You guys made me hungry, so I looked up homemade hamburger helper recipes just now. I love the cheeseburger macaroni one so I found one I'm going to try tonight!
“Cheater RBR” (red beans n rice) one package of Mahatma red beans n rice mix, one 12-16 oz package of sausage sliced in approx 1/2 inch rounds, then cut slices in half, put the amount of water required on package directions and put the sausage slices in the water, bring to a boil then add package contents, cook the required time, add one can of un-drained chili beans and one can of un-drained red kidney beans. (you may need to add a little more water once all ingredients are cooked) I also usually cook enough rice to make approx 2 cups cooked rice (3/4 to 1 cup raw) to “stretch it out”. It won’t be that delicious, Cajun thick gravy, type red beans (yummy) but let me tell, you it is good eating, warms you up and cost approx 7-8 bucks for a whole lot of grub, quickly. Serve with French bread, garlic toast or whatever breads you have on hand. This was my go to, boy teen-ager meal, when a pack followed my sons home from practice, game or whatever.
Now the Cajun in me screams Nooooo, not a mix...but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, cheap n fast.
It’s our comfort food regardless of how long it takes. I love my “real” red beans n rice but hey, sometimes I don’t have 2 days .. lolOh yeah, sometimes cheap and fast is the way to go. We love Cajun Red Beans and Rice with Polish sausage mixed in. I have a recipe to make a quick version from scratch, but sometimes the Zatarain's version works for me, too.
Would love this except for the English peas...will probably try it with another type of pea / bean..thanks for another recipe. I guess I’ll have to read all your stories agin, and this time copy the recipes...yep, great excuse to read them again ! Thanks.Easy Peezy Arroz con Pollo
Take a package of yellow rice … brand name doesn't matter … and cook it up to the consistency that you like. Some people like their rice "sticky" and some people like it more like the consistency of white rice.
Then add a can of chicken and a can of drained English peas. Done.
Would love this except for the English peas...will probably try it with another type of pea / bean..thanks for another recipe. I guess I’ll have to read all your stories agin, and this time copy the recipes...yep, great excuse to read them again ! Thanks.
Was thinking black beans and whole kernel corn...will have to try that..with everybody grown up n out and the last one in college, I have to learn how to cook small..it is a real problem and unfortunately I don’t have any more freezer space to freeze large dish portions. I hate to admit it but the struggle is real for me. Makes me sound a bit shallow or dense, but I detest wasting good food.You can use pigeon peas if you can get them. Or, while not "traditional" you can use canned diced carrots or whole kernel corn. Anything you want really.
Easy Peezy Arroz con Pollo
Take a package of yellow rice … brand name doesn't matter … and cook it up to the consistency that you like. Some people like their rice "sticky" and some people like it more like the consistency of white rice.
Then add a can of chicken and a can of drained English peas. Done.
I bake a large pack of Boneless chicken each week and store it in a Tupperware in the fridge. Sometimes I buy a Rotisserie Chicken instead. I use one of those to prep meals each week.
I do a Chicken and Dumplings Mock Up
2 Family size cans of Cream of Chicken soup
A cup or two of frozen mixed veggies (or a can of mixed veggies drained).
1 cup of water.
1 chicken breast cut into pieces or you can also use canned chicken in a pinch.
1 Package of Pillsbury Grands. You can either Bake it until just about done, then cut up and put into the soup, or you can cut up the raw dough and put into the soup IF you are using a crockpot. I usually do this meal in a crockpot 8 hours on low.
Variation - Chicken Tacos
Same baked chicken (or Rot. Chicken)
1 Can of Rotel Tomatoes with chili peppers
1 Can Black Beans
1 can Refried Beans
Tortillas of choice (we like street tacos for size)
Salsa (We like Mango Peach salsa for a sweet and spicy)
Chicken Soup
Either cut up fresh carrots and celery, use freeze dried, or Frozen mixed veggies (I change it up)
1 baked chicken breast from the fridge cut up into small pieces
1 48 oz can of chicken broth
1 cup of small pasta added in the last ten min (optional)
Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad
1 box of small pasta prepared (shells, elbows, etc)
1 baked chicken breast cut into pieces
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (or the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing about a cup)
Mayo (1 cup of using mix, 1/4 cup if using dressing)
Frozen mixed veggies (or canned)