I’m thrilled to be guest posting for Erin today, especially after having had the honor of meeting her in person recently. If you’ve never had the pleasure and wonder what she’s like, I have to tell you she is every bit as sweet and fun as she seems and then some! My only complaint is that she made me give her sweet baby boy back! (Erin here…you are too much Christy!)

In the spirit of $5 Dinners (Don’t ya just love her cookbook?) I thought I’d bring you my Omelet Made Easy, a quick fix supper that can be made in a flash and easily accommodates leftovers as the add ins!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Gratefully,
Christy

Easy Oven Omelet

Ingredients

* 8 eggs
* 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 1/2 Cup milk
* 1 Cup chopped ham
* 1 Cup diced onion and bell pepper blend (to save money, I buy this frozen at around $1.50 per bag) Erin here…or sometimes less!  I see these often on sale for $1 up here…”in the north!”

Directions

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and all other ingredients. Beat until well combined and pour into 8×8 baking dish. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about forty minutes, or until it no longer wiggles in the middle when you shake it a bit.

Customize your omelet! Substitute a cup of your favorite veggies (or leftover veggies!) for the onion and bell pepper blend, use your favorite shredded cheese in place of the cheddar, and add in bacon or sausage in place of the ham – or leave it out altogether!

Christy Jordan publishes SouthernPlate.com, her website dedicated to classic Southern dishes and quick and easy family favorites. She is a lifelong resident of Alabama where she lives with her husband and two children.

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Breakfast is always a simple and frugal dinner option! A big thanks to Lynn for sharing this great recipe with us tonight. The next few recipes will be from some special guests. I’ll be taking some time away, as we deal with a loss in the family. Be back soon!

Frittatas can be made from a wide range of ingredients, but they all contain eggs and some dairy, like milk, cream, or sour cream.

I love frittatas because, like quiches, they can easily be changed by using different ingredients. You can add meat or change the cheese to give it a different flavor.

I sometimes make this recipe meatless, sometimes I use sausage, and other times bacon.

This frittata uses cooked potatoes. Instead of baking potatoes just for this dish, I like to make extra baked potatoes when I am cooking them for dinner on another night. Doing this step a day or two in advance, when I am already cooking baked potatoes, saves me a lot of time.

Ingredients
4 – 5 potatoes, baked, cooled, peeled, and cubed or sliced
3 tablespoons of oil
1 onion chopped finely
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 eggs, whisked
½ cup sour cream

Directions

In an oven proof skillet, cook onion in oil until tender. (I like to use my cast iron pan.) Add potatoes and stir until potatoes are slightly browned. Remove from heat.

In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, sour cream, and cheese. Pour over the potato onion mixture.

Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until eggs are done. Cool about 5 minutes and cut into wedges and serve.

Lynn is a homeschooling mom of three. She loves to cook and try new recipes. She blogs at Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures, sharing recipes, tips, and ideas to help you meld a love of cooking with a busy life.

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Warm. Slightly crunchy. Just the right sweetness.

Mmmm…

Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups quick cooking oats ($.20) $.50 containers bought here
1 large honeycrisp apple, diced ($1.12)
Few dashes of cinnamon ($.05)
3-4 Tbsp brown sugar, or other sweetener ($.15)
1 tsp lemon juice ($.05)

Directions

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.  Add 2 cups of quick cooking oats. Cook according to directions on box.

2. While water is boiling and oats are cooking, slice apple.

3. Chop apple.

4. Place chopped apple into a bowl and add a few dashes of cinnamon, enough to cover the top layer of apples.

5. Add 1 tsp lemon juice and brown sugar.

6. Mix together the apples and sweetness.

7. When the oatmeal has thickened and is gently bubbling (over medium-high heat)…

8. Drop in the apples.

9. Once all the apples are into the oatmeal…

10. Stir them in and cook for 1-5 minutes.  If you want crispier apples, just cook for a minute.  If you want softer apples, cook for 5 minutes.  If you want medium-crispy-medium-soft apples, cook for 3 minutes.

You get the idea, right?

11. Serve Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal.

Cost $1.57

Makes 4 hefty breakfast servings.

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It’s hard to photograph egg casseroles.  Every time I’ve tried, it just doesn’t look as good as it tastes.  I suppose it’s the bland colors.

Anyways…L-O-V-E-D the sausage and apple flavors in this casserole!

Ingredients
6 slices wheat bread ($.25)
1 lb. mild sausage ($1.99)
1 onion, chopped ($.20)
1 granny smith apple, peeled and chopped ($.25)
8 eggs ($.80)
1/2 cup milk ($.05)
Salt and pepper
Fresh Fruit ($1)

Directions

1. Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Tear 6 slices of bread and place into the baking dish.

2. Add 1 lb. of cooked sausage.

3. Add 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped granny smith apple.

4. Toss together in the baking dish.

5. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and salt and pepper.  Pour over the bread, sausage and apple mixture in the baking dish.

6. (For best results, refrigerate overnight.) Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes.

7. Serve Sausage Apple Egg Casserole with fresh fruit.

Cost $4.54

P.S. I actually made this for our Christmas guests…just haven’t found the time to share it, until now!

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I started to make this meal in the 9×13 baking dish, but them switched to the smaller baking dish because I didn’t want there to be any leftovers…and I know that with a 9×13, we’d have lots of leftovers.  And from my past experience, baked french toast meals and egg casserole meals just taste better right out of the oven.

And not leftover.

So I went with the smaller 8×8 baking dish and heavy on the fruit!

Ingredients
6 eggs ($.60)
1/2 cup milk ($.05)
1/4 cup maple syrup (free with Swagbucks from Amazon)
6-8 slices of bread ($.50)
1 cup chopped walnuts, divided ($.50) Bought on sale over the holidays!
Butter and syrup ($.75)
Fresh Fruit ($1.50) We had cantaloupe and clementine oranges

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and maple syrup.

2. Place a single layer of bread slices in the base of the baking dish.  Top with about 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

3. Pour about 1/2 of the egg mixture over the bottom layer.

4. Pour enough to cover the bottom layer.

5. If necessary, move the bread slices around so that they are completely covered with eggs.

6. Place another layer of bread and the other 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts on top of the first layer of bread and eggs.

7. Pour remaining egg mixture over the top layer.

8. Cover the top layer with the eggs, just as you did the bottom layer.

9. Again, press the bread slices around so that they are covered with the egg mixture.

10. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

11. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, or until begins to golden on top.  Prepare fresh fruit while it’s baking.

12. Serve baked Walnut French Toast with Fresh Fruit.

P.S. This easily doubles into a 9×13 glass pan.

Cost $3.90

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As part of the No Cold Cereal Challenge last week, I made this oatmeal…inspired by one of those instant packet oatmeals that I’ve seen at the store.

But I guarantee this tastes better!!!

I still have some pecans leftover from the holidays…and my *free* maple syrup from Amazon (using Amazon credit from Swagbucks)…and some marked down oats (paired with a coupon of course!)…using inexpensive ingredients with some pricier ones, like pecans, still keeps the overall cost down!

Simple, nutritious and hearty!!!

Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/3-1/2 cup maple syrup (depending on how sweet you like your oatmeal)
Cream or milk, optional

Directions

See for yourself…

Makes 4 hefty servings.

Up next…Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal!

This post may or may not contain affiliate links. More information can be found on the site’s disclosure policy.

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As part of No Cold Cereal Week and Pantry/Freezer Challenge Month, I made this fabulous oatmeal (along with another I’ll share next week!)…

…as well as Banana Cinnamon Waffles (which I made the night before…because we all know (or maybe you don’t) that I am SO NOT a morning person…and I’m not sure what I was thinking when I made up this challenge.

For me, the easiest thing to do for breakfast when my brain is still asleep…pour a bowl of cold cereal. Not this week!

Back to the oatmeal.

It’s pretty mindless, really?  And pretty quick, too. Something even I can do before my brain wakes up.

Ingredients
2 cups of quick cooking oatmeal
4 cups of water
3 Tbsp sweetener – I used white sugar…seemed like the best fit for peaches
2 peaches, sliced – From the freezer this time. But fresh work too!
Cream or milk for each bowl

Directions
I shall show you…

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Still looking for that perfect Christmas morning recipe…or the morning after Christmas recipe?!?

If you’ve got some diced ham in the freezer, go get it out now to thaw! And use it on Christmas morning to make this for brunch!

If you’re having ham for your Christmas dinner and need a way to use up the leftovers, this would make a fabulous breakfast on the 26th!

Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil ($.10)
1 large potato, peeled and diced ($.15)
1/2 onion, sliced into strips ($.15)
2 cups leftover ham, diced ($1.50)
8 eggs ($.80)
1/4 cup milk ($.03)
1 tsp salt and pepper, each
1/2 – 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.75)
Fresh Fruit ($1)

Directions
Preheat oven to 450.

1. Mince garlic.

Using the flat part of the knife, press down on the garlic clove until it crushes.

Cut off the stubby end and peel off the skin.

Chop with knife.

2. In skillet, saute minced garlic, diced potatoes and onions in olive oil.

3. Once brown, add a few tsp of water and cook another 1-2 minutes. Then add in the diced ham.
4. In bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper.

5. Pour egg mixture over the ham, potatoes and onions.
5. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the eggs have set around the edges of the skillet.

7. Place skillet into the oven and bake at 450 for 5-10 minutes, or until eggs have set in the middle.

8. Add shredded cheese to the top and bake another 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.

9. Serve Ham and Cheese Frittata with Fresh Fruit.

Cost $4.48

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After having Tiffany’s Gingerbread Waffles a few weeks ago, I thought some ginger pancakes were in order!  I have been doing lots of experimenting with pancake batters, and these were just too good not to share

These pancakes were D-E-L-I-S-H!

And with no sugar in the batter!!!

Enjoy these with some scrambled eggs and fresh fruit for a meal that’s surely under $5!

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ginger
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk (I used rice milk)
4 Tbsp maple syrup
4 Tbsp melted butter or margarine (I used a GFCF margarine)

Directions
1. In mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger.
2. In another small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and maple syrup. Pour into the dry ingredients and whisk.
3. Melt butter and then whisk into the batter.
4. Make pancakes on griddle.
5. Serve with butter/margarine. Or butter/margarine and maple syrup.

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**Update: This giveaway is now closed. Winner will be announced later tonight.

Congrats to #56 Mandie D!!!

After looking through the Holiday Recipe Guide from Carnation, I decided this Pear Oven Pancake was worth a try!  And boy am I glad I did!  It took minutes to prepare, and of course filled the house with a fantastic aroma.  It puffed up like a balloon (as seen above), and then returned to a “pancake” look after it cooled down.  Slice and serve. Yum!

Ingredients
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar plus 2 Tbsp sugar, divided
1/4 tsp salt
1 12 ounce can Carnation Evaporated Milk
3 large eggs
1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. Place melted butter in the base of a pie plate or 9×9 round cake pan and swirl so it coats the bottom.
3. In medium bowl, combine the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and salt.
4. In another bowl, whisk the Carnation Evaporated Milk and the eggs until well blended. Pour into the flour mixture and whisk together. Pour batter into pie plate.
5. Arrange the pear slices in a pinwheel in the batter. (The pear slices will “float” a bit!)
6. Combine the 2 Tbsp sugar and the cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until puffed up and begins to golden on the top. Serve warm.

Steve and I both really enjoyed this…both for breakfast, and later as an afternoon snack!

Giveaway

If you’re wanting to do some experiments in your kitchen this holiday season, then here’s a giveaway for you!

I’m offering a $100 Visa Gift Card to 1 lucky winner to do just that!  Winner will also receive a copy of the Holiday Recipe Guide booklet, as well as several free item coupons for Carnation Evaporated Milk.

Entry Details

1. Contest ends Tuesday, December 15th at 5 pm EST. Winners will be announced back here on this post, and notified via email with further instructions.

2. Entry #1: Leave a comment just saying you want to win.

3. Entry #2: Leave a SEPARATE comment telling me in what way you promoted this contest (i.e., posting it in a forum, posting about it on your blog, Tweet about it, emailing all your friends, and/or subscribe to my feed by email or in a reader).

4. Entry #3: Leave another SEPARATE comment telling me which of the recipes from the Holiday Recipe Guide you’d like to try this holiday season!

5. Winner will be selected by Random.org.

**NOTE: If you receive the email newsletter and wish to enter this giveaway, click on the title of this giveaway to get to the site and leave a comment on the site with your name and email address to be entered!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk. I did receive compensation for the ingredients purchased to make this meal, as well as for my time in preparing the recipes. You can read the full disclosure policy for $5 Dinners here.

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