. Pour remaining sauce over enchaladas. 
3. Top with extra cheese

Bake in. 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until tortillas are heated through.

** green chillies are in a small can .   Cheapest here at winco / winco brand .58
Chicken pieces are part of the bulk chicken cooking .   

Slow cooker split pea soup

Another well below five dollar dinner.    My mantra is that if you can do it on five bucks, it's not hard to spend more.   

1 lb split peas (.99 at GO) 

4 cups stock ( vegetable or chicken / homemade or boullion 

2 cups water 

1 /2 small onion, chopped or  1 tsp onion powder 

1 clove chopped garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder 

2 celery ribs including leaves, chopped 

2 carrots, chopped 

1 cup diced ham 

1. Sort peas looking for any foreign material (rocks?).  And rinse.  
2. Place in slow cooker or insta pot insert.  
3. Add 4 cups stock and 2 cups water. 
4. In food processer, chop onion, celery, carrot, and garlic 
5. Add chopped veggies to pot.  

Program slow cooker to low and 6-8 hours.  

1/2 hour before dinner, add the ham to heat through.   

Notes:  

I usually count how many hours it is from the time of the morning the soup is started until dinner 

time and et the slow cooker for that many hours.   

Ham cubes in a bag are inexpensive.   A bit over two dollars at winco here.    They are already chopped and ready to go .   You can use them on pizza, in scrambled eggs, or soups.   

Don't use the pressure cooker mode for split pea soup.   Its not advisable.   

MEAL PLANS FOR WEEK OF 8/21/17

MEAL PLAN 

• Breakfast for Dinner
• Pizza 
• Chicken enchaladas 
• Pork roast 
• BBQ pork sandwiches. 
• Split pea soup 
• Nacho casserole 

1. Blueberries are plentiful. Maybe blueberry waffles or pancakes , eggs, or a yougert parfait.  ( yogurt, fruit, granola.). Homemade granola is easy and not expensive (no preservatives ) 
2. Pizza is a winner in most families.   Mozzarella cheese continues to be low fat and inexpensive.  
3. Chicken enchaladas are easy, take little time and taste marvelous.  
4. Pork roast is from a pork loin.   Its easy to butcher yourself and saves a lot of money.   
5. BBQ pork sandwiches are planned over from the roast.  Slice thin, and heat in BBQ sauce.   Use hamburger buns. 
6. Split pea soup is a healthy meal with vegetables and takes almost no hands on time.   A cheezy bread is a good thing to go with.  
7. Nacho  cassarole is a hit and another quick meal ....scratch if you prep ahead.    

the ultimate comfort food : without the can

Tomato soup

2 cups milk
1 can diced tomatoes , undrained
1/2 cup sour cream
Basil
Salt and pepper

Place all ingredients in blender and combine.
Pour into a saucepan and heat through.  

There are all kinds of toasted cheese on steroids recipes on the internet to take the basics up a notch.  Swap out different cheeses and breads.

Insta pot chicken soup

Chicken soup

1 small boneless skinless chicken breast , cut into 1 inch cube
1 chopped carrot
1 celery rib with leaves, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 tsp onion powder

Turn insta pot on sauté mode and sauté the chicken, carrot and celery in a little olive oil.  
Add the other ingredients and turn the pot off.  Cover the insta pot, lock and seal.   Turn the pot on our mode for 12 minutes.  

Garnish soup with parmesean cheese , croutons, an/or chopped parsley.  

Recipe German pork loin

German pork loin

1-2lb  pork loin roast
1 can saurcraut, rinsed and drained
3 carrots, washed, peeled, and cut in quarters
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 large Granny Smith apples, washed, peeled,and cut into quarters and covered with water.

1. Cut roast in half if needed to fit in slow cooker ,
2. In a large bowl, combine rinsed and drained sauerkraut, carrots, vegetable juice.
3. Pour saurcraut mixture over roast. 
4. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. 
5. Add apples on top. 
6. Cook an additional 2-21/2 hours or until roast measures 169 degrees.  

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1/2 cup pecans
1T butter
1T brown sugar.

Melt butter in non stick pan.   Add brown sugar.   Add nuts and cook 2-3 minutes.   Pour out onto a sheet of parchment or a silicone mat.


Salad
10 ounce package of torn spinach leaves.  
1 cup fresh strawberries. Halved.
1/4 cup of pecans.

Toss Salad and dress with balsamic vinaigrette or strawberry vinaigrette.  

Notes:
Nuts can be purchased in bulk often times cheaper than in packages.   The bulk isle has more turnover so they are likely to be fresher too.  

Salad dressings are on coupon and sale often. Pairing a sale with a coupon brings the cost of a salad dressing to a reasonable amount.   Some salad dressings are cheaper to make at home in small quantities.   Some take specialty ingredients that makes it cheaper to buy the bottle of dressing on sale with a coupon.  

At this writing, strawberries are selling for 1.00 to 1.25 a pound package.   I got spinach for a dollar a couple of weeks ago.  

Tomato vegetable soup on the fly

Soup is one of those easy or not so easy meals that is usually inexpensive, comforting on a dreary day, and uses the slow cooker or slow cooker button on the insta pot well.   

Yesterday's vegetable soup.  

• 2 cans of diced tomatoes (non bpa can from Safeways.  ) 
• 1 can white beans , drained 
• 1 can chilli beans, undrained 
• 1 package dried vegetables (purchased at GO for a dime) 
• 1 T tomato powder 
• Parsley and onion powder 
• Quarter of a cup each of dried carrots and celery. 
• 4 cups water 

Dump ingredients in slow cooker and program for as many hours as you have before dinner.    

Everything is cooked, so you just need to meld the flavors and make the house smell wonderful. 

Serve with grated parm garnish.   

I made rice pudding afterwards. Another way to beef up the protein.    

Meal plans for week of 8/14/17

Meal plans for no spend month.

1. Chicken strips, french fries, veggie or fruit 
2. Pizza
3. Sausage and peppers
4. Mac and cheese, peas and carrots. 
5. Tuna casserole, honey ginger carrots 
6. Beef vegetable soup , rolls or cheese bread 
7. Breakfast for dinner. 

Notes

1. Homemade chicken strips , frozen french fries, 
2. Pizza is always a favorite around here.   Granddaughter loves to make it.  
3. Sausage and peppers can be made in the oven, or on the stove in a skillet. 
4. Homemade mac and cheese. Start with cream soup base.  Add cheese.  Frozen peas and carrots. 
5. Tuna casserole starts with cream soup base and noodles.  Boil carrot coins and make a honey ginger saucce.  
6. Beef vegetable soup in a slow cooker or insta pot.   Tomato bouillon beefs up the flavor and adds nutrition.   
7. We love breakfast for dinner and it can  be economical or not.   Eating a mid day meal on a Sunday and a more light meal in the evening works.    

Rice Pudding

What to do with leftover rice.


Rice Pudding:   Serves 4

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 T melted butter
1 tap lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Combine in medium sized baking dish , greased
Fold in :
2 cups cooked white rice
1/3 cup dried blueberries, or dried cranberries

Sprinkle top with :
Brown sugar
Cinnamon

Bake at 325 degrees for an hour or until set.


Note: When having something like a salad for dinner, adding a hearty desert provides a carb and balances the meal.   This is a desert that you can have in your mind for a pantry desert.   Most ingredients are things that you have as basic ingredients.  

Turkey sausage

Sausage without the guilt of preservatives


1 pound ground turkey
1 tsp sage
1/4 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Dash nutmeg

Mix together .

To make patties add 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (homemade ) and an egg.  Wet hands and form patties .

Note:  some of these spices are not your typical spices in your pantry.   Spices can be bought in small quantities in the bulk isle of your grocers.   Here, winco is the best prices.

Chicken and sausage stew

1/2 lb chicken breasts(s)

1/2 lb rope sausage , cut into chunks 

1/4 cup chopped onion 

1 -4 ounce can of diced greeen chillies 

1 can diced tomatoes 

2 cups kidney beans cooked 

1-3/4 cups chicken broth 

6 ounces of tomato paste 

1T taco seasoning 

Pinch red pepper flakes if desired.   

Insta pot instructions :    

Cook chicken breasts according to insta pot directions. 

Cook beans (1 cup raw ) according to instant pot directions or substitute a can of drained beans. 

Place all ingredients but the meats in the empty pot.   Program to sauté just long enough to bring the ingredient to a boil.   Shut off the sauté function, add the meats , and set the pot to slow cook.   Cook for 30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.   

Or

In Dutch oven, with a small amount of olive oil, cook chicken breasts.  Remove chicken.  Add olive oil to pan and cook the onion .   Add the rest of the ingredients and the meats.  Bring to boil and reduce heat to a simmer.   Simmer 30 mnutes or until the sauce has thickened.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Parmesean biscuits

.....a good addition to a soup or salad dinner.  Sometimes its the little additions that make a meal special.   

Baking mix recipe is on  janegrocerysavy.blogspot.com   Its better because it has no hydrogenated oil.   

2-1/4 cups baking mix 

2/3 cup milk 

1/4 cup grated parmesean plus additional for topping. 

1 Tbls  parsley 

3 tbls EVOO

Sea salt 

Combine the 

Mix 

Milk 

Parmesean cheese 

Parsley 

In a medium sized bowl. 

Prepare a baking sheet with parachment paper or spray with cooking spray.   

Set oven to 450 degrees 

Drop biscuits by spoonful  onto cookie sheet.  

Brush wtth EVOO and sprinkle with parmesean cheese.   

Bake 8-10 minutes or until browned.

Chicken with Rosemary butter sauce.

Chicken breast is lower in fat than dark meat chicken.

4 half chicken breasts **

2T butter
1/4 cup mushrooms
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp rosemary

1. Place chicken breasts in insta pot on rack..  add 1-1/2 cup water.  Place lid on  insta pot and turn lever to seal.   Push the poultry button.  
2. When done, check the chicken to be sure it is fully cooked.   180 degrees and no longer pink. 
3. Sauté mushrooms in 1T butter.  
4. Remove from pan when done
5. Deglaze the pan with the chicken stock 
6. Add milk and heat through. 
7. Place chicken breasts and mushrooms back in pan.  
8. Add rosemary and remaining butter.   
9. Serve with rice and a vegetable or salad. 

** OR THREE FOR THE PROVERBIAL  FAMILY OF FOUR ( 2 adults and 2 school age chldren )

If you don't have a insta pot , you can poach the chickens in a microwave or cook them on the stove.  

I used less chicken because there are only three of us and granddaughter is a little eater.   I needed to thicken the sauce a little with some cream soup base slurry.  

Meal Plans for week of 8/7 /17

Meal Plans

1. Cube steaks, loaded baked potatoes,salad 
2. Pizza
3. Breakfast for dinner 
4. Chicken in rosemary butter sauce , rice mix, veggies 
5. Salmon patties. Rice, veggies 
6. Tostadas 
7. Sausage quiche 

1. Cube steaks were bought on a bogo. 
2. Pizza continues to be a favorite and is 1.03 to make .
3. Breakfast for dinner opens up many possibilities , 
4. Chicken breasts were 1.50 last time.   Sometimes they are as low as .88
5. Salmon -patties from costco canned salmon
6. Meat, cheese, tomato,lettuce, olives 
7. Sausage quiche is a favorite here and the sausage was free.    That makes the dish 53 cents.   

Stuffed zucchini boats

This is the season for zucchini .   My FIL used to joke that when the doorbell rang, it could be someone with a drop and run of a bag of zucchini.   LOL.  

Homegrown zucchini is my definination organic and usually larger than the store bought version--just  ripe for stuffing.

2 medium or on large zucchini slice  lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.   Turn upside down and drain on paper towel or a clean kitchen towel.

Cook 1/2 a pound of sausage until no longer pink.   Drain and de-fat.   Crumble.  

Cook 1 cup of rice mix with 1 cup water in the insta pot.

Mix cooked sausage with cooked rice and add

1 cup petite diced tomatoes , drained, reserving juice.
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
Check the consistency of the filling.  Add juice if necessary to spread filling in boats.  

Fill drained zucchini boats with filling. Place in greased baking pan sides touching.  

Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 mnutes or until done.   Time will vary depending on how large your zucchini is .  Top with 1/4 cup grated cheese and parsley.   Shut the oven door 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  

Serve with a vegetable or salad.  

Creamy chicken penne

We eat first with our eyes.  The creamy goodness of this dish is just sooo inviting .

1-1/2 cups dry penne pasta, cooked 

1 large or two small chicken breasts

1/2 cup frozen Peas 

 3 strips sweet  Red pepper 

 1 clove of Garlic, minced 

1 batch of cream soup base, cooked.   

1/2 cup parmesan cheese 

Parsley or celery tops to garnish. 

1. Put pasta on to cook.   Meantime cook chicken breast in the insta pot .   Place chicken breast on rack n the bottom of the pot.   Add 1.5 cups of water ,  place the lid on the pot and turn the vent to seal.   Push the poultry button.    You can cook the chicken from frozen.  Adjust time for thawed chicken by half.   Always check chicken for doneness :  no longer pink an 180 degrees.  
2. While pasta and chicken cook. Chop red pepper into 1/4 inch pieces.and add to peas.  
3. Make 1 batch cream soup base.   Add garlic.   
4. When the pasta is done, drain and add to a baking dish .  
5. Add chicken that has been.cut into cubes peas, and the cooked soup base.  
6. Toss and add parmesean  to the top with the parsley.   

Serve with broccoli or green beans .  French bread is a good addition.   

Serves 4

Impossible tomato pie

Just found a recipe for tomato pie.    I had never heard of it before.  

It had a pie crust with bacon in it and a tomato filling.    

Turning it into a impossible pie would cut the lard in the pie crust and make it faster.   

Grease a 9X9 baking pan. 

Layer :  

Mozzarella cheese, grated 

Sliced tomatoes that have been salted and drained on a paper towel.  Seeds need to be removed so your pie isn't wet.  

Parsley and basil 

Garlic chopped 

Parm cheese

Bacon crumbles are an option 

Repeat another layer.   

Make standard impossible pie recipe 

1/2 cup bisquick 

1 cup milk 

2 eggs.  

Pour over fillling and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  

Serve warm with field green salad.   

Cheddar bread

Cheddar bread....a good companion to a soup that may be a bit sparse on the protein.  

2cups regular flour 

1 T plus 1 tsp baking powder

1T sugar 

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp italian seasoning 

1/4 tsp dry mustard

4 ounces of cheddar cheese, shredded 

1 egg, beaten 

1 cup milk 

1T melted butter.   

Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Mix wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. Using a two cup glass measure saves dishes.   

Fold wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. 

Fold in cheese.   Cheese will 'float' better if you pull a tablespoon or so of the flour and mix with the shredded cheese.   

Pour into greased 8 X4 loaf pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until it tests done.   A cake tester comes out clean or until the bread is 200 degrees when tested with the gun thermometer.  The top of the bread should spring back when touched lightly.  

Tuna potato chowder

Tuna Potato chowder 

1/4 cup chopped onion 

1/4 cup chopped celery 

2 t or enough olive oil to sauté. 

Add cream soup base and water and wisk until incorporated and thick.   (Coat the back of a spoon) 

1/3 cup cream soup base plus 1-1/4 cup water.   

Add: 

3 cups milk 

1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes 

Cook until thorally heated.   Add more milk to thin if needed.   

Add 1 can tuna that has been well drained and flaked.  Heat through 

Garnish with green onions, parm cheese or croutons.  

Cream soup base is cheaper a has nothing in it you can't  pronounce.   

The mashed potato flakes act as a thickener.   You could substitute a tablespoon or two of leftover mashed potatoes if you dont have instant.   

Better: because there is almost no preservative 

Cheaper : because you aren't using it canned ingredients. 

Faster:  because its a one pot meal  with few ingredients.  

Serve it wth a quick bread or cheezy biscuits.