Here are five diverse, effortless weeknight meals economical, well-balanced, home cooked (more or less) and sure to please your hungry family. First, the menu: 1) baked spaghetti, salad and Italian bread, 2) chicken pot pie, fruit, biscuits, 3) tacos with rice and corn sides, 4) Grilled chicken, broccoli, macaroni and cheese, and 5) hamburger steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans. These will easily serve a family of four.

Your grocery list:
3 pounds of lean ground beef
2 pounds of chicken breast cutlets (tenderloins)
spaghetti
macaroni
pasta sauce or make your own
loaf Italian bread
lettuce
tomatoes
shredded cheddar cheese (3 cups)
shredded Italian cheese (1 cup)
taco seasoning mix
jar of gravy
cream of chicken soup
tortillas or taco shells
frozen green beans
frozen broccoli
frozen or canned corn
frozen mixed vegetables
biscuit mix (like Bisquik or Jiffy)
potatoes
rolls

You will also need from your pantry: eggs, milk, sour cream, salsa, salt, pepper, grill seasoning, salad dressing and rice.

When you arrive home with your groceries, divide your ground beef into 3 portions, 1 pound for spaghetti, 1 pound for tacos, 1 pound made into 4 patties. Divide your chicken into 1 pound each portions.

Let's cook!

1st dinner: Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients needed: 1 lb. ground beef, spaghetti, pasta sauce, Italian
cheese, salad ingredients, Italian bread
Preparation: Brown ground beef, drain off fat, and add to pasta sauce.
Heat through. Cook pasta, salt, drain. Place pasta in prepared baking
dish,pour sauce over pasta, top with shredded Italian cheese.
Place in 350 oven, heat through. While heating, prepare a salad and slice
and toast the Italian bread.

2nd dinner: Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients needed: 1 lb chicken cutlets, cream of mushroom soup,water,
mixed vegetables, biscuit mix, milk, applesauce or fruit
Preparation: Cook and cube one pound of chicken cutlets.
Mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup and 1 cup water or chicken broth
Mix 1 cup Bisquick or biscuit mix and 1 cup milk
Slightly thaw 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
Place cubed chicken into prepared baking dish, top with vegetables, pour
soup mixture over chicken and vegetables and top with bisquick mixture.
Bake at 425 for 30 minutes until top

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Creative cheap meals for busy parents?
We want to hear your view. Write now!