Showing posts with label Frugal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frugal. Show all posts

Friday, July 9, 2010

Spring Ham Casserole-Updated

Wanting to use up the leftover Easter ham? This is an easy dish my family enjoys. It varies each time I make it, but here is the basic recipe:

As usually happens, my menu plan this week was altered. I haven't cooked this since going gluten free. But this most certainly is now. Unfortunately as I finished up I realized I did not have any Parmesan cheese. C'est la vie.

2 TBS butter
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup light cream
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tsp. gf chicken boullion
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 cups diced ham
1 8 oz pkg. gluten free pasta-I used Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
1-2 TBS fresh chopped Parsley to garnish

Saute onion, celery, mushrooms, & red pepper in butter until tender. Add in sour cream and light cream or milk stirring until smooth and warmed. Do not let boil. Toss with ham, pasta, salt, pepper and parsley. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.

(Original Recipe)
2 TBS butter
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup chopped green or red pepper
1 cup light cream (or sour cream)
1 TBS flour
2 tsp. instant chicken boullion
8 oz. sliced mushrooms (optional)
2 cups diced ham
1 8 oz pkg. spaghetti, cooked
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
1-2 TBS fresh chopped Parsley to garnish

Melt butter on high in microwave. Add diced celery, onion, mushrooms and green pepper. Cook 2 minutes, or until onion is transparent. .Add cream, bouillion, flour. Then gradually add 1 cup water. Mix, then cook on high 12-14 minutes, or until thick, stirring twice during cooking. Toss in ham, spaghetti and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley.

This can be cooked in a pot on the stove instead of microwaved.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Roast Turkey

The secret to a deliciously moist turkey? Very simply:
Seriously, this is all it takes. Oh, throw in

a 20 lb. turkey
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. onion powder
Fresh ground pepper
1 TBS flour
Homemade Stuffing (and yes, you stuff it inside the bird) if not stuffing, use an onion cut into quarters to stuff inside. Either way, you're gonna stuff it.

Wash and dry your turkey. Make sure it is completely thawed, when not using fresh turkey. Take out your cooking bag, and as per instructions, add 1 TBS flour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff your turkey, stitching it closed to keep the stuffing inside. Or just throw the onion into the cavity.

Now get out that big bottle of olive oil. You're going to get your hands messy. Slather the oil onto the turkey the way you did the baby oil years ago when you wanted a good tan. (If you're that fussy, or don't recall those days, you can pour some of the oil into a mug and brush it on with a basting brush. But it won't come out quite so nice.) You can wash your hands here, but if you have an extra set of hands, don't bother just yet. And in case you are wondering, I used 1 TBS of oil. It looks like more and feels like more. But it isn't.

Pop the turkey into the bag with the flour and seal with the twist tie. Cut obligatory slits into the top of the bag. Place into a roasting pan and set in oven. Bake according to instructions inside the baking box, or approximately 3 hours for unstuffed, 3 1/2 hours for stuffed. Let set 5-10 minutes before carving.
(I consider this a frugal meal when you get a good buy on a turkey. This one was 49 cents a pound. I plan to make several meals, including sandwiches.)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Monday Menu

I figured it was about time for a week/month, year? of budget meals. (No guarantees I won't break out and splurge.)

Today I found some great deals at the grocery store. I bought a 20 lb. turkey for $9.95. I should be able to get several meals from this. Eggs & Potatoes were a great buy too. And I have ham and a ham bone leftover from Easter!~ Not sure which meals I'll make yet, but this is what we've had so far and ideas for other days.

Monday: Another Chili Dish (97% fat free ground beef I bought less than half price), homemade bread
Tuesday: Ham & Egg Casserole (need to use up the boiled eggs & ham) Fresh Pineapple
Wednesday: Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Salad
Thursday: Turkey Tacos w/black bean salsa
Friday:Bean Soup, Homemade Bread, Fruit Salad
Saturday: Chili Rellenos, Refried Beans, Lettuce & Tomato Salad

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Homemade Pretzels


Oh yum, were these ever delicious! And what fun to be creative with designs. We'll be making these a lot. This recipe comes from Mary at Owlhaven. Her frugal cookbook should be published later this year, with this recipe included. I was just testing it for her, & was very pleased with the results.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Monday Menu

I'm feeling inspired again! Last week Mary asked for volunteers to test recipes. Her frugal cookbook will be published sometime in 2009. This is a woman after my own heart. I'm excited to help her out by testing and tasting. I made her Orange Chicken recipe on Saturday and it was delicious. Sorry, but for the sake of integrity, I can't share her recipe. But I'll let you know when her book comes out.

Monday: Pork Fajitas from leftover Pork Loin, and not sure what else.
Tuesday: Breakfast Casserole, Fruit Salad
Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken & Pasta, Veggies
Thursday: Spaghetti, Salad, French Bread
Friday: Chili Rellenos (if I'm up for it) or Chili Relleno Casserole, Black Bean Salsa & Chips, Lettuce/Tomato Salad
Saturday: One Of Mary's Recipes
Sunday: Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Veggies, Salad

Monday, September 29, 2008

Monday Menu/Updated

I have a busy next couple of weeks. My menus will consist of easy, probably nothing new or experiemental. So let's try this for today:

Monday: Bierocks, Fruit Salad, Veggies
Tuesday: Chicken Tacos, Refried Beans, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado Salad
Wednesday: Grilled Meat, Baked Potatoes, Salad or vegetables
Thursday: Glazed Pork Loin, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Salad
Friday: Chicken Pasta w/Spinach & Sundried Tomatoes,
Saturday: Chicken Enchiladas, Fresh Fruit & Veggies (or Mexican Chicken Casserole)
Sunday: Chicken Stuffing Casserole or Baked Chicken & Peppers

Just for fun, I thought I'd adjust this menu as it plays out. I've mentioned Monday as my grocery shopping day so depending on what I find on sale, my menu often changes. Meat markdowns are my favorite frugal finds. Here are the menu changes so far:

Monday: Grilled Seasoned Flat Iron Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, Salad
Tuesday: Chalupas

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Frugal Cooking Carnival

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Okay here goes:
Photobucket
I did miss a few items for the photo.
Breakfast: Cost/per person:

Day 1-French Toast w/cinnamon & Sugar .45 each meal/person
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Day 2-Egg Sandwiches .24 each meal/person
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Day 3-Pancakes w/syrup .42 each meal/person

Total Cost for Breakfast: $1.11 each person for 3 days


Lunch:

Day 1-Grilled Cheese Sandwiches .47 each meal/person
Carrot & Celery Sticks

Day 2-Bean Tostadas w/lettuce, cheese, .52 each meal/person
sour cream, etc.

Day 3-Egg Salad Sandwiches .52 each meal/person
Potato Soup
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Total Cost for Lunches: $1.74 for 3 days per person

Dinner:

Day 1-Potato Soup .71 each meal
Salad w/homeade dressing
French Bread
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Day 2-Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken $1.35 each meal/person
Spicy Roast Potatoes or Oven Potatoes
Green Beans & Onions

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Day 3-Quick Ham Casserole or Bean Soup $1.00 each/$ .85/each meal/person
Bread
Salad w/dressing



Totals for dinner: $3.06 or $2.91 with the bean soup instead

Dessert/snacks:

Oatmeal Cookies $1.95 for 4 dozen cookies
Banana Bread $2.36 each loaf of bread
Peanut Butter Cookies $1.80 for 2 1/2 dozen
Pretzels $1.00/bag
Apples with peanut butter $2.00 total cost
Bananas Nobody ate these, so saved the rest
Carrots & celery sticks & red pepper $2.00

Total Cost for snacks day/per person .27/day

Total for 3 days/per person .81

The number of people here varied a lot. As few as 2 for breakfast, and as many as 10 for dinner. So I will average it at 6 per meal. The snacks and desserts weren't all eaten and were shared over many days, so I am estimating that.

So the grand total for each person for 3 meals/3 days = $6.72 or $40.32 for a family of 6.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Frugal Cooking Carnival


Mary, at Owlhaven is hosting the Frugal Cooking Carnival. It sounds like fun so I thought I'd participate. The rules can be found at the link, but basically it is this: Plan a 3 day menu and share what you make, including recipes (at least a couple) and the cost. Check it out. I hope to execute my plan this weekend and post April 25th.