Slow Cooker on a $5 Meal Budget (Pork Chops & Applesauce)

Pork Chops and applesauce (anyone else say this like Peter Brady? ... Every time I say it I think of that episode .. lol).  Here is yet another $5 meal idea that was a pleasure with the boys.  I sadly with my diet didn't get to eat this dinner but all the boys loved it (well Caden told me I need to make chunky applesauce so next time I'll make sure to do that!).  Being on a diet and having to eat something different the family sometimes can be a pain but that is the nice thing about the crockpot and not have to slave over their meal and then mine!

First off we come to the Slow Cooker Brown Sugar and Balsamic Pork Roast I found on the $5 Meal website.  This was a very easy one to do and smelled so great.

Ingredients (These are her prices mine were close to this)

4 pork chops, about 1 1/4 lb. ($2.48)
Salt and pepper
2-3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar ($.20)
4 tsp brown sugar ($.02)

Directions

Place the pork chops in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Sprinkle some salt and pepper onto both sides of the pork chops. Then drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the top. Add 1 tsp of brown sugar on top of each pork chop and spread into the vinegar. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Preheat oven to 350.
Bake the pork chops for 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chop.

Second off on the menu was to make the Slowcooker Applesauce that I found on another favorite website A Year of Slowcooking.

4 large apples, skinned ,cored, and cut in quarters 
juice from 1 lemon 
1/2 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp vanilla 
1 T brown sugar 
1/4 cup H20 

The Directions.

Skin, core, and cut your apples into quarters. Plop the pieces into your crockpot. Add the juice from the lemon, and the water. Pour in the vanilla, and add the cinnamon and brown sugar. 

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. When the apples are super tender, mash with a potato masher or large fork. 

And here is what dinner looked like!!

(don't laugh at the Ikea Bowl for the kids .. lol)

These are two great recipes that you can make and have in time for dinner (if you want do your applesauce the day before since it makes so much it will give you a treat for a few days).  Hope you all have a great day!  

What's on the Menu tonight?

Beef & Zucchini Taco's ($5 Meals)

On a quest to save money around here I tried the $5 meals for two weeks to see if I could bring our grocery bill down.  I still have to work on it but I did it close to the $5 a meal.  I did find some yummy recipes that the boys and I enjoyed.  This one I could actually eat just modified (most night I fix them a meal and then me what I can eat - which on this diet is so limited).

I found this recipe on the $5 Meal Website for Beef & Zucchini Taco's.  I've included her break down of prices (mine was a little more)

Ingredients
1.5 lb ground beef, browned and drained ($1.95/2=$.98!!!)
2 cups zucchini, diced ($.25) 
1/2 yellow onion, chopped ($.15)
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
1 tsp onion powder ($.05)
1 tsp chili powder ($.05)
1 tsp ground cumin ($.05)
Use her homemade taco seasoning mix or substitute a packet of taco seasoning
Salt/Pepper, to taste

Old El Paso – 6 hard shells, 6 soft shells pack ($1.49)

1 large tomato, diced 
About 1 cup chopped iceberg lettuce ($.20)
About 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.30) 

Directions
1. Brown ground beef with diced zucchini and chopped onion. Drain and return to pan. Add spices and let saute for 3-4 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
2. Prepare taco fixins…chop lettuce, dice tomato and set out shredded cheese.
3. Cook corn cobs in boiling water for 4-5 minutes, or in a microwavable dish covered with plastic wrap for 2-2.5 minutes per ear.
4. Assemble tacos

(I used taco seasoning from the bulk isle at Winco.  I used coleslaw kit to add a little extra veggies - didn't use the sauce)

The boys had it in a shell

I had mine naked in a bowl :)

Have a wonderful day, give this one a try a great way to get some veggies in!