This week’s Thrifty Recipe is Breakfast Chili Potato Hash! Sorry the presentation isn’t better, but it’s tasty and a VERY cheap meal.

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil – On Hand Item
• 2 large potatoes (or 5 small), poked with a fork then cooked in the microwave for 6-8 minutes on high, or until tender – 10 lbs from Save Mart at $.97; Total for 5 Small = Approx. $.16
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper – On Hand
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped – Approx. $.25
• 20 oz Hormel Chili Master (Three Bean) – Purchased at Raley’s for $.24; See Deal HERE.
• 2 tablespoons butter – On Hand
• 4 extra-large eggs – $2.49 for 18 at Raley’s (May be cheaper at Walmart); Total for 4 = $.55

Total for whole meal, for 4 adults (Fed our family of 6) = $1.20 or $.30 EACH!!!!!

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of Olive Oil, about 2 tablespoons. While the skillet heats up, chop up the cooked potatoes into bite-size chunks then add to the hot skillet and spread out in an even layer. Season them with a little salt and pepper, and let them brown for about 2 minutes without messing with them. Then give them a stir and continue to brown them for another 3-4 minutes, stirring every now and then.

Add the chopped onions, stir to combine and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onions are tender. Add the chili and cook until it is heated through.

While the chili is heating up with the potatoes, start the eggs: Preheat another skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter has melted and the bubbles have subsided, crack eggs into the pan, season with salt and pepper, and fry to desired doneness.

Divide the chili hash between 4 serving plates and top with the fried egg.

Most stores this week have the Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta on sale for $1. Paired with the $1/1 coupon from 1/23 Smart Source, this pasta is FREE. I bought the Garden Delight Radiatore at Bel Air (one of Raley’s stores). Here is the recipe for Chicken Alfredo Radiatore (so simple):

3/4 box of Garden Delight Radiatore (1 box seemed a little too much): On sale for $1 at most stores this week
1 Tbs Olive Oil
2-3 cups chopped broccoli (on sale for $.97/lb at Raley’s)
1-2 cups baby carrots (on sale for $1 at Save Mart)
1 1/2 cup Chopped Chicken
1 jar of Classico Alfredo Pasta Sauce: I used the light for less calories (Used B2G1 Free hang tag coupon and did the Eat Pray Love Deal I told you about HERE).

Heat Olive Oil in pan. Add veggies and saute until partially cooked, adding some of your favorite seasoning (I used a Tuscan blend). You can add other veggies if you’d like, but this is what was on sale this week. Add the chopped chicken and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are soft. Add the Classico Pasta Sauce and cook until heated through.

While veggies and chicken are cooking, cook your Radiatore according to package.

Serve the veggie mix on top of the cooked radiatore. Enjoy!!

Today’s Recipe is Frank and Beans Casserole. This was perfect for the chilly day we had. This comes out to be a very thrifty recipe no matter where you have to shop!

• 1 TBS extra-virgin olive oil – on hand
• 2 packages of Bar S Hot Dogs – $.49 each at Save Mart with in-ad coupon; Total = $.98
• 1 medium red onion, chopped – $.68/lb at Walmart; Total for 1 = Approx. $.50
• 2 tablespoons molasses (OPTIONAL) – I had on hand
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce  (OPTIONAL) – On Hand
• 2 cups (15 oz can) tomato sauce (OPTIONAL) - $.32 for Muir Glen with $1/1 HERE at Walmart
• 3 16 oz cans or 1 family-size can baked beans – $.99 for Van Camp’s at Raley’s; Total for 3 = $2.97. Or you could just use a 28oz (family) of Bush’s Baked Beans at Walmart for $1.84
• 2 8.5 oz boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (or other brand) – $.58 at Walmart; Total for 2 = $1.16
• 2 eggs – On Hand
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted – On Hand
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk – On Hand 
• 1 tablespoon (about a palmful) chili powder – On Hand
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels and/or 2 cups shredded cheese (OPTIONAL)- I didn’t add these for the sake of keeping cost down; and it’s still tasty!
• TOTAL COST= $4.80 – $5.93 depending on which (how much) beans you use.

This had 8 servings so that’s only $.60 per serving at the lower cost!!!!

Sorry I didn’t get this recipe up first thing this morning like I usually do. I didn’t have a chance to make this recipe until tonight. It was tasty though!!!

Today’s recipe is Chicken Marinara Primavera.

1 Tbs butter – on hand item
1 Tbs olive oil – on hand
8 cloves garlic, minced – I keep a jar of minced garlic on hand and it lasts me forever!
1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces – purchased at Save Mart for $.97/lb
1 1/2 cup zucchini (about 2 small ones) cut into 1 inch pieces – purchased at Bel Air for $.99/lb; Total for 2 = $.88
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms – Leftover from last week’s meal. – purchased at Walmart for $2.50; Total for 1/2 lb = $1.25
1 teaspoon salt -on hand
1/4 teaspoon black pepper – on hand
1 Jar Ragu Sauce – purchased at Bel Air for 2/$3 with $.75/2 from 1/31 RP; And got a  Free Golden Grain Pasta wyb 2 Ragu Pasta Sauce; Total for 1 Jar = $1.13
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti – Free with purchase of Ragu.
4-6 Chicken Breasts – purchased at Bel Air for $1.67/lb; Total for 4 large = Approx. $3.34

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
2. Add chicken breasts and brown each side. Then cover with Ragu and cook until no longer pink (170F).
3. Meanwhile in separate skillet, melt butter over medium heat. In another pot you can also begin cooking spaghetti per package.                                                                   
4. Add garlic to skillet; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
5. Stir in the asparagus; cover and cook for 1 minute.
6. Add the mushrooms and zucchini.
7. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
8. Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper.
9. Cook 3 minutes longer or until heated through.
10. Drain spaghetti and add to the skillet of veggies
11. Toss to coat.
12. I then topped the pasta with the cooked chicken and sauce. Serve and Enjoy!

I happened to have a couple of tomatoes on hand, so I added those to my veggies at the very end, before adding the spaghetti.

The Total Cost for this meal was $7.54. The chicken breasts were large enough that we actually had about 8 servings, which calculates to $.94 per serving for a very tasty, almost gourmet meal.

Stroganoff topped with Asparagus

First off, it was delicious, and second; it was colorful and healthy!! The kids loved it too; although I had to do some convincing to get them to eat asparagus. This was a large recipe that gave us some leftovers too. Here is the recipe and cost.

1/2 Cup minced red onion – purchased at Walmart for $.88/lb; Total for 1/2 cup = Approx. $.35
1 Cup fat free sour cream – purchased at Bel Air (or Nob Hill stores) for $1.89 minus $.50/1 from 1/31 SS; Total for half = $.70
1 lb ground beef – purchased at Bel Air for $1.69/lb; Total = $1.69
1/2-2 Tablespoons flour – on hand item
1 teaspoon salt – on hand
1/4 teaspoon pepper – on hand
1/2 lb sliced mushrooms (optional) – purchased at Bel Air for $2.50/lb; Total for 1/2lb = $1.25
1 Can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic Soup for $.89 minus $1.00/4; Total for 1 (wyb 4) = $.64
1 Box Ronzoni Smart Taste Rotini, cooked – purchased at Bel Air for $1.00 minus $1.00/2 HERE; Total for 1 Box wyb 2 = $.50
1 lb asparagus – purchased at Bel Air fpr $1.27/lb; Total = $1.27

1. Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Remove and Drain.
2. Add onions and mushrooms to the pan the meat cooked in, but don’t add the meat back in yet. Saute until soft.
3. Return meat to skillet with onions and mushroom. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with desired amount of flour for thickening. (I only used 1/2 Tbs, but you may want to add more if you leave more grease in the pan).
4. Stir in soup and simmer uncovered 10 minutes.
5. While meat mixture is simmering, heat 1 Tbs butter in another frying pan. Saute asparagus until soft, but still has a little crunch in it.
6. Stir in sour cream until heated.
7. Add cooked noodles to pan and mix. (I had a few extra pasta shells that I added as well). Top with asparagus and enjoy.

I also decided to put a fruit salad along with my meal because of some of the great prices this week.
I just threw together:
2 sliced bananas – purchased at Save Mart for $.39/lb; Total for 2 bananas = $.30
1/2 lb red grapes – purchased at Save Mart for $.97/lb; Total for 1/2 lb = $.49
1 Fuji Apple – on hand from last week’s Nob Hill sales = Approx. $.22
Total for salad = $1.01

*Total cost for meal for 8 = $6.40 without salad, and $7.41 with it. Only $5.15 or $6.16,  if you leave out the fresh mushrooms.

See HERE for details on deals. I didn’t have the $.75/1 Ronzoni coupon so your savings may be greater.

Let me know if you give this recipe a try!!