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grilled chicken cutlets with oven roasted sweet potatoes and Israeli salad
stir-fried chicken with red bell peppers and broccoli over brown rice
turkey meatballs with cauliflower mash and asparagus
sausage, spinach & red bell pepper quiche with green salad

First of all, I was quite annoyed that Mark left. I thought he had a fun vibe, and as far as the overall dishes went, I was disappointed that Stephanie's combo of peanut butter and tomatoes did not send her home (though granted, I have liked Stephanie up until last night). Perhaps Stephanie is more talented overall, but I do hate when it seems as the though judges make decisions based on their past abilities. Stephanie, your dish last night sucked, and you should have gone home. I would have eaten that curry over your meal any night...Regardless, my cheap meal would consist of:

1.Chicken Tortilla soup (or chicken chili...), with a fresh tomato/corn/cilantro/black bean salad on the side, and if the budget allowed for it, some cornbread (maybe I would just spruce up a good ole box of 39cent jiffy :) )

2. Chicken Cacciatore with whole wheat angel hair, and a sauce of crushed tomatoes, onions, zucchini, green bell pepper, and tons of garlic and herbs.

3. Grilled Ham and Cheese sandwiches on a thick slice of grainy bread (onions on the sandwich if desired), with Chunky Tomato Soup (maybe filled with other veggies too? Like carrots?).

4. Chicken Tacos with tons of fresh veggies piled on top, and a side of either fresh tomato salsa, or a fresh corn salsa.

chisai - I was thinking polenta too. Maybe you could find a cheap cut of pork to braise and top the polenta - I'd add some healthy, cheap greens too - maybe collards. You'd have to just see what was cheapest at the market and get creative.

$10 at Whole Foods isn’t as bad as you think it is. If you stick with their 365 brand products and bulk bins, you can definitely make a good meal for 4. In fact, I’ve found that their brand is cheaper than many other store brands or national brands and the quality is excellent.

I would have made saag “paneer” using their brand of tofu (only 99 cents!) instead of paneer and their store brand frozen spinach, rice pilaf (depending on what’s in that “Top Chef pantry,” otherwise just some seasoned steamed basmati rice), cucumber-cilantro raita, and mango lassis for dessert. And yes it would come in at under $10 – I shop at Whole Foods quite often (but I don’t buy their produce – it’s a fortune) and I know their prices like the back of my hand!

I would consider that a nutritious and healthy meal – tons of spinach, tofu provides protein (Tom can't complain), and lots of yogurt. And you get a dessert fruit/yogurt smoothie, too. Yay.

Red Lentil soup made with the broth from poaching a couple of chicken thighs, onion and cumin with shredded parsley and a dollop of yogurt as a garnish,

followed by the chicken and a butter lettuce salad dressed with a lemon vinaigrette.

Creme Caramel for dessert.

I've never seen Top Chef...I hope I don't copy (not likely).

- mabo tofu (ground pork, tofu, asparagus, mabo tofu packet) with steamed rice

- pasta (ground beef, asparagus, celery, yellow squash, tomatoes, linguine)

- yakisoba (noodles, asparagus, eggs, Spam (the most expensive part), spinach, shiitake)

A few ideas:
-Frittata w/ spinach, mushrooms, any veggies on sale and cheese. side salad w/ other veggies on sale.
- Tofu teriyaki stir fried w/ bok choy and carrots over brown rice.
-Pasta bake- whole wheat ziti, part skim ricotta onions, eggplant, mushrooms, tomato sauce, chicken/turkey sausage a little shredded mozz on top.
-homemade whole wheat pizza- chicken, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, cheese.
- Baked cod fillet sandwiches with homemade tartar sauce, cole slaw, and baked sweet potato fries.

grillades and grits
red beans and rice
pulled pork sandwiches with slaw

4 chicken thighs - $4
1 head garlic - $1
1 # penne pasta - $2
1/2 pt cream - $1
Salt, pepper, water, 2Tbs oil, 2 Tbs cider vinegar - $2

In a large dutch oven brown both sides of chicken in a little oil, remove to plate. Chop garlic, sautee in chicken pot with a little more oil. Debone chicken and return to pot. add s&p and one cup water. Cover and braise over low heat 1 hour. Boil salted water, cook the pasta. Add cream and vinegar to chicken, re-season with salt and pepper to taste. Add cooked pasta, toss to coat.

Et voila! Delicious & filling meal for 4, under $10.

Cooked cheese ravioli, served with canned tomatoes sauteed with onion, garlic, olive oil, a little basil, and salt & pepper.

Stew beef, canned tomatoes, canned beans, chili power and other sundry spices - cooked in the crock-pot all day, it makes a delicious chili. Serve with saltines and some shredded cheddar.

Couscous, frozen veggies, chicken broth, basil, garlic, salt. Cook until everything's done, mix in a little cheese and butter. One of my favorite lunches (with water instead of broth) when I was a poor veggie college student.

Baked spaghetti. Pre-cooked noodles, a can of Hunt's garlic & herb sauce (no HFCS!), mozzarella. Add some bread and a quick steamed veggie.

Roasted chicken legs and thighs with rosemary and lemon, mashed potatoes and gravy, formerly frozen peas and carrots lightly steamed instead of cooking to mush.

I'm surprised nobody's come up with something centered on eggs... at under $4 per dozen, they're still one of the best ways to stretch a food buck. And so versatile, too...

I'd do a rice & sausage dish my mother in law taught me.....diced onion, 1 pound of diced smoked sausage browned together with salt & pepper & as much paprika as you can handle - add your rice & cook covered 25 minutes. (I also add garlic to mine, a minced clove)
Make a salad, and dinner is ready.
This week Hillshire Farm sausage is on sale at our grocery store for $2.99 lb. (I assume we're not being food snobs with this challenge, and using the least expensive brands)
I'd use any $$ leftover to buy fruit for a pie. Maybe alot of the chefs might be heading towards apples because they are cheap still....I picked up a 3# bag of NY apples yesterday for $2.50.

I loved this challenge...especially with the kids helping to cook. I would make a sausage ragu with polenta, sauteed veggies (whatever was green and on sale)...for dessert a fresh fruit cup (even if just with bananas, apples or oranges) with frozen yogurt. You can really make a decent meal for $10.00...all it takes is a little thinking and planning. BTW I really did think Mark needed to go. He got a free pass on the tailgate show and he needed to step up and didn't. Who else is ready for Lisa to go next?

Minestrone, with loads of veggies and whole grain pasta in it; Garlic bread and a salad. Fresh applesauce for dessert.

RE Karen: would the kids help you make the jerky or would their job be to get the beer

I didn't know we had to EAT the meal!

Then better change it to a box of Velveeta & Shells, a litre of Coke, and a bag of marshmallows.

SB (doesn't care for jerky or beer)

Sweet and sour meatballs over buttered noodles
Oven-baked parmesan crusted catfish sticks with spicy tartar sauce, chipotle mashed sweet potatoes and green beans
Julia Child's roasted lemon chicken and a scalloped potato gratin
Roasted pepper and spicy monterey jack quesadillas and black bean soup
Layered polenta, sausage and tomato sauce casserole
Tamale pie

I also love the breakfast for dinner idea, but I would go with apple pancakes with whipped cinnamon butter, homemade turkey or chicken sausage, and a citrus garnish.

This is too easy. The hard part must have been shopping at Whole Foods on that budget.

Rice with some kind of sausage, onion, mushroom combo on top. Or just indian food now that I'm thinking of it if i had access to a spice cabinet.

I made a pasta dish last night big enough to feed a family of four with many leftovers! Farfalle pasta, sliced veggie italian sausage, peas, carrots, and yellow squash. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, and add pepper and salt to taste. Sprinkle with some parm, and you're good to go.