For dad’s big day, this meal is one tasty deal

On Father’s Day, dad deserves a meal that’s as special as he is, and this $2 Dinners menu is the perfect way to show him how much you care. This tasty and inexpensive meal has something to please everyone in the family, and since you make it in your slow cooker, you’ll have more time (and money) to spend with dad on his special day. This Father’s Day, why not surprise dad with a delicious and affordable meal you made yourself at home? Here’s how:

Your Father’s Day meal starts with our Amazing Slow Cooker Chili Dogs. Yes…you read that right…these delicious dogs are made right in your slow cooker. No need to stand outside by a hot grill, or to heat up your kitchen either, because your slow cooker will do all the work while you stay cool and comfortable. And, since no Father’s Day feast would be complete without a fantastic dessert, we have a Chocolate Chip Swirl Bundt Cake that’s so incredibly delicious, your dad will wish every day was Father’s Day. To round out this tasty, easy menu, serve your favorite chips, or make up a pot of our $2 Dinners Ranch-Style Beans for a Father’s Day Feast that costs just under $2 per person.
 
Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes
 
Amazing Slow Cooker Chili Dogs (serves 8 @ about $1.06 per serving)
 

 
Chocolate Chip Swirl Bundt Cake (serves 12 @ about 45 cents per serving)
 

Grill up some savory savings with Sirloin Shish Kabobs

The summer cook-out season is here and it’s time to fire up your grill! Cooking outdoors just seems to make everything more festive and fun, not to mention the fact that it also keeps the heat outside where it belongs instead of in your kitchen. But maybe the best thing about grilling is that not only can you cook your entire meal outdoors, you can also make inexpensive ingredients into a budget-friendly gourmet feast.

One of our favorite $2 Dinners grilled meals is Sirloin Shish Kabobs that features boneless sirloin steak, marinated in a tangy sauce and teamed up with colorful vegetables. These flavorful kabobs are so easy to make, you can even have them on a weeknight because they can be assembled ahead of time, they grill in just a few minutes, and there’s almost no cleanup after the meal. However, maybe the best thing about these kabobs is that since men love beef and kids love just about anything on a stick, this meal is sure to be a hit with your family. The next time you’re ready to fire up the grill, consider making Sirloin Shish Kabobs for a fantastic all-in-one meal. Add some hot cooked rice or maybe a piece of grilled pita bread and dinner is done!

Click on the orange box for a printable version of the recipe

Sensation Sirloin Shish Kabobs ( makes 5 servings @ about $1.75 per serving (with rice or Pita bread- $2.00)

This Memorial Day cook-out is big on flavor and easy on your wallet

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and for many people that means inviting family and friends over for a cook-out to signal the “official” start of summer. It’s always fun to cook outside, especially when you include your friends and family, but if your budget is tight it can also be a challenge to feed those extra people. While you may be tempted to cut back on expenses by throwing some bargain frozen patties on the grill and grabbing some bulk potato salad from the superstore, there are tastier options that are just as easy on your wallet.

This year for your Memorial Day cook-out, try this easy, taste-tempting Memorial Day menu from $2 Dinners. You’ll love this menu because not only does it taste good, it can be done in advance, leaving you free to spend time with your friends and family. The stars of this fantastic menu are our Garlic and Herb Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers that you can put together ahead of time and grill when you’re ready. You won’t believe how juicy and flavorful they are, and everyone will love the gooey, melted nugget of cheddar cheese hidden inside. And of course no cook-out would be complete without some traditional side dishes, so we came up with two that are both delicious and easy to put together in advance. Our Easy Potato Salad is quick to prepare and only takes 4 ingredients, and our Ranch Beans come together in a flash but taste like they have been slow-cooked all day.

Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes

Garlic and Herb Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers (serves 4 @ about $1.00 per serving)



Easy Potato Salad (serves 4 @ about 35 cents per serving)



Ranch-Style Beans (serves 4 @ about 45 cents per serving)

Honor your mom with this affordable Mother’s Day brunch

Are you on a budget and wondering what to get mom for Mother’s Day? Why not give her the gift of your time and do something that lets her sit back, relax and enjoy? For most moms, it really is the thought that counts, especially when you do something that provides a rare opportunity for us to skip a chore like cleaning or cooking a meal. So this Mother’s Day, why not surprise mom with a delicious and affordable brunch you made yourself at home?


We have the perfect $2 Dinners menu to help you make this the best Mother’s Day ever. Mom is sure to love the herbs and spices in our savory Sausage Patties with Sage, and Gourmet Scrambled Eggs take a boring breakfast staple from ordinary to extraordinary. The true stars of this fantastic brunch, however, are the sweet, gooey and oh-so-easy cinnamon rolls you make with frozen bread dough.

So this year for Mother’s Day, show mom how much you care by preparing this wonderful brunch that’s so easy on your budget, you’ll have enough money left to surprise her with a little something to unwrap as well.

Click on the orange boxes for printable versions of the recipes

Sausage Patties with Sage (serves 4 @ about 43 per serving)



Gourmet Scrambles Eggs (serves 4 @ about 69 cents per serving)



Cinnamon Rolls (makes 24 rolls @ about 13 cents per serving)

Easy skillet meals are a good deal

Are you a busy cook on a budget looking for dinner ideas that are low-cost, fast and easy? Skillet meals may be just what you’re looking for! These one-pan wonders are a busy cook’s best friend because they need just a few budget-friendly ingredients, require little preparation time, and are literally a “meal-in-one”. You won’t even need to worry about serving a side dish unless you want to add some fruit or a small salad. The best thing about skillet meals though, is that since your whole dinner cooks in just one pan, there’s only one pan to wash when dinner is done!


So, if you’re ready to try a time-saving skillet meal, these $2 Dinners recipes are a great place to start. Your family with love the south-of-the-border flavors in our Beefy Enchilada Skillet Dinner, and our Skillet Pasta and Meatballs is a real winner that goes from the stove to the table in under 30 minutes, and needs just five ingredients!

Click on the oranges boxes for printable versions of the recipes

Beefy Enchilada Skillet Dinner (serves 4 @ aboout $1.94 per serving)



Skillet Pasta and Meatballs (serves 4 @ about $1.75 per serving)

$2 Dinners Time Saving Tip

Time-Saver Tip of the Week:

Save yourself time in the kitchen by cooking several pounds of chicken at once and freezing it for later use. I often buy those 3lb. bags of boneless, skinless chicken breasts from the Superstore (priced at around $6.50) and cook the whole thing to use later. To cook chicken: Poach it- Place chicken in a large pot with enough chicken broth to cover. Bring broth to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking for 6 minutes (freeze the stock and use for soup later). Or you can Bake it- Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and place chicken on sheet. Drizzle with a little vegetable or olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear. Once your cooked chicken has cooled, just chop it into smaller pieces and freeze 1-2 cups per container. Use frozen cooked chicken within 6 months.

Make This Incredible Pulled Pork for Pennies

Here in the Tarheel State, there isn’t much of anything we like to eat better than pulled pork BBQ. In fact, we North Carolinians are so crazy about our barbeque, we’ve been known to engage in passionate and somewhat heated debates about sauce, preparation methods, and which restaurant has the best pulled pork. However, even when we don’t see eye-to-eye, something we can all agree on is that there’s nothing quite like a big ‘ole plate of pork BBQ!

So how do you satisfy your cravings for pulled pork at home without getting takeout? Make it in your slow cooker! This delicious and amazingly easy pulled pork recipe is the creation of my friend and co-worker Anita. She came up with this recipe a couple of months ago and brought it to work for some of us to try. I have to say it was love at first bite, and I knew she had a real winner. When I got the recipe from her, I realized that she had created a recipe that was not only delicious; it’s easy and economical too. The onion soup gives this pork a little something extra that takes the flavor over-the-top, so if you’re a pulled pork lover, you have got to try this, and don't forget the coleslaw (thanks Anita)!

Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes

Anita’s Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Pork (makes 7-8 cups. Serves: 8 for BBQ plates @ about $1.00 per serving, or 12 for sandwiches @ about 90 cents per serving (includes bun)

Easy Coleslaw (serves 8 @ about 50 cents per serving)