Frugal Meal Series: Minestrone Soup (Vegetarian) <$1 per serving

Welcome to my series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a few years ago, but with the current economy and inflation it has increased to about $80-100/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made Minestrone Soup

Total cost for entire recipe: $7.42

Total servings: 6-8

Cost per serving: $0.93

Price breakdown and recipe:

1 small onion, diced.........$0.25

4 carrots, peeled and chopped...........$1

5 celery stalks, chopped..........$1

1 can diced tomatoes......$0.89

1 can northern/cannellini beans (rinsed/drained)........$0.89

1 can kidney beans (rinsed/drained)......$0.89

1 jar spaghetti sauce (use your favorite flavor)........$1.50

2c broth (I used homemade which was free)

1c water

8oz dry small pasta (I used elbow).......$1

1tbs Italian seasoning

3 cloves minced garlic

s/p to taste

EVOO

*optional: dice and add other in season veggies like zucchini

Saute onions, carrots, and celery in evoo 5-10min. Add garlic and  seasonings, stir and cook for a minute then add everything else EXCEPT pasta. PRO TIP: Rinse tomato and sauce jars with a little water and add that to the pot for the last bits of flavor. Bring to a boil and simmer 15-20min or until carrots are tender. Should still be pretty liquidy at this point. Add dry pasta and stir to combine. Boil another 7-10min until pasta is just al dente and soup is much thicker. Turn off heat and add s/p for flavor then serve! Delicious with Parmesan sprinkled on top and some buttered bread.

Frugal Meal Series: Butter Bean Coconut Curry Over Rice (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free) $1 Per Serving!

Welcome to my series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a few years ago, but with the current economy and inflation it has increased to about $80-100/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made Butter Bean Curry

Total cost of meal for 4: $4.75

Cost per serving: $1.19

Price breakdown and recipe:

3c cooked butter beans with liquid....$0.50 (I cooked mine from dried, canned is more expensive for 2 cans)

2 medium onions, sliced thinly....$1

3tbs tomato paste (can sub for can of petite diced tomato)....$0.50

1 can coconut milk.....$1.75

4 servings cooked rice.....$1

1tbs curry powder

1/2tbs garam masala

1-2tsp salt (to taste)

1tsp coriander

1tbs minced garlic

If needed, start rice cooking first. Cook onion slices in skillet for approx 10min until starting to carmelize. Add minced garlic and all spices, reduce heat and mix well. Add beans/liquid, tomato paste, and coconut milk. Stir to mix, then bring to simmer. Cook on low for 5-10 min, adjust seasonings to taste. Serve over rice with optional naan, pita, or bread. A dollop of plain yogurt is extra delicious as well!

If you are new to curry dishes, this is a great frugal and healthy one to try. The recipe is very flexible, and you could even sub the coconut milk for whole milk to cut the cost way down! It is not spicy however you can add your favorite spicy spice to kick up the heat.

Already December!

Ok has the year flown by to everyone else?? Not just me?

November went by in a flash! Before winter set in I dug up the last batch of carrots from my garden (white, orange, yellow, and purple!) and tucked it in for a winter's nap.

My big guy got his first job!! For the city at the town office!! It started as volunteer community work for his school hours, then once he finished those he kept coming back for funsies because he liked doing the work! They held a meeting and the boss vouched for him and they squeezed him into the budget for 6hrs a week (he only has time to come after school). He is currently digitizing old documents and has his own office and key! We are SO proud of him. I helped him set up a checking account so that he can access his money and learn how to bank.

Both boys managed to pull off a nice school photo this year! Look how grown up they both are!!

For election night I made a bunch of finger foods and we all hung out together in the living room watching the live entertainment! What better way to learn the voting process?

Our old man kitty is still holding on strong and likes to nap on his perch.

My previous sourdough starter died over the summer when I was away too much to feed her, so I got another one from Etsy and she is alive and well! I named this one "Amy" and have already made a delicious sandwich loaf with it.

At one of my craft shows we won a raffle that came with all kinds of treats and baking items so the boys helped me make a ton of sugar cookies! We cut out (most) of the dough then they decorated each one. Despite Brad's uninterested expression, it was actually his idea to make them.

Nick and I snuck away one afternoon for a lunch date and shopping on Black Friday!

And once we FINALLY got snow I got out for a chill 3 mile hike with a friend.

Thanks for reading! Hope your holidays are merry and full of family.

Frugal Meal Series: Easy Tuna Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80-90/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made Tuna Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Total cost of meal for 4: $3.64

Cost per serving: $0.91

Price breakdown:

4oz shredded cheddar: $1

1 box macaroni and cheese: 0.50

1 can cream of mushroom: 0.75

1 can tuna: 0.89

1c frozen peas: 0.50

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare box of mac and cheese. Drain tuna and add remaining ingredients, mix well and top with shredded cheddar then bake in 8x8 dish for 15-20 min until heated thru and golden on top.

As you can see this is a super cheap and easy recipe that is a favorite for kids and parents alike! We love this one on a slow weekend day or for a quick lunch for the kids. You can double the recipe to make even more, or add on sides to make dinner go farther.

Frugal Meal Series: French Onion Chicken Casserole

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80-90/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made French Onion Chicken Casserole (approx 6+ servings)

Total cost of meal for 4: $5.52

Cost per serving: $1.38

Price breakdown (for entire casserole):

4c cooked brown rice: $0.75

2c diced cooked chicken: $2.50

1c French Onion dip: $1

1 can cream of chicken: $0.75

1c shredded cheddar: $2

1/2c chicken broth: $0.25

1/2c french fried onions: $1 

Recipe found HERE.

This delicious casserole was an easy and filling way for us to use up some leftover Thanksgiving turkey! Otherwise you can use 1 large chicken breast for it. After your rice is cooked (the recipe calls for instant but I use regular brown rice) it throws together very quickly and is hot and ready out of the oven. You can pair it with many yummy sides, I usually do steamed veggies. Depending on your portion sizes, this can easily serve 6 or more people. For the 4 of us we have seconds, and usually a bit leftover. If you like the taste of french onion dip, I highly recommend!

Frugal Meal Series: Big Mac Salad

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80-90/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made Big Mac salad

Total cost of meal for 4: $6.75

Cost per serving: $1.69

Price breakdown:

1 head of green leaf lettuce: $1.75

1lb of ground turkey: $3

1 cup shredded cheddar: $1

1/2 bottle Thousand Island dressing: $1

A simple but filling dinner that is also healthy and low in simple carbs. Cook your ground meat with your favorite seasonings (s/p/garlic), then sprinkle that over lettuce. Top with cheese and optional diced pickles and of course some thousand island dressing for a new take on an old classic without the bun. Serve with crackers, bread, or rolls if you prefer.

Frugal Meal Series: Southwest Baked Chicken and Spanish Rice

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5-7 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80-90/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made Southwest Baked Chicken with a side of Spanish Rice

Total cost of meal for 4: $7.75

Cost per serving: $1.94

Click here for inspiration recipe I based this on!

Price breakdown:

2 boneless chicken breast, cut in half lengthwise: ~$4

1 can of black beans: $0.65 (I make mine homemade so my actual price is a bit less)

1c of frozen corn: $0.50

1 can of Rotel: $0.60

1/2c shredded cheddar: $1

1 bag Spanish Rice side mix: $1 (I make mine homemade for much cheaper!)

spices/seasonings/optional toppings

This is a flavorful and simple recipe to throw together on a busy night! It's very flexible for what ingredients you have and like, and you can get your total cost down even more by making what you can from scratch. For a long time I was able to buy my boneless chicken breast for only $1.89/lb, but within the last year that price has increased 48% to $2.79/lb! Any time I buy meat I try to make it stretch as much as I can.

Frugal Meal Series: Black Bean Quesadillas and Refried Beans (Vegetarian)

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items (based on current prices in western NY), but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made black bean quesadillas with chips and homemade refried beans.

Total cost of meal for 4: $5.10

Cost per serving: $1.28

Click here for the recipe for homemade refried beans made in the crockpot

Price breakdown:

1 can of black beans: 0.75 (I make mine homemade, so my actual price is lower)

1 bag of shredded cheddar: $2.25

1/2 bag tortilla chips: $1

1 can fat free refried beans: 0.60 (I make mine homemade using the recipe linked above, so my actual price is lower)

4 large tortillas: 0.50

These simple black bean and cheese quesadillas are a big hit for a quick dinner here. I usually just add chili powder, but this time I had some leftover diced bell pepper so I threw those in as well. Chips and dip are a quick and easy side. If you have sour cream and avocados you can add those as well! The sky is the limit. I usually make extra to send for school lunches as well.

Frugal Meal Series: Black Bean Burgers and Sides

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items, but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For this meal I made homemade black bean burgers with homemade pasta salad and some chips.

Total cost of meal for 4: $4

Cost per serving: $1

Click here for recipe for homemade EASY black bean burgers!

Click here for recipe for homemade deli pasta salad

Price Breakdown:

Can of black beans 0.75 + ingredients to make burgers 0.25: $1

1/2 pack of hamburger buns: 0.50

1/2 bag of chips: $1

1/2 recipe of pasta salad: $1.50

You can alter these recipes as you like. For the burgers I like to add cheese and I eat mine without a bun. The pasta salad is very versatile as well--I did not have celery so I add some leftover roasted red peppers and fresh bell peppers. The burger recipe makes 4 average size patties so you will have leftover buns from the pack of 8 to use elsewhere, or you can double the recipe to make 8 patties and save for leftovers. The full pasta salad recipe makes a ton, so for this dinner we barely ate half with a lot of leftovers. These burgers are on repeat at my house as they are quick, easy, cheap, and healthy! Definitely a rare combination.

Frugal Meal Series: Steamed Cabbage and Smoked Beef Sausage

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items, but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For today's meal we had steamed cabbage with roasted beef sausage.

Total cost of meal for 4: $6

Cost per serving: $1.50

Price breakdown:

1 pack smoked beef sausage (Aldi): $3.50

1 small head cabbage: $2

1 large onion: 0.50

seasonings + oil

This was our healthy and Irish-inspired meal for St Patrick's Day. I diced the entire head of cabbage and 1 onion to saute in a pan until tender with a bit of oil and seasonings. The sausage I sliced into thirds, then those into halves for a total of 6 slices that I roasted in my toaster oven. Each child got 1 slice and the adults each got 2 slices. There was lots of cabbage leftover for another meal, so that cost could easily be cut in half to lower the actual cost per serving.

Frugal Meal Series: Porkchops

Welcome to my new series aimed at helping families on a budget with some new and cost effective ideas for meals! I aim for around $5 per meal while trying to highlight dishes from scratch, meatless options, common ingredients, and whole grains. My typical weekly grocery bill for 4 was $50-60 just a couple years ago, but with the current economy it has increased to about $80/week. This series shows you my average family dinners including cost breakdown, links to recipes, and other details to help inspire you!

Step 1 of saving money on your grocery bill is to MAKE A MENU! Once a week I sit down and write out a dinner menu for the next 7 days. I take into account what I have in the freezer, what our schedule is like for that week, what the weather is (hot/cold), and any leftovers. It also stops everyone from asking "What's for dinner??" From this you can easily make your shopping list to only get the items you need while keeping an eye out for any markdowns/clearance items you can stick in the freezer for a different meal. I do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi as I find that they have the best prices on most items. For a few other remaining items I go to Walmart.

Some meals I make are easy, some are more complicated. I mostly stick to tried and true dishes that I know everyone likes, but occasionally I like to try out a new one and experiment! I cook many style from American to Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and lots of Tex Mex. Variety is the spice of life!

For my cost breakdowns I will show real or estimated prices of items, but I don't include typical pantry ingredients i.e. spices/oil/butter/milk etc. unless it's a significant amount.

For today's meal we had porkchops, dressing, and corn.

Total meal cost for 4: $6.79

Cost per serving: $1.70

Price breakdown:

Pack of 4 thick boneless porkchop (Aldi): $4.79

Box of herb dressing mix: $1

1lb bag of frozen corn: $1

This was a simple but filling meal that fed all 4 people with no leftovers. Preparation time was approx 30 min. The dressing mix was a box preparation that needed water and butter. The corn was steamed and I added butter and salt. The porkchops were seasoned with steak seasoning.

Afternoon at the Strong Museum of Play

Last weekend I took my boys and a friend of Brad's to the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. My job had a promotion for the month for free entry, so I took advantage since we had never been there!

It was a great museum focused on interactive exhibits about everything from toys, fairy tales, and science. The kids were able to run free and explore all over! We ended up being there for about 3 hours.