Another 3 Weeks of Cheap Dinners, Ready in Less Than 15 Minutes

I wanted to expand our 15 minute dinner database, and add the great ideas that readers sent me. The original 15 minute database can be found here.

The criteria for making it to the 15 minute dinner database are:

1. Meal must be able to be completed and served in 15 minutes or less. Quick tip: If your boiling water, don't forget to fill your pot with the hottest water possible and put the lid on.

2. Ingredients for all meals must be under $100.00 for the week. The budget is $120.00 if you are also doing breakfast and lunch for the week. I post our weekly meal plan and shopping list every Saturday (look to the top tabs of this blog for a listing of each weeks menu).

3. Meals must not require traditional recipes. Even though a formal recipe takes the same amount of time to prepare, there's a mental block that occurs when you think of preparing a recipe versus throwing something together quickly. Plus, the "throw together" method encourages you to substitute ingredients and change the recipe a bit.



I should note that this is not the healthiest meal plan to follow. This is to replace an unhealthy lifestyle of fast food and eating out. This plan is significantly healthier than that. We plan to do better in small increments over time, and our Saturday meal plan and shopping lists will follow that. Currently, I'm working 10 1/2 hour days (with commute) and Jon's schedule is unpredictable. This is the best way that I can make our meals work without giving in to the temptation of going out.

Sides:  Frozen Vegetables or salad. We started eating frozen vegetables instead of salad to get more nutrients and to reduce the calories that we were getting from all of that salad dressing. We buy 5 bags of frozen vegetables from Wegmans once every two or three weeks. Each bag costs about $.99, and we cook them in the microwave with a tablespoon of water in a covered container according to directions.

1. BBQ Chicken Sandwich:

Make this meal either on the night of your shopping day, or the day after. Pick up a rotisserie chicken (Safeway has 5.00 rotisserie chickens on Fridays), or make an extra roasted chicken if you practice dinner date nights (more info on dinner date nights can be found here). Pull apart the chicken with two forks to shred, mix with barbecue sauce and microwave for 30 seconds. Spoon onto kaiser rolls (or bread, toast, bagels, frozen dinner rolls, hamburger buns, etc). Serve! If you have leftover chicken- reserve for meal #2.

2. Chicken Fried Rice:

You can either boil minute rice for about 10 minutes, or use microwave rice, which cooks for 90 seconds. As your cooking the rice, heat oil in a pan, cook up frozen diced onion (you can buy these in the frozen food aisle for about 1.00), frozen peas, leftover chicken from Meal #1 (or you can chop up a Tyson's frozen chicken breast, or you can use canned chicken). If you have extra time (and the motivation), you can chop up some celery (if you do and plan to make meal #3 after, reserve some of the celery for that). Break an egg or two into the hot oil and scramble quickly, add drained rice, chicken, and veggies to the oil and mix together. Add a pat of butter until melted and a bit of soy sauce (go slowly!!!!!) You can add more at the table but too much soy sauce can ruin this quickly).

3. (Pantry Meal) Tuna or Canned Chicken Salad: 

Mix either canned chicken or canned tuna into spoonfuls of mayonnaise until you get the consistency you like. You can also microwave a frozen Tyson's grilled chicken breast and dice it up to use instead of the canned chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste, a little handful of chopped frozen onion (don't even bother defrosting, they thaw quickly and help to keep your sandwich cold), chopped celery (if you plan to make meal #2 after this- reserve some of the chopped celery for that meal). Serve over your salad greens, on bread (or bagels, toast, English muffins, hamburger buns, crackers or whatever you have in the house). This is a great pantry meal if something interrupts your shopping day, or if you miscalculated your meals and need a quick fill in. You almost always have mayo in the fridge, combine with canned chicken and put on crackers and you're good to go!

4. Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup:

Heat pan on medium heat with a pat of butter, microwave the tomato soup in two separate bowls. Spread butter on outsides of bread and put cheese in between two slices (any cheese you have around), take a look around your fridge and add any extra ingredients you would like, such as sliced tomato, precooked bacon, or ham. Fry in pan, flipping after about 3 minutes, until cheese is melted.  Serve sandwiches with soup.

5. Broiled Steaks (or Grilled):

Buy small thin steaks (which are also cheap!), stick under the broiler and flip after a few minutes until the desired doneness. Another option is to grill them outside quickly. While steaks are cooking, combine creamed corn and a can of regular corn in a bowl, cover, and microwave for about 3 minutes. This creates a quick and delicious chunky creamed corn. Serve with A-1 sauce, or Worcestershire sauce.

6. Ravioli and Summer Squash:

Boil precooked frozen cheese ravioli. While ravioli is cooking, heat oil spray in a frying pan on medium heat. Quickly slice up zucchini and summer squash, add olive oil and the vegetables, add a bit of frozen chopped onion. Drain the ravioli, mix with vegetables and oil and serve.

7. (Pantry Meal) Pepperoni Subs:

Combine pepperoni and some spaghetti sauce in a small bowl and microwave (about a minute and a half), spoon onto hard rolls (or toast, frozen dinner rolls, or even bagels), top with mozzarella cheese (or cheddar cheese if your weird like my husband, I won't judge), and eat up!

 

8. Chef Salad:

Stack sliced ham, provolone, and salami on top of each other, roll up and slice into pinwheels, pile onto your salad greens, add whatever you have floating around: green pepper, onion, grape tomatoes, chopped or sliced cucumbers, add Italian salad dressing, shake in a bit of cheese (parmesan and mozzarella), mix up and serve. If you're making this, plan to use your leftover cold cuts in other meals. You can use them in sandwiches for lunch, or add them to the grilled cheese sandwiches in #4.

 

9. Ashley Smith's Mexican Wraps:

Heat a frying pan on medium, spray with oil, add a can of shredded chicken, a half can of corn, a can of rotel diced tomatoes (with chilies if you're into that), microwavable Spanish or Mexican rice, sour cream or cream cheese, and mix until combined. Spoon into soft tortillas, sprinkle on cheese and serve! You can add any extras you have around like jalapenos, black beans, salsa, hot sauce etc.

10. Chipotle Style Bowl or Burrito:

Either make microwavable white rice, or if your organized, make minute rice the night before while you make that nights meal, then drain and stick in fridge. I like the minute rice in this because I can taste the difference with microwavable rice. Microwave two frozen Tyson's grilled chicken breasts and dice up. While making chicken, heat a small amount of oil in pan on medium high heat. Add frozen green peppers and onions (I buy a club pack of green peppers and a bag of onions every few weeks and slice up to freeze and use as needed), and cook until hot. Add rice to pan, adding a splash of lime juice, a pat of butter and a sprinkle of cilantro (all optional), transfer mixture to bowls, top with chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa or hot sauce.

 

11. Chinese Stir Fry:

Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan on medium high heat. Add a handful of frozen stir fry veggies, and two frozen Tyson's grilled chicken breast. Microwave white rice (or boil minute rice the night before and store in fridge) for 90 seconds, add to pan. Remove chicken breast from pan, and dice up. Return chicken to pan and continue cooking until everything is hot. Add in Asian sauce of your choice (I like Wegmans General Tso's Sauce). Dish onto plate and serve.

 

12. Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches:

Either microwave chicken patties or frozen Tyson's grilled chicken breasts, top with a spoonful of spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Place on toasted hamburger bun, serve and enjoy.

13. Santa Fe Beans and Rice: (inspired by Natasha Gaiski)

Either heat microwavable rice for 90 seconds, or make minute rice on the stove top. While cooking rice, spray cooking oil in a pan and heat on medium. Add some corn (canned, frozen, half can, or just whatever you have leftover is fine), some Mexican style diced tomatoes (Rotel, or an off brand), and half a can of black beans. If you have frozen chopped onion in the fridge, add a few, but it's optional. When the rice is done, mix the rice into pan and sprinkle with shredded Mexican cheese. Serve and Enjoy!

 

14. Tortellini with Peas and Cheese:

Boil either refrigerated or frozen tortellini according to package directions. During the last minute, add a few handfuls of frozen peas. You just want the peas thawed, not cooked. Drain and return to pot on low heat, add butter and parmesan cheese to taste.

 

15. Sloppy Joes:

Brown grown beef on medium heat. When brown, drain, return to pan and add a can of sloppy joe sauce. Spoon onto hamburger rolls.

16. Meatball Subs:

Microwave frozen precooked meatballs. Heat spaghetti sauce, mix together, spoon meatballs and sauce onto sub rolls (or toast, bagels, hamburger buns... whatever you have available). Top with mozzarella or provolone cheese and serve.

 

17. Swedish Meatball with Egg Noodles:

Microwave frozen precooked meatballs. Boil water and cook egg noodles according to package directions. In a small bowl, microwave a jar of beef gravy (around 12 oz.) and 1/2 cup of sour cream. Combine with meatballs and serve on egg noodles.

18. Chicken Rice A Roni with Vegetables and Chicken:

Prepare Chicken flavored rice a roni according to package directions. While cooking, microwave frozen Tyson's Grilled Chicken Breast. Dice Chicken. Add chicken and a drained can of mixed vegetables to rice a roni.

 

19. Microwaved Baked Potatoes: (Inspired by Haley)

I just found out about this and am amazed. Stick two potatoes in the microwave and follow the instructions found here. Microwave fully cooked bacon, microwave broccoli pieces according to package directions, set out sour cream, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Have yourself a potato bar!

 

20. American Version of a Mediterranean Plate:

Serve up cold food that meet your nutritional needs that appeal to you. Try sliced apples, bananas, and pears, Triscuits, cheddar cheese cubes, hummus, pinwheels made with ham, provolone, and salami, cold broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot sticks, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, hard rolls, and butter. This makes a very simple, healthy light lunch or dinner.

 

21. Chili Dogs:

I don't know why, but hot dogs always creep me out. If you're like me but your significant other loves them, then try an all natural, preservative free hot dog. Cook the hot dogs (boil, microwave, pan fry or grill). You can heat either your own frozen chili, or a canned chili.  Place hot dogs in a bun and top with chili.

Ashley Smith's Mexican Wraps

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Cheese Ravioli with Summer Squash

Ikea Complete Living Room for under $1,300.00

When Jon and I moved into our new house, we acquired an extra living room. At first, being ever so frugal, I tried to convince Jon how great the open space was in an effort to avoid furnishing it. I dubbed it the "Art Gallery" and started random games of kick ball with cat toys in the open space to show him how great having an enormous room with nothing it it was. He wasn't buying it.


My first thought was to hit craigslist to furnish the room, but we had just received an unexpected check for $1,400.00. I caved and said we could furnish the sitting room with that. Thanks to Ikea's great prices, It was an easy budget for the whole room.


Here's the result:

Here's how we achieved it:

Ektorp Love Seat and Chaise Lounge: $499.00

Ektorp Cover for Love Seat and Chaise Lounge: $99.00

Ektorp Love Seat: $479.00

Hemnes Coffee Table: $99.99

Millinge Rug Low Pile: $79.99

Pillows: No Longer Sold, but I believe they were around $9.00 per pillow

The throw blanket on the chaise came from the local thrift store for $2.99 and I adore it!

Total Cost of Sitting Room: $1,293.99

You can purchase or view the above Ikea pieces by clicking here.

Obviously, you can do much better by shopping thrift stores and craigslist. I can't complain though since we stayed under budget and the sitting room is my favorite spot in the house.

White may seem like a brave choice with two kittens and a baby on the way, but we actually preferred white for those reasons. The covers easily remove and we can just bleach any stains right out. In the case of a disaster, It's nice to know that we can replace the covers for a minimal amount, without having to trash the entire piece.

You should also consider stopping by the Ikea restaurant if you're heading to Ikea anytime soon. Besides their famous 99 cent breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and bacon (free on Mondays at our local Ikea from 9am to 11am), they often have weekends where you can eat for free if your spending over $100.00. The Ikea restaurant is a great value and has something for everyone. If your looking for something even cheaper, they also have 50 cent hot dogs at the cafe on your way out.

Ikea Swedish Meatball Combo, includes salad and drink for $5.99!

Review: Thirty-One Utility Tote Organization (also known as... My New Obsession)

After seeing some Thirty-One bags at a wedding a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. I usually carry either a book bag or a Vera Bradley purse with me, but I loved the idea of filling up the utility tote with everything I need for work and not having to carry multiple bags.

Thirty-One is an organizational bag direct sales company (like Avon or Mary Kay). You can order by finding a representative on their website (located here) and ordering through her. They have parties that you can attend to look at the bags. Ordinarily, I'm not a fan of direct sale companies, but I decided to give this bag a try.

I purchased the organizing utility tote for $30.00 and took advantage of the June offer for $5.00 embroidery and a $5.00 mini zipper pouch (normal retail value is $15.00).

I noticed in the catalog that you could fit files in the zipper pouch (it was a lot bigger than the pencil pouch I was picturing), this made me rethink my current "office in a bag" for finances. I placed three files in the zipper pouch: "To File", "To Handle", and "Stamps and Envelopes", then I placed my check book, my budget notebook and my extended budget (which is in a cardboard file) inside the pouch. I am so excited about this set up! It reduced weight and bulk and secures the files while letting them remain upright. It's a huge benefit to me to have all of our budgeting tools with me at all times. I can pay bills, track purchases and adjust the budget in little breaks throughout the day omitting the need for a set time, that I sit down and balance the budget.

The best part of the bag is that it has a rectangular bottom that holds it shape, so you can pack it full, and your items stay upright and easy to see. The bag has tons of pockets and makes it easy to create a routine of putting things in the same pocket each time.

Contents:

Main Inner Compartment:

My Smashbook with double sided pen and glue stick (for more info on the Smashbook- a.k.a the scrapbook's unruly little sister, click here).

My new "Office in a Bag" for finances, containing bills, files, our budget book, our extended budget, envelopes, stamps, and a checkbook.

My daily schedule book.

The book I'm currently reading, and a small notebook.

A clipboard with my blog schedule and idea notes. You can get your own blogging schedule for free here.

Outside Pockets:

Left Mesh Pocket: iPhone.

Front Left: Water Bottle.

Front Right: Access Cards, Hair Tie and Chapstick.

Right Mesh: To Be Determined.

Rear Right: Wet Naps and Other Germaphobe Goodies.

Right Middle: Pepper Spray and My Camera in its Case.

Right Left: Hand Lotion.

Clipped Onto Strap:

I use a carabiner to connect my keys together with my Vera Bradley Zip ID case (you can find one here), which I use as my wallet. This allows me to leave my bag in the car if I'm just making a quick trip.

I love the new set up, the bag replaces three that I used to bring to work every day, it doesn't hurt my back or shoulders, it's so easy to grab what I need quickly and it's easy to keep organized. Plus, it's cheaper than Vera Bradley!

Home-Made Ice Cream in 7 minutes, 3 ingredients and no machine needed! As seen in August 2012 issue of Woman's Day.

While flipping through the latest issue of Woman's Day, I was intrigued by their claim that we could make homemade ice cream in less than 10 minutes without an ice cream maker. Since I had two of the three ingredients already at home, I figured I'd pick up heavy cream and put it to the test.


This is the recipe as printed in the August 2012 Woman's Day Magazine:

• 2 cup(s) heavy cream
• 1 can(s) (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl until thick, stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or freezer-safe container, cover and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours and up to 2 weeks.

Results:

Okay, I'm impressed. I'm really, really impressed. No rock salt, no hand cranking, no huge machine to take up valuable real estate in my gadget packed kitchen. The ice cream came out rich and creamy. It's slightly sweeter then store bought vanilla ice cream, but in a better way. Jon talked me out of making smores ice cream with graham crackers, chocolate and mini marshmallows, so we just added semi sweet chips. It's all natural, and has no scary chemicals or preservatives in it. I foresee a future blog post on the dozens of ice cream variations that we've come up with from this basic recipe!

Cost:

Heavy Whipping Cream, 16 oz: $2.35
1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk: $ 1.59
Vanilla: Pantry Item

Total Cost: $3.94 for around 12 servings. That's just $.33 cents per serving!

The Importance of FlyLady in Transforming your Life

Three years ago, I was a much different person. I was a procrastinator. I would push everything off until the last minute because "I had so much to do now!". I was constantly living in "red zone", where I was struggling to handle the most important things. I would miss appointments, deadlines, and events because I was always overbooked and had no clear concept of what was required of me.

I was severely disorganized. I had a house stuffed full of things that I couldn't find if my life depended on it. I was blessed in that I wore a uniform for work because trying to find clean clothes that matched everyday would have been impossible. At the time, I was living in a 5 room basement apartment with a hallway that runs the length of the apartment. I kept my dirty clothing in the hallway so that it was right next to the washer. My dirty clothes pile ran the entire length of the hallway at all times, and most times got so large that I had to walk over a large pile of clothes just to get out of my apartment. My car looked like I was living out of it. I would go shopping and leave bags in the trunk for months (sometimes years).

I was a shopaholic. I was convinced that my problem was that I didn't have something to help me organize. I would buy bins, and schedule books, and sorters in an effort to get my life together. I bought every magazine in the store that mentioned "Organize" on the cover. I would buy clothes that I had already bought the EXACT same item, because I hadn't realized that I already owned it. When I went grocery shopping, impulse purchases filled at least 50% of my cart. Make your own fondue kits and gourmet Irish butter were more frequent purchases than milk and bread.

I was exhausted. I filled all of my free time with parties and friends. I was almost never alone. My phone bill showed that I consistently used about 3,000 minutes a month. I would help anyone with anything, regardless of how close we were. I couldn't say no to anyone. It got so bad that I was on a date at one point when the phone rang, and I answered it! Then I took another call and answered an email. On a FIRST DATE! Then when he pulled the phone away, I thought he was being insensitive!I actually felt tense and anxious around the phone all of the time. It was weird. I knew that the phone caused me stress. But I felt like I couldn't live without it. I almost never got 8 hours of sleep because I would be up all night with friends.

I was unhealthy. My meals consisted of expensive dinners out every night at work. Hamburgers, cheese steaks, Chipotle burritos, and Tex-Mex egg rolls with southwest dipping sauce made up about 75% of my meals. I was spending over $1,400 a month to feed one person. I hadn't eaten breakfast in years. I gained weight, then I gained more weight. I only went to the gym when I went with a friend, and found that I concentrated on the social aspect more than the weight loss aspect.

I was unhappy. To the outside world, and even often to myself, I looked happy. I had friends, money, stuff to do, and an awesome family. Looking back, I was drowning in it all. I never sat down and relaxed. I had a complete lack of life skills and always felt like I was failing. In actuality, I was failing.  I thought that I was made to be this way. I looked at organized people as rigid and boring. I thought I was creative and fun. I thought that there was some genetic reason that I couldn't get my life in order.

Enter Flylady. My mom told me about Flylady, I find my mother gets a lot of credit towards the good things in my life. Flylady.net is a website that was created for people exactly like me. If you were born organized, look elsewhere. Flylady takes people like me and gives us small schedule adjustments to slowly get our life in order. She also establishes routines in our lives. You give her your email address and she sends you about 20 emails a day (no joke!).

In the beginning, she convinces you to do two things. She asks that you do one load of laundry every day, and one load of dishes every day (never more than one!). Together, it takes about 25 minutes. She also convinces you that you can't organize clutter. She asks that you spend another 15 minutes per day (using a timer) to go through your home and throw things out. The laundry and dishes came easier to me than the clutter. I was a hoarder in training. I was absolutely convinced that one day I would desperately need a pair of neon green jeans that were two sizes to small. Where would I be if I threw them out? Jon came over and systematically went through my apartment and threw things out for me. I let him, even though we weren’t dating at the time. I cried and lied about how often I used things so he would let me keep them, but about 30% of the things that I owned went straight into the trash. (Note- you can donate instead, but often at this stage you’re still too disorganized to actually get that done, it’s better to just trash it and start fresh.) Out of everything that was thrown out, I can only remember a pair of roller blades.  I bought them 14 years ago, and had used them about 10 times right after I bought them. Then I carted them down to Virginia and through 8 different moves without ever using them. I had no plans on rollerblading, but I never thought of throwing them out.

If you are anything like the version of me that I described above, then I ask that you go to Flylady.net and sign up. I won’t explain her process step by step because she’ll do a much better job of it than I can. I will promise you that if you are ready to change (and if you’ve read this far then you are), she will change you. It’s been three years since I’ve discovered Flylady and here’s what my life is like now:

I have routines and schedules that allow me to schedule everything that needs to be done into my life. When I make an appointment or make a plan, I think ahead to what I'll need for that event or appointment (forms filled out? extra money budgeted? a gift?) and I'll schedule not only the event but a time to do everything required up to the event. After about a month for each of Flylady's routines, they became integrated into my life so that it's second nature to do them. I can not only easily keep my schedule, but I can keep Jon's as well. There are no real "emergencies" anymore (although true emergencies certainly do exist, we've just been blessed in that area), even the few times that we've gotten last minute calls that someone needs a place to stay... the house was clean, the fridge was stocked and it was easy to accommodate guests.

I am finally organized. I believe that organization is an ever growing process. Meaning, next year  I will be more organized than I am this year. Organization doesn't mean that your closets are color coordinated and ready to be photographed for Pinterest. Organization means that each aspect of my life is working in such a way to support other aspects of my life. The dishes are done every night, allowing me to pack lunches and cook at home. The laundry is done nightly, allowing me to always have the clothing that I need and encouraging me to go to the gym. My supply closet is stocked, allowing me more time at home for crafts and fun stuff instead of running last minute errands. I can find anything I need in the house. Life is stress free.

I'm now a master budgeter. Quite possibly to a fault. I can tell you how much of any staple product we use in a week, month and year. I can tell you the best prices for each product. Last month alone, we were under our "bare bones budget" by $594.00, which I'm incredibly proud of. I use my schedule to plan ahead, and to ensure that money needed for events are budgeted in to avoid surprises.

I'm still exhausted, but only because I'm eight months pregnant! I've learned to say no (although always politely and I'm still working on feeling guilty). I realized that my phone habits were an unhealthy addiction. I also realized that you can spend too much time with friends and not leave yourself enough time to reset. I limit my time talking on the phone, and no longer obsessively check messages. I spend time with fewer friends, but have a more meaningful relationship with them.

I'm much healthier, though this is another ever growing process. The biggest health change in my life has been my sleep schedule. I sleep 8 hours a day, every day (with the exception of pregnancy pains keeping me up), and go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. From this alone, I have seen a huge improvement in my attitude and in my level of patience. I eat healthier now then I did then, and am looking forward to continue improving my eating habits. While pregnancy hinders my ability to work out, I've used prenatal pilates and walking to stay in shape and can't wait until I can hit a regular routine at the gym.

I'm happy. I'm proud of who I've become. I'm proud of the accomplishments that I've made. I love the man that I married and who he inspires me to be. When I wake up in the morning, I feel calm and in control. Now, there's an excellent chance that the arrival of the baby next month will make "calm" and "in control" seem like pipe dreams, but somehow I feel confident that we're going to rock it. Because no matter how bad it gets, I'll always have Flylady.