Budget Friendly Meals and Home-Made Pantry Staples // Southern Wife Every Day Life

 Ground Beef Stroganoff / Togetherasfamily.com

• 3 pound lean ground beef
• 3 small onion finely diced
• 3 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1.5 teaspoon onion powder
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 teaspoon pepper
• 3 packet (0.87 oz) brown gravy mix
• 3 cup cold water
• 3 can (10 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1.5 cup sour cream
• 6 teaspoons dried parsley
• 3 bag (12 oz) wide egg noodles

INSTRUCTIONS

 

• ** Fill a pot with water and start it boiling while you cook the ground beef mixture. That way once the meat is ready to simmer, the water is already boiling and you just have to add your egg noodles in.
• In a skillet pan, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef, onion, garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper until ground beef is no longer pink.

  Drain the excess grease/liquid.
• Whisk together the contents of the gravy packet with the cold water until combined. Pour this into the ground beef.
• Add the sour cream and cream of mushroom soup and stir everything together until combined.
• Let the mixture simmer over medium or medium-low heat while the noodles cook (about 10 minutes).
• Cook noodles according to package instructions. Remember to add about 1 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water so the noodles have flavor.

  When the noodles are done cooking, drain them but do not rinse them.
• Add the noodles and dried parsley into the creamy ground beef mixture and stir together to combine.
• Serve!

** TRIPLED RECIPE **

Bread Machine Hamburger Bun Recipe

Ingredients

SCALE

• 1 1/4 c milk (I used 2%)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 c sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 3/4 c bread flour
• 1 1/4 tsp yeast
• 1 egg white
• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds

 Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. In the bread machine, place the following ingredients in order: milk, beaten egg, bread flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Make a small indentation in the middle of the ingredients and pour the yeast into the hole.
3. Push bread machine to dough setting and hit start.
4. Once the cycle is complete (1 hour and 50 minutes on my machine), place dough onto a floured surface and roll out to 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick (1/2 inch will create slightly thinner buns while 1 inch will create large, fluffy buns).
5. Using the open mouth of a mason jar or a 3.5″ round cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles and put them on two baking sheets.
6. Place the baking sheets in a warm place and allow to ride until they double in size (about one hour).
7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
8. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of each bun with the egg white wash and sprinkle on sesame seeds.
9. Bake 10-12 minutes until baked through and slightly golden on top. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Enjoy!

---

Notes

If you prefer a more brown top, broil the buns at the very end for about 30 seconds. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they don’t burn.

 

Bread Machine Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• 2 cup flour I like to use bread flour but all purpose and even a combination of AP and wheat flour works
• 1 tbsp butter softened
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup water 105-110 degrees
• 2 tbsp water additional

Doubled for 2 pizzas:

• 4 cups flour
• 2 tbsp butter softened
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/3 cups water 105-110 degrees

Instructions

• Add all ingredients into your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Make sure that the water is warm enough to proof the yeast (about 105-110 degrees).
• Turn your bread machine to the dough setting and let 'er go! After a couple minutes check on your dough. Make sure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined and that the dough is not too wet or too dry. Depending on where you live and the flour you use there can be some variances in the dough. If it's too dry, add 1 tsp of water at a time. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 tsp of flour at a time.
• The dough will raise nicely during the dough cycle. Isn't it pretty? It never ceases to amaze me what a little yeast can do 🙂
• After the bread machine is done (mine takes about 90 minutes on the dough cycle) - dump the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and work it until you achieve your desired shape.
• Depending on the size of pizza pan or pizza stone you are using, you may not need all of the dough.
• I like to lightly grease my pizza pan and dust with cornmeal. Make up your pizza and bake at 400-425 degrees for 18-25 minutes. You are looking for bubbly cheese and lightly browned crust. If you like a crunchier crust, brush some olive oil on the crust before baking.

Nutrition

Calories: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 1221mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 177IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 6mg

HOMEMADE BEEF RICE-A-RONI

Plainchicken.com

Ingredients:

• 1 cup regular long grain rice not instant
• ½ cup broken thin spaghetti
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2¾ cup beef broth
• 2 tsp beef bouillon
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 4½ tsp Worcestershire
• 1½ tsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 3 Tbsp diced canned carrots

Instructions:

• In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add broken pasta and rice. Cook until lightly brown.
• Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover.
• Cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until water is absorbed.

Rice-A-Roni Recipe savingslifestyle.com

• 1 cup, Spaghetti Noodles (broken into ½” pieces)
• 1 cup, Uncooked Long Grain Rice
• 1 tsp, Parsley Flakes
• ½ tsp, Pepper
• 2 Tbsp, Chicken or Beef Bouillon Granules
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 2 Cups Water

1. In a saucepan on medium heat add 2 Tbsp Butter and Rice-a-Roni mixture.
2. Saute until pasta and rice begin to brown, stirring constantly.
3. Add 2 cups of water and simmer until liquid is completely absorbed.

Homemade Suddenly Salad: Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad

8 oz of SMALL shells (I found them at Wal-Mart)

1 tablespoon oil

3-4 mini carrots, grated

1/2 cup frozen peas
 
2-3 tablespoons of real bacon bits (or 2-3 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled)

1/2 cup mayo or miracle whip (or your favorite mayo substitute like yogurt)

3 Tablespoons of homemade ranch seasoning (see it here)

2 Tablespoons of milk

Pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil 3-4 cups of water, adding the oil at the start.

Add the pasta

Boil for approximately 5-6 minutes then add carrots and peas

Continue to boil until pasta reaches desired tenderness.

Drain, and rinse with cold water.

Transfer to large bowl.

Mix mayo, ranch, milk, and bacon bits into small bowl. If the mix is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of milk. You do not want it to be runny, but you also do not want it to be exceptionally thick.

Stir in to cooled pasta.

Can be served immediately or refrigerated prior to serving.

 from: Where the Walnut Trees Grow

SouthernWife EverydayLife

Serves: 4

COOK

20 mins

½ lbs thin spaghetti or angle hair pasta

2 tbsp butter

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp italian seasoning

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

¼ cup parmesan cheese

• In a medium pot add in your butter, chicken broth, milk and seasoning. Bring to a boil and add in your noodles (break them in half). Reduce heat to medium low. Stir frequently, so the noodles don't stick together as they are cooking. Once noodles are cooked there will still be some liquid in the pot that's okay! Add in your parmesan cheese and stir everything together. The cheese will thicken up and make a sauce.

CHEDDAR BROCCOLI PASTA

1 cup water

1 cup milk

2 tbsp butter

¼ finely chopped broccoli

1 cup dry elbow pasta

4oz velveeta

salt and pepper

garlic powder

• Add all your ingredients except the velveeta to small/medium pot.
• Season with your heart!
• Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook the pasta through. About 10-15 minutes. There will still be a little liquid after the pasta is done.
• Add in your velveeta, stir and taste. Add more seasoning if needed

Copycat Spaghetti Os Recipe

by: Recipe.Net

Ingredients

• 26 oz tomato sauce
• 6 cups beef broth
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 8 oz macaroni salad pasta, preferably Ditalini, Anelli, or any “O”-shaped pasta
• salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper

from: iowagirlseats.com

INGREDIENTS

serves 5

• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1 large shallot or 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1 taco seasoning packet OR 1 batch homemade taco seasoning (see notes), do not add water
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1-3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup long grain white rice, such as basmati or jasmine
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Toppings: tortilla chips, salsa, sliced avocado, chopped green onions

DIRECTIONS

1. Brown ground beef with shallot in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain then return to the skillet. Add taco seasoning, salsa, and chicken broth then bring to a boil. Stir in rice then place a lid on top and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender then remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted. Place lid back on the skillet then let sit for 5 minutes before serving with toppings.

NOTES

• For the taco seasoning: Use my single packet recipe, or 1-1/2 Tablespoons of my large batch homemade taco seasoning recipe.

• Large Batch Homemade Taco Seasoning

• INGREDIENTS

  Makes ~1 cup (enough for 8lbs ground meat)

  • 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 3 Tablespoons cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon finely ground pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix all ingredients together then store in an airtight container or jar with a tight fitting lid.
  2. To use: brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 - 2-1/2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix plus 1/3 cup broth or water and simmer until liquid has thickened, 1-2 minutes.