Beef on a Budget: Current economic times are forcing families to stay at home and cook versus dining out.  The positive aspect to this is family time together! Listed below are some budget recipes for your table:

Baked Italian Meatballs Total recipe time: 30 to 35 minutes Makes: 4 servings Ingredients 1 pound ground beef (90% to 95% lean) 1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs 1 egg 2 tablespoons water 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 jar (14-1/2 ounces) pasta sauce, heated Hot cooked pasta or crusty Italian rolls (optional) Instructions Heat oven to 400°F. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, water, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 12 two-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan. Bake in 400°F oven 17 to 19 minutes to medium (160°F) doneness, until not pink in center and juices show no pink color. Serve with pasta sauce over hot cooked pasta or as sandwiches in crusty Italian rolls, if desired. Nutritional Information Per Serving Nutrition information per serving using 95% lean: 272 calories; 11 g fat (4 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 115 mg cholesterol; 950 mg sodium; 14 g carbohydrate; 2.9 g fiber; 28 g protein; 5.2 mg niacin; 0.3 mg vitamin B6; 2.3 mcg vitamin B12; 3.8 mg iron; 24.9 mcg selenium; 6.1 mg zinc. Tip: This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc; a good source of fiber and vitamin B6. Cook's Notes Beef & Vegetable Fried Rice Total recipe time: 25 minutes Makes: 4 servings Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 package (6 ounces) frozen pea pods 3 cups cold cooked rice 3 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions Instructions Brown ground beef with garlic and ginger in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is not pink, breaking beef up into 3/4-inch crumbles. Remove beef with slotted spoon. Pour off drippings. Heat 2 tablespoons water in same skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add bell pepper and pea pods; cook 3 minutes or until pepper is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice, soy sauce and sesame oil. Return beef to skillet; heat through. Stir in green onions. Nutritional Information Per Serving Nutrition information per serving: 474 calories; 18 g fat (6 g saturated fat; 8 g monounsaturated fat); 76 mg cholesterol; 758 mg sodium; 47 g carbohydrate; 2.6 g fiber; 29 g protein; 8.4 mg niacin; 0.6 mg vitamin B6; 2.4 mcg vitamin B12; 5.9 mg iron; 29.7 mcg selenium; 6.4 mg zinc. Tip: This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc; and a good source of fiber. Cheeseburger Mac Total recipe time: 20 to 25 minutes Makes: 4 servings Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 1-1/2 cups water 1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese dinner 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup milk 8 to 10 dill pickle slices (optional) Instructions Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink in center, breaking up into 3/4-inch crumbles. Pour off drippings. Stir in water and macaroni; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 7 to 8 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Stir in contents of cheese sauce packet, butter and milk. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve beef mixture topped with pickle slices, if desired. Nutritional Information Per Serving Nutrition information per serving: 540 calories; 29 g fat (14 g saturated fat; 10 g monounsaturated fat); 116 mg cholesterol; 505 mg sodium; 36 g carbohydrate; 1.1 g fiber; 32 g protein; 8.3 mg niacin; 0.4 mg vitamin B6; 2.6 mcg vitamin B12; 4.3 mg iron; 19.8 mcg selenium; 5.6 mg zinc.