Under 5: Tuna-in-a-biscuit pockets

Tuna is a great cheap staple to have in the pantry. From a simple tuna salad sandwich to tuna noodle casserole, it is a great way to get your protein and Omega-3s for under a dollar. This idea came from one of the many cooking sites I browse regularly. It seems people have endless creativity when it comes to finding ways to put food inside other food and making things easy to eat. These could probably even be portable. I imagine kids would find these fun and delicious too. These take only 15 minutes to make, and 5 ingredients. They also just get popped in the oven, so no mountain of dishes afterwards. Keep this recipe up your sleeve for busy nights when you don't have time to or want to cook a big meal.

Ingredients:
1 large can tuna (or 2 smaller)
1 can cream of chicken (or celery, or mushroom)
2 packages biscuits
1/2 cup frozen peas & carrots
Spray oil

Step 1: Mix the soup, tuna, and veggies in a bowl. It looks like mush, but trust me that it is tasty.

Step 2: Spray a baking pan, and pat a biscuit down flat. Scoop on 1-2 tbsp of the tuna mixture.

Step 3: Cover with another patted down biscuit, and pinch the edges together to seal shut.

Bonus: I had enough tuna mixture that I filled all the biscuits and still had some left over. So I just boiled up about 2 cups of pasta, and spread the rest over it for a super-quick version of tuna noodle casserole! That was lunch the next day.

Step 4: Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, until the biscuits get nicely browned on top.

I tried flipping mine halfway through to brown both sides, that may not have been the best idea, as it split open and spilled tuna guts all over. It was still delicious though.

Two of these is a perfect meal, you have protein, veggies and carbs all in one convenient package. I might try this strategy with other things as well, make my own biscuit pizzas and such. They are just so cute, and easy to eat.

Bacon & Egg Breakfast Biscuits

We all have heard how breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet busy mornings, waking up late, or a lack of energy in the a.m. can stymie any attempts to be culinarily courageous before noon. This recipe is an easy weekend project which can make a few dozen little bacon-wrapped breakfast packages you can store and re-heat for a quick breakfast on the go all week long. If you can keep yourself from eating them all at once.

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon 

1 1/2 dozen eggs

2 packages biscuits

Shredded cheese (optional)

Step 1: Line some muffin tins with a strip of bacon.

Curl it around so the bacon makes a little cup.

Step 2: Crack an egg into each bacon cup. Cover with the biscuits. Add cheese if you want.

Step 3: Bake at 350 for ~40 minutes, until egg is cooked fully and biscuit is crispy and golden brown.

These little biscuits are absolutely perfect. The biscuits are buttery and crispy, the bacon is of course bacon, and it all comes together for a handheld protein powerhouse. The bacon does make it a little greasy so beware of that.

 How do you get breakfast on busy mornings?

 

Sausage gravy & biscuits

If you asked my family if ever they thought they'd see the day where I not only willingly ate sausage gravy and biscuits, yet alone cooked it myself, they would call you crazy. For the longest time I was very against sausage in any form; ground, patties, links. Well, I'm living proof that tastes change over time. I had a can of biscuits in the fridge and sausage was on sale $3/pound at my farmer's market. I couldn't resist buying a nice, fresh ground pound and trying my hand at this artery-clogging breakfast favorite.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound sausage
1 can biscuits
2 cups milk
2 tbsp flour
Salt & pepper

 Step 1: Brown the sausage in a frying pan. Once fully cooked, remove the sausage, drain the fat and set aside.

 Step 2: Bake the biscuits in a 350 oven for 10-12 minutes.

 Step 3: Add the flour to the pan, slowly whisk in the milk. Add all the milk, and bring to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste.

 Step 4: Add the cooked sausage back in and mix well. Pour over warm biscuits and enjoy!

I can feel my taste buds cheering, and my arteries crying...