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$5 Dinners | Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals

Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals and Cooking Tutorials for the Busy Home Chef

MyFreezEasy - Save Money, Eat Healthy with Freezer Meals

Baked Black Bean and Salsa Chicken

April 28, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 22 Comments

See that corn up there?!? The "summer price" of $.25/ear is here a bit early this year! I couldn't help myself and snagged a few for this week. The boys L-O-V-E corn and I love watching them munch it off the corn. It's sorta cute! This *might* just become my new "go-to" meal. It's way low maintenance...as long as you get it into the oven in time!  It was delicious … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef and Onion Pasta

April 20, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 13 Comments

Remember the Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Balsamic Onions?!? Well, you should just bookmark it now and make it next time you have a beef roast on hand. Or better yet, toss it with some pasta and might I say you won't regret it! I used up a BOGO beef roast from the freezer, a yellow onion and some $.50/box pasta. Along with half of a $1 green pepper and a $.99 Romaine … [Read more...]

Chana Masala

April 19, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 13 Comments

Chana Masala is popular Indian vegetable dish, with a distinct sweet and sour flavor. Lisa tweaked a few recipes and came up with this one that she loves and wanted to share with us tonight! I liked the flavor as it was, but Steve thought it needed a little more heat. So he found the Tabasco sauce to give it a little extra umph! I'm pretty sure you won't find Tabasco … [Read more...]

Mexican Beef Quinoa Skillet

April 5, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 27 Comments

Alrighty y'all! Tonight's recipe comes from faithful reader Marilyn! And I've got another similar one that I'll share tomorrow night. This week might turn into "Skillet Dinner Week"...or it might not?!??!? (Hint: I've got some great grilling recipes coming your way!) So if it rains...and you can't get out to the grill, stay in and make these skillet dinners … [Read more...]

Emeril’s Essence Chicken

March 23, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 13 Comments

A quick "Chicken and Rice" dinner. But it didn't seem like a chicken and rice dinner. Simple, yet TASTY! I might have a new "weekend" favorite with this one. I try to keep our meals simple on the weekend, spaghetti, tacos, and now this...I'll save my cooking and blogging energy for the week days! I marinated this chicken in some canola oil and Emeril's Essence seasonings. … [Read more...]

Buffalo Chicken Wings

March 18, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 13 Comments

Half of the family has finished their dinner. The other half was sidetracked by the gorgeous weather, and the desire to use every moment of sunlight to work on "opening up the garden." (Nevermind that it might snow next week. I've GOT to get my seeds for the spinach and lettuces, or is it LETTUCI?!, into the dirt.) So open the garden up we did. The little people ate … [Read more...]

Sesame Chicken Stir-fry

March 16, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 13 Comments

  SPLURGE ALERT!!! CONVENIENCE FOOD ALERT!!! (BTW I have loved hearing your do's and don't's when it comes to convenience foods!) It was one of those days. It started too early. It was filled with distractions. And a few schedule changes. And it left me in no mood to cook. Y'all have those days too, right? There is but one option for dinner on a day like … [Read more...]

Pepperoni Calzones

March 10, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 42 Comments

These didn't stay on our plates very long! And, they are completely freezer friendly, so be sure to make a big batch and freeze for a future meal! (Freeze after baking.) Pepperoni Calzones These are just so fun and so delicious! 1 cup water1 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt1 cup whole wheat flour2 cups white flour 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1 Tbsp … [Read more...]

Chicken Gumbo with Iceberg Ranch Wedges

March 5, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 7 Comments

This dinner is inspired by a gumbo that my dad had for lunch when we were in Dallas last month. All I knew about gumbo was that people from LA made it. A lot. Call me "gumbo ignorant." I was. But no longer. Did a little research on Wiki...and learned quite a bit. Hop on over there and see how "gumbo savvy" you are! I digress. A simple soup. Err, gumbo! With a whole … [Read more...]

Homemade Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing

March 5, 2010 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 19 Comments

I was inspired. You see. I like salad. I like lettuce. But straight iceberg lettuce is tough to swallow. It's just so bland. But it's cheap. And a great base for salads. What if I topped it with some STRONG homemade garlic ranch dressing. Like this... A match made in heaven. Be warned: You will suffer from "garlic breath" after eating this. But the fullness of … [Read more...]

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