Green Bean, Potato, and Sausage One Pot Meal

If you will be hosting overnight guests this Christmas season, you will probably be looking for a quick and hearty meal. This is one of my favorite meals to prepare when I need a hearty dish that will serve a crowd or to give to families dealing with illness, new homes, etc. I often refer to this as the "Hospitality Dish" because it is perfect for families who need a meal and I have had [+]

Frugal Mac – Perfect Use for Leftover Meat

The other day, I was looking for a quick chili-type dish but wanted to use what I had on hand, which wasn't much since I was going to the grocery the next day. I came up with Frugal Mac because it was very similar to Chili Mac but cost just a few cents per serving. This dish was about $3.50 for the entire pot and lasted several meals and snacks. I assembled this dish without a [+]

Taco Potato Shells

This was the first time I made twice-baked potatoes, but I'm now convinced that they are worth the extra time. Plus, this recipe is the perfect dish for a few of the gargantuan potatoes my guy picked up at Costco. Ingredients: 3 large baking potatoes 1 Tablespoon butter, melted 1 pound ground beef (You could get away with a half pound if you substitute with extra veggies, i.e. onions, peppers, shredded carrot, tomato, etc.) 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 (1.25 [+]

Chicken Pesto Pizza

I think I found a new family favorite! It is a nice compromise to ordering out and in comparison to restaurants, it's a cheaper alternative. It does cost more than our average meal, so I plan to fix it again on the days we want something special. Chicken Pesto Pizza Ingredients: 1/2 cup pesto sauce 1 (12 inch) pre-baked pizza crust 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed. (Next time you bake or grill chicken, prepare an extra couple of pieces [+]

Grilled Dijon Pork Chops

If you like mustard-based sauces you will enjoy this one. It's quite versatile and you can tweak it depending on what you have on hand. Grilled Dijon Pork Chops Ingredients: 6 tablespoons Dijon Mustard 6 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons unsweetened apple juice (I had regular apple juice on hand and it tasted fine.) 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 4 (8 ounce) bone-in pork loin chops ( I used 1.35 lbs of boneless pork chops.) Directions: 1. Combine Dijon mustard, brown sugar, apple juice and [+]

Homemade Freezer-Ready Pizza Sauce

I originally found this recipe at Miserly Moms years ago, before frugal was the new black, and used it often. I recently rediscovered it and pulled it back out of the cookbook as another effort to reduce expenses at home. If this sauce is made and ready, I will be more likely to make pizza at home rather than order out and I do not have to run to the grocery store when I choose [+]

Prize Winning Texas Chili

As promised in my Ultimate Blog Party post, today I am sharing my favorite, prize winning chili recipe. This recipe comes from my grandpa in Texas, who you may remember from a previous post if you are a regular reader here, is a great cook. Last weekend, our church had a chili cook-off and of 20+ pots of other chili, his recipe won! I am so excited because I make this for my family several [+]

Calico Beans – a hearty dish that stretches ground beef

Calico Beans 1/2 pound ground beef 1 medium (1/2 cup) chopped onion 1/2 cup ketchup 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon dry mustard 2 teaspoons vinegar 1 can pork and beans 1 can kidney beans 1 can lima beans Brown beef and saute onion until tender. Combine beef, onion, ketchup, salt, brown sugar, mustard and vinegar in a 3 quart baking dish. Partially drain beans and add to baking dish, stirring gently. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Great served with this frugal [+]