`Tis the Season for Soup - Cheeseburger Soup Recipe

This soup is hearty enough to be a meal and is always a hit with the kids!  Serve with rolls, biscuits or crackers and maybe a salad on the side.  It makes quite a bit and is great for reheating or lunches.  A nice warm soup is perfect for taking off the chill of these sub-freezing days we get `round these parts.

Cheeseburger Soup:



1/2-1 pound of ground beef (depending on how filling you want it to be!)
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (optional)
3-4 cups chicken or beef broth (or half and half)

2-3 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbs butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
8 ounces American cheese, cubed

1/4 cup sour cream (optional)

Super Cheap Recipes - Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry Ramen... Yes, Ramen! :D

We all know the little packet that is Ramen Noodles, there are a few different brands out there, but no matter what, they are CHEAP!  Price Chopper has the six pack on sale for $1.  That's like $0.17 each.  The trick with Ramen is to NOT make it to the package directions.  LOL  There are all kinds of ways to make that salty package of Ramen into something much more healthy and satisfying.  Here's just one of a million great recipes out there:

Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry Ramen:

1 package beef or spicy beef ramen noodles
2 cups water
1 pound beef steak strips
2 teaspoons oil
2 cups broccoli, cut up
1 cup green onions, cut in strips
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

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Potato Time! - Easy (and Cheap!) Hash Browns

Talk about an all purpose food!  The potato can be so many things, and generally are pretty cheap to boot.  You can mash them, roast them, BBQ them, bake them, fry them, the options are endless!  They can stand alone and/or be used as an ingredient.  The following recipe is a super easy recipe, but it is written for only one serving, FYI.  Our local stores have been having BOGO sales on 5 lb bags of potatoes recently, so take advantage of that and add some potatoes to your menu!

Easy (and Cheap!) Hash Browns:

1 large potato — $0.40
1-2 tbsp butter (from $1.00 4 oz stick) — $0.13
(or 1-2 tbsp of oil or cooking spray)
salt, pepper — negligible

Total cost: $0.53

All Purpose Foods - Railroad Buns

I had these for the first time back in my early 20's when a roommate of mine at the time made them.  She used to make them with a roast chicken meal with mashed potatoes and veggies and salad.  I would have never thought to put these buns with a roast chicken, but now I can't eat a chicken meal without missing the Railroad Buns.  I named this All Purpose because you can make these for breakfast, brunch, snack, dinner, teatime treat, dessert... it pretty much fits anywhere!

Railroad Buns:

Bisquick baking mix (or you can use the refrigerated rolls, like the crescent rolls, if you have those)
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Butter or Margarine, softened to spreadable

Money Saving Meals - Japanese Stir-Fry

Stir Fry is always a cheap, easy and healthy meal.  We all know fresh veggies are at a premium up here in the North Country in the winter, so we make do with frozen veggies.  This recipe uses frozen and it tastes great in no time flat!

Japanese Stir-Fry:

4 cups brown rice

2 teaspoons canola oil

3/4 cup snow peas

1/4 cup Red onion, sliced

1 (16 oz.) bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

1 cup shredded cabbage

1 dash sesame oil, to taste

Money Saving Meals - Easy Calzone with Vegetables

I love making Stromboli and Calzones, they are quick and easy, and can be filled with whatever floats your boat.  ;)  You can custom-build one for each family member, it's great!  Hubby loves mushrooms and onions, DD and I do NOT.  So he gets one loaded with meat and his precious mushrooms and onions, and DD and I get the non-fungus version.  hehe

Easy Calzone with Vegetables:

1 each (16 oz.) pizza crust dough ball

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 (12 oz.) bag Frozen mixed vegetables

3 cups chopped frozen broccoli, cooked

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup pizza sauce

Money Saving Meals - Chili Pepper Beef Burritos in the Slow Cooker

I adore my crock pot.  You can cook anything in a crock pot!  LOL  Well, almost anything...  This recipe is perfect when you don't want to mess with dinner all evening, but want an awesome meal.  Just load up the crock pot in the morning, a few minutes of prep before serving, and *poof* dinner!

Chili Pepper Beef Burritos in the Slow Cooker:

2- 3 lbs beef roast

1 each (7.75 oz.) can diced green chilies

1 each small onion, diced

1 each green pepper, seeded and diced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

8 each tortillas

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

1 each vine-,-ripe tomato, diced

1 scoop low-fat sour cream (Optional garnish)

Money Saving Meals - Chicken with Tortellini and Broccoli

This is another quick meal that tastes great on these cold winter nights AND in the middle of summer.  And you can substitute frozen broccoli if you need to, it still works!

Chicken with Tortellini and Broccoli:

2 tablespoons Olive oil

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice (one lemon)

1 10 oz Cooked chicken breast, cut into pieces

1 16 oz frozen cheese tortellini

1 lb Fresh broccoli, cut into florets

2/3 cup Italian blend shredded cheese

Money Saving Meals - Beef and Cheddar Subs with Cucumber Salad

This recipe is perfect for leftover pot roast!  Have a pot roast meal, and a night or two later have these awesome subs.  Two meals out of one!

Beef and Cheddar Subs with Cucumber Salad:

4 each sub rolls

6 slices cheddar cheese

2 1/2 lbs beef pot roast

1 each cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced

3 tablespoons balsamic dressing

Money Saving Meals - Asian Noodle Bowl

Talk about an easy meal!  24 minutes TOTAL from start to finish!  Cheap and easy, just the way I like it!  :)

Asian Noodle Bowl:

1 box whole wheat spaghetti

2 teaspoons canola oil

2 each Garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 lb bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

3/4 cup Water

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup Chopped roasted peanuts