This Slow Cooker Macaroni & Cheese ranks right up there with premium comfort food. A great side for a New Year's Day meal. Okay, I confess. We even have this easy recipe as the main course on busy weeknights or for Sunday dinner. It's a dressier version of the boxed kind. Homemade macaroni and cheese for the seven of us. A highly requested family … [Read more...]
How to Quickly Thaw Freezer Meals
During the past few weeks of my $35/week pantry challenge, I have been on a mission to use up all the ingredients, sauces and other goodies from the pantry and freezer. Last week I planned to use up the part of my Chunky Bolognese Sauce that I'd made back in October. I had every intention of pulling the sauce from the freezer the night before and putting it into the … [Read more...]
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Pearled Onions
My December "clear out the pantry" challenge continues. Tonight in the form of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Pearled Onions. I pulled a whole chicken from the freezer and cooked it in the slow cooker on Saturday. My plan was to then use half the cooked and shredded chicken for this soup, and the rest for BBQ chicken sandwiches for lunch yesterday. I also saved the broth … [Read more...]
Beef Stew with Cider and Cinnamon
Seriously. It works. You're just going to have to trust me on this one. (The cinnamon and cider flavors are a subtle and delicious addition to this stew.) Beef Stew with Cider and Cinnamon Ingredients 1-2 Tbsp olive oil ($.10) About 1 lb. beef stew meat ($2.39) 1 small red onion, chopped ($.30) 2 garlic cloves, crushed ($.10) 1 Tbsp steak seasoning … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Fava Bean Salad
Have you ever had a fava bean?!? I hadn't...until recently. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't realize they were "big" beans. And I had no idea what they tasted like. I picked up a can of fava beans to use as a "prop" for a news segment that I did sharing the Just Add One with other home chefs. But you know me...nothing ever goes to waste in my kitchen... One … [Read more...]
Spiced Cranberry Almond Party Mix
Party Mix. It brings up so many great memories of holiday parties and other gatherings! When it comes time for holiday parties, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the possibilities of what to serve. I've tried a number of different varieties of party mix at different events, and I've experimented with a number of different combinations in my own kitchen. And I have … [Read more...]
Spicy Tuna Melt Pie
When I first heard this title, I was skeptical. When I decided to try to make it, I was still skeptical. When I put the dish together, the skepticism remained. I baked it anyways. And I'm glad I did, because when I took a bite, all my skeptical thoughts were washed away. I was expecting it to be "over-tuna-y." It was not. I was expecting it to be too bland (yes, … [Read more...]
Order NOW – The $5 Dinner Mom Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook
One. I love helping you spend less money and less time on your grocery shopping and your meal prep. Two. I love creating new recipes, tweaking old favorite recipes, and sharing them with you. Three. I love encouraging and empowering you to be creative and resourceful with what's on sale each week at the grocery store. Take all these things that I love to do and roll … [Read more...]
Chili with Pumpkin and Cinnamon
I remember seeing a recipe for some kind of chili with pumpkin in it about this time last year. If you remember, this time last year, I was suffering from "newborn mommy brain!" I have no recollection as to where I saw this recipe, but I remember being both intrigued and bothered by the concept of adding pumpkin to chili. I also remember thinking that it was as simple as … [Read more...]
Pimento Cheese – Two for One
Now, most would think of pimento cheese as a warm weather recipe. Visions of flip flops and sandwiches. In our household, we eat it year ‘round. During the holidays, it’s an easy stand by. In this, the week of two-for-ones and other shopping deals, I am sharing this staple for our Hodgepodge of seven. Because it’s hectic. You know what I’m talking about. Those weeks coming … [Read more...]