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Dutch Oven Pulled Beef with Onions – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:30:00 +0000

This is one of those “oops…I forgot to start the slow cooker” meals! I had the roast, I had planned to slow cook the roast. (This is the meal I was intending to make!)

But I forgot to put my slow cooker on the counter the night before…so I completely forgot to get our dinner started.

I’ve learned that about myself over the past few years…if I can have a “clue” out on the counter about dinner, then it’s much easier for me to fit dinner prep into my afternoon, early evening schedule. As I dance in and out of the kitchen throughout the day, I spot the “clue” and that helps me formulate my plan for when to start (and usually photograph) our meal. This has really helped me avoid the whole “open-the-fridge-at-5pm-and-wonder-what’s-for-dinner” thing!

Sometimes the “clue” is a can of tomatoes and spices. Other times it’s a box or package of pasta. Occasionally the bread machine (yay for homemade pizza dough!). And this time it was supposed to be the slow cooker. So I’d remember to start dinner, right after breakfast. Doh.

Thankfully, the Dutch oven works as a wonderful backup to the slow cooker.

Braise the roast, toss it into the Dutch oven with a bunch of onions and let it cook over low heat for 2 hours. Instead of 8!

We enjoyed this beef with some Sister Schubert’s rolls and frozen vegetables! (Sister Schubert’s $.50/1 coupon, and other Sister Schubert’s coupons!)

Note: My never pay more than price for a chuck roast is $2.49/lb.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Dutch Oven Beef Roast with Onions
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 2 hours
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil ($.10)
1 ~1.25 lb. beef chuck roast ($3.26)
4 small white onions ($.80)
2 Tbsp brown sugar ($.03)
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar ($.05)
1 tsp basil leaves ($.05)
Salt and pepper to taste
Frozen vegetables ($.80)
Half bag Sister Schubert’s rolls ($.75)
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Directions
Add the olive oil to the Dutch oven and brown all sides of the beef roast. Then add the sliced onions, sugar, balsamic and all the seasonings.
Turn the heat to medium low and cover tightly. Let cook for about 2 hours, or until meat is cooked through and pulls apart easily.
Prepare vegetables and bread.
Serve Pulled Beef with Onions, along with veggies and bread, or other favorite side dish!
Cost $5.84 (with enough meat leftover for 1 lunch sandwich!)

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Dutch Oven Pulled Beef with Onions – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:30 pm.

Three Cheese Spaghetti Bake – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:51:00 +0000

This is a classic example of being creative with ingredients you have on hand.

I made this for us early last week…using up the tomatoes from Aldi from the week before, and the feta cheese from Monday’s shopping trip. Also, this is another example of a meal that uses an “expensive ingredient,” that is paired with a few other inexpensive ingredients and pantry staples to keep the overall cost of the meal down.

(Feta = expensive…pasta/tomatoes/egg = inexpensive.)

This meal ended up being dinner for just Steve and I (the kids had leftovers since they can’t have dairy) and after his first bite, Steve began staking claims on the leftovers. He took what was left for lunch to work the next day…and the “euchre lunch club” was insanely jealous of his “gourmet lunch.” Amazing how a few simple ingredients can be cooked up in a way that is “gourmet” but still very inexpensive to put together!

Enjoy…

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Three Cheese Spaghetti Bake
Adapted from Three Cheese Spaghetti Pie
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 20 minutes
Cooking Time – 10 minutes
Ingredients
9-10 oz. whole grain spaghetti noodles ($.30) One pounds for $.50 with sale and coupon
1 Tbsp olive oil ($.05) Coupon available here
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar ($.10)
1 pint grape tomatoes ($.69) Aldi sale
1 small onion, chopped ($.20)
6 oz. package Feta cheese ($3.99)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ($.50)
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup milk ($.10)
2 eggs ($.20)
Salt and pepper
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Directions
Preheat to 350.
Cook the pasta noodles as directed. Drain and rinse with cold water. (If you don’t rinse, the heat from the pasta can cook the eggs in the cheese mixture…so get them nice and cool before combining.)
Meanwhile, in a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and saute the tomatoes and chopped onion, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until most of the tomatoes have “popped.”
In a mixing bowl, combine the Feta, Parmesan, mozzarella, milk and eggs. Once the pasta is rinsed and cooled, fold it into the cheese mixture.
Then combine the cheese-pasta mixture with the sauteed onions and tomatoes. Spread flat in the skillet.
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until eggs have set in the middle. Let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Serve Three Cheese Spaghetti Pie with side salad, fresh fruit or vegetables (whatever you have on hand!).
Cost $6.13

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Three Cheese Spaghetti Bake – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on January 30, 2012 at 5:51 pm.

Ham and Potatoes with Baked Eggs – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:29:02 +0000

I fell wildly behind these last few days…and in the process my beautifully designed meal plan and food photographs just didn’t happened as I hoped they would! I did manage to make this delicious-ness late last week…using up some potatoes I found in the freezer that I’d bought during the 50% off store closing sale.

This week’s $5 Dinner Challenge recipe can be found over on One Dish Dinners -

Ham and Potatoes Saute with Baked Eggs

And yes, it’s Monday afternoon…still trying to figure out what to eat this week. If you need me, I’ll have my head in our deep freezer…still hoping to have cleared it out…by the end of the week! ACK!

Hope you enjoy this delicious & hearty breakfast, or brinner!

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Ham and Potatoes with Baked Eggs – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on January 23, 2012 at 5:29 pm.

BLT Sliders with Parmesan Mayo – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:10:00 +0000

There is just something so American about BLTs. Something so basic and delicious.

I was not a fan of tomatoes until about 7 years ago. Some time during my days in the Dominican Republic, my taste buds morphed and decided to start liking tomatoes. Then I had to break the news to my Aunt Julie (the only family member on my moms side who didn’t like tomatoes either), and turns out…she recently started liking tomatoes. Hmphfff.

Well, now we can both enjoy these little goodies!

How these came about…I found some Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls in the freezer. Right next to a package of turkey bacon. So BLT Sliders it was. I had some lettuce and a tomato on hand. But when I went to get out the mayo, I decided that was too boring. So I grabbed some grated Parmesan and some spices and ended up with a delicious spread for our sliders!

Nom.

(Note: Because we are getting ready to put our house on the market, I’m doing my best to clear out our deep freezer so we can put it out in our storage shed…to make things a little roomier in our laundry room. This is one of those “let’s get this thing cleared out” meals! Expect to see more of those around here!)

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
BLT Sliders with Parmesan Mayo
Yield – 10 sliders
Preparation Time – 15 minutes
Cooking Time – 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 package turkey bacon ($1.50)
1 package Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls ($1.50)
2 small tomatoes ($1)
4 lettuce leaves ($.10)
1/2 cup mayo ($.10)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese ($.25)
1/2 tsp garlic powder ($.02)
1/2 tsp onion powder ($.02)
Salt and pepper
Chips and fresh fruit for serving ($1)
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Directions
Cook the turkey bacon in the oven, or in a skillet. Heat the dinner rolls in the oven as directed, then slice open.
Slice the tomatoes, cut the lettuce to size of the rolls, if necessary.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together the mayo, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Spread the Parmesan mayo onto one side of the roll, then add the bacon, lettuce and tomato.
Serve BLT Sliders with Parmesan Mayo and some fresh fruit and/or chips
Cost $5.49 (with LOTS of extra cooked bacon!)

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BLT Sliders with Parmesan Mayo – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on January 16, 2012 at 6:10 pm.

Thai Beef Cabbage Roll Bake – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:10:00 +0000

The timing was perfect, the sales were perfect…and the ingredients in my pantry seemed to leap out at me as I was working up meal ideas and plans for this month. I remember Alea’s Cabbage Rolls from last year, and I’d be wanting to try something similar. Cabbage rolls (and lettuce wraps) work wonderfully for those with gluten and/or corn allergies/intolerances. For those who can’t enjoy tortillas. (Because I can’t imagine gluten free or corn free tortillas working so well…maybe I’m wrong.)

I had all the right ingredients (purchased at great prices) to make a Thai variation of Alea’s Cabbage Rolls! And this is how it went down…

Blanche the cabbage leaves. Boil for 2-3 minutes, then plunge into bowl of cold water.

Meanwhile, combine the ground beef (I was using beef I’d already browned…you could certainly brown with the onions and spices.)

Once meat mixture flavors have mingled, remove from heat and toss in chopped peanuts.

Dry the leaves and cut out the tough stem portion.

Fill cabbage leaves with meat-peanut mixture, roll and place in baking dish, seam side down.

Cozy and snug.

Because I’m lazy…

I just added the spices to the sauce in the jar, give a little stir and pour over the top.

No sense in dirtying another dish, right?

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Thai Beef Cabbage Roll Bake
Adapted from Alea’s Cabbage Rolls with Turkey and Brown Rice
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 25 minutes
Cooking Time – 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 teaspoons sesame oil ($.25)
1 tsp garlic cloves, minced ($.05)
1 onion, chopped ($.20)
3/4 lb ground beef, browned ($1.49)
2 tsp ground ginger ($.20)
1 Tbsp brown sugar ($.02)
3 Tbsp lime juice ($.10)
up to 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper ($.03) (depending on how spicy you like things!)
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped ($.25)
1 small cabbage, 12 large leaves gently removed ($1.19)
1 8 oz. tomato sauce ($.29)
1 tsp ground ginger, garlic powder, each ($.10)
1/2 tsp salt
Crushed red pepper, optional
Bread or brown rice ($.40-$.75)
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Directions
Blanche the cabbage leaves. Place 2 or 3 leaves at a time in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes. Then remove carefully with tongs and plunge into cold water.
In a large skillet, add the sesame oil with the garlic, onions, ground beef, ground ginger, brown sugar, lime juice and crushed red pepper. Saute for 5 to 7 minutes, to allow flavors to mingle. (Or cook until meat has browned, if starting with raw beef.)
Stir in the chopped peanuts.
Preheat oven to 350.
To make the rolls, pat dry the cabbage leaves and cut out the hard stem. Spoon the meat mixture into the cabbage leaf and roll up. Place seam side down in a glass baking dish. (I made 12 rolls in 2 small baking dishes…I could have/should have made them into 1 9×13 baking dish.)
Make up all the rolls. Then mix together tomato sauce with the ginger, garlic powder, salt and crushed red pepper. Pour it over all the rolls.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve Thai Beef Cabbage Rolls with bread or brown rice.
Cost $4.57

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Thai Beef Cabbage Roll Bake – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on January 9, 2012 at 6:10 pm.

Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Peppers – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:30:00 +0000

{You are going to have to image perfectly sliced sausage with a juicy, kickin’ tomato, pepper and onion sauce piled on top. With a side of slide bread. Or the bread served under the sausage and peppers.}

I’m often asked about my “5 minute meals”. Usually by people who know someone who knows me. They get the whole time-dollar thing mixed up. But if I were to start coming up with 5 minute meals, this would be first on the list. Because it takes you less than 5 minutes to get our your slow cooker, get out the ingredients (unless for some strange reason you pantry is on the other side of the house from your kitchen?!?), load the slow cooker and turn in on. In less than 5 minutes. Then the 1-2 minutes you have to spare will be to prepare the bread once meal time rolls around…

5 minutes. That’s what I’m giving this one for prep time.

Enjoy!

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Peppers
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 5 minutes
Cooking Time – 8-10 hours in slow cooker
Ingredients
1 lb. sausage links, sliced ($2, from recent sale with coupon)
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes ($.50)
1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies ($.19, store brand & store promotion)
2 10 oz. bags frozen pepper and onion blend ($.80×2)
Salt and pepper to taste
Whole wheat bread slices, or sliced french baguette ($.50-$1)
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Directions
Place sausage in the slow cooker. Slice carefully or cut with kitchen shears. Pour the diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and the 2 bags of frozen pepper and onion blend over the top. Give it a swirl. Set the slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare the bread.
Serve Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Peppers with sliced bread.
Cost $4.79-$5.29

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Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Peppers – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Holiday Feast Recipe Link-Up, I’m Calling In “Travel-Sick” – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:32:12 +0000

Being away for the past 8 days makes it difficult to try out new recipes to share with you. I’ve enjoyed meals cooked in, grilled out, and dined out with my family over the past week…as we celebrated my brother’s wedding.

I’m calling in “travel-sick” tonight, so no recipe from me! I’ll be back into the $5 Dinner Challenge saddle after the Thanksgiving holiday…

I’d love for you to link up your favorite holiday feast recipes this week!!!

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Holiday Feast Recipe Link-Up, I’m Calling In “Travel-Sick” – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on November 14, 2011 at 5:32 pm.

Twice Baked One-Dish Potatoes – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Tonight’s $5 Dinner Challenge recipes can be found over on One Dish Dinners.

Twice Baked One-Dish Potatoes…a genius idea from longtime friend of $5 Dinners, Duffy T! Plus, I’m sharing my twice baked potatoes piercing trick too!

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Twice Baked One-Dish Potatoes – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on November 7, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Erin’s Pumpkin Pie French Toast – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:30:00 +0000

I so wish I’d doubled this recipe while I was making it. Tripled, or quadrupled even!

These were so delicious…perfect for the fall season.

It’s really simple…you just add some pumpkin and spices to the egg-milk mixture.

Then make French toast as you would.

Le photos…

The eggs, milk, pumpkin and spices.

Whisked.

It will be thick.

Don’t fret.

They will cook just fine.

Cook in skillet or on griddle.

Greased.

Well greased.

Grease in between batches too.

The flipped side.

With the leftovers, I cut them into “french toast sticks” and froze them. They freeze beautifully and the kids got to enjoy them for lunch a few days later!

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 5 minutes
Cooking Time – 15 minutes
Ingredients
14 slices whole wheat sandwich bread ($1.50)
3 eggs ($.30)
1/2 cup milk ($.05)
3/4 cup canned pumpkin ($.75ish)
1 tsp homemade pumpkin pie spice ($.05)
Butter and syrup for serving ($.50)
Fresh fruit or smoothie as side ($1)
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Directions
Set out the bread for dipping.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin and pie spice until smooth.
Dip each side of the bread and cook on a hot, greased griddle or skillet. Flip after 1 – 2 minutes.
Once all are cooked, serve with butter and maple. And a side of fresh fruit.
If freezing, let cool completely to reduce freezer burn.
Enjoy this perfect fall “breakfast for dinner”!
Cost $4.15

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Erin’s Pumpkin Pie French Toast – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on October 17, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

Slow Cooker Maple Chicken with Sweet Potatoes – $5 Dinner Challenge

Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:45:15 +0000

Dear Chairman of the Kid Food Hall of Fame Committee,
I’d like to nominate this recipe to be inducted in the class of 2011 for Best Kid Friendly recipe for the following reasons.
1. All 3 children finished their entire plates in record time.
2. All 3 children asked for seconds and ate them all.
3. And we didn’t have to rush home from swim practice to get dinner ready…it was ready when we got home!
Thanks for the consideration-
A Happy Mom of Kids with Full Bellies

Seriously…we’ll be making this again before the winter hits! The sweet potatoes were perfectly delicious…almost like they were “maple steamed”…the chicken was perfect (we prefer chicken thighs in the slow cooker over chicken breasts, but if you don’t like chicken thighs, this will totally work with chicken breasts.) The carrots also had a sweeter flavor…and all 3 kids ate them willingly without being prodded. (Carrots are not their favorite veggie…but they really liked these.)

If you don’t want to purchase expensive maple syrup, try Crystal’s Homemade Maple Syrup. We used to make it this way when we lived in the Dominican Republic. Or, you can do as I do, and buy maple syrup from Amazon using Swagbucks credits.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.
Slow Cooker Maple Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 8 hours in slow cooker
Ingredients
1 pkg (about 1.5 lbs.) boneless skinless chicken thighs ($2.82) $1.88/lb sale last week
Salt and pepper
About 3 Tbsp maple syrup, drizzled over chicken (free from Amazon, or $.50)
3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed ($1.25)
About 1/2 lb. baby carrots (or 4-5 peeled carrots sticks) ($.67)
1 small red onion ($.40)
Salt and pepper over the top
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Directions
Place the chicken the base of the slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the maple syrup all over the chicken.
Place the cubed sweet potatoes, baby carrots or carrot sticks and chopped red onion over the top. Sprinkle a little more salt and pepper over it all.
Set the slow cooker on low and let cook for 8 hours.
Serve Slow Cooker Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Baby Carrots.
(If you don’t like chicken thighs, use 3 chicken breasts.)
Cost $5.64

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Slow Cooker Maple Chicken with Sweet Potatoes – $5 Dinner Challenge was first posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:45 pm.