frugal crock pot meals

Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Ribs

This all-time favorite ribs recipe because it is SO EASY.

• 3 1/2 pounds pork loin back ribs or pork spare ribs (we just buy a full rack of ribs)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup Dr Pepper (or water, or other soda)
• 2/3 cup barbecue sauce (we like Sweet Baby Ray's the best for this recipe.

1. Spray inside of 5-6 quart slow cooker with cooking spray (or just use one of those bags ).
2. Cut ribs into 2 or 3 rib portions. Place ribs in slow cooker; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour Dr Pepper (or water or other soda) into slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until ribs are tender. Remove ribs. Discard liquid.
4. Paint BBQ sauce over ribs and replace ribs into slow cooker. Pour a little additional sauce over ribs. Cover and cook on low heat for 1 hour.             

Found this recipe here and I thought I would try it. Maybe Aimee would like it too?

Frugal meals

Mini Meatloaf Mounds

• 2 pounds hamburger
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• salt, pepper, garlic salt (to taste)
• 1 cup oatmeal (author used old-fashioned)[I substituted bread crumbs]
• 8 oz. tomato sauce (or use a cup of salsa – yum!)
• ketchup

Mix all but the ketchup together.  I use a potato masher for this icky job!  Scoop 1/2 cup meat mixture with a measuring cup and place in 8×12 pan to form 10 mounds.
Bake at 350° for 50 minutes.  Spread ketchup on top of each mound.  Return to oven for 3-5 minutes. I found this recipe here. I deleted the onion because Aaron is allergic. I baked this this morning when I had time. I plan to reheat it for dinner tonight with some leftover cheesy potatoes.

 **I also doubled the recipe and made the other half of this into meatballs (leaving out the ketchup) which I cooked and froze to use later in the week for meatball subs or spaghetti and meatballs.

Unleavened bread

I want to work in the more of Lent/ Resurrection into our holiday and take the Easter out. So i found this great site with a unleavened bread recipe here. I plan to try this with the kids and I can use my wonderful bread machine. All my bread turns out like rocks anyway if it isn't in the bread machine so this may be perfect for me. I'll post a picture if it turns out.

Frugal meals

Our leftover Pot Roast from the other night has been recycled into beef and noodles (the leftover veggies have been frozen for a quick side dish addition to a meal next week). I just put the broth and shredded roast beef into a pan with 2 bullion cubes and set to boil. I added more spices and the noodles after it came to a boil. Then just before serving I will add a can of cream soup. Voila! A recycled dinner and no complaints about eating leftovers.

Frugal Family Meals

I have friends who run a catering business this week our family was blessed with leftovers, a large bag of romaine lettuce, a gollon ziploc of cooked chicken breast,a gallon of salsibury steak, and three dozen eggs from their chickens. For dinner we had a Caesar style salad with boiled eggs and ranch dressing. Today we had mom's famous scrabbled eggs for breakfast I made enough extra to freeze for Chinese fried rice later this week. Then for lunch we used the rest to make a taco salad with venison burger. All three meals cost just pennies--all we had to buy was chips and cheese. Twice this week we have had spaghetti-- once plain with bread sticks and then the kids requested it again so I made meat sauce and garlic toasts for the second batch. These are all good wholesome meals that cost very little to feed a big family. Update Tuesday night we had the steak over noodles and twice this week I have set out chicken breast to put in my lunch for work the rest is frozen for a later meal when i just don't feel like cooking. Thank so much to my good friends!

I have been taking my breakfast and lunch to work. It was costing me about $50.00 every two weeks to eat at work but i am down to less than $10.00 out of each pay check. It takes more time but the meals are better flavored. Mostly I take planned leftovers-make an extra meal or just a little more of the vegetables at dinner to take the next day. It isn't as convenient as running down to the cafeteria but I sure do like the extra money in my check.