$10 Dinners part 8

12. Menu: Sausage-Pepper-dogs and macaroni salad
Shopping list: Italian spiced beef sausages, hot dog buns, 1 red pepper, 1 sweet onion, butter, mustard, boxed macaroni salad mix (or make your favorite recipe.)

Make macaroni salad according to package directions; refrigerate. Meanwhile, cook sausages. Drain pan and use a dab of butter to saute red pepper strips with sliced onions until soft and golden. Serve sausages in buns topped with pepper and onion mixture. Serve macaroni salad on the side and pass the mustard. Total cost = $8.90

13. Menu: Vegetarian bean soup and toast or crusty bun
Shopping list: 2 small zucchini, sliced, 1 cup each of chopped onion, celery, carrot; 2 tbsp oil, 5 cups vegetable broth, 1 can great northern beans, rinsed and drained, 1 can white kidney beans, rinsed and drained (beans are approx. 15 oz cans), 1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes or stewed tomatoes (don't drain tomatoes), 1/2 tsp each thyme and oregano. Pepper to taste.

Use oil to saute onions, celery, carrots and zucchini in large pot. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Serves 7. Pass the toast or rolls. Total cost = $6.00 or less for soup. Make your own buns or buy discount.