Mother’s Day Meals that Won’t Break the Bank

Warm Mom’s heart

Everyone knows the most basic Mother’s Day wish: “I don’t want to cook.” Usually, Mom ends up getting either dinner or breakfast, but wouldn’t it be better of Mom got the entire day off cooking?

Buying ingredients for a full day of meals can get expensive, but use these super-cheap recipes from 5dollardinners.com. Mom will feel loved, appreciated and full. You’ll be glad you didn’t need an online payday loan to fund her gift.

Breakfast: Bacon and Tomato Omelets

Ingredients
1 dozen eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 package bacon, cooked and cut into small pieces
Salt and pepper
1 cup cheese, shredded
Melon or other fruit

Directions
1. Cook bacon in microwave or skillet until crispy.
2. Whisk eggs with milk, salt and pepper in large bowl. Heat small omelet skillet on high. Coat with a little oil or baking spray. Pour in egg mixture. Let cook a minute or two. Add tomato, bacon pieces and handful of cheese. Fold eggs over and let cook through. Repeat to make one for all your “eaters”! My husband can do these beautifully, but mine usually ended up as scrambled eggs with bacon and tomatoes!

Lunch: Tuna Melts

Ingredients
2 cans of tuna
2-3 T sandwich spread
4 slices of bread
1 T butter
2 slices provolone cheese
2 pears
1/2 bag Frozen French Fries
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn

Directions
1. Mix tuna and sandwich spread (or your favorite tuna fixins!). Butter the “toasting sides” of the bread. Place tuna and cheese slice on bread. Toast on griddle for 2-3 minutes each side.
2. Slice pears.
3. Thaw and cook frozen corn and peas.
4. Bake french fries in oven as directed on package!

Dinner: “Cheater” Chicken Divan

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts ($1.36)
1 cup favorite pasta ($.50)
1 16 oz bag frozen broccoli ($.97)
1/2 cup shredded cheese ($.37)
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs ($.10) (optional)
1-2 cups frozen mixed veggies ($.75)

Sauce

2 T butter
2 T flour
1-2 cups milk

Make sauce
1. In saucepan, melt butter.
2. Once melted, add flour and whisk with butter.
3. Add milk to butter/flour mix and WHISK, WHISK, WHISK!
4. Cook on medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes. Stir often. Sauce will thicken.
5. If sauce is too thin, whisk in more flour.
6. If sauce is too thick, whisk in more milk.

Directions
1. Bake or saute chicken breasts. Leftover chicken would be great for this meal!
2. Cook broccoli according to package instructions.
3. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
3. In 8×8 baking dish, place broccoli and cooked chicken. Mix in cooked pasta.
4. Make at least 2 cups of white sauce. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese to white sauce recipe. Stir in until melted.
5. Pour white sauce over pasta, chicken and broccoli. Top with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until bubbly and hot!
6. Cook frozen veggies according to package instructions.
7. Serve chicken divan with mixed veggies.

Dessert: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

3/4 c sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t pumpkin pie spice
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
3/4 c canned pumpkin (1/2 of 15 oz can)
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 400. Grease 12 medium muffin tins, or 6 jumbo muffin tins. Mix all ingredients with hand mixer. Bake for 20-25 minutes (a little longer for the jumbo muffins!)