hummus & grilled vegetable pizza $4.40 recipe / $1.10 serving

hummus & grilled vegetable pizza

$4.40 recipe / $1.10 serving

I know it sounds weird, hummus on a pizza? Well, back in the day when I was slingin' pizzas at Whole Foods, we made a special vegan pizza using hummus as a replacement for the sauce and cheese. We didn't really ever get any requests for this pizza but we made it a few times just for fun. So, what was it like? GOOOOOOOOOOD!

The hummus just kind of works because it's thick and rich like cheese and it's almost as moist as sauce. Not to mention, hummus has LOADS of flavor. I guess you can just think about it like dipping some pita into hummus and then eating some roasted vegetables in the same bite. See? It does make sense.

Anyway, I made this pizza from scratch using this dough recipe and this hummus recipe. So, it did take a while to make but I was able to make both the hummus and the roasted vegetables during the rise time for the dough. This is a great rainy summer day project.

If you don't want to go through the trouble of making the dough, check with your local pizzeria to see if they sell raw dough balls. Also, check the frozen section of the grocery store. Sometimes pizza dough balls are sold frozen. They just need to be thawed and stretched then they're ready to go!

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garlic parmesan roasted cauliflower $3.89 recipe / $0.65 serving

garlic parmesan roasted cauliflower

$3.89 recipe / $0.65 serving

Oh man, I've been waiting on cauliflower to go on sale forever! Because, as much as I love cauliflower, I'm not paying almost $5 for a head of it. So, when I saw it for less than $3, I snatched that thing up.

This is one of my favorite ways to cook cauliflower. Of course I roasted it because I like almost every vegetable roasted and then I added just a little garlic, parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. Simple flavors make for a simply delicious dish.

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tuna & red pepper pasta $4.14 recipe / $0.69 serving

tuna & red pepper pasta

$4.14 recipe / $0.69 serving

I love Italian cooking because the pasta recipes are just so simple. Throw together some cooked pasta, olive oil, garlic, and maybe one or two other tasty ingredients and you've got yourself a meal.

This recipe definitely fits that formula. The "sauce" is simply olive oil flavored with garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Add to that little bits of salty tuna and flecks of fresh parsley and you're instantly transported to some little trattoria on the Mediterranean coast!

This recipe is quick, simple, light, and fresh. It will definitely be a winner for all of you who love the subtleties of olive oil's flavor.

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microwave tortilla chips $0.23 serving

microwave tortilla chips

$0.23 serving

Last night in my quest for a late night snack I stumbled upon something completely magical and I just had to share it with you. I have a feeling that all of the college students out there will especially like this one...

The back story...
I'm the type of person that can't buy chips or crackers because I'll just sit down and eat the entire box or bag at once and then the next morning I'll have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe because nothing will fit anymore. So, I just don't buy them. I save money on the snacks and the new clothes that I don't have to buy as a consequence. Anyway, last night I needed a snack (read: Sriracha and something to serve as the vessel to eat it on) but I had nothing. Usually, I'll make some popcorn for that salty crunch (and dip it in Sriracha) but I was out of vegetable oil and it just doesn't pop the same in olive oil. Then it hit me, I had some whole wheat tortillas! If you bake tortillas, they turn into chips! But, it was late and I didn't feel like heating up the entire oven just to have some chips. Then I remembered seeing online somewhere that you can make potato chips in the microwave. Soooo, I gave it a shot with tortillas. Success!!

Last night, I made these without spray oil and without any seasoning and they were still fantastic. The tortilla stuck to the plate a little so I added the non-stick spray today. The non-stick spray also helps adhere the seasoning. So, if you want it completely fat free, it can be made without oil, just be aware of the sticking issue.

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chipotle orange pork tacos $19.13 recipe / $1.59 serving

chipotle orange pork tacos

$19.13 recipe / $1.59 serving

I've been on a Mexican food kick lately, can you tell?

Well, I had bought a big 'ol pack of corn tortillas for the huevos rancheros and only used about 6, so I decided to make some tacos. And, since I LOVE slow cooked pork, I decided to try a new twist on a slow-cooker classic.

This recipe did end up being a tad more expensive than I had anticipated but it makes a serious amount of meat. I'll probably only use half for the tacos and then freeze the rest. There is enough meat here to make at least twelve tacos, perhaps more. Also, the toppings that you choose will also greatly affect the final cost. There is so much flavor in the meat and sauce that you might only need a little cilantro and sour cream. It's up to you!

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pico de gallo $1.91 recipe / $0.32 serving

pico de gallo

$1.91 recipe / $0.32 serving

I made some pico de gallo for my huevos rancheros the other day and it was so delicious that I decided that it deserved its own post. Besides, it's so versatile that I know I'll be referencing it a lot so it needed a unique link.

I've never been overly impressed with pico de gallo in restaurants but when I tasted this I was literally blown away. Okay, not literally, figuratively blown away. But, still, it was amazing. I'm not sure where the magic is lost when it's prepared in a commercial kitchen, but it is always lacking. Whatever the reason, it was so good that I gobbled it up with a fork by itself. Pico de gallo no longer seemed like a condiment, but a yummy yummy salad.

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oven roasted corn with honey chili butter $1.70 recipe / $0.43 serving

oven roasted corn with honey chili butter

$1.70 recipe / $0.43 serving

Roasting vegetables in the oven is one of my all-time favorite ways to prepare them. The roasting process seems to concentrate the flavors and makes everything just a tad sweeter. Corn is no exception to this rule.

Roasting corn in the husks traps the moisture and, in effect, steams the corn in its own juices. The end result is super moist, super sweet kernels that burst forth with flavor when you bite into them. Yeah, I know that sounds dramatic but the experience really was quite exceptional. Boiling corn yields a juicy kernel as well, but during all of that boiling, the flavor kind of gets diluted out. Roasting definitely takes the crown.

Not to mention, it's insanely easy. Just heat up the oven and then pop them in there. You don't even need to dirty any dishes!! Seriously.

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huevos rancheros $6.44 recipe / $1.07 serving

huevos rancheros

$6.44 recipe / $1.07 serving

I love a good breakfast and if you do too, then you've got to try huevos rancheros. This dish is hearty enough to settle your stomach after a night out drinking, pretty enough to serve to your love as breakfast in bed, and fancy enough to serve to guests as an after church Sunday brunch. It's just perfect.

Not to mention it's completely customizable. If you need something quick, buy pre-seasoned canned beans and a jar of salsa. I had time so I seasoned some beans that I had previously cooked from dry and then frozen. Also, I made a fresh pico de gallo to go on top. You could also add enchilada sauce, sour cream, avocado, green onion... lots of options here.

Did i mention that pico de gallo? Yes? Well I'm going to again because, honestly, it stole the show. It was so quick and easy yet so delicious that I found myself eating it out of the bowl with a fork. Must make again.

If you're cooking for yourself, you can do as I did and prepare the full batch of pico de gallo and beans but keep them in the fridge so they're ready to use. Then, each morning, just cook the tortilla and egg fresh and assemble your huevos rancheros.

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Contest WINNER!

Contest WINNER!

Well, it's the moment that you've all been waiting for.  The winner of the first ever Budget Bytes giveaway contest is...

May Ling Wu!

Her favorite seasonings to use are:

Garlic, Sage, and Cilantro!  Congratulations May Ling!

I want to thank everyone for participating and standing by through all of the technical difficulties!  I had a great time reading all of the entries.  They were interesting, enlightening, and definitely fun! You all have a great sense of humor :D

I had so much fun holding this contest that I am going to try my best to make it happen again... and again... and again!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a great recipe that uses both garlic and clinatro ;D

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budget panzanella salad $8.73 recipe / $1.46 serving

budget panzanella salad

$8.73 recipe / $1.46 serving

Ahhh, panzanella salad. It's so good with all of its vinaigrette soaked chunks of bread, olives and cheese. But we all know that good olives and cheese are not cheap. So, I switched a few things up for this recipe to make it a little more budget friendly.

First, I used half a loaf of homemade focaccia instead of a store bought crusty atisan loaf. If you haven't already tried this super easy and delicious focaccia, you MUST. Second, I went light on the expensive ingredients, like olives and cheese. Sometimes just a little is enough to give the flavor that you need. Third, I substituted half of the olive oil in the vinaigrette for vegetable oil and lastly, I bulked up the salad with a bunch of shredded romaine lettuce.

Unfortunately, I did not capture just how "saucy" the salad is in the photos. As you eat and stir all of the juices begin to culminate on the bottom of the bowl where the crusty bread soaks up all of that glorious flavor... it's just fantastic.

You can keep this salad fresh and delicious all week by keeping the ingredients separate and combining them just before eating. More details below.

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balsamic caprese panini $2.36 each

balsamic caprese panini

$2.36 each

This sandwich is nothing short of fantastic. Caprese salad is simply slices of tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. It's a fresh, summertime classic. I went a step further and sprinkled some balsamic vinegar on the bread to just kick everything up a notch. Oh so good!

There are two must haves for this sandwich: a hearty, crusty bread and fresh mozzarella. The bread has to be able to stand up to the vinegar and the mozzarella has to be moist, soft and very fresh tasting like fresh mozz is. You'll find the fresh mozz in the specialty cheese section. It's usually in a ball and packed in liquid and definitely worth splurging on every now and then.

While this sandwich is on the more expensive side of Budget Byte meals, it is still far less than the $8 that this would cost at the local po'boy shop. But, this was kind of a celebratory meal for me so I allowed myself to splurge. Also, if you grow your own basil (which I intend to do very very soon) then you'll cut the price significantly. This sandwich would also be fantastic on some no-knead focaccia, which would also cost far less than the 3 ft long baguette that I bought. Oh well, next time!

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1st ever GIVEAWAY!

1st ever GIVEAWAY!

Aaaaaaaand it's closed.  Thanks for participating, everyone!  The winner will be announced soon! XOXO

There have been many exciting things going on in my world lately, one of which was winning a recipe contest and receiving a gift card to Williams Sonoma as a prize!

The contest was held by the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission and included three categories: kid friendly, sugar free, and vegetarian. Here is a link to the contest winners. My Roasted Sweet Potato and Poblano Salad won second place in the vegetarian category!

Anyway, it was really difficult to decide what to buy with the gift card because I pretty much wanted everything. One thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to use some of it to give back to all of you wonderful people who have made this blogging experience so incredibly amazing over the past two years. The gift card wasn't enough to buy something for everyone (ha ha) but I was able to buy this really cool retro mixing bowl and matching measuring cup & spoon set to give away to one lucky reader!



Cute huh? I bought a set of the bowls for myself as well. I love the spout, the extra wide lip on one side for gripping and the rubber around the bottom that helps the bowl stick to the counter top as you stir.

So, there will be one winner of the contest and they will receive:


These mixing bowls...


and these matching measuring cups and spoons.

Here is how to enter the giveaway:

1. Post your five favorite spices/seasonings/condiments/oils or vinegars in the comments section below.

2. Make sure the comment includes a way for me to contact you if you are the winner. That means if you comment as "anonymous" you must also leave your email or website in the comment. If you comment as a logged in user, make sure your profile either has your email or a link to your website with your email on it. Unfortunately, blogger doesn't just give me access to the email address of every commenter.

3. Post your comment before 12:00 PM central standard time on Monday, May 16th.

What happens then?

I will then use this random number generator to pick a commenter at random. I'll contact you to get your address and mail the goods out first thing Monday morning!

I can't wait to hear what your favorites are!

Off hand, I would list mine as (in no particular order): sriracha, toasted sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, Tony Chachere's extra spicy, and... hmmm... this week the fifth spot goes to smoked paprika! ;D

Of course I'll probably change that list completely after reading all of your comments... there are just too many yummy things out there to pick five.

GOOD LUCK!

One more suggestion... if you post your email in the comment, I would suggest doing it as Josie (#2) did with this format: name(at)domain(dot)com because that will prevent spam bots from grabbing your email address.

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ham & bean soup $6.56 recipe / $0.82 serving

ham & bean soup

$6.56 recipe / $0.82 serving

Have you ever seen those bags of 16 bean soup mix in the dry bean aisle at the grocery store? Well, they're kinda like the ramen of the bean world. They come with their own packet of "flavoring" that you're supposed to boil with the beans to yield a delicious hearty soup. Well, beans, salt and MSG doesn't sound too appetizing so I made my *own* seasoning.

Something special happens when you boil meat, bones and all of the connective tissue into a broth. It might seem frightening at first and it certainly doesn't look very appetizing but I promise you that every soup you've eaten that has that certain "je ne sais quois" has this magic broth. From homemade chicken noodle soup to Vietnamese pho, they've all got the boiled bones and slow-cooked gelatinized tissues. So, please over look the unsightly ham hocks and believe me when I tell you they *make* this soup. You can use smoked turkey wings instead if you'd like. They'll still give you great flavor and they have less fat but they're also more expensive.

Also, if you don't have a slow cooker, you cane make this on the stove top in a pot. Just let it simmer with a lid in place until the beans are soft (2-4 hours).

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beth's best tuna salad $4.12 recipe / $1.03 serving

beth's best tuna salad

$4.12 recipe / $1.03 serving

I think I might have been at least 18 years old before I realized that you could add more to canned tuna than just mayonnaise... and when I did, a whole new world opened up in front of me! So, this recipe goes out to all of you who have never wandered outside of the tuna box.

There are many directions that you can take tuna salad and I like just about every one of them, but I always come back to this basic recipe. I love the addition of lemon juice because it provides just a little bit of tang to cut through the creamy mayo. The celery and walnuts add a variety of texture in every bite and the green onions make everything savory without the harsh bite of yellow onion.

What is your favorite way to prepare tuna salad? I'm always up for trying something new!

p.s. Always check (or calculate) the price per ounce on items like tuna. I noticed that the larger cans were actually more expensive per ounce than buying multiple smaller cans! This is probably due to a supply vs. demand.

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skillet lasagna $11.73 recipe / $1.96 serving

skillet lasagna

$11.73 recipe / $1.96 serving

Those of you who follow Budget Bytes on Facebook may recall a few weeks back when I tried to make Alton Brown's slow cooker lasagna and it turned out... less than fabulous.

Well, everyone seemed so excited about making lasagna in a slow cooker that I've been researching the idea ever since. After looking at about a million recipes, I have come to the conclusion that there isn't much of an advantage to making lasagna in the slow cooker. The recipes all looked like just as much work and required either a) cooking ingredients prior to putting them in the slow cooker, b) laborious layering just like regular lasagna, or c) an awkward cooking time (4 hours? Can't do that while you're at work or while asleep so what's the point? Just make regular lasagna in half the time...).

Anyway, I've decided that the easiest way to achieve lasagna goodness is to make it in a skillet. Yes, like hamburger helper... but a hundred times better. It isn't pretty and layered like regular lasagna but in exchange you don't have to spend time building it and you don't have to subsequently bake the thing for 45 minutes. AND IT'S EVERY BIT AS DELICIOUS!

So, here is how it's done:

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