Simple. Who doesn't love simple. I'm not sure such a tasty meal can be much simpler than this. Here's what it looks like, getting ready to toss in the oven. Place chicken pieces into the baking dish(es). Slice up the zucchini and drain the tomatoes. Drop around the chicken pieces. Drizzle olive oil over everything. Season to your heart's content. Dinner's in … [Read more...]
Alea’s Vegetarian Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini
There is something so satisfying about creating a frugal recipe that the whole family loves. Especially when that recipes helps you make a dent in the zucchini harvest! This recipe makes use of several vegetables from the garden: zucchinis, tomatoes, corn, onions, and peppers. All of the garden veggies make it an especially frugal dish. However, if you didn't garden this … [Read more...]
Alea’s Hash Browns with Summer Squash
It's that time of year. The time of year when I struggle with my morals. Is it dishonest to hide squash in recipes? What if I adopt the "don't ask, don't tell" squash policy? Is it acceptable as long as I admit that I have once again hidden squash in a recipe if they ask? Well, it turns out I don't have to worry about solving this moral dilemma yet, nor do I have to worry … [Read more...]
Alea’s Baked Zucchini Parmesan
This is my easy, frugal alternative to Eggplant Parmesan. I wasn't quite so eloquent when my daughter asked what I was making for dinner. I told her I was making Eggplant Parmesan without the eggplant and without the Parmesan. she said, "it sounds like you've got nothing". After she finished eating she leaned over and said, "You might want to consider naming this recipe based … [Read more...]
Alea’s Grilled Ratatouille
Ratatouille is one of the most frugal dishes in my repertoire. When my garden is in full swing the only ingredient I have to buy to make this dish is olive oil. As much as I like ratatouille, I must confess it has a couple of downsides. First, if I turn on the oven on a hot July day and only have vegetables to show for it, I will have a mutiny on my hands. Which brings me to … [Read more...]
Goulash on Mashed Red Potatoes – $5 Dinner Challenge
This meal was a group effort, if you will. We made this at grandma's last week. We don't normally stay at grandma's house for days at a time, but when it's 50 degrees in your house and you have no heat or power...you have to move into grandma's. So we did. I brought the beef, red onion and tomatoes from home. I stole borrowed used some paprika from grandma's … [Read more...]
Roasted Zucchini with Thyme
I sit here. Staring at the dashboard. Contemplating whether to actually write about this at all. It's way past zucchini season for most of us. But there are probably just a handful of you that live at the southern tip of Florida or Texas, who might still be able to get fresh zucchini for a decent price at the farmer's market. Or better yet, have some still growing in your … [Read more...]
Zucchini-Sausage Cornbread – Guest Post
This meal will satisfy the heartiest of appetites and the pickiest eaters! Makes 4 generous servings Zucchini-Sausage Cornbread Yield - 4 servings Preparation Time - 5 minutes Cooking Time - 60 minutes Ingredients ½ lb. breakfast sausage, browned and drained ($1.50) 1 box cornbread mix ($ .35) 1/3 cup milk ($ .11) 1 egg ($ .10) 1 large zucchini, … [Read more...]
Alea’s Herbed Chicken on Vegetable Confetti
Gardening helps offset my grocery bill, especially since I grow items that can be expensive at the grocery store such as peppers and tomatoes. The one downside to gardening is that supply sometimes exceeds demand, particularly when I grow things like yellow squash and zucchini. My children are now examining all baked goods with a suspicious eye, so I have to step up my game … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Mini-Meatballs
I've had this hankering for olives lately. While I haven't set out to eat an entire jar of green olives, I have no doubt that I could do it...as long as I had a huge glass of water and something sweet nearby. As I was perusing the cupboards when making my meal plan over the weekend, my eye fell on the olive jar ($.49 from Walgreens). And as I started to tear into it and eat … [Read more...]