You can even do comfort food for under $10 bucks and you know how? Pick a meat that’s on sale. This week, pork cutlets were $1.99 a lb. My package of 6 was 2.79. From there, I decided stuffing and biscuits and since I had some bean salsa leftover, I figured I’d top a simple salad and BAM (as Emeril would say). A quick and easy downhome comfort meal for 4 for under $7 BUCKS!

Pork Cutlets:

Pork Cutlets (6 in the package) – $2.79
1/4 tsp Cumin – pantry
1/2 tsp garlic powder – pantry
1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper – pantry
1 Tbsp Canola Oil – pantry

COST: $2.79

Sprinkle meat with dry spices, both sides. Set aside. Get pan nice and hot and add oil.  Lay  in cutlets and sear both sides. Do NOT overcook. Thin cutlets will cook fast.  Maybe about 3-4 mins per side, max!

Stuffing (I like Mothers, but it wasn’t on sale):

Basically, you can use any boxed stuffing. I found a new brand that was .99 cents at SavAlot, so I used it. It was good, I just added a few things to make it more like Mothers.

1 Boxed Stuffing$.99
2 celery stocks$.45
1/2 onion$.35
1/2 stick butter or margarine$.25

COST: $2.04

Salad:

We didn’t use dressing on this salad, instead we topped with leftover Tex Mex bean, avocado and corn salsa. Very fresh and healthy too!

1/4 head of lettuce – .25
Roma Tomato – .35
Baby Carrot, shredded – .25
1 cucumber – .33

COST: $1.18

Mimi’s Biscuits:

This is a very simple biscuit recipe and super delicious! Believe it or not, I got it from a book and NOT a cook book. I read it in Shem Creek, by Dorthea Benton Frank. I modified mine with Lard, since I use lard a lot to make flour tortillas.  I imagine the recipe will be lighter and fluffier with shortening. Either way, these are fabulous!

2 cups all purpose flour – .50
1 Tbsp baking powder – Pantry
1/2 tsp salt – Pantry
1/3 cup vegetable shortening or lard – .20
3/4 cup milk – .25

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Cut in shortening. Stir in milk. Lightly flour a large cutting board or countertop. Place dough in center. Knead lightly, 10 times or so. Lightly roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with floured metal cutter or I used a small glass. Bake 10-12 min. Serve hot! Makes about 10-12 biscuits.

COST: $.95

This meal is fast and easy. Maybe 25-30 minutes total and yet homecooked and VERY affordable.  Can you believe the cost?

GRAND TOTAL: $6.96