Meal #1) Moujadra - This is a Lebanese dish consisting of lentils and rice topped with crispy onions.
Cook 1 cup green or brown lentils according to package.
At the same time, cook 1/4 cup brown basmati rice with 1 tsp ground cumin in water according to package.
Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a pan and add 1 large onion, sliced thinly.
Fry til brown and crispy.
Combine cooked lentils and rice.
Top with crispy onions and salt and pepper to taste.
Total cost for this dish: lentils $.
60; rice $.
20; cumin $.
05; onion $.
40 = $1.
25.
Our family likes to have 1/2 cup of crispy fried onions per person.
See what your family likes.
This is definitely one of our favorite easy cheap recipes.
Meal #2) Dad's Concoction - This meal was my Dad's concoction when we were kids.
Now my family is enjoying it too.
Combine the following in a pot and heat just to warm up: 2 cans pork & beans, 2 cans pasta in tomato sauce (we used canned spaghetti), 1 cup of cooked sausage scramble-fried with chopped onions or celery or both.
Serve on slices of thick buttered toast.
Total cost for this dish: pork & beans $1.
40.
Pasta $1.
50 Sausage and onions $.
90 Bread $1.
00 = $4.
80.
This recipe is a little low in the vegetable food group, so make sure your side is a vegetable.
This is our family's second favorite easy cheap recipe.
Meal #3) Ramen Noodle Stir-Fry - Cook 4 packages of ramen soup noodles and drain.
Meanwhile, steam 2-3 cups frozen mixed vegetables or saute fresh raw vegetables until tender in a little oil.
Scramble 2-4 eggs with chopped onion, dry parsley and minced garlic.
Add all together and toss with oyster sauce, soya sauce, or a little catalina salad dressing.
If you like yours spicy, sprinkle in 1 of the seasoning packets from the soup.
This is our family's third favorite easy cheap recipe.
Total cost for this dish: soup $1.
00; vegetables $1.
00; eggs $.
35; onion, parsley and garlic $.
25 = $2.
60.
It is important these days to be able to put quick, easy, cheap meals on the table for yourself and your family.