This was the perfect meal to come home to after an afternoon adventure/walk to the park!  It was just cold enough outside to be chilly, but not so cold that we didn’t enjoy ourselves!  Arriving home to this soup was lovely! 

Warmed our tummies right up!

Here is the “doubled” version of the recipe!  The total cost is not under $5…but since it is two meals worth…we divide by 2 and the overall cost is well below $5 per meal.  The other half is going into the freezer!

Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil ($.20)
1.7 lb. stew beef ($4.77) 2 packages both purchased on Manager’s Special
10 cups water
4 large carrots, peeled and diced ($.40)
4 stalks celery, diced ($.20)
1 onion, chopped ($.30)
2 cups frozen Italian style green beans ($.50) On sale for $1/4 cups last week!1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes ($.59)
2 tsp rice or white vinegar ($.05)
1 5 oz. bottle A1 steak sauce ($.29) Used $2 coupon to buy the bottle!
2 cups brown rice ($.80)

Served with garlic toast ($.50) Used “reduced for quick sale” mini French loaves I had in the freezer.  Plus butter/margarine/dairy-free margarine and garlic powder/salt. Omit bread or serve alternative if GF.

Directions
1. In large pot, heat the oil. Add the stew meat and sear/brown on all sides to seal in the juices. Once the meat has browned, add 10 cups of water.

2. Add diced carrots, diced celery, chopped onion, diced tomatoes and brown rice. Add vinegar and bottle of A1 steak sauce. Bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer over medium heat for 50-60 minutes, or until rice is tender.

3. Slice French loaf bread and butter and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt (or garlic salt.)  Place on baking sheet in oven at 350 and “toast” for 4-5 minutes.
4. Serve A1 Beef Stew with Garlic Bread.

Cost $7.51 for the double batch of stew…$4.28 for our meal tonight.

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If you are ever in need of an UBER frugal meal, here you go!

Not only was this quite tasty, dinner really doesn’t get much cheaper than this. 

And we had leftovers.  Which will probably end up in a tortilla with some salsa!

Again, thanks to Gayle at the Grocery Cart Challenge for leading me to this great recipe!

Note: When I pulled this from the oven, before adding the cheese, it occurred to me that this would be a fantastic and healthful baby food recipe.  Puree the cooked lentils and rice for younger babies, or mush with fork for older babies, or feed as is for “table food” babies!

Ingredients
3 cups broth (chicken or vegetable) (free if homemade)
3/4 cups green lentils, although any color will do ($.30)
1/2 cup brown rice ($.20)
1/2 yellow onion, chopped ($.15)
2 tsp Italian seasoning ($.10)
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese ($.85) Bought last week when on sale for $1.25 and had a $.45 coupon! Of course, omit if dairy-free.
2 large broccoli heads ($.40) HUGE sale this week!

Variations: This could be jazzed up with spaghetti sauce, salsa, BBQ sauce, parmesan cheese.  Whatever suits you!

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300.
2. Add broth, lentils, brown rice, chopped onion, and spices to 9×13-inch glass baking dish. Stir together and cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake at 300 for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
4. Remove foil and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top and return to oven and bake uncovered for 20 more minutes, or until cheese is completely melted.
5. Steam broccoli in stovetop steamer or in a microwavable dish covered with plastic wrap for 4-5 mintues.
6. Serve Lentil and Brown Rice Casserole with Steamed Broccoli.

Cost $2.05

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P.S. I do believe this meal is now the CHEAPEST meal I’ve ever made!

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!!!

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