This is my first post...Thanks to my friend Ursula, and Nieces, Bri & Christina, who have encouraged me to write. So here we go.

What started this was a challenge from my husband to feed our family (2 teens and 2 adults) on a budget of $100 a week...  My trick, I make a menu for dinners for the week, make sure there is plenty of staples in the frig and pantry (flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, bread, cereal, etc) and then make my shopping list to make the meals. You would be surprised just how many of the same items are needed for many meals. Buy 10# of potatoes only .25 more than a 5# bag!! Buy meat on sale and freeze immediately. Use your coupons for store items. When you cook from scratch, it is not necessary to have "name brand" because you are putting in the flavors. (and LOVE)

I am happy to say that for the last 2 weeks I have accomplished that task. Not easy when a third of the funds the first week went to laundry soap, bath soap and floor cleaner!! Well it got done. Now let's be honest, without the help of my freezer it would be even harder to do.  For the sake of argument suffice it to say that I have been grinding much of my own "burger" meat.  (I have the attachment to my Artisan Mixer to grind meat...I grind chicken breasts bought on sale, London broils bought on sale and even Venison and Elk straps)

Hint: If your weekly menu has 2 or 3 meals with ground meat...do it all at the same time.  Ground cooked meat lasts for days in the frig...Cooking 3-4 pounds at a time, saves time the rest of the week. All you have to do is take out the amount of meat you need, add in the flavors for your meal and it is done in no time!!

So for you Ursula, the first recipe posted...fast and easy little momma, just for you!

Base Sauce:

1 lb ground meat (you chose the type: beef, venison/elk, or poultry)
1 large onion (I like yellow sweet ones) diced small
2 cloves garlic diced small
2 ribs of celery diced small
1 16 oz can fire roasted diced tomato
1 24 oz can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, parsley, basil (or if fresh unavailable, use 1 teaspoon of dried)
Salt and pepper
16 oz container Ricotta cheese
8-16 oz grated Mozzarella cheese

Heat a Large skillet pan over medium high heat. Brown meat. Remove meat from pan, leaving juice and fat. Lower heat to medium and put onion and celery in pan to soften. add a touch of EVOO if needed. (about 5 minutes)  Add garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Return meat to pan and combine with veggies. Add the tomatoes and sauce and herbs. Allow to simmer for 1-2 hours, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

I usually make a double batch so I have plenty for another meal. Cook once, eat twice...

For Lasagna:  Layer "no cooking required" noodles in the bottom of pan, pour 1/3 sauce over noodles, spoon Ricotta cheese in dollops (8) and spread grated Mozzarella cheese, repeat again, ending with 1/3 sauce on top, with cheese.  Bake for 45-60 minutes on 350 in the oven. Serve with garlic toast and a salad for a balanced meal. There will be enough left over for another nights meal as well.

This sauce can be used for a variety of meals...I made Lasagna, but you can use it with spaghetti or Ziti, adding a spoonful or two of Ricotta to sauce will cream it up too!  Add more meat and use as Sloppy Joe. Put in a Teaspoon of Chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne powder and a can of red and white kidney beans and you have chili.

I usually make this early in the morning while the kitchen is still cool. In the afternoon all I have to do is "put it together". The actual cooking time to make the sauce is about 15 minutes. Then of course it simmers on low while I clean up and have my coffee.

Now out of the kitchen and into the Laundry room...what a week. Washing machine is still not working, so I bundled up 2 loads and washed them at my daughter's house. It is very hard to find a good repairman... make lemonade from lemons...I sat with my granddaughters and watched Mulan while the wash was being done...lucky me!!!

So there you have it...Please let me know what you think.  This is a work in progress.  I will channel my Great-Grandmothers lessons given to me as a child, my Grandmothers words and my mothers (yes both of them) pearls of wisdom...many generations of love..

hugs til then...Mama Turner