Recipes!!!

I've made three delicious (and easy) recipes this week and wanted to share my version of them.

Crescent Roll Chicken
1 package of crescent rolls
4 oz. of cream cheese
1/4 cup of chopped olives
1 clove of fresh garlic
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken
3 tbsp. melted butter, separated
2 tbsp. milk
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Boil chicken until cooked. In a medium mixing bowl, blend 2 tbsp. of butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add in olives, garlic, milk, salt, and pepper. Chop chicken and add to mixture. Spoon into crescent rolls triangles. Roll up and brush tops with remaining butter. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Cost breakdown:
Crescent rolls = $0.97
Cream cheese = $0.50
Olives = $0.18
Fresh garlic = $0.03
Chicken = $1.85
Butter = $0.06
Milk = $0.03
Salt and pepper = Less than $0.01
Total = $3.62, 8 crescent rolls = $0.45 each


Chicken Spaghetti Bake
8 oz. angel hair pasta
2 cups of boneless, skinless chicken (chopped and diced)
4 oz. pimentos
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1-1/4 cup shredded cheddar
1 clove fresh garlic

Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain. Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Cost breakdown:
Pasta = $0.25
Pimentos = $0.38
Cream of mushroom = $0.49
Fresh garlic = $0.03
Chicken = $1.85
Cheese = $0.93
Total = $3.93, 6 servings = $0.66 per serving


Taco Salad Bowls
1 lb. ground beef
4 corn tortillas
1 large can of pinto beans
1 pack taco seasoning
aluminum foil
cooking spray
desired toppings (shredded cheese, salsa, lettuce, sour cream)

Preheat oven to 375. Place tortillas on a plate. Cover them with a damp paper towel and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds to make them pliable. Crumple foil into 4 ball shapes and place on a cookie sheet. Remove tortillas from microwave. Lightly spray each one, front and back, with cooking spray. Place each tortilla atop the aluminum foil balls. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Empty the can of pinto beans into a medium bowl. Using a potato masher, mash these until they are similar in texture to mashed potatoes. Microwave these for 1-2 minutes. Drain off any extra liquid. Meanwhile, cook and drain ground beef. Add in taco seasoning and combine with pinto beans. Fill each taco bowl, add toppings, and enjoy!

Cost breakdown:
Ground beef = $1.89
Taco seasoning = $0.33
Tortillas = $0.15
Beans = $0.99
Total = $3.36, 4 servings = $0.84 each + toppings