I'd like to introduce you all to one of my family's favorite budget meals - the Showboat.
My dad used to make these using leftovers when I was little, and it was always so exciting. Watching him build them, wondering what sort of thing would make it inside, watching them bake until the cheese was bubbly - my official job.
You start with a loaf of stale French or Italian bread. We buy ours for 70c off the bakery's day-old rack, and throw them in the freezer until we need them.
Carve it up like a canoe and throw some cheese in the bottom. It's tasty, and it helps keep it from getting too soggy.
We usually make two at a time. The leftovers are great for lunches, and the meat is usually cheaper per pound when you buy a big package.
Grab some ground meat (3lb of ground turkey filled these two loaves to bursting) and fry it with onions and your favorite spices. An onion soup packet is great if you aren't sure what to add.
Then add some canned veg and sauce of some kind. Corn and carrots are always safe, but you can go wild here. I'm using cream of mushroom soup tonight.
Give it a stir and spoon it into your bread boats. Layer in some cheese if you're feeling daring. Top with more cheese, and then put the top of the bread back on. Bake at 375°F until the cheese is bubbly, and the bread is extra toasty.
Slice and serve!
You can do any filling you like. Spaghetti sauce and mozzarella with your meat and veg makes for a nice faux meatball sub. A splash of steak sauce and some peppers with mushroom soup and American cheese will give you Philly cheese steak vibes. Go wild. We haven't found a wrong answer yet.
This pan full of food cost me less than $20. And that's for two of these beasts! A single would run you $10-$12.
