Budget Bytes: January 2011

real bread pudding
$5.95 recipe / $0.74 serving

I've made a couple of bread puddings for the blog in the past (apple cinnamon and pumpkin) but they've both bean a "lighter" version... more of a breakfast item than a decadent dessert like they serve it here in the south. Well, earlier today I went to a friend's house for brunch and had decided that I was going to bring some bread pudding. Since I was bringing the bread pudding somewhere AWAY from home, it wasn't going to sit around in my kitchen taunting me. I knew it was safe to make the full blown, thick, rich, full-fat custard bread pudding ... WITH RUM SAUCE!

So, if you ever have an opportunity to make a dessert that you will not be in danger of accidentally eating all yourself, make this one. You wont be disappointed, neither will your friends.

Let me apologize ahead of time for the pictures. I made the bread pudding early this morning before there was decent light and I couldn't cut into it to plate it for photos. Hopefully you'll get the idea.

Oh, also "real" bread pudding has raisins and pecans. I forgot to buy both so I just had to use the walnuts I had on hand. Oops. The cost break down is for what I actually used.

Real Bread Pudding

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apple spice pork chops
$7.41 recipe / $1.85 serving

Are y'all ready for this?

...no, no, I don't think you are.

Okay, if you insist... But if your head explodes upon contemplating the deliciousness of this recipe, don't say I didn't try to warn you.

I don't even know if I can describe it... it's just wonderful. No, it's more than wonderful. The brown sugar and butter create an amazing caramel like sauce that drenches the pork chops in a deep, rich, sweetness. Add a little spice from the cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper and you've got a carnival in your mouth. Pork heaven.

Also, since the chops simmer in the delicious sauce there is not even a fraction of a possibility that chops will end up as dry hockey pucks. No, they're juicy, rich, sweet and savory all at one time. *mouth watering as I type*

A couple of notes: I used boneless, center cut, thick chops but you use bone-in as well. I chose fuji apples for this recipe because I wanted something that was halfway between sweet and tart. I would suggest using any variety that is sweet but not sickeningly so. You want a little "acid" in there.

Apple Spice Pork Chops

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cinnamon raisin bread
$1.24 recipe / $0.10 slice

I saved the best for last this week, folks. As good as the black bean burgers were, this bread is simply indulgent (without the guilt).

With the success of turning the regular no-knead bread into a delicious cranberry walnut loaf, I got to thinking... What about cinnamon raisin? Yep, it was just as easy and even more delicious than all of the other no-knead loafs that I've made so far. I felt like I just threw all of the ingredients in a pot, forgot about it for a few hours and then I suddenly had this gorgeous loaf of incredibly fragrant and delicious cinnamon raisin bread. Pure magic, I tell you.

I'm not into super sweet things so I added just a touch of brown sugar to the dough and let the cinnamon and raisins do most of the work. If you're used to a super sweet, almost dessert like, grocery store type of cinnamon raisin bread, you might want to add more brown sugar.

You'll need a few hours but next to no thought or effort to make this bread so please promise me that you'll try to make a loaf this Saturday morning while you're hanging out in your PJ's.

cinnamon raisin no knead bread

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mixed potato home fries
$2.51 recipe / $0.63 serving

Slow Saturday mornings deserve eggs and home fries.

Extra special Saturday mornings deserve extra special home fries. Enter the sweet potato.

Mixing sweet potatoes and red skinned new potatoes brings home fries to a new level in flavor and texture. The dish is flavorful enough to stand on it's own or you can make it a side dish (say, to some black bean burgers) or as a bed for a fried egg.

I took the easy route with my potatoes and cut them super small so that the heat from the skillet would be enough to cook them through. If you prefer larger chunks, you will need to par-boil or microwave the potatoes before adding them to the skillet. Par-boiling does make a fluffier interior to the potato but, it was the weekend, I was in my pajamas and I really didn't want any extra dishes to wash!

Although the home fries are very simple to make, they do take a while to cook. So kick back, sip a cup of coffee and check your email while your potatoes brown to a perfect, caramelized crisp.

mixed potato home fries

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black bean burgers
$6.69 recipe / $1.12 each

I love getting recipe suggestions from readers but I like it even more when it just happens to be something that I'm really in the mood for! Last week I got an email from Katie who said she was tired of paying $7 for a veggie burger (w/o sides!) at restaurants. Lucky for Katie, I was seriously craving some sort of massive sandwich or po'boy or burger... so I set out to find some recipes.

Most recipes that I found for black bean burgers were very similar to the falafel that I made (which are seriously one of the BEST things that I've made) so I knew the burgers were going to be good. The concept is simple, black beans mashed together with some vegetables, spices and some sort of binding agent. You can make them with an Indian flare (curry powder), a Mediterranean feel (oregano, sun dried tomatoes and maybe some feta) or just throw together whatever spices you want. I just added a little of this, a little of that and what resulted was a seriously good bean burger! Follow my lead or make it your own!

The buns I purchased were ENORMOUS so I had to make my patties to fit. I was able to make six HUGE patties but, in all honesty, I'll probably only eat half at a time. If I had regular sized buns, I would have made eight smaller patties.

black bean burgers with mustard

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zucchini fritters
$2.08 recipe / $0.35

Last week, when I made my Lasagna Roll Ups, I had a tough time deciding what sides to go with them. A salad is classic (so I did that with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette) but I also needed something with more substance. I definitely wanted a vegetable so I looked at my little sticky-note full of "want to cook" items and saw Zucchini Fritters - BINGO.

After looking at countless recipes for zucchini fritters, I noticed that many of them had Greek or Mediterranean style seasonings. Since I was going with an Italian theme, I just changed up the herbs to fit. The rest of the recipe is almost always the same: shredded zucchini, flour and egg (as binders). My fritters were free form but if you prefer something more stiff that you can actually shape into a patty, just add more flour.

I served my fritters with homemade marinara to dip in but they are certainly delicious by themselves as well. Since they're fried, they will only be crispy on the first day. I've been eating the left overs all week and despite being soft and mushy (especially after reheating in the microwave), they were still very flavorful and satisfying.

Zucchini Fritters

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basic balsamic vinaigrette
$2.10 recipe / $0.35 serving

I usually don't make my own salad dressings because a) I'm kinda lazy and b) it's really hard to compete with a 16 oz. bottle of decent tasting dressing that retails for under $2.

The key to what makes that rationale so so very wrong is the phrase "decent tasting." Why was I trying to compare homemade dressing to the cheapest of the cheap? My homemade dressing may cost over $2 for 3/4 cup but it tastes so good that I literally had to stop myself from drinking it. Yes, I wanted to drink it. It would be more accurate to compare this dressing to that fancy schmancy stuff that they sell refrigerated in the produce aisle for $6-8 per bottle. There are no bulking agents, no super duper cheap oils, it's all REAL baby!

Plus, I really wanted to post this because making a vinaigrette is one of those basic skills that you need to learn on your journey to becoming a kitchen pro. Lesson numero uno: it's "vinaigrette" not "vinegar-ette." Okay, now we can move on.

balsamic vinaigrette

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spinach lasagna roll ups
$8.01 recipe / $1.14 serving

Here is another super easy dinner idea with endless possibilities for variation. I can't exactly say that it's a "quick" recipe because it does have to bake a while but the actual assembly is really quick and easy.

I filled my Lasagna Roll Ups with spinach and cheese but you could also do mushrooms, pesto, or any meat. You really can make this one your own.

Combine the roll ups with a classic salad and some quick garlic bread and you've got a stellar meal that has "date night" written all over it. If you don't have a date, simply pop them into individual containers and freeze. When you're ready for a serving just take one out and microwave until it's cooked through. Take that, Marie Callender!

Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

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BB review:
"I'm Just Here for the Food Vs. 2.0"
by: Alton Brown

Okay, I got this great book for Christmas (thx Jeffrey!) and it's so good that I had to share it with y'all. There is truly something in this book for everyone, from the seasoned cook to the newbie.

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(not) butter chicken
$6.22 recipe / $1.04 serving

Okay, I don't really know what this recipe is but I DO know that I started with a recipe for butter chicken (which may not have been all that authentic to begin with) and then it was changed it up to fit my wants, needs and supplies.

The result? Absolutely, freaking delicious. It's spicy, tangy and super aromatic. This is one of those dishes that makes me look forward to eating my lunch every day... even though I've eaten the same thing for the past three days. The left overs are every bit as delicious as day one.

Garam masala is a major flavor component for this dish and can't be skipped. In regular grocery stores it can be pricy (low demand in the general public) so search out ethnic grocery stores, you'll pay a fraction of the price. You can also mix up your own garam masala from individual spices. There are many recipes for garam masala online, one of which can be found here. If any of you routinely buy spices online, please share your experience, favorite merchant and buying tips in the comments section below.

One more note about chicken: boneless, skinless breasts can cost you an arm and a leg if you don't buy them right. First, shop sales. Second, ALWAYS buy value packs. I buy my chicken breasts in a 5 lb. pack and it costs at least $1 less per pound that way. As soon as I get home from the store, I divide the pack up into bags of two breasts each (thats usually what I use per recipe) and refreeze. It only takes about 5-10 minutes and I save at least $5. I actually intended to use chicken thighs for this recipe but buying the breasts in the value pack was less expensive per pound than chicken thighs. Imagine that.

(not) butter chicken Indian

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freezer breakfast burritos
$3.56 recipe / $0.59 serving

Remember a while back when I made freezer burritos? Well, if you don't, the long and the short of it is that they were awesome but not necessarily less expensive than the frozen burritos from the store. I planned to try again with homemade tortillas and cooked rather than canned beans to further reduce the cost. Today I finally got around to doing so.

You can put whatever you want in the burritos but I used my homemade tortillas, scrambled eggs, black beans from my freezer, salsa and cheese. I made the burritos a little healthier by using half whole wheat flour in the tortillas, using reduced fat cheddar and omega-3 enhanced eggs. Even with the more expensive cheese and eggs, the burritos were still only $0.59 each. I WIN! Now I have something healthy, delicious AND satisfying to tide me over between the gym and work. There will be no temptation to run to the vending machine or coffee shop for me!!

freezer breakfast burritos

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spicy black beans & tomatoes
$2.49 recipe / $0.21 serving

I've been on a bean kick lately, can you tell? They really are the most fantastic food. Beans are super nutritious, delicious and one of the most inexpensive food items out there. For some reason there are still people out there who do not like them. Well, I'm convinced that those people just haven't had good beans yet. So, it is my New Years resolution to turn at least one person from a bean hater into a bean lover. No, no, make that a legume lover (because I gotta include lentils in all of this).

Making beans delicious is all about the seasoning. I first started experimenting with some canned black beans last year. This is still a great side dish solution if you're short on time but lately, I've been cooking dried beans in my slow cooker to save even more money. Up until now, I've cooked them plain so that I could season them later according to whatever dish I was using them in.

The black beans I cooked this week, although seasoned, will still work with a variety of dishes. They are an excellent side dish (I ate them along side my fajitas), you can stuff them into burritos or you can turn them into a quick soup. This makes a pretty big batch but the beans can be frozen for later use. I usually freeze at least half of the batch right away.

NOTE: You can't see the tomatoes in the end product but they do give a fantastic depth of flavor.

Spicy Black Beans & Tomatoes

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chipotle mashed sweet potatoes
$2.12 recipe / $0.35 serving

Here's another quickie (but a goodie) for ya. I know chipotle is a super food trend right now but can you blame it? I mean, it's smokey and spicy and just GOOD! I came across this recipe for Chipotle Sweet Potatoes on Liv Life a while back and book-marked it, just knowing that it would be delicious.

These sweet potatoes are creamy, sweet and spicy (aka: trifecta of deliciousness). Plus, they're a breeze to make and super inexpensive. I'm pretty sure that wins them an instant place in the Budget Bytes hall of fame.

p.s. Chipotle peppers in adobe sauce are kind of like tomato paste. Despite their super small can size, I have yet to come across a recipe that uses even half of the can. Just freeze the rest so you don't have to buy a new can every time.

chipotle mashed sweet potatoes

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beef fajitas
$12.25 recipe / $2.04 serving

I really went through a lot to make these fajitas. Not because they're difficult but because I could NOT seem to get the ingredients that I wanted. Apparently, this is not fajita season.

My first choice for fajitas would have been flank steak, cooked on a grill 'till medium-rare then sliced nice and thin (oooh-yeah). Well, the first store that I went to was selling flank steak for $9/lb. and noo sir, that just won't work with my budget. The second store that I went to didn't even have flank steak. So, it was either make chicken fajitas or use some pre-sliced beef stir fry meat. I was really craving beef so I went with the stir fry meat. Get flank steak if you can.

The first store that I went to was also out of cilantro. Weird, huh? Well, the second store that I went to had cilantro (half wilted at that) but was out of limes!! I don't know what was going on but I really REALLY wanted fajitas so I just bought some lime juice instead. Get fresh limes if you can so that you can add the zest to the marinade and squeeze some fresh juice over your fajita just prior to eating.

Sometimes cooking on a budget means compromise.

Anyway, these fajitas are a super quick and delicious answer to week night dinners. Take five minutes out the night before to get the meat marinating then you can cook them up in about 30 minutes the next day.

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flour tortillas v.2.0 (low fat)
$0.44 recipe / $0.04 serving

After making my first batch of tortillas the other day, I decided to try another recipe. I chose a recipe that uses vegetable oil (and very little of it) instead of lard because, lets face it, there isn't always room for lard in our lives. At least not mine.

I ate one right off the skillet and I wasn't too impressed. The texture was more like a flat bread than the almost pie-crust-like, flaky texture of lard tortillas. I figured that I wouldn't make them again... but then the low fat tortillas and I had a moment.

Fast forward to 3:30am New Years day when I stumble into the house after wishing the entire city of New Orleans a happy New Year. I had one thing on my mind and one thing only: EGG AND CHEESE QUESADILLAS!! I didn't pay attention to which tortillas I grabbed out of the fridge because, honestly, at that point it didn't matter. Well, I grabbed the low fat batch and I was very pleased. They were good. Very good, for being low fat. And that wasn't just my celebratory state speaking. I've eaten them nearly every day since! I probably WILL make these again after all!

So, for all of you who can't afford to have lard in your diet, here is a good substitute. (but to be fair, you really can't compare the two... lard tortillas and non-lard tortillas are just two different beasts).

low fat tortillas

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flour tortillas
$0.66 recipe / $0.08 serving

Tortillas are one of my favorite bread items and I use them for just about everything. Luckily, there is a fairly large Hispanic population in Louisiana so I am able to find tortillas fairly inexpensively at the grocery store. ...EXCEPT burrito size tortillas (the really large kind). I can only find burrito sized in large national brands, like Mission, and they tend to be pretty pricey, comparatively speaking. ...which is dumb because tortillas are about the cheapest things on the planet.

So, using this recipe from Rick Bayless, I whipped up a batch of tortillas! It was pretty quick and painless and resulted in some pretty delicious flour tortillas.

His recipe uses all white flour while I substituted about 1/3 with whole wheat. Also, I divided my dough into 8 pieces rather than 12 so that I could make larger burrito-sized tortillas. This recipe is really easy and is a very reasonable project for the weekend. The tortillas stay good in the refrigerator for up to a week (in an air-tight package).

Flour Tortillas whole wheat