SingleWorkingMama

Drue is now 8, and not long ago it occurred to me that she wouldn’t know how to make instant pudding, let alone a grilled cheese.

It’s easy to get in the habit of preparing your kid’s meals, but I want my kids to learn the joys of cooking, or at least get them started young enough to decide if it’s a hobby they like! Being served a snack requiring more assembly than just pouring milk on top would be a bonus, too. (Although, the Froot Loops in bed on Mother’s Day are precious and delicious, you know!)

Nachos seemed to be a good starting point. She carefully assembled a layer of chips with a sparse layer of cheese, and I gave her the microwave lesson. We talked about variations, like adding peppers or chicken.

She was delighted with the result, and promptly made me a plate.

A couple days later, I saw her rummaging in the fridge, and I watched from across the room as she once again assembled her chips and cheese, and then came out of the pantry with a Hershey bar. She broke the rectangles apart and spaced them, deliberately and evenly, over the top of her chips and cheese.

30 seconds later, I saw her take a bite.

She promptly walked to the garbage and dumped the whole plate.

Now that Old Man Winter is showing us hints of gnarling his teeth, simple and (as always) cost-effective “comfort” dinners come to mind.

Busy parents aren’t often able to create culinary masterpieces from scratch, and I am proud to say that I’ve discovered a $5 chili recipe that is easy to make, and requires only 2 cans and some cooked hamburger!

I have always liked the concept of the The Cake Mix Doctor, which helps add zip to a box cake mix. The same idea can apply to main dishes, like chili!

Canned foods make my life easier, are inexpensive, and save time.

Here’s my $5 Chili recommendation:

1 can Bush’s Chili Magic = $1.20-ish, depending on sale or coupon
1 can Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes (They’re cute and teeny, and I like ‘em. Brand is irrelevant.) $1-ish
1 lb. Ground Beef (or turkey) = about $2
Onion

Additional compliments, if desired: Shredded cheese, chopped onion, sour cream, macaroni elbow noodles

To create:
Cook the beef with some chopped onion. (Or skip the onion, if you must)
Season it (if you want to)
Throw the Chili Magic, Petite diced tomatoes and beef into a crock pot or sauce pot.
Add cooked elbow noodles and additional garnishes as desired.

You now have a meal for a small, but mighty crew for about $5.

It is truly magical.

Tip:
Last time I bought two pounds of beef, I cooked one up just for chili. I threw it in a zip-loc bag and froze it. Today, when I thought “Hmm, what’s for dinner?” I threw the Chili Magic, tomatoes and frozen cooked beef into the crock and set it on low. Mmm, THAT was easy!