Simple Cheesy Chicken

Cheesy Chicken
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Flour	2 Tbsp
Butter	2 Tbsp
Milk	1 C
Cheese	4 oz
Worcestershire sauce	1/2 tsp
Dry mustard	1/2 tsp
Red pepper flakes	1/8 tsp

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in milk a few tablespoons at a time, incorporating into flour mixture well.
Add cheese, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and red pepper flakes.
Cook until cheese melts and sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in leftover chicken and serve over rice or noodles.

Basil Tomato Salad

Basil Tomato Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

A Roma tomato, a few chunks of cheese, and a basil leaf cut chiffonade.*

Basil Tomato Salad

Tomato, fresh	1 lb
Cheese, mozzarella	8 ounces
Basil	2 fresh leaves
Vinegar	2 Tbsp
Oil	1 Tbsp

Slice tomato in 1/4 inch slices.
Cube cheese.
Roll fresh basil leaves into cylinders, and slice into thin ribbons.

Mix tomato, cheese, and basil gently in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with oil and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.




*A fancy culinary term that means roll it up and slice it into thin ribbons.

Simple Savory Custard

Savory Custard
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Most of us think of sweet desserts when we hear "custard". But custards can be savory as well. When eggs and milk are cheap, think about serving a simple custard that provides bunches of protein in a slightly different style. Quiches are one version of savory custards, but this is a fun version that doesn't require a pie crust and comes in individual servings.

Serve this with a salad for lunch, supper, or brunch. When it is cooler, steamed broccoli complements these flavors.

Savory Custard
6 Servings

Milk	2 C
Thyme	1/4 tsp
Garlic	1 clove
Eggs	3
Egg yolks	2
Cayenne pepper	1/8 tsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Swiss cheese	1/2 C
Parmesan cheese	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 300F.

Crush garlic and shred cheese.
Boil about a quart of water.
Grease 6 custard cups or ramekins.

Put thyme and garlic into milk and heat just to boiling. Remove from heat (or microwave) and allow to cool.

Beat eggs, egg yolks, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl. Mix in shredded cheese and parmesan. Add milk and beat several times.

Pour or ladle mixture into custard cups. Place cups in a baking dish and place on oven rack. Carefully pour boiling water around the custard cups, until water is about 1 inch below the edge.

Bake until set, approximately 30 minutes. Remove custard cups from baking pan with tongs. Leave pan in oven until cool enough to handle easily.

Simple Broccoli Quiche

Quiche
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

When eggs, milk, cheese, and broccoli are all on sale at once, try a new twist on the standard Quiche Lorraine. This quiche uses Cheddar cheese and broccoli for its flavors

Ingredient	9 inch	Tart
Broccoli	1 C	1/4 C
Cheddar cheese, shredded	8 oz	2 oz
Onion, grated	2 tsp	1/2 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp	1 tsp
Salt	1/4 tsp	pinch
Egg	3	1
Milk	1 C	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 450 F.
Grate onion, shred cheese.
Shred or chop broccoli small.
Combine cheese, onion, flour and salt, mixing well.
Layer filling and cheese mixture in pastry shell.
Mix egg and milk, pour over cheese and filling.

Bake in 450 oven 15 minutes, then lower heat to 325 and bake 30 minutes longer, or until just firm in center. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Extremely Frugal Biscuits

A favorite from the San Jacinto Inn, near the Battleship Texas, in Houston. It closed long ago, but on Sunday, you could have as many biscuits as you wanted with your fried chicken and mashed potatoes. They had home-made strawberry jam to go with them.

Biscuits
10 biscuits

Flour	2 C
Baking powder	2 1/2 tsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Sugar	1/2 tsp
Shortening	3/4 C
Milk	3/4 C + 2 Tbsp

Preheat oven to 400 F
Blend flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
Cut in shortening until its the size of cornmeal.
Make a well in the center, and pour in milk. Stir quickly (about 30 seconds) to combine flour and milk.
Turn out on floured counter and pat or roll into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into 10 biscuits.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

For cheese biscuits, stir in 1/2 C shredded cheese before adding milk. If you use swiss cheese, a pinch of nutmeg adds an interesting hint of flavor.

Extremely Frugal Quiche

Quiche
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Eggs and milk create a wonderful main dish that lets you use up leftovers. With milk and eggs coming down in price, these savory custard fillings are regaining their spot on my frugal meals list

Ingredient	9 inch	Tart
Meat or vegetable filling	1 C	1/4 C
Swiss cheese, shredded	8 oz	2 oz
Onion, grated	2 tsp	1/2 tsp
Flour	1 Tbsp	1 tsp
Salt	1/4 tsp	pinch
Egg	3	1
Milk	1 C	1/4 C

Preheat oven to 450 F.
Grate onion, shred cheese.
Shred or chop filling small.
Combine cheese, onion, flour and salt, mixing well.
Layer filling and cheese mixture in pastry shell.
Mix egg and milk, pour over cheese and filling.

Bake in 450 oven 15 minutes, then lower heat to 325 and bake 30 minutes longer, or until just firm in center. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Fillings:
Cooked broccoli or asparagus
Mushrooms
Spinach (squeezed nearly dry)
Sliced onions and bacon
Salmon
Chicken and softened dried tomatoes.