Low-Budget Meals

What are some of your favorite delicious-but-dollar-stretching meals? Feel free to share recipes!

"Garbage Soup -- Sounds awful, but tastes really good. When I cook, I generally have leftover vegetables. I save keep a container in my freezer for this purpose. I save all kinds of vegetables. When the container is full, I thaw, place in a large pot, add whatever spices suit my fancy, maybe a soup bone or the like, add a couple of diced potatoes, some water, a handful of macaroni, and VOILA! Garbage soup! I serve with cornbread or crackers. My family loves it and they've NO IDEA they're eating leftovers!" ~ Gracie

"The Spaghetti Pie submitted by Kristine Bolstridge

This is one of our all-time favorite meals:

1. Lightly grease bottom layer of 9x9 casserole dish.
2. Mix together:
* 2-4 cups cooked spaghetti or any pasta (we usually use leftover!)
* 1-2 egg(s) beaten - to coat all of the pasta
* Salt & pepper to taste
* Optional: add small amount of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese

3. Spread evenly on bottom of greased casserole dish.
Optional: Layer evenly on top of pasta (choose 1 or more or none if you don't have it available!): 
* Cook, scramble, and drain fat from choice of ground meat
* Lightly fry peeled and sliced eggplant or zucchini
* Canned or fresh mushrooms
* BE CREATIVE!

4. Spread 26-28oz of spaghetti sauce evenly over the pasta.
5. Sprinkle thin layer of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese top.
6. Cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until cheese melts.

Recommended accompaniments:
* Homemade bread (we now use a bread maker for the need-it-quick times)
* Tossed Salad

I have shared this recipe and prepared this recipe repeatedly and have always received rave reviews not just for its delicious flavor, but obviously for its simplicity, its versatility, and even its nutritional value. A great change from 'Spaghetti again?'"

"I remember when my husband was laid off for about a year (aerospace job). I got all of us together and we discussed ways to make ends meet. The first things I did was 'lunch for dinner'. We had popcorn and milk or iced tea for lunch, sandwiches (egg salad, tuna, bologna and cheese, a 5lb ham sliced for sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly, a piece of fruit and chips bough in the large economy bag), milk or iced tea for dinner. My hubby and I got housecleaning jobs and my kids earned money cleaning my house. Believe it or not, we became very close, pulling together at this time. Some of my kids are married and when they need to save money, they have lunch for dinner." ~ Pat. V.

"I just love to cook and will take a whole chicken and see just how many meals I can create from one bird. I place the chicken and lots of spices in my slow cooker. This cooks the chicken and also gives you lots of chicken broth. I can make a vegetable soup from leftover vegetables, chicken broth, water, more spices, and part of the chicken meat. With the balance of the chicken meat I can create Chicken Pot pie or Chicken salad or Chicken and Yellow rice. I usually only get 2 meals out of one bird, but these 2 meals go a long way to fill us up." ~ Terri

"Boil pasta until just slightly hard (al dente). Mince garlic and saute in garlic oil just until it becomes somewhat translucent. Spoon over pasta and serve." ~ Mr. Lubrano

Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share his or her ideas!