I tried each of these recipes for the first time this year and they have already become some of my favorite “go-to” appetizers. These are perfect for holiday entertaining since they are quick, easy enough for even the most challenged cook and very inexpensive. There’s actually been a couple of times my husband and I […]
Homemade Soft Pretzels – At About 33 Cents Each
I have always wanted to try making homemade pretzels or pretzel buns but was always overwhelmed just reading various recipes. The recipes looked so complicated I just didn’t want to put in the effort and it’s not like I eat them all the time so I kind of just forgot about it. But in the […]
Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles and Fresh Carrots with Ginger and Garlic ($10.00 or Less Meal)
I have no idea why I have never made beef stroganoff before the day we fimed this video. My grandmother made it, my mother made it, and it was always so good! Well, not only have I found the perfect stroganoff recipe, but it can feed a family of 4 for under $10, too!
Butternut Squash Ravioli With Browned Butter And Sage – $10 or Less Meal for 4
This ravioli looks like a dish you’d get at a nice restaurant and pay a lot of money for. It’s surprisingly easy and so delicious! I have seen a lot of recipes for ravioli dishes that looked good but were either complicated or expensive…which this isn’t. I found this recipe in my new book, “Freakin’ Fabulous […]
Salt & Vinegar Veggie Chips – Easy To Make, Delicious & Healthy
For a couple of years now I’ve been making homemade chips using potatoes, carrots, kale, or whatever vegetables are in season. Sometimes I make them in the oven and sometimes I make them in the microwave (microwave recipe to follow.) Recently I found this recipe for a salt and vinegar version (from Joy Bauer, MS, […]
Nacho Cheese Ball….A Perfect Party Appetizer
This is easy to prepare, it does take about 2 hours to chill, and it cost me approximately $6.50 (none of the items I bought were on sale this week so if you catch a sale on cheese, it will be less expensive.) I had used bell pepper earlier in the week so I just kept the pepper stem for this recipe. This is a big cheese ball, very rich and a little goes a long way….it should easily feed about 20 people (as an appetizer).
Cream Of Broccoli Soup – About A Buck A Bowl & Only 85 Calories Per Cup
A simmering pot of hearty soup can be inexpensive, delicious, filling, nutritious, and a great meal choice for cool evenings. Not to mention the wonderful aroma that wafts through the house as the soup simmers. I personally enjoy cream-based soups, especially in the winter months, but they can be loaded with more calories and fat than you […]
An Apple A Day…(Healthy, Cheap & Delicious)
We’ve all heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and they really can help keep you healthy. Sold year-round, they are usually better and cheaper in the fall. One of the most popular and favorite of fruits, apples are packed with rich phytonutrients and anti-oxidants for optimal health. Apples are low […]
Lemon Chicken with Mini Homemade Egg Rolls
A couple of months ago (or it could have been last month), I had written that sometimes it’s challenging to come up with $10 or under meals for a family of 4. One of our viewers (Cindy Greer), shared a recipe for lemon chicken that she said her family loved. I had personally never cooked lemon chicken like this so I decided to give it a try…..I’m completing the recipe with white rice and homemade veggie egg rolls. The entire meal comes in at approx. $7.38
Wine -Poached Apples AND Sausage-Apple Skewers…Two Easy Apple Recipes
Two incredibly delicious and easy apple recipes: wine poached apples & sausage-apple skewers!
Sausage with Lentils & Kale – $10 or Less Meal (Rich, Hearty, 30-Minutes & Gluten Free)
This dish is so darn good and easy to make. Everything cooks in less than 30 minutes and while the list of ingredients might seem extensive, they are for the most part, things you probably already have on hand. Lentils are rich and satisfying, the kale mixture is full of flavor, and with the sausage […]
Spaghetti Pie – Easy, Delicious & Less Than $5 (And A Few Mishaps)
Have you ever tried a new recipe and it just didn’t come out right? Well, this recipe was one of those. But, I was able to salvage the first “mess-up,” and then make it work by adding a simple ingredient. I will say, the first pie that didn’t work, still tasted fabulous and my husband […]
Saving A “Failed” Dessert (And An Awesome Chocolate Torte Recipe)
Have you ever tried a new recipe and the end result didn’t quite turn out or look like the beautiful picture that accompanied the recipe? I’m willing to bet it’s happened to most of us at least once…or twice. The other day my husband had a group of guys over for their Fantasy Football draft […]
Host A Hot Dog/Ice Cream Bar….Easy & Inexpensive..And A Hungry Bear!
I recently read an article about Nora Ephron (she wrote, among many screenplays, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Julie & Julia). A lot of the quotes I read from her friends talked about the fun parties she threw. And one particular party was mentioned most…when she threw a cookout and served hot dogs with lots of different toppings. And then had to throw my own hot dog party.
Versatile Fruit Crumble/Cobbler
This is another item you can make with whatever fruit you like and have an abundance of. You can also mix the fruits up. I made a pear & plumb crumble that was out of this world. You can add ice cream or whip cream if you want, or sprinkle a few nuts over it […]
Basic Fried Rice – $10 or Less Meal
This is a basic fried rice that’s delicious as is but it’s also a great recipe to use for leftover veggies and or meats.
Cantaloupe Safety Tips & A Fabulous Melon Salsa To Try… (And More Tips On How To Clean Produce To Prevent Getting Sick)
Some tips on how to make sure your cantaloupe is safe, plus a delicious salsa recipe!
Deli and Veggie Appetizer….Easier to Make Than I Thought
We went to a party the other night and had been asked to bring an appetizer so I decided to try something I had never done before…a deli and vegetable bouquet. I had never attempted to make anything like this before, it just looked really complicated but when done in small steps, it was easier than I thought, but still a bit time-consuming…worth it though when everyone exclaimed over it! I found this little book called Appetizer & Snack Bouquets at a book fair (published by CQ Products) that helped me put this together.
Spinach Smoothies….Quick, Inexpensive, Nutritious….AND Better Than I Thought!
I have several different friends who have been telling me for months about making spinach smoothies for breakfast but that actually sounded gross to me! I happen to love fresh spinach but in a drink? With fruit? No thanks! But lately I’ve been drinking way too much coffee to try to keep up my momentum and […]
Sweet Chilli Shrimp Scampi With Pasta and Sesame-Soy Broccoli ($10 or less meal)
This entire menu comes in at around $9.38 for a family of four…that includes the scampi, pasta and broccoli. AND it’s not only delicious, but simple and quick…everything cooks in around 10 minutes (after you get your pasta water boiling).