Even More Cheap Meals and Cheap Cooking Tips

My first article on cheap meals has been my most read article on Associated Content, so here are a few tips and a couple recipes to help you save money in the kitchen.

It is necessary to note that I am not a nutritionist or have any expertise in this area. I'm just a guy who is cheap and learned to cook quick and cheap from many years on my own. The following ideas are not loaded in nutritional value and your first job as cook is to assure your family's health.

First, the most important rule is that cheap ingredients make cheap meals. Potatoes, bread, vegetables, and anything homemade need to be foundation that your meals are built around. Meat, dairy, and fresh fruit are becoming more expensive and need to be used less often in order to save money.

Second shop your local store ads (most national supermarkets have circulars online). Plan your meals around the meats and other items that they have on sale. For quick meals, frozen dinner entrées can often be bought inexpensively. While not as cheap as making it yourself, they are certainly cheaper than eating out. Pot pies and ramen noodles should be on hand in all budget conscious homes.

Now here are three more cheap recipes.

Baked potatoes are simple to make, but rather plain to eat. A great way to improve on an old favorite is as follows: Slice the potato side to side about ¾ of the way through for the length of the potato. From the top the potato should look a bit like a slinky. Cover the potato with butter (and seasoning of your choice) and bake as normal. A few minutes before being done, take the potato out of the oven and cover with shredded cheese (buy it in a block and shred it yourself). To add a different spin to it, try barbeque sauce on the potato before adding butter. Serve the potato with a small amount of meat and a large serving of vegetables to make a great meal.

Potato soup is surprisingly easy to make and is also very inexpensive. Peel and dice about 6 medium sized potatoes and a small onion. Then place a large pot on the stove over medium heat. Throw a couple tablespoons of butter into the pot. After it melts, add the diced onions and sauté until the onions get clear looking. Then add a couple cups of water and the diced potatoes. The water should about cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil while stirring to assure the potatoes aren't burning. Boil the potatoes until they soften and add a little milk to make the soup creamy. Serve with crackers. You can garnish the soup with cheese if you like. You can also add crumbled bacon or sausage as well.

When you get a deal on hamburger, here is an idea. Brown the burger and drain the grease. Add a can or two of baked beans to the meat and cook over low for a few minutes. Remember to keep stirring to not burn the beans. Add ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar to taste. Serve with green beans, peas, or other vegetables.

One last tip, always keep an eye out for a deal!