Chocolate Lava Sundaes

Kraft Food & Family
Ready in 5 minutes.

1 Jell-O Chocolate Pudding Snack
2 Scoops-1/2 cup ea.
Ice Cream Planters Nuts (Optional)

Microwave pudding in microwavable bowl for 30 seconds. Pour over 2 bowls of ice cream.
*Top with your favortie Planters nuts for a crunch.

Serves 2

Ham Cold-Plate Special

Kraft Food & Family

1 8 Sugar Snap Peas
8 Baby Carrots
1/2 Cup Grapes
6 Sclices Ham
2 TBSP. Ranch Dressing
16 Wheat Thin Crackers

Build a meal from snacks and food in the fridge. Arrange ingredients in a plate with a small serving dish of the ranch dressing.

Two-Tone Pita Melt

Kraft Food & Family Dinner
Ready in 5 minutes

1 Whole Wheat Pita
1 Tbsp. BBQ Sauce
6 Slices Ham
1/4 Shredded Cheese

Spread BBQ Sauce on pita. Top with ham and cheese. Toast in toaster oven.

Note: This recipe is for 1 serving, but you can easily make this for a family of 4.

Balsamic Chicken Salad

Kraft Food & Family Dinner
Ready in 5 minutes!

2 2 1/2 Cups Salad Greens
1 Package Chicken Breast Strips
1/4 Cup Cashews
2 TBSP Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl.

Note: This serves 2, but can easily be doubled.

Hamburger & Potato Bake

1 Lb Ground Beef

2 Lbs Potatoes Peeled & Chopped

2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Onion Chopped

Salt

Pepper

In an skillet, fry potatoes and onions until tender. Salt and pepper to taste. While potatoes and onions are cooking, brown the ground beef in another skillet. Salt to taste. Pour beef into casserole dish or dutch oven and top with the potatoes and onions. Pour cream of chicken soup over the top and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serves 6-8

*More potatoes can be added to stretch servings.

Ground Beef Casserole

1 LB Ground Beef

1 Medium Onion

Salt and Pepper to Taste

½ Tsp. Garlic Powder

1 Tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

½ Tsp. Oregano

1 Can Stewed or Diced Tomatoes

Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Small Box Macaroni

Sauté beef and onion until beef is done and onions are tender. Add all seasonings and tomatoes. Simmer for about 10 minutes. While simmering, boil the water for the macaroni and cook according to the package directions. Drain macaroni and stir into beef mixture. Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until cheese melts or browns. This can be served with a side salad and/or garlic bread.

Saving Money on Produce

The best way to save money on fruits and vegetables is to grow your own. You don’t have to have a lot of land to grow your own. People have been turning their backyards into gardens to save money.

If you can’t grow your own garden, you may be able to pick from someone else’s garden. Some farmers will let you come to their gardens to pick your own produce for a small fee.

No matter if you grow your own or pick from others, you will need to learn how to properly can and freeze your produce for proper storage.

Saving Money on Dairy

Buying powdered milk can save you a lot of money. Especially since milk prices have significantly increased. If your family does not like the taste of prepared milk, use it for cooking and save the other for drinking.

You can also use powdered milk for an instant chocolate drink by mixing half cocoa and half sugar. Dissolve with a touch of hot water and then three to five tablespoons of powdered milk. Powdered milk can be froze.

Try to purchase eggs from local farmers.

Save money on butter by purchasing in pound blocks and section them in quarters yourself. If you buy in bulk, you can freeze excess.

Saving Money on Cereal

My tips for saving money on cereal:

1. Variety packs will cost more.

Come on people this is not a buffet! Decide on 1 brand or type of cereal for the week and buy the generic brands. If choosing is a debate, let them take turns picking it out for the week.

2. Stay away from sugary cereal.

Not only is it bad for your health it is bad for your budget. Sugary cereals are typically more than their unsweetened counterparts.

3. Cooked cereal is the way to go!

My kids love oatmeal and cream of wheat. This is cost effective and healthier. Adding a tiny amount of sugar or maple syrup to some oatmeal is not near as unhealthy as a bowl of sugar pops. Cooked cereal is more filling and will go farther to feed your family.

Saving Money on Bread

Have you ever tried freezing bread? I know of many budget conscious moms that save money by purchasing 1 day old bread at bakery or thrift store selections in bulk and then freeze it.



Find a great deat on bread? Try Freezing Bread!

Personally, I have not tried this one. I buy my bread at Kroger for $0.99. I am sure I could save money here, but I am not sure that my family would go for it.

That being said, I do freeze my own bread crumbs. The unused bread that nobody wants to finish gets processed in the food processor and stored in freezer bags for future use.