Beyond Ramen For the Non-Cooker

There is a standby that I would always fall back on if I ever came up short on money for food.
And for the kitchen inept like myself, they are easy to make. I will share my favorite cheap food and you tell me yours, then we can get a list going below.  (email me, post your own or comment below and I will add them)

This is also a handy list to refer to when you just don't know what to make and need something easy.

My Favorite
Macaroni and Tuna
1 Box of Macaroni
1-2 cans of tuna
Prepare macaroni to instructions on the box, after final step of stirring in cheese, add 1-2 cans of tuna and stir until evenly spread about. When sick of tuna, substitute with ground beef, chicken or meat of choice. Makes 2-3 servings

More Recipes 
Hashbrown casserole
1lb hashbrowns 
1 can of condensed mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
1 cup of grated cheese
1 small container of sour cream
Preheat oven to 400°F
In a medium casserole dish, pour condensed mushroom soup, milk, and sour cream. sprinkle on half the grated cheese. Dump frozen hashbrowns into the mix, and stir it up 'til it's chunky-yet-goopy. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Put it in the oven for approx. 40 minutes, check on it periodically, take it out when it's nice and browned and a little crispy on top. Serves 4-5 people


Taco Salad
1 Lrg can of chili
1 Head of chopped Lettuce
1-2 cups of grated cheese
Medium bag of corn chips
Heat up chili in large pan, stir in chopped lettuce and grated cheese. Stir on low heat for about 5 minutes and pour over corn chips already on the plate. Eat with a spoon. Serves 4 large helpings.

Egg Salad Sandwich
6 hard cooked eggs
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped sweet pickle
1/2 c. mayonnaise or salad dressing
12 slices bread
Soft butter
Chop eggs and place in a medium sized mixing bowl. Chop celery and pickles on a chopping board. Add celery, pickle, salt and mayonnaise. Toss with fork to mix well. Spread bread slices evenly with the softened butter and then with the filling. Use cutting board to cut sandwiches into the shape you would like.
To add a special touch, garnish your sandwiches with pickles, sliced olives or radish roses. Makes 6 sandwiches.


Hamburger and Potatoes
1 lb hamburger
1 medium sized onion, chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped in small chunks
Cook hamburger until about 1/2 way done, add onion and potatoes. Cook on low heat until potatoes are soft. When mixture is beginning to brown on bottom flip over til beginning to brown on other side. I add salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder for seasoning. Serve with baked or vegetarian beans.


Goulash (Thanks to mom)
1 lb ground beef
1.5 cups dry macaroni
2 cups water
1 can tomato soup
chili powder, salt and pepper.
Brown the ground beef in skillet, drain grease. Add 2c water, macaroni, and salt and pepper. bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. When it boils, lower the heat and cover with a lid and simmer for 10-15 min. add can of tomato soup and spices (1-2 tsp chili powder, oregano and marjoram) stir well and simmer to blend flavors. Let cool and serve. 5-6 helpings

HOT DOG STEW
1 pound hot dogs (cut up in chunks)
1 white onion cut up
1 green pepper cut up
1 large can on tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste.
Put all in a crock pot, fill with water and let it cook for several hours for the best flavor but if you are in a hurry, cook hot dogs, green pepper and onion till done, transfer all to a large and add the tomato sauce and past, fill pot with water and cook for 20 minutes.

Brown Rice w/ Vegetables
1/2 Cup brown rice
Assorted raw vegetables
Steam both as directed on packaging or until tender. Add your favorite lite sauce (made per instructions on packaging) and eat.

Other Suggestions:

Pulled Beef Sandwiches (via FabulousSavings.com)
3lbs of chuck or shank (the tougher cuts - also the cheapest - preferably w/o the bone)
1 can of root beer, Coke or Dr. Pepper
1 bottle of your fav bbq sauce
Buns
Place the roast in the slow cooker and cover with the can of soda. Cook for about 7 hours on low. If possible, turn the meat half way to make sure the soda touches all sides.
After 7 hours, drain the soda, partially shred the meat and pour the entire bottle of bbq sauce over top. Cook on low for another 3 hours.
Serve on buns with yummy sides, like coleslaw or potato salad

Super Easy Chili
In a pot put:
1lb ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 small green pepper chopped
Fry until no pink remains in meat.
Drain fat.

in a strainer drain and rinse:
1 can kidney beans
1 can kernel corn
add to meat mixture
Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder and simmer on low for an hour. Add more chili powder and a few drops of hot sauce if you like it spicier.

Photo courtesy flickr/cc - suzettesuzette