Money-Saving Meals for Two

Chicken Thighs Stuffed With Spring Veggies

As my wife often reminds me, I'm no spring chicken. But boy, does she love this spring chicken dish, which combines a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables with a salute to her favorite soup: French onion. Chicken breast could be substituted for thighs, although we prefer the dark meat, which is usually less expensive.

• 2 large chicken thighs ($1.19 — about 1 1/2 pounds on sale at 79 cents per pound)
• 8 asparagus spears (about $1 — store special at $1.29 per pound)
• 2 medium carrots (about 30 cents)
• 2 spring onions (25 cents )
• 1 can French onion soup with 1 can water ($1.29)
• 2 slices mozzarella cheese (about 60 cents — portion from bulk purchased from a warehouse store)
• 4 thick slices French bread (about 80 cents)

Estimated cost of ingredients: $5.43

Skin and debone the chicken thighs; place one at a time in a plastic bag and flatten with a mallet or rolling pin. Wash the asparagus and remove tough end. Peel the carrots and slice each in half, lengthwise. Wash spring onions and trim ends. Wrap equal portions of vegetables — like a bunch of pencils — in each chicken thigh. Tie a piece of kitchen twine around each bundle to hold it together or just tuck ends under.

Mix the French onion soup with a can of water in an 11x7 baking dish. Cover dish with aluminum foil and cook in preheated 375-degree oven for 30 minutes; then remove foil and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked to desired tenderness. Place a slice of cheese on top of each bundle and return to oven until just melted, or quickly brown under broiler.

Ladle onion soup/sauce into shallow bowls, and place two slices of French bread in each bowl.  Carefully place a bundle of chicken and vegetables on top of the bread slices and remove cooking string.

Bon appe-cheap!

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches and The Cheapskate Next Door. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com and you can friend him on Facebook at JeffYeagerUltimateCheapskate or follow him on Twitter.