Creamy Baked Ziti - Easy $8/family/1.5 hrs prep time

Ingredients per family:

1 box uncooked pasta
16 oz spaghetti sauce
6 oz. cream cheese
3/4 cup Sour Cream

8 oz shredded mozzerella
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:  1) Heat oven to 375.

2) Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package. Remove from pan; drain, and set aside. Combine spaghetti sauce and cream cheese to same pan; cook on medium heat 5 min. or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. Return pasta to pan; mix well.

3) Layer half the pasta mixture in 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with layers of sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella and remaining pasta mixture. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

4)Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

To Make For Freezer Club: I made the creamy sauce for everyone's family all together and then divided it into the containers. I then combined the sour cream and mozzarella for each family and then distributed it into separate ziplocs for each family - labeling it as "middle layer". Lastly, I measured out the parmesan and remaining mozzarella for each family and distributed it into another ziploc labeled "top cheeses".

To Make From Frozen/Fresh: Thaw creamy sauce completely. Cook pasta and mix together with creamy sauce. Layer half the pasta mixture into 9x13 pan, squeeze "middle layer" sour cream mixture and spread around over pasta. Finish spooning the remaining pasta mixture over creamy mixture and top with "Top Cheeses".
Bake for 20 minutes at 375.

Chili (Easy) $10-$11

1 1/2 lbs. ground chuck
1 lb. ground, lean pork
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped onion
8 oz. hunt's tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 can beer
3 Tbls chili powder
2 Tbls instant beef bouillon
2 Tbls cumin
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp coriander
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp Louisiana hot sauce
1 tsp cornmeal
1 tsp flour
1 tsp warm water

In a large saucepan brown beef and pork.  Drain all but a few Tbls of the fat.  Add the garlic and onion and cook until tender.  Transfer meat to a pot and add tomato sauce, water, beer, chili powder, bouillon, cumin, paprika, oregano, sugar, coriander, cocoa, and hot sauce.  Mix well. 
Bring to a boil then reduce hear and simmer, covered, for 2 hours. 
In a small bowl, stir together the cornmeal and flour, then add the warm water and mix well.  Stir into chili and cook, covered for an additional 20 minutes.

Spinach-Artichoke Chicken Pasta ($8) Easy

Freezer club prep: Thaw, reheat and EAT! Serve with a salad and garlic bread.

Ingredients:
1 (13 oz) box shell pasta
1 tsp butter
2 tsp minced fresh garlic
1 8 oz package reduced fat (not fat free) cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
1T lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 14 oz can artichoke hearts (packed in water), drained and chopped
10 oz chopped, frozen spinach, thawed, with as much excess water squeezed out as possible
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
Additional Parmesan for serving

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Slowly stir in milk, sour cream, then add lemon juice, salt and red pepper flakes. Stir in artichoke hearts, spinach, Parmesan cheese and chicken
3. Drain pasta and add to artichoke mix. Toss and season to taste with salt and additional lemon juice as needed. Serve with additional shredded Parmesan.
*I made 6x this recipe for freezer club and it made about 8 (8x8 square) containers. (I did divide the cost by 8, so the price wasn't skewed per meal)

BBQ Meatballs (Pioneer Women) Easy $9

Meatballs:
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 C. Oats
1 C. Milk
3 TBS. Finely minced onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
1tsp ground black pepper

Combine all to form meatballs. Put in freezer for five minutes.

Heat vegetable oil in skillet over med-high heat. Dredge meatballs in unseasoned flour, then cook in hot oil just until brown on the outside. Place in baking dish.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Sauce:
1 C. Ketchup
1 Tbs. sugar
3 Tbs. vinegar
3 Tbs. Worcestershire Sauce
6 Tbs. finely diced onion

Combine ingredients and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until bubbling.

Freezer Club: Thaw completely. I froze them after cooking them on the stove...so they need to be baked in the oven for above time!

Serve with mashed potatoes.