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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

creamy cheesy potato soup

Penny

When it is cold or windy or rainy, ok I guess anytime except a hot summer day, I love soup!! My ultimate comfort food, well except for some dark chocolate. We have been working an a new soup book for my bookstore, a compilation of yummy soup techniques. This is what we did yesterday.

To our large crockpot we added

diced raw potatoes
chunks of broccoli tops
1 package of cream cheese cut in chunks
a package of cooked bacon pieces
enough whole (at our house fresh) milk to cover it all
a dash or two of soul seasoning (healthy seasoned salt sort of)

we turned it on high and ran out the door to go get a horse, about 3-4 hours later we returned and served it up with a half cup grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream topping each serving. It was INCREDIBLE!!! I cannot wait to make it again and will probably add more veggies.

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, bookstore, main dish, side dish or snack, southern cooking, vegetable, vegetable dish Tags: cheese, potato, soup One Comment

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

super simple salsa

Penny

We always make homemade salsa and in fact that is half the reason we grow a garden. Here is my super simple technique. It will take a bit longer if you don;t have a food processor, but just get a friend to help you chop. This will be enough to feed a small army.

12 med size fresh tomatoes
3 large peeled cloves of garlic
1 large onion
1 bunch of fresh cliantro
large handful of peppers, 6-10 your choice, we use jalapenos, cayenne, gypsy, poblano, and Anaheim, sometimes habanera
salt to taste

you will want chips to eat it with, we cook our own, see note below

Start by washing all of your ingredients. We will be using a food processor with the bottom mixing blade. Not the slicer or shredding disc. We will be using the pulse button.

Step #1 – Start with 6 of the tomatoes cut in half, cover and puree by pulsing several times, then put in mixing bowl.

Step #2 – Place garlic and cilantro in processor, cover and pulse until coarsely chopped.

Add to mixing bowl.

Step #3- Add all peppers, if big then cut in half or quarters, also add onion, peeled and quartered. Cover and pulse until chopped.

Add to mixing bowl.

Step #4 – Add remaining 6 tomatoes quartered, cover and pulse slightly only until diced in large chunks.

Add to mixing bowl.

Final step – Mix well and add salt to taste. Then refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors blend.

Homemade salsa is great on many things but best with home cooked tortillas. Take a stack of corn tortillas and cut the whole stack in 4ths using a butcher knife. Then separate and cook each in hot oil. We use a deep fryer and tongs. Be careful and only cook for a few seconds each. Drain on paper towels. You will think you are eating in a Mexican restaurant! Ole!

Category: main dish, mexican style, vegetable, vegetable dish, vegetarian Tags: salsa 3 Comments

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

Apr

homemade coleslaw

Penny

1 head green cabbage shredded
1/2 head red cabbage shredded
1/2 onion shredded
1 carrot shredded

mix well in very large bowl or pan, then proceed with dressing

add the following to blender and blend

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T sugar
1 T soul seasoning or some sort or pepper blend

mix well then pour over cabbage mixture, let set about three hours in fridge, mixing once per hour, serve cold

Category: salads, side dish or snack, southern cooking, vegetable, vegetarian Tags: cabbage, coleslaw, dressing, slaw 3 Comments

Mar

spinning salads

Penny

I love salads but I do not especially love making them. I don’t like the bagged greens as much as the fresh in a bundle ones. I especially like fresh spinach and either butter lettuce or green leaf. One huge helper has been this trusty salad spinner. I got one for us and another for my married daughter. You simply rinse your greens then tear them up and put in the spinner, add more water and spin! It spins the excess water right off so you don’t have soggy greens and your dressing isn’t runny and watered down. Then you can add all of your chopped veggies and some dressing and wa la! A wonderful salad! We only like to make as much salad as will be eaten at the meal, but we do go ahead and do the whole amount of greens and keep them in the spinner in the fridge. They keep well this way without getting soggy . So yeah unsoggy salads work for me!

Category: cooking tip, main dish, salads, side dish or snack, vegetable, vegetable dish, vegetarian Tags: salad Leave a Comment

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!