I used to love pinto beans and cornbread, but I think your daughters are anti-bean. Cook large pot of beans, cook cornbread, put out Tabasco, bowls of grated cheese, scallions, let everybody deck out to taste. If you're doing black bean soup, also provide sherry.

I don't know if slumgullion (a.k.a. American chop suey) is cheap enough: saute small amount of hamburger with onions and garlic, add canned chopped tomatoes, add noodles or elbow macaroni, cook until the noodles are soft and easy to eat.