budget meal

For those of you who are into watching the deals at Publix (and you know who you are!), you will be well aware that the Old El Paso dinner kits are BOGO (buy one get one free) and coupled with a coupon you can get 2 for $.83 each. This meal is cheap, easy (one pan), freezable, and relatively healthy. My mom made us this right after Meg was born and I was starving from nursing. [This post is dedicated to Stephanie H.]
Taco Pie
You need: vegetables, optional meat/tofu/chicken (1 lb.), shredded cheese, a can of beans, and a dinner kit. (I recommend the soft shell dinner kit).
1. Saute in a big skillet: onion, 1 lb. meat (I omit this part), lots of vegetables that are hanging out in your fridge (I have used broccoli, squash, tomatoes, zucchini, corn, edamame, peppers, etc.). Add the powder seasoning packet to the cooking meat/vegetables. Saute until vegs. are soft and/or meat is done.
2. Open a can of beans (I use black but any will do) and stir in about half the can.
3. Cover all of it with the soft taco shells (tear as necessary to make them fit).
4. Open the liquid sauce packet and squirt half of it on top of the tacos. Top with remaining beans and then shredded cheese (as much as you want).
5. Cover all of it again with the soft taco shells, then rest of sauce packet, then cheese.
6. Put a lid on the skillet, turn the heat down to low, and let the cheese melt.