Cheap Meals Monday

     Hey it's Monday again and you are getting your week started. You work hard all week at your 9-5 job. Who wants to work hard every night on making dinner? I have a couple of time saving and frugal casseroles I enjoy eating as well as my hard to please 7 year old. Having these leftovers also help me on those days when I am tired and I just don't want to cook. Those nights are often the reason I decide to go out to dinner.
    
      Why waste more money on eating out when I can eat leftovers for free? 2 casseroles that I find the easiest to cook are macaroni casserole and chicken casserole. Both make 2 or more servings with the added advantage of 5 meals for the week.

      Keep in mind that you have to be ready to eat meals that are a bit repetitive. If you are looking to save money on groceries, these two meals can be incorporated into any week to extend the frequency of your shopping trips.

Macaroni Casserole (all items purchased at Target)
1 lb. ground chuck 93/7                         4.39
1 box market pantry elbow noodles       1.00
1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup 26 oz. 1.53
1 block market pantry mozzarella         4.69
                                                 Total 11.61

     Cook noodles and meat separately until done. Combine in large mixing bowl. Add entire can of tomato soup. Place mix in large glass baking pan. Slice cheese and place on top of mixture as to cover the entire pan. Place in the oven at 400 degrees until cheese on top is melted and bubbling.

     This meal yields 12 servings, which for a family of 4 would be 3 meals. At 11.61 for the total meal, each meal would cost 3.87, or 97 cents per person. Pretty good deal, right?

Chicken Casserole (all items purchased at Target)
1/2 bag frozen chicken breasts approx 8 pieces     6.99
1 26 oz. can Campbell's Cream of Chicken            1.89
1 26 oz. can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom        1.89
1 box any noodles                                                    1.00
                                                                   Total 11.77

     Cook noodles until done and place to the side. Place chicken and both cans of soup in deep pan on the stove between medium and high temperature. Mix and cook until frozen or thawed chicken is cooked through the inside. Combine with noodles or rice to complete the meal.

     This meal yields 6-8 servings, and at 2 meals would be 5.88 a meal, or 1.47-1.96 per person per meal.

     Personally, these are two of my favorite meals. If you prefer not to have too many meal repeats for the week, freeze the leftovers and thaw for next week. Both casseroles taste equally as good even after having been in the freezer.