Crockpots.
I love my crockpot. I was just talking to Sam in the office and I mentioned all my favorite crockpot recipes.
We are into saving money these days and crockpots -- well, rather, what goes into the crockpots -- have helped our family make really yummy meals, super easy, for practically nothing.
Here's one example.
I buy some cheapie jars of tomato sauce, pour the sauce into the crockpot, add a little water and spices and then toss in some homemade meatballs. (you don't have to use homemade, store bought will do, but my family makes requests for my homemade ones)
Turn the crockpot on low and let it simmer all day. When everyone gets home from work or school -- that's the best part, the smell of homemade sauce when you open the door -- we boil some pasta and have homemade spaghetti and meatballs.
With the leftovers -- It's a family of three in our house, so we usually have leftovers -- we make homemade baked ziti for another time. If I don't use the sauce immediately, I'll freeze it for another quick meal.
So, for roughly $10 I've fed my family of three. And it's super good.
"Homemade" spaghetti sauce out of jars? Hmmmm.
LOL Jo!
It's about as homemade that I can get. Actually, because the sauce simmers with the meatballs for 8 or so hours, it does taste homemade. It's not perfect, but my 8-year-old and husband love it.
My generation--old as dirt--would never call your spaghetti sauce "homemade." We would say it's "doctored." But--if you and your family love it--that's all that matters.
Good point, I can live with "doctored."
And just so you know, I'm no spring chicken myself.