Thrifty Recipes Blog - Living On Food Banks

Hotel Room Cooking: Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops

7/19/2019

Saving on vacation is the key. Everyone needs to make that initial shopping run when you first lie your bags down. But, the key to saving a few dollars can make or break your incoming bills once you check those credit cards after returning home.

I always go to hotels that have a free breakfast. One meal down. I have been known to take my tote bag down while the kids are still sleeping and gather a few extra items on the breakfast buffet besides their plates. Things like a few extra fruit, yogurts, plates, plastic ware, and such can be placed in the room refrigerator, and used for later.

This recipe is a great way to use up any stale pretzels the kids didn't eat.

4 boneless pork chops
1 cup Dijon mustard
6 cup thin pretzels
1 pinch Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lightly season the pork chops with salt and pepper.
Brush the mustard onto the pork; make sure to cover all sides.
Coat the pork with the crushed pretzel pieces and place into a Copper Crisper Basket.
Bake until the center of the pork chop reaches 145 degrees, about 25-30 minutes.

Serve with Dijon.

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Hotel Room Cooking: Sloppy Joe

7/18/2019

I never leave the house without my trusty electric fry pan. I even invested into one of those Cooper Chefs that can be found for under $20 on Black Friday. This has enumerable purposes when you are camping or hotel hopping.

Nothing is worse on vacation then coming home to a huge bill due to the frugal inadequacy of eating out every single night. Actually, there is no need to. With a skillet in hand, you can whip up wholesome meals in minutes and for a fraction of the cost then a local eatery.

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1 (15 oz.) Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce
Italian Bread
1/2 cup margarine
American cheese slices

Preheat the oven to 350° F/177° C.

Layer margarine on bread and fry in fry skillet until golden, set aside.

Add the onion and sauté for 2 mins. in 1 tablespoon of margarine.

Add ground beef and sauté until browned. Drain unnecessary fat.

Add Manwich sauce. Cook for 15 min.

Top toasted bread slices with sloppy Joe and a slice of American cheese.

Serve immediately.

Fusion Belts

Camping Recipes: Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

7/18/2019

Here's another awesome side dish to add to your meal this evening. Packed with loads of nutrients, this great tasting power-packed dish will add spark to your campfire cooking.

Best of all it takes only a few moments to put it all together and set it on the grill.

2 medium sweet potatoes
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 packet of dry ranch mix

Wash the Sweet Potatoes and dry them. Then cut them in lengthwise strips, about 1/3 an inch wide on each side, so they look like fries. The important thing is that they are uniform so they can cook up at the same time. If you wanted to produce a crispier fry, and you have the time, soak the fries in water for 30 minutes and then let drain for an hour before continuing. If not, that's fine, they'll still be delicious.

Take all the ingredients and mix them in a bowl. We want an even coverage of all the tasty spices and the dry mix. Lay these fries out on a piece of tin foil that's over a sheet pan. Place the pan on a grate over an open fire or on the middle rack of a grill. We're looking to cook the potatoes and make the outsides nice and crispy. Depending on your heat you want about ten minutes a side, flipping once.

Victorian Trading Co.

Camping Recipes: Caramelized Onions on the Grill

7/16/2019

Luscious unexpected sides are a great way to gather everyone around the picnic table for some good conversation after a long day in the outdoors.

These are so sublime they just melt in your mouth. Top them on grilled chicken, pork, or steak and you've got one fantastic meal.

1 large Vidalia or sweet onion, peeled and cut into large wedges
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
garlic salt and pepper to taste

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.

Place the onion wedges on a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Dot with butter, then sprinkle with bouillon, garlic salt, and pepper to taste. Fold the aluminum foil into a packet, leaving only a small hole at the top to allow steam to escape.

Place packet on preheated grill, and cook until the onions have softened, and cooked to a deep, rich brown, 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the temperature of the grill. Stir the onions after the first 30 minutes, or as needed to keep from burning.

Victorian Trading Co.

Camping Recipes: Baked Potato Filled Boats

7/16/2019

Same old sides got you down when your on your last few camping days? One is bound to get tired of the old baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and Rice a Roni side dishes that often grace our bins.

Here's one that will add a little spark to your table once the usual sides lose their flare.

3 Baked Potatoes
9 Strips of Bacon, cooked
Cooked Ham
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Stick of Butter

This recipes uses a lot of leftovers and turns them into a great meal! Take 3 baked potatoes and cut them each 5 times. Do not cut them all the way through, we want 6 equally sized segments across the potato. In each Segment add a small piece of bacon, ham, and the cheese.
Lay each potato out on its own piece of tin foil. Put a little bit of butter on the tops of each potato and spread it around. Seal up the potato in the tin foil, find a hot spot in your grill or fire, and cook for about 20 minutes.

SwimOutlet.com

Camping Recipes: A Better Dog

7/15/2019

For some reason, hot dogs are not relished as much on our camping trips at this point. We are at 19 years camping, and that's a lot of years eating hot dogs.

Needless to say, we are always looking for new quick, satisfying hot dog recipes. Give this one a try the next time you're out in the great outdoors.

This is a terrific twist on the old style kind of hot dog. These still have the same old Hot Dog flavor so kids will still love them, but now it comes with a few nice depths of flavor and sustenance so adults tend to like them, too.

8 Hot Dogs, Chopped
1 Small Onion, Chopped
8 Ounces Chili
3 Tablespoons Barbecue Sauce
12 Hot Dog Buns, gutted

Take all the ingredients, except the gutted hot dog buns, and mix it in a bowl.

Lay out each hot dog bun on its own sheet of tin foil. Fill the buns with the mixture and then wrap the tin foil so the whole thing is sealed. You can grill these over a flame for about 20 minutes. Or you can put them deep in coals and cook them for 15 minutes. Timing obviously depends on how much heat you have.

Running Specialty Group

Camping Recipes: Leftover Meat Quesadillas

7/15/2019

I was sitting there one evening near the camp fire wondering what to do with all the pieces of leftover meat I've accumulated the last few days on our camping spree. I also had a mental note planted that there was some unused tortilla bread sitting in the camp frig.

All of a sudden a new thought emerged. I also had some leftover bacon fat from cooking a few strips of bacon the other day!

Now let me tell you, the best investment I ever made was purchasing an electric fry pan for camping. This comes with innumerable resources while camping like the recipe that follows.

1 cup leftover grilled meat
1 cup cheddar cheese, or favorite
4 tortilla 10" rounds
2 tab. bacon grease, or butter

Heat up electric fry pan on 300 degrees. Place 1 tab. bacon grease in pan. Top with one tortilla shell, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/2 cup meat. Top with another shell. Fry both sides until golden and serve.

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Camping Recipes: Potato and Egg Scramble

7/14/2019

I know I've been concentrating on breakfast meals, but as you know, this is one meal you want to put together and grab your stuff and get going.

After all, the great outdoors are waiting and getting a late start can cause timing issues. These meals are great to have in your file for quick and easy fare to get you moving quickly.

2 Diced Medium Potatoes
8 Eggs, stirred
1 Chopped Onion
2 Chopped Peppers (your choice)
2 Tablespoons Butter

Add 1 tablespoon of butter into your cast iron pan and put it over your fire. Melt it and spread it around.

Second, add the potatoes, onions, and peppers. I like the potatoes to be in chunks and for the
onion and potato be chopped, but it's your choice. Cooked these until the potatoes are tender and the onions and peppers are nice and cooked. It takes about 20 minutes, but it depends on your fire.

Third, add the next tablespoon of Butter and, once it's melted, add the eggs. The eggs will fill all the spaces in between the potatoes, peppers, and onions. But to ensure even cooking time, Cover the pan with lid or tin foil and let it cook until the eggs are nice and ready, about 4 minutes.

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Camping Recipes: Dutch Oven Pull Aparts

7/14/2019

I usually make dinner and have left over coals still burning in the grill. Usually, I place these in the fire pit to get a fire rolling for the evening.

I found if I placed these briquettes in the fire pit and placed some coals on the top of the Dutch oven, they came out beautifully and were ready for the morning. Hence, no morning cooking.

14 Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls, thawed but still cold
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
8 pieces cooked bacon, broken into small pieces

Cut each roll in half. Pour butter into a 12-inch Dutch oven. Roll cut rolls in butter until coated and arrange in Dutch oven. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Cover with lid and let rise until double. Bake 20-25 minutes surrounded by hot coals.

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Camping Recipes: Toasted Cinnamon Rolls

7/13/2019

You may not have a roaring campfire for breakfast when thinking of these delicious cinnamon rolls, but as you know, everyone is always looking for a dessert after a long day in the great outdoors. And sometimes the idea of another s'mores may not hit the spot.

So the next time your at your favorite camping site, grab a container of cinnamon rolls, pop open and give this one a try.

Can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
Roasting prongs (preferably with the prongs close together)
Campfire with hot embers
Directions:
Pop open can and carefully divide the cinnamon rolls.

Gently insert the prongs through the side of the cinnamon roll in the center of the bun making sure it’s near the back of the prongs.

Slowly place your roll over hot embers, rotating frequently and on all sides.

Depending on the heat in your campfire, it should take anywhere from 8-12 minutes to toast your rolls so that they are cooked all the way through.

Remove from campfire and allow to cool slightly before carefully removing the roll from the roasting prongs. Eat and enjoy!

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