Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Family on a Budget

Homemade spaghetti sauce has never been this easy to still taste so good!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 pinch red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons honey
1 28 ounce can Hunt’s Crushed Tomatoes
1 28 ounce can Hunt’s Tomato Sauce

Instructions

In a stock pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Stir in garlic and cook for about a minute.
Carefully dump tomatoes from both cans into the pot. Fill one can halfway with water. Pour from can to can to capture all of the tomatoes, and add to the pot.
Add seasonings and stir well.
If you wish to add cooked ground meat or meatballs, bring the sauce to a boil first. Add meat and return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook according to meatball directions (about 20 to 30 minutes).

Designer Pumpkin Gourmet Apple

When is an apple not an apple? When it is a pumpkin gourmet apple!

Hang with me… It’s a great idea. I promise!

Very cute gift idea! It's a gourmet apple decorated to look like a pumpkin! Could sell these as a fundraiser too.

When our family was trying to pay off debt or saving money for Christmas, I would often work through the fall creating gourmet apples to sell to friends. Each gourmet apple would be dressed as a character and one of my favorites was the pumpkin.

Designer Pumpkin Gourmet Apple

Needs:

Granny smith or red delicious apples (Best price is $0.99/lb or under) ~ The granny smith has a better shape for decorating but some people prefer the red delicious taste. Choose apples that are of a medium size. Over-sized apples require more caramel and chocolate. Small apples have a lower resale value.
Wooden dowel sticks ~ Popsicle-style sticks come with the caramel but I use the rounded sticks made for candy apples. You could use either. You can find a great deal at Amazon.com.
Caramels ~ I use Kraft caramels, individually wrapped in the candy aisle, as they are cheaper than the caramel bits in the baking aisle. You might also choose to use caramel sold in bulk but I am unfamiliar with it.
Waxed or Parchment Paper
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Nuts ~ I give my customers a choice between pecans and peanuts. You can buy a large container of salted party peanuts at Amazon.com for just $0.17 per ounce with the Subscribe & Save option. I chop my nuts very fine using a Pampered Chef Food Chopper but a food processor might also work well. Just do not over chop or you will have dust.
Milk Chocolate Morsels AND Chocolate-flavored Almond Bark (Candy Coating) OR Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers ~ See Step 6 for details. The best place to buy the Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers is at a wholesale club like Sam’s although it is also available at Amazon.com.
Orange Candy Coating
M&Ms in orange, brown, and/or red
Milk Chocolate Morsels
Autumn Leaves Sprinkles
Tootsie Rolls
Jumbo Cupcake Liners ~ I place the finished apples on white jumbo cupcake liners, flattened, before wrapping in cellophane.
Cellophane ~ I recommend the 20-inch width because it is easier to cut. If you can only find 30-inch width, you will have to cut it in half.
Ribbon

Very cute gift idea! It's a gourmet apple decorated to look like a pumpkin! Could sell these as a fundraiser too.

Step by step instructions for Pumpkin Gourmet Apples

Step 1

Wash the apples well and dry. Push craft sticks into the apple at least one full inch for stability.

Step 2

Microwave the contents of the entire bag of caramels (unwrapped) with two tablespoons of water on HIGH for one minute. Stir well and repeat in 30-60 second increments. The caramels will continue to melt from residual heat as you stir between heating so make sure you are stirring very well. Do not overheat! You can get about 5 apples from one bag of caramel.

Step 3

Spoon the caramel over the entire apple and then scrape the bottom two inches off. Place on waxed or parchment paper sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and allow the caramel to slide down the apple. (I normally microwave my chocolate at this point.)

Step 4

Roll the bottom half of the apple in FINELY chopped nuts, pressing the nuts into the caramel if needed. Place apples in the refrigerator to allow the caramel to set. If the caramel slides, just reshape the apples before dipping chocolate.

Step 5 (Optional)

To give the apples more of a Snickers taste, I used to add a layer of white chocolate before the milk chocolate but stopped because if expense. You can find white chocolate morsels in the baking aisle or purchase Ghirardelli White Melting Wafers at your local Sam’s Club or Amazon.com.

Step 6

For the milk chocolate, I use Ghirardelli chocolate or half milk chocolate morsels and half chocolate-flavored almond bark/candy coating. The bark helps the chocolate dry faster and smoother. The chocolate can be melted in the microwave like the caramel, but make sure your tools are all BONE DRY. Just a small driblet of water will make your chocolate seize up. Same thing will happen if you overheat it. So stir it well at 30-second increments and let it melt as you stir.

Step 7

Allow the chocolate to cool for about two minutes. Then, spoon the chocolate over the apples. Shake the apples gently to allow the excess chocolate to dip back into the bowl. (Some nuts make fall into the chocolate.)

Chill completely.

Step 8

Melt orange candy coating and allow to cool slightly, stirring frequently to keep the candy coating from setting. Spread the orange candy coating over the milk chocolate layer. You will need to work quickly because the milk chocolate will melt. Sprinkle with leaves and place in the refrigerator until set.

Step 9

Pipe milk chocolate faces and vines on the pumpkins. Use milk chocolate to attach a Tootsie Roll as the stem and M&Ms as the eyes and teeth.

Step 10

Refrigerate until completely set. Then, wrap in cellophane and secure with a ribbon.

Country Fried Steak (Weekend Potluck)

Dinner

In the battle of wills that often happens over my dinner table, I gained the upper hand with this country fried steak recipe. Cut into strips makes this twist on chicken fried steak kid-friendly, but the fast prep time makes it a quick weeknight dinner.

As a child, one of my favorite meals was smothered steak but my children refuse anything with gravy. What is wrong with their taste buds?! I mean, we are Southern. We are supposed to love gravy.

Anyway… when I was craving this childhood comfort food, I decided to make the country fried steak more child-appealing by channeling my inner Pioneer Woman and cutting the pieces of cubed steak into strips, serving the milk gravy on the side like a dip.

By cutting the meat into one inch strips, you also speed up the cooking process bringing the meal together quickly.

Some stores sell the cube steak already cut but I am not that lucky. Also, for the budget conscious family, look for a manager’s special to save and buy in bulk. You can always divide the portions and freeze to cook this Country Fried Steak recipe another week. I just recommend freezing flat to make thawing easier and faster. Trying to thaw a lump of cubed steak is like waiting for molasses to pour on a cold morning. Frustrating!

Country Fried Steak is amazing with the milk gravy over rice (super cheap side dish) or mashed potatoes (also very frugal). However, you can go without the gravy (pardon my aching heart) and serve alongside any fresh fruit or vegetable.

Country Fried Steak

[Psst… Did you see the snack sale at Publix? You can get $5 back when you spend $20!]

A super quick weeknight dinner idea... chicken fried steak recipe. Kid-friendly too.

Ingredients

2 pounds cubed steak cut into 1-inch Strips
1 cup flour plus 1/4 cup for gravy
1 teaspoon salt plus 1/2 teaspoon for gravy
1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus 1/4 teaspoon for gravy
1/2 teaspoon dried mustard plus 1/4 teaspoon for gravy
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika plus 1/4 teaspoon for gravy
2 eggs
3 cups milk divided
Canola oil for frying
4 tablespoons butter divided

Instructions

In an electric skillet or frying pan, heat the canola oil and 2 tablespoons butter to about 350 degrees. Do not start frying the cube steak until the oil is hot.
In a storage bag or on a plate, mix together 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk with eggs.
Place each strip of cubed steak into the flour, coating both sides. Then, dip the strip into the milk and back into the flour mixture to coat.
Carefully put the steak strip in the oil and allow to cook until the edges begin to brown. Flip the strip and cook until done and golden brown.
Repeat steps for each country fried steak strip, keeping warm on paper toweling.
When all the country fried steak strips are done, carefully pour off most of the oil from your skillet, allowing the meat bits and about 1 tablespoon of oil to remain. Place the skillet back on the heat and add 2 tablespoons of butter to melt.
Whisk in the remaining flour and seasonings to the skillet and stir into the butter and oil. Once the flour has absorbed the oil and begun to brown slightly, slowly add 2 cups of milk while whisking the flour.
Bring the gravy to a bubble over medium heat and whisk frequently until thickened to your desired consistency.

Weekend potluck #188

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Poor Potato Hamburger Casserole by Mirlandra’s Kitchen

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Cheesecake Swirled Pumpkin Brownies by With a Blast

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cake with Browned Butter Pumpkin Icing by Crazy for Cookies and More

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Hot Taco Dip Recipe for the Slow Cooker

Appetizers

This post contains sponsored content but opinions are 100% my own.

Football season means awesome appetizers and hot dips with crunchy chips. And… if that dip has a southwestern flavor… BOOM! More power to ya! That’s why I created this hot taco dip recipe.

Yes, I have had other taco dip. Yes, some of them are heated in the oven. Yes, they have lovely layers of goodness that send my tastebuds into overdrive but… read this…

I AM LAZY.

I needed a taco dip recipe that I could dump in the crock pot and go. Leave it heating for a couple of hours and DONE.

I love serving this hot taco dip with a mini salad bar and a variety of chips.

Pour this cheesy taco dip over nacho chips, corn chips, scoops… whatever you love. Then, add some fun toppings like tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sliced black olives, chunks of avocado, a dollop of sour cream, and a drizzle of lime juice.

You could make a meal of it! (Might not be my best idea but you know what I mean.) It’s delicious with piles of fun toppings, but then again…

If that is too much work for lazy people like me, just eat the dip straight from the crock pot. No plates required.

Hot Taco Dip Recipe

An amazingly-easy hot taco dip recipe that you can just toss in the slow cooker and serve in a couple of hours. Now who is the hostess with the mostess? You are!

Ingredients

1 large loaf Velveeta diced
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, diced
2 10 ounce cans Rotel
1 can 10 to 15 ounces refried beans
1 packet taco seasoning 2 packets if you like it full of spice
1 pound ground beef browned and drained

Instructions

Dump all ingredients into your slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for about two to three hours until the cheese is melted.
Stir together well and serve.
Optional: add milk to make the dip thinner

How to Make Buttermilk Biscuits

Breakfast, Side Dishes

The first time I ever made buttermilk biscuits, I wanted to impress someone who I thought was kind of special. Why I decided to try when I had no idea how to make buttermilk biscuits is beyond me.

I mixed the ingredients and rolled out the dough, anxious about how thick or thin to make the biscuits. Imagine my surprise when I opened to oven to find flat, cracker-looking biscuits!

Can you imagine? A southern-born and bred girl who could not make buttermilk biscuits. I was not deterred and labeled them as a new recipe that I called “Biscuit Flats.” It is a day forever etched in my mind. So embarrassing!

A lot has changed since that day 15 years ago, and I am proud to say that I have earned my Southerners badge for mastering perfect buttermilk biscuits.

Cooks tips:

Use real buttermilk. Souring milk with vinegar just will not have the same texture.
Do not over-stir your batter. Just mix until moistened. The dough will be very wet.
Fold the dough and fold some more. I think I fold my dough about ten times. Each time you fold and gently pat down, you add a layer of air to make those beautiful buttermilk biscuits rise.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Want to know how to make buttermilk biscuits? This recipe is where a Southern girl makes the magic happen!

Ingredients

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for dusting the counter
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter very cold but cubed
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons melted butter if desired

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Using a whisk, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
With your hands or pastry blender (recommended to start to avoid melting the butter), work the butter into the flour mixture until the flour resembled the texture of coarse sand. Use you hand to mix any remaining lumps.
Create a well in the flour mixture and add the buttermilk. Mix together with a large spoon until moistened. The dough will be very wet and sticky. If not, you may need to add a tablespoon more of buttermilk.
Turn the dough out onto a well – read WELL – floured surface and dust with additional flour. Work the dough by folding the sides over and turning, patting after each rotation. Add a little flour as needed to keep it from sticking to the counter. Folding is essential to add air between the layers of the biscuit so fold several times until the surface is smooth.
Pat out to about 1/2 inch thickness. The biscuits can be a little thicker if you desire. Then cut into circles using a biscuit cutter.
Place on a baking stone or cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden on top. Brush with melted butter if desired.

Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe

Dinner

When I moved away from home to Texas, Easy Shepherds Pie was the first recipe I called my mother and requested.

Living in a larger city nine hours (if I was speeding) from home was not a pleasant experience for me, and I longed for the comfort foods from home.

Shepherds Pie reminded me of the cozy warmth around my mother’s table and laughing as we talked about the details of our day.

I have made few substitutions to my mother’s classic recipe, but I am sure you could make a healthier version using mashed cauliflower and by making your own gravy. However, as it is, this Shepherds Pie recipe is simple and fast, especially if you already have your ground beef cooked.

I have even made more than one of these casseroles at a time by doubling the recipe and place the extra in the freezer to have later in the month or to give to a friend. Why not share this comforting meal?

Easy Shepherds Pie

Shepherds Pie is a comfort food sure to lift the spirits with memories of happiness and home.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic minced
2 cups ground beef browned and drained
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables thawed
1 18 ounce jar beef gravy
2 cups garlic mashed potatoes
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet or cast iron skillet placed over medium high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring as needed, until softened.
Stir in ground beef, mixed vegetables, and beef gravy. Heat vegetables through.
Remove skillet from heat and top with mashed potatoes and then cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Goji Berry Pumpkin Seed Granola

As part of my 5 Days of Oatmeal Breakfast Challenge, I decided to make one of my favorite treats… granola!

Granola could not be easier to make and takes very little time. Plus, you can personalize it any way you want to get the exact combination that you love. Since I had never tried Goji Berries and have heard about the health benefits they provide, I decided to combine some other super foods for a delicious twist.

This Goji Berry Walnut Granola makes a perfect topping for yogurt, oatmeal, cream of wheat, or even ice cream.

Goji Berry Walnut Granola

Goji Berry Walnut Granola crunchy nutritious topping for yogurt or just to snack on between meals.

Ingredients

2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1 cup dried goji berries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together oats, walnuts, coconut oil, and honey.
Evenly distribute the mixture on a lined baking sheet.
Bake about 15 or 20 minutes, stirring halfway. The last five minutes can go fast so keep a watchful eye.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and goji berries. Allow to cool before placing in an air-tight container.

Blueberry Peach Oatmeal Smoothie

I am not a huge fan of breakfast for one simple reason… time.

Preparing a nutritious and filling breakfast takes time and I hit the floor running already. The last thing I want is to add something else to my list of things to do.

When I gave myself the 5 Days of Oatmeal Breakfast Challenge, I decided to try oats in a smoothie. The results were a simply breakfast that kept me full until lunch.

I had enough to share, but since I was the only one home, I placed the leftovers in an ice cube container to freeze for later.

Blueberry Peach Oatmeal Smoothie

The best kind of breakfast on the run! This blueberry peach oatmeal smoothie is high in antioxidants and delicious too.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh blueberries frozen
1/2 cup sliced peaches
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Chia seed
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
about 2 cups milk according to personal preference

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender, starting with a little milk at a time, and liquify. Add more milk until you reach the consistency you prefer.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oats

Blueberry Peach Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe

#MyOatsCreation #CollectiveBias

I remember oatmeal mornings from my childhood. When my mother would put a piping hot bowl of oatmeal on the table in front of me, I knew that I would not have to deal with a growling stomach before lunchtime. Cold cereal? Roar-o-rama. So, when I wanted to create a new habit of eating a satisfying breakfast every morning, I went on a search for ideas to use steel cut oats and other oatmeal for a “5 Days of Oatmeal for Breakfast” challenge.

At first, the idea of eating oatmeal for breakfast every day for five days sounds boring, but when you get creative and make your own tasty concoction using Quaker Oatmeal as your base, the possibilities are endless.

The weekend prior to my challenge, I stopped by Target to purchase everything I needed. They had a display ready for me with lots of topping choices and ideas for personalizing my oatmeal recipes.

Day One – Apple Pie Quick Oats

On the first day, I decided to involve my husband in the challenge and gave him a bowl of (what I call) Apple Pie Quick Oats. You can make this in minutes following the directions on the canister of the Quaker Oats Quick 1-Minute Oats.

Just core and dice an apple or two. Then, when the salted water begins to boil, put your apples in the pot with the oats. I also added vanilla, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Continue to cook the oats according to the package’s directions.

I let my husband decide how to top his oatmeal, and I decorated my own. Notice his has crumbled bacon, chopped pecans, AND extra brown sugar while I settled for pecans and a splash of maple syrup.

But that is the awesome thing about oatmeal. Everyone can express his or her own personality… I mean, preferences.

The next three days, I played around with different combinations of nutritious ingredients:

Day Two – Blueberry Peach Oatmeal Smoothie

Day Three – Cherry Cacao Oatmeal Bars (recipe coming soon!)

Day Four – Goji Berry Pumpkin Seed Granola (recipe coming soon!)

Doesn’t it look amazing?!?

Day Five – Overnight Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oatmeal

Then, on the Day Five, I wanted to create a recipe with steel cut oats. I’ve heard there are tremendous benefits to using steel cut oats but had always been fearful of the cooking time. So, I attempted to use the slow cooker.

I read horror stories about how the oatmeal burns and the edges get crusty but decided to try anyway.

The results were wonderful!

Even without a water bath in the slow cooker, my oatmeal turned out perfectly. Perhaps the reason why they did not overcook was because I have a small, low-wattage slow cooker and the “low” setting cooks very slowly.

I think the eight hours it took in my slow cooker might only take six in an average crock pot. However, the small size worked perfectly for four servings of oatmeal.

Or maybe it was because I sprayed the inside of the crock pot liner with coconut oil non-stick cooking spray. Regardless, this is one oatmeal recipe we will have again and again because it is simple and satisfying.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oatmeal

Wake up to a filling and nutritious breakfast with this flavorful Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oatmeal prepared overnight in your slow cooker!

Ingredients

1 cup steel cut oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk or almond milk
2 cups water
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Zest from one orange
Juice from one orange

Instructions

Spray inside slow cooker liner with non-stick cooking spray.
Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir to evenly distribute all ingredients and serve.

Nestle Toll House DelightFulls Fudge

This article is sponsored by Nestle Toll House. Opinions are my own.

Have you seen the new Nestle Toll House DelightFulls? My first encounter with these morsels of hidden sweetness was at a local grocery store, and immediately my mind was thinking of ways to incorporate the flavors like Milk Chocolate Morsels with Caramel Filling and Dark Chocolate Morsels with Mint Filling.

But quickly, my mind settled on a staple for any holiday dessert table… FUDGE!

If every family has one recipe that must be present during the holiday season, our family’s recipe is Grandma’s Fudge. Yes, we really call it that, and my grandmother even included the recipe when she compiled her recipes for each child and grandchild into a binder called, Cooking with Grandma.

From where the recipe originally came, I have no idea but we always use Nestle Toll House Morsels.

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter
5 cups granulated sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can Nestle Evaporated Milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream
pinch of salt
18 ounces Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 (9 ounce) packages Nestle Toll House Delightfulls (I used Milk Chocolate Morsels with Peanut Butter Filling)

Directions:

1. In a heavy stock pot or large pan, melt the butter, sugar, and evaporated milk together. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir constantly for 11 minutes. Exactly.
2. Remove pot from heat and stir in vanilla, marshmallow cream, salt, and Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels. Stir until the chocolate morsels are completely melted and all the ingredients are incorporated together. Place over low heat as your stir if needed.
3. Working quickly, pour half of the fudge mixture into a large bar pan, lined with aluminum foil that is coated with butter. Sprinkle half of the Nestle Toll House Delightfulls across the fudge. Then, cover with the remaining fudge mixture. Spread gently as needed but be careful not to spread so much that the morsels in the middle completely melt and combine.
4. Sprinkle remaining Nestle Toll House Delightfulls across the top and lightly press them into the fudge.
5. Cool completely before cutting. I recommend allowing the fudge to cool overnight in the refrigerator.

This recipe makes over 8 pounds of fudge.

Other ways to use Nestle Toll House Delightfulls

Now… what Nestle Toll House Holiday Recipes will you upgrade using the new Nestle Delightfulls? Can you imagine brownies studded with Dark Chocolate Morsels with Mint Filling? How about banana bread enhanced with Milk Chocolate Morsels with Caramel Filling? Or maybe cheesecake boasting Dark Chocolate Morsels with Cherry Filling?

The possibilities are endless but just in case you lack inspiration, check out all the Holiday DelightFulls recipes!

Homemade Mushroom Stock

Kitchen Tips

When cooking mushrooms, many recipes tell you to remove the mushroom stems, but living a frugal lifestyle means I feel guilty tossing those stems away.

I used to cook them anyway, regardless of what the recipe said, but recently I started collecting the stems in a freezer bag. Then, when my mushrooms have been neglected and start to shrivel or develop bruises, I add those to the bag.

Once I have collected about 2 cups of shriveled mushrooms and stems, I place them in a sauce pot with s little salt, pepper, a couple of garlic cloves and cover it with water. Set the pot to simmer, covered, over medium heat and then reduce to medium-low once the water boils.

You can let the stock simmer as long as you want and add a little more water as needed. The longer the stock simmers and evaporates, the stronger your stock will be. I recommend at least an hour.

Pour the broth through a strainer and reserve the liquid, discarding the vegetables.

Then, you can freeze your mushroom stock or use it to make a homemade cream of mushroom soup, add to other soups, rice, or pasta instead of water, or use instead of chicken or beef stock substitute to make vegetarian dishes.

12 Amazing Holiday Sweets

Looking for no-fail recipes to impress your guests this holiday?

Here are twelve of my favorites:

from the top row / Cranberry Orange Scones / Snowman Gourmet Apple / Sweet Potato Pie Push Pops / Slow Cooker Caramel Pie / OREO Cookie Balls / Rudolph Gourmet Apple / Gluten Free Caramel Macchiato Cake / Pecan Caramel Apple Bread Pudding / Santa Gourmet Apple / Reeses Popcorn Bars / Peanut Butter Cup Icecream Pie / Pecan Tassies

Chili Con Carne

Dinner

When the weather is cold, the temperature is just right for a steaming bowl of chili.

In our home, we take our chili seriously… VERY seriously. When the first cold snap occurs, I make a large pot of chili, and we freeze the leftovers to eat on for weeks, topped with everything and anything from tomatoes to cheddar cheese, sour cream to cilantro. We also love to serve chili over corn chips or tortilla chips – gives is a great crunch! – but other local friends like their chili over rice and sprinkled with chopped onion.

My chili always starts with dry beans. If I forget to soak them overnight, I will just give them a quick-cook using the method on the bag.

Honestly, I cannot stand the smell of dry beans as they cook. Not sure why… I just hate the smell. So soaking overnight works best for me but I often forget. Less time cooking means less time smelling.

And if you are scared of chili because you do not like spice, this Chili con Carne recipe is completely flexible. To spice it up, you can add chopped jalapeños or pepper sauce. To bring it down a notch, add less chili powder. It’s completely up to you.

Chili con Carne Recipe

A thick and rich chili con carne or chili with meat.

Ingredients

1 16 ounce bag dry kidney beans, sorted and rinsed
2 pounds ground chuck browned and drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
3 stalks celery chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 32 ounce carton beef broth
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
3 to 4 tablespoons chili powder
2 to 3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
Salt and pepper to taste (I use about 1 tablespoon of salt to compensate for the dry beans)
Water if needed

Instructions

Quick cook the beans according to package directions. Once done, rinse and set aside.
In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. When the oil shimmers, add onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Simmer, stirring occasionally, about three minutes or until softened slightly.
Stir in the remainder of the ingredients, including the beans. Bring to a boil.
Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 3 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Serve with shredded cheese, sliced jalapeños, rice… or whatever your family enjoys.

30 Easy Christmas Breakfast Recipes

Overnight Christmas Morning Casserole

Christmas morning can be exceedingly stressful when it really should be calm and relaxed. Plan ahead using this list of easy Christmas breakfast recipes and simplify your Christmas morning.

Choose recipes that can be prepped the night before, cooked in the slow cooker overnight, or require no cooking at all.

Low Carb Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole at Frugal Family Favorites

Pub Waffle Sandwich at Frugal Family Favorites

Christmas Wife Saver Casserole from Jo Cooks

Cinnamon Baked French Toast from The Mighty Mrs.

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole from All Kinds of Yumm

Garden-Fresh Oven Omelet Roll at Frugal Family Favorites

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts from Little Bit Funky

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls from From Away

Gingerbread French Toast Bake from Averie Cooks

All in one Breakfast Casserole from The Chaos and The Clutter

Ham and Cheese Quiche from Women Living Well

Sausage Crescent Pinwheels from The Hot Mess Kitchen

15 Minute Breakfast Pizza from The Busy Budgeter

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole from Lemon-Sugar

Easy Coffee Cake from Happy Hooligans

Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Casserole from Recipes That Crock

Apple Fritter Breakfast Casserole from Wonky Wonderful

Cowboy Hashbrown Skillet from The Country Cook

Cinnamon Roll Bread from Thrifty Treasures

Crock Pot French Toast from The Cake Eccentric

Ham and Cheese Quiche at Frugal Family Favorites

Vegetable and Sausage Skillet at Meet Penny

Overnight Monkey Bread from Live Craft Eat

Overnight Blueberry French Toast from High Heels & Grills

Cheesy Potato Casserole from Lil Luna

Overnight Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal from The Better Baker

Stuffed Bubble Biscuits from Guide Kitchen

Crock Pot Breakfast Scramble from Damanda Lynn

Crock Pot Apple Pie Breakfast from Key Ingredient

Pecan Praline French Toast from The Country Cook

Eggs Benedict Casserole from Susie Davis

Eggnog French Toast from Chef in Training

Cream Cheese Stuffed Monkey Bread from Recipe By Photo

*All pictures used by permission.

Lipton Refresh K-Cups and Pecan Tassies

This post is sponsored by Lipton®.

Iced sweet tea and pecan pie… it doesn’t get much more Southern than that. But when you are a busy mom, you learn to cut corners and that is why I keep Lipton® Refresh Iced Sweet Tea K-Cups on hand.

My oldest son will often request “a glass of fresh sweet tea.” Not sure where the “fresh” part came from because I promise I have never served him rancid tea! But with Lipton® K-Cups, I can give him the freshest tea possible in less than two minutes.

It’s important to note that you should not make an iced K-Cup beverage in a glass. We have a special plastic mug on hand for all of our iced drinks. Just brew and transfer. It’s easy~peasy.

Plus, tea is sweeter with discounts! SAVE $2 on any Lipton® K-Cup Packs now through 12/31. #TeaTimeSavings >>Print the coupon now.<<

As for the taste…

My son’s first glass of Lipton® Refresh Iced Sweet Tea was priceless. As he took a sip, the drink grew longer and his eyes grew wider.

“This is REALLY good tea!”

Hello, Mom of the Year Award! Here I come! And I will gladly thank Lipton as I hold my prized trophy.

And to solidify my nomination for Mom of the Year, I served his sweet tea with a side of Pecan Tassies.

Pecan Tassies Recipe

Pecan Tassies – or Pecan Tartlets to some – are a quick way to get the flavor of Pecan Pie without a ton of time and mess.

I make the dough for my crust in the food processor so it is really fast. Then, I save even more time by using my handy yet small cookie scoop and a tart press.

Once the dough is pressed into little cups, I mix up the remainder of the ingredients and use that same small scoop (rinsed off) to spoon a little pecan mixture in each well.

Once I topped these Pecan Tassies with extra pecans for garnish, they were on the verge of being too full. Be careful. A pecan tartlet that has overflowed the crust can be difficult to remove from your pan.

After baking for about 20 minutes and cooling to your preference, sprinkle these scrumptious treats with a little powdered sugar and serve.

Sit with a glass of Lipton® Refresh Iced Sweet Tea and a plate of tender pecan tassies under a magnolia tree and enjoy the afternoon. It’s bliss!

Pecan Tassies

Ingredients

For the crust:

1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
3 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup all-purpose flour

For the filling:

2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup pecan halves finely chopped plus additional pecans for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Add butter and cream cheese to food processor and pulse until well blended. Add flour; mix until a soft ball forms.
Using a small scoop, portion the dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls of dough into the wells of a mini-muffin pan and press to form an open cup with the dough slightly over the edge of the muffin well.
To make the filling, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Add the finely chopped pecans and mix well.
Using the small scoop again, fill each crust with filling (do not overfill).
Bake 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown.
Remove from oven; cool in pan 3 minutes. Remove from pan and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.

Rudolph the Reindeer Gourmet Apple

>>Get the instructions for making the base of your Gourmet Apple.<<

Your kids will love this festive Rudolph Gourmet Apple. His giant red nose and crunchy antlers are kid-pleasers for sure and make a great class gift or just a sweet treat for the mailman.

To make the Reindeer Gourmet Apple, you need to start with a Gourmet Apple base.

Once you have your Gourmet Apples ready to decorate, you can proceed as follows.

Needs:

Mini Pretzel Twists
Melted White Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Morsels or Royal Icing Eyes
Red Gumdrops or Gum Balls
Twizzlers Pull & Peel Strawberry or Cherry Twists

How to make a Reindeer Gourmet Apple

Start with the hardest part… the antlers. Place a pretzel on a cutting board and using a serrated knife, gently saw the pretzel in half (just beside the center) to form the antlers. Use melted chocolate to press the antlers into the head. If the apple is completely cold, the antlers will set quickly but you need to hold them still for a few seconds.

Also be aware that if you will be wrapping the apples in cellophane, you need to allow extra cellophane to fit around the antlers as they are fragile.

You can take the easy way on the eyes and purchase pre-made royal icing eyes or use melted white chocolate to shape the eyes and a milk chocolate morsel for the dark part of the eye. I do a little of both, buying the royal icing eye but adding a chocolate morsel to make it multi-dimensional.

The nose is a red gum drop or gum ball and can be heavy. If you can place it where it rests against the cupcake liner or a nut (underneath the chocolate), the nose will be easier to keep attached.

Rudulph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a classic and makes a fabulous gift for everyone.

Great Gift Ideas for the Home Cook

Reviews

I love to spend time in the kitchen and often ask for kitchen tools for presents. Some of my friends and family refuse to buy me kitchen gadgets as gifts because they claim the gifts are not “personal.”

Oh, believe me… if you buy me a kitchen tool, it is very personal! After all, what else could you buy for someones and guarantee that they will use it?

So, here is a list of my favorite kitchen tools and a list that I hope to add really soon. (Hint, hint: Santa, if you are reading…)

Gift Ideas for the Home Cook

Weber 741001 Silver One-Touch 22-1/2-Inch Kettle Grill, Black – Our Weber has lasted for 13 years and still keeps going! We love it.

Weber 6492 Original Instant-Read Thermometer – I am so surprised by the number of home cooks who do not have an instant read thermometer. I cannot live without mine!

KitchenAid KSM150PSER 5-Qt. Artisan Series with Pouring Shield – Empire Red – My husband gave me a KitchenAid Stand Mixer during our first year of marriage. Best decision he ever made!

OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set, White – A set of stainless mixing bowls is always handy!

Cuisinart CSB-75BC Smart Stick 2-Speed Immersion Hand Blender, Brushed Chrome – My immersion blender gets a workout during soup season.

Hamilton Beach 33182A Slow Cooker, 8-Quart – Every home cook needs a slow cooker… or three!

Lodge L10SK3ASHH41B Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder, 12-inch – I adore my 12 inch cast iron skillet! It is heavy but really feeds my family of six well.

Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, Elegant Black – Another necessity in my kitchen… the kitchen scale! I love getting precise with baking ingredients and measuring portions.

J.A. HENCKELS INTERNATIONAL Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife – Every home cook deserve one really excellent chef’s knife.

Norpro Stainless Steel Scoop, 56MM (4 Tablespoon) – I have stainless scoops in three sizes and I use them for everything BUT ice cream. I get perfectly portioned muffins, pancakes, cookies, sausage balls, and so much more with these tools.

And my wishlist…

Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/2-Quart Round French (Dutch) Oven, Cherry – While Le Creuset is the creme de la creme, I would even be happy with the Lodge brand.

Joseph Joseph Rocker Garlic Crusher,Press and Mincer Stainless Steel – My garlic press is showing signs of age and this one looks like fun to use!

Artisan (2 pk.) Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat Set, 16 5/8 x 11 – Reduce the need for parchment paper with these non-stick mats.

Excelsteel 12 Quart 18/10 Stainless Steel 4 Piece Muti-Cookware Set With Encapsulated Base – With the amount of pasta we eat, I would love to have a real pasta pot with insert.

All Ware Stainless Steel Pineapple Easy Slicer and De-Corer – My boys love pineapple and this would make my life so much easier.

CIA 23304 Masters Collection 12 Inch x 17 Inch Wire Cooling Rack, Chrome Plate Steel – I love making bacon in the oven but I am tired of it being so greasy. I think this would help but I would need two. Yes, we eat a lot of bacon.

Win a $400 Amazon Gift Card

Reviews

I love December but I remember a time when gift-giving was very stressful as our budget just had no room for gifts. My prayer for you is that you would never know that kind of stress!

The bloggers of the Inspired Bloggers Network have gathered to add some SPARKLE and SHINE to your December with TWO $400 giftcards to Amazon!

Giveaway Sparkle

I am excited to be on the SPARKLE team with these other awesome bloggers:

Betty Eisenhour from Peace Creek on the Prairie
Kori Tomelden from Just Another Mom
Kristi Kerr from The Potter’s Hand Academy
Sheri Graham from Sheri Graham – Living, Learning, Loving…Intentionally
Shari Miller from Shari A. Miller
Daisy Teh from TheItMom.com
Christina Root from Youthful Homemaker
Erica Acevedo from The Crumby Cupcake
Jeanae Osborne from Just Jeanae
Cassandra Roth from bottlesoup
Cara Koscinski from ThePocketOccupationalTherapist
Jenna Kochenauer from he Not-So-Fit Girl’s Guide to Fitness
Tesha Fritz from Freedom Pages
kelli becton from AdventuresInChildRearing
Kate Bilyj from Essential Wellness Bodywork and Fitness
Tabitha from Frugal Family Favorites

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter the giveaway from Team Shine!

And check out all the wonderful gift ideas below…

Disclosure: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Amazon gift card is valued at $400 USD. Giveaway expires December 15th at 11:59 PM Central. Winner will be notified by email within 24 hours of the giveaway closing and have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited. Thanks for participating. Good luck!

Easy Sweet Potato Pie Push Pops

#ThankfullySweet #CollectiveBias

Thanksgiving can be a stressful holiday for some families. You are preparing recipes that you have not created in a year (or more) and want everything to be perfect. And you know you need pie on your holiday table but where can you find an easy sweet potato pie recipe?

Just between me and you… I have a showstopper of a pie recipe that will only take you minutes to prepare because it starts with Mrs. Smith’s Sweet Potato Pie and Cool Whip. Yes, the pie is store-bought but no one will know it unless you tell them.

Visit Coupons.com for a coupon and then swing by Walmart to grab a Mrs. Smith’s Sweet Potato Pie and a tub of Cool Whip. Both products are located side-by-side so even your spouse can run in, find it, and go!

Easy Sweet Potato Pie Push Pops

To construct the push pops, you will need push pop cylinders.

TIP: If you cannot find those at your store and do not have time to pick them up at Amazon, you could also make this trendy by stacking Mrs. Smith’s Sweet Potato Pie and Cool Whip in narrow Ball jars. Just another easy option to keep you from stressing out.

(A video is embedded. If you cannot view the video, please visit my YouTube page.)

Follow the package directions for baking the sweet potato pie and also place the Cool Whip in the refrigerator to thaw.

Once your pie is cooled completely, you are ready to construct the push pops.

Instructions:

Use a biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter approximately the same size as the push pop cylinder to cut rounds of pie. Place the circles of pie into the cylinder and then use a tart press rolled in pie crust crumbs to gently press the pie to fit the cylinder.
Next, pipe Cool Whip on top of the pie. You want an equal layer of Cool Whip to the pie and remember that it will flatten slightly when you place the next level.
Cut another circle of pie and press it gently using your hand to flatten it slightly. Drop this circle of pie carefully on top of the Cool Whip layer and then top with Cool Whip.
Crumble the edge of the pie crust and sprinkle on top for a decorative garnish.

Literally, the construction of these Easy Sweet Potato Pie Push Pops takes less than ten minutes!

If you need more inspiration, visit Cooking Up Good for recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

Reese’s Spreads Popcorn Bars

Dessert, Kids

#AnySnackPerfect #CollectiveBias

When I saw this sweet lady in Walmart, it was love at first bite. Reese’s Spreads.

Oh my! You had me at Reese’s. But to know they have come out with a spread!?!

My waistline may never be the same.

I am already constantly cooking something peanut butter and chocolate, but to have the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter flavors in spreadable form? Now, my snack times will be filled with my favorite flavors. Awesome!

My mouth is watering! So many ideas… smear it over toast, waffles, or pancakes… spoon some over apples, bananas, or strawberries… stir it into cookie dough… spread it over crackers…

Oh yes, Reese’s Spreads and I have plans to become very good friends.

But for today, I wanted to combine the ease of a krispie treat with the sweet and salty of a popcorn ball.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars

For this recipe, you will need to swing by Walmart for the following:

3 tablespoons butter
1 package (10 oz.) Miniature Marshmallows
1/2 (heaping) cup Reese’s Spreads
6 to 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn, lightly salted
2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate bar, melted
1 cup Reeses Pieces candies

Instructions:

Line a bar pan with waxed paper.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the marshmallows until melted and add a heaping mound of Reese’s Spreads, stirring until combined.

Remove the pan from heat and fold in the salted popcorn. As you stir and the mixture cools, add the Reeses Pieces candies, reserving a few to sprinkle on top.

Press the popcorn mixture into the bar pan. The mixture will be very warm so exercise caution. Also, the Reeses Pieces will crack under pressure but we will cover that with the yummy drizzle and extra candies.

Allow to cool completely. Then, drizzle melted chocolate over the entire pan and sprinkle with remaining Reeses Pieces.

Once the chocolate hardens, you are ready to cut. You will need a sharp knife as the bars are chewy.

My children were standing around and constantly asking if the Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars were ready. They had watched me scoop the Reese’s Spreads into the pan and were already drooling.

Soon, it was snack time and even I had to indulge.

Chewy goodness with the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Now, I can have the Reese’s flavor I love at snack time!

How will you spread your Reese’s Spreads? Want to try them?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars