Make "Train Wreck" - an ol' campfire fave! Brown onions, add crushed tomatoes, cooked noodles (like elbows), and browned burger. Also known as Tomato/Beef/Noodle casserole, but Train Wreck is SOOOO much more fun :)
5 spice beef and rice is great...we are gluten free here so we have made some adjustments
1 lb. hamburger
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp EACH: thyme, garlic powder, oregano
1 cup Renee's caesar dressing
1 (11 oz.) can tomatoes or sauce
1 c. cooked brown rice.
Taco Pizza is my favorite pizza and a good change of pace from the norm (and it uses less cheese). The beef can be substituted with anything ground; ground turkey is really good and sometimes cheaper than beef.
1lb covers 2 pizzas. Prepare meat just like you were making tacos.
Cover the crust (pre baked) with refried beans and meat. Cook until crispy. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and cheese.
I make what I call Green Chile Beef Soup... Brown the ground beef w/ onions and mix it together with a can of cream of mushroom soup, diced green chiles and shredded cheese. Stir in the pot until everything is melted/combined and serve with grilled corn tortillas on the side!
It's a quick, filling recipe and easy to customize if you want to add other veggies and/or cut down calories (i.e., using a leaner package of hamburger, using fat-free cream of mushroom soup, etc.).
We pick grape leaves from our back yard and stuff them with rice and ground meat and a few spices. It is supposed to be a Greek appetizer, but we love it so much we turn it into a meal. Just do a search for "Stuffed Grape Leaves" to find many examples.
This is one of the first things my wife made for me when we started dating. It's simple, fast, and delicious!
Dog Food (the final product kinda looks like dog food, but it's good!)
- one pound hamburger meat
- one can refried beans
- one package Velveeta shells and cheese (but I'm sure any brand of easy mac and cheese will do)
In a large pot, start the mac and cheese first according to the box directions. This pot needs to be big enough to hold all ingredients for mixing. While that is going, put the refried beans in a smaller pot or saucepan and cook them according to directions. We usually add a little water to thin the beans out. Cook hamburger meat in a skillet until done. When macaroni is done boiling, drain the water and add the cheese. Stir that up, then add hamburger meat and refried beans to the pot with the mac and cheese in it. Stir all that together. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and something like cayenne pepper or chili powder if you want it spicy. We usually eat ours in bowls.
I brown it with peppers and onions, and mix it in with spaghetti sauce. Then I make a casserole with pasta, corn, cheese, and the meat mixture. Delicious and a change from regular pasta.
Great article on a very complicated topic! I also suggest checking out Allstate Insurance's Web site on IRA's and other financial tools for more information: All State Insurance IRA
I live in Georgia where, if your grades are good enough, the state will pay your tuition to any Georgia public college/university with lottery money.
If I didn't, I'd be worried about 1) college savings counting against my kids' expected contribution on financial aid applications, and 2) my kids deciding to take the money & blow it.
Both my husband & I attended college on academic scholarships. He also had some student loans, since he had to pay for 3 semesters out of pocket, but we've got a good rate on those.
We also live in a college town, and within commuting distance of several other schools, so our kids can live at home. I just hope they can still stand us by then!
We live modestly on a modest salary and are stretched as it is. We are helping with our children's education in a limited way. But if they want college they'll have to take the brunt of it on themselves. Yes, generally costs have escalated, but with our oldest in Community College this year and living at home, I've realized his costs are less than mine were when I worked my way through and was on my own. At least he knows he won't starve or or be out on the street. During our current economy this might be the perfect time to consider options. Who said kids have to start college right out of high school? Working and saving like crazy is still possible. Scholarships are still out there, work study and side jobs (babysitting, yard work, snow shoveling, basic computer stuff) too. Why are we convinced it's the parents' duty to foot the bill? What's wrong with a son or daughter going into the trades? Or going into the trades and funding their own college ambitions?
An option is to season the meat (basil, oregano, thyme for Italian; cumin and oregano for Mexican; chili powder/taco mix; cumin, coriander, garlic for Indian; allspice, red pepper, thyme for Carribean - to suggest a few) then form meat "logs" on a skewer and grill them up. Known as koobideh in Persian cuisine. Chapli kabobs are Afghan spicy meat patties. Serve with rice and veggies. Maybe a cooling sauce like a yogurt sauce (depends on your choice of seasonings). Alternately, you could make meatballs or patties and pan fry if grilling is not an option.
For me, most of the boredom with hamburger stems from overuse of a tomato base (either in hot dishes/casseroles, pasta/hamburger helpers or sloppy joes). Different spice combinations are ways to keep it fresh and exciting. Even different shapes help. Anything so you don't look at a dish and say, "Not hamburger again!"
I currently work from home and turn my heat way down during the day, even when I am there. I also shut the vents in my basement because those rooms are not used as often.
Then, to work, I use the Presto Heat Dish from Costco to warm my office. It works great and uses much less electricity.
yes, logitech has terrible drivers support, but not only for webcams, i have experience with combo of their mouse and keyboard (s510), almost after 2 years they released working drivers for 64bit OS. but i think hardware of logitech is very good, also not very expensive too
If you save in a 529 and your child does not go to college, and you would like to use the money instead to fund their budding business (#2 above), what are the ramifications? Would you have been better off saving in I bonds?
529 plans do seem like the best choice if the child chooses to attend college, but I'm curious about the devil's advocate side, hedging my bets. What is the best way to invest and tax shelter $20K today (inheritance) that would be available for tuition or appropriate equivalent expenses for my child as a young adult?
I understand what #11 said, but I disagree, it's not an illusion that I can pay for $100 worth of stuff with a $100 bill. It's called Fiat Money, and yes, while the paper it's printed on is inherently worthless, it is still valuable as a currency none the less. Its value is no illusion.
#18 you almost get it, Fiat Money works because we contract in it (businesses receive it as payment and we receive it as payment for our labor, like you said), not because the government says its legal tender. Gold doesn't back our money because the gold standard failed, it just doesn't work. The reason most transactions are becoming cashless is because it's just easier, it has nothing to do with gold and silver. It's much easier to add and subtract numbers on a computer than it is to mess with currency and coin.
Food for thought: when good ol' Uncle Sam and the Fed decided to bail-out AIG and Wall Street, did they print up 700 billion dollars in brand new money? Nope, the money supply did not change. All they did was add zeroes to whatever account they were funding. There was never any cash that phyiscally exchanged hands or was created.
Great stuff--I'd only add that if you can't fund your retirement along with saving for your child's education, then get your finances to the point where you can.
I think asking a child to entirely pay his way thru college is an outdated notion. Sure, it was possible when I went to school, when my entire education may have cost $8K, but not in this day and age
Brown it with onions, then add it to Mac and Cheese with a bit of worcestershire sauce. Easy, cheap, and surprisingly delicious.
I've made Korean kalbi-flavored dumplings and Chinese curry turnovers with ground beef:
http://the-cooking-of-joy.blogspot.com/2009/06/daring-cooks-challenge-2-...
http://the-cooking-of-joy.blogspot.com/2008/12/okay-so-i-have-no-idea-wh...
Make "Train Wreck" - an ol' campfire fave! Brown onions, add crushed tomatoes, cooked noodles (like elbows), and browned burger. Also known as Tomato/Beef/Noodle casserole, but Train Wreck is SOOOO much more fun :)
5 spice beef and rice is great...we are gluten free here so we have made some adjustments
1 lb. hamburger
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp EACH: thyme, garlic powder, oregano
1 cup Renee's caesar dressing
1 (11 oz.) can tomatoes or sauce
1 c. cooked brown rice.
Connie
Taco Pizza is my favorite pizza and a good change of pace from the norm (and it uses less cheese). The beef can be substituted with anything ground; ground turkey is really good and sometimes cheaper than beef.
1lb covers 2 pizzas. Prepare meat just like you were making tacos.
Cover the crust (pre baked) with refried beans and meat. Cook until crispy. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and cheese.
This British dish is actually really tasty! (and it's only a shepherd's pie if you're using ground lamb)
I make what I call Green Chile Beef Soup... Brown the ground beef w/ onions and mix it together with a can of cream of mushroom soup, diced green chiles and shredded cheese. Stir in the pot until everything is melted/combined and serve with grilled corn tortillas on the side!
It's a quick, filling recipe and easy to customize if you want to add other veggies and/or cut down calories (i.e., using a leaner package of hamburger, using fat-free cream of mushroom soup, etc.).
We pick grape leaves from our back yard and stuff them with rice and ground meat and a few spices. It is supposed to be a Greek appetizer, but we love it so much we turn it into a meal. Just do a search for "Stuffed Grape Leaves" to find many examples.
This is one of the first things my wife made for me when we started dating. It's simple, fast, and delicious!
Dog Food (the final product kinda looks like dog food, but it's good!)
- one pound hamburger meat
- one can refried beans
- one package Velveeta shells and cheese (but I'm sure any brand of easy mac and cheese will do)
In a large pot, start the mac and cheese first according to the box directions. This pot needs to be big enough to hold all ingredients for mixing. While that is going, put the refried beans in a smaller pot or saucepan and cook them according to directions. We usually add a little water to thin the beans out. Cook hamburger meat in a skillet until done. When macaroni is done boiling, drain the water and add the cheese. Stir that up, then add hamburger meat and refried beans to the pot with the mac and cheese in it. Stir all that together. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and something like cayenne pepper or chili powder if you want it spicy. We usually eat ours in bowls.
I brown it with peppers and onions, and mix it in with spaghetti sauce. Then I make a casserole with pasta, corn, cheese, and the meat mixture. Delicious and a change from regular pasta.
Don't eat meat. Then you don't have to spend any money on it!
Home made black bean burgers are where its at, and beans are pretty darn cheap.
Great article on a very complicated topic! I also suggest checking out Allstate Insurance's Web site on IRA's and other financial tools for more information: All State Insurance IRA
-Jill
Advocate of Allstate
I live in Georgia where, if your grades are good enough, the state will pay your tuition to any Georgia public college/university with lottery money.
If I didn't, I'd be worried about 1) college savings counting against my kids' expected contribution on financial aid applications, and 2) my kids deciding to take the money & blow it.
Both my husband & I attended college on academic scholarships. He also had some student loans, since he had to pay for 3 semesters out of pocket, but we've got a good rate on those.
We also live in a college town, and within commuting distance of several other schools, so our kids can live at home. I just hope they can still stand us by then!
We live modestly on a modest salary and are stretched as it is. We are helping with our children's education in a limited way. But if they want college they'll have to take the brunt of it on themselves. Yes, generally costs have escalated, but with our oldest in Community College this year and living at home, I've realized his costs are less than mine were when I worked my way through and was on my own. At least he knows he won't starve or or be out on the street. During our current economy this might be the perfect time to consider options. Who said kids have to start college right out of high school? Working and saving like crazy is still possible. Scholarships are still out there, work study and side jobs (babysitting, yard work, snow shoveling, basic computer stuff) too. Why are we convinced it's the parents' duty to foot the bill? What's wrong with a son or daughter going into the trades? Or going into the trades and funding their own college ambitions?
An option is to season the meat (basil, oregano, thyme for Italian; cumin and oregano for Mexican; chili powder/taco mix; cumin, coriander, garlic for Indian; allspice, red pepper, thyme for Carribean - to suggest a few) then form meat "logs" on a skewer and grill them up. Known as koobideh in Persian cuisine. Chapli kabobs are Afghan spicy meat patties. Serve with rice and veggies. Maybe a cooling sauce like a yogurt sauce (depends on your choice of seasonings). Alternately, you could make meatballs or patties and pan fry if grilling is not an option.
For me, most of the boredom with hamburger stems from overuse of a tomato base (either in hot dishes/casseroles, pasta/hamburger helpers or sloppy joes). Different spice combinations are ways to keep it fresh and exciting. Even different shapes help. Anything so you don't look at a dish and say, "Not hamburger again!"
Taco meat with lots of cumin and a little red pepper (and finely diced onions, of course).
Meatballs (with spaghetti!)
Shepherd's pie with ground beef instead of lamb.
Onion burgers (use liption onion soup packs...mmmm)
Old roller derby trick - place them between your knee and your knee pad for a nicer smelling knee pad!
Great post!
I currently work from home and turn my heat way down during the day, even when I am there. I also shut the vents in my basement because those rooms are not used as often.
Then, to work, I use the Presto Heat Dish from Costco to warm my office. It works great and uses much less electricity.
Good luck to everyone saving money this winter!
yes, logitech has terrible drivers support, but not only for webcams, i have experience with combo of their mouse and keyboard (s510), almost after 2 years they released working drivers for 64bit OS. but i think hardware of logitech is very good, also not very expensive too
If you save in a 529 and your child does not go to college, and you would like to use the money instead to fund their budding business (#2 above), what are the ramifications? Would you have been better off saving in I bonds?
529 plans do seem like the best choice if the child chooses to attend college, but I'm curious about the devil's advocate side, hedging my bets. What is the best way to invest and tax shelter $20K today (inheritance) that would be available for tuition or appropriate equivalent expenses for my child as a young adult?
I understand what #11 said, but I disagree, it's not an illusion that I can pay for $100 worth of stuff with a $100 bill. It's called Fiat Money, and yes, while the paper it's printed on is inherently worthless, it is still valuable as a currency none the less. Its value is no illusion.
#18 you almost get it, Fiat Money works because we contract in it (businesses receive it as payment and we receive it as payment for our labor, like you said), not because the government says its legal tender. Gold doesn't back our money because the gold standard failed, it just doesn't work. The reason most transactions are becoming cashless is because it's just easier, it has nothing to do with gold and silver. It's much easier to add and subtract numbers on a computer than it is to mess with currency and coin.
Food for thought: when good ol' Uncle Sam and the Fed decided to bail-out AIG and Wall Street, did they print up 700 billion dollars in brand new money? Nope, the money supply did not change. All they did was add zeroes to whatever account they were funding. There was never any cash that phyiscally exchanged hands or was created.
In addition, HAMP mods start out as "trial" mods, and thus far few if any have actually been converted into permanent mods.
Your tips are so practical, especially with the way the economy is today. Good job!
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Great stuff--I'd only add that if you can't fund your retirement along with saving for your child's education, then get your finances to the point where you can.
I think asking a child to entirely pay his way thru college is an outdated notion. Sure, it was possible when I went to school, when my entire education may have cost $8K, but not in this day and age