I've mentioned this before... I lost all of my freezer contents not that long ago. I did some stocking of inexpensive meats, but this week, there wasn't much available as far as loss leader items. Enter canned tuna fish. The cheapest I could find it was 69¢ a can at Aldis. There are many varieties and grades of tuna, so you can have you choice of what kind you like to use. Be aware though, tuna is considered to be fairly high in mercury, so women of child bearing age and children should not eat more than the government recommended amounts. There are several that are lower in mercury content due to fishing methods, however, you will pay close to $4 a can. You could also use canned salmon. A large can was $2.49 at Aldis, still making this a reasonable costing meal.
I went with a comfort food classic, but skipped the canned soups, and instead made my own white/cheese sauce.
Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
12 oz egg noodles (Amelia's, 79¢)
1 medium onion, chopped (17¢, Aldis)
8 oz mushroom ($1.49, baby bella's at Giant)
2 small cans tuna, drained, ($1.38)
2/3 c chopped celery (80¢ from Giants salad bar... I bought just what I needed)
4 T butter, divided (32¢, Aldis)
6 T flour (I have had a bag in my cupboard for a long time... unsure of price, but cheap)
4 cups 1% milk ($1.30, Target)
1 1/3 cup of frozen peas (20¢, Target, using target mobile coupon, cartwheel, and Target debit card discount)
6 oz shredded cheddar cheese ($1, Target sale, mobile coupon, cartwheel, and target debit card discount)
leftover bread heals, made into crumbs (about 5 ends, which typically get thrown away in my house... free)
Serves 8 at 93¢ a serving
Heat oven to 375 degrees
Cook egg noodles according to package directions and drain.
Meanwhile: In 2 T of butter, season with salt, pepper, and herbs to your liking (thyme is popular with this casserole... I like to use some crazy mixed up salt) saute onion, mushrooms, and celery until almost all liquid from mushrooms is gone, and onion is translucent. Add peas and allow to heat through.
Meanwhile, heat 3 cups of milk until it is steaming. In a shaker jar, mix 1 cup milk with 6 T flour. Add to hot milk, stirring constantly. When warm and steaming, mix in shredded cheddar cheese. Stir constantly until cheese is melted and sauce in bubbly and thick.
Meanwhile, saute bread crumbs in the other 2 T of melted butter.
Spray a 9x13 casserole with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients together (except bread crumbs) and pour into casserole. Evenly spread bread crumbs over top. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown. Let set about 5 minutes before serving.
What is your favorite inexpensive comfort food dish? Share in the comments!
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! Matthew 14:15-21 NLT
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