Taco Soup

Time: 20 minutes
Makes ~8 servings

• 1 lb learn ground beef or turkey
• 8 cups low sodium stock or water
• 2 cups (or cans) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups (or cans) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can corn
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 packet taco seasoning

1. Brown ground meat, breaking into chunks while it cooks. Drain fat.
2. Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and serve. Option to serve topped with low fat cheese, light sour cream or crushed tortilla chips.

 

 

Nutrition information per serving: 1 cup (not including cheese, sour cream, chips)
Calories	Fat	Sat Fat	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
203	5	2	362	23	6	2	16

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales)
	Per serving	Entire Recipe
Serving	$0.69	$5.55
Slice of bread	$0.03	$0.24
Total	$0.72	$5.79

 

 

Turkey Spinach meatballs with white sauce

This is a simple recipe that seems fancy, but is actually easy. Perfect for anyone you want to impress.

Meatballs:

·         ~2 cups frozen spinach, thawed

·         2 lbs lean turkey

·         1 cup onion, finely chopped

·         2 tsp garlic

·         1 egg

·         ½ cup skim milk

·         ¾ cup bread crumbs (homemade)

·         ½ tsp salt

·         ¼ tsp pepper

 

 

Sauce:

·         2 tbsp. butter

·         2 tbsp. flour

·         1 ½ cup whole milk or cream

·         1 cup chicken broth

·         8 oz. provolone cheese

1.            Wring out the spinach in a paper towel to remove excess water. Add all meatball ingredients including the spinach to a mixer and mix until thoroughly combined.

2.            Line a cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. Spray tin foil or paper with pam.

3.            Using your hands or a scoop, form the meat into balls and place on cookie sheet. Minimal space is required between meatballs since they do not expand.

4.            Bake at 400 ° for 20 minutes.

5.            While meatball bake prepare a rue. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, then add the flour. Cook on medium for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the rue from burning. Add the milk or cream, broth bring to high heat, but not boiling.

6.            Once the sauce is hot, add the cheese a little at a time until all is added and the cheese is completely melted and blended into the sauce. Add salt, pepper to taste. Chipotle pepper is optional and will add more heat and flavor to sauce.

7.            Serve meatballs and sauce over egg noodles with a side vegetable.

 

 

Nutrition information per serving: 2-3 meatballs (does not include noodles or vegetable)
	Calories	Fat	Sat Fat	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
Meatballs & sauce	299	13	8	399	10	2	3	27
2 oz noodles	210	3	1	15	38	5	2	8
1 cup vegetables	40	0	0	40	7	4	3	3
Total	549	16	9	454	55	11	8	38

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales) - Costco
	Per serving	Entire Recipe
Serving	$0.95	$9.51
Whole wheat egg noodles (2 oz dry)	$0.14	$1.40
Normandy vegetables (1 cup)	$0.32	$3.20
Total	$1.41	$14.11

 

Baked Tilapia

Tilapia is a mild flavored fish that comes together very quickly. To decrease the costs, buy frozen, plain and in bulk if possible. Defrost and cook fish as needed.

Time: ~20 minutes
Serves 5

• 5 tilapia fillets
• 2 1/2 teaspoons butter
• 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 lemon, sliced thin

1. Preheat oven to 375 °. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with tinfoil and spray with pam for easy clean up.
2. Place the tilapia fillets in the bottom of the baking dish and dot with butter (~1/2 tsp each)
3. Season with old bay seasoning and garlic salt. Top each fillet with 1-2 slices of lemon.
4. Bake for ~20 minutes, watching the fish. Once the fish begins to flake when pulled at with a fork, it is done. Remove from oven and serve with side of vegetables and whole wheat bread.

 

Nutrition information per serving: 1 fillet of salmon w tomato and cheese
Calories	Fat	Sat Fat	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
174	3	2	864	1	0	0	29

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales)
	Per serving	Entire Recipe
Serving	$2.12	$10.62
Slice of bread	$0.03	$0.15
Normandy vegetables	$0.32	$1.60
Total	$2.47	$12.37

 

Berries and cream sandwich

This is a fun, simple lower calorie, lower fat spin on ice cream sandwiches.

Time: 5 minutes
Makes 2 square sandwiches

• 4 tbsp. lite reddi-whip whipped topping
• 2 medium strawberries or 3-4 raspberries, washed and diced into small pieces
• 2 full sheets of honey gram crackers (4 squares)

1. Measure reddi-whip into a bowl. Add diced berries and gentle fold in until combined.
2. Measure 2 heaping tablespoons of the whipped topping in between a square. Top with a second square. Repeat.
3. Freeze sandwiches on a plate in the freezer until firm, about 1 hour. Serve and enjoy!

Photo credit

 

Nutrition information per serving: 1 square sandwich
Calories	Fat	Sat Fat	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
49	2	1	45	6	0	13	1

 

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales)
	Per serving	Entire Recipe
Serving
Total

Scrambled eggs and toast

December is the month of packed schedules and minimal prep-time for meals. Some may scoff at scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast for dinner, but I think it is the perfect dinner on nights when nothing is defrosted and everyone is hungry and wants to eat right now. Quick, delicious, affordable and high in protein, this is one of my favorite last minute dinner ideas.

5 minutes
Serves 5

• 2 1/2 tbsp butter, divided
• 10 whole eggs
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/2 tsp salt (regular or garlic salt)
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 5 pieces whole wheat toast (see post about affordable gourmet bread here)

1. In a large skillet, heat the saucepan to medium heat. Add 1 tbsp of butter and turn pan so butter coats the bottom completely.
2. In a bowl, combine eggs, milk and seasonings. Beat until well mixed.
3. Pour mixture into heated pan, turning eggs occasionally until no longer liquid
4. Toast the bread and add1 tsp butter per slice, if desired.
5. Serve eggs with toast and 1 cups of vegetables and you have yourself a quick balanced meal.

 

 

 

Nutrition information per serving: 2 scrambled eggs with 1 pc toast and 1 tsp butter
Calories	Fat	Sat Fat	Sodium	Carbs	Fiber	Sugar	Protein
276	17	7	576	15	2	1	16

 

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales) – Costco, Frys, Alpine Valley Bread Factory
	Per serving	Entire Recipe
2 eggs	$0.39	$1.95
1 pc toast w 1 tsp butter	$0.12	$0.60
1 cup green beans	$0.39	$1.95
Total	$0.81	$4.05