Day three - Table for one

For years I have taken lunch to work with me. Don't get me wrong, occasionally there is a splurge or a working lunch. Most of the time  I am saving my pennies with each meal just by making a few simple things at home.

I cook these on the weekends and then freeze them. You can go from spending $5 dollars a meal to $3 or less and eating healthier as well. No need to guess what is in the "secret sauce" of pre-made meals.

Some quick and easy things to remember. Invest in frozen veggies. Whether you prefer a box of Brussels sprout to some frozen carrots. The choices are endless. Just be sure to read the serving sizes. With coupons or watching for sales, it makes the cost even lower.

I get the calorie information based on serving size from about.com/caloriecount. You can do this with any recipe to make life changes easier and for FREE! Many people have said they just don't know where to get started.

 

Red Beans and Rice: 200 Calories for 1/2 cup serving

1 - 14-16oz can Dark Red or Red Kidney Beans

16 oz. Fresh Ground Turkey - Lean

4 oz. Ground Pork Sausage (I prefer Jimmy Dean "Hot" sausage)

2 cups fresh cut tomatoes

1 - 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes

2 - red, green, orange or yellow peppers - diced

1 - medium onion, white

16 oz. Kraft original barbecue Sauce

2 cups Minute Rice Brown Rice

6 cloves or 3 tsp. Garlic minced

1/2 tsp. liquid smoke

1 T. Louisiana Hot Sauce

1/2 tsp. Cavendar's Greek Seasoning

1/2 tsp. Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning

1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:

Brown and stir garlic. ground turkey, pork sausage, onion, red pepper, Cavendar's seasoning, Old Bay,  and Montreal Steak Seasoning. When it is about 1/2 way cooked through, add the liquid smoke, Worchestershire, and hot sauce to the meat mixture. Once completely browned add the washed kidney beans, diced and fresh tomatoes, and the barbecue sauce. Cook so that it is simmering and then take off the heat.

Put 1/2 of the mixture in the freezer for later use. Use 1 cup of instant brown rice at the bottom of the microwave dish. Add the other 1/2 of the mixture to the microwave dish then stir. Microwave for about 10 mins with lid on dish. 

Make 1/2 cup servings in plastic ware or freezer safe containers. I pack in a insulated lunch box. By lunchtime, it only takes 3-4 minutes to warm up the mixture. Also only takes 3-4 mins to warm up the frozen veggies.

I like to eat this with frozen corn and broccoli. A salad is a great summer idea as well.

This is the first of many ideas to come. I hope that you find them helpful as I do.