Good Bread Good Meat Good God Let's Eat : 7 Budget Friendly Meals

Friday, January 10, 2014

7 Budget Friendly Meals

By The Paula Deen Test Kitchen

We have all been faced with a similar problem. How do you create delicious meals at
home without going over a budget? Here at the Paula Deen Test Kitchen, we get asked
this question all the time. It seems nearly impossible to shop for quality food products
without spending a fortune.

Here are three tips to remember while grocery shopping:

1. Make a List. It is bad enough to shop on an empty stomach, but it is even worse to
shop without a list. Make note of the essential items that you need like milk, bread, eggs
and butter, and then add other items that you need for this week’s recipes. Keeping a
shopping list will help deter you from buying extra items.

2. Shop for Specials. Mother was right, coupon clipping is worth the trouble. You can
save several dollars by regularly clipping and using coupons. For those of you with a
tech-savvy edge, most smartphones have apps that will electronically organize your
coupons for you! Also, look for brightly colored stickers with Manager’s Special printed
on them.

3. Plan, Plan, Plan. In addition to keeping your grocery list, make a weekly list of meals
that you can prepare. This will not only keep you organized, but will also help you avoid
fast food traps which seem like good ideas at the time, but add up to costly expenses
in the long run.

The Test Kitchen has also put together a list of our favorite budget friendly meals to help
you pinch your pennies without leaving your pantry bare. Be sure to add these to your
PaulaDeen.com recipe boxes and grocery lists!

Walk Away Baked Spaghetti