In my clear out the pantry, cupboards and freezer efforts, I ran across a half used bag of herb seasoned stuffing. Must have been leftover from the holidays. (Side note - I highly recommend spending 4-6 weeks each year, doing a "pretend like you are moving" clean out of your pantry and freezer. Highly. Recommend.) Every so often this bag of half used stuffing would give … [Read more...]
3 Tips to Make Slow Cooking Healthier
I am so excited that it is slow cooker week here at $5 Dinners! My slow cooker has been a life saver for me in the kitchen. As a registered dietitian, I love to make my favorite recipes healthier. Here are my tips for boosting the nutrition in your favorite slow cooker recipe: Increase the veggies. Start by gradually increasing the amounts of the vegetables that your recipe … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
Batch cook your Marinara Sauce in your slow cooker...love this idea and measuring tip from Jackie at Mom on a Mission! Be sure to add that to your list for your next batch cooking session, freezer cooking day or the next time you make spaghetti sauce. Photo Credit … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken
Truly the easiest way I have found to feed my family of seven is to put the slow cooker to work for me. Whether I am out for the day or busy with homeschooling our age range, I can serve up slow cooker deliciosity. My slow cooker history will prove my love: A few of my slow cooker recipes here on $5 Dinners. Chicken, steak, hummus, yogurt and more. We enjoy Erin’s Slow … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Meat
Dina W shared her favorite chicken taco meat recipe on Facebook... "Chicken breast + taco seasoning + ranch dressing seasoning + rotel = BEST chicken taco meat ever! Homemade seasonings of course!" Homemade Taco Seasoning Homemade Ranch Dressing Update from Dina... 3-4 frozen chicken breast in the bottom of the slow cooker. 10 oz can Rotel diced tomatoes with … [Read more...]
Batch Cooking: Biscuits
Few things in my stretching-the-budget and filling-tummies career have made as big a difference as biscuits. Do you remember how much the canned variety costs? Oh, I dearly love the convenience. But I don’t like paying for it. Especially when I have to get so many cans to feed the seven of us. And that’s where batch cooking homemade biscuits comes in. But here’s the trick. … [Read more...]
Cream of Chicken Macaroni and Cheddar
Ever have one of those nights when you can't seem to figure out what's for dinner? Maybe you are in -Â between grocery shopping trips and the cabinets are getting empty. This macaroni dinner is the perfect solution. It is quick, easy, filling and inexpensive. All you have to do is cook up some macaroni elbows, then toss the rest of the ingredients in the pan. Mix until … [Read more...]
Curried Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions
Balance. This dish is all about balance. Balance of flavors. Balance of textures. Balance of sweet and heat. Cooking these lentils in the sauce, as opposed to cooking the lentils, then adding in the sauce, really makes a difference in the depth of the flavor of the entire meal. I thought about adding another teaspoon of curry powder (cuz I love me some curry!), but I … [Read more...]
Spinach Orzo Soup
The pantry sweep out and the freezer sweep are almost complete. I've emptied the freezer and it will be making its way to its new home here in Dayton tomorrow. And I'm almost finished clearing out the "back shelves" where I store most of my stockpile items and non perishable pantry items. My goal is to have that cleared out by the end of February. This moving thing is really … [Read more...]
Marvelous Meatballs
We do LOTS of bulk cooking because our family of seven always seems to be eating but momma doesn't always want to be cooking, and it's important to us (and to our budget) to prepare home cooked meals as often as possible. Our five kiddos are pretty picky and all seem to have different tastes so it feels a lot like hitting the lottery when we find a dish that always … [Read more...]