Depression Cake became popular when ingredients were scarce during the Great Depression. Quarantine Cake became popular because we have all these ingredients and need chocolate. :P An egg-less and milk-less cake was first made popular during the Great Depression when cake, milk and even flour were very difficult to come by. During this season of social … [Read more...]
12 Best Baked Oatmeal Recipes
When Oatmeal and Cake Gets Together and Has a Baby...You End Up the Best Baked Oatmeal!!! That's right - it's like an oatmeal cake. And you MUST TRY IT!!! It's a hearty, filling, and delicious baked oatmeal that will fill up even the hungriest of bellies. Here on $5 Dinners, we believe in making every meal of the day affordable and simple. And Baked … [Read more...]
Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix
You likely have the ingredients needed to make this homemade sloppy joe mix and sauce in your fridge and pantry! We make a.l.o.t. of sloppy joe type meals around our house and over time, I've developed this delicious homemade mix of spices to use to make my own homemade sloppy joe sauce. It's a mix of spices, that get stirred in with ground beef, ground turkey, … [Read more...]
How to Make Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Learn to Cook PERFECT Brown Rice in the Instant Pot Brown rice can be a bear to cook on the stovetop. It doesn't always cook evenly, it takes a full hour, and it sometimes leaves a "crusted" layer on the bottom of the pot. Well - you don't have to worry about any of those things anymore. Enter "Instant Pot Brown Rice." It cooks and fluffs perfectly - in a fraction of … [Read more...]
Pesto Meatballs
What a delightful pop of Italian flavor in these meatballs! Just mix the pesto right into the meatball mix, along with some Parmesan cheese and other meatball-mixins. And you end up with a lovely combo of flavors to go with your pasta and marinara sauce. Spaghetti or spaghetti and meatballs is such a wonderful weeknight dinner - a regular staple in many homes. And adding … [Read more...]
Multi-Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Chili
So much delicious flavor. I'm just going to leave this one with you. But first. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact you can use the multi-cooker to brown ground beef and make the chili in the SAME POT. Seriously, it's the little things like that this just make life in the kitchen a smidge more manageable ;) Also, be sure to note how and when the shredded cheese and cream/whole … [Read more...]
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper in the Instant Pot!?!? You better believe it! There are a couple of ways to accomplish this, so pay close attention... This is a meaty-spin on the Instant Pot Macaroni and was inspired by one of our MyFreezEasy members. With this macaroni made in the instant pot, you just add some ground beef and whatever spices you want to get in there … [Read more...]
Sloppy Joe Biscuits
A simple twist on a family favorite! Sloppy Joes are a popular dinner at our house, and I know in many other homes too. They are fast to prepare, easy to cook and in general are well loved by kids and adults. Next time you make them, serve the sloppy-meat on flaky, butter biscuits instead of hamburger buns. Another reason that I love this meal is that it's freezer … [Read more...]
Chicken Swiss Stuffing Bake
Ooooohhh.....Ahhhhhh.... I'm digging on the flavors in this stuffing bake. This really isn't meant to be a Thanksgiving side dish or meal idea...but it would be UH-MAZING with leftover shredded turkey meat! Just sub that out for the diced chicken! We will be sharing some holiday meal ideas soon - including several Instant Pot turkey and side ideas for you! So stay tuned … [Read more...]
Sloppy Joe Nachos
Really, Erin? Yes....trust me! This was one of those "happy accident meals" and I had to share this with you. This past summer, our family spent some time at our family's lake cabin in Minnesota. I had a crash course in "country living" and being far away from the grocery store. I had to adjust my meal planning habits a little to be better prepared for the "long drive … [Read more...]