Really Inexpensive and Easy Recipes: Biscuit Hamburger Bake, Spoon Bread, and Pink Flannel Hash

With so many people out-of-work and almost all of us watching our finances, inexpensive family meals are becoming more and more important. Here are some old-fashion recipes that offer you meals that are easy, inexpensive yet tasty. These recipes should be a hit with the whole family while saving you money on your food budget. Biscuit Hamburger Bake is quick, easy, inexpensive, and has meat, vegetables, bread, and dairy all in one dish. Spoon Bread is an old recipe from Tennessee for a cornbread type bread baked in a casserole dish. Pink Flannel Hash uses tuna, potatoes, eggs, etc for a quick, inexpensive meal. So take heart, and give these recipes a try to help you save money on your trips to the grocery store.

BISCUIT HAMBURGER BAKE

This recipe is from an old community cookbook in Southern Indiana where I was born and raised.

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can condensed Vegetable Soup
1/2 tbsp oregano
dash of pepper
1 can refrigerated biscuits
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large skillet, cook ground beef with onion until meat is browned and onion is tender; drain well to remove fat. Stir in the can of soup, oregano, and pepper; heat to bubbling. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish that has been buttered. Top with the biscuits. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread the sour cream over the biscuits then top with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake another 10 minutes.

SPOON BREAD

This is an old Tennessee hills recipe.

2 cups white corn meal
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 egg whites, beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Add corn meal slowly to boiling water. Let stand for 3 minutes. Add butter to the corn meal mixture. Stir in salt, egg yolks, baking soda, and buttermilk. Fold in the egg whites and turn into a greased baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

PINK FLANNEL HASH

This old recipe was a clipping I found in a box of my late mother's recipes. I have no idea where this clipping originated.

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
2 cups finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce
2 cups Idaho frozen southern style hash brown potatoes
1 can (6 1/2-7 oz) tuna, drained and flaked
4 eggs

In a large skillet melt butter; saute the onions and peppers until crisp tender. Stir in Tabasco sauce and potatoes. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until potatoes are tender and golden (about 15 minutes). Stir in tuna. Make four wells in potato mixture; break one egg into each well. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until eggs are set. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Serves 4.

Enjoy!