There are always a lot of conversations on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Pinterest etc. about saving money when cooking and on our grocery bills.
Am I alone in thinking that what I spend it a lot? But at the same time, I make very few apologies for it. We eat well, I like to cook, and some products are choice based (Fair Trade coffee and cocoa is far more expensive, but that’s a choice I’m making).
But when I think about it, I have some recipes in my arsenal that are pretty inexpensive and great for in a pinch. Most are ones that have been in the family for years. Something tells me our grandparents were pretty smart about how to cook on a budget.
Bit of Momsense advertiser Ten Thousand Villages carries a lot of really wonderful cookbooks that focus on healthy and seasonal eating. One book that I had the chance to look at is More-With-Less.
Recipes in the book remind me of childhood recipes that we enjoyed. They aren’t 12 ingredients long, and stretch to feed many people.
The book is older so uses ingredients like shortening at times which not everyone wants to cook with, but this is easy to substitute.
Here’s a recipe I tried. I was able to feed us for supper one night, have enough for lunch another day plus 2 more individual lunches. The total cost was under $10 (and I bought organic beef). The recipe is below!
You can win More With Less!
Thanks to Ten Thousand Villages Ottawa, you can win the cookbook for yourself and learn how to make some easy, tasty and inexpensive meals!
To enter:
Simply comment below what your favourite inexpensive meal to make is.
Want a bonus entry? Blog about your favourite simple meal and link back to this post. Be sure to add the blog link in the comments!
Don’t forget to follow Ten Thousand Villages Ottawa on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all of the amazing products they carry and work they do.
Contest open to Ottawa residents only. Closes Tuesday, April 10th at 9 pm EST.
Beef Enchiladas (adapted from More-With-Less)
Ingredients:
3/4 lb ground beef (1 small package)
1 medium onion
2 cups refried beans (I omitted them from the recipe this time, but the book has a recipe to make your own! And it’s super easy!)
1/8 tsp garlic powder, or 1 clove mashed
Tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a tex mex mix)
Chili-tomato sauce (recipe is in the book – I’ve tried many but love this one!! see below)
Directions:
1- Make chili-tomato sauce. Add 1/2 cup to bottom of casserole dish.
2- Brown beef and onions in a skillet (add refried beans if using. I also add some cheese in each roll)
3-Fill each tortilla with about 1/3 cup of filling (beef/beans) and roll. Place tortilla roll seem side down in casserole dish. Continue until dish is full.
4- Top with sauce and remaining cheese.
5- Bake 350 for about 15-20 minutes.
NOTE: This can be made ahead and then baked, and also can be frozen.
Chili-Tomato Sauce
Cook 1 medium sized onion with some oil in a sauce pan.
Add 3 1/2 cups of tomato puree or sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tbsp chili powder (I used 1 tbsp and thought it was great)
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Simmer at least 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Strain (optional). This batch made enough for all of the above pictured, plus some left over for next time.
