BBQ chicken pizza

Toppings:
6 oz mozzerella cheese, shredded
2 slices cooked, crumbled bacon
1/2 bell pepper diced
1 roma tomato diced
1 onion chopped thinly
sliced black olives
1/2 bottle of bbq sauce
3-5 oz left-over chicken (or cook a chicken breast and shred)

use a premade crust or buy a package of pizza crust mix.  Super cheap.  I think they are about 50 cents at Walmart. Prepare crust, top with BBQ sauce, then other toppings. Following baking instructions on package

use up those turkey leftovers

easy way to get a few meals for pretty cheap

I buy a 9 ish lb spiral cut ham.  I cut the slices off the bone, wrapping them in meal sized portions in freezer paper.  When I want to make ham, I take a meal sized portion from the freezer and place it in the crockpot with some pineapple juice and sliced or chunked pineapple.  It takes about 4-6 hours on low for the ham to be done.  This is a fully cooked ham when I freeze it so basically I am just warming it up.I use any leftovers from that meal in this dish for another meal.

1 9 lb ham can make multiple meals for us.  Ham, ham sandwiches, cheesy au gratin potatoes with ham, grilled ham and cheese, diced up in camping eggs, and the ham bone is used for beans and ham, which my mom makes in the pressure cooker and then cans for us.  I can get 14-15 meals from one ham.  That's a bargain!

easy chicken and dumplings

1 1/2 - 2 pounds chicken pieces (I use leftover pieces from baked chicken from a previous dinner.  I debone it and freeze it already cooked for future use)

4 cups chicken broth

In a large wide pot, simmer the chicken pieces in the broth until the chicken is tender.  Remove chicken from pot.

Dumplings:

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cold
1/2 cup water

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the flour baking powder and salt. Using a food processor, pastry blender, or two knives, cut in the butter until it is the size of very small peas and distributed throughout the dry ingredients. Add the water and knead 8 to 10 times. If the dough seems too sticky, add a little more flour. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares. Bring the broth to a rolling boil, drop in the dumplings, cover the pot and reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for 10 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked. Overcooking will cause the dumplings to fall apart.
To serve, place the chicken pieces in a bowl and ladle hot broth and dumplings over the chicken.

Cheesy Au gratin potatoes with ham

Ingredients:

• 4 cups diced potatoes
• salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, halved ( I use minced)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 8 ounces shredded  Cheddar cheese (about 2 cups) , divided
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup soft fresh bread crumbs

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with water and add about 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and boil gently for about 10 minutes, or until just fork tender. Drain.
 
In a large saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Remove the garlic and discard. Add onion and cook, stirring, just until onion is softened.
 
Add the flour and cook, stirring, until well blended and bubbly. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened.
 
Add the ham and 6 ounces of the cheese (about 1 1/2 cups). Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted. Stir in the parsley. Gently stir in the potatoes until well coated with the cheese mixture.
 
Turn into a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the reserved 2 ounces of shredded cheese.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and toss with the bread crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Cheesy Shepherd's pie

2 cups mashed potatoes (can use instant prepare according to instructions on package)

1 lb.  lean ground beef

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)

1 cup  beef gravy

Heat oven to 375°F.

Prepare potatoes as directed on package or use leftover homemade mashed potatoes or make fresh ( if using leftover homemade heat up in microwave with a little water mixed in)

Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; drain.
Add vegetables and gravy to meat; mix well. Spoon into 8-inch square baking dish; cover with prepared Potatoes.
Bake 20 to 25 min. or until heated through and lightly browned.

you can also use leftover deboned, shredded chicken and use chicken gravy instead of beef.  I am terrible at making gravy so I just use the packets.  They are about 50 cents each in my local store.  You could also use canned gravy.