The first time I tasted pho was a year ago when we were celebrating our grandson turning 6. He wanted to see Black Panther and go to his favorite pho restaurant afterwards for his birthday treat. Here he was turning 6 and he already had his fave pho place and grandma here had never even […]
Deviled Chick Eggs
These fun deviled “chick” eggs are fun and simple to make, using your basic deviled egg recipe, cutting it a bit different from a regular deviled egg, and only requires some carrot and capers (or black olives.) They are so cute, they might just have your little ones who don’t like yolk, want to […]
Chile-and-Citrus-Rubbed Chicken with Potatoes – Feeds 4 for $10
I have a subscription to bon appetit magazine which is one of my very favorite places to find new recipes. A lot of the recipes are more complex and expensive than what I typically share as “budget-friendly” or quick and easy meals but this month I found one that just wowed us. And even better, I was […]
Cocoa-Nutty Lime Tart (DELICIOUS & Gluten-Free)
I was so excited to make this lime tart recipe that I ran across in my latest Good Housekeeping magazine (April 2017) because it looked delicious and it was gluten-free. I have never been that great of a baker and since being diagnosed with celiac disease I certainly haven’t been that creative when it comes […]
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake – From Bon Appetit Top 25 Favorite Recipes for 2018
Bon Appetit magazine is one of my very favorite sources for new recipes to try, especially when I’m wanting to cook something that’s totally out of my repertoire. I found this Carrot Cake recipe, which just so happens to be gluten-free, on their list of their 25 most popular recipes for 2018. Now I’ve […]
More Easy & Inexpensive Treats From The Kitchen…Makes Great “Last Minute” Gifts
Whether you want to make goodies to give or have on hand, these recipes are fairly quick, inexpensive and they all taste delicious (I personally sampled each and every recipe, all in the name of research).
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.
Chocolate Budino with Candied Walnuts (A cross between a cake and a pudding)
This delicious chocolate pudding is by far the best dessert I’ve ever made. I found it in the September 2018 issue of bon appetit magazine, which just happens to be one of my favorite magazines. It’s not as much of a “budget” recipe as I usually feature but oh my gosh it is so rich and decadent, it’s […]
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 […]
Roasted Carrot Soup…SO Good!
When I think of delicious, creamy soups, carrot soup is not one that immediately comes to mind…until I made this. I found this Roasted Carrot Soup recipe in April’s issue of Good Housekeeping and thought it looked good and would be a reasonably priced soup, which it was. When I told my husband I was […]
Mocha Truffle Cake….Easy & Fairly Inexpensive Valentine Dessert
(Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri William) I actually made this Mocha Truffle Cake last year for Valentine’s Day and it was delicious! The price per serving (last year) was about 66 cents but might be slightly more this year with grocery prices having gone up. It’s easy and oh so good….. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mocha-truffle-cake-50400000119206/
Oven Baked Pickles (And More Recipes) For Super Bowl Snacking…
I could eat fried pickles until I burst, if they are GOOD fried pickles that is, cause I’ve had some bad ones that are greasy, soggy and/or not properly seasoned. But I really don’t like frying food in my kitchen because the odor bothers me and plus, well, we all know frying isn’t that healthy, though […]
$12 Meals (or Less) Feeding a Family of 4 – Hearty Soup, Creamy Dijon Chicken, & More
I love it when Lauren McDonald from FOX21 News comes to my house and cooks with me. Today we’ll be making three different meals for less than $12 that will feed a family of four. These recipes are all easy, nutritious, and less expensive per person than eating fast-food. PASTA & BEAN SOUP I […]
Delicious Things To Do With Fresh Oranges
Here’s some quick, easy and cheap ways to use those oranges before they go bad…adding lots of vitamins easily and naturally to your diet.
Vegetable Cream Cheese…Easy & Cheap, Tastes Great On Fresh Vegetables, Crackers & Of Course, Bagels
I have been making this veggie cream cheese for years and it’s always a fight to see who gets the last drop! The fresh vegetables add crunch and flavor to cream cheese, without a lot of extra calories. We do eat this in the mornings on bagels but I usually serve it as an appetizer […]
Salmon Burgers With Lemon Aioli and Southwestern Black Bean & Corn Salsa ($10 or Less Meal)
Here’s an easy and delicious variation on the burger, perfect for a Memorial Day cook-out!
Fresh Beets – Roasted, Grilled, Served Cold or Make a “Haystack”
If you’ve never had fresh beets you have to give them a try. If you’ve eaten canned beets and didn’t like them, again, try the fresh ones…you just might be surprised how different (and delicious,) they taste. Beets are in season and available at your local Farmers Markets. We’ve been buying red and gold beets every […]
Parmesan “Cup” Easy Salads…Delish, Easy & Inexpensive
The other night we had company coming over for dinner and I had planned on grilling steaks and serving them with roasted red potatoes, asparagus and a Caesar salad. As I was prepping the ingredients that afternoon I realized I didn’t have any gluten-free bread in the house to use for croutons on the salad. Now […]
Spicy Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish with Collard Greens and Bacon ($10 or Less Meal)
This Southern fare is fairly healthy…..The catfish has a crunchy coating with a flaky inside and the collard greens are delicious! Believe me, if you’ve never tasted collard greens, this is the recipe to try. And if you have had them before and didn’t like them, give them one more taste with this….so good! Both recipes are quick and easy to prepare and the entire meal (with corn on the cob) comes in at $8.97 for a family of four.
Easy Refrigerator Jam (No Canning Necessary)
This is a super fast and easy way to use up summer’s delicious fruits. This jam will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. If you make this to give away, make sure you label it with the date and that it needs to stay refrigerated since we’re not sealing the jars […]