Eating well on a budget can seem difficult. Rich flavor often comes at a price, one that can easily tax the means of an average family. However, there are many practical ways to cut the cost of your meals without sacrificing quality. With a little know-how, you can supplement many high-end ingredients with cheaper alternatives to create tasty meals at a fraction of the price.
Rosemary Turkey Stew
This recipe for rosemary turkey stew feeds approximately eight people and it rounds out, cost-wise, to about $1.09 per serving. To make it, you will need two raw turkey legs, three quarts of water, one ounce of orzo and a cup each of raisins, sliced zucchini and carrots. Along with these ingredients, the recipe requires black pepper and dried rosemary, sage and oregano. Place the turkey legs and water in a large, stove-top pot. Add in a teaspoon of each seasoning and heat the pot on high. Next, put in the raisins, orzo, zucchini and carrots. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium and let the mixture stew on low for about two hours.
Turkey and Dijon Sliders
These turkey and Dijon mustard sliders costs about 90 cents per serving, and the recipe yields 16 servings. The meat patties are made from 20 ounces of ground turkey, a clove of minced garlic, two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, one teaspoon each of salt and pepper, a half-teaspoon each of dried basil and oregano, and 16 dinner rolls.
For the Dijon sauce, combine a tablespoon of honey-Dijon mustard with 1/3 cup of regular mayonnaise, mix them thoroughly, and then set aside. Mix the patty ingredients in a large bowl, and then separate them into 16 flat, circular disks. Lubricate a rectangular baking pan and place the patties on it. Cook them, in the oven, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 10 minutes or until done. Slice the rolls into buns, place meat patties on each one, top them with the sauce and then the other half of the rolls.
Eggs and Bacon Pitas
The cost of this meal falls at the low end of our list at 95 cents a serving. It is designed to feed four. To make it, you will need four eggs, a pack of Canadian bacon, water, two rounds of pita bread and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Put the eggs and three ounces of chopped Canadian bacon in a bowl with the salt and three tablespoons of water. Mix thoroughly. Oil a non-stick frying pan and heat it over a medium burner. Pour in the egg mixture and let it cook until the entire bottom is firm. Using a heat-resistant utensil, flip the eggs and allow the other side to cook. When done, chop the egg mixture into a scramble-like texture. Cut the two pita rounds into halves and stuff each half with eggs and bacon.
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