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AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Brown Rice Pilaf works well as a side dish, however it can also be a meal all by itself. It's healthy, it's delicious and it is so inexpensive! I've taken a simple box of store bought rice and elevated it into a wonderful side dish. Brown Rice Pilaf has carrots and peas and instead of the sodium laden flavor packet I've used chicken broth and my own dry spices. If you want a vegetarian side dish or meal, simply substitute vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth. A while back I wasn't feeling well and a good friend brought me a goodie basket and the Near East rice was included among the other sweet things she had in the basket. I've been wanting to try the rice but I didn't want all the sodium. The packet is loaded with sodium - so my advice is get rid of that packet and make this simple recipe! I found a nifty and handy product while shopping at my super Walmart grocery store. Delmonte has fully c...

 AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Homemade Vegetable Egg Rolls are super simple to make. Because the filling marinates and isn't pre-cooked, the vegetables maintain their crispness. These will be a huge hit as an appetizer at your next gathering with family or friends. With simple ingredients that aren't hard to find and not expensive to boot, you have to try this Vegetable Egg Roll recipe. I made these for a club I belong to and everybody thought they were absolutely delicious and said they were so much better than any local Chinese takeout place they had ever ordered from. Some of the things I have learned in making these is: make sure you wrap tightly, seal the edges properly, refrigerate them so they firm up before frying and keep your oil temperature a consistent 350°! To do that I highly recommend a fryolator . I've had mine for years now and just love it. We do French Fries, homemade Onion Rings, chicken tenders and shrimp to name some of the t...

  AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. Spicy Beef Teriyaki: a healthy, filling meal the whole family can enjoy! What's not to love about an Asian inspired stir-fry? It's a healthy way to eat, definitely feeds a number of people and if there are any left-overs it warms up nicely the next day. I tend to make them more when fresh vegetables are available at the local farm markets or from our garden, however any time of the year is a good time for stir-fry. I keep a few Asian condiments in my pantry which come in handy when making a good sauce. Those are soy sauce, mirin and rice wine vinegar. Also I always have garlic on hand and keep ginger in the freezer. Another ingredient on hand are dried chilies - they last forever! For more adventurous cooking there are other ingredients that are common to Asian cuisine: Sesame oil, fish sauce, oyster sauce and hoisin sauce to name a few. Last, but not least is a wok and kitchen tool they call a spider . A spider is a lo...

AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Pork Chops with Beef Balsamic Reduction is perfect for family meals or entertaining friends.  Pork Chops with Beef Balsamic Reduction is so easy to make and certainly will be a family pleaser as it is kid-friendly as well. The reduction sauce tastes amazing. It's what makes this dish so special that you can not only wow your family but serve it as a main course for entertaining friends.  Plus, this recipe is easy on the pocketbook. At $2.91 per serving, it's definitely a Cooking On A Budget meal. The prep time is minimal for the chops and reduction. If you serve with a starch and vegetable, it's not much longer. All in all you can get this on the table in under an hour! 4 bone in Pork Chops - about 3/4 - 1 inch thick 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 2 cups Campbells beef broth 1/4 cup onion - finely chopped 1 tbsp. butter 4 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil salt and black pepper to taste In a saucepot set to medium high heat add in...

  AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Stewed Chicken was a comfort dish from my childhood. I've taken my mother's basic recipe and elevated the dish to another level of deliciousness and as always kept the cost to cooking on a budget! My mother had a knack for home cooking. Most every single dish she made from my childhood was absolutely delicious - except for the ginger chicken dish she made which was pretty awful, so naturally we never let her live it down. One of the comfort dishes she made was stewed chicken. She only made stewed chicken during the winter months and I looked forward to it every time she made it. Now as an adult I loved slow braised dishes like stewed chicken. I have not made her stewed chicken recipe for years. I decided to not only make the dish but recreate it to fit the style of cooking today. Instead of the dried herbs that she would use, I opted for fresh herbs: aromatic sage, rosemary and thyme, all of which go splendidly with chic...

  AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Ribollita originates from the region of Tuscany in Italy. With peasant origins it starts out as a hearty vegetable soup. The next day this soup is then layered in a casserole dish with stale bread to make what the Italians call zuppa di pane (bread soup). The layered bread soup if there are left-overs is baked again until hot and drizzled with olive oil: it is then called ribollita. Ribollita in Italian means re-boiled. For our purposes here we will be making the hearty vegetable soup and serving it with crusty bread. A host of vegetables, beans, broth and fresh herbs is what gives this soup its' heartiness and flavor. It's easy to put together and budget friendly. My version will easily feed 6 people a hearty and wholesome meal for $2.32 per person and that includes the bread! The inspiration for the Ribollita came from my Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Italian Cooking . I did not follow the recipe 100% as I did not use ...

 AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Chicken and mushrooms simmer in a luscious creamy and slightly tangy sauce laced with the wonderful flavor of thyme. Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms with Thyme is not only delicious; it's budget friendly as well. I served ours over egg noodles with baby peas as the side. You can serve over rice and still keep the dish as budget friendly. Just the Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms with Thyme (based on a family of four), is $2.25 per person. Adding in the egg noodles and peas it is $2.61 per person. I noticed a number of photos on Google of creamy chicken and mushrooms so I knew I was on the right track in thinking of what to make with my chicken and mushrooms. My husband was super impressed with the flavor and so was I! Also, it cooks in one pan on the stove top and between prep and the various stages can be on the table in about an hour or so. 4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs 8 oz. pkg. cremini (baby bella) mushrooms 3/4 cup onion -...

Asian Chicken, Vegetable and Rice Casserole requires very little prep time, is baked in the oven and feeds a family of four for $1.76 per person. Procuring on sale chicken, using a frozen stir-fry vegetable blend, my go to spices from my pantry and Asian ingredients I always have on hand (soy sauce and mirin) - was key to keeping the cost of this meal down. The stir-fry blend I used has sugar snap peas, broccoli, green beans, yellow squash, red and yellow peppers, carrots and water chestnuts. Clean up is a snap as you place all the ingredients in a 9x 13 casserole dish then pop it in the oven. 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts 1 bag frozen stir-fry vegetables 1 cup long grain white rice 2 cups water or chicken broth 3 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. mirin 1/3 cup onion - diced small salt to taste pepper to taste granulated garlic to taste onion powder to taste COOKS NOTE: If you can't find mirin in your local grocery in the international aisle, then you can find mirin here. PREP THE CHIC...

  Blueberry Muffins are a wonderful snack, a great breakfast item with coffee - and these are so easy to make and ever so delicious! One of the things that I like about going through family recipes is the fond remembrance that speaks to you. I was working full time when my children were small and wanted to make something special for the kids. So I decided I would make some homemade muffins. My mother had always made hers using a Bisquick recipe. Instead, my husband pulled out a recipe he had from his first wife who was deceased. He said that this blueberry muffin recipe was the best he ever had and I have to agree. 1/2 cup butter - softened 2 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cup milk 2 1/2 cups blueberries 1 cup sugar 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. table salt 1 tsp. vanilla sugar for sprinkling on top In one bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl with mixer at medium speed cream the softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one...

  Summer Saute is the easy and perfect side dish to any grilled or roasted summer meal.  This dish I credit my wonderful sister-in-law. She made summer sauté  for a gathering many years ago and I have made it a number of times through the years since I first got her recipe. It's incredibly easy and takes about 20-25 minutes to cook. I use yellow squash, however, zucchini or a combination of yellow and zucchini would work as well. 2-3 summer squash (or zucchini, or combo of) 1 lrg. green bell pepper 1 lrg. onion 2 large fresh tomatoes  1 tbsp. butter 1 tbsp. olive oil or canola or vegetable oil salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup water Start by prepping all of your vegetables: I peel my yellow squash but you don't have to. Then I cut it in rounds. Peel your onion. Slice it in half then make half moon slices for the whole onion. De-seed and devein your bell pepper and cut into strips. Cut the tomato in wedges. (See cooks note.) In a large, deep skillet melt the butter and...

Tuscan Pork Roast is so flavorful and incredibly delicious that you'll want to make it again and again. The Tuscan pork roast comes out juicy and succulent and has the best flavor! It's so easy to do as well. Here are some keys to having the roast come out perfect. Use a rotisserie oven if you have one. (Although this will roast in a regular oven too at 350°). Be sure to use all fresh herbs as the recipe calls for. Roast to a temperature of 140-142 degrees. Most roasts have a pop up timer set for 145 degrees, however I like to take my pork out earlier and let it rest well. Be sure and let it rest for at least 10 minutes so the juices circulate and don't run out when you slice it. 2 3/4 lb. pork loin with a good fat cap. To start the recipe you need to make an herb paste for the roast. 6 cloves garlic (good sized bulbs) 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves (not curly parsley) 2 tbsp. fresh thyme 1 tbsp. fresh sage 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper 2-3 tbsp. olive oil (regular or use extra v...

Lighter Fish and Chips is easy and delicious. Many of us can't afford the prices at a fish market and we often opt to seek out the seafood department in our local grocery stores. I'd like to give you some tips on choosing fish and what to look for. I'll save that for the end of the post. Ingredients: 6-8 filets of fish salt to taste pepper to taste 1 1/3 cups Wondra flour cayenne pepper to taste 2 tbsp. butter 3 tbsp. oil (vegetable, canola) lemon or tartar sauce for serving Make sure your filets are blotted with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. Season both sides liberally with salt and pepper. Set aside. To a deep dish mix together the Wondra Flour, salt, pepper and cayenne. The seasoning is all to taste. In a large skillet heat up the butter and oil over medium low heat. Begin to dredge your fish and place them on a large platter. Crank your heat up to medium, medium high. Wait a minute then start pan frying your fish. You will have to do this in batches and lower or...

A hearty, satisfyingly delicious Salisbury Steak meal the family will love! My first time making Salisbury steak ended up being a huge hit with my husband and I have since made it over and over. It's a glorified burger let's face it, but it is economical and really tasty.  1 lb. ground beef (80/20)  1/2 large onion - finely ground  3 stalks celery - finely ground  1/8 cup or so of fine bread crumbs  1 extra large egg  salt and black pepper to taste  1/4 heaping tsp. granulated garlic  1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes  1 package cremini mushrooms - sliced  3 tbsp. butter  2 jars Heinz Savory Beef Gravy Use a food processor to grind the onion and celery. In a large bowl combine the beef, the onion, celery and all the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and add some extra bread crumb as necessary. You want the mixture slightly to the less firm side. Form into four steak patties approximately 1/2 inch thick. Refrigerate wrapped in plastic whi...

Sausage and Beef American Goulash ~ a family favorite with a slight twist that's easy peasy for weeknight suppers! My husband grows tomatoes in the summer and we always cook them down and can them for sauce year round. With this fabulous tomato sauce we create spaghetti sauce and it's just delicious! There's nothing like homemade but if you don't have homemade sauce or the time to put it together, I have a recommendation. The closest sauce to homemade (in my humble opinion) is Ragu's Homestyle Sauce . I did a post using the sauce quite some time ago and I meant every word about how good it is. Read more »

Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry ~ in 30 minutes or so you have a scrumptious meal on the table for your family that costs so little to make. We haven't done in a stir-fry meal in quite some time. Because of the condition of my right arm, my husband has done most all of the cooking for the last 4 months so we did family meals we enjoy and that he knows how to cook. With my second steroid injection having been done and some relief in my arm, I am back in the kitchen and sharing the cooking duties. With that being said, I think you are going to enjoy this Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry recipe where I based the sauce off of another dish I created a while back, Sizzling Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles . That recipe was phenomenal and we think this dish was outstanding as well. Read more »

Rich, decadent and garlicky ~ possibly the BEST Bleu Cheese Dressing ever! Nestled on the outskirt of the small village town of Chester, Connecticut  is a Brushmill property with several buildings that served multiple functions. In the early 1800s it was a grist and sawmill and a woodworking shop. The woodworking shop also made skate blades. As years past and by 1859 a factory was erected and auger bits were made then carpet sweepers and various kinds of brushes. Read more »

Chicken Soup ~ enhanced with flavor from fresh marjoram and left over chicken gravy. Anyone who was born after World War II, from 1946 to 1964 had one or both parents who suffered through the Great Depression of the 1930's. I am a baby boomer. A child of a parent who lived during the Great Depression. Hence, in our home we often heard the expression: "waste not, want not". That rung true in most of the households of my baby boomer friends. People did not waste anything. This lesson I learned ages ago has carried through with me my whole life and in turn I tried to pass that along to my children. It is with "waste not, want not" coursing through my veins that I continue to turn "left-overs" into another meal. This Chicken Soup is a prime example. Read more »

Bacon and Cheddar Cauliflower Casserole ~ features bites of cauliflower surrounded in a decadent cheese sauce with the hint of bacon in the background. Tis the season of spooky things, of giving thanks and gifts from the heart. For some reason the fall season beckons me to my kitchen and it always has. This time of year is when I most enjoy cooking or baking and also the time of year when I reflect upon years gone by. The memories of my youth seem to flood over me and bathe me in affection for the wonderful times shared with family during the holiday season. What always seems to stick out are memories that were made and shared around a dinner table. Read more »

Chocolate Sugar Cookies ~ just 5 ingredients and you have a special Halloween or anytime cookie. Don't shoot the messenger, but Halloween is not that far off! These easy to make and quick to bake Chocolate Sugar Cookies are perfect for any Halloween party or to make gift bags up for the neighborhood kids who come a trick or treating to your house. And from year to year you never know if you are going to get 8 kids or 80 kids and what happens to all those bags of candy you have left containing candy you probably would never consume? By making a batch or two of these Chocolate Sugar Cookies at least it's something you can eat with your coffee or tea, right? The other good thing is that they really don't cost much to make. I got four out of the five ingredients on sale. Read more »

 #FreakyFridayRecipes Loaded Artichoke Garlic Bread ~ a version of garlic bread you don't want to miss out on! Welcome to the fall edition of #FreakyFridayRecipes! My recipe today is Loaded Artichoke Garlic Bread . It's not my original creation though and that's the beauty of Freaky Friday. Started by Michaela of An Affair From the Heart , it is a group of bloggers who get assigned another persons blog among the group. It's all kept secret until the day we all publish our posts. It's a fun way to socialize among bloggers, get the opportunity to try someone else's cooking and in the process get to know them a little better each time. You will get to see everyone's creations in a link up at the end of my post. Read more »