Thrifty Emergency Meals!

 

In my pantry and freezer I keep a stash of items to make quick meals in an emergency.  An emergency can be anything from a power outage to an overwhelmingly busy day.  Having these things on hand allows me to feed myself without the temptation of running through the fast food drive-thru or ordering delivery.  It saves my health, saves me a lot of money and surprisingly it saves me a fair bit of time.

 

Loads of possibilities

Rice & Pasta Pouches 

Rice-a-Roni, Knorr or the store brand equivalents often go on sale for about a dollar each.  I keep half a dozen of them on hand to make fast and easy meals.  I follow the package directions and add in frozen vegetables and cooked meat to make it a complete meal.  To stretch it further you can also add a half cup of cooked rice at the end and mix it in well.  I do this often to tone down the saltiness.

 

Pre Cooked & Canned Meats

In the freezer I store sandwich bags with pre-cooked ground beef or turkey, plain or seasoned, in half pound increments.  They are perfect to add to a rice or pasta packet.  Canned tuna and canned chicken are also staples I keep in the pantry.  Hotdogs or polish sausages make for a super quick protein for a meal as well and they freeze well.

 

Pre Cooked Pasta & Rice 

I will often cook a cup or two of rice and then freeze it in half cup increments to serve as a side dish or to use in a casserole or a quick stir fry or fried rice.  I do the same with a package of pasta.  They are great to have on hand to extend a recipe or any cooked meat.

 

Macaroni & Cheese 

I keep a half dozen boxes of mac & cheese on the shelf.  To make it more substantial I add a couple of sliced hotdogs to the boiling pasta that last minute of cooking.  Drain and continue making the mac & cheese as usual.  I will also stir in a can of drained tuna into a pan of mac & cheese as well.  Round it out with steamed vegetables or a can of green beans heated in the microwave served on the side.

 

Soup 

Nothing beats a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.  I make my own soups from scratch and can them, but they can also be frozen in meal size containers.  A sandwich or simple cheese quesadilla along with the soup makes for a delicious and filling meal.

 

Eggs & Toast 

For me, nothing screams comfort food quite like two poached eggs on a slice of buttered toast.  You can also scramble the eggs or make a sandwich with a fried egg and a slice of cheese.  Quick, easy and super thrifty.

 

Frozen Pizza 

There is no shame in a frozen pizza.  Pick up a couple when they are on sale and store in the freezer for whenever you need a quick meal.  Add a bag of salad mix and some salad dressing to complete the meal.  A fraction of the cost of ordering a pizza and most likely you can have dinner on the table faster than the pizza deliver guy can get to your house.

 

Frozen Lasagna & Casseroles 

Whenever I make lasagna or a casserole I also make one or two for the freezer.  Tater Tot casserole and pizza pasta freezes nicely.  I will place one in the oven and then turn it on to preheat while I get my evening chores done, make a salad or heat up a vegetable and before I know it dinner is ready.  These are perfect options for unplanned company or sharing with a family member or friend in need of a meal too.