Shelf Stable Saturday and using Boxed Scalloped potatoes

  For shelf stable Saturday, we are going to look at how to make a main out of a common shelf stable item in people's cupboards or given in a food pantry box... boxed scalloped potatoes.

 Sometimes coming up with a main and two sides is a tough ask. Meals that are based around a main dish of meat and filled out with a vegetable or two and a starch are usually the more expensive ways to eat a meal. We can save money by making our main a casserole, soup, stir fry or something else that combines meat with other ingredients. By fixing meat with other filling ingredients, we can use less meat per person than if we served the same meat alone as the star of the meal.

  As a side, a box of scalloped potatoes doesn't make a whole lot, so we would be filling up on whatever the main meat and the other side would be, which would negate the budget saving aspect. But with a little help, the boxed potatoes can be the main and we can serve other budget friendly sides with it, filling us up with less money spent. They can even be made in the microwave if that is what you are working with. 

Here is a list of shelf stable stir in ideas for your scalloped potatoes and some ideas to serve along side:

1. Stir in canned green chilis and a little taco seasoning or canned taco meat, serve with canned greens
2.  bacon bits and dried onion, serve with any green vegetable and baked beans
   
3.  canned chili and serve with green beans and corn
4.  chopped spam or ham, serve with peas and carrots
5.  chopped pepperoni and olives, serve with any two vegetables 
6.  canned mushrooms and french fried onions, serve with any two vegetables

If you don't need to stick to strictly shelf stable stir ins, you can add:

1. Cooked sausage or hamburger and onions, serve with anything green and baked beans
2. Cooked sliced polish sausage, serve with green beans and saurkraut
3. Leftover taco meat, serve with salad 
4. Cooked ham and frozen peas, serve with asparagus and carrots
5. Cooked bacon, green onions, top with sour cream and serve with salad
   

 Here are a couple of links to casseroles you make in the oven:

Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole

Ham and Potato Casserole 

Please share any ways or ideas you have for dressing up a box of scalloped potatoes!