The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook will be released in early 2010

Erin Chase, who writes the money-saving 5dllardinners.com blog gives Out Here readers an exclusive peek inside her forthcoming book, The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook: 200 Recipes for Quick, Delicious, and Nourishing Meals That Are Easy on the Budget and a Snap to Prepare.

Try each of these two recipes and feed your family for under $5:

Baked Chicken and Acorn Squash

Ingredients
½ cup orange juice, divided ($.10)
2 bone-in split chicken breasts ($1.79)
1 tsp dried or fresh rosemary ($.05)
1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
½ tsp salt and pepper, each
1 acorn squash ($1.17)
2 tsp brown sugar ($.05)
1 cup brown rice ($.40)
2 Broccoli Heads ($.79)

Directions

1. Pour ¼ cup of orange juice into bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Place bone in-split chicken breasts into baking dish and pour the other ¼ cup of orange juice over the chicken. Sprinkle rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper over the chicken.
2. Put acorn squash in microwave for 3-4 minutes to loosen skin so it is easier to cut off the skin. Let cool a few minutes before slicing off the skin. Scrape seeds away and cut the squash flesh into 1” cubes. Spread cubes in the baking dish around chicken. Sprinkle brown sugar over squash cubes.
3. Bake chicken and squash cubes in oven at 350 for 1 hour, or until juices run clear from the chicken breasts.
4. In medium saucepan, bring 2 ½ cups of water to boil, add 1 cup of brown rice and bring back to boil. Reduce heat and cover. Let simmer for 40-50 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.
5. Steam broccoli in stovetop steamer for 4-5 minutes, or microwave for 4-5 minutes in a microwavable bowl, covered with plastic wrap.
6. Serve Baked Chicken with Acorn Squash with Brown Rice and Steamed Broccoli.

Cost $4.40

Frugal Fact: Bone-in split chicken breasts often run $.50-$1/lb less than boneless skinless chicken breast, plus the bones can be used to make homemade broth.

Cheeseburger Pie

Ingredients
3 large sweet potatoes ($1.49)
¾ lb. ground beef ($1.12)
½ onion, finely chopped ($.15)
1 can diced tomatoes, drained ($.59)
½ cups milk ($.25)
3 eggs ($.30)
¾ cup flour ($.15)
1 tsp baking powder ($.05)
½ tsp baking soda ($.02)
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.75)

Directions

1. Slit sweet potatoes with knife or vent with fork. Bake sweet potatoes at 350 for 1 hour in baking dish with ¼ inch water. Cover with foil. Remove and let cool about 10 minutes. Peel skins off of the potato and mash.
2. In skillet, brown ground beef with chopped onions. Drain.
3. Place meat in bottom of a greased pie plate. Add well-drained canned tomatoes to the meat and mix through.
4. In medium bowl, whisk milk, eggs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. Pour over the meat mixture.
5. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Remove and add shredded cheese on top. Bake another 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted and knife comes out clean. Remove and let cool a few minutes before cutting and serving.
6. Serve Cheeseburger Pie with Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Cost $4.87

From The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook by Erin Chase. Copyright © 2009 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Griffin.