Shopping List:
Instant mashed potatoes $1.25
Beef patties $1.25
Canned Corn $1.25
Country Gravy Mix $1.25
Pizza Crust $1.25
Sausage $1.25
Eggs $1.25
Cheddar Cheese $1.25
Smoked Sausage $1.25
Penne Pasta $1.25
Alfredo Sauce $1.25
Cajun Seasoning $1.25
Pepper Stir Fry $1.25
Seasoning Blend $1.25
Meatballs $1.25
Pasta Sauce $1.25
Total cost $20
Meal #1: Hamburger Gravy on Potatoes
Prepare mashed potatoes per package instructions. Brown and crumble 8 oz of ground beef. Drain (if using beef patties I recommend rinsing under cool water to remove extra salt) Prepare gravy mix per package instructions (divide in half).
Add 1 cup of gravy with drained beef and corn, heat through and serve over a bed of mashed potatoes
Alternative idea, substitute country gravy for brown gravy, and substitute corn for peas and carrots for a deconstructed cottage pie.
Meal #2: Breakfast Pizza
Brown and crumble sausage, crack in 4 eggs and scramble. Top a pizza crust with prepared country gravy, then sausage and egg mixture, drizzle more country gravy over the top, add shredded cheese, then bake according to the package instructions on the crust.
No oven alternative: Swap pizza crust for tortillas and make sausage gravy breakfast tacos!
Meal #3: One Pot Cajun Pasta
Chop smoked sausage into medallions. Sautee over medium high heat with thawed and drained pepper stir fry. Stir in 1 teaspoon of cajun seasoning, add can of alfredo sauce and 1 can of water. Bring this to a boil then stir about half a box of penne pasta (a little less if you want it more saucy). Cover and simmer for 10 minutes stopping to stir twice.
Meal #4: Meatball Soup
Cut thawed meatballs into small pieces, sautee over medium high heat with thawed and drained seasoning blend. Stir in 1 can of pasta sauce and 1 can of water (season well with salt and pepper) then add 1 cup of penne pasta. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes until pasta is cooked through