Everyone has those days where there is seemingly nothing to eat, it’s nearly dinner time, everyone is hungry and who wants to pay for gas and overpriced meals to eat out? These meal ideas are for those times. They make no claim to be fancy fare, but they are tasty, filling, cheap and quick. As an added bonus, you very likely have most if not all of the needed ingredients in your pantry.
Meal #1. Soup & noodles: before you say no way, try this. One family size or two regular size cans of soup. Suggested varieties are Tomato, bean with bacon or split pea. One package of ramen style noodles, any variety. Cook the soup adding about half a can more water than called for. As the soup boils, break up the noodles into the soup. After noodles are soft, turn off heat and add seasoning packet. Serve with some sort of bread, rolls or biscuits. 4 nice size servings.
Meal #2. Fried burritos. Very versatile. You will need at minimum 1 can of refried beans and some sort of cheese, shredded. One can of beans is enough for about 10 regular size flour tortillas. Soften tortillas in microwave for about 15 seconds to make them foldable. Spread a little refried beans in the center of tortilla, sprinkle on some cheese and anything else you might want to use…browned hamburger, shredded chicken, bacon pieces, chilies, etc. Fold up into an envelope shape and secure with a toothpick. Fry in hot oil until browned on both sides. Remove toothpick (important step) and serve, dipping in salsa or ketchup. Nice with fruit on the side.
Meal #3. Pizza. Forget running out to get some or have it delivered. Just about as quick, cheaper and better tasting. First make the dough by 4 cups flour, 1 package of yeast dissolved in 1 1/3 cup water, 2 tablespoons of oil and a dash of salt. Mix well, then pat into greased large size cookie sheet (the kind with sides, officially a jelly roll pan). It may take some effort, but it will fit. Open a can of stewed tomatoes and heat, breaking up the pieces with a spoon. Add whatever seasonings you like, garlic, basil oregano, etc. Cook down to get rid of some of the liquid, then dump over crust. Add whatever items you can think of for toppings, then sprinkle any sort of shredded cheese you happen to have laying around on top. Bake at 375 for about 20 -25 minutes, until edges look brownish and cheese is melted.
Meal #4. Creamed meat on Toast. You may use many different types of meat in this. Thin sliced lunch meat, deli style, canned tuna, canned chicken. First you will make a roux, which is just equal parts of margarine (or butter), melted then with flour added to make a paste. Slowly add milk (canned is best, very creamy), whisking, until it is a nice gravy consistency. It will probably be about 4 cups if you use 1 stick of margarine and ½ cup flour. After it’s a nice consistency, add the meat, which has been shredded or sliced. This is basically SOS, so you can use chipped beef as well. Serve over buttered toast with a side vegetable.
Meal #5. Canned Meat and Rice . Whoever invented Spam deserves a medal, so that is what I use in this. Try it and be amazed. For the rice, I use Rice a Roni, but use whatever you like that’s similar. Cube the meat product and fry until crispy in a nice size fry pan. Add the rice mixture to this and follow package directions. That’s it! We also have been known to add leftover meats to the rice mixture for a nice meal. Vegetables and fruit will round this out.
So there you have it. Five quick, cheap, easy and filling meals.
