Thrifty Meals - Breakfasts!

 

Whether you are dining alone or feeding hungry teenage grandchildren breakfast is the most economical meal you can prepare.  Especially, if you make everything yourself and even considering the current price of eggs!

 

Egg Sandwich – one or two slices of toasted bread with a little butter, a slice of crisp bacon cut in half and an egg fried and seasoned with salt and pepper.  You can even add a slice of cheese or sprinkle a bit of grated cheese on the egg while it is cooking.  Tastes delicious and cost next to nothing when compared to the Egg McMuffin.

 

Pancakes & Waffles – a basic recipe, that can easily be doubled if necessary, will provide you with a nice stack of delicious pancakes or waffles.  A touch of butter and some hot homemade pancake syrup, homemade jam or fruit butter is a perfect topping.  Stack leftovers with a piece of waxed paper in between and place in a Ziploc bag to freeze for a future meal.  They easily reheat from frozen in the microwave in as little as thirty seconds.

 

Biscuits & Gravy - make up a batch of baking powder biscuits and some sausage gravy using only a half pound of ground sausage, a little bit of flour as well as some whole milk and you’ve got a stick to your ribs meal.  To make this even more economical dilute the milk 50/50 with water to stretch it further.  Season the gravy with a bit of salt and plenty of black pepper.  Serve alongside with a scrambled egg for more protein.

 

Sausage biscuits – divide a pound of ground pork sausage into eight equal portions, roll into balls and then flatten.  Fry the patties until cooked through.  Place a small thin slice of cheese or a bit of grated cheese on top of each patty and allow it to melt.  Slice a warm biscuit in half, butter each side and slip in a sausage patty.

 

French Toast – beat up one to two eggs with a bit of milk.  Again you can use diluted milk here.  Briefly sock slices of stale bread turning over to coat both sides.  Fry in fat until nicely browned on both sides.  Serve with a touch of butter and some hot homemade pancake syrup, homemade jam or fruit butter.  You can even dress it up with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.  Fresh fruit also makes a nice topping.

 

Quiche – a quiche can be as simple or elaborate as you choose and is the perfect way to use up leftover items you might have hanging around in the refrigerator.  You can make a pie crust if you choose or simply butter a pie dish and go crustless.  Start with three well beaten eggs, two tablespoons of flour and a cup of milk plus some salt and pepper.  From there add whatever you like – diced ham, chopped bacon, cooked ground sausage, grated cheese, chopped onions or peppers, chopped broccoli, sliced mushrooms, leftover cooked vegetables, cooked diced potatoes, the sky is the limit!  Leftover quiche freezes and reheats nicely.

 

Breakfast Hash – is an easy combination of diced potatoes, diced ham and diced onion along with some salt and pepper.  Cook in a bit of bacon fat until potatoes are tender and crispy around the edges.  Add two well beaten eggs and scramble into the potatoes and ham mixture.  Serve with fresh or canned fruit.

 

Bacon or Sausage, Hashbrowns & Eggs –the classic breakfast is still very economical.  Fry up a slice of bacon then fry a small shredded or diced potato in the rendered fat.  Once the hashbrowns are done remove from pan, add a bit of fat or butter and fry an egg to your liking.  It’s a great and timeless combination.

 

Oatmeal – make the oatmeal according to the package directions.  I always like to make extra because it warms up nicely in the microwave.  Top with pancake syrup, some raisins or dried cranberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Peanut butter and jelly or jam or just some apple butter is a great way to top a bowl of oatmeal.  You are only limited by your imagination.

 

Homemade Granola – make your own using this recipe.  It makes a delicious topping for your homemade yogurt too!

 

Scrambled or Hardboiled Egg & A Muffin – make a batch of homemade muffins of your choice and pair with an egg.  Use some homemade jam or fruit butter as a spread for you muffins.

 

Round out these meals with a small dish of applesauce or fresh, canned or frozen fruit to add additional nutrients and flavor.  I would often slice up a couple of large navel oranges or cut up a couple large apples into wedges and it was plenty of fruit for three or four of us in addition to the meal itself.  Adding variety and changing up your meals makes them not only more nutritious but staves off boredom as well.

 

Whether you eat these meals for breakfast, brunch or, my personal favorite - breakfast for dinner, you can incorporate some really tasty healthy meals for next to nothing.  Most of these come in for less than a dollar a meal.  You can’t beat that!