Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

The name says it all!  This fast & simple dinner will have you asking, why didn't I think of this?  This is my MIL's recipe.  I love it.  Plus the leftover chicken and gravy freeze and reheat well. 

Servings 6

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken
Your choice of seasoning
1 onion- sliced
Bullion cube- optional
1/4- 1/2 cup Flour depending on how much juice you get from your chicken.
3/4-1 cup Water (if you don't get much juice, I didn't) optional
Egg noodles/rice or potato's

Directions:
Take a whole chicken, take innards out & rinse inside & outside. Pat dry. Place salt & pepper & whatever seasoning you want on it (I did a rosemary garlic). Brown in crisco on all sides. Place in crockpot with chopped onion. Cover & cook on low. After 6 hours or so, remove chicken, shred & remove bones. Make gravy with chicken juice in crockpot ( can add chicken bullion cube, for extra flavor). Flour & juice from chicken, whisk together. Until smooth. Add shredded chicken back to crockpot & turn on high to let gravy thicken up (about an hour). Serve over egg noodles or rice.

Budget- 1 whole chicken $3.89, 1 onion .50, Bullion cube ??? (can't find my receipt) and flour is a staple in most houses.  So, I will say $5.50 (on the high side).  Dinner minus the noodles which are inexpensive Around .91 cents per person.!!!  That makes dinner even more delicious. 

Note- Ignore the garlic bread, it was really gross!!

Slow Cooked London Broil

Now, London broil used to be a very inexpensive cut of meat.  But nowadays, not so much.  However, you can catch some pretty good sales out there on it, if you keep your eyes open!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:
2 pounds flank steak (can substitute chuck roast)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

Directions:
Place meat in the bottom of the slow cooker; if necessary, slice meat to make it fit!

In a medium bowl, mix together mushroom and tomato soup. Pour mixture over beef. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix over top.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  serve with rice, mashed potato's or noodles and your choice of vegetable.

*To Make ahead/Freezer meal- Place beef in a gallon sized freezer bag or ovenproof/disposable baking pan. Pour soups over top of beef, toss to coat. Seal freezer bag while removing any excess air / cover ovenproof/disposable baking pan and freeze. When ready to prepare, remove from freezer to thaw. Place in crockpot and sprinkle dry soup over the top.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Budget meal break down- Beef $6.36, can of mushroom soup .75, can of tomato soup .75, dry onion soup mix .64.  Total without sides, $8.50.  A total of $2.12 per person.  There was enough gravy, that you could use a 3 pound roast and have plenty to go around.