Archive for the ‘* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving’ Category
Tater Tot Green Bean Casserole
This is an easy to put together casserole and is quite tasty and filling. Versatile recipe, use mini hash browns in place of tater tots, use fresh cooked, frozen, or even canned green beans.
Equipment
- Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh long beans, or green beans, or frozen and thawed, or 1 can, drained
- 500 grams ground beef, or ground pork, (1 lb)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g each)
- ¼ cup milk
- 250 grams Cheddar cheese, shredded, (8 oz)
- 1 kilo bag frozen tater tots, or frozen mini hash browns, (2 lb, you will not use them all)
- salt and pepper, as desired
Instructions
- I used fresh long beans, cut them into 1 inch pieces and boiled them until just tender crisp, drain.
- While the beans are cooking, heat a large non stick pan and add the beef and onion, season with salt and pepper as desired. Cook, breaking up the beef, until the beef is browned. Drain any excess fat.Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), get out a 9x13 baking dish.
- To the pan with the drained beef, add the drained long beans, soup, milk, and season with black pepper as desired.
- Mix together until combined.
- Pour mixture into the baking dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the mixture, then add a single layer of frozen tater tots or mini hash browns on top of the cheese.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is browned and casserole is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes, served and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving.
Chicken & Black Bean Casserole
This recipe comes from the Just a Pinch Recipe Club, common ingredients, easy to assemble, and delicious!
Equipment
- 1 Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
Ingredients
- 750 grams chicken breast, boneless, skinless, (1½ lb)
- ⅔ cup lime juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 2 cans black beans, undrained, (400 g / 14 oz each)
- 1 can corn, drained, (425 g / 15 oz)
- 1 can diced tomatoes, drained, (565 g / 20 oz)
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces and add to a mixing bowl.
- To the chicken, add the lime juice, olive oil, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of each, salt and garlic powder. Mix into the chicken. Cover and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 2 hours or even overnight.
- After 2 hours, to another mixing bowl, add the rice, undrained beans, drained corn, drained diced tomatoes, cilantro, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of each, salt and garlic powder. Mix together. Photo taken right before I added the corn.
- Take the chicken out from the fridge and remove the cover. Heat a large non stick pan on medium heat, and pour the chicken and marinade into the pan. Simmer until the chicken turns white, stirring often.Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F) and get out a 9x13 baking dish.
- Now if you are like me and underestimate the size of a mixing bowl, go ahead and transfer the rice and beans mixture to a larger mixing bowl, or as I did, I used a large pot. Now pour the cooked chicken and the liquid, into the pot, mix together.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the baking pan and spread out evenly. This is a quite wet mixture but will thicken as it bakes.
- Bake for 40 minutes uncovered. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving based on the canned goods used.
French Meat Pie
This recipe comes from a friend, who got it from her great-great grandparents who were French Canadian. I made this on 9 Jan 2024 and it is not only easy to put together, takes some time, but easy, and my family loved this! This is an excellent dish that I will have to make more often. Common ingredients as well.
Equipment
- Pie Dish (9 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 680 grams ground pork, (1½ lb)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup water
- 2 large potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks, (I used 3 regular potatoes from Tesco)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 1 double pie crust, homemade or store bought, Shortcut
Instructions
- To a pot, add the pork, onion, garlic, and water. Place on medium low heat, breaking up the pork with a large spoon and stir occasionally.
- Once the pork is started, add the potato pieces to another pot, add water to cover by an inch or so and bring to a boil, just like you are making mashed potatoes. Cook the potatoes until fork tender, drain.
- Cook the pork for about 1-1½ hours or until the water is evaporated, but do not brown the meat, only a little fat should remain on the bottom. Remove from heat but leave in the pot.
- When the potatoes are drained, mash with a large fork or potato masher, but do not add any milk or butter, you are just mashing the potatoes only.
- Add the mashed potatoes to the pork, sprinkle in the salt, pepper, cloves, and allspice. Mix with a large spoon. Taste and add more spices to taste.If making the pie crust, go ahead and prepare that now.
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F) and get out a 9 inch pie dish. Place a pie crust in the bottom of the dish and add the filling.
- Top the dish with the second pie crust, flute, and cut some slits in the top to vent steam.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30-45 minutes or until the top is lightly browning.
- Slice into serving sizes.
- Serve with a salad or vegetable, and cranberry sauce is excellent with this dish as well.
Notes
Meatballs & Gravy V
I made this from a combination of meatball and gravy recipes to narrow down to a low ingredient count yet great on flavor, for a fairly quick meal. This recipe also uses store bought Thai beef & chicken meatballs.
Ingredients
- 500 grams Thai beef meatballs, (1 lb)
- 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g each)
- 2 cups beef gravy, (I use Bisto)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- hot cooked egg noodles, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a pot of salted water to a boil then add your noodles, amount is up to you. Cook until just tender, drain.
- After starting the noodles, add the meatballs to another medium size pot and add water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and let meatballs cook until they have expanded and float. Remove from heat and drain.
- After starting the meatballs, to another pot, add the soup, gravy, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce, and mix together. Place on low heat, stir sauce occasionally.
- When the meatballs are done, and drained, add to the sauce and mix together. Continue heating on low until the egg noodles are done.
- Serve meatballs and gravy over egg noodles, and with a side of veggies, and you have a nice meal. Enjoy.
Cheesy Potato & Ham Casserole
This recipe comes from the Just a Pinch Recipe Club and is sounds delicious, with common ingredients used. I made this on 3 Nov 2023, excellent casserole! Family loved this.
Equipment
- 2 Mixing Bowls (large)
- Casserole (3 quart)
Ingredients
- 1 kilo potatoes, peeled, diced, (2 lb)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2¼ cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 250 grams sour cream, (8 oz)
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, (10½ oz / 298 g)
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g)
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), get out a 3 quart casserole and grease with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the soups and sour cream and mix together.
- In another large mixing bowl, add the diced potatoes, 2 cups of shredded cheese, onion, and black pepper. Mix together. I used a 4 cheese blend.
- Add the potato mixture and diced ham to the soup mixture. Mix together.
- Pour mixture into the prepared casserole and spread out evenly.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Add remaining ¼ cup shredded cheese on top.
- Bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving based on the ham and cheese used.
Updated on 3 November 2023.
Chicken Nugget Tater Tot Casserole
Sounds like an excellent version of a tater tot casserole using chicken nuggets. I made this on 11 Oct 2023, and it very well liked by the family, this is a delicious and easy casserole to put together.
Equipment
- Foil
- Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 500 grams frozen chicken nuggets, about 30, (1 lb)
- 2 cans condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g each)
- ½ cup milk
- 500 grams frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, or a cheese blend
- 500 grams frozen mini hash browns, (1 lb)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), line a baking sheet with foil. Also get out a 9x13 inch baking dish and grease with butter.
- Spread the chicken nuggets out on the prepared baking sheet, place in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes.
- While the nuggets are baking, add the soup and milk to a mixing bowl, mix together.
- Remove the nuggets from the oven, place them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Evenly pour the soup mixture over the nuggets.
- Sprinkle the frozen vegetables over the soup mixture.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the vegetables. I used a 4 cheese blend.
- Top with an even layer of the mini hash browns or tater tots.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes or until the top is getting brown and the casserole bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy.
Ham & Sour Cream Casserole
This is an easy and delicious casserole to put together. I made this on 4 Sep 2023, and the family and I really enjoyed this.
Equipment
- Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 500 grams dry macaroni, (1 lb)
- 500 grams sour cream, (1 lb)
- 3 eggs
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 500 grams ham, cubed, (1 lb)
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), get out a 9x13 baking dish.
- Heat a pot of salted water to boiling, then add the macaroni and cook until almost tender, drain.
- While the macaroni is cooking, add the sour cream, eggs, pepper, and nutmeg to a mixing bowl and mix together.
- To the mixing bowl, add the cubed ham and peas and mix together.
- Heat the oil in a non stick pan, when hot, add the onion and garlic, sauté until onion is softened. Drain any oil, then add the onion to the mixing bowl and mix in.
- When the pasta is cooked and drained, add the sour cream mixture to the macaroni and mix together.
- Pour mixture into the 9x13 baking dish and spread out evenly.
- Top with the Cheddar cheese evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is just starting to brown.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving based on the ham, sour cream, and Cheddar used.
Updated on 4 September 2023.
Rice A Roni Casserole
Use chicken or ham when preparing this. I made this on 26 Jun 2023, using chicken thighs and my family and visiting friends and family, all loved this dish! This is highly recommended. I made this again on 7 Jul 2023 using cubed ham, and family loved this as well! Link to the Shortcut is listed in the Notes section.
Equipment
- Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken thighs or breasts, boneless, skinless, chopped, or cubed ham, (1 lb)
- 2 boxes Rice a Roni, chicken flavor, Shortcut
- 1 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces, (frozen use 10 oz / 285 g)
- 2 cans condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g each)
- 250 grams Cheddar cheese, shredded, (8 oz)
Instructions
- Cook the chicken your preferred way, such as boil, pressure cook, or bake, then chop the chicken, removing the bones, skin, gristle.If using ham, just cube that.
- While the chicken is cooking prepare the Rice a Roni using the package instructions, or prepare 2 batches using the Shortcut, which is my preferred way.
- While all that is cooking, steam or simmer the broccoli until it is tender crisp. Drain.
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), and get out a 9x13 baking dish and grease with butter or non stick spray.
- To a large mixing bowl or large pot, add the chicken or ham, Rice a Roni, and drained broccoli, and mix together.
- Add the soup and mix that in.
- Spoon mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle with the cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is starting to brown on top. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving.
Shortcut: Rice a Roni (Rice Cooker).
Variants: 1. Use cubed ham, cooked and chopped chicken thighs or chicken breasts. 2. For the soup, use 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of cream of chicken soup in place of the 2 cans of condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup.
Updated on 7 July 2023.
Ham & Pineapple Pasta Salad
I made this on 11 Jun 2023, easy to put together. The Thai family and I loved this! Excellent flavor. Highly recommended.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 250 grams dry bow tie pasta, (8 oz)
- 1 can pineapple, sliced or tidbits, reserve juice, (14 oz / 400 g)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
- 2-3 spring onions, thinly sliced, green and white parts
For the Dressing
- ½ cup mayo
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste, as desired
Instructions
- Prep the ham, bell pepper, spring onion, and pineapple. Drain and reserve the juice from the pineapple as you will need some for the dressing. If you have tidbits, use them as is, if you have sliced rings, then cut them into pieces. Add the prepped ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Heat a pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta and cook until just tender. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking.
- While the pasta is cooking, add the Dressing ingredients to a small mixing bowl and mix together until smooth.
- Add the drained pasta and dressing to the salad ingredients, gently mix together. Cover and place in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours.
- Serve as a light lunch or dinner, enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving.
Meat Ball Stew
This recipe is from a cookbook titled Farm Journal's Country Cookbook, printed in 1972. With me being in Thailand, ready made meatballs are not a problem so the ingredients and instructions will reflect meatballs from scratch, Thai store bought, and US store bought. I made this on 31 May 2023 using Thai store bought meatballs.
Equipment
- Casserole (3 quart)
- Oven
Ingredients
For Meatballs from Scratch
- 750 grams ground beef, (1½ lb)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- ½ cup soft breadcrumbs
For Thai store bought Meatballs
- 750 grams beef meatballs, (1½ lb)
For US store bought Meatballs
- 750 grams frozen beef meatballs, thawed, Walmart or Kroger brands would be perfect, (1½ lb)
Remaining Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained, (565 g / 20 oz)
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 small carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
Instructions
For Meatballs from Scratch
- In a mixing bowl, add the ground beef, salt, pepper, egg, onion, and breadcrumbs.
- Mix together then form into balls about 3 cm (1 inch) in diameter.
- Heat the oil in a large non stick pan, when hot, add meatballs, working in batches if needed, and brown the meatballs. Removed browned meatballs to a 3 quart casserole.
For Thai store bought Meatballs
- These are refrigerated and not cooked when bought, follow these steps for preparing these meatballs.
- Heat a saucepan of water to boiling, when boiling add the meatballs and cook until cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain meatballs.
- To give the meatballs a little color, heat the oil in a large non stick pan, when hot, add the meatballs, and brown them. Removed browned meatballs to a 3 quart casserole.
For US store bought Meatballs
- Kroger and Walmart Great Value Brands would be perfect for this. These come fully cooked and frozen. Just thaw and heat through in a hot pan with a little oil then drain and place in a 3 quart casserole.
Rest of the Instructions
- While you are browning or cooking the meatballs, go ahead and prep the vegetables. I was out of celery so I just omitted that.
- Once all the meatballs are browned and removed, drain off all but 3 tablespoons of fat, if using the store bought meatballs, just melt in some butter to make the 3 tablespoons of fat. Stir in the flour.
- Add the rest of the Remaining Ingredients, bring mixture to a boil then lower heat to just a simmer and cook 10 minutes, adding additional water as needed. While mixture is simmering, preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), place a sheet of foil or a foil lined baking sheet on the bottom rack to catch any spills.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the casserole with the meatballs. Carefully mix the meatballs into the mixture.
- Cover and place on the middle rack in the oven, bake for 1 hour or until vegetables are tender. Carefully remove the cover and give the stew a stir.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving based on the use of beef.
Updated on 31 May 2023.
