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Budget Cooking
Healthy Meals at a Low Cost

Budget cooking is a great way to stretch your dollar, especially these days when prices keep shooting up. Although it does take a little extra time and some planning, you can add a great taste and nutrition to your meals and cut back on costs. Here are some tips:

Make it From Scratch

True budget cooking means learning to make as much as you can from scratch, including bread, salad dressings and sandwich spreads. The more foods you make from scratch, the less chemicals you have in your diet, the more nutrition for your dollar and, yes, the fewer dollars you spend.

Learn to Love Beans

Learn to cook pinto beans and make refried beans or add them to soups, a healthy part of budget cooking. Cook black beans from scratch and add them to salads or make bean burgers with them.

To cook beans from dry bulk do the following: Add two cups of dry beans to a colander and rinse them in running water, being careful to remove any stones or dirt. Then add the rinsed beans to a large pot and cover with two inches of water. Set on the stove and bring the beans to a full, rolling boil. Remove the beans from heat, cover the pot and set it aside for one hour.

Then rinse the beans once more, return them to the pot and cover with two inches of clean water. Bring the beans to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and add 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda. Simmer the beans for about 45 minutes or until tender.

For convenient budget cooking, make a double batch and freeze half for later recipes.

Make a Lot

Every time you cook a meal, make enough for at least two meals, and then freeze the leftovers in individual, quart-sized bags for later dinners. It doesn't take that much effort to make a double batch of a meal, and will save you hours of time later. Keep these in your freezer for those days when you are too tired to cook and may be tempted to go out for fast food. Budget cooking combined with convenience!

Get Imaginative with Leftovers

At the end of every meal save your leftovers in airtight containers and use them for the next meal. Leftover taco filling or meatloaf can be cut up and added to a casserole, used to top potatoes or added to a salad. Avoiding waste is a crucial part of budget cooking.

Buy Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in Season

In your pursuit of budget cooking, you may be tempted to save money by cutting out the fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't. The great health benefits you getting by adding these to your diet are well worth the extra cost. Add five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet and you drastically reduce the risk of cancer. Think of all the money you'll save in doctor bills. Part of budget cooking is looking at all the hidden costs, as well as the obvious ones.

Also, the more nutrition you add to your diet, the less snacks you'll crave and the less you'll eat overall. Don't believe me? The next time you're craving a snack, eat a couple of raw carrots. You'll be amazed how quickly you'll feel full.

More Great Recipes For Your Budget Cooking

If you're looking for a frugal, yet delicious and nourishing meal as part of your budget cooking plan, look no further than this Lentil Brown Rice Casserole. It's been a family favorite for years!

Your kids love corn dogs, but you hate all the chemicals. Instead, why not enjoy cooking your own healthy Corn Dogs with this great budget cooking recipe.

There is a better way to make bread that chock full of nutrition. Learn how to make fresh bread from whole grains with your grain mill.

Jam from your garden? You bet! Use roses from your homesteading garden to make this delicious rose petal jam, a great budget cooking recipe!

If you're looking for a delicious variety to the typical spaghetti dish, you won't go wrong with this easy spaghetti pie recipe!

If you're wondering what to do with that Halloween pumpkin, look no further than this budget cooking recipe. Here's how to turn a pumpkin into pie.

Start raising chickens and you'll likely have a surplus of eggs. Here's a great way to use them in this delicious, cheesy vegetable quiche recipe that your family will love.

If you are looking for ways to cut costs without cutting the protein, then try texturized vegetable protein or TVP in your budget cooking. Learn what it is and why it should be on the shelf of every frugal homesteader.

Looking for a great, frugal crockpot recipe? This beefy bulgur vegetable soup recipe combines wheat berries and beef-flavored TVP.

Honey is a healthy, delicious way to sweeten your desserts. Here are some tips on baking with honey.

Your crockpot isn't just for main meals, but can also be used for desserts as well. Try this honey crockpot cake recipe!

Love authentic food, but prefer to have it at home? Then try these frugal Enchiladas. They're a family favorite.

Lots of those wonderful, gooey desserts call for canned condensed milk. Here's how you can save money by making your own with this sweetened condensed milk recipe.

If you're looking for a mayonnaise substitute, look no further than this low-fat, delicious, almond spread.

Save tons of money by cooking beans from scratch and using them as a meat substitute. Here are some tips on preparing pinto beans.

Looking for sturdy cookware that will last for generations? Look no further than Cast Iron Cookware. Learn more about this better way to cook food.

Cast iron cookware is relatively easy to care for, but taking a few extra steps will insure a natural nonstick surface and cookware that will last for decades. Here are some cast iron cookware care tips.

Start raising hogs and you end up with cuts of meat you've never cooked before. Here are some tips on the perfect Roast Pork Loin.

Buying potatoes in bulk and adding them to your menu on a regular basis is a great way to cut costs while adding nutrition. Here are some reasons you should be fixing potatoes.

Making your own authentic Mexican dishes at home isn't nearly as difficult as you think. Learn more about how to prepare Mexican cooking recipes.

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