Frugal Friday-crockpot chicken

This week I am participating in Frugal Friday sponored by Brandie at From My Kitchen To Yours. The task on hand is to feed your family a main dish, side dish, and dessert for under $10.

Main Dish: Crokpot Chicken

Ingredients: 1 whole chicken approx 3.5 lbs

1/2 stick real butter

Seasonings of your choice-I used Mrs. Dash Grilling Blends for Chicken

Directions:Remove thawed chicken from package and rinse with water. Pat dry with a paper towel. Very gently using your fingers, losen up the skin covering the chicken breasts. Cut your butter into small pieces and place some under the skin and on top of the chicken. Sprinkle with seasonings. I used probably about 3 tablespoons. Cook on high for about 4-5 hours or on low all day.

Cost:

whole chicken $3.69

butter $0.25

seasonings $0.20

TOTAL: 4.05

Side dish: Baked potatos

Ingredients:

3 medium potatos

1/2 stick real butter

Directions: Wash potatos well with water scrubbing any excess dirt. Pierce both sides with a fork. Place in microwave and cook for about 7-8 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Serve hot with butter or your choice of toppings.

Cost:

potatos $0.60

butter $0.25

TOTAL:$0.85

Dessert: Chocolate Banana Smoothies

Ingredients:

2 cups yogurt

3 chilled bananas cut into chunks

3 cups milk

3/4 cups Nesquick powdered chocolate

chocolate syrup

Directions:

Combine yogurt, bananas, milk and chocolate powder in blender and mix. Pour into glasses and top with a little chocolate syrup.

Cost:

yogurt $1.04

milk $0.60

bananas $0.60

chocolate powder $0.54

chocolate syrup $0.03

TOTAL:$2.81

chicken $4.05

potatos $0.85

smoothies $2.81

Total meal cost: $7.71

As you can see, I am well under budget. You could add sour cream and shredded cheese to your potatos which is what we did. I just didn't portion out how much of that we used so I didn't calculate it into my meal cost.

I also used plain yogurt for the smoothies and I think the next time I make these, I will use vanilla. They were good, just not real sweet. They are also pretty low cal which is a bonus.

I made this meal this past Friday so we have already had leftovers.We ended up getting three meals out of our little chicken. After we were done eating, I de-boned it and shredded some for burritos Saturday night that I put with rice, beans, and cheese. Those were yummy. Then on Sunday, I boiled the bones and reamining chicken and made soup. Very good. So in all actuality, I had way more of a bargain than what is shown here.