Budget Meal

Homemade BBQ Sauce

January 28, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Homemade BBQ sauce is one of the easiest condiments to make at home. In fact, my daughter whipped up this batch and loved helping in the kitchen.

Making BBQ sauce and other pantry staples at home allows you to control the ingredients AND it usually winds up saving you money! This BBQ sauce recipe consists of ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, mustard powder and salt and pepper. The best part: it really is as simple as dumping all the ingredients in a bowl and stir it up.

homemade bbq sauce ingredients in clear glass bowl with child's hand adding tablespoon of paprika

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Budget-Friendly Game Day Appetizers

January 21, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Hosting a Super Bowl party doesn’t have to break the bank. These budget-friendly Game Day appetizers will feed a crowd and save you enough to splurge on fancy beer. 😉

From homemade crackers, chicken flautas, and allergy-friendly bagel bites to dips and crock pot appetizers, we’ve got a range of recipes for whatever you’re craving and they’ll fit any budget.

How to Plan for a Game Day Party

When hosting any kind of party, it is important to know about how many people you are expecting. This way, you can plan your food budget to make sure that you don’t spend an arm and a leg feeding everyone.

The trick for calculating appetizers for any party is:

1-2 pieces per person per hour bite size snacks
1-2 ounces of dip per person
1-2 drinks per person per hour (this could be one beer, one glass of wine, one can of soda or one bottle of water)

How to Keep it Budget-Friendly

For parties where you won’t have a sit-down meal, one of the best ideas for keeping food costs low is to make your own veggie and cheese tray.

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Cherry Chia Banana Smoothie

January 15, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

When I think of a quick breakfast, I immediately go to smoothies. You literally dump all the ingredients in and mix it up. It’s also the perfect way to get kiddos to eat fruits and vegetables that they normally wouldn’t be willing to try. Insert this Cherry Chia Banana Smoothie. The fruit adds the perfect amount of sweetness without any added sugar, and the chia seeds add fiber and protein to keep you feeling full.

Ingredients

Frozen Cherries: The best option is to pit and freeze your own cherries when they are in season and ON SALE. You can find fresh cherries at their lowest price from June to August. Your next best option is to pick up a bag of frozen cherries. I recommend checking at your local Dollar Tree. This is my secret weapon for frozen fruit. What may cost $3-4 dollars at your usual grocery store is only $1.

Banana: If you’re like me, you have a stash of overripe bananas in your freezer at any given time. These work perfectly in smoothies. If not, you can use fresh bananas or pop one in the freezer for an hour before adding to the smoothie.

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Southern Pimento Cheese

November 19, 2019 by Sarah 4 Comments

Southern Pimento Cheese has been a staple in my house my whole life. My dad grew up in Texas and has been putting his own spin on this simple dish for as long as I can remember.

Some will argue that Pimento (or Pimiento, they’re both acceptable and mean the same thing) Cheese should contain cream cheese, but I disagree. The simple, affordable ingredients really do allow for the flavors of each component to come through.

Ingredients

Sharp Cheddar Cheese: It is really important to shred the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in a powder to prevent it from clumping, and it really affects the flavor. Take the time to shred it either by using a box grater or a food processor. I call for Sharp Cheddar because you want cheese with a lot of flavor, but Extra Sharp is too overpowering.

Diced Pimientos: These will come in a jar and be in the pickle/olive section of your grocery store. If you can’t find diced, you can get a jar of whole or sliced and chop them yourself.

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Easy Holiday Appetizers on a Budget

November 1, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

The holidays can be a stressful time between gifts and attending parties. Check out my tips for keeping it simple during this busy holiday season and check out the compilation of appetizer recipes below. These easy holiday appetizers come together quickly, will be a crowd-please, and they are affordable for any budget.

Tips for Easy Appetizer Prep

It’s important to set yourself up for success when you know you’re entering a busy time of year. When planning what to bring to a family gathering or holiday party, think of items that can be made days in advance. You can get the prep out of the way so that it comes together very easily the night of your event.

If you’re headed to a brunch, try my Everything Bagel and Lox Spread. It can be made up to two days in advance. I serve it with “bread sliced” bagels when I’m really trying to impress. 😉

Don’t be afraid to take some help from the store. Prepared pie crust or puff pastry is the perfect shortcut for easy appetizers that will still look amazing. Canned beans will blend up easily for a delicious, homemade dip or hummus.

The slow cooker is your best friend. I don’t know how many times I’ve thrown a package of Lil’ Smokies in the slow cooker with a bottle of barbecue sauce and a little grape jelly. It is the easiest appetizer and it is always a hit. Meatballs, chicken wings, spinach dip… These all would work wonderfully in the slow cooker.

For even more tips, check out this article from Taste of Home.

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Classic Corn Casserole

October 18, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Corn casserole, corn pudding and spoon bread are all possible names for the same dish – Whole Corn, Creamed Corn, Sour Cream, Butter, Eggs and Jiffy Corn Muffin mix. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

The variations, though, come in your extra additions or subtle differences in the combination of ingredients. If you ask anyone on my mom’s side of the family, Corn Casserole consists of whole corn, creamed corn, butter, eggs and crushed up saltine crackers. It’s a perfectly acceptable interpretation of corn casserole, but I very much prefer corn muffin mix to the saltine crackers.

Ask someone else and they’ll tell you that corn casserole should have chopped jalapenos and shredded cheese mixed in. Again, a perfectly delicious option.

That is the beauty of this dish. You have a basic, fool-proof recipe in which you can customize to your heart’s desire.

Corn Casserole Variations

Add 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice to the batter. Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheese on top. Bake as usual.
Mix in one drained can of diced green chilies before baking.
Amp up the sweetness by added 1/4 cup sugar to the batter.
Add 1/4-1/2 cup crumbled bacon to the batter.
Do any combination of the above for an even more interesting interpretation.

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Instant Pot Apple Butter (with free printable canning label!)

October 10, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

cutting board with burlap napkin with jar of apple butter and spoon

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When I think of fall flavors, I immediately think of the rich apple and cinnamon flavor of apple butter! Oddly enough, apple butter does not contain any actual butter. It is really just spiced applesauce that is cooked down to the point that all of flavors basically caramelize into a sweet, apple-y, cinnamon-y love in a jar.

The process to make apple butter is usually pretty time consuming if you make it on the stove or in the slow cooker. I’ve cut it down to a total time of 45 minutes by using the Instant Pot!

How to Make Apple Butter

By cooking in the Instant Pot, we cut down the time it takes to cook down the apples. To start, all you have to do is core and slice your apples. There is no need to peel them if you don’t want. I really like leaving on the peels because it is added nutrition and it helps deepen the color of the apple butter.

You can also use whatever apple variety you prefer or have on hand. I tend to go for the crunchy and super juicy varieties like Gala and Fuji. Go with apples that you enjoy to eat raw and you can’t go wrong.

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Ultimate Zucchini Recipe Round-Up

September 24, 2019 by Sarah 1 Comment

As we reach the end of summer, you may find yourself up to your eyeballs in zucchini. Whether you grew it yourself or stocked up on a really good sale at the grocery store, I’ve compiled 80 (yes, 80!!) Zucchini Recipes to help you make the most of your produce.

80 recipes can be overwhelming, so I have divided the recipes in categories: Savory, Sweet and Snacks. Feel free to jump to the category you’re in the mood to enjoy and see what looks tasty!

How to Store Zucchini

You have a few different options for storing your zucchini. If you plan to use it within 5-7 days of buying or picking, you can store it in the fridge. Make sure that the zucchini is whole and pat dry with a paper towel. Any added moisture will cause the zucchini to mold more quickly. Place the zucchini in a plastic bag, but leave the end exposed to allow for air circulation. Store the bag in your crisper drawer.

To freeze zucchini, you’ll want to blanch it first. To do this, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Make sure that you don’t salt the water as this will get absorbed in the zucchini and cause it to turn mushy. Cut the zucchini into 1 inch pieces. Add the zucchini to the boiling water and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Immediately remove the zucchini and place in a water bath (a bowl of ice water). This will stop the cooking and help the zucchini maintain its texture after freezing.

Spread the blanched zucchini out on a sheet pan and freeze in a single layer. This way the zucchini won’t freeze in a solid block. Once frozen, you can transfer the zucchini to a freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Check out this article from Grow a Good Life if you’d like even more ideas for preserving your zucchini haul.

Let me know in the comments what are some of your favorite zucchini recipes.

Zucchini Recipes

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Ham and Cheese Crescent Ring

September 9, 2019 by Sarah 1 Comment

Ham and cheese baked in crescent roll ring sprinkled with pretzel salt on a baking sheet

Ham and Cheese Crescent Ring is what’s for dinner tonight! On the table in 20 minutes and sure to please even my pickiest eater, it’s a go-to in our household. I’ll say it. Sometimes you just have to make a meal you know your kids will love. Nutritionally sound? Could be better. Organic? Definitely not. Quick, easy, and something they will actually eat? Ding, ding. We have a winner.

My daughter couldn’t help but be nosy as I was putting this Ham and Cheese Crescent Ring together. And isn’t that really the point of it all? I don’t know about you, but I hate wasting time on a meal she inevitably won’t eat. Of course, I still mandate a “thank you” bite, but I would much rather prefer she enjoy what I put in front of her without fuss.

daughter standing in kitchen holding a slice of ham helping assemble ham and cheese crescent ring

Aside from being kid-friendly, you can switch out the ingredients for a boatload of combinations. Switch out the ham and cheese for chicken, bacon and colby jack cheese. You can even spread on some ranch dressing before adding the filling. Ooh, what about taco meat with cheese and salsa. Ok, I’m totally doing that next time.

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Savory Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Love this Fall

July 31, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

photo collage of savory pumpkin dishes with title text

Fall is right around the corner, and I couldn’t be more excited. Sweater weather, boots, and fall flavors… What’s not to love?!? I know you’re all thinking I’m talking about Pumpkin Spice anyway, but I’m actually excited to use pumpkin in savory recipes, too. Add a cup on apple cider and I’m all set!

From Instant Pot pasta recipes to soups and chili, you can use cubed pumpkin or pumpkin puree in a variety of ways. When it’s all done, roast up the pumpkin seeds, too.

To make your own pumpkin puree, cut your pumpkin (pie pumpkin is best for eating) in half and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and roast in a 400 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until you can insert a knife easily through the skin and meat. Allow the pumpkins to cool, then scoop out the meat and blend in a food processor adding a little water or vegetable stock as needed for the consistency you want. This puree can be used as the base for both sweet and savory recipes.

Let me know in the comments which one of these dishes you are most excited to try. I wouldn’t leave you hanging without at least one dessert recipe, too. Check out this one over at my friend June’s blog, Practically Homemade.

Savory Pumpkin Recipes You'll Love this Fall

Fall is my favorite season. Not just because of the weather and leaves changing to gorgeous colors. I LOVE the flavor of fall! I've compiled 15 savory pumpkin recipes for you to try this fall. Let me know what you think!