Taco Tater Casserole

Buyer beware!  As I'm looking for meals and such, I'm paying even closer attention to prices.  I'm surprised at what I will find sometimes.  I have found some great deals, for example, butter, a week or so ago I found a 1/2 package (2 sticks) of butter for $.88!  This is a fantastic price since a full package is usually $1.99 for store brand and even more for the fancy brands.  I know that's a good deal.  But other deals look good but really aren't.  For example, buy 1 get one free.  Sometimes it's even buy 1 get 2 free.  Be knowledgeable about your prices because what the grocery stores will do here is tricky.  They jack the price per pound way up, so in reality, you're really not saving anything.  For example, the usual price for chicken breasts is $3.99 per pound, but when it's on a 2 for 1 sale, the price per pound is $7.49, you aren't saving anything.  So know your average, everyday prices then you'll know if you are truly saving.

So I picked this meal, thinking it would be an easy and inexpensive meal but I was told by the checker at the grocery store that there is a beef shortage and so hamburger prices are soaring.  I usually pay $1.99 per pound for 85/15 ground beef and now it's up to $3.49.  This is a recipe where the meat could easily be swapped out with ground turkey or ground pork or black beans, if that helps cut the cost.

So enjoy this comforting, easy casserole!

Taco Tater Casserole

Ingredients:

Tater Tots (1 pound bag)

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Cayenne

1 tbsp. Garlic powder

1 tbsp. Onion powder

1 tsp. Red Pepper flakes

1 can cheese soup

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheese

Broken up tortilla chips or tostada shells

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 375.

In a 9x13 pan, layer the bottom with the tots. 

On the stove in a pan, brown the hamburger over med. high heat.  Add the cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, & red pepper flakes, cook until brown all the way through.

While the hamburger is browning, heat the soup & milk up together in a sauce pan, stirring occasionally.

Once the meat is done, spread it evenly over the tots, then pour the cheese soup over the tots and meat.  Sprinkle the cheese on top of that. 

I like to add jalapenos to mine but you could also add olives and/or tomatoes.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the foil, add the crushed tortilla chips and bake for an addition 10 minutes.   Let sit for about 5 minutes and serve.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Price breakdown:

Tater tots (2 pound bag) - $2.29 (used 1/2 the bag = $1. 15) 

Ground beef - $3.49

Cheese soup - $1.99

Milk (1/2 gallon) - $2.69 (used 1 cup = $.34)

Cheese – $3.07 (used 1/2 of this = $1. 54)

Tostada shells -$2.29 (Used 4 @ $.10 ea. = $.40)

Total price - $8.91.  4 servings is $2.22
Of course adding jalapenos or whatever else will add to the cost but it's still a fairly  inexpensive and filling meal.

Enjoy!

Black bean and Jalapeno Tostadas

Know the prices of the foods you like.  Why? Well because then you'll know if something is a good deal. For example, I found a can of black beans for $.79 at my local drug store.  I usually pay anywhere from $.89 to $1.09 for a can of black beans, so this is a pretty good deal. 

The other note here is this, many places sell food, not just grocery stores.  So the next time your at the drug store buying deodorant and toothpaste, check out what food goods they have, you may just find your favorite item on sale. 

                    Black Bean and Jalapeno Tostadas

Ingredients:

1 15 oz. can black beans

1 jar of sliced jalapenos (use as many or as few as you want)

5 Tostada shells

1 cup shredded cheese (pick one you really like or what’s on sale)

Garnish with lettuce, tomato, onions, sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce, etc.

Directions:

Heat the beans and jalapenos together on the stove over med. high heat.  If you want a little spice use just a few jalapenos, if you want a lot of spice, use a lot of jalapenos.

While the beans are heating, turn the oven on to 375.

Once the beans are heated through (approx. 5 to 6 minutes), remove from heat and drain.  Place in a mixing bowl and smash the bean and jalapenos.  I used the back of a spoon but if you want more of a puree, put them in a food processor.  I prefer it chunky but smash until you have the desired texture.  Place the tostada shells on a cookie sheet. Spread this mixture evenly over the tostada shells (about ¼ cup per shell).  Sprinkle each with a little cheese, then bake for about 5 to 7 minutes – long enough for the cheese to melt.

Remove from the oven and garnish with lettuce, tomato, diced onions, sour cream, avocado/*guacamole, hot sauce, etc.

*Michelle’s guacamole

1 avocado 

1 tsp. each – onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin

½ tsp. each – cayenne powder & red pepper flakes

1 tbsp.  Lime juice

Chopped fresh cilantro (If I have it on hand, if I don’t, I leave it out.)

Cut the avocado into chunks, add all the other ingredients and mix together gently so that it stays chunky. 

Price break down:

Black beans - $.79

Jalapenos - $2.59

Tostada shells (package of 22) - $2.29/$.10 per shell

Cheese (I used block cheddar) - $3.07/used ½ of this - $1.54

Total for the base - $5.42, each one comes to $1.10

Lettuce - $1.99

Tomato (roma) - $.36

Onion - $.69

Sour Cream (1 pint) - $1.69

Avocado - $1.39

If you added all the garnishes, you could add $1.22 to each serving – Total for all $2.32 per serving.

Enjoy!

Mac n Cheese Carbonara

Many years ago, mac n cheese was something that came in a box - a cheap, easy, and quick meal.  Then one day, I had some life changing popcorn.  Hold on, I will get to the mac n cheese. A friend brought popcorn to work, it was buttery and cheesy and homemade.  It was delish, and so I asked him how he made it.  He said, "you know the cheese powder that comes in the mac n cheese boxes?". Well of course I do and then he told me that he uses that cheese to make his popcorn.  But wait, what do you do with the pasta?  You make mac n cheese but use REAL cheese.........mind blown, life forever changed.  From that day on, I have only made mac n cheese using real cheese.  In fact my son had no idea what the powdered cheese even tasted like, to him, it was always made with real, gooey, yummy cheese.  Another favorite meal in our house is a Shrimp Carbonara, so I decided to combine the two and make a cheap, easy and quick meal of mac n cheese carbonara.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
5 to 6 slices of bacon
1 box of mac n cheese
4 tbsp. butter (2 tbsp. solid and 2 tbsp. melted)
1/3 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheese (what ever kind you prefer; cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella or a blend)
2 cups frozen peas
1 cup bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425.  On a cookie sheet with sides, lay out the bacon slices (if you want easy clean up, line the pan with aluminium foil).  Bake the bacon for 18 to 20 minutes or until crispy.  While the bacon is baking, cook the noodles according to the box's directions.  Once the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot.  Add the solid butter and milk, stir until butter is melted.  Stir in 1/2 a cup of cheese and stir until melted, repeat until all the cheese has been added.  Then stir in the peas (don't thaw ahead of time).

The bacon should be done, removed from the oven, and cool enough to chop into bite sized pieces. DO NOT turn off the oven when you remove the bacon.  Add the bacon to the pasta.  Take all the pasta and put into an oven safe dish like a 9X13 inch pyrex pan or a cast iron pan.  Cover the pasta with the bread crumbs and drizzle with the melted butter. Put the pasta in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.  Then change the oven from bake to broil on medium high and brown the top of the pasta, about 5 to 6 minutes.  Please watch this as it can go from brown to burnt quite quickly.

Remove and enjoy! Makes about 5 servings.

Price break down: Prices bases on Albertson's
Bacon - $1.49 (1/2 pound)
Box of Mac n Cheese - $.89
Butter - $.88 (1/2 pound bought, 1/2 stick used) - $.22
Milk - $1.49 (quart) $.12 for 1/3 cup
Shredded Cheese - $2.99 
Frozen peas - $1.25
Bread crumbs - $1.99 (using about 1/2 of this) - $.99

Total is $7.95 and comes to $1.59 per serving.

Several of these prices are based on buying the store brand and looking for items that were on sale.

Don't forget to use the cheese packet to make some super yummy popcorn, you already have the butter so all you need is the popcorn.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Sometimes nothing satisfies your hunger like pizza.  In fact, I'm sure just the mention of it, brings to mind a favorite pie - the toppings, thin or thick crust, hot from the oven or next day cold from the fridge.  So after a conversation with my son about pizza the other day, I got to thinking about trying to find a way to enjoy a gourmet pie on a hungry, hungry college student budget.  I think I did well.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:
1 crust (I used an already made crust, but if you like the process, you can usually buy the dough and make it yourself)
1 cup *BBQ Sauce (any BBQ sauce will do)
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, split into 1 cup portions
1 pre-cooked chicken breast from the deli (I prefer roasted instead of breaded and deep fried) - remove the meat from  the bone and shred into bite sized pieces.
1 small onion, sliced
Bacon bits

Directions:
Place the crust on either a baking sheet or pizza stone. Start with evenly distributing the BBQ on the pizza crust.  Put 1 cup of the mozzarella on the pizza, then spread the chicken evenly.  Next goes the onion and the bacon bits.  Finish off with the remainder of the mozzarella.

Bake at 450 until the cheese is melted.  7 to 9 minutes.


*BBQ sauce - I like to spice up my BBQ sauce and here is how I do it.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup BBQ sauce, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. cayenne powder, 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes - put all of it in a food processor or blender and blend.  I use this instead of the BBQ sauce and it's SPICY!


Today's pricing is based on prices I found at Albertson's
Boboli Thin Crust - $4.79
BBQ sauce (generic) - $.99
Mozzarella (shredded) - $2.99
Deli chicken - $1.59
Onion - $.69
Bacon bits (8 oz.) - $2.99

Total - $14.04, 4 servings makes it $3.51 per serving.

To save $$, pizza dough (uncooked) is usually cheaper.  Buying your cheese in blocks and shredding it yourself (this is how we did it in the olden days - yes, I'm referring to my college days), will most likely be cheaper and you'll have some left over.  Also, if you go to the butcher section of your grocery store, you can buy just a few slices of bacon.  Last week bacon from the butcher was $2.99 a pound, even a half pound would be cheaper than buying it already cooked and crumbled.  Of course, all these options will take more time on your part but when money it tight, it's worth it.


*Spiced up BBQ Sauce (price break down, again, all based on prices found at Albertson's)
BBQ sauce - $.99
Lemon juice - $1.29 (small lemon looking squeeze container)
Canola oil - $2.99( 24 fl. oz - store brand)
Dijon mustard - $1.00 (12 oz. store brand)
1 can chipotle peppers in Adobo  $2.99
(hopefully you already have these spices on hand)
Total - spent $9.26 but you won't use up all of the ingredients and you may have some already on hand.  And there will be enough of the spicy BBQ to use on a pasta dish or meatball sandwich later in the week.

Enjoy!