We all know the cost of groceries are continually rising. It can be difficult to cook a healthy, budget friendly meal for your family that they will love. Walmart challenged me to create a great tasting, budget friendly meal. Since we are approaching grilling season, we decided on Chicken Phillies, Quick & Easy Noodles and a side Salad.

I put together a video showing you what ingredients we bought, how to assemble the sandwiches and our yummy dinner for just over $2 per person.

The Chicken Phillies can also be made up ahead, just grill the veggies and chicken, place in a sealed container and in the fridge until you are ready to assemble sandwiches.

Chicken Phillies Recipe: {serves 4 people}

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 1/3 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing
• 1 cup Mozzerella cheese, shredded
• 4 hoagie buns
• 1 green, 1 orange and 1 red pepper
• 1 large onion

Directions:

Split chicken breasts open and place in container, pour dressing over and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, clean peppers and onions. Cut into quarters. Grill veggies first, then add the chicken. It took about 20 minutes for the veggies, and 10 minutes for the chicken. Place on plate and let cool slightly.

Slice veggies and chicken. Place a few pieces of chicken, then peppers and onions. Top with a sprinkle of cheese, wrap in foil and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 5-10 minutes until the cheese is all melted.

While sandwiches are in the oven. Cook the noodles and put together the salad.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Cost of meal…

• Chicken  $2.50
• Dressing $.50
• Buns  $1.00
• Peppers and Onions $1.25
• Cheese $.93
• Noodles $1.00
• Salad $1.38
• Dressing $.25

Total for meal $8.81…$2.20 per person

Here is what we are eating this week…

Our Menu Plan

Monday ~ Breakfast – Make Ahead Sausage Casserole and Fruit

Tuesday ~ Chicken N’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes and Corn

Wednesday ~ Taco Ring and Rice

Thursday ~ Chicken Phillies, Noodles and Salad

Friday ~ April Fool’s Day Dinner {watch for ideas on Wed}

Saturday ~ Soup & Sandwich

Sunday ~ Lasagna Skillet {recipe from Lauren’s Latest}, Salad, Garlic Biscuits

What’s on your menu this week? Are you ready for grilling season?

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own. 

Don’t miss my current giveaway for Home Ec 101 Book!!

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday

]]> http://hoosierhomemade.com/chicken-phillies-and-our-menu-plan/feed/ 2 http://hoosierhomemade.com/easy-taco-bake/ http://hoosierhomemade.com/easy-taco-bake/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:00:52 +0000 CupcakeLady http://hoosierhomemade.com/?p=17233 [Continue Reading]]]> When fellow Hoosier, Amy from a Latte’ with Ott, told me about her Iron Chef Challenge, I knew I would want to join in. In January, the Challenge was Duck and in February it was Lamb, both of which I just don’t cook. But this month, is Red Gold Tomatoes, so I knew for sure I could come up with a recipe with tomatoes. And especially since they are grown in Indiana…did you know that?

This recipe fits in a 13×9 pan, but can be easily cut in half for a smaller family.

Easy Taco Bake Recipe:

• 2 pounds Ground Beef, cooked and drained
• 1 package Taco Seasoning + water
• 1 can Red Gold Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• 2 cups Bisquick or other baking mix
• 2/3 cup water
• Toppings: cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream and Red Gold Diced Tomatoes

Directions:

Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cook and drain ground beef, return to pan and add taco seasoning and water according to directions on package. Drain tomatoes with chilies and add to taco meat, cook until most of the liquid is gone.

Meanwhile, while meat is cooking, add Bisquick to a small bowl, add water and mix until soft dough forms. Press into baking dish evenly. Top with taco meat and bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and add cheese. Serve with toppings of your choice.

For more Red Gold Tomato and other recipes visit the Iron Chef Challenge…

I’m linking to: Saturday Night Special

Disclosure: Red Gold sent me a package with canned tomatoes. All the opinions, photos and recipe are my own.

Ok, will someone please tell  me where January went?? Really, time is just flying by! I’m back home from Blissdom, and had an amazing trip!! If you were there, please be sure to give me a shout out in the comments.

But, now it’s back to reality, and feeding my family. Have I told you lately, that I really love menu planning, it just makes life so much easier. And Monthly Menu Planning is even better! Do it once {or have your husband do it like I did this month} and you are done! What I usually do is assign a different type of meal each day, like…Mondays are quick and easy, Tuesdays are make-ahead, Wednesdays are Mexican, Thursdays are Italian, Fridays are Kid-Friendly, Saturdays we make a new recipe and Sundays are family dinner days! Here is what we will have this month…

February Meal Plan

1 ~ Enchilidas, Dip and Homemade Tortilla chips

2 ~ Baked Chicken, Potatoes

3 ~ Chicken Pot Pie

4 ~ Kielbasa, Rice, Veggies

5 ~ Pizza

6 ~ Super Bowl Party

7 ~ Broiler Pork Chops, Home Fries

8 ~ Soup & Sandwich

9 ~ Stuffed Baked Potatoes,{from My Blessed Life} Appetizers

10 ~ Mostacolli, Salad

11 ~ Meatloaf, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans

12 ~ Taco Ring, Nacho Bar

13 ~ Doug, in search of the perfect Grilled Ham & Cheese

14 ~ Valentine’s Dinner

15 ~ Tuna Casserole, Salad

16 ~ Breakfast {Homemade McGriddles} and Smoothies

17 ~ Chicken Stir-Fry, Rice

18 ~ Beans & Weenies, Mac & Cheese

19 ~ Quesidillas

20 ~ BBQ Meatballs, Oven Fries

21 ~ Chili, Cornbread Muffins

22 ~ Asian Chicken Wraps,{from $5 Dinners} Rice

23 ~ Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Salad

24 ~ Chili Cheese Dogs, French Fries

25 ~ Chicken N’ Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn

26 ~ Pizza

27 ~ Tostadas, Spanish Rice

28 ~ Roasted Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Beans

Do you menu plan? What are you having this week?

I’m linking to…Menu Plan Monday and Mommy’s Kitchen

Come join us for the Valentine Party at It’s A Blog Party!

Our menu plan went pretty well last week, except by Friday, I was just too tired to cook, so we ordered take-out.

Sunday morning I made a crockpot full of Sloppy Joes, two Lasangas, Sausage Breakfast Casserole, a batch of Cranberry Bread, Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle Cookies, and was done in about three hours. We had some good friends that had a death in the family, so I wanted to take them some meals and treats for the week. I just doubled everything, and we put some meals in the freezer for Doug and the boys while I’m gone to Blissdom.

I need to plan some time to cook like that more often, it really cuts down on time in the kitchen during the week. And it’s nice having the mess only once.

Today’s recipe comes from a Pampered Chef Cookbook…Kids in the Kitchen. There are so many cookbooks that I love, and just simply forget to use them. A couple weekends ago, we were heading out to buy Nick a new catchers mitt for baseball, and I wanted to fix a quick lunch before we left.

This made a ton of soup, there were 6 of us for lunch and we had plenty leftover for lunches during the week.

Note: The recipe calls for using boneless skinless chicken and cooking it in oil, but I like the flavor of the broth when you boil the chicken. So I changed it up a bit. You could certainly use the boneless skinless chicken if you want.

Our Menu Plan…

Monday – Soup {Chicken Riddle Soup} and Sandwiches

Tuesday – Kung Pao Chicken {Barbara Bakes recipe}, Rice

Wednesday – Quesadillas, Chips & Salsa

Thursday – Baked Italian Chicken {$5 Dinners recipe}, Salad

Friday – Pizza

Saturday – Doug cooking for new series

Sunday – Chicken Marsala {GoodLife Eats recipe}, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Did you have a chance to check out the adorable Charm Necklaces and the Free Vista Print Calendar? HURRY, the Necklace deal ends tonight at midnight and the Free Calendar ends tomorrow (Tues) at midnight!

I’m linking to…Tempt My Tummy Tuesday,$5 Dinner Challenge, Menu Plan Monday, Mouthwatering Mondays, Delicious Dishes

I decided to try my hand at creating a recipe using Johnsville Italian Sausage. This soup tasted really good, it was a little spicy for my taste, but Doug and the boys liked it.

Our Menu Plan this week has a little change in it from when I posted our Monthly Menu, I will be going to New York City on Thursday and Friday for the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Holiday Bake-Off!! I’m beyond excited!!

Please stop by tomorrow, check out the amazing giveaway they are offering you and leave a comment!

I’m sharing a video of my #1 visited post and Holiday Bake-off entry!

Our Weekly Menu Plan:

Monday ~ Italian Sausage Soup and Breadsticks

Tuesday ~ Teriyaki Chicken (scroll down), Rice and Veggie

Wednesday~ Nick’s Birthday

Thursday ~ Beef & Bean Chimichangas (done, frozen from a double batch in Oct)

Friday ~ Eat Out (Mama in NYC)

Saturday ~ Appetizers and Baked Potatoes

Sunday ~ Doug’s Birthday

Don’t forget to enter the $50 Silhouette Supply Bundle Giveaway ending Wednesday!

Casey and I had fun creating a Texas Longhorns Tatoo for him…

I think next time we need to trim a little closer, but he was happy with how it turned out.

The tatoo paper for the Silhouette is really cool, and remember, you don’t have to own a Silhouette machine to use the supplies.

I’m linking to the Blog Parties in my footer, please visit them! You might just find one or two that are new to you!

A couple months ago, I discovered a new recipe on the Delicious Dishes linky party on It’s A Blog Party, Crockpot Cheeseburgers served up by Linda’s Lunacy.

They were quick, easy and very tasty. Andrew, our oldest son, who is a very picky eater, loved them, and suggested that I make them with bacon. So, the Bacon Cheeseburgers in the Crockpot meal was added to the Monthly Menu Plan.

I made a few changes to the original recipe from Linda, and added bacon. While the original calls for Velvetta, I decided this time to make my own cheese sauce. It’s actually very easy to make, and we prefer the taste to Velvetta or a store brand cheese spread.

Crockpot Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe:

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 8-10 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 clove garlic, minced or crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt
• 1 cup green pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• Cheese Sauce (recipe below)
• Hamburger Buns

Directions:

Cook bacon in oven. (directions below) Cook ground beef, garlic, onion and green pepper, drain and place in Crockpot. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Cook cheese sauce and add to crockpot. Crumble bacon and stir into meat mixture, heat thru, about 2 hours on low.

You could also just mix everything on top of the stove. After everything is cooked, it’s really just simply heating it thru.

Cheese Sauce recipe:

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 1/2 – 3 cups milk, depending on how thin or thick you want it
• 8 oz of cheese, I use a mix of colby and cheddar

Directions:

Melt butter in saucepan on stovetop, whisk in flour and cook a few minutes, being careful not to get the flour too brown. Slowly add the milk and whisk. Add cubed cheese slowly, stirring after each addition until cheese is melted. Let sauce come to a small bubble, whisking until thick. Add to crockpot.

How to cook bacon in the oven:

I used to cook my bacon in the oven, by just laying it on a foil lined cookie sheet, but then a reader suggested to place it on a rack so that the grease drips down.

Line cookie sheet with foil, place cooling rack on top and slightly spray with cooking spray. Place bacon on rack and cook at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Serve your Bacon Cheeseburgers on Hamburger buns, you could keep it simple like we did with some veggies and chips, or you could add Fried Potatoes or Potato Skins.

Don’t forget! Tomorrow is Celebrating Autumn here at Hoosier Homemade! Come back and add your favorite Autumn recipe! And there will be a giveaway you WON’T want to miss!!

 Linking to Life As Mom

As I’ve told you before, I buy 90% of my groceries at Aldi’s, their prices are great and the quality of the food is good too. There are very few items that we have tried that we don’t like. So, that’s why I came up with the Aldi’s Money Saving Meal for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg. tortilla shells (corn or flour)   $.99
• 1 lb. of Hamburger plus spices for Taco Seasoning  $1.90
• Refried Beans  $.35  (.69/can, use 1/2)
• Black Beans      $.08 (.69/can, use 1/8)
• Rice (I usually use the spanish rice, but any kind will do)  $.30  ($.59/box, use 1/2)
• Sour Cream   $.15 ($.99/container, use about 1/8)
• Shredded Cheese  $.35 ($2.49/pkg, use about 1/8)
• Salsa or Taco Sauce  $.37  ($1.49/bottle, use of 1/4)
• Lettuce, Tomato, Onion (whatever you like on top)  $.35

Directions:

Fry tortilla shells in oil, this is kinda fun to watch them puff up, my youngest got a kick out of it.

Then layer the ingredients you like. I usually serve these with chips, that way they can build their own nachos too if they want.

Total for Tostada Dinner:  $4.84

This post is linked to:

~Frugal Fridays hosted by Life As Mom