Fricot is a traditional Acadian stew made with meat or fish. Fluffy dumplings, also called doughboys, are cooked atop the stew, making it the ultimate comfort food. It's a favourite of many New Brunswickers, whether or not they're of Acadian heritage.
A hearty mushroom filling adds elegance to boneless skinless chicken breasts, giving you more bang for your grocery buck. To avoid overcooking broccoli, drain while it's still a touch underdone—it'll keep cooking as it sits. Cost: $5.85/serving
This dish is low-fuss because you can bread and refrigerate the chicken up to 8 hours ahead—meaning you can avoid greeting guests with eggy, floury, crumby fingers. If you can't find watercress, arugula makes an equally appealing salad topper for the meal.
