https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 15:22:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-351313 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:45:08 +0000 808love 351313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>like this thread!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-351307 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:40:20 +0000 sunny 351307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kalua pork in the slow cooker. We just made this and it was delicious and it made 6 dinner portions.</p> <p>4-5 lbs pork shoulder<br /> Cabbage<br /> Rice<br /> Liquid smoke<br /> Sea salt</p> <p>I used the recipe here <a href="http://www.lafujimama.com/2009/12/slow-cooker-kalua-pig/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lafujimama.com/2009/12/slow-cooker-kalua-pig/</a></p> <p>After you shred the pork, put chopped up cabbage back in the slow cooker with the pork and let it simmer for another hour or so. I think the cabbage adds a nice texture.</p> <p>Then serve it all over rice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-350262 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:35:31 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 350262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Japanese Curry!! A big batch can last us 3-4 days and the most expensive item is probably the curry roux! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-350038 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:24:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 350038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: Oh good call! I'll check there. We are going to force ourself to MAKE space! I think we'll put it in our walk in closet.We purchased a frozen veggie share from a local farm and will need it for that anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-350033 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:23:50 +0000 annie624 350033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My go-to cheapie meal is done in the crock pot... It's:<br /> -1 can black beans<br /> -1 can corn<br /> -1 packet taco seasoning<br /> -2 frozen chicken breasts</p> <p>You can eat this over tortilla chips with salsa &amp; cheese... Then with the leftovers I make chicken tortilla soup. Yum yum yum :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349950 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:53:11 +0000 regberadaisy 349950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: @dagret: @Sammyfab: not at the moment :) But when my ILs come back I think they would be interested in splitting a meat purchase with us. They've already expressed interested in splitting our veggie share with us. Currently we do a individual share and eat that no problem so we might up to a family share when they come back. :)<br /> We're huge buy when cheap in bulk people so we would def split a cow/pig and freeze. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349890 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:18:37 +0000 dagret 349890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: if you have the space, i find they come up on craigslist fairly often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349883 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:16:07 +0000 Mrs. Pen 349883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: @yoursilverlining: my dad and sister do that. I've wanted to but we don't have a chest freezer. I told DH we need to get one!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349879 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:13:44 +0000 Mrs. Pen 349879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I hear ya! We want to buy a quarter cow to save even more. Why don't you consider asking if they offer payment plans? Our CSA was like that, we pay a monthly fee instead one big upfront cost </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349858 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:03:10 +0000 Sammyfab 349858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Regberadaisy: Just wanted to chime in and say that we also split a 1/4 or 1/2 cow of grass-fed beef with my sisters and their partners. It's awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349837 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:54:46 +0000 dagret 349837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: @regberadaisy: we do what @yoursilverlining suggests and split a half cow with a friend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349766 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:31:31 +0000 yoursilverlining 349766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Do you have anyone you could go in on the meat purchase with? We buy a half pig/half cow at a time, but it’s so much meat (and pricey for a single purchase, though it’s cheaper in the long run) so we usually go halfsies with a friend/family member/co-worker. Then you don’t have to spend so much $$ at once. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349760 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:27:50 +0000 lindseykaye 349760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A couple favorites of mine (ours) - and an fyi - I'm a coupon shopper / stockpiler so my prices are based on what I have recently paid for these items and may be a bit higher if you're just picking them up at the store when not on sale and paired with coupons :)</p> <p>Black bean and corn chili<br /> 2 cans black beans (or about 3 cups if you cook from dry like myself) $1.60 cans/$0.60 dried<br /> 2 cans diced tomatoes $2<br /> 1 can corn $0.75<br /> 1 cup beef broth $0.60<br /> 1 onion - $0.75<br /> 1 chili seasoning packet - $0.80<br /> Cheddar cheese - $0.50<br /> Sour Cream - $0.20<br /> Cooked White Rice ($0.50), tortilla chips ($0.50), baked potatoes ($0.50) to serve the chili over<br /> = about $7+<br /> Makes two dinners for two and two lunch servings, coming to just over $1 each serving!</p> <p>Channa Masala<br /> 2 cans chickpeas - $1.60<br /> 2 cans diced tomatoes - $2<br /> 1 onion - $0.75<br /> 1 small bag/box of frozen peas - $1<br /> seasonings: curry powder, garam masala, ground ginger- $0.50<br /> Cooked white rice - $0.50<br /> Naan bread if you're feeling fancy - $2.99/pkg<br /> = $6.35 ($9.35 with bread)<br /> Makes two dinner servings for two and two lunches, again coming to about $1 each (with the naan it's about $1.60 each).</p> <p>Southwest Breakfast bowl<br /> 3 cups grits - $0.70<br /> 1/2 cup cheddar or jack cheese - $0.50<br /> 1 can black beans (or 1 cup from dry, cooked beans) - $0.80 cans/$0.20 dry)<br /> Seasonings - chili powder, cumin - $0.50<br /> prepared salsa - $0.10<br /> sour cream - $0.20<br /> Prepare grits (with milk if you like, then add a little more to the cost), add cheese. Cook black beans in a skillet with seasonings to taste. Serve black beans over cheese grits with salsa and sour cream<br /> = $2.20+<br /> Makes two dinners </p> <p>Love these ideas from everyone - I'll have to add a few things to my rotation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349691 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:44:20 +0000 anonysquire 349691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>McDonald's</p> <p>Double cheeseburger no onions $1.19 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349681 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:35:45 +0000 regberadaisy 349681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: ok just gas alone is HUGE savings! There are actually tons of local farms near us that raise free range no hormones, cows, pigs, chickens, etc. We've been meaning to try it but usually you have to buy in bulk so it's never been a good time to fork over $100+. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349315 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:06:15 +0000 pinkcupcake 349315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great ideas!! I usually do pasta sauce with leftover veggies (I'll use frozen veggies like peas and corn if I don't have anything fresh) and ground beef. One jar of pasta sauce usually runs like $3, beef is usually $4, and the pasta is around $2. This makes at least 6 meals! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-349100 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:17:29 +0000 alayaya 349100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of ideas! I wish I liked beans...</p> <p>Another thing I like to make is fried rice (we eat a lot of rice in our house)</p> <p>Scramble a couple of eggs with some garlic. fry up some veggies, add leftover cooked rice and fry that for a while, then add the egg back in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347807 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:33:51 +0000 Mrs. Pen 347807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Oh!! One idea though is maybe you could find a local farm that raises cows? There is one about 25 minutes from me that sells Organic grass-fed beed for half the price that Whole Foods does! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347802 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:32:58 +0000 Mrs. Pen 347802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: we don't eat beef much haha!! We eat 75% organic and all of our meat is organic for sure, most of our produce is. It's REALLY hard.. but it's a priority. So we have no "fun" money ever. We don't buy clothes, we don't get babysitters, go to movies, rent movies, eat out etc. It helps that we live less than a mile from DH's work so he bikes to work most days. If it's raining, he takes the car so we pay very little in gas. :)<br /> Also, meat has now become more of a "fun" food. We only eat meat 2-3x a week or else we wouldn't be able to afford it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347798 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:30:13 +0000 regberadaisy 347798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: wow! I don't know how you do the organic/grass fed on one income!!! I'm impressed!! We would love to try that one day but probably only for a special occasion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347796 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:28:25 +0000 MediaNaranja 347796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My favorite is rice, beans, and a fried egg on top. I like to get dried beans and cook them in big batches in the crock pot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347776 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:17:36 +0000 Mrs. Pen 347776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I get expensive ground beef, I only buy organic grass fed so it's actually much more expensive, usually upwards of $4. But when our local grocery stores does BOGO's on 1 lb beef packages it can be pretty cheap :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347774 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:16:21 +0000 regberadaisy 347774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: that sounds really good! What kind of g beef do you buy? We get 90/10 and the cheapest I've ever seen that is $1.88/lb.</p> <p>@Lozza: omg love the weekly dinner date idea!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347703 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:50:10 +0000 lovehoneybee 347703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@keiki_mama: It depends. Sometimes Italian spices...rosemary, bay leaves, oregano or thyme...or herbs de provence. Sometimes I want a more middle eastern vibe so I add ginger, cardamom, cumin, cayenne, nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander, turmeric, and ground cloves. Sometimes just curry powder. </p> <p>If it's a basic pot I add garlic, onion, liquid smoke, Worcestershire, and usually thyme or savory and cayenne (I like mine a little spicy).</p> <p>And I always salt and pepper to taste, of course.</p> <p>ETA: And every so often I add in taco seasoning and use them in place of ground beef in tacos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347696 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:48:23 +0000 Dapple Grey 347696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eggs!</p> <p> Costco has some great bulk savings, as well as some local farmers if you buy weekly the farm fresh type.</p> <p>- Omelettes with any left over scraps/veggies/meats/cheeses<br /> - crust-less quiche using the same method of throwing together whatever I can scrounge<br /> -Frittata<br /> -Fried, Scrambled, Poached, Hard boiled<br /> -Egg salad</p> <p>It does get boring...but if your in a pinch it's quite filling and cost effective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347644 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:25:37 +0000 keiki_mama 347644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a fantastic thread! Keep the suggestions coming--this is great for next week's meal planning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347634 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:22:20 +0000 dagret 347634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like making a roast chicken, then making soup the next day, and a casserole the day after that like @alayaya.</p> <p>I also like to make a pot roast in the crockpot or oven, then making quesadillas the next night, and pot roast/mushroom soup the day after that. </p> <p>We had a meal the other night that was so GOOD, inexpensive and filling: It was collard and beet greens with bacon over polenta, topped with a fried egg. (or collard greens with grits and eggs if you aren't fancy.)</p> <p>cost breakdown (and I'm probably over-exaggerating here):<br /> 2 eggs 50 cents (locally raised),<br /> greens (organic, local, from CSA w/bacon and onion) $3, polenta (corn meal, milk, water, butter, some parm) $3. </p> <p>So maybe $6.50 for 2 meals and a lunch? It'd be even cheaper if you used conventional eggs, milk and produce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347631 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:21:29 +0000 keiki_mama 347631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FutureMrsMcK: What spices do you use to cook your lentils? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347573 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:07:17 +0000 tororojo 347573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My quickest, cheapest meals are grilled cheese and tomato soup (from a can) or mac and cheese (from a box) with veggies (frozen broccoli or fresh tomato, bell pepper, etc.) and/or meat mixed in to make it heartier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/your-best-stretch-the-dollar-meal#post-347514 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:49:39 +0000 BoogieBea 347514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a specific meal but I do something similar to alayaya. I break down a whole chicken - use the thighs, legs, wings in one meal, breast for another meal and what's left for soups/stocks. </p>