Crockpot Sausage Meal

My money savers on this one were sausage, sold on manager's special (that means it's discounted because it needs to sell that day and then can be taken home and frozen, or used right away) and potatoes from produce junction, one bag gave me two large meals (lots of leftovers)

Simple meal to throw in before you go out and leave it to cook in the crockpot. First you brown the sausage (leave it whole or in large pieces which you will cut right before serving) and then stick it in the crockpot with diced tomatoes, the cut up potatoes and whatever spices you like (garlic and basil are winners in this dish).

Before serving remove the sausage and cut them (much easier to cut when fully cooked) add them back in and serve.

Two out of three kids actually asked for seconds and hubby made it the next days lunch.

Part of the $5 dinner challenge, though I don't know the exact cost, math was never a strength of mine:)

Saucy Shrimp and Grits

Another one adapted from Everyday FOOD magazine, but being the lazy cook that I am I used premade grits (just added some Smart Balance and milk) and real bacon bits (I also thought I had used the bacon but it turns out it was just under some other things in the drawer:) I also cheated by buying frozen cooked shrimp (they were the cheapest available) so I just had to defrost, detail and throw in to heat.

Simple ingredients:

- premade grits (plus Smart Balance and milk)

- 2 TBLSP butter

- real bacon bits (the kind you buy for salad, a whole lot less cleanup)

- 1 medium onion, chopped

- 2 cloves garlic (I estimate from the jar:)

- 1 can diced tomatoes in juice

- 1 pound large frozen shrimp

- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

These grits could be either cooked in the microwave or stove top, I opted for microwave, as I have three kids, a job and all our busy schedules in tow.

Melted butter and then sauteed the onion and garlic till tender, added tomatoes and brought to a boil, threw in the hot sauce and shrimp and done!