Being a single mom with not much money on hand, I had to come up with ways to feed us without breaking the bank. After working all day these quick and easy recipes are not only delicious, but also easy to prepare. So forget the fast food, and make delicious inexpensive meals at home. I have never measured any ingredients and just season to taste. Most spices I have only used about a teaspoon or so, depending on how much food I'm making.
Orzo Soup: (Feeds 4 to 5)
Ingredients needed: 1lb. box of Orzo Pasta
2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
Total cook time: 15 minutes
Follow the directions on the product labels to cook each item. When they are all ready mix them together and add some lemon juice to taste. Enjoy!
Chopped Meat & Mashed Potato Cake: (Feeds 4 to 5)
Ingredients: 1lb. chopped meat
1 package of instant mashed potatoes (of course you can use real mashed potatoes also)
Total cook time: approx 35 min.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a big bowl combine chopped meat with 2 eggs and spices that you enjoy. Personally I use bread crumbs, salt, pepper, Adobo, and onion, but you can use whatever you prefer. After all that is mixed up well, (Use your hands) then take the chopped meat and put it in a Pyrex pan or a small square cake pan. Form the meat so it completely covers the whole bottom of the pan. Bake in the oven at approx. 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Depending on how well done you prefer your chopped meat, you can cook for about 30 minutes. While that is cooking you can prepare the mashed potatoes. When the meat is to your liking, spoon the mashed potatoes over the chopped meat, forming your cake. Put back into the oven, and turn up the heat to about 425 degrees, and continue to cook for about 15 minutes. This will put a bit of a crust on the outside of the potatoes. Take from the oven after 15 min, and let sit for about 5 minutes, and then start cutting up your delicious cake. Everyone I have cooked this for loved it. Hope you do also!
Quick Chicken & Mushroom Stir Fry: (Feeds 4)
Ingredients: 1lb. boneless chicken breast
1 regular sized can of mushrooms (tastes great with fresh mushrooms also)
Total cook time: approx. 15 - 20 minutes
Cut boneless chicken into small pieces or strips. In a big bowl mix the chicken, and about 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (or any oil you prefer), and enough paprika to give the chicken a little color. I also throw in some salt and pepper to taste, and sesame seeds (can be found in any supermarket) Let the chicken sit on the side for a bit while we get the mushrooms ready.
In a frying pan brown the mushrooms with butter (I use I Can't Believe it's Not Butter), until they have a little color to them. Now add in your chicken mixture and fry both until chicken is cooked through (about 10 - 15 min.) Serve over rice or noodles, or just eat like that, which is what I do.
Muenster Circles: (Feeds 4)
Ingredients: 4 pita pocket bread
8 slices of Muenster cheese (use any cheese you prefer)
salad (make your own favorite salad using any lettuce and ingredients you like best)
Total cook time: approx. 15 minutes
Preheat oven to approx. 365 degrees. Take each pocket pita bread and separate it to create 2 circles of bread. Layer each one with 1 piece of Muenster cheese (use 2 slices if preferred) Pop them into the oven until the cheese is melted. Once the cheese is melted, add your salad right on top of the melted cheese and enjoy!
I will do my best to add a new recipe each week. Feel free to join our mailing list below.
Ingredients needed: 1lb. box of Orzo Pasta
2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup
Total cook time: 15 minutes
Follow the directions on the product labels to cook each item. When they are all ready mix them together and add some lemon juice to taste. Enjoy!
Chopped Meat & Mashed Potato Cake: (Feeds 4 to 5)
Ingredients: 1lb. chopped meat
1 package of instant mashed potatoes (of course you can use real mashed potatoes also)
Total cook time: approx 35 min.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a big bowl combine chopped meat with 2 eggs and spices that you enjoy. Personally I use bread crumbs, salt, pepper, Adobo, and onion, but you can use whatever you prefer. After all that is mixed up well, (Use your hands) then take the chopped meat and put it in a Pyrex pan or a small square cake pan. Form the meat so it completely covers the whole bottom of the pan. Bake in the oven at approx. 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Depending on how well done you prefer your chopped meat, you can cook for about 30 minutes. While that is cooking you can prepare the mashed potatoes. When the meat is to your liking, spoon the mashed potatoes over the chopped meat, forming your cake. Put back into the oven, and turn up the heat to about 425 degrees, and continue to cook for about 15 minutes. This will put a bit of a crust on the outside of the potatoes. Take from the oven after 15 min, and let sit for about 5 minutes, and then start cutting up your delicious cake. Everyone I have cooked this for loved it. Hope you do also!
Quick Chicken & Mushroom Stir Fry: (Feeds 4)
Ingredients: 1lb. boneless chicken breast
1 regular sized can of mushrooms (tastes great with fresh mushrooms also)
Total cook time: approx. 15 - 20 minutes
Cut boneless chicken into small pieces or strips. In a big bowl mix the chicken, and about 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (or any oil you prefer), and enough paprika to give the chicken a little color. I also throw in some salt and pepper to taste, and sesame seeds (can be found in any supermarket) Let the chicken sit on the side for a bit while we get the mushrooms ready.
In a frying pan brown the mushrooms with butter (I use I Can't Believe it's Not Butter), until they have a little color to them. Now add in your chicken mixture and fry both until chicken is cooked through (about 10 - 15 min.) Serve over rice or noodles, or just eat like that, which is what I do.
Muenster Circles: (Feeds 4)
Ingredients: 4 pita pocket bread
8 slices of Muenster cheese (use any cheese you prefer)
salad (make your own favorite salad using any lettuce and ingredients you like best)
Total cook time: approx. 15 minutes
Preheat oven to approx. 365 degrees. Take each pocket pita bread and separate it to create 2 circles of bread. Layer each one with 1 piece of Muenster cheese (use 2 slices if preferred) Pop them into the oven until the cheese is melted. Once the cheese is melted, add your salad right on top of the melted cheese and enjoy!
I will do my best to add a new recipe each week. Feel free to join our mailing list below.