Just because you have to eat cheap doesn't mean you can't eat good.
Cracker Barrel uses chuck roast for there pot roast. Generally inexpensive. When the store has it for $2ish a lb.(about once a month) I'll buy 2-3. You can put it in a crock pot for the day, with some onions, maybe some potatoes and carrots. Mmmmmmm. Makes good left overs too.
I buy russet potatoes on sale about once a month also, usually $2 for a 10# bag.
Pot roast and potatoes for 2 for about $2.50, maybe some left overs.
One of my favorite meals. Sliced boiled potatoes with 1 lb of fried ground beef with a little onion and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Another dish for about $2.50-$3 for 2 people. There is NEVER any leftovers with this.
Or 1 lb bag of egg noodles, 1 lb ground beef fried, 1 can cream of mush soup.
I buy by whats on sale, not what I feel hungry for. I find the best sales around the major holidays, and plan accordingly, and stock up.
Also do a scroogle.org search of "crock pot recipes". The internet is an awesome tool. :)
You shop like I do, it’s what’s on sale even when I can afford whatever. We have a Go grocery that has better meats than some other places, and the bread deals are great.
I add lots of soups to casseroles, crock pot meals etc.
SAUSAGE AND RICE CASSEROLE
1 lb sausage pkg (I prefer hot)
1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
saute until done with 1 chopped onion, drain
add to 3-4 cups cooked rice with 1 can CREAM OF CELERY SOUP
(1 1/2 c dry rice= 3 c. cooked rice)
Put in 6-8 cup casserole dish, sprinkle with either cheddar, mozzarella or cojack cheese bake until cheese melts...great stuff.
Serve with salad or green beans, it’s excellent.
They make a great whole wheat egg noodle now, and I love to take my Sam’s Club $4.95 roasted chicken carcass with leftover meat (hold back meat pcs), and make broth- drain out bones and strain, add good meat pieces and cook 1/2 bag of those noodles with it...with 1/4 tsp dry basil, rosemary, cumin and some garlic..great homemade soup.
I do look online for recipes and I found this Quiche recipe that’s great...but I modified it too.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
SPINACH MUSHROOM QUICHE
5 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 sm can sliced mushroom pcs
1 15-16 oz can spinach..drained very well (press out all water)
Use whisk to beat eggs and then add all other ingredients.
Pour into a baked, frozen pie shell and bake for 20 minutes, then add 2-3 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese and bake another 35-40 minutes until brown on top. Remove and let cool for at least 15 min before cutting...good cold too.