Inexpensive cusine- Pastys

This is a really easy, very cheap and filling meal! It is a traditional Finnish dish and can be made easily for a family of two or twelve! It is a great way to get non veggie lovers to eat some veggies and non meat lovers to eat some meat. It has really been a hit in our house! If you are making this for 4 people, this is the measurements I would use, but they are not exact, so feel free to add more or less of an item. If making for more people, simply double or triple the recipe. I bet they freeze okay too!

1. Mix 1 1/2 to 2 lbs ground turkey or hamburger with some chopped veggies -celery (about 3 stalks), carrots (2 large ones peeled), a medium onion and a couple peeled chopped potatoes in a bowl. Add 1 half of a rutabaga peeled and shredded. (Even if you don't think you like it- add it! It adds a ton of flavor and cooks down to nothing!) salt and pepper mixture to taste. Mix by hand.


2. Roll out ready made pie crust and cut in half. (If you want to make your own crust go for it- but I don't have time for that!) Put a good handful of the meat mixture on one half and fold over like a small calzone. Seal the edges and poke air holes to vent.


3. Place on greased cookie sheet or glass dish and bake @ 375 degrees for apox 1 hour or until golden brown and meat is cooked through. Is great served with Ketchup!! Enjoy!

You will be surprised how much filling this makes! If you have more filling then crust, you can bake the leftovers like a meatloaf.

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Inexpensive gourmet - French Lemon Creme Chicken

I love to be a creative cook on a low budget. Here's one of my favorite recipes that you can alter to fit whats in your cupboard.

Lemon Creme Chicken

• cut and pound thin boneless chicken breast (could use any cut)
• combine plain breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese (I use the cheap kind- works just fine) S & P. Dredge chicken in mixture.
• Melt 3 tbsp (give or take depending on how much chicken you use) butter in fry pan and transfer chicken, until golden brown

• Remove chicken and transfer to oven safe dish. Reduce pan heat.
  
• Add to the same pan the chicken was in, lemon juice (about 2 tbsp), zest of lemon to taste (if you like more lemon flavor) a splash of your favorite white wine (apox 3 tbsps or to taste) s&p, and 1 tbsp butter (unless there was some butter left in there from the chicken. Heat on medium until mixed well, making sure to get all those good drippings up from the chicken.


• Add 3/4 cup half and half (or go big and use cream) and heat till warm. Dump over chicken and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 for apox 25 mins or until browned and chicken is cooked through.

• Serve with orzo, buttered noodles or potatoes. Finish with a side of green beans. Enjoy!