Pumpkin Pecan Granola

Recipe and Photo from 5 Dollar Dinners 

Ingredients:

Ingredients

1/3 cup applesauce

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

3 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 tsp almond or vanilla extract

4 cups oats (I use old-fashioned oats)

1/4 cup brown sugar

¼ cup flaxseed (optional)

1 tsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger

1 cup pecans, chopped (can substitute walnuts)

1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Preheat to 300.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and extract.  In larger mixing bowl, toss together the oats, brown sugar, flaxseed, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.  Spoon the pumpkin mixture into the oats mixture and combine until all the oats are covered in the pumpkin mixture.

Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then gently toss and mix in the pecans and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes.  Stir in the raisins or other dried fruit after it has cooled some on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to one month. 

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (9/29/12-10/6/12)
Pumpkin	Essential Everyday canned pumpkin (15 oz.) on sale for $1.29
Oats	Quaker old-fashioned and quick oats (18 oz.) on sale 2 for $4.00
Walnuts	Everyday Essentials Baking Walnuts (16 oz.) on sale for $6.49

Lighter Beef Stroganoff

Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons paprika

1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

2 cups sliced white mushrooms 

1 cup sliced carrots

1 medium onion, diced

1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth

1/2 cup sour cream 

2 Tablespoons Flour

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Egg noodles

Directions:

SLOW COOKER DIRECTIONS: Add paprika, salt, pepper, sour cream, and broth to slow cooker and begin to heat.  Meanwhile, warm oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook beef, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer meat to a slow cooker.  Add mushrooms, carrots, and onion to skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.   Transfer to slow cooker.   Combine flour with 3 tablespoons of water to form a paste, add to slow cooker.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low 6-8 hours.  Serve over egg noodles.

STOVETOP DIRECTIONS:  Add paprika, salt, pepper, sour cream, and broth to a large saucepan and warm over medium heat.  Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add beef to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Transfer meat to a saucepan with broth and sour cream mixture.  Add mushrooms, carrots, and onion to skillet and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring often, until vegetables are tender (check carrots).   Transfer to saucepan with other ingredients.   Combine flour with 3 tablespoons of water to form a paste, add to saucepan.  Bring the ingredients to a boil and let simmer for 2-3 minutes to let the sauce thicken .  Serve over egg noodles.

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (9/29/12-10/6/12)
Egg Noodles	Our Family Egg Noodles (16 oz.) on sale for $1.29
Mushrooms	8 oz. container of baby bella mushrooms on sale for $1.99
Carrots	2 lb bag of carrots on sale for 99 cents.
Paprika	Spice Islands Seasonings 50% off

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (9/29/12-10/13/12)
Noodles	Barilla Pasta 99 cents with coupon
Mushrooms	8 oz. container baby bella mushrooms buy one get one free with coupon
Carrots	Bolthouse Farms baby carrots (1 lb. bag) on sale for 89 cents
Sour Cream	Land O’Lakes Sour Cream 2 for $3.00 with coupon (must buy two)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Photo from RachelleB.com

Ingredients:

3 or 4 Large bananas, mashed

1/2 cup white sugar

1 slightly beaten egg

1/3 cup melted butter (or 1/3 cup applesauce)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white flour + ½ cup whole wheat flour (or 1.5 cups white flour)

¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Makes 12 muffins.  Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine (or applesauce) together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour into greased or lined muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees oven for approximately 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale
Chocolate Chips	Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chips $1.98 with coupon at Cub
Sugar	Essential Everyday Granulated Sugar (4lbs) $1.99 with coupon at Cub
Flour	Betty Crocker Gold Medal Flour (5lbs) 2/$5.00 at Cub

Lentil Sloppy Joes

Photo from The Tie Dye Files

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups cooked lentils (or 1 pound lean ground turkey)

1 Small onion

3/4 can tomato soup

2 Tablespoons ketchup

1 green pepper

2 Tablespoons prepared mustard

2 Tablespoons vinegar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

If using meat, brown ground beef or turkey, drain off excess fat.   Meanwhile, saute onion and pepper in a large pan.  Add lentils (or meat) to onions and peppers.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes.   Serve on top of wheat hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls.

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale
Ground Turkey	Jenni-O Lean Ground Turkey on Sale at Cub 2/$7.00 with coupon, must buy two (freeze the other package!)
Tomato Soup	Online Coupon at Cub for 40 cents off three cans of condensed soup

Serving Suggestions: Serve with a green Italian salad (romaine lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced carrots, and Italian dressing) and roasted sweet potatoes. 

Easy Baked Ziti

Ingredients:

1 box (16 oz.) ziti or rigatoni pasta

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 container (15 oz.) low fat ricotta cheese

1 package (8 oz.) part-skim mozzarella cheese

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Photo from Kraft Recipes

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.

MIX spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese and reserved 1/2 cup pasta cooking water in large bowl. Add pasta and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese; mix lightly. Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.

BAKE 30 min.; uncover. Bake an additional 10 min. or until heated through. Makes 8 servings.

*Casserole can be frozen.  To freeze, wrap unbaked casserole in saran wrap or aluminum foil.  Bake frozen casserole for 1 hour at 350 degrees covered, then 10 minutes uncovered.  

Grocery Item	Cost	Weekly Sale
Pasta	$1.00	On Sale at Cub 10/$10
Sauce	$1.48	Ragu on sale at Cub for $1.48
Ricotta	$2.50
Mozzarella	$2.49	Kraft Shredded Cheese on sale at Cub for $2.49, at Econo Foods 2/$3.00 with coupon (must purchase 5)
Parmesan	$2.99	Crystal Farms Grated Parmesan on sale at Cub for $2.99, Econo Foods 2/$5.00
Total	$10.46	($1.31 per serving)

Serving Suggestions: Serve baked ziti with frozen green beans (Bird’s Eye Vegetables on Sale at Econo Foods 2/$4.00), french bread (On Sale at Econo Foods for $1.69), and cantaloupe (cantaloupe on sale at Cub for $1.77).