I was trying to find something in my pantry a few days ago and found a couple of items that were expired. So, this week I've made it a point to cook from my pantry. My hope is to thin it out a little, so that it's more manageable - and organized! Plus, that's less trips to the grocery store, since I'm using what I already have on hand. Woohoo. :) This recipe is very simple to make and I had most of the ingredients on hand (I only had to buy the sour cream). I had taken a couple of steaks out to thaw and I knew I had some egg noodles to use up. Plus, I haven't made stroganoff in ages, so it was a nice change. This is just something that I threw together, but it was really good! I am not a … [Read more...]

There was a time in my life when I was allergic to tomatoes. Let me tell you, when you aren't allowed to eat something, it pops up all over the place. Just to taunt you! Salsa, pizza sauce, ketchup... I wasn't about to give up pizza, but I've never been a huge fan of pizza with white sauce (Alfredo style). So I came up with this olive oil based "sauce". I can honestly tell you that when I eat this I don't miss the tomato based sauce at all. Buon Appetito! ;) What is your favorite kind of pizza? I'd love to hear from you! Print Spinach & Olive Oil Pizza   Ingredients Pizza crust, uncooked … [Read more...]

I love bacon. I love fried rice. This is the perfect combo, although it's super addicting and I could easily eat way more than a healthy serving. ;) I mean, look at this... Mmmmm... Here's the recipe. I hope that you enjoy this as much as we do! 5.0 from 1 reviews Print Bacon Fried Rice Serves: 4-6   Ingredients 4 cups cooked rice (about 2 cups uncooked) 1 lb. bacon 4 eggs 6 oz frozen peas (half of a 12 oz bag) 1 heaping teaspoon minced garlic 2 bunches scallions (I like to end up with about ¼ cup) ½ cup soy sauce Instructions Cook rice according to package instructions. In the meantime, chop bacon into small pieces and fry (on … [Read more...]

We love smoothies at our house. They're versatile, delicious and I can use whatever I have on hand. With the scorching weather we've had lately, these are a welcomed snack! Sometimes I mix up a large batch, separate it into single serving containers and freeze them for another day. Pull a container out of the freezer and let it sit for awhile (usually half an hour or so, for me) and you have a quick, delicious treat! FRUGAL TIP: When you buy canned fruit, buy the kind that is in fruit juice. You can save the juice (use within a couple of days or freeze for later) and use it in smoothies!  These Pineapple-Mango Smoothies are one of the best - and easiest - that we have made … [Read more...]

I grew up eating ham and beans and it's one of those meals that I can eat over and over and never grow tired of. We had this for dinner tonight and it is so tasty! If you're looking for a wholesome, quick & easy, budget-friendly meal, this is a great recipe to add to your recipe box. I'm estimating that this meal costs less than $5 to make (even with doubling the batch!). Everyone in my family enjoys this meal, including my oldest daughter who has stated for a couple of years now that she "doesn't like beans". And my son gobbled up the cornbread, even though he "doesn't like corn bread". It's been a very strange evening! :D Enjoy! Print Slow Cooker Ham & Beans Recipe … [Read more...]