While I'm anxiously looking forward to cooler weather, I'm still trying to hold onto summer too. These 'transition months' between seasons, I find myself doing this every year. It's still really hot in TX and I'm longing for Pumpkin Spice Lattes (I know I could get a cold version, but it's not the same!) and bottomless pots of chili. But at the same time, I'm still craving the … [Read more...]
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon-Laced Bread Crumbs
This doesn't happen too often around here on $5 Dinners, but it's happening now. I'm talking about 'food trends.' And by 'food trends,' I really mean food that I'm currently obsessed with. (And seems that you are too based on your response to these recipes and meals.) Specifically, I'm referring to "Homemade Macaroni and Cheese" Recipes. This is the 3rd recipe I've shared … [Read more...]
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese with Beef and Bacon
An amazing new macaroni and cheese recipe with ground beef and bacon, drowned in a homemade Gouda cheese sauce...yes, please! I've used in this amazing homemade cheese sauce and the flavor is outta this world... How to Make Homemade Macaroni & Cheese If you've never made a homemade cheese sauce, here's what that looks like: Melt the butter in a large … [Read more...]
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
I think if there was really such a thing as "comfort food heaven," this would be the first pasta served in the buffet. I have vivid memories of eating Chicken Cordon Bleu as a child. VIVID ones. Let's just say that my mom was not a fan of cooking. The "I love cooking" gene skipped a generation from my grandma to me. But my mom was fortunate enough to be rescued sometime in … [Read more...]
Sun-Dried Tomato & Parmesan Pasta Bake
Let me tell you where this meal comes from. It comes from the fact that I absolutely adore this skillet recipe (and thought it needed an oven-version!)...AND...the fact that I have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes leftover from the recent 20 Meals for $150 meal plan! I love sun-dried tomatoes and the flavor that they add to a meal, especially pasta. This pasta bake calls for … [Read more...]
Southwest Shells with Beans and Corn
Smoky, smoky, smoky! The flavor in this simple pasta salad gets kicked up a few notches by adding 2 spices to the mayo before you toss it all together. My guess is that you have all of these items on hand you could make this TONIGHT. I adore pantry staple recipes like this one...not only because of how easy and simple they are to put together, but also because they … [Read more...]
Barbecue Spaghetti with Smoked Chicken
Flavor overload my friend. This right here will make your taste buds explode! Amazing smoked chicken doused in BBQ sauce and mixed with a bunch of fresh summer veggies...then topped with cheddar cheese (I'd suggest sharp cheddar for this one!)...piled high over a plate of pasta. Drooling. Seriously, I might have had to wipe a little drool off my chin while I typed this … [Read more...]
Pesto Orzo with Tomatoes
Oh pesto. Pesto, pesto, pesto. Pesto just tastes like summer, doesn't it?! I don't make pesto too often because pine nuts are expensive and I can't always get them into my budget...but I found some on sale this week and made my own pesto! Because, enjoying pesto-laced pasta is like taking a bite out of summer. I've written the recipe below with store bought pesto, … [Read more...]
Homemade Mac & Cheese with Bacon and Spinach
Please pardon me while I wipe the cheese off my chin. Um, that was sorta embarrassing there...that cheese all over my chin. But you kinda don't care when your taste buds are bursting with joy and want to leap out of your mouth onto the spoon. It's the cream cheese in this recipe that works the magic. Well, that combined with the bacon. And the spinach, and the Italian … [Read more...]
Creamy Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pasta Skillet Dinner
Holy flavor explosion. I made this two days in a row last week. Once for my husband and I (and the non-dairy allergic boy!)...and again for our neighbors because they had a recent surgery and needed a warm home cooked meal after a few days of hospital food! But I confess that the reason I made this for them is because I wanted to sneak a few bites, in the name of quality … [Read more...]