This is a post from Amy Warrick of No Greater Honors
Over the years, the Lord has taught me many times how to stretch our pennies and get the most from them – especially in the grocery department! I remember when my husband and I got married, and we were able to live off of $35 – $45 a week. Don’t ask me now how we did it, because I honestly couldn’t tell you – that’s a laughable amount of money now, that would be used in a matter of a few days with our bunch! However, at the time – it was sufficient.
Like all families, there have been times of plenty, and times where we make it stretch ‘by the skin of our teeth’, and I realized that it was my role, as the keeper at home and bearer of the grocery list/menu, to try to do my part. Knowing that, I have tried to do the best I can to make what I have stretch – I don’t know about you, but I REALLY like having money left in the grocery budget after shopping, and still know that we have enough to go by. As our family size has increased, and the appetites have gone up, I have had to learn which meals fill up hungry tummies without costing an arm and a leg to make. I thought I would share some quick suggestions with you, in hopes that maybe these ideas will come in handy when you may need to do the same!
Breakfast
Biscuits With Chocolate Gravy – a favorite because it mixes a little sweet with a little homestyle, and makes for a perfect (fast) breakfast that uses much of what is generally already in your pantry.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cocoa
3 tbsp flour
3/4 cup white sugar
2 cups milk
1 tbsp butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Whisk cocoa, flour, and sugar together until smooth. Add milk and mix well. Heat in saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it reaches the consistency of gravy. Remove from heat, and add the butter and vanilla and mix well. Serve immediately over biscuits.
Lunch
Hot Hoagie Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Hoagie Buns (or hot dog buns, if you already have them)
Ham/Turkey/Cheese
Small tub of spreadable butter (or margarine, whatever you use)
One package of Italian or Ranch dressing mix
Directions:
Mix dressing mix in to small tub of butter. Split hoagie buns/hot dog buns in half, slice meat and cheese in halves, and assemble sandwiches. After putting the sandwich together, spread the butter liberally over the top. Broil in oven for 4-7 minutes, or cook at 450 degrees until butter is melted and bread reaches desired crispiness. Enjoy with pickles, chips, or whatever you like to serve with sandwiches. *NOTE – my family loves this meal, so often, it’s a great dinner choice as well!*
Snack
Pretzels with Honey
Ingredients:
Thin pretzel sticks
Honey
Directions (easiest ever!):
Take a handful of pretzels and place on plate/in bowl. Drizzle honey over them lightly, and enjoy! This is also a favorite, and doesn’t cost much to go a long way!
Dinner
Chicken Spaghetti
Ingredients:
2 lbs spaghetti noodles
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 lb fully cooked chicken, cubed
Directions:
Cook spaghetti noodles according to package. Drain and add cream of chicken and chicken cubes. You may heat on stove, or place in a 15×9 serving dish and heat in oven. Add garlic bread and a vegetable, and you have a very fast, very easy dinner that fills little (and big) tummies!
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