Mommy Gio shares a super simple supper with us tonight!

Ingredients

2 lb. Pork Tenderloin ($2.98)
Spices or Rub - Italian seasoning or all-purpose seasoning or jerk seasoning or whatever you like!
2 lb. Potatoes ($0.40)
2 cans Green Beans ($1.20)

Directions

Season your Tenderloin to your likings and put in oven at 400 degrees for 35 min, or until meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees.

Let sit 5 min before cutting.

Cook potatoes to your liking.

Cook green beans as directed on can or package.

Total $4.58 (plus a few cents for spices)

Mommy Gio is a SAHM of 3 under the age of 4 trying to be frugal and keep life as easy as possible.

Photo Credit: Stephee

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Simple. Fuss-free. Tasty.

(The only thing I wish I’d done before serving these was toast the tortillas in a hot skillet…just 30 seconds per side…give them a little flavor boost.)

I have been waiting to make these since the beginning of March! Rather, these have been waiting for me to make them since the beginning of March!!!

Adapted from Stephanie’s Slow Cooker Carnitas

Ingredients

1.5 lb pork shoulder or loin, cubed ($2.83)
2 Tbsp oil ($.05)
1 teaspoon ground cumin ($.05)
Salt and pepper
2 garlic cloves ($.10)
1/4 cup lime juice or juice from 1 lime ($.10)
1/4 cup water

8 corn tortillas ($.50)
Salsa, diced avocado, sour cream dollops to garnish ($.50)

Corn Cobs ($.80)

Directions

In a mixing bowl, toss the pork cubes in the oil and ground cumin. Season with a few dashes of salt and pepper.  Place in the base of the slow cooker.  Add the garlic, lime juice, and water.  Set on low and cook for 8 hours. Remove, let cool slightly, then shred with 2 forks.

(Toast the corn tortillas in a warm skillet.)

Boil corn cobs and serve as a side item.

Spoon the carnitas meat over the corn tortilla and top with salsa, diced avocado, and/or sour cream.

Devour.

Cost $4.93

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

I’m thrilled to be guest posting for Erin today, especially after having had the honor of meeting her in person recently. If you’ve never had the pleasure and wonder what she’s like, I have to tell you she is every bit as sweet and fun as she seems and then some! My only complaint is that she made me give her sweet baby boy back! (Erin here…you are too much Christy!)

In the spirit of $5 Dinners (Don’t ya just love her cookbook?) I thought I’d bring you my Omelet Made Easy, a quick fix supper that can be made in a flash and easily accommodates leftovers as the add ins!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Gratefully,
Christy

Easy Oven Omelet

Ingredients

* 8 eggs
* 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 1/2 Cup milk
* 1 Cup chopped ham
* 1 Cup diced onion and bell pepper blend (to save money, I buy this frozen at around $1.50 per bag) Erin here…or sometimes less!  I see these often on sale for $1 up here…”in the north!”

Directions

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and all other ingredients. Beat until well combined and pour into 8×8 baking dish. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about forty minutes, or until it no longer wiggles in the middle when you shake it a bit.

Customize your omelet! Substitute a cup of your favorite veggies (or leftover veggies!) for the onion and bell pepper blend, use your favorite shredded cheese in place of the cheddar, and add in bacon or sausage in place of the ham – or leave it out altogether!

Christy Jordan publishes SouthernPlate.com, her website dedicated to classic Southern dishes and quick and easy family favorites. She is a lifelong resident of Alabama where she lives with her husband and two children.

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

I made this recipe what seems like EONS ago…but it really wasn’t that long ago!  But at the same time, it’s been too long.

Y’all know what I mean.  These kiddos of mine have turned up the dial on “time”…to warp speed.  (It’s all happening too fast…they are growing up way to fast.)

Again. I digress!

Anyhoo.

Made this using some fresh “holiday” (meaning discounted price) cranberries from the  holidays…and the pork chops that I cut from the $1.89/lb pork loin last week.  Pair it with some $.49/lb butternut squash from the freezer and $.99/lb asparagus, and I have no doubt that it comes in under $5!

Recipe can be found in The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook.

(Girls gotta sell her cookbooks, right?!?)

UPDATE: For those of you feeling duped or manipulated, don’t! It is not my intention. I have agreements with my publishing house that I must uphold. I made this meal from the cookbook, and shared what I made. As both a blogger and an author, I will forever be using the site to promote my cookbook (the cookbook that I spent HOURS working on, for YOU!). Now look forward to the next FREE recipe!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

That’s right! 

This week is National Eat Together Week!

Eating together as a family is very important to us!

So when I heard about how the folks from The Other White Meat set out to encourage families to eat together AND to help fight hunger by partnering with Feeding America (a hunger relief charity), I had to share with you all!

Here’s how you can help…and it’ll just take a few secs!  And you just might find a super cool new pork recipe while you’re at it! 

For every recipe printed or shared via email from the special recipe on the list of National Eat Together Week recipes (on this page), America’s pork producers will donate five pounds of pork (or about 25 meals) to a food bank in need!!!  Think of the number of people that could be fed just by you printing out a few pork recipes that you’d like to try!

So what meal are you going to be eating together?  What works best for your family?  Breakfast, lunch or dinner???

Did you find a new pork recipe to try?  I’d love to know which one!

I’m off to print some recipes!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Pork chops smothered and baked with seasoned diced tomatoes, served with brown rice and corn cobs. I wasn’t sure how I’d like the tomatoes with the pork chops…I think of tomatoes working better with chicken and beef dishes. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was…

Best sale price for pork chops that I’ve seen recently…$1.49/lb. I try to pay less than $1.99/lb!

Ingredients
1 cup brown rice ($.40)
4 pork chops (about 1.2 lbs.) ($2.38)
1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes ($.59) *New Hunt’s diced tomatoes coupon available here
1 tsp Italian seasoning ($.05)
Salt and pepper, few dashes each
4 corn cobs ($1.33) NOT on sale this week
Butter for corn ($.25) Use dairy-free margarine if necessary!

Directions
1. In medium saucepan, cook brown rice according to package directions. Brown rice takes 40-50 minutes to cook!
2. Place pork chops in glass baking dish (I used an 8 x 8-inch baking dish and the 4 pork chops fit perfectly.).
3. In small bowl, mix together diced tomatoes, italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Pour over the pork chops.
4. Bake pork chops at 350 for 35-45 minutes, or until cooked through.
5. Boil corn in saucepan for 4-5 minutes, or microwave in microwavable dish with 1/2 cup of water, covered in plastic wrap, for 7-9 minutes. Serve hot with butter.
6. Serve Italian Pork Chops with Brown Rice and Corn Cobs.

Cost $5.00!!!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Monique shared this recipe with me.  Hello, scrumptious!

I couldn’t bring myself to buy the $2.49  jar of peach salsa.  So I compromised and used the peaches I bought last week and the red onion from this week to make my own peach salsa.  And ended up grilling it alongside the pork chops!

I also grilled up some zucchini and tomatoes in the grilling basket! 

Ingredients
3 large (or 4 smaller) pork chops ($2.19) I used a little more than 1 lb.
4 small peaches ($.75) About 1 lb.
1/2 red onion ($.35)
Bunch parsley (from the garden)
1 tsp canola oil ($.03)
1 zucchini ($.50) From the farmer’s market this afternoon
3 small tomatoes (from the garden)
2 garlic cloves ($.10)
4 basil leaves, chopped (from the garden)
1 tsp olive oil ($.03)
1 cup white rice ($.20)
Salt/Pepper

Directions
1. Grill pork chops for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the middle. Cooking time will vary depending on heat of the grill and thickness of the chop.
2. Cut peaches and red onion into 1 inch-ish size pieces. Add to bowl with chopped parsley and canola oil. Toss well. Add to grilling basket and grill for 8-10 minutes, or until peaches soften and onions become translucent. Stir occasionally. Remove from grilling basket.
3. Slice zucchini into thin circles. Cut tomatoes into 1 inch-ish cubes. Add to bowl with minced garlic and chopped basil leaves and olive oil. Toss well. After the peach salsa has cooked, use the same grilling basket to grill the zucchini and tomatoes. Stir occasionally. Grill for 8-10 minutes, or until all the zucchinis have turned golden and the tomato skins have started to peel away. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. In medium saucepan, add 1 cup rice with 2 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and summer for 20 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.
5. Serve Grilled Pork Chops over Rice with Grilled Peach Salsa and Grilled Zucchini/Tomato Medley.

Cost $4.15

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

I just love breakfast for dinner!  Maybe because it breaks up the meal planning monotony I sometimes feel…or because it seems to be quicker and easier to prepare!

Tonight we had Tricia’s (Once A Month Mom) Ham and Hashbrown Bake…(original recipe from Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer).  Remember our trade.

Hello, delicious! 

The boys ate earlier than we did.  It sorta happened by accident.  But I liked it!  We let them go from the table after they had finished eating…since they started before we did.  We did eat part of the meal together (’cause that is important!), but it really was nice to just sit with the Hubs and talk…while the kids played in the playroom.  Like a mini 10-minute dinner date!

The boys ate scrambled eggs, toast and fruit salad (this week’s version consists of watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple and peaches).  We also had some scrambled eggs, fruit salad and the Ham and Hashbrown Bake. 

I encourage people to add 1 “breakfast for dinner” meal into their weekly meal plan to help reduce overall weekly meal costs!  Eggs seem to be cheap everywhere these days…so base your meal around the protein packed egg and you’re set!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

Ingredients
4 pork chops (free!) Remember this coupon!
1 cup apple juice ($.15)
1/2 cup salt ($.10)
Water
4 corn cobs ($1)
1/2 bag of lettuce ($1.50)
1/2 cucumber ($.25)
2 Roma tomatoes ($.58) Big sale last week!
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing ($.25)

Directions

1. Place apple juice, salt plus 1 cup of water into shallow dish.  Place pork chops into the brine in single layer and pour enough water over the top so the pork chops are covered.  Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
2. Grill pork chops for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they have cooked through.  Cooking time may vary depending on thickness of each pork chop.
3. Grill corn, or boil in large saucepan for 4-5 minutes.
4. Prepare salad with tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
5. Serve Grilled Pork Chops with Salad and Corn Cobs.

Cost $3.83

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. (this is a test link…ignore for the moment!)

Print this Recipe
__________________________________________________

Have a Frugal and Healthy Recipe to share?

Post the recipe on your blog and then add the link below. Other guidelines can be found here. To make it easy for other readers to find your recipe, please leave the link that leads directly to your recipe post. Any links that lead to your homepage will be deleted. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to leave your recipe in the comments section!

Please leave your link in the comments. I still don’t have the latest Mr. Linky up and running yet!

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!

This recipe can now be found exclusively in The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook.

Find More Savings

• Free Money Management Software at Mint.com
• Get Free Coupon Alerts
• Print Grocery Coupons
• Join AFullCup to find more ways to save on Groceries!!!