Tuna-Noodle Casserole

Another recipe from my Blue Ribbon Country Cook Book.  This book really is fantastic.  My only complaint is that you'd better plan on spending around an hour to make a meal.  Anyhow, here we go.


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• $1 per pound
• 1/3 cup chopped celery
• $1.50 for around 10 stalks
• 1 cup mushrooms (I didn't use these)
• I package (probably about 2 cups or 10ish mushrooms) is $2
• White Sauce
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk (I use 2%)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• $2 for 32 ounces
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• $1 for a bottle
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard (I didn't have any, so I used cayenne pepper)
• 8 ounces of noodles
• 16 ounces is $.80
• A 9-ounce can of tuna (packed in water)
• $.40 - $80
• 15 ounces of peas (I didn't use these)
• Buttered Cracker Crumbs
• 6 crackers
• 1 tablespoon of butter

Utensils and Dishes:

• A large skillet
• 2 quart baking dish
• 2 medium sized pots
• A wooden spatula
• A spoon
• A strainer or something
• Large mixing bowl

Cost: $2.52 (there are a lot of little ingredients that I don't include, like the soy sauce)

People fed: 4 - 6

Cook time: around 60 minutes

Directions:

Start boiling some water for pasta.  While the water heats, put the butter in the skillet and start sauté-ing the onions, celery, and mushrooms.  Do so for about 2 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 350 and oil the baking pan.

White Sauce: combine the milk, flour, pepper, and salt.  Melt the butter and add it to the milk/flour.  Stir.  Heat the mixture until it is almost boiling (but don't let it boil).  Stir continuously.

Add the mayo, say sauce, and dry mustard to the White Sauce and continue to heat.  Add the vegetables (and the pan juices).  Mix well and remove from heat.

Put the noodles and sauce/vegetable mixture into the large mixing bowl and stir.  Drain the tuna and add.  If you so desire, add the peas at this point.  After it is well mixed, put into the baking pan.  Cover with buttered cracker crumbs (crumble 6 crackers and let them soak in melted butter).  Bake for 35 minutes.

Hamburger Stuff

This recipe is from my Blue Ribbon Country Cook Book.  I've made it one time, but anticipate that I shall make it again.  I really liked it.  It's simple, cheap, and lasted me 3 or 4 meals.


Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef (as usual, I use turkey)
• $1.50 for 1 pound of ground turkey
• 3 large potatoes
• $1 per pound
• 3/4 cup onion
• $1 per pound
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cups water
• 6 or so crackers (optional)
• $2 for 6 sleeves of crackers
• Butter

Utensils and Dishes:

• A large skillet
• A 9 x 13 (or similarly sized) baking dish
• A spoon and/or wooden spatula
• A large bowl is useful
• Either a knife or grater

Total cost: $3

People Fed: 4 - 6

Cook time: 60 - 90 minutes

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.  In your large skillet, brown your meat.  While your meat is browning peel your potatoes and either grate them or cut them into small pieces.  I used a knife and it took me forever, but it's up to you. Use what you have.  Also cut up the onion.  If you get a smaller onion, just  use the whole thing.  It's probably about 3/4 of a cup.  It will be good either way.

Once the meat is browned and your other ingredients are chopped, mix them all together in a bowl.  In a small container, put your crackers (which need to be crushed into pieces) with some butter.  I used about a tablespoon or so.  Then put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds.  This melts the butter and letters your crackers soak in buttery goodness.  Now put the meat/potato mixture in your (greased) pan and covered it with the buttered crackers.

Put all of this into the oven for 45 minutes.  And you're done!

I put butter on mine when I made it and it was delicious.  My cookbook recommends chili sauce.  But really put anything on that sounds good.  I don't put anything on it!  Your choice.  It will be good however you fix it.