A typical mimosa mix is pretty simple to make, using 50% juice and 50% sparkling wine. And you can use whatever juice you like, including orange, peach, mango, cranberry, pineapple, etc. But if you don’t want to go to the bother of mixing one up yourself, Costco has a pre-mixed version that is quite delightful. […]
Pecan-Crunch Baked Salmon
This baked salmon with a pecan-crunch topping is super simple but elegant enough for any special occasion. This would be a perfect meal to serve mom on Mother’s Day, when you have company over you want to impress or just any night of the week for the family. Takes less than 30 minutes from start […]
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Strata – $10 or Less Meal (Perfect for Mother’s Day)
This is such an easy but delicious recipe. It’s so easy, even if you can’t cook, you can totally make this! And it’s a perfect dish for the kids (and maybe a bit of help from an adult) to put together for a fabulous Mother’s Day breakfast in bed or brunch.
Curry Chicken Salad
This Curry Chicken Salad is perfect for a Mother’s Day lunch, a summer picnic, a baby or bridal shower or really, anytime. It can be served as a sandwich, atop a bed of lettuce leaves, with crackers, or in a Parmesan cup. It’s a really easy recipe, which is light but filling and perfect for […]
CLEAN OUT THE FRIDGE QUINOA
I was never a huge fan of quinoa until my son made me a version loaded with sauteed veggies, fresh garlic and ginger and fried lemon slices. It is now one of my favorite ways to use up any vegetables that might be close to “expiring” or getting rid of those stray stalks of celery, […]
MARRY ME GNOCCHI
The sauce in this recipe is rich and creamy with depth, a bit of tang and so aromatic. It’s a miracle sauce that’s super easy and versatile. I’m using gnocchi but the sauce would taste delicious with baked chicken, shrimp or salmon. I’m not a huge fan of sun-dried tomatoes but this recipe has completely […]
CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS
This Chicken and Dumplings recipe is an old Pillsbury find that I have been cooking for years. I typically change-up recipes to make them either less expensive or just to be creative in using different ingredients but I have never veered from this recipe. It’s easy, delicious, and depending on sale prices, can feed four […]
LEMON PASTA
This lemon pasta is quick and easy to make and best of all, it’s delicious and cheap! I found this recipe years ago in my Ina Garten cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, and it never disappoints. […]
CRANBERRY & VODKA COCKTAILS
Depending on the vodka brand you use, this drink will cost anywhere from about 85 cents per serving to $1.20. I use Kirkland brand from Costco. CRANBERRY VODKA COCKTAIL Makes 1 drink INGREDIENTS – 3 oz. cranberry juice 1 oz. vodka splash of ginger ale (optional) slice of lime and cranberries for garnish DIRECTIONS – […]
CRANBERRY AND CREAM CHEESE CROSTINI
This recipe is so super simple and easy anyone can make it regardless of your cooking skills. I make a Tyler Florence 4-ingredient cranberry relish every year and use a bit of that to top simple cream cheese which can be served on crostini or any crackers of your choice. I even tried it on […]
CLASSIC CHEESE BALL WITH SPICED NUTS
Cheese balls are much easier to make than you might think. I’ve made them over the years with various coatings such as different nuts, fresh herbs and spices, crushed nacho cheese flavored Doritos, black sesame seeds, etc. This version uses hazelnuts because they were on sale but feel free to sub another nut. When I […]
TOMATO CONFIT CROSTINI
Tomato confit can be made in so many ways. It’s basically tomatoes, garlic, and herbs roasted at a low temperature for a couple of hours, in olive oil. I’ve made it with different tomatoes, more garlic, with a bit of sugar or red pepper flakes, and different herbs and each dish comes out rich and […]
CREAMY PUMPKIN HUMMUS
From start to finish this creamy, savory with just a hint of sweetness pumpkin hummus takes less than 15 minutes to make. For 3 cups this recipe cost me $4.25 to make, with all my ingredients coming from Walmart. And even better? It is delicious! This pairs well with pita chips, pears and apples. CREAMY […]
CUCUMBER & DILL SALAD
This quick and easy cucumber salad is creamy, with a little bit of tang, and is super refreshing. I serve this as an appetizer or side salad and there are never any leftovers. CUCUMBER & DILL SALAD Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 […]
TWICE-BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
TWICE-BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE Prep Time: 75 minutes Bake Time: 30 minutes Makes 12 Servings for approx. $8.50 INGREDIENTS: 8 medium baking potatoes 1 stick butter at room temperature 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup heavy cream (you can sub milk) 2 teaspoons Kosher salt 2 teaspoons fresh ground black […]
GRILLED GRUYERE CHEESE WITH THYME MAYO
This grilled gruyere cheese sandwich is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, but when cut into quarters, it’s perfect for a light snack when friends or family pop over for a visit. Spreading a thin layer of mayo on the outer sides creates a golden layer of deliciousness. […]
PINEAPPLE MOJITO
This pineapple mojito recipe is what I call a “cheater’s” drink because instead of making it from scratch, I use a pre-made mojito mix. I’m not a professional when it comes to making drinks so no judgement from you pros. This is a quick and easy recipe that can be made in minutes and doesn’t […]
JALAPENO POPPERS
These quick and easy jalapeno poppers can be made in the air fryer or oven. JALAPENO POPPERS […]
HOMEMADE PIMENTO CHEESE & PEPPERONI BAGUETTE PIZZA
This yummy “pizza” uses homemade pimento cheese as the sauce, which is easy to whip up in less than 10 minutes. You can serve this as an appetizer or add a salad and serve it for a quick and filling lunch or dinner. HOMEMADE PIMENTO CHEESE & PEPPERONI BAGUETTE PIZZA Prep Time: 10 minutes […]
BEER CHEESE
I’ve been making this beer cheese recipe for about 20 years and it’s always a hit at parties or get-togethers. You can whip this up in 5 minutes and requires only a few ingredients. Depending on the cheese brand you use and sale prices, this can cost anywhere from about $4.50 to $6.00 for 2 […]