Blog Archives

Ravioli with Meat Sauce

3/28/2015

I was browsing through Aldi's the other day and low and behold came upon another super thrifty dinner idea. There staring back at me in the freezer section was one huge bag of ravioli for only $2.14. This is a 25 oz. bag that holds enough to feed a large family! "Why have I by-passed this option each time I'm here?" I asked myself.

The next question was, "How can I kick this up a notch?" And low and behold a new idea came! I usually buy ground meat in large quantities when it's on sale. From there I come home and package it into separate one pound packages. I wondered if I split it further, how many more meals could I get out of the family pack if I made a couple of 1/2 pounders? What could I make with only a 1/2 pound of ground meat that would make a meal more filling? Check out the new recipe below!

1 (25 oz.) package of frozen cheese ravioli
1/2 pd. ground beef
1 or 2 handfuls of frozen vegetable blend
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning blend
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook ravioli according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook beef and frozen veggie blend. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Add tomatoes, sauce, and seasoning. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Cook for 10 minutes.

Serve ravioli topped with meat sauce. Sprinkle cheese on top.

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Ham and Cheese George Foreman Grill Sandwiches

3/23/2015

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I call this one of my "free" dinners. I have everything on hand usually due to an ample storage from my monthly food pantry bag. Throughout the year I receive small hams. Not enough for everyone for a dinner, but definitely enough to make some robust sandwiches. And these sandwiches really hit the spot! Just grab out any of those day old breads you have placed in the freezer you get each month too. Any size will do- bread sliced, oblong, round- you name it. Just use them up before they get freezer burnt.

You'll need that Foreman Grill I'm always mentioning. If you don't have one get down to your local thrift shop and buy one for around $5. There is always a good amount of these on the shelves. I personally use this grill consistently for making these types of quick dinner fixes.

1 small ham sliced thinly
Processed cheese slices
Mayonnaise
Butter or margarine
Frozen Bread

Take out one of those loaves of bread you've been meaning to use up and slice it horizontally after it defrosts. If it has a good amount of bread in the middle, you can rip out a bit so that the sandwich fits easily in the Foreman Grill.

Add a few slices of ham in the middle and a slice of processed cheese. Add a bit of mayo on the inside if you enjoy that on your sandwiches. Butter the outside of both slices of bread and place in your Foreman Grill and close. I sometimes weight it with a pot to hold it down a few minutes and make the sandwich compressed.

Try a bit of tomato or onion in the middle too!

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Brown Sugar Rub for Leg of Pork

3/22/2015

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Ah, as the season of spring begins I send off a final farewell to winter today with a leg of pork already roasting in the oven. It has been one long cold front this year, and I am thankful all the coldness is behind us. Winter is the time for delectable roasts and fowl bringing heartfelt warmth to our chilly homes. I personally do not prepare hearty roasts any longer this year since roasting has a duel effect, appeasing the appetite and fueling the home with a bit more warmth. Instead I seek to keep the thermometer off of the air-conditioning zone for as long as possible and must resort to quick fixes and the grill from this moment on.

This fit-for-a-king 10 lb. roast only cost me $10.02 at Bravo. With this intense seasoning rub, I'm sure to see fully bellies and subdued faces this evening after this fare.

8 - 12 lb. pork leg roast
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tab. paprika
2 tab. salt
1 1/2 tab. pepper
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tab. garlic powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine in a bowl and mix well. Rub on pork leg and let sit about 1/2 hour to let flavors marry. Set oven temperature for 350 degrees. Slip in pork and roast for about one hour per pound for fall off the bone heaven!

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Mushroom Bread and Tomato Soup

3/15/2015

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Here's a great Meatless Monday meal for under $5. If your a tomato soup fan, than pair this delight with the delicious mushroom bread you can quickly make in your bread maker saving you cash. This meal can be set on the bread dough cycle then rolled out quickly, topped, and popped in the oven for a heart-warming treat.

Mushroom packs were on sale at Aldi for 99 cents. The tomato soup I'm sure is numerous in your cupboard from your monthly food pantry bag.

Dough
1⁄2 cup warm water
1⁄2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1⁄3 cup butter, softened
1⁄3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
1⁄4 cup butter, melted

Place all ingredients in bread machine and set on "dough". When cycle completes, roll out into a 13" x 9" rectangle. Place in same size pan.

Filling
2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms
1 tab. margarine or butter
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. pepper

In a bowl toss mushrooms with butter. Place on dough. Sprinkle cheese, seasoning, and pepper on top, Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Soup
10 3/4 can of tomato soup
1 clove of garlic minced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. basil
1 tsp. butter or margarine

Saute onions and garlic in butter in a pot. Add basil. Complete making soup according to directions on can.

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Bread Maker Pepperoni Calzones

3/14/2015

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I've made this recipe several times always with bread dough. But when finances are tight there's an easy alternative! All you need to do is dust off that bread machine and toss in a few ingredients. In an hour or so you'll have a delicious homemade bread recipe that will rival any store bought brand. I find being a bit thrifty enables you to become more health-conscious. After all, you begin making more things from scratch and ditch all those unhealthy preservatives. Give this a try for dinner tonight.

I picked up the pepperoni at Aldi for $1.68 a bag. With it I'll be able to make two meals! A block of cheese was on sale for $1.79 this week. This meal is one of the most thrifty recipes I've got!

Bread Dough
3/4 cup Water
2 tab. oil
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. yeast
2 cups flour

Place all ingredients in bread machine and set on dough.

Filling
1 cup pepperoni
3/4 cup past sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 - 2 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

In a bowl mix pepperoni and sauce. Take dough out of bread machine and cut into four equal portions. Roll out into a six inch circle. Top with pepperoni mixture and shredded cheese, equally divided.

Fold dough over top pinching edges. Brush with milk and sprinkle with Parmesan and Italian seasoning. Bake at 350 fro 20 - 25 minutes.

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Peanut Butter Corn Flake Bars

3/8/2015

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I have kept my promise! On to another recipe to use up those corn flake bags you receive. These are ultimately amazing! With just a few ingredients you can have this wholesome treat any time. I can make these in seconds and have a truly home-baked treat after dinner tonight.

Best of all it can be added to your recipes for all those peanut butter jars you receive each month! I know at times I have several adorning my shelf asking to be placed in a scrumptious recipe.

3 cups corn flakes, crushed
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1⁄2 cup sugar
1⁄2 cup white corn syrup
6 ounces chocolate chips

Heat peanut butter, sugar and corn syrup over low heat to melt. Stir in cereal.

Pat into a 8x8 lightly greased pan. (I line my pan with foil and then lightly spray it. When it is time to cut them, the foil lifts right out.).

Melt chocolate chips over low heat or in the microwave and spread over top. Cool until firm.

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Corn Flake Crusted Chicken Legs

3/7/2015

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Two things for certain I receive most frequently: Corn Flakes and chicken legs. I can never have enough recipes for chicken legs so the crew doesn't tire of them, and I always seem to have a leftover bag of corn flakes hanging around waiting to spoil. I don't know what it is because Frosted Flakes cruises off my pantry in days, but Corn Flakes can sit up there till there is nothing else to pour in a bowl with milk.

This is a great recipe to use up those corn flakes before they get that gummy crunch. You know the one, it kinda just hangs out on your teeth waiting for a prod from your tongue. And the crunch factor on this chicken is wonderful since it is a double coating that bakes with ease once its done. This is a ZERO cost dinner if you have all the products on hand from your local food pantry.

Crushed Corn Flakes
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 pounds chicken legs
3 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted

In medium mixing bowl, beat egg and milk slightly. Add flour, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth. Dip chicken in batter. Coat with cereal. Place in single layer, in shallow baking pan coated with cooking spray or foil lined. Drizzle with margarine.

Bake at 350° F about 1 hour or until chicken is tender, no longer pink and juices run clear. For food safety, internal temperature of the chicken should reach at least 165ºF. Do not cover pan or turn chicken while baking. Serve hot.

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Super Soft Cinnamon Rolls

3/1/2015

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This is an amazing recipe stocked with an amazing and unlikely ingredient. I make these on Sunday morning for a special breakfast before jetting off to church. In fact, if I place everything in my bread maker when I rise, it will be ready in less than an hour and a half. I can roll these out quickly, cut, and pop them in the oven. The fresh baked smell makes everyone wake with a smile.

Not a big expense here either, you can freeze leftovers for the busy week mornings ahead. You can get that instant pudding mix at Aldi for only 59 cents.

Dough

1 pkg. yeast
1 tab. sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cup milk
1/3 cup instant pudding mix
1 egg
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 tsp. salt
3 to 3 1/2 cups flour
****touch bread dough in machine to make sure it is just a tad sticky before closing the lid

Filling
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted

Frosting
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. water

Place all dough ingredients in bread maker. Set on dough setting. Allow to rotate checking stickiness of dough. I begin by placing 3 cups of flour and then gradually add more as the blades whirl ensuring the dough has a bit of a sticky, exterior.

Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Divide dough in 1/2. Roll each out into a 18 x 10 inch rectangle. Spread with 1/2 butter then 1/2 the filling mixture.

Place on a greased 13 x 9" pan. Cover with a towel and let rise about 45 mins. until doubled.

Place in a 350 degree oven and bake 20 - 25 minutes or until slightly golden. Take out rolls.

Mix frosting ingredients in bowl. Spread over warm rolls. Wow, these are precious!

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