black and white make up ideas

20 BUDGET-FRIENDLY AND SIMPLE FAMILY MEALS

Looking for simple and budget-friendly meal ideas? Here’s a complete list of 37 delicious meals that are easy on your wallet. These affordable recipes are perfect for feeding the whole family. This month, explore some tasty and inexpensive dinner options!

Chicken Breast with Sour Cream Sauce: This creamy and flavorful dish turns a simple chicken breast into a fine-dining experience.

Wholesome Buffalo Chicken Chili: A spicy twist on classic chili made with creamy white beans—quick, healthy, and freezer-friendly.

Meatball Casserole Parmesan: Juicy meatballs baked with tomato sauce and melted cheese—comfort food at its best.

Mexican-Style Tater Tot Casserole: A taco-inspired dish featuring ground beef, black beans, corn, and crispy tater tots.

Fajita Bowl: A simple yet flavorful meal of seasoned chicken, black beans, and rice.

Ham and Scalloped Potato Bake: Creamy potatoes layered with ham—perfect with a side of vegetables.

Crispy Chicken Thighs – One-Pot Meal: Crispy skin and tender meat seasoned to perfection in one pan.

One-Pot Pepperoni Pizza Pasta: An easy pasta dish with pepperoni and cheese that’s a hit for all ages.

5-Ingredient Easy Apricot Chicken: A quick one-pot meal using pantry staples for a sweet and savory flavor.

BBQ Turkey Biscuit Casserole: Ground turkey with BBQ sauce, topped with flaky biscuits—irresistibly good!

Ham and Gruyere Melt Sandwich: A gourmet twist on grilled ham and cheese with melted Gruyere and green onions.

Classic Stuffed Shells: Pasta shells filled with ricotta, spinach, and Italian spices for a cozy dinner.

Sloppy Joes Burgers: Quick and kid-friendly, these sloppy joes are ready in just 20 minutes.

Lentil and Kale Soup: A hearty, one-pot soup that’s healthy, flavorful, and budget-friendly.

Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Spaghetti: A quick 15-minute pasta with a creamy, nutrient-packed mushroom sauce.

Turkey Taco Casserole: Layers of turkey, cheese, and taco flavors make this an easy weeknight favorite.

Cheeseburger Soup: A comforting soup with all the flavors of a cheeseburger—perfect for a cold day.

Healthy Creamy Pasta Salad with Ham and Peas: This Ham and Pea Pasta Salad is a versatile dish you can enjoy as a light meal or a side dish. 

Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe: Chili Mac and Cheese is a hearty and flavorful dinner that’s perfect for the whole family. This homemade dish combines spices, cheese, and pasta for a comforting meal.

HOW TO MAKE SNOWMAN SNOWBALL SHOOTERS

Winter is the perfect time for some snowy fun. One way to add an extra layer of excitement to your snowball fights is by building your own snowman snowball shooter. These homemade launchers can turn a simple snowball fight into a high-powered, snowy battle.

Let’s dive into some creative and easy-to-make snowball shooter ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned snow warrior or a winter newbie, these projects are sure to bring a smile to your face and a chill to your opponent’s bones!

MATERIALS

  • White paper cup
  • Balloons
  • Scissors
  • Black and orange marker
  • Marshmallows
  • Cotton balls
  • Free snowball shooter worksheet
  • Measuring tape or ruler

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Use scissors to carefully cut a hole in the bottom of the paper cup, removing the entire base.

    Step 2: Tie the balloon.

    Step 3: Cut off the rounded end of the balloon.

    Step 4: Stretch the cut end of the balloon over the bottom of the cup. Now your snowman has a hat!

    Step 5: Use the black and orange markers to decorate the snowman’s face on the paper cup.

    Step 6: Place a marshmallow inside the cup, pull back the balloon, release it, and watch the marshmallow soar!

    Step 7: Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure how far the marshmallow traveled. Record the distance on the snowball shooter worksheet.

    Step 8: Test the shooter with a cotton ball. Did it travel farther than the marshmallow?

    Aren’t these paper cup snowman shooters just adorable? My kids had a blast launching marshmallows and cotton balls! One tip for younger kids: they might pull the balloon too hard, causing it to pop off the cup. To prevent this, you can secure the balloon to the cup with tape or glue.

    At first, we followed the worksheet, carefully measuring how far the marshmallows and cotton balls traveled. But before long, things got a little wild, and the kids were running around the house, shooting cotton balls at each other.

    The good news? Cotton balls don’t hurt! This turned out to be the perfect screen-free activity to keep kids moving and active indoors.