5 Recipe Ideas to Make from these Affordable and Accessible Ingredients
If there is one thing busy families seem to run short on, time has to be the biggest. From homework, to sports and activities, weeknights seem to consist of rushing from one thing to another! Faced with the challenge of rushing home from work to get out the door, exactly where does a healthy meal fit in? Now further complicate the issue of limited time and compound it with the problem of rising inflation and food costs, and suddenly a simple meal can feel overwhelming!
That’s why we came up with a simple way to get healthy, affordable meals on the table using 5 simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, fridge or freezer. The best part is, you can add any leftover ingredients you might have on hand so you are also reducing food waste. It’s a win-win!
To keep things easy and affordable, we picked six ingredients as the basis for our recipe ideas:
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By using these six ingredients and a little imagination, you can create all kinds of meals. And with each one coming in at under $3.00 per serving, you can still eat healthy while going easy on the budget.
Just in case you aren’t convinced, here is some inspiration to get you started!
Burrito
Grab yourself some eggs (allow 2 eggs per person) whisk together and scramble them in a pan on medium heat. Once cooked, add a serving of rinsed and drained black beans, grated cheddar cheese and diced tomato to a tortilla, roll it all up and you have yourself a burrito that’s perfect for any time of day!
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If you are looking for extra inspiration, try our Breakfast Burrito recipe!
Poached Egg Skillet
Saute frozen veggies or leftover peppers in a pan. Add in some black beans and cook until soft. Top with two poached or fried eggs, top with grated cheese and voila – dinner is served!
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Quesadilla
Scramble two eggs in a pan and keep warm. Place one tortilla into a clean pan and cook on medium until toasted on one side, then flip. Add scrambled egg and top with grated cheese and any other toppings you may have on hand (including your black beans or tomatoes). Heat until the cheese is melted then fold in half. Remove to a cutting board and slice into wedges. To make it into a complete meal, cook frozen vegetables following package directions and serve with the quesadilla.
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Our Crispy Breakfast Quesadillas may have a few extra ingredients, but you can adjust it to suit what you have on hand!
Omelette
There is nothing easier than whipping up an omelette and adding in the ingredients you may already have or those that your family likes. There are endless possibilities when you select some of the ingredients from our example! Don’t know how to make an omelette? Learn all of the basic egg cooking techniques here.
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Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are one of those easy meal ideas that will get you through breakfast, lunch or dinner! Whether it’s two eggs scrambled and topped with cheese, or served with freshly sliced tomatoes or frozen vegetables, or served on top of a toasted tortilla, the options are endless. They are also a great source of protein and nutrients that will keep you full and energized.
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With a few simple and budget-friendly ingredients, a variety of meal ideas are possible. For more egg inspiration, visit getcracking.ca/recipes.