Menu Ideas

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Easy Pizza Dinner

Our family love's pizza, but I don't like home delivery pizza's that cost way to much money. After ordering from Papa John's one night and staring at the total, I came to a quick conclusion. Is it really worth 40 bucks to buy this?
When you are on a budget and you have kids... You need to be able to feed an army cheaply and quickly sometimes. Especially when they have their friends over. I have a son.. He can eat!
At Sams, Walmart and in the Houston Area HEB, you can find a huge 16 inch pizza for around 8-15 bucks depending on what toppings come on it etc. I bought a 16 inch pepperoni at Walmart today for $7.99 and bread sticks with two sauces for $3.99. (Prices vary of course from store to store etc.) That's dinner for five for about $12 dollars. I would have spent 40 dollars plus tip at Papa John's.
Now I know what some may say.. Thaw and freeze pizza's are just as good. yes, but can you get a 16 inch for 8 bucks? Hmm?
So when you are on a budget or if you just have a huge crowd and don't want to spend 40 bucks on pizza try a store's fresh made stick in your oven pizza. You may be surprised. It doesn't taste like cardboard after all.  Add a salad and make your own garlic butter sauce to top it off and  Bon Appetite!

Italian Chicken Crock Pot

What you need:
1 chicken breast per person
1 package of dry italian dressing
2 cans of cream of chicken
1 package of cream cheese
Crock Pot

Place chicken in crock pot
Mix dressing, cream of chicken, and cream cheese together. Add a dash of salt and pepper for taste)
Dump over chicken
Cook on high 6-8 hours.
Serve over egg noodles.

Pineapple Chicken Curry

Brown chicken breasts in skillet with favorite seasonings. Cook till done.( Shred chicken)
Add fresh pineapple or use 2 cans of pineapple Dump into skillet cook till tender.
( side note. I like my curry a little more fruity so I add a cup of fresh pineapple juice or pureed pineapple.)
Add 1-2 can of coconut milk. If you want it more soupy add more coconut milk.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of green curry
Add Sweet Chili Sauce. (To taste)
Taste and adjust salt, chili sauce or pineapple flavoring
Serve over jasmine rice

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

I love this recipe, it's easy, fairy inexpensive, and doesn't take hours to prepare. (I have a thing for Oxford Comma's this week so please don't blast  me on my grammar)

  • 1 rotisserie chicken. (Yes I cheat on this, not because I am lazy. Rather I have found for a buck and a little change more I can get a whole cooked chicken.  Instead of one that I have to babysit in the oven. Heating up my tiny kitchen and making a huge mess. Walmart's chickens are slightly cheaper than HEB, but Sam's club has the better tasting chickens of all Remove all meat from chicken)
  • 1 can of cream of chicken (you can use fat free)
  • 1 package of cream cheese
  • 2-4 oz of Velveeta (if you want more cheese add it less is okay too)
  • salt/pepper
  • Your favorite veggies (I usually mix some frozen some fresh) Brocolli, Cauliflower and Carrots are my kids favs.
  • 2 cans of crescent rolls. ( i usually buy generic and it works fine)
  • preheat oven to 375. Cream can of chicken, Velveeta, and cream cheese together
  • In a 9X13 dish spray with nonstick spray. Add first can of crescent rolls.
  • Add your veggies
  • Add your chicken
  • Cover with your with your yummy sauce
  • add last can of crescent rolls. Baste with a little butter for extra umph!
  • Cook for 35-40 min.
  • Serve to a hungry crowd. Usually My three kids and Hubby who scarf it down.