How can I save on groceries and make meals that stretch for my growing family?

[Trish1953]

Since my daughter, 28, and granddaughter, 9, and grandsons 10 and 6 months just moved in with my husband and me, I am wondering how to save on groceries, oir make meals that stretch the food. Any suggestions? DGD does not like onions or tomatoes. She can tolerate garlic if it's concealed enough.

Trish in Texas

 

[4kids4me]

I have 4 kids, plus my husband and me. We do lots of casseroles, that really stretches the meats. My girls don't like onions either - they call it "the ribbons". If I puree them I still get the flavor but they don't get the ribbons. They're the same way with tomatoes, but somehow they love spag sauce. Go figure! I can't wait to see what other suggestions come through.

 

[jdavis]

My boys' favorite is Mac 'n peas as we call it. I usually use 3 or 4 regular sized boxes of cheapie macaroni and cheese, 3 or 4 cans of tuna (one thing I don't skimp on I like chicken of the sea) and one can of peas. They can eat almost the whole thing by themselves, the 4 of them (10, 8, 7, 3). My little brother, (I can still call him that because he is still younger than me even though he is grown and is way taller now, lol) loves this too, I like it myself, but not as much as they do, they gobble it up.

 

[jdavis]

Oh, I forgot, there is a magazine I LOVE it used to be called quick cooking, now I think it's simple and delicious, by taste of home, it has a section called fast and frugile, at least the last time I read it that's what it was, lol, I forgot to renew, ughh, not that I have had time to read any of them, lol, I have a stack of mags I need to take to work and use some of my break time.

 

[Pampered Laura]

One of my faves (I share this at shows, too) is One Pan Chicken "Pot" Pie.

Preheat oven to 350*.
Take a rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) and shred it up in to bite size pieces, place in 12" skillet. Mix in a can (or two to stretch more) of mixed veggies. Add cubed (cooked) potatoes if desired.
In a bowl, mix 1 cup milk with a packet of Lipton Garlic & Herb soup mix. Pour over mixture in Skillet. Let simmer for a few minutes until sauce is nicely coated on the chicken and thickened a tad.
Then, place 1 or 2 cans worth of biscuits (raw) around the top of the mixture in the pan. Place in oven for 30 mins or until biscuits are done inside.

Best Chicken "pot" Pie ever, and only one skillet to clean. PS I sell lots of 12" Skillets from this recipe.

 

[GourmetGirl]

My favorite quick, easy and not so nutritious meal is to take 2 boxes of Hamburger Helper and only 1 pound meat. Add frozen veggies and I have tons of servings!