A delicious and nutritious fall soup! I borrowed and slightly modified this recipe! I added apple juice in with the broth and it gave the soup just enough extra sweetness!

Ingredients
1 lb Chicken Thighs ($1.85)
1/8 cup Olive Oil Dressing ($.10)
1 large Butternut Squash ($.69) Thanks Aldi!
2 T butter ($.10)
1 small onion ($.20)
1 celery stalk ($.05)
2 small potatoes ($.20)
3 cloves garlic ($.15)
1/4 cup apple juice ($.10)
Spices: Dash of cinnamon, ground cloves and ground ginger ($.10)
2 cups chicken broth (free or $1)
1-1 1/2 cups whole milk ($.20)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen peas ($.50)

Directions
1. Slice squash in half and then bake squash upside down in baking dish at 350 for an hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Remove seeds, peel and scoop out flesh.
2. Dice onion, celery and potatoes. In large saucepan, add butter, let melt and then add onion, celery, garlic and potatoes. Saute for 7-8 minutes. Add cooked squash, spices and broth. Add apple juice and milk. Simmer 30-40 minutes, until vegetables are soft and tender. Let cool a few minutes. Puree in food processor, blender or with handhelf immersion blender. Option: Garnish soup with thinly sliced apple or apple chips.
3. Place chicken in baking dish. Drizzle with 2-3 T extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper over thighs. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes, until juices run clear.
4. Cook peas as directed on package. Serve with soup and chicken!

Frugal Tip: I can never seem to use up all my celery before it starts to go limp. So, I slice up it up and place it into “meal size portions” in baggies, and then 2 baggies into a freezer bag. When I need to use it in soup, just throw it into the pot still frozen. Voila! Easy way to use celery without any going to waste! For other great kitchen tips, head on over to Tammy’s Recipes!

Cost $4.24 or $5.24 depending on if you used store bought broth!

This is my first full Organic Meal for under $5…thanks to matching sales with coupons!

Ingredients
6 Organic Chicken Thighs ($.73…Manager’s Special $2.73 – $2 “e-coupon” from Shortcuts.com)
4 T butter ($.40)
1 cup breadcrumbs ($.50)
1/2 cup soy free breadcrumbs ($.25)
1 bag Cascadian Farms organic French Fries ** ($2.50 sale – $1 coupon = $1.50)
Ketchup ($.15)
1 bag Organic Brocoli and Carrot Slaw ($2.50 on sale – $1 “e-coupon” – $.55 store coupon = $.95) 3 T mayo ($.15)
1 t each salt, pepper, sugar for slaw ($.05)

Directions
1.  Dip chicken thighs in butter, then into bread crumbs.  Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Quick, easy and not too messy!
2. Bake french fries as directed on bag.
3. Mix slaw with mayo, salt, pepper and sugar.
4. Enjoy an organic meal for less than $5!!!

Cost $4.68

**Note: If you are a label reader, be sure to check labels for “organic” products. Although they are organic and are found in the health food sections, they often contain preservaties and additives. The fries I used tonight do not contain preservatives or additives. It says on the bag that it contains “apple juice to maintain color”! Cool!

For many more recipes, visit Gayle at the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap!

Ingredients
4 Chicken Thighs ($1.89�I got a bunch at Sam’s not long ago�marked “Price reduced for quick sale”�they went straight into my freezer)
2 Apples, sliced ($1.49) Apples will be on sale for most of the fall!
� onion, sliced ($.30)
1 cup apple juice ($.20)
Salt and Pepper
Dash Cinnamon ($.10)
3 T lemon juice, to prevent browning of apples ($.10)
1 cup rice ($.30)
2 Broccoli Heads ($.50) Broccoli will also be cheaper throughout the fall! Recently on sale at Kroger for $.99 for 4 heads!!!

Directions
1. Pour Apple Juice into the crock pot. Place chicken into the juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add sliced onion around chicken.
2. Slice apples and mix with lemon juice and cinnamon. Place on top of chicken in crockpot. Set on low and cook for 8 hours.
3. Make 1 cup rice with 2 � cup water. Bring to boil, and then cover and simmer 20 minutes.
4. Steam broccoli in steamer or microwave.

Cost: $4.88