Things are tight again time for some creative cooking

Just like life always seems to be, things get harder just when you think they are getting easier. Or renters moved out. One owing a lot of rent but we've learned from this and move on. The important thing to remember is get the rent up front, don't listen to the sob stories.

So with the lack of funds come creative cooking. Thankfully I found a some chicken leg quarters for 69 cents a pound so this will go a long way. During creative cooking times I create new dishes and use a lot of stand bys so I wanted to share a few cheap eats.

Macaroni and cheese with hot dogs- My step kids love this one and both items are very cheap but put them together and you have a meal, just add a canned veggie. All you have to do is add cut up hot dogs to the water when cooking the macaroni and it cooks along with it.

Macaroni Surprise- My sister invented this one. You will need a box of macaroni and cheese, 1 can of tuna (drained), and a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup. Just cook the mac and cheese and then add the other two items and mix. Then return to the stove to heat a little more stirring constantly.

Sausage Rice a Roni- My husband and I discovered this when living in a truck. All you need of a box of any flavor Rice a Roni and smoked sausage. Just cut up your smoked sausage into little circles. The add the butter required for your rice a roni to the pan and along with the sausage. Cook until the sausage gets almost brown and then add the rice and brown like the box says. The sausage will finish browning with the rice. Then cook the rice a roni as the box states and Vaula!

Three meal Chicken- Buy some clearance chicken any kind except wings will work (apx 5 pounds). Place the chicken in a pot and flavor with salt, pepper, chicken seasoning, and bay leaves and allow to cook until falling off the bones. Then let is cool and debone the chicken but strain and reserve you stock also.

Meal one- Chicken pot pie
Meal two- Hungry Man Stew
Meal three- Chicken Salad

Chicken Pot Pie- This is the easy way but you can do it away way you prefer. In a casserole place enough diced up chicken to cover the bottom. Place a mix of canned veggies on top of that making sure it only goes half way up the sides or you won't have room for the breading. Some use can of mixed veggies but I prefer one can of each of the following; green beans, sweet peas, corn, diced potatoes. (I can find these cheap at the dent can store or on sale). For seasoning I add more poultry seasoning, garlic, and pepper. I avoid salt because of all thats in canned veggies. For the topping you will need Bisquick. Make the batter like you would be preparing pancakes and pour it over the top of the veggies. Put it in the over at 400 to 450 for 30 to 45 minutes or until the top is nice and brown. (great leftover)

Chicken Salad- All you need is boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, mayo and chicken. You can also add onion and celery if you like. You can't make this wrong. Dice your eggs, chicken, onion, and celery and mix things in the bowl until it tastes the way you like it. Then place it on bread for sandwiches or it's also good on lettuce leaves rolled up. My husband likes them on tortillas.

Hungry man stew- This from the depression and can be used with any meat stock and leftover meat. It's cheap because it's leftovers from their Sunday dinner and veggies from their yard. The only extra cost was the rice and it's cheap too. This is full of carbs so it suck with them longer.

You will need: Rice, reserved chicken stock, potatoes, and canned crushed or diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

In a pot with reserved stock place all your leftover chicken that's diced up. Dice you some potatoes (as many as you like but save room also. Cook this until the potatoes are almost done. Then add one cup of uncooked rice. Let this cook until rice is half done and add your tomatoes. Make sure to stay near once you add the tomatoes because this is when it tries to start sticking to the bottom of the pot. Make sure to stir it also because the rice goes to the bottom and that's what sticks and then burns. Once the rice begins to butterfly then it's done. (get leftover but doesn't freeze well)

I'm doing three day chicken because I got it cheap but you can also do this with a roast and most large pieces of meat than can be cooked in the pot. I can even add a fourth meal to this is there enough chicken left over and make chicken and dumplings and all this doesn't have to be done 4 days in a row. Cook the chicken and dice it and freeze it and the broth for later.