Every summer I think about buying an ice cream maker but then don’t for several reasons. First, do I want another appliance I will only use occasionally that’s taking up cabinet space, and second, do I want to spend money on something that again, I most likely won’t use that often? But homemade ice cream […]
Grilled Shrimp & Rice-Noodle Salad -A Perfect Summer Dish For Less Than $3 Per Person
This salad, with grilled shrimp, veggies, rice noodles and a fabulous spicy sauce, is my new favorite summer dish! I found this recipe in my May 2017 “Rachael Ray every day” magazine and am so happy I tried it out. It has crunch, some sweetness with a bit of tartness, a bit of heat without […]
A Beautiful Summer Brunch – A Few Budget-Friendly Tips, Ideas, & Delicious Recipes
Entertaining really can be fun and stress-free, where not only are your guests enjoying themselves but you actually are too. I find that when I plan ahead and keeps lists, everything seems to go smoothly. I also like to keep some aspects simple, and put more of my energy into whatever it is I really want to […]
Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken With Glazed Date Sauce…Company Good For Less Than $3 Per Person
I didn’t know if I would like chicken with a glazed date sauce but the picture looked so good, I’ve held on to this recipe for almost a year.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole – (Gluten-Free, Easy & $2.25 Per Person)
The first time I made this casserole it was for a get-together at my friend Ashley’s house. It was delicious and from what I hear, there was a bit of debate the next morning as to who got to enjoy the small amount of leftovers. That’s when you know it was good! If you were serving […]
Parmesan “Cup” Easy Salads…Delish, Easy & Inexpensive
The other night we had company coming over for dinner and I had planned on grilling steaks and serving them with roasted red potatoes, asparagus and a Caesar salad. As I was prepping the ingredients that afternoon I realized I didn’t have any gluten-free bread in the house to use for croutons on the salad. Now […]
Parmesan and Sage Crusted Pork Chops with Cheesy Polenta & Red Swiss Chard ($10 or less meal)
All three of these recipes work very well together. The red swiss chard has a kick to it that complements the cheesy polenta and it’s all so delicious!
Bacon Doughnut Breakfast Sandwich – Seriously Decadent
I typically try to focus on budget meals that are healthy but every once in a while, it’s not a bad thing to eat something that’s just plain decadent. (At least in my opinion.) Anyway, if you’re going to have a “cheat” day where you’re not tallying up the sugar, calories, and other things we […]
Easy (But Tastes So Good) Homemade Pizza – $10 (or less) Meal
You will not believe how easy and great tasting this homemade pizza crust and sauce are! It tastes like the real deal, and it costs so little to feed your whole family!
Margarita Chicken with Tabbouleh ($10.00 or Less Meal)
This chicken dish is so easy….it marinates overnight which allows for all the margarita flavors to really infuse the chicken with great flavors and it’s juicy. The tabbouleh is made with healthy bulgur wheat and lots of fresh veggies and herbs.
Spicy Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish with Collard Greens and Bacon ($10 or Less Meal)
This Southern fare is fairly healthy…..The catfish has a crunchy coating with a flaky inside and the collard greens are delicious! Believe me, if you’ve never tasted collard greens, this is the recipe to try. And if you have had them before and didn’t like them, give them one more taste with this….so good! Both recipes are quick and easy to prepare and the entire meal (with corn on the cob) comes in at $8.97 for a family of four.
To Fridge Or Not To? Extend the Life of Ingredients While Saving Waste & Money
Most food labels will let you know if you should refrigerate that item or not but what about produce? Or what if you could make an ingredient last twice or even three times longer if you simply stored it in the fridge? Here’s a list of items that should either always be kept in the refrigerator […]
Pepper Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli – $10.00 (or less) Recipe
This recipe is elegant, easy and inexpensive…how much better can it get? Plus, the video features a very special guest: Executive Chef of the Cliff House at Pikes Peak, Scott Savage!
Easy Saint Patrick’s Day Drinks
I’m not a mixed drink kind of girl, but these Shimmering Shamrock and Lucky Leprechaun drinks were delicious!
Pork Chops Piccata ($10 or Less Meal)
I’ve cooked chicken and fish piccata but had never thought about using pork…the other white meat. This meal is complete with your protein, orzo pasta and spinach.
Gourmet Garden Stir-In Herb & Spice Pastes – No Waste & Tastes Fresh
During the summer I cook with fresh herbs almost daily, using my own from the garden. It’s one of my favorite things about summertime and cooking. There was a time I could keep fresh herbs growing in the kitchen during the winter months but we have a cat who likes to eat and dig them […]
Swedish Sailor’s Beef & Potato Casserole – $10 or Less Meal
This recipe does take 3 hours to slow cook so you’d probably want to make it on the weekend, if you work out of the home. This makes a delicious meal for dinner, brunch or even breakfast! We all tasted this and everyone agreed it’s wonderful.
Brined Crispy Juicy Chicken With Honey-Horseradish Mashed Potatoes – $10.00 (or less) Meal
Brined Crispy Juicy Chicken Prep Time: 5 minutes Brine Time: 4-8 hours Cook Time: 1-1 1/2 hours Serves: 4 Cost: approx. $6.00 Brining the chicken makes it juicy. There are several ways to brine, and I do it the easiest way: with cold water and salt. The skin of the chicken blackens as the syrup/butter […]
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken With Shallot Sauce – Less Than $3 Per Person
I love this bacon-wrapped chicken recipe because it’s super flexible as far as some of the ingredients go, making it easy to keep the price down, depending on what’s on sale. You could serve this chicken as is, perhaps with a bit of butter drizzled over it or even your own white wine sauce but […]
Chicken & Dumplings – $10 or Less Meal (30 Minutes, Super Easy & Delicious)
I recently had someone write in, asking for an easy and inexpensive Chicken & Dumplings recipe that used ready-made ingredients. She wrote, “I want to recreate some of the meals I remember my mom making, like a big pot of chicken and dumplings, but with two children and working full-time, I don’t have time or the energy […]