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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 Blueberry Bundt Bread is scrumptious. Studded with fresh blueberries and nuts it's the perfect have your girlfriends over for coffee type of dessert bread. Blueberry Bundt Bread gets a crispy top and the inside is moist and tender. You get the flavor of the bananas, the berries and the crunch of the nuts all in one delicious bite after bite. I'm having my girlfriends over for cards so I decided that I would make this bread to have with a cup of coffee or tea prior to getting down to the card game. Trust me it will be a welcome addition to the table.  This recipe is easy to make and you probably have most all of the ingredients in your pantry. I love making this when I can get my berries or nuts on sale too. If you don't have access to fresh berries for some reason, use frozen. This bakes in a Bundt pan  (found via the link). If you don't have a Bundt pan, you can use a standard bread pan  or a tube pan works wel...

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...

With the flavors of Thanksgiving, this budget recipe is a great replacement for the big Thanksgiving turkey dinner. I haven't blogged in a very long time and am so excited to share this wonderful recipe, Thanksgiving Chicken with you!  Family pack chicken thighs (bone-in)  3-4 carrots, sliced into bite sized pieces  2 large celery stalks, medium dice  1 cup onion, small dice  1 - 32 oz. box chicken broth  5-6 medium sized red potatoes - cut into small bite sized pieces  1 pkg. fresh sage, minced (be sure it's full of good sized leaves)  1 1/2 cups (dry measure) corn kernels  2 tbsp. olive oil (regular), canola or vegetable oil  1 tbsp. butter   2/3 cup all purpose flour  salt and black pepper to taste  granulated garlic to taste  onion powder to taste  gravy master or kitchen bouquet - just a few drops Before I get into the how to make part of the recipe I want to speak about how it originated. With two prev...

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 »

Silky Chocolate Mocha Frosting ~ a frosting worthy of the name. My husband as I've mentioned here a number of times is a true chocoholic; he has to have some form of chocolate on a daily basis. I kid you not - he's addicted. Those ice cream bars with chocolate he loves are expensive frozen treats so I have taken to having on sale cake mixes in my pantry and the staples to make homemade chocolate frosting: cocoa powder, cream cheese and confectioner's sugar. I grab those when they are on sale and today I made cupcakes with this Silky Chocolate Mocha Frosting . 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 »

Jubilee Jumbles Cookies ~ a softer chocolate chip cookie with a brown butter glaze that tastes heavenly. It's time to bring the kids into the kitchen and have them make some cookies with you. Depending on the age of your children you could assign each one a task in helping out.  Jubilee Jumble cookies were a childhood favorite in our house. This recipe was one of my mother's and I would like to share it with you. They are like a soft chocolate chip type cookie, but have more of a cake texture. This recipe makes quite a lot of cookies that your family will just love. Read more »

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PickedAtPeak #CollectiveBias  Spicy Harvest Soup ~ falls' bounty of chunky vegetables simmered in a tomato based broth and just the right amount of heat from the jalapeno is the perfect comforting and hearty weeknight meal to feed your family. Cook it once, eat it twice. That's the beauty of a pot of hearty, delicious homemade soup. You make it and there's always plenty left over for a second meal or for work or school lunches, making it one of the most economical meals. Also, soup, like stew or spaghetti sauce only gets better with age: as all of the flavors are released and allowed to settle and blend, the flavor from the soups ingredients intensify. Spicy Harvest Soup will become one of your favorite go to soups for the cold weather months. Read more »

Chocolate Strawberry Puff Pastry Shortcakes ~ an economical show stopping dessert for all your holiday entertaining! I've been watching a lot of holiday movies these past few weeks and am intrigued with the movies story lines. They are all about the importance of family, a time of healing and a time of togetherness. When I reflect upon the holidays and traditions in my own life, at the core of those holidays was family. I am looking forward to the holidays - spending time with family and friends and sharing some delicious food. Read more »

I received a bottle of Stirrings Bloody Mary Mix and rimmer to facilitate my review and create my cocktail recipe.  No other compensation was received. All opinions, as well as the recipe shared, is my own. Proud Mary Cocktail ~ the hair of the dog gets a make over. I associate a great Bloody Mary cocktail with two things: A good brunch and the best drink referred to as "the hair of the dog". The drink that helps you get over that rambunctious night before where you possibly probably made a fool out of yourself. Don't tell me you haven't been there at least once in your life. Read more »