This spicy sausage and kale stew is super easy, cooks in the crock pot, and most importantly, is rich and delicious. When my husband saw me putting the ingredients together he said it sounded “interesting,” but I could tell he was in no hurry to taste-test. Later I found him rummaging through the fridge and pantry, […]
Jalapeno Popper Meatballs
I love serving meatballs as an appetizer, snack, main meal or of course with any type of pasta. These can be made ahead which makes them especially great for larger crowds. I prefer to bake my meatballs, which I feel makes them a bit more healthy and a lot more easy to clean up, with […]
Homemade Vegetable Soup – Hearty, Healthy, Delicious & Cheap!
When it’s chilly outside I want nothing more than a bowl of hearty soup that’s going to warm me up from the inside. I have lots of favorite soup recipes that I make time after time, including quite a few versions of vegetable soup but I wanted something new to try. I typically […]
Sweet & Spicy Honey Baked Chicken – $10 or Less Meal for 4
Chicken prices can vary quite a bit from week to week, depending on sales. Safeway currently has chicken breasts on sale for $1.88 per pound which is what I based my pricing on for this week’s budget meal. The chicken and sauce price came in at approximately $6.00 and since broccoli was on sale for […]
Natural Beauty Products From Your Kitchen & Crustless Quiche ($6.24 Feeds 4)
I love today’s episode in which I show Ashley all the fabulous but cheap kitchen foods you can actually use as beauty products. Most of these items are probably in your kitchen already and when compared to what you’d pay for beauty products at the store, well, you can save a bundle. The products are […]
Roasted Garlic Gnocchi With Brown Sage Butter, Pork Chops & Steamed Carrots – $10 Or Less Meal
A couple of weeks ago I learned how to make gnocchi from The Cliff House at Pikes Peak Executive Chef, Justin Boudouin. I couldn’t believe how easy AND cheap it was. We’re serving this with pan cooked pork chops that I simply cooked in a skillet with olive oil, salt and pepper. Carrots were also on sale so I’m steaming them in the microwave to round out the meal.
Beer Brats with Onions & Peppers With Loaded Baked Potato Salad – $10 or Less Meal
These brats are super easy to make and perfect for fall weather. Cook them for a Oktoberfest celebration or a tailgating party.
Homemade Pasta with Basic Pecan Pesto or Fresh Tomato Sauce (Who Knew It Was So Easy?) – $10 or Less Meal
Homemade Pasta with Basic Pecan Pesto or Fresh Tomato Sauce (Who Knew It Was So Easy?)
Grilled Corn Chowder – ($10 or Less Meal)
Corn is so plentiful this time of year, nice and fresh, and very cheap! You can use half-and-half or milk, depending on your tastes. I choose based on price because I think they both taste great. I’ve eaten a lot of different corn chowder in my life but I like this version for the summer […]
Spicy Grilled Chipotle Burgers With Cilantro Aioli & Homemade Chips – $10 Or Less Meal
These burgers have a smoky, spicy flavor which pairs excellently with the cool cilantro aioli. And the homemade chips are so easy, you can literally cook them in minutes in the microwave, adding whatever oils and seasonings you prefer.
Creole Pork Chops With Pineapple-Mango Salsa, Baked Potatoes & Beet Greens – $10 or Less Meal
Beet greens? Yes, beet greens. One of my new favorite foods. And since you have the greens when you buy fresh beets, I consider them a free food. (I used to throw them away, not knowing you could eat them.) Along with the greens we’re cooking pork chops (on sale for $1.99 a pound at […]
Fish With Mexican Corn Salad – $10 or Less Meal & Gluten-Free
I have been making Elote, a typical Mexican street food, which is grilled corn on the cob coated with mayo and spices, for years. We love it! In this recipe I deconstruct the corn on the cob recipe and make a salad instead. It is so good with fish, steak, pork, or chicken. I used […]
“Not For Company” Crock Pot Chicken – $10 or Less Meal
I got this recipe from my friend Sarah, who admittedly, is not the most enthusiastic cook. Before Sarah was married and had children, her typical dinners consisted of a bowl of cereal or a pan of Tuna Helper. Sarah and her husband take turns cooking dinner and believe me, when her turn comes, she’s racking […]
Skillet Herb Roasted Chicken & Vegetables – $10 Or Less Meal
I’m browning the chicken in the skillet, along with the vegetables, which will give them a golden brown color and add flavor. Then we finish the entire meal off in the oven. This contains your protein, a carb and vegetables so it’s an easy one-dish meal and tastes delicious.
New Year’s Day Cornbread With Black-eyed Pea Topping & Collard Greens – $10 or Less Meal
It’s a tradition in the South to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. I’m a Yankee by birth but grew up in the South and this is just what we ate every year for good luck. There’s a lot of different explanations as to why black-eyed peas are considered lucky…
How To Make Inexpensive Floral Arrangements & $10 or Less Gluten-Free Pizza
I love having floral arrangements scattered throughout our house, especially when we entertain, but I don’t like the expense of them. Today Ashley and I show you how to make some quick, easy, and affordable arrangements using flowers from the grocery store mixed with items from my yard. All of the vases we use, including […]
Coconut-Pretzel Crusted Shrimp with Orange Marmalade Horseradish Sauce & Tropical Rice – $10 or Less Meal For 4
When I tasted this meal, I felt like I should have a grass skirt and lei on…it’s tropical and perfect for a quick and inexpensive summer meal. The shrimp have a coconut pretzel crust that I serve with an orange marmalade dipping sauce. We jazzed up jasmine rice with pineapple and green onion, even though the jasmine rice […]
Pad Thai – $10 or Less Meal (SO Easy & Delicious)
I love this recipe because it’s quick, easy, cheap, and oh so versatile. Prior to being diagnosed with celiac disease I made this with regular dried spaghetti or linguine and soy sauce. If you’re gluten sensitive you can easily substitute gluten-free pasta and soy sauce, which will raise the price a bit. The first time […]
Spicy Tomato-Poached Eggs With Kale & Pita – $10 or Less Meal
This recipe was in the April 2014 edition of EveryDay with Rachael Ray and it looked so different from my typical meals, I decided I had to try it. (If I could get it in at $10 or less, which happily I did.) This spicy tomato poached eggs, “shakshuka,” is a Middle Eastern dish which can be served for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner.
Eat, Drink And Look Good…All On A Budget
Even though my dishes, outfit and food were all bargain-buys, I don’t think they look, or taste it. So if your table needs some freshening up or you need a “new” outfit, check out some of these deals…