Meals On a Budget (with recipes)
Inexpensive meal ideas usually start with chicken. Chicken is a mainstay in most homes because it can be purchased in large quantities and used in a variety of main dishes. Chicken is so versatile that one chicken can be used to create Mexican and Italian dishes as well as American classics. Stir-frying chicken with vegetables is one way to use a small amount of chicken to get big flavors.
Stir Fried Chicken with Vegetables
Ingredients:
*1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
*1 onion
*4 skinless chicken breasts (diced)
*Your choice of chopped vegetables
*2 tablespoons soy sauce
*1 Vegetable stock cube
*1 Packet of bean sprouts
*Rice
Instructions:
1. Cook the rice according to the package directions
2. Heat olive oil in a large pan or wok
3. Add onions and diced chicken
4. Cook for 5 minutes
5. Add remaining vegetables to heat and stir
6. Add water and soy sauce
7. Dissolve stock cube in a cup of boiling water
8. Add the liquid to the pan
9. Heat for 5 minutes
10. Drain the rice
Yield 4 services
Italian Pasta E Fagioli (Macaroni & Beans) is a meatless meal fit for a king. This dish was considered a poor man’s supper in Italy but when paired with fresh hot buttered bread sticks and a simple green salad on the side, everyone will love this treasured dish. It is an original Italian recipe from Sicily.
Ingredients:
*1 medium onion, chopped
*1-tablespoon oil
*1-teaspoon olive oil
*3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
*5 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
*4 15 ounce cans Great Northern beans, drained
*10 leaves fresh basil, chopped
*1 bay leaf
*2 teaspoons salt
*2 tablespoons oregano
*1-1/2 cups elbow macaroni
*Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Fry onion in large pot with oils
2. Add garlic and fry 10 minutes
3. Add tomato sauce, drained beans and
4. 1-1/2 cans of water from beans to pot
5. Mix well
6. Add fresh basil
7. Bay leaf
8. Salt
9. Oregano
10. Let simmer for 1-1/2 hour
11. Stir often
12. During last 1/2 hour crush beans to cook down to a paste or leave them whole
13. In a separate pot boil macaroni until done
14. Drain
15. Combine with sauce
16. Serve with Parmesan cheese
Serve with hot bread sticks and salad for a rich Italian experience.
Yield: 6 servings.
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