Thrifty Thursday - "Chinese Take Out . . .or In"

Here are a couple of quick, easy and inexpensive Chinese Take Out subsitutes. The advantage of making your own is saving lots of $$ PLUS it's a little healthier!

Easy Beef Lo Mein - $4.00/4 servings

1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 Onion - chopped
2 1/2 cups water
2 Bags of beef flavored Ramen Noodles
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed

- Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Drain.
- Add 2 1/2 cups water bring to boil.
- Crumble in ramen noodles and add seasoning packets
- Add thawed broccoli florets.
- Simmer covered 3 minutes, then uncovered another 3 minutes until liquid evaporates and evaporated noodles are tender. Serves 4


Easy Pork Fried Rice - $5.00/4 servings
1 box Rice A Roni - chicken flavor
1 medium onion
1/2 green pepper
1/2 can carrots - chopped up (optional)
1 cup leftover chicken or pork (optional)
3 eggs

- Cook Rice A Roni as directions on box.
- In large skillet, saute onions, peppers, and pork.
- If using carrots, gently mix those in after onions are cooked.
- Add Rice A Roni to skillet when all is cooked
- Break eggs into mixture and scramble all together.

Asian Style Wontons - $5.00/24 wontons

24 square wonton wrappers
1 can (5 ounces) chunk white chicken, drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian Seasoning or teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon ginger powder (or 1-inch piece peeled fresh gingerroot)
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
Soy Sauce to taste
Optional: 1/4 cup grated carrot, 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper, 1 tb fresh cilantro

(Note - You will need a mini muffin pan for this recipe)

- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup of mini-muffin pan.
- Lightly spray wontons with vegetable oil or Pam.
- Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from pan to cooling rack
- In a bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Fill each wonton cup with chicken mixture. You can pop it back in the oven for a few minutes - be careful not to burn the wonton wrappers
- Makes 24


Adapted from a Pampered Chef recipe