$5 Sweet & Sour Chicken

*This meal seriously took 30 min. from beginning to end! Such a great "go-to" meal. And is so cheap! This also would be so awesome as a stir-fry with all your fresh garden veggies. Plus it's way healthy, so you don't feel guilty having seconds! :)

You'll Need:

-2 chicken breasts, diced (2.06)

-2 tbs. olive oil (.10)

-1/2 c. green bell peppers, diced (free from garden, I froze a ton!)

-1 clove garlic, minced or grated (.05)

-1 tbs. corn starch (.05)

-1/4 c. soy sauce (.25-this could be a gluten free meal if the soy sauce is gluten free)

-1 (8 oz.) can of pineapple chunks, with juice (.79)

-1 tbs. brown sugar (.05)

-1 tbs. vinegar (.05)

-1/2 tsp. ground ginger (.05)

-1 c. rice (.20)

-1 (12 oz.) bag frozen corn, or 1 big can (free from garden, I froze a ton)

total: $3.65

DIRECTIONS:

*In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown chicken pieces in oil.

*While that is browning, start your rice. Use 2 cups of water, bring to boil, and then add your rice, turn heat to simmer and let simmer for 20 min. There should be holes in the rice and you'll know it's done. Fluff with fork & set set aside till ready to serve. Should get finished around same time as chicken mixture so it won't be waiting long if anything at all.

*Add green bell peppers and garlic and stir-fry for 1-2 min.

*In small bowl, whisk together corn starch & soy sauce, then pour mixture into skillet along with pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar and ginger. Stir together & bring just to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer 5-10 min. or until sauce reaches desired consistency/thickness.

*Cook frozen corn as directed on bag. Or basically bring to a boil.

*Serve sweet & sour chicken over the rice with corn on the side. Yum!!

Calzones, Breadsticks & Straw-Cran Creamy Poppyseed Salad

*Okay, so yummy. You know my schpill, I have to have recipes that are delish and easy peasy. Well this is one of them! The salad is my ultimate fav. and so mouth watering and fulfilling. Love!

We'll do 3 seperate recipes, and start with......

Calzones:

You'll Need:

-4 c. flour (.50)

-1 1/2 c. warm water

-1 tbs. yeast (.25)

-1tbs. honey (.20)

-1tsp. salt (.02)

-1 c. cheese (.99-bought on sale and then froze)

-1/2 c. pizza or spaghetti sauce (.43)

-your fav. pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, about 15 slices(.50)

Total: $2.91

DIRECTIONS:

*First combine water, and yeast. Let sit 10 min. Then add in this order, salt, then honey, then flour. Mix till smooth. It will be a little sticky.

*Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Grab dough in small amounts. Roll out on a little flour into a circle. Transfer to pan. Top with sauce, pizza toppings and cheese, on one half of the circle of dough. Then fold other half over leaving about an inch around the edges to fold over and make a seal (so your schtuff doesn't fall out).

*make a few cuts on top of the calzone with a knife so the air can escape while cooking. (Plus it makes it look fancier. :)

*Let sit for about 10 min. to raise a little. Then bake at 350 for 12 min. or until golden brown.

Breadsticks

You'll Need:

-Leftover dough from calzones. Enough to make about 8 long breadsticks. (if that's not enough make a double batch of dough)

-non-stick spray (.05)

-1 tbs. garlic salt (.05)

Total: $.10

DIRECTIONS:

-Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

-Spread out dough onto sheet making it about 1/2 inch thick.

-Spray the top with non-stick spray (I use olive oil sray, low fat and it gives it good flavor, plus you don't have to mess with melting fattening butter)

-Sprinkle with garlic salt.

-Take a pizza cutter and cut breadsticks about 1 inch wide.

-Let sit about 10 min. to raise, then bake at 425 or 350 for 12-15 min.

Straw-Cran Creamy Poppyseed Salad

You'll Need:

-1 head of iceberg lettuce (.92)

-1/2 c. fresh spinach (.25)

-1 carrot, sliced (.10)

-2 stalks celery, sliced (.10)

-1 tomato, diced (.30)

-1/2 c. fresh strawberries (.34-bought on sale for $1.39)

-1/4 c. craisins (.50)

-1/4 c. almonds, sliced in 1/2 (.50)

-1/2 c. creamy poppyseed dressing (1.00)

Total: $4.01

Meal total: $7.02 (Think of how cheap the salad would be this summer with all your fresh veggies from the garden! This meal would cost alittle over $4 if you grew all the veggies.)

DIRECTIONS:

*Throw all the veggies together and mix. Top with creamy poppyseed dressing.