6 Yummy meals for $50 - family of 4

meatloaf, taco salad, homemade alfredo sauce (yummo), breakfast for dinner, chicken/broccoli and Cherice

My instructions aren't super specific to save time and get all these recipes up! Enjoy!

Shopping List:
3 lbs ground beef or turkey $9
Italian bread crumbs $3
chopped onion $1 (I use dried chopped onions, but you can use a fresh one)
1 carrots $1
Celery $1 (we only need one piece of the bunch, but you can use the rest w/pb and raisins for ants on a log w/kids)
Ketchup $1
Dozen eggs $2
1 can beans $1- your choice (I use kidney)
Avocado $1(if you like it as a topping)
Tortilla chips/fritos/doritos $2.50  (your choice for taco salad)
1 bunch lettuce $1.50
salsa $2
taco seasoning $1
parmesan cheese $3
cheddar cheese $2
fresh parsley $1
heavy cream/whole milk/reg. milk $2- totally up to you for thickness and fat content of alfredo sauce
1 breakfast sausage $3(usually in pkg of 1 lb)
1 lb chicken or 1 large can $1
1 cream of chicken $1
mayonaise $1
biscuits $3(pillsbury type for biscuits and gravy)
OR
Hashbrowns $2 (crowns/southern style)
2 C rice $2
1 can diced tomatoes/1 large tomato $1
Lipton-box type dry chicken noodle soup mix $2

MEATLOAF
2 lbs ground beef/turkey
1 stick of celery -diced
1 grated carrot
1 C italian seasoned bread crumbs
2 eggs - 1 complete and 1 white only
1/2 C ketchup

Mix all in a bowl - pour into loaf pan. Top with either 1 C ketchup (coated w/thin layer) OR you can mix 1 teaspoon w/1 C ketchup to have a unique flavor. Bake at 375 for 50-60 min - keep an eye on it.
OR
Place into muffin tins for individual servings at 350 for 25-35 minutes depending on how full.

Drain fat, and serve! (good w/mashed or roasted potatoes and a veggie which you should have around)

TACO SALAD
Chips
1 lb ground beef cooked w/seasoning/onion/beans
Any toppings you want (cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, avocados - YUM)

Alfredo Sauce
BIG SECRET
I really don't measure for any homemade sauces I make. I follow the concept of what I want - extra creamy - use cream, extra rich - more butter, more flavorful - more cheese

Melt butter first (garlic here if you want that too), then start wisking milk/cream with it, on medium heat - slowly add parmesan cheese (grated or shredded) and keep wisking. If you keep the temperature mediumish and wisk, your sauce will be great. If you want to add sundried tomatoes/mushrooms/spinach, do that after the cheese is melted, heat it through and serve.

Breakfast for Dinner.. 2 options
Biscuits and Gravy with eggs - We use a little sausage for the gravy, and save the rest for Cherice.

OR

Casserole. High temp in oven 375/400... spray nonstick on pan, place hashbrowns, pop them in oven to defrost while you cook sausage or bacon on the stove. Place cooked meat over hashbrowns, pour about 6-12 eggs over it, depending on the size of pan. Pop it in for 20+ minutes, until eggs are cooked in the middle. Put cheese on top to melt and serve. **If you do this option, you must buy another 1 lb meat for cherice

Chicken and Broccoli
You can put this over pasta, rice or just do a ton of broccoli and abandon the carb.
Sauce: I use 1 can of chicken or a couple chicken breasts.
Add to chicken, 1/4 C mayo
1/2 C milk
seasoning of your choice (spicy/italian/salt and pepper)
garlic powder
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 can of Cream of broccoli/celery/chicken
Layer Carb, broccoli, sauce and melt some cheese on top

Cherice, seriously easy
This recipe is adapted from one a friend made for us and her name is Cherise - you use rice, so CHERICE
In rice cooker/pot:
1 1/2 C rice
1 can italian diced tomatoes (do not drain)
onion and garlic powder to your liking
pre-cooked sausage
1 packet of chicken noodle soup
3 1/2 C water
salt/pepper/spice to your liking

Stir together and it's done when the rice is cooked - super yummy!