Eating is a favorite past time of most of the people in the world. Try something new this evening with this roast beef meal. Roast beef is something you can cook for your family and still stay on a budget. Sometimes finding a meal to satisfy your whole family can be incredibly frustrating. Cook this roast beef meal and there will be no complaining at the dinner table.

The second part of this 7$ Family Meal idea is Banana Pudding. It’s amazing how people always have room for dessert, even after eating a fulfilling meal. Your guests will have plenty of room for this Banana Pudding dessert. You can serve the Roast Pork recipe with a side of mashed potatoes and your choice of a vegetable. There are a few vegetables in the Roast Pork meal, but adding an extra vegetable never hurt anyone. Of course, you can also add a roll or some sort of bread to eat with it.

The Banana Pudding is great as is and you probably will not want to add anything extra to it. The banana pudding comes with a sweet layer of whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. If that does not say “the perfect treat” then what does? Make sure to chill the banana pudding long enough, so it stays well put together. Enjoy making this delicious main dish and dessert for your family.

Roast Pork

Ingredients
3-4 pound boneless pork butt
2 Bouillon Cubes
2 Cups of Water
2 Cups of Carrots
2 Whole Potatoes

Method
1. Take out your slow cooker.
2. Place the boneless pork butt into the slow cooker.
3. Add the cups of water, carrots and potatoes.
4. Add your desired seasonings.
5. Allow to cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Banana Pudding

Ingredients
5 Cups of Vanilla Wafers
2 Boxes of Vanilla Pudding
3 Ripened Bananas
1 Cup of Chocolate Syrup
2 Cups of Whipped Cream

Method
1. Prepare the vanilla pudding as directed on the package.
2. Cut the bananas into really thin slices.
3. Layer the vanilla pudding into a thick baking dish.
4. Add a layer of vanilla wafers and slices of bananas.
5. Add a new layer until the pan is full.
6. Place a layer of whipped cream on the very top.
7. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

If you are busy mom that needs a quick snack for your kids, then make sure you check out this Fruit and Veggie Surprise. Life is too busy to not eat healthy and this recipe is just right for your family. There are plenty of fruits and veggies in it with a touch of chocolate. Your kids will be thrilled to know that there is something sweet in with their healthy snack. Adding something like this helps show your kids that chocolate is okay in small amounts, but it’s more important to eat the fruits and vegetables. Keep this recipe handy, so you can reap the ultimate healthy benefits.

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. It’s where you cook and where you eat and spend time with your family. You want your kitchen to be full of healthy snacks for your family, and there are a few things you can do to make sure your family always has healthy snacks in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas, so that you can start feeding your family healthier and stop feeding them junk.

Do not buy junk food.

This is probably one of the most realistic ways to feed your family healthy. If you buy your family donuts, cookies and pop, then that’s what they are going to eat. Try and buy healthier foods, so that you can have healthier snacks to go around in the home.

Prepare snacks in advance.

Part of the convenience of unhealthy foods is that you can just grab and go. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips and going, you can make up your own healthy snacks. Make sure you buy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables to make up healthy snacks in your kitchen. You can use reusable containers to make sure you are not polluting the earth with plastic.

Here is an example of a healthy snack you can prepare with healthy ingredients in your own home. The recipe is called Veggie & Fruit Surprise and your kids will love it.

Ingredients
1 bunch of broccoli
Handful of carrots
1 Apple
1 Orange
1 Package of Chocolate Morsels

Method
1. Start out this recipe by chopping up the vegetables into small bite sized pieces.
2. Peel the apple and the orange until you can also cut those into small bite sized pieces.
3. Put all the cut up pieces of fruits and vegetables into a reusable container.
4. Add the chocolate morsels on top to complete the Veggie & Fruit Surprise.
5. Serve the concoction as an after school snack.

Your kids will love this snack for so many reasons. Do not tell the adults, but they will love it too. People are often surprised to see tiny bits of chocolate in something so healthy. However, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and healthy. Keep the chocolate simple and reap the major benefits of eating healthy. This has been another healthy kitchen tip brought to you by the Mummy Kitchen. Have fun feeding your family the healthy good food!

Cooking dinner and a nice dessert is no easy process. When you decide what you want to cook for dinner it needs to be inexpensive and really yummy. Yummy foods come in all shapes and sizes but this pair of foodies will really have you jumping for joy. The Barbeque Chicken is so easy to make because all you are doing is placing it into a slow cooker to cook. Of course, you can cook it on the stove if you need to cook it a lot faster.

The Strawberry Shortcake is something really easy that you can make and share with your friends and family. They will love it because it’s like their own personal shortcake. You can place the shortcake on a plate and dive in. Of course, you can add as much whipped cream and strawberries as you want. Either way, this dessert is perfect for any occasion.

The best part is that this meal can be created for under 7$. Chicken is always a great alternative to trying to make an expensive meal. Sure, steak is nice every once in a while, but chicken is where it’s at. It’s affordable and you can make amazing meals like this. Do not make life harder on yourself, instead make this meal and dessert combination and watch how everyone’s eyes light up. Finally, you may turn into that master chef that everyone has been talking about.

Barbequed Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:
1 Pound of Chicken (Cooked and Shredded)
4 Cups of Barbeque Sauce (Your Choice)
1 Cup of Ranch Dressing
1 Loaf of whole wheat bread
1 head of lettuce
1 whole juicy tomato

Method

Place the chicken into a slow cooker.
2. Place the BQ sauce on top of the chicken.
3. Allow to cook for 5-6 hours or until completely cooked.
4. Shred the chicken until it is in very thinly shredded.
5. Place a layer of ranch dressing on a piece of whole wheat bread.
6. Add a piece of lettuce and tomato.
7. Serve and enjoy.

Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:
1 Package of Shortcake (with around 8 cakes)
1 Pound of Fresh Strawberries
1 Package of Strawberry Drizzle
1 Can of Whipped Cream

Method
1. Wash and cut up the strawberries.
2. Place the cut up strawberries the shortcake.
3. Add strawberry drizzle.
4. Add whipped cream and serve to your guests.

Now this is one of the best easy winter dishes that I just love during the winter months before it gets into the spring season.

I specially love dishes that can be cooked without much preparation and require little work and washing up afterwards and the lamb hotpot especially fits into this sector.

This is also perfect for your slow cooker because lamb can be cooked slowly hence it increases the lovely flavour that the dish provides.

I always aim to have my crockpot set up and cooking from about 12noon and then it tends to be ready by the time you all want to eat in the evening.

Ingredients

2tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

2lbs Neck of Lamb (cut into chunks)

2 Onions peeled and chopped

3 Large carrots peeled and sliced

4 Large potatoes peeled and sliced

14oz Lamb Stock

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. First of all you need to turn on your crockpot on with its high setting. Then pour the oil over into the bottom of the crockpot so that it creates a nice surface for your hotpot.
2. Add the carrots and onion and mix in the oil.
3. Then add your lamb and cover for twenty minutes while you prepare your stock and potatoes.
4. Now open your crockpot and stir your ingredients, add your stock and then neatly add the potatoes to the top.
5. Then leave to cook for about five hours and if you want to eat later than this, two hours before it is due to be completed change the heat setting to low.

You now have yourself a fantastic Lamb Hotpot. I also suggest that you serve it up with some nice warm crusty bread or alternatively with some savoury rice.

The choice is yours – just remember to enjoy it.

For my February $7 meals I am going for a vegetable selection and a Cottage Pie. I have chosen the vegetable selection because even though the recipe says you have to boil the potatoes now you can use another way of preparing them.

We have just bought a Philips Air fryer where you can have any food you like but not feel guilty. If you buy one I would use one of these to cook your vegetables because they taste wonderful in the air fryer.

For the main course with it being winter in most parts of the world a good cottage pie is great at this time of the year and I love it. Both these recipes should come in about the $7 mark. Vegetables and ground meat are pretty cheap where ever you live in the world.

Healthy Vegetable Recipes:

Ingredients:

1 Small Cauliflower, Cut Into Florets
200g Thin Green Beans, Halved
2 Courgettes Cut Into 2.5cm Pieces
250g Baby Carrots
200g Baby Corn
2 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 tsp Poppy Seeds
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the vegetables and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Drain the vegetables and place in a medium sized bowl.

2. To make the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, poppy seeds and vinegar. Season with pepper and mix with the warm vegetables, then leave to cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Cottage Pie Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Large Onion, Chopped
2 Medium Carrots, Chopped
2-3 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 lb (14.5oz) Can Beef Broth
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 (8oz) Can Tomato Sauce
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1/2 tsp Parsley Flakes
1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary
1/2 tsp Rubbed Sage
2 Cups Hot Mashed Potatoes

Method:

1. In a saucepan, combine onion, carrots, garlic and broth.
Bring to the boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

2. Drain, reserving liquid to make gravy, if desired.
In a skillet, cook beef until browned; drain.

3. Add tomato sauce and seasonings; bring to a boil.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Add reserved vegetables and mix well.
Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish.

5. Top with mashed potatoes.
Bake, uncovered, and at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.

6. If desired, make gravy with reserved vegetable liquid; serve with pie.

For my December Recipes for $7 I have chosen Potato Gratin and a Chocolate Cheese cake. Potatoes are inexpensive around the world so you should not have any problems getting a cheap bag of those.

With the cheese cake you might already be able to source some ingredients from your cupboard already if you are a keen cook and like to cook at home. So you might not have to buy too many ingredients.

I personally do not like cheese cake that much but the rest of my family really loves it. If you get it right then the cheesecake can be unbelievable but sometimes like myself if you get it wrong the rest of your family will soon let you know!

Au Gratin Potato:

Ingredients:

175g/6¼oz Potatoes
30g/1oz Unsalted Butter
2 Garlic Cloves, Peeled/Chopped
285ml/½ pt Double Cream
110g/4oz Mature Cheddar Cheese, Grated
Salt And Ground Black Pepper

Method:

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the potatoes for 6-8 minutes, or until tender. Gently melt the butter in a large non-stick frying pan and fry the garlic for 1-2 minutes.

2. Stir in the cream and cheese and simmer gently for a few minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Season. Drain the potatoes, and once cool enough to handle, slice. Layer the slices into an ovenproof gratin dish.

3. Pour the creamy cheese mixture over the potatoes. Serve.

4. I like to bake this dish with some grated cheese over the top mixed with some breadcrumbs then put in a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes.

Chocolate Cheese Cake:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cup Light Process Cream Cheese
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup 1% Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1/4 Cup Plus 2 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa
1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Egg
2 tbsp Semi Sweet Chocolate
Mini-Morsels
Chocolate Curls

Method:

1. Sprinkle chocolate wafer crumbs in bottom of a 7-inch spring-form pan. Set aside. Position knife blade in food processor bowl; add cream cheese and next 6 ingredients, processing until smooth.

2. Add egg and process just until blended. Fold in the chocolate morsels. Slowly pour mixture over crumbs in pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 65 to 70 minutes or until cheesecake is set.

3. Let cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill for at least 8 hours. Remove sides of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving platter. Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.

I love kebabs and they are so nice when they are cooked correctly. Obviously I am not including those that the chavs have on a saturday night that are used from old meat and look like they are covered in more calories than the cider they have already drunk.

No I am talking about real kebabs like the lovely ones we are lucky enough to get locally in Portugal.

The kind that we get when we go to a local barbecue or make together as a family at home when we want to go through some of our leftovers.

I always have a good stash of the sticks for using in kebab making in my cupboard so that whenever we fancy a nice kebab it never involves much effort!!

So here is my favourite beef kebabs and I hope you enjoy them and not to mention they are good for you.

Ingredients

Pack Beef Medalions

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

1 Green Pepper

2 Onions

Seasoning To Taste

Method

First of all you need to dice your beef into thick cubes and soak for about 10 minutes in some soy sauce.

In the meantime chop some onions into cubes that are the same size as your beef and then do the same for some green pepper.

Once you have done this get your wok out and add some low calorie cooking spray to your wok along with a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and once it is hot you need to add the beef once it is half cooked you need to add the peppers and onions.

When it is nearly cooked season it with some mixed spice, mixed herbs and a little mustard and then when it is cooked put it to one side.

In the meantime you need to make some sauce to go with your kebabs. I personally suggest you make a garlic sauce as it works really well together. I am a big fan of the Spanish garlic mayonnaise called Olioli.

If you don’t have any to hand just place a large tablespoon of  mayonnaise in a dish, add a squirt of lime juice and a teaspoon of garlic paste and mix it altogether.

Then the kebabs will have reached a handling temperature and you need to prepare them.

Add a piece of beef, followed by a piece of pepper and then onion. And then repeat. You want it so that you have 2 of everything on your kebab stick.

Then make enough to go around the rest of the family.

Then you can serve your tasty kebabs.

For my November recipes I have gone with a fishy theme. You can’t beat a good old fashioned Prawn cocktail. A few prawns with abit of Mary rose Sauce over the top and some brown bread toasted on the side, heaven.

For the main course I have gone for a simple Tuna Pasta bake. I have being making these for years and this recipe has being fine tuned for quickness and tastiness. I also like some crusty bread with my Tuna Bakes and abit of spice.

I like to add abit of spice but nothing that takes away from the tuna, just abit to add some extra flavour, a few chilli flakes go down well and a dash of Tabasco. I hope you enjoy these recipes.

Prawn Cocktail:

Ingredients:

450g Peeled, Cooked Prawns

200 g Salad Cream

3 tbsp Tomato Ketchup

1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Few Drops Tabasco

3 Heads Gem Lettuce

Method:

1. Make sure the prawns are drained well of their liquid. Mix the salad cream, ketchup, lemon juice and Tabasco in a bowl. Tip in the prawns and mix well to coat them in the Marie-Rose sauce.

2. Finally shred the lettuce, and arrange as a bed on six small plates or dessert glasses. Divide the prawns in their sauce on the centre of each plate in a kind of pyramid, and then dust with paprika.

3. As long as the prawns were properly thawed and drained before you started mixing them in their famous Marie rose pink sauce, it does not matter if they sit for a good few hours in the fridge before being turned out onto their lettuce-lined dishes.

Tuna Pasta Bake:

Ingredients:

30g Margarine

4 tbs Flour

2 Cups Milk

½ Cup Grated Cheese

Salt And Pepper

1 Can Tuna, Drained.

2 Cups Of Pasta Shells

Method:

1. Make white sauce with margarine, flour, milk, salt & pepper. Add cheese

and tuna. Heat through.

2. Cook pasta until ready or if you are not sure look at the packet when ready take of the heat and refresh under cold water.

3. Then drain, add to the cheese/tuna sauce, mix well and heat through when ready serve.