So, I couldn't help clicking the google ad that had the word "baconnaise" in it... I have to try it just to see... I mean... mayonnaise is good, bacon is good, can it be bad? Gonna have to make a special trip to Piggly Wiggly to find some! I'll update this post with a comment when I finally try it :D
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picnic potato salad $5.93 recipe / $0.74 serving
This recipe is a hybrid recipe from both Whole Foods Market and Epicurious. I like this version of potato salad because it tastes much lighter due to the use of sour cream in the dressing. Don't get me wrong, I love a spicy mustard/mayo potato salad (and I will, without doubt, post a recipe for one some day) but this time I was in the mood for something light and refreshing. This salad definitely hit the spot!
Picnic Potato Salad
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Picnic Potato Salad
The beauty of freezing your leftovers is that once in a while you'll find a gem hiding in the back of the freezer! I was craving dessert and not wanting to waste money on it when I discovered the last left-over frozen mini key lime pie, just waiting to be devoured. YAY!
-Beth M
turkey apple panini $7.2 recipe / $2.41 serving
There is nothing that I love more than a good sandwich but I'd be broke in a heart beat if I ran to the local deli every time I got the urge. Therefore, I have decided to experiment with gourmet sandwiches to see if I could have it just as good at home without shelling out 7 or 8 bucks per sandwich. I think the first one was a success so here it is!
Turkey and Apple Panini
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Turkey and Apple Panini
pesto pasta salad $11.69 recipe / $0.97 serving
This wonderful pesto pasta salad makes a great summertime side dish or vegetarian main dish. My local Whole Foods Market makes a pasta salad called Tortellini Rustica which inspired this dish. Finding a 10 oz. jar of pesto for only $2.24 made this pasta dish not only affordable but a down right STEAL.
Pesto Pasta Salad
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Pesto Pasta Salad
tomato chevre scramble $1.14 recipe / serving
I still had some of that great goat cheese (chevre) that I got on sale and have been putting it in *everything* ever since. Today I made a delicious egg scramble with a roma tomato, basil from the garden and lots of that wonderfully light and creamy chevre!
Tomato Chevre Scramble
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Tomato Chevre Scramble
spaghetti with meat sauce $8.12 recipe / $1.16 serving
NEVER under estimate the power of pasta. This recipe is another one of my "emergency meals" because it is so insanely satisfying, under $10 and I can eat off of it for almost a week! Now, all of my foodie friends always get on my back for buying marinara in a jar but sometimes you need a quick fix, okay? I have made marinara from scratch many a time and yes, it is wonderful. BUT until I can cost out the recipe, i have a free afternoon AND I have room in my freezer for a gallon of marinara left overs, it's all about the jar! Granted, I do doctor up the jar stuff to my liking :)
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
spinach and goat cheese pizza $8.58 recipe / $2.15 serving
I'll tell you a secret: when I'm not making this blog, I make gourmet pizzas for 8 hours, 3 days a week! This is one that I make for myself because it is just so freakin good! As I mentioned earlier, I splurged this week on goat cheese because I found it on sale for $4.99/11 oz.! This is something I would love to make when getting together with friends and a bottle of wine. Wine and pizza are so great together... so long as it's good pizza (like this) and not the grease soaked 30 minute delivery kind ;)
Spinach and Goat cheese Pizza
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Spinach and Goat cheese Pizza
balsamic peach sundae $1.12 recipe/1 serving
This fancy sundae is sure to wow guests at your next dinner party! I have seen recipes for topping ice cream with strawberries marinated in balsamic vinegar so when I made my Balsamic Glazed Peaches, I knew I had to try them on ice cream. Sure enough, this was the best ice cream dish I have EVER tasted. Don't be afraid. Just trust me.
Balsamic Peach Sundae
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Balsamic Peach Sundae
almond peach salad $1.57 recipe/serving
Fruit on a salad is not a new concept but the savory aspect of the balsamic peaches adds a bright flare. Creamy goat cheese and crunchy almonds round out this salad perfectly. I was lucky enough to find goat cheese on sale for $4.99/11 oz. this week and I HAD to take advantage of that steal. Goat cheese is one of my all time favorites!
Almond Peach Salad
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Almond Peach Salad
balsamic glazed peaches $1.40 recipe / $0.23 serving
I guess I was over zealous last week when I found the peaches for $1/pound. I had way too many peaches to eat before they went bad. My solution: cook 'em up and eat them on everything! So, I caramelized the peaches in some butter and made a balsamic vinegar reduction sauce. This recipe is quick and goes with just about anything, savory OR sweet!
Balsamic Glazed Peaches
Total Recipe cost: $1.40
Servings Per Recipe: 6 (about 1/2 peach)
Cost per serving: $0.23
Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 10 min. Total: 15 min.
STEP 1:Wash the peaches off under running water making sure to rub off the dry fuzz. Slice the peaches into 12 sections each (cut in half, remove the pit, cut each half in two, then each quarter into 3).
STEP 2: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add the peach slices. Stir the peaches to coat in butter. Stirring occasionally, cook the peaches until they are slightly golden. Don't worry about under or over cooking them, they will still taste great. Under cooked peaches will just be slightly more firm and over cooked peaches will be mushy, perhaps loose their shape but super sweet. *NOTE* Do not turn the heat up any higher than medium or you will risk burning the butter and peaches. Not good. The butter should steadily sizzle but the pan should not get dry or turn dark.
STEP 3: Once the peaches are cooked to your desired firmness, add the balsamic vinegar all at once. As soon as you add the vinegar the liquid in the skillet should begin to thicken. Stir the mixture until the liquid is the consistency of gravy. Again, you can't go too wrong with this part.
STEP 4:Remove the pan from the heat and add the peaches (and any residual sauce) to your favorite recipe!
What did I do with my balsamic peaches? I made a delicious salad and the best tasting vanilla ice cream sundae EVER.
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Balsamic Glazed Peaches
Total Recipe cost: $1.40
Servings Per Recipe: 6 (about 1/2 peach)
Cost per serving: $0.23
Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 10 min. Total: 15 min.
| INGREDIENTS | COST | |
| 3 medium | ripe peaches | $0.84 |
| 2 Tbsp | butter | $0.26 |
| 3 Tbsp | balsamic vinegar | $0.30 |
| TOTAL | $1.40 | |
STEP 1:Wash the peaches off under running water making sure to rub off the dry fuzz. Slice the peaches into 12 sections each (cut in half, remove the pit, cut each half in two, then each quarter into 3).
STEP 2: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add the peach slices. Stir the peaches to coat in butter. Stirring occasionally, cook the peaches until they are slightly golden. Don't worry about under or over cooking them, they will still taste great. Under cooked peaches will just be slightly more firm and over cooked peaches will be mushy, perhaps loose their shape but super sweet. *NOTE* Do not turn the heat up any higher than medium or you will risk burning the butter and peaches. Not good. The butter should steadily sizzle but the pan should not get dry or turn dark.
STEP 3: Once the peaches are cooked to your desired firmness, add the balsamic vinegar all at once. As soon as you add the vinegar the liquid in the skillet should begin to thicken. Stir the mixture until the liquid is the consistency of gravy. Again, you can't go too wrong with this part.
STEP 4:Remove the pan from the heat and add the peaches (and any residual sauce) to your favorite recipe!
What did I do with my balsamic peaches? I made a delicious salad and the best tasting vanilla ice cream sundae EVER.
summer squash saute $2.63 recipe / $0.66 serving
It's mid-week, only $30 left till pay day and I'm having a serious craving for vegetables. What is a girl to do? Visit the produce market for a couple squash on the cheap and saute them up with a vibrant mix of herbs! This dish goes perfectly with just about any cut of meat or seafood and is so quick and tasty that it is sure to become your "go to" vegetable side dish!
Summer Squash Saute
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Summer Squash Saute
yummy yogurt parfait $0.67 / serving
It's peach season! This week I scored big when I found peaches on sale for $1/pound. My favorite breakfast/sweet tooth fix is a yogurt parfait! While this parfait can be made with a number of different fruits and crunchy bits, I'm definitely going to take advantage of peaches while they're around. The best part about this snack is that the ingredients keep for a fairly long time so all you have to buy fresh is the fruit!
Yogurt Parfait
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Yogurt Parfait
stock your kitchen
The excuse I hear most often as to why my friends do not cook for themselves or why they think it would too expensive to cook for themselves is because they don't have a properly stocked kitchen. I decided to put together a list of basics that I think every kitchen should have to get them through the most basic recipes. Sure, there will be ingredients in every recipe that you need to buy fresh but these are the items that you can buy once or buy once in a great while and use over and over and over again. Remember, the cost of these items are often one-time costs or once-a-year (or longer) costs.
With all of the cooking I do, these bottles of herbs and spices often last me over a year. Because the cost is so small and hard to calculate, you will often see me list these ingredients in recipes as costing $0.05 per recipe or $0.10 per recipe for more expensive herbs and spices. NOTE: these prices are for "brand" products. if you can find generic, the cost will be even lower.
These dry items can be kept for a very long time if sealed air tight to keep out moisture and critters.
Although these items are fresh and do not last forever like the other kitchen basics, I keep them at all times because they are so widely used in my every day cooking that I use them up before they go bad.
If you are on "super tight budget lock down" then don't worry! You don't need to buy all of these things at once! This is just a guide for those of you who don't know where to begin or are overwhelmed with the thought of getting everything you need to start cooking for yourself. Once again, this list is not everything that you will need to cook every recipe but it is a great start!
What else is on my personal "must have" grocery list? Well let's see...
Bananas: I eat them in my cereal, in yogurt parfaits or as a carry along snack.
Yogurt: a healthier alternative to the usual sweet tooth fix and also makes a great parfait for breakfast.
Coffee: I gotta have my morning cup a joe. So warm and satisfying!
Canned Beans: If I'm really in a pinch for time or money, I just open a can, pour it over some rice, add some salsa and cheese and I'm good to go. This is my emergency meal.
Dry pasta, jar of pasta sauce: another emergency meal, great to keep on hand (they last forever).
A $10 bottle of wine: just in case you have "one of those days" or an unexpected dinner guest!
What are your kitchen basics? What food, ingredient, gadget or appliance can you not live without? Post your answers and share with us all!
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Spices and Seasonings
With all of the cooking I do, these bottles of herbs and spices often last me over a year. Because the cost is so small and hard to calculate, you will often see me list these ingredients in recipes as costing $0.05 per recipe or $0.10 per recipe for more expensive herbs and spices. NOTE: these prices are for "brand" products. if you can find generic, the cost will be even lower.
| salt | $0.36 | 26 oz. |
| fresh pepper grinder (mini) | $2.22 | .85 oz. |
| seasoning salt (like tony chachere's ) | $1.32 | 8 oz. |
| dried basil | $1.94 | .62 oz. |
| dried oregano | $1.62 | .75 oz. |
| red pepper flakes | $2.68 | 2.62 oz. |
| cumin | $2.62 | 2 oz. |
| total | $14.4 | 7 items |
Pantry Basics
These dry items can be kept for a very long time if sealed air tight to keep out moisture and critters.
| sugar | $1.12 | 20 oz. |
| all-purpose flour | $1.50 | 2 lbs. |
| olive oil | $6.28 | 25.5 oz. |
| balsamic vinegar | $1.58 | 8 oz. |
| non-stick spray | $1.74 | 8 oz. |
| bread crumbs | $0.98 | 15 oz. |
| long grain rice | $1.46 | 2 lb. |
| brown rice | $1.56 | 2 lb. |
| total | $16.50 | 8 items |
Fresh/Refrigerated Items
Although these items are fresh and do not last forever like the other kitchen basics, I keep them at all times because they are so widely used in my every day cooking that I use them up before they go bad.
| milk | $2.33 | .5 gal |
| eggs | $1.88 | 1 doz (12 ea) |
| salsa | $1.98 | 26 oz. |
| shredded cheese | $1.78 | 8 oz. |
| total | $9.09 | 4 items |
Appliances and Utensils
| measuring cups | $2.74 | set of 4 |
| measuring spoons | $1.64 | set of 5 |
| cutting board | $9.98 | 8x10 inches |
| plastic food storage containers | $10.00 | 24 pc. set |
| total | $24.36 | 4 (27, technically) items |
A Kitchen Stocked with the Basics - $64.35
If you are on "super tight budget lock down" then don't worry! You don't need to buy all of these things at once! This is just a guide for those of you who don't know where to begin or are overwhelmed with the thought of getting everything you need to start cooking for yourself. Once again, this list is not everything that you will need to cook every recipe but it is a great start!
What else is on my personal "must have" grocery list? Well let's see...
Bananas: I eat them in my cereal, in yogurt parfaits or as a carry along snack.
Yogurt: a healthier alternative to the usual sweet tooth fix and also makes a great parfait for breakfast.
Coffee: I gotta have my morning cup a joe. So warm and satisfying!
Canned Beans: If I'm really in a pinch for time or money, I just open a can, pour it over some rice, add some salsa and cheese and I'm good to go. This is my emergency meal.
Dry pasta, jar of pasta sauce: another emergency meal, great to keep on hand (they last forever).
A $10 bottle of wine: just in case you have "one of those days" or an unexpected dinner guest!
What are your kitchen basics? What food, ingredient, gadget or appliance can you not live without? Post your answers and share with us all!
mini key lime pies$6.74 recipe/ $0.84 each
Being cheap and bad is oh so good! Every now and then I crave something sweet but I especially don't want to spend a lot when I know it's not good for me anyway. I love this recipe because it is quick, easy, and has automatic portion control! Sure, you could make this from scratch for a fairy low-cost too but hey, time is money!
Mini Key Lime Pies
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Mini Key Lime Pies
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