If you are anything like me, you have certainly noticed the prices at the grocery store trending upward.

I know many of the things I have been buying for years have shot up, sometimes by dollars, and my wallet is definitely feeling it.

I really started thinking about it when I found an apartment and am preparing to go out on my own though. The grocery budget becomes infinitely more important then.

So, I began searching for recipes that could be utilized to stretch that budget and make it go as far as possible with as little expenditure as possible.

Then I had a lightbulb go off in the form of a suggestion from my mom.

A pound of ground beef.

Ground beef is one of the cheaper meats available, and as such, it makes it a prime candidate for many dishes, at least for me.

The good thing about many of these dishes is that they can be made in larger amounts and frozen or otherwise preserved to last for a more substantial amount of time.

So, we browsed through our recipe books and the internet for things that can be made with a pound of ground beef.

We found three that seem like prime candidates.

They are taco soup, beef stroganoff and Goulash.

Taco soup is a favorite of many and it is also perfect for the fall.

Granted, we are experiencing a warm spell this week, but I feel sure the cooler days are coming. It would be nice to enjoy a warm bowl of soup on a cool day, watching the colorful sunset (now an hour earlier).

Beef stroganoff is a relatively new dish to me, but I have heard of it for years.

It too offers a hearty meal. I have not tried it, but I am intrigued and plan to soon.

The last was one of my mother’s favorites from her childhood, Goulash.

Her mother used to make the meal for her and her siblings when they were young. Working full time and feeding three kids led to some creative dinner recipes. The one downside is that her exact recipe has been lost over time. However, we found one that is extremely close online.

So, if you’re looking to stretch your grocery budget with meals that will last, I suggest a pound of ground beef. You’ll be surprised at the possibilities.

TACO SOUP

1 pound ground beef
1 15-ounce can pinto beans
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-ounce can diced tomato
1 15-ounce can whole kernel corn
1 packet taco seasoning

■ Brown the beef.
■ Add all ingredients to a crockpot, stir and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

BEEF STROGANOFF

1 pound ground beef
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 bag egg noodles

■ Boil the egg noodles while browning the beef.
■ Combine the cooked beef with the mushroom soup.
■ Pour the mixture over the noodles.

GOULASH
Recipe courtesy of the countrycook.net

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup elbow macaroni pasta, cooked
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

■ In a large saucepan, over medium heat, brown beef along with onion and garlic. Drain excess grease.
■ Stir in the tomatoes, including the juices, and tomato sauce.
■ Season with sugar, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
■ Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
■ Then add in cooked pasta and stir. Allow to simmer for another 5 minutes then serve.
■ Sprinkle with a little grated Parmesan cheese.
■ Note: Additional vegetables as well as cheddar cheese may be added.