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$5 Dinners | Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals

Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals and Cooking Tutorials for the Busy Home Chef

MyFreezEasy - Save Money, Eat Healthy with Freezer Meals

Sausage & Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie

November 20, 2013 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 3 Comments

I've shared a little secret about Thanksgiving over on the Mushroom Channel blog. Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I've been called "un-American" in the past when I've told this little secret. Just keeping it real here folks.  Head on over to the Mushroom Channel's blog to find out...and get this scrumptious recipe for Sausage & Mushroom Shepherd's Pie. Perfect way … [Read more...]

Dairy Free Hot Cocoa Mix

January 9, 2013 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 5 Comments

Hey y'all! The boys were begging (seriously, begging) for hot cocoa the other night. So in an attempt to appease their pleading, I stumbled across an amazing "homemade dairy free hot cocoa mix." Most (if not all) store bought cocoa mix contains dry milk of some kind, so I never get it for them. But this mix that I blended up is simple and perfect, plus it tastes great in both … [Read more...]

Holiday Salad

December 18, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

Looking for a quick and easy side dish to bring for Christmas dinner? Try my favorite Holiday salad. It takes minutes to put together and looks great! Holiday Salad Yield - 12+ side dish servings Preparation Time - 15 minutes Cooking Time - 0 minutes Ingredients 2 heads of red or green leaf lettuce, washed and dried 1 medium red onion, diced 6 oz. container … [Read more...]

Holiday Baking on a Budget & Holiday Cookie Recipes

December 12, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 7 Comments

Christmas Lights Cookies recipe from 5DollarDinners.com

Holiday Baking on a Budget: Creative Cookie Exchange Ideas to Sweeten the Season It’s in the mess that memories are made. Right? At least that’s how it seems to be work at our house. Be it in the kitchen or outside in a pile of leaves or with bubbles in the bathtub. It’s the fun and messy activities that make the best memories. My oldest elf Ryan helping scoop … [Read more...]

Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn

November 29, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 6 Comments

Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn

There are controversial chemicals in packaged microwave popcorn but our family loves to eat popcorn as a healthy snack, and I really enjoy the convenience of popping it in the microwave, so we simply make our own using brown paper lunch bags. It's quick and easy to make and also costs a fraction of the price of the packaged variety. All you need are a few simple … [Read more...]

Mushroom Cranberry Stuffing

November 16, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

I love fruit in my stuffing. Whether it's cranberries, apples or dried cherries, I love how the sweetness from the fruit brings out savory and salty flavors in the stuffing. Paired with the earthy and hearty texture of mushrooms, it's a popular combination well beyond the Thanksgiving table. I also like to add a little extra broth to my stuffing because I like to keep it … [Read more...]

Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onion

November 14, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom Leave a Comment

I think I need a support group. Specifically, a Caramelized Onions support group. I could eat caramelized onions by the spoonful. I love the way they taste. I love the way they make my house smell when they are caramelizing. And I love the way they make mashed potatoes taste better. I will be taking these to our Thanksgiving feast. Rest assured. Mashed Potatoes with … [Read more...]

Roasted Butternut Squash with Crunchy Caramelized Onions

September 21, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 2 Comments

Butternut squash...I feel like it is my mission in life to not only help others spend less on groceries, but also to know what to do with the groceries when they buy them. As autumn approaches, the prices of fall fruits and vegetables plummet. At our house, we do our best to take advantage of these savings by bringing more variety to our diet and eating seasonally. My … [Read more...]

Lactose Free St. Patrick’s Day Shakes

March 13, 2012 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 1 Comment

If your kids are anything like mine, they've already started asking for green this and green that. For breakfast, they were begging me to make green eggs and ham. Not on a school morning. *ahem* But I do have plans to make them some green chocolate chip cookies after school today! And maybe we'll go crazy and add green sprinkles on them before we bake them. (For anyone … [Read more...]

How to Save Money on Food During Holiday Craziness

December 22, 2011 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 4 Comments

  Are you rushing around finishing Christmas gifts only to be tempted by fast food, take out and expensive snacks in the check out lane? Are you exhausted from staying up late wrapping presents and have no motivation to make dinner? During these busy holiday days, you can spend much more on food as you cope with more dinners out and less time in the kitchen. Here are a … [Read more...]

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