Saturday: Oven Baked Fritatta

This dish was very simple to make because there are so few steps. I have honestly never had a fritatta and so I wasn't sure what to expect. A fritatta is basically an oven baked omlet dish filled with whatever you like.

Here is what you need for an oven baked fritatta

8 eggs, 3/4 cup milk, dash of pepper and garlic powder, 1 cup shredded cheese, 2 cups diced ham, mushrooms and 2 cups baby spinach. (*note, you can opt to change any of the last 4 ingredients based on your likes/dislikes)


Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer ingredients in a 9 inch pie dish. I did 2 layers- cheese, ham, spinach, mushrooms and repeat.


Step 2: Mix 8 eggs, 3/4 cup milk, a dash of pepper and garlic powder in a bowl.


Step 3: Wisk together well.

Step 4: Pour over your layered ingredients (*note: my eggs did not totally cover my ingredients, but while the dish was cooking the eggs puffed up and I pressed the top ingredients down into the eggs so it wouldn't burn on top)

Step 5: Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. I used a stoneware pie dish and mine took an hour to bake. It really depends on what type of dish you use as to how long it takes to cook. You want a nice brown color on top (see photo) and the center should not be liquid. You can also do the knife test to make sure it comes out clean.


Cut, serve and Enjoy!


Meal serves: 6

Cost of meal: $5.00
Cost per person: $.83

Winner of the baby cereal!

Thank you to all of you who commented on our baby cereal giveaway. We enjoy so much having you all to share our meal planning with. Congratulations for The Keevy Family, for winning the three boxes of cereal giveaway. It will be sent out this weekend to you, upon receiving your shipping address. To the rest of you, keep coming back because we will have more giveaways in the future.

Friday: Grilled Pesto and Mozzarella Burgers with Garlic Mozzarella homade fries

This meal was a take-off from a similar meal we had in a restaurant. If you have never used Pesto before, you have got to try it! It may not look good, but it is so tasty. My husband who is one of the pickiest eaters I know, LOVES PESTO and even puts extra on his burger. Pesto can be used on meat, pasta, potatoes etc. It is so versatile and one jar goes a LONG WAY!

Here is what you need to make the garlic homeade potatoes:

2 baking potatoes (use 1 for each person eating), Garlic Salt

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degree. Then cut your potatoes to the thickness you prefer. We like to leave the skin on.

Step 2: Place them in a bowl of water until you are ready to bake to prevent browning.

Step 3: Spread potatoes on cookie sheet and sprinkle with Garlic Salt. (I use quite a bit, but use your own judgement!) Place in preheated oven and back for 20 min. or until done.

Step 4: We like to sprinkle with mozzarella cheese when they are done.



Here is what you need to make you grilled pesto and mozzarella burgers:


1 lb hamburger or 1/4 lb for each person, hamburger buns, pesto and mozzarella (shredded or sliced)


Step 1: Preheat your grill. Then you will want to score your meat to make sure you have enough burgers for each person. Divide one chunk of meat (for one person) into two patties. Every person needs to patties to make one burger.

Step 2: Place a spoonful of pesto on each single patty.

Step 4: Place the other single patty over the pesto and seal the edges. You now have a pesto stuffed burger!

Step 5: Grill your burgers, add mozzarella and add a little more pesto on top (optional)

Step 6: Serve with your garlic potato fries. Yum! (Yes, it was a paper plate night!)

Meal Serves: 4
Cost of Meal: $4.00
Cost per person $1.00

Thursday: Fresh Fish, Rice and Steamed Sweet Peas

Fresh fish is a huge favorite in our family. We don't have it too often, but when we do it's a treat!
Many people are turned away from fresh fish because they don't know how to cook it properly. It is so easy and quick to make!

Here is what you need:

Fresh Fish (1 piece per person, we used Tilapia), Rice Pilaf (or your choice), frozen sweet peas, lemon pepper (or your choice of seasoning)

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Then sprinkle seasoning on your pan for your fish.

Step 2: Place fish on pan (we use a cookie sheet), then sprinkle with an adequate amount of seasoning. Then put in the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes.
Step 3: Start cooking your rice and veggies.

Step 4: After 15 minutes, check your fish. It should all be white and you can flake it with a fork.

Step 5: Dinner is served! (Notice: I totally forgot to cook my veggies! I totally had mommy brain, we sat down to eat and then I noticed it! My husband added some garlic biscuits as well.)

Meal serves: 2
Cost of meal: $4.00 (rice a roni was FREE and biscuits were 30 cents- check out coupons.com on our left sidebar!)
Cost per person: $2.00

Wednesday Night: Bubble Pizza

This is a family favorite and was very popular last time I posted this recipe. We have it when company comes over, when someone needs a meal brought to them or on my husband's pizza night of the week. It is so easy to make. When I cook, I like to cook- forget the recipe. This is one of those recipes that you can EASILY memorize for a night when you want to make something that is super easy and everyone loves!

Here is what you need:

Ingredients: 2 cups pizza cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand), browned sausage (you can also use pepperoni, hamburger or bacon), 1 jar of pizza sauce, 2 tubes buttermilk biscuits. *Note: I don't put veggies in this b/c my family doesn't like the veggies, but feel free to add whatever you would order on your own pizza.

Step #1: Brown and drain the meat.

Step #2: Cut the 2 tubes of biscuits into quarters.

Step #3: Put the biscuits into a bowl along with the jar of pizza sauce.

Step #4: Add the meat and any other toppings you may have.

Step #6: Mix it all together.

Step #7: Pour into a baking dish (ungreased).

Step #8: Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Step #9- No, I didn't forget the cheese! After baking for 20 minutes, take it out and add your cheese. Now pop it back in the over for 10 more minutes.


Now you are finished! This is so yummy it is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. . Sounds frugal to me!

Cost of Meal- $5.00
Serves- 6 people
Cost per person- 75 cents per person

Pretty FRUGAL!

Enter to win FREEBIE!!

This one goes to all the mommies of babies out there. One box of infant cereal can go a long way. Just think how long three boxes would last you! :) One lucky blog reader will be given three boxes of infant cereal. Just post a comment to this post between now and Thursday, November 6, at midnight and you will be entered into our drawing. Winner will be notified and cereal will be sent Friday, or as soon as we are given the mailing address to ship them to. Good luck to you!

Tuesday:Chili Mac w/ Garlic Bread

Yum, Yum, YUM! This is definitely a favorite for our family. Super easy, too!

Here is what you need:



This recipe is for 4 people- if you have more than 4 people, double each ingredient.
1 can beanless chili (chili w/ beans works too!), 3/4 can ketchup, 1 tbs. worchestershire sauce, 1 box of spaghetti, parmesan cheese or other toppings. Garlic Bread (not pictured)

Step 1: (Not pictured) Cook your spaghetti and preheat your oven for your garlic bread.

Step 2:
Pour beanless chili into pan turned on medium heat.
Step 3: Fill the empty chili can 3/4 full with ketchup and then pour and mix w/chili in pan.


Step 4: Add 1 Tb. worchestershire sauce and stir. (At this point, taste your chili mac. Some people like to add more ketchup or worchestershire sauce.)

Step 5: Cook your garlic bread, let your pasta drain and your sauce heat up.

Step 6: Add it all together! We like to shred some cheese (whatever we have on hand!) on top as well. This dish is also great with crumbled saltines on top, beans and onions.


Meal serves 4

Cost of Meal: $2.25
Per person: 56 cents

Excellent, Frugal, Tasty Meal!

Monday: Sweet Pea Fried Rice

I love Chinese, especially fried rice! I made this dish without any meat, but feel free to add bacon, chicken or whatever you like to your rice bowl!

Here is what you need:
8 green onions, white and light green parts, 1 clove garlic- chopped, 6 cups cooked rice, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 10 oz package frozen green peas (thawed), 4 large eggs-beaten, salt and pepper.


Step 1: Slice and Dice your green onions- use both light and dark green parts

Step 2: Cook your rice- you need about 6 cups after cooking


Step 3: Dice up 1 clove of garlic

Step 4: Heat up about 2 tbs. vegetable oil to medium heat and add garlic and green onions


Just a Tip- I cooked mine TOO LONG (see below)! You really only need to cook them about 3 minutes. If you overcook they won't be as tasty!

Step 5: Add 6 cups COOKED Rice to cooked garlic and green onions

Step 6: Add 1/4 cup soy sauce and stir


Step 7: Add 1 pkg. thawed sweet peas, stir.


Step 8: Beat 4 eggs
Step 9: Push rice mixture to one side


Step 10: Pour in eggs and cook

Step 11: Cook until eggs are slightly scrambled


Step 12: Mix scrambled eggs w/ rice


Step 13: Serve and ENJOY!


Price of Meal: $3.00
Serves: 6
Cost per serving: 50 cents

One of my favorite chinese dishes is chow mein, but I've never found a good recipe for this.

Does anyone out there have a great chow mein recipe? I'd love to hear it!