"Chuck" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>
> > "Chuck" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>I am a single male, looking for a good tasting low budget meal. Cannot
> >>have fish, mushrooms, or anything pickled. I think I got screwed in the
> >
> >
> > What kind of diet are you on? Are you looking for recipes? Or pre-made
> > meals?
> >
> Well, I am trying to get low carb meals. I used to have the old Mac and
> cheese and such, but man is pasta carbbie. Recipies or premade meals
> are both fine.

I eat a lot of salads. You can make a bed of greens then top it with a
large tomato, cut into a flower shape. To do this, make cuts from the top
to the bottom, cutting not quite all the way through. Spread the cut pieces
open so you can fill it. Good fillings are turkey salad, chicken salad, egg
salad, or cottage cheese.

If you can get fresh mozzarella where you live, alternate slices of that
with slices of tomato and pieces of fresh basil. Drizzle with olive oil and
balsamic vinegar. If you can't have the vinegar, then use a bit of lemon
juice instead. Lightly steamed green beans and slices of red onion are a
good addition to this dish as well. If you can't get the fresh mozzarella,
a similar salad can be made using whatever cheese you like. Use whatever
dressing you like and vary the herbs, using chives or any other herbs that
you find tasty.

Spinach salad is easy to make. Use well washed fresh spinach, then toss
with chopped or sliced boiled egg, tomatoes, cheese, and bacon.

Lasagna can be made using sautéed zucchini instead of pasta. Or you can
make a fancy looking dish called Eggplant Rollatine. Slice the eggplant
lengthwise, about 1/4" thick. Then sauté in olive oil until it begins to
soften. Or if you want to use less fat, spray or lightly coat with olive
oil and bake until soft. Make a filling of Ricotta cheese, stiffened up a
bit with a beaten egg or two. The egg will help prevent the cheese from
getting too runny as it bakes. You can add some parmesan or any other
Italian cheeses you like to the ricotta. I also like to add a bit of
chopped spinach or parsley. Take some tomato sauce (homemade, canned or
jarred) and spread a thin amount in a baking dish. Put a spoonful of the
ricotta filling on each slice of eggplant and roll up. How much filling you
use depends on the size of your slices, but you don't want so much that you
have a sloppy mess. Lay your rolls in the baking dish, leaving a bit of
space between them, then top with more sauce. Make sure to cover them well
with the sauce so they don't dry out. Add additional cheese such as
parmesan or asiago. Bake until heated through and the cheese is bubbly.

Eggs can be scrambled or baked in the oven adding whatever vegetables you
like. You can also add cheese or meat. Bacon, sausage and ham are good
choices.

Pot Roast is another inexpensive meal because you can use a cheap cut of
meat and cook it all day. I like to do mine in the crockpot along with
onions, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. I add a small can of tomato
sauce and a spoonful of steak sauce for additional flavor.

If you have a favorite casserole recipe, you can make it less carby by
adding green or yellow beans in lieu of or in place of some of the pasta,
rice, potatoes, etc. I find that the beans tend to blend right into the
sauce and they mix quite well with pasta. Plus they are my daughter's
favorite vegetable so she usually likes anything they are in.

Cottage or Shepard's Pie can be easily made with cooked ground beef or
whatever leftover cooked meat you have. Mix in whatever non-starchy
vegetables you like (cook them first), then mix in a can of creamed soup or
some leftover gravy. Top with a very thin layer of mashed potatoes and some
shredded cheese. Bake until heated through and the cheese is bubbly. I
love potatoes and can usually eat them with no problem. But if I'm having a
day when I must do low carb this is a way where I can still get some
potatoes because the amount per serving is so small. There is also a recipe
some people use for faux-tatoes that uses cauliflower. I haven't tried this
because I don't much care for cauliflower. But I've found I can tolerate it
in small amounts if mixed into a casserole or soup.

Here is a link to low carb recipes. They're not all budget recipes, but you
can get some ideas he

http://www.camacdonald.com/lc/Cookbook/Meat.html

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