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Nov

fiesta bean dip and chips ~menu idea

Here is another of our great menu ideas. It is frugal, and yummy at the same time, you will get my my Fiesta Basics ebook for the recipes.

You will need

Prepare your refried bean however you like, adding optional items if desired. For each serving, add beans then cheese then each topping as desired, usually after the cheese we add onions, sour cream, salsa then a spoon of guacamole and some cilantro. Remember anything fresh and green makes it look gourmet. We serve this with corn tortillas that have been cut in 1/4 ‘s and fried in hot oil and are served still warm.

This dish is a meal in itself.

This is just a menu idea would you like to see it made into an ebook with step by step instructions and pictures?

Category: bookstore, frugal meal, main dish, menu idea, mexican style, vegetable Tags: beans, chips, mexican food, refried beans 2 Comments

Nov

baked potato feast ~ menu idea

Penny

this is more of a menu idea rather than an exact recipe, start with 1 large baked potato per person then prepare several sides, and toppings, you can even use leftovers

butter or ranch dressing or cheese sauce, or even gravy
bbq pork or beef or diced cooked chicken
vegetables, lots of cooked or raw diced vegetables
grated cheese
sour cream
chopped chives
bacon bits
anything else that sounds good

Let each person load on what they want! Works great when set up like a salad bar or when the sides are put on a lazy susan in the middle of the table. Enjoy! This can be as healthy or extravagant as you choose it to be. Also great with a salad and some homemade bread.

This is just a menu idea would you like to see it made into an ebook with step by step instructions and pictures?

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, menu idea, vegetable, vegetarian Tags: baked potato, potato, stuffed potato Leave a Comment

Jul

vegetable fajitas

Penny

use the same recipe as the vegetable burritos, but substitute fajita seasoning and use small tortillas and add a bit of cheese and sour cream on top

Category: frugal meal, mexican style, vegetable, vegetable dish, vegetarian 2 Comments

Jul

vegetable burritos

Penny

this is another creative recipe – determine your own ingredients and amounts

you will need

large flour tortillas, 1 per serving
cooked rice, about 1/2 cup per serving
diced veggies, squash, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, onions, peppers, whatever you like or is growing in your garden
diced fresh tomatoes
olive oil or butter

combine and sauté or stir fry your diced veggies using the butter or oil, all except the tomatoes, set those aside, brown your tortillas in a skillet

on a tortilla add veggies, cooked rice and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper or maybe even teriyaki sauce and fold one end over slightly then roll like a burrito, or eat like a large taco

yummy, fast, healthy, and cheap! but be forewarned your family may want seconds

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, side dish or snack, vegetable, vegetarian Tags: rice, stir-fry, tortillas, vegetable 2 Comments

Jun

crustless spinach quiche

Penny

7 eggs
2 bunches fresh spinach washed and stems removed
3 banana peppers chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
2 cups cooked white rice
9 oz shredded cheese, colby/jack mix
3 T butter

preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a blender add all eggs, and peppers and 1 and 1/2 bunches of spinach. Blend well, then place in mixing bowl and add rice and remaining spinach, stir well. Take baking dish and add butter, place in oven until butter melts, then pour in mixture. Bake until firm, approx 20 minutes, remove and spread cheese on top, then bake until bubbly. Enjoy!

6-8 servings

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, vegetable Tags: cheese, eggs, recipe, rice, spinach Leave a Comment

Jan

Shredded Roast Beef Gravy

Penny

This is a great budget meal especially if you find a shoulder roast or such on sale. Here is what you will need for a family size meal.

small roast
2 onions
1-2 bell peppers
1/2 C. flour
3 Tbs cooking oil
1/4 C. corn starch

Heat your oil in a skillet. Coat roast with flour and brown in skillet. Cut your onions and peppers in bite size pieces and put in crock pot along with browned roast. add enough water to fully cover all, I usually just fill to top. Cook on high for several hours until meat is tender. Remove roast and cut off fat and shred meat, set aside. Put the corn starch in a sifter and sift over the remaining liquid, stirring. Continue stirring until well dissolved and starting to thicken. Then add the shredded meat and turn to low until ready to serve. We serve this over either boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes or cooked rice.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, southern cooking Tags: beef, gravy, roast beef 4 Comments

Nov

easy chili for a crowd

Penny

2 pounds ground beef, or ground chuck, or venison, or stewing beef, or sausage, or any combination that amounts to 2 pounds
3 onions diced
handfull of peppers of your choice, diced
6 pound can of tomato sauce
6 pound can of diced tomatoes
6 pound can of pinto beans
your favorite seasonings

In a large skillet brown meant and onions and peppers. Then add all ingredients to a very large crockpot or electric roaster. Season according to your preference, we use lots of chili powder and cajun seasoning. Cook on low about 4-6 hours, or until the aroma makes your stomach growl. Serve with a topping of fresh diced tomatoes, fresh diced onions, shredded cheese and sour cream. Also great to have cornbread muffins on the side.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, mexican style, southern cooking Tags: chili, Mexican, spicy 8 Comments

Jul

southern fried okra

Penny

Fried okra is a southern favorite! It is very simple to prepare.

approximately 2 dozen pieces of okra
1 egg beaten
1 cup corn meal mix ( if you can’t buy it, make your own with equal parts flour and corn meal)
vegetable oil about 2 T
couple shakes of Cajun spice

Cut the ends off the okra and cut the okra into thick slices or chunks about 1 inch thick. Add to beaten egg in mixing bowl. Mix well. Then add Cajun spice and corn meal mix. stir well until evenly coated. Heat a skillet to med hot and add oil, then add okra, let cook for a minute or two then turn with spatula. Turn occasionally until evenly browned. It cooks pretty fast. Serve and enjoy!

Category: frugal meal, side dish or snack, southern cooking, vegetable Tags: cooking blog, food blog, okra, recipe Leave a Comment

Jul

incredible chicken salad sandwiches

Penny

These are so tasty we have even served them at showers and luncheons.

4 chicken leg quarters, baked or boiled then deboned and meat diced
1 bunch green onions, diced, use all but the very ends
1/2 bunch celery diced, including the leaves
1/2 sweet red pepper, diced small
2 cups mayo
1 t. Cajun seasoning, or more to taste

homemade bread or rolls
sliced tomatoes
lettuce

Mix all of the top ingredients together and serve on roll with lettuce and tomato. Enough to serve a crowd.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, salads, side dish or snack Tags: bread, chicken, chicken salad, cooking, dinner, food blog, lunch, recipe, sandwich 4 Comments

Jul

meatloaf for a crowd

Penny

My Georgia makes incredible meatloaf. It is one of those things of mine that she has taken and greatly improved upon. We like it best with thickly sliced homemade bread. preheat your oven to 350

you will need

2 pounds ground beef
1 diced bell pepper
1 diced onion
3 eggs, beaten
2 Cups uncooked oatmeal, we use thick sliced non- instant
1 T Cajun seasoning
1 large 1 lb can tomatoes sauce

Add everything except the tomato sauce to a large mixing bowl and get your hands in it and mix well. Then put it all in a baking dish and pat down smooth like a loaf. pour the tomato sauce on top and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. It will be done when bubbly and you can insert a knife into center and it comes out clean like when you test a cake, leaving a slice in the top. We like to serve ours as sandwiches, but it is also great alongside cooked pasta.