Take charge of your weeknights with meal solutions that save you money and time. Each of these five meals and a midweek dessert are around $12. That’s four to six servings with a tasty price tag.

Ravioli Florentine
2016-01-06 07:23:21

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (8-ounce) package fresh
- mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 3⁄4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 (16-ounce) package frozen
- chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 2 cups water
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
- 1 (8.1-ounce) jar sun-dried tomato pesto
- 1 (25-ounce) package frozen 5-cheese ravioli, thawed
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- Dinner rolls, warmed
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 6 to 8 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Stir in spinach, 2 cups water, tomatoes, and pesto; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, and stir in ravioli. Cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until heated through. Stir in salt. Serve with heated dinner rolls.
Notes
- All meal costs are based on the generic brand of products and can vary in price 5 percent or more, depending on your location. We do not include pantry staple items in our costs.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/
Per serving: 612 calories, 32 G fat (8 G saturated fat), 63 MG cholesterol, 951 MG sodium, 22 G protein, 61 G carbs, 8 G fiber.

Mediterranean Chicken
2016-01-06 07:31:30

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
35 min
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved crosswise
- 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (15-ounce) can chicken broth
- 1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (4-ounce) can sliced blackolives
- Lemon Couscous (recipe follows)
- 1 (12-ounce) package frozen steam-in-bag green beans, prepared according to package directions
Instructions
- Pound chicken to 1⁄2-inch thickness.
- In a resealable plastic bag, combine flour, pepper, and salt. Add chicken; seal bag, and shake to coat.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove from pan, and keep warm.
- Stir in broth, artichokes, tomato sauce, and olives. Return chicken to pan; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until slightly thickened and chicken is cooked through. Serve over Lemon Couscous with green beans.
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Lemon Couscous
2016-01-06 07:32:52

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
10 min
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) box plain couscous
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare couscous according to package directions. Stir in lemon zest, juice, and pepper. Serve immediately.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/

Beef and Romaine Stir-Fry
2016-01-06 07:38:11

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
15 min
Ingredients
- 1 (6-ounce) package rice stick noodles
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound beef, cut for stir-fry
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1⁄2 cup water
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons garlic-chile sauce*
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 romaine lettuce heart, cut into 1⁄2-inch strips
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 (12-ounce) package frozen egg rolls, prepared according to package directions
Instructions
- Place noodles in a large bowl; cover with warm water, and soak for 10 minutes. Drain well.
- In a medium bowl, combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Add steak, tossing to coat.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine 1⁄2 cup water, soy sauce, garlic- chile sauce, and sugar. Add to beef mixture and cook for 2 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken. Add romaine, bell pepper, and garlic; cook for 3 minutes or until romaine is wilted. Serve over noodles. Serve with egg rolls.
Notes
- *We used Hokan Chili Sauce with Garlic.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/

Caesar Salad Pitas
2016-01-06 07:42:45

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
20 min
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package pita bread
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
- 1⁄8 teaspoon garlic salt
- 11⁄2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (11.5-ounce) package Caesar salad kit
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 (16-ounce) container fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place pita bread on prepared pan. Brush with 1 teaspoon oil, and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake for 6 minutes or until lightly toasted.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Sprinkle each pita with 2 tablespoons cheese. Top with chicken and remaining cheese. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Assemble salad according to package directions, reserving croutons for another use. Top
- each pita with salad; sprinkle with chopped tomato. Serve immediately, with strawberries if desired.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/

Buffalo Turkey Burgers
2016-01-06 07:47:01

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
25 min
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 3⁄4 cup finely chopped onion
- 3⁄4 cup finely chopped celery
- 1 (1.25-pound) package ground turkey
- 1 1⁄2 cups fine, dry bread crumbs
- 1⁄2 cup hot wing sauce, divided
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 6 hamburger buns, halved and toasted
- Blue Cheese Spread (recipe follows)
- 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
- Potato chips
- Celery sticks
Instructions
- In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat, and let cool for 15 minutes.
- Spray grill rack with nonstick nonflammable cooking spray. Preheat grill to medium- high heat (350° to 400°).
- In a large bowl, combine turkey, onion mixture, bread crumbs, 1⁄4 cup wing sauce, and salt. Divide mixture into 6 equal portions, and shape into 6 patties. Grill, covered with grill lid, for 6 to 8 minutes per side or until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 165°.
- Brush patties with remaining 1⁄4 cup wing sauce. Spread Blue Cheese Spread over bottom halves of toasted buns. Top each with a patty and sliced tomato. Cover with bun tops.
- Serve with potato chips, celery sticks, and remaining Blue Cheese Spread.
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Blue Cheese Spread
2016-01-06 07:48:19

Makes about 1 cup
Prep Time
5 min
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
- 1⁄4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, and Worcestershire until combined. Stir in blue cheese. Store covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/

Bananas Foster Sundae
2016-01-06 07:52:14

Makes 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
7 min
Ingredients
- 4 cup butter
- 1⁄2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1⁄4 cup water
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 large bananas, sliced 1⁄4-inch thick
- Vanilla Ice Cream
Instructions
- ONE In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, stirring until combined. Stir in water and cinnamon; cook, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted. Add banana slices, and cook 1 minute. Serve over ice cream.
Celebrate Magazine http://www.celebratemag.com/
Per serving of Bananas Foster Sauce: 263 calories, 10 G fat ( 6 G saturated fat), 24 MG cholesterol, 88 MG sodium, 1 G protein, 47 G carbs, 3 G fiber.