Filling Meals for Lean Times

We all know times can be tough.  Sometimes it's all we can do to make it to the next payday.  So what do you do when you are low on groceries, have a large family to feed, and its a week til payday?

YOU GET CREATIVE!

Hopefully you have some basics on hand to make things from.  It may not be the most exciting food you'll ever eat, but you will eat.

Here are a few things you can make.

Soup

Soups can be very good and very filling depending on the type you make.  If you have a few basics on hand you can make several different kinds for very little money.

• Vegetable barley (with meat if you have it)
• potato soup (keep powdered milk on hand so you can have cream soup.  You could also use powdered plain coffee creamer in a pinch ;) )
• Bean soup (keep you ham hocks from ham dinners for added flavor and bits of meat in your bean soup)
• Chili (with or without meat)
• Vegetable rice soup
• noodle soup (with or without meat)

There are many other soups you could try.  You could even turn leftovers into a hearty delicious soup with a little imagination.

Casserole

Casseroles are another way to stretch meals to feed a lot of people.  You don't need to use as much meat because its going to be chopped up and everyone will get a little.  Just the other day I used one chicken breast to make an entire chicken and rice casserole that will easily feed my whole family!

• Chicken and rice
• Chicken noodle
• Tuna noodle
• Asian beef noodle
• vegetable rice

Just use whatever you have on hand.  I like to add a meat, vegetable, and starch.  I will often times add a can of cream soup and cheese if I have it. 

Stir Fry

Stir fry is a really easy option.  Just take whatever vegetables you have on hand, add some leftover meat sliced this, add a couple of bags of cooked and drained ramen, and add soy sauce.  It may not be authentic but it will taste good and you will have supper for your whole crew that won't cost hardly anything!!!

Well there you go.  A few ideas to get you started.  I will be posting some recipes for these kinds of dinners in future posts.  

Keep coming back for more money saving ideas!!

Amanda