Tacos

Makes: 6-8 tacos

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1/8 tsp. oregano

Corn tortillas

Taco toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, cilantro, taco sauce, etc.)

In a large skillet, brown ground beef with onion and salt; drain fat. Add remaining ingredients to skillet (excluding tortillas and toppings) and simmer 15 minutes over low heat. While taco meat is cooking, heat a small amount of oil in a small skillet. When oil is hot, place one tortilla at a time into the skillet. When the first side is lightly browned, flip tortilla and lightly brown the second side. Repeat for all additional tortillas depending on how many tacos you plan to make.

Scoop 1/4 cup taco meat into each taco shell and top with your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy!

Notes: Tacos are a favorite in our house and lots of families make Taco Tuesday a traditional each week. What I love about this recipe is the tomato sauce because it helps hold the meat together in the taco shell and you lose less meat out the back of your taco. Plus by making your own taco seasoning, you know exactly what ingredients are in your dinner. If you prefer to have crispy taco shells that hold their shape then add more oil to your skillet and hold the tortilla in a traditional taco shell shape as it cooks in the oil. Then be sure to cook both sides of the tortilla.

Recipe from my mom, Kay.

Venison Stew

Serves: 4-6

1 lb. venison round steak, cut into 1" chunks
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c. onion, diced
1 T. olive oil
Salt & pepper
1 can (15 oz.) green beans, undrained
3 carrots, peeled & cut into chunks
2 medium potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
3 c. water or beef broth
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 T. Worcestershire sauce
Grated Parmesan cheese

 (Optional first step) - If your meat tends to have too much strong gamey flavor, try soaking it in a mixture of 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 cup milk for several hours or overnight before cooking it.

Pressure Cooker - Add olive oil to pressure cooker pot and turn to Sear setting. Add venison, garlic and onions and season with salt & pepper. Cook and stir until meat is browned. Cancel Sear setting. Drain grease. Add all additional ingredients (excluding Parmesan) to pot. Mix ingredients together and seal lid. Set pressure cooker to soup/stew setting and cook for 20 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes then manual release remaining pressure. Remove bay leaves. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of individual servings. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker - In a large skillet, heat olive oil then add venison, garlic and onions and season with salt & pepper. Cook and stir until meat is browned. Remove from heat and drain grease. Combine all ingredients (excluding Parmesan) to slow cooker pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours or until potatoes and carrots are soft. Remove bay leaves. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of individual servings. Enjoy!

Notes: I specifically made up this recipe to go with the venison we have in the freezer from my daughter's fall youth hunt. But any type of game meat or even a cut of beef would do great in this stew. We were lucky enough to be given an amazing loaf of homemade sourdough bread from a friend the first time we made this but I would also think about making Parmesan Herb Bread in the bread maker the next time we have it.

Recipe by Stacy

Chicken Enchiladas

 

Serves: 4-5

1 lb. chicken breast, cooked & shredded
1/4 c. salsa
2 1/2 c. Colby Jack cheese, grated, divided
5-6 flour tortillas, burrito size
1 (15 oz.) can enchilada sauce, divided
Toppings: Salsa, sour cream, cilantro (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine shredded chicken with salsa. In a 13x9 baking dish, pour 1/3 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom. On a plate or cutting board, lay flat one tortilla. In the center, spread 1/2 cup of chicken and top with 1/3-1/2 cup of cheese. Leaving the ends open, roll one end over the filling and then continue rolling until the tortilla is a long cylinder. Place in baking dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining tortillas until all chicken and cheese is gone, keep aside 1/3 cup cheese. Place each rolled tortilla in the pan, close up next to the previous tortilla.

Once all tortillas are in the pan, pour remaining enchilada sauce over rolled tortillas. Cover baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove cover and top enchiladas with remaining cheese. Return to oven for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and top with salsa, sour cream and/or cilantro, if desired.

Notes: I love enchiladas because like Quiche there are so many different fillings to try. Chicken and cheese are my family's favorite so this is the way we make it most often. But you can use ground beef, ground turkey, shredded beef or leave the meat out altogether. You can choose any variety of enchilada sauce you like, red or green; mild, medium or hot. If you own a pressure cooker, one of the easiest ways to cook the chicken for this dish is to put it on the chicken/poultry setting for 8-12 minutes with the 1/4 cup of salsa with 3/4 cup of water. Then drain the extra liquid when it finishes cooking and shred the meat.

Recipe from Stacy.

Quiche Anyway

Made with Colby Jack cheese, spinach plus sauteed onions & green bell peppers

Made with Cheddar cheese, ham lunch meat and broccoli

* This quiche can be made any number of different ways depending on the meat and vegetables you have on hand and your family's personal preferences. 

Serves: 5-6 (Makes 2 quiches)

12 eggs
1/2 c. milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. shredded cheese (any variety)
1/2 - 1 c. cooked meat of your choice (optional)
2-4 additional 1/2 cups of your choice of veggies (fresh or frozen)
2 pre-made pie crusts (homemade or store bought)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, break eggs then add milk and whisk until well combined. Stir in salt & pepper. In 2 pie pans, lay out one pie crust in each pan. Put 1/2 cup of cheese on the bottom of each crust. Spread vegetables and meat, 1/2 cup each on top of cheese, placing the heaviest filling on top. Pour half of egg mixture into each pie crust. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until eggs are set in the middle.

Notes: There are so many ways to make quiche and that is the beauty of this dish. Some of our favorite veggies to put in quiche are spinach, broccoli, onions, bell peppers (any color) and potatoes (they must be cooked first). I have found that vegetables with a strong flavor (onions, bell peppers, etc.) can be toned down by sauteing them in a small amount of butter. Spinach is also best torn into smaller pieces and spread in the crust before the cheese.

Any variety of meat can be used such as ham, sausage, bacon or even left out altogether if you prefer your quiche to be meatless. Even without meat, there is still plenty of protein from the eggs. Also, any variety of cheese can be used as well. Cheddar, Colby Jack, Swiss and Pepper Jack are favorites of ours. We often make two different quiches for the same dinner. Enjoy!

Recipe from Stacy.

Lemon Chicken

Serves: 4-5

5 chicken thighs; bone-in, skin removed
1 c. chicken broth
1 lemon
2 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. rosemary
Salt, to taste
Hot, cooked noodles

In a small mixing bowl, add chicken broth, lemon pepper and rosemary. Zest the whole lemon and add zest to the mixing bowl. Then cut the lemon in half and add the juice of both halves to the broth  mixture. Place chicken thighs into the base of a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Pour broth mixture over the top of the chicken pieces.

In a separate pot, cook egg noodles until soft. Serve with cooked chicken and sauce.

Pressure Cooker: Set to chicken setting and cook for 10-12 minutes (or according to your specific cooker's directions). Release pressure manually when finished cooking. Add salt as needed to taste.

Slow cooker: Cook on high for 3-4 hours or until chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Add salt as needed to taste.

Notes: This Lemon Chicken is quick, simple and easy to make especially in the pressure cooker. We like to serve it with the hot, cooked noodle and pour the leftover broth/sauce over the chicken and noodles. Green beans, either canned or steamed fresh are also a great addition.

Recipe from Stacy.

Split Pea Soup

Serves: 6-8

2 c. dried split peas
8 c. water
2 carrots, peeled & chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. marjoram
Seasoned salt & pepper to taste

Rinse dried peas in a colander. Combine all ingredients in cooking vessel of choice. Cook for required amount of time. When cooking time is finished, remove & discard bay leaf. Using a ladle, scoop about half the soup into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour soup from blender back into cooking vessel trying to keep it to one side. Scoop out additional soup and blend on high again. Return blended soup to the pot. If soup still seems thin, allow it to continue cooking until its desired consistency. (You can also use an immersion blender and blend the soup directly in the cooking pot.)

Cooking Methods
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker - Cook on beans setting for 15-17 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes then manually release remaining pressure. (Note: even after the 10 minutes for natural depressurization, there is still A LOT of pressure and your pressure release valve will "spit" a lot of water and steam out.)

Stovetop - Bring to a boil, cover and cook for about 1 hour or until split peas are soft. Stir every 15 minutes to keep peas from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Crockpot/slow cooker - Cook on high for 3-4 hours or until split peas are soft. Stir after adding water to make sure the peas don't stick to the bottom of the crock pot.

Serve with Baking Soda Biscuits.

Notes: This recipe has been around in my family since I was a kid. It is such a simple, meatless, vegetarian & vegan meal. Plus split peas are low in fat, high in iron and have a ton of great fiber and protein. And most people don't realize all the other great vegetables that are in this soup too! Don't be afraid to give this a try with your kids (my kids love it!). If you have to, give it a fun name like Shrek Soup or Green Goo Stew.

Recipe from my mom, Kay.

Beans & Cornbread

Serves: 6-8

3 c. dry pinto beans
12 c. water
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. seasoned salt
Salsa (optional)

Rinse and sort dry beans. Combine all ingredients except salt & salsa in cooking vessel. Cook for prescribed amount of time depending on cooking method below. When cooking is finished, stir in salt. Serve beans with "bean juice" in a bowl and top with salsa if desired.

Cooking methods
Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker - Cook beans on beans setting for 25-35 minutes or according to your instant pot's manufacturer's directions and beans are soft. Let steam release naturally for 10 minutes then manually release remaining pressure.

Slow Cooker - Cook beans on high for 6-8 hours.

Stovetop - Cook beans at a low boil for about 4 hours, keeping an eye that you don't boil off too much liquid.

Tips: If you are from the South or Southwest part of the US, you probably grew up eating Beans & Cornbread. My husband's grandmother was originally from Texas so this was a staple in his house growing up. It is such a simple meal but full of protein and a great meatless, vegetarian, vegan dinner. This recipe does make a lot of beans but you can easily cut the recipe in half or you can use the leftovers in burritos, soups, etc.
Typically my family uses pinto beans in this recipe but we were recently given a large bag of Anasazi beans so that's what you see in the picture. This recipe also works well with white beans or great northern beans if you prefer a slightly smaller bean. We ALWAYS serve these beans with our family favorite, Yogurt Cornbread. Be sure to add the salt after the cooking is finished otherwise the salt can keep the beans from softening properly.

Recipe from Elsie, my husband's grandma.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Serves: 5-6

2 c. cooked, chopped chicken
5 c. chicken broth
1 (15.5 oz) can white hominy, undrained
1 (4 oz.) can green chilies
1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt

Toppings
2 c. Colby Jack cheese, shredded
Cilantro, chopped (optional)
15 small corn tortillas

Combine all ingredients (excluding toppings).

Cooking methods
Pressure cooker - In a 6 quart pressure cooker/instant pot, set on soup setting for 15 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes then manually release remaining pressure.
Slow cooker - Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6 hours.
Stovetop -  Bring soup to a boil then simmer for 30-45 minutes. Due to evaporation, add a slight bit of water or additional broth if necessary.

Cut corn tortillas in half, then slice into approximately 1/2 inch strips. Heat a skillet or frying pan with a small amount of oil. Add tortilla strips to pan. Fry in pan for 15 minutes, turning regularly until strips are crispy. Salt tortilla strips if desired.

Serve soup topped with cheese, cilantro and crispy tortilla strips!

Notes: This soup is delicious and a nice change from our regular soups with the addition of the hominy. If you enjoy hominy, you could use a larger can (28 oz, I think). Also, if you prefer more of a kick substitute a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies (the ones that come canned together) for the two individual cans called for in the recipe. Green chilies are practically a food group here in the Southwest but I find the combo can can be a bit spicy for my bunch. 

To make this recipe even quicker, you can substitute a bag of store-bought tortilla chips for the homemade tortillas strips. However, if you have the time, I highly encourage you to fry them yourself. It makes a huge difference!

Recipe originally from a MOPS compilation cookbook. (But I can't actually find the cookbook at the present time so this is how I made it and it came out great!)

Homemade Pizza & Dough

Makes: 1 - 15" Pizza Crusts
*This recipe can be doubled in most bread makers to make 2 pizza crusts.

Pizza Dough *See notes for high altitude changes
3/4 c. (6 oz.) warm water, 80-90 degrees
2 T. vegetable oil
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. active dry yeast OR 1 1/2 tsp. bread machine/fast rise yeast

Cornmeal (to sprinkle on pizza pan)

Pizza
1/3-1/2 c. pizza or pasta sauce
2 c. (8 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese
Your choice of pizza toppings (pepperoni, sausage, black olives, onions, peppers, etc.)

Select the "Dough" setting for your bread maker. Add the warm water and oil to the bread pan. Add flour, sugar and salt to pan. Tap pan to settle dry ingredients, then level ingredients, pushing some of the mixture into the corners. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add yeast. With bread pan locked into bread maker, begin dough cycle. When dough cycle is completed, remove dough from bread pan and place onto floured surface. Knead about 1 minute.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly brush pizza pan with oil and sprinkle with cornmeal. Roll out dough onto pizza pan and set aside to rise for 10 minutes. Par-bake the crust for 7 minutes and remove from oven. Spread crust with pizza sauce, more or less depending on personal preference. Top with cheese and pizza toppings. Bake for an additional 12 minutes or until edges of crust are golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Cut with pizza cutter & enjoy homemade pizza for a fraction of the price of the pizza parlor!

Notes: Homemade pizza is one of my family's go-to recipes almost weekly. We make it a family movie night and let the kids sit on the floor in the living room to eat. Most weeks we can find a movie that we all agree on (most weeks, but some times it's fight!). Plus we don't usually have soda in the house so this is our one night to indulge.

One reason I love this meal so much is because it's a family favorite (no complaints!), it's sooo much cheaper to make your own dough that to buy a fresh pizza from the pizza parlor, we can easily customize the pizza to each person's preferences, plus I there's no dough conditioners or preservatives in my crust!

Here are a couple ideas to keep your pizza on the healthier side (since pizza always gets such a bad rap): first, use turkey pepperoni or sausage to cut down on fat. Second, grate your own cheese. It melts better and doesn't have the additive that pre-grated cheese does to keep it from sticking together. Third, we like to use Ragu Simply Traditional style sauce for our pizza. It has no sugar added and very simple ingredients plus it's very smooth which is what my family prefers. Fourth, try a new veggie on your pizza once and awhile. You might be surprised what the kids will try!

I always bake my pizzas on a Pampered Chef pizza stone and we love the results. If you don't have a pizza stone or even a round pizza pan, you can still use this amount of dough on a regular size cookie sheet.

High Altitude Modifications (we live at 6800 ft. and these work great for us)

We always make 2 pizza doughs so these are the measurements I go by:
12 oz. warm water
4 T. oil
4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 1/4 tsp. fast rise yeast

Let me know in the comments how your pizza turned out! Tag me on Instagram at @recipes.for.moms with a picture of your pizza.

Recipe from my WestBend bread maker instruction manual.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Serves: 6

1 lb. bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 c. celery, diced
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium red potatoes, diced
1/4 c. flour
2 c. chicken broth
Generous salt & pepper, to taste
4 c. whipping cream *(See tips if you have dairy allergies)
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese

In a large stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving half for garnish. Drain grease leaving just enough in the pot to cover the bottom. In bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5-7 minutes. Add chicken broth and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.


Tips: So I too have become a Pinterest fanatic and my "Recipes to Try" board is my largest board by far. I found this soup there and just had to put it into our family's menu right away. It did not disappoint. I actually used non-dairy creamer instead of whipping cream because I have dairy allergies in my family and it still came out great. Do be sure you have your favorite garnishes available when you serve this soup because it really brings it all together.

Recipe from Disney via Pinterest

Oven-Fried Pork Chops

Serves: 4

3 T. butter, melted
1 egg
2 T. water
1 C. cornbread stuffing mix
4 pork chops

Place butter in 13 x 9 baking dish. Mix egg and water together in a shallow bowl; beat until combined. Dip pork chops in egg mixture; then in stuffing mix to coat. Place chops on top of melted butter in baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees, turn and bake 10-15 minutes more or until browned.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: These pork chops were easy to put together with a nice crisp coating without the deep-frying. My husband has been avoiding gluten so I made these with some gluten-free cornbread that we had made the night before. I crumbled the cornbread and added sage, parsley, salt, pepper and onion powder. Then I just used this in place of the stuffing mix. We served the pork chops with mashed potatoes and a nice green salad. Easy prep dinner and you're done!

Recipe from The Four Ingredient Cookbook

Pineapple Chicken

Serves: 3-4

3 chicken quarters, skin removed
Pepper
3/4 c. green bell pepper, cut into 1" pieces
1 c. pineapple, canned
1/2 c. pineapple juice, from can
1/4 tsp. ginger

Place chicken pieces in bottom of crockpot. Sprinkle lightly with pepper. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour mixture over chicken. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: This was a light, tasty chicken that was full of flavor and low in fat. Any variety of canned pineapple (tidbits, chunks or slices) will work fine with this dish. We served this chicken with brown rice and the extra sauce from the crockpot is great on top of the rice. If you need more than just 3 chicken quarters to feed your family, simply use more pieces of chicken and increase the amount of pineapple. If you started with a 20 ounce can of pineapple, there should be some leftover if you use the measurements above. If you are looking for something similar to this that you can do on the grill, try Teriyaki Chicken with Pineapple.

Recipe adapted from Busy Woman's Slow Cooker Cookbook

Cider Stew

Serves: 6

2 lbs. stew beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 T. butter
1/4 c. flour
2 c. water
1 c. apple cider
1/2 c. steak sauce
2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 bay leaf
3 medium potatoes, peeled & cubed
3 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (15 oz.) can cut green beans, drained

In a large saucepan over medium heat, brown beef in butter. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in water, cider and steak sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat; stir in thyme, pepper and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 2 hours. Add potatoes, carrots, onions and beans. Cover and cook for 30 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf before serving.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: This was a tasty stew with a unique flavor thanks to the apple cider. It was a tiny bit on the sweet side so I would suggest not increasing the apple cider if you need more liquid but using more water or some of the liquid from the can of green beans. I also used Country Bob's Sauce (which is a good sauce) but next time I think I'll stick with A-1 because it is less sweet. I love making Baking Soda Biscuits when ever I make stew. If this beef stew isn't quite what you're looking for, check out Beef & Veggie Stew, French Beef Stew or Easy Beef Stew.

Recipe from 365 Favorite Brand Name Slow Cooker Recipes & More

Chili-Crusted Chicken

Serves: 4-6

1 c. brown rice
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 T. olive oil
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed & drained

Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic salt, pepper and cinnamon. Coat chicken strips with spice mix. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add chicken; cook 8-10 minutes or until chicken in no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet; keep warm. In the same skillet combine cooked rice, corn, black beans and any remaining spice mix. Cook, covered, over medium heat for 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve chicken strips over rice mixture.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: This was a great low-fat chicken dish that is made even healthier with the addition of brown rice and black beans. Don't forget that brown rice takes about 40 minutes so you might need to start it before you begin cooking the chicken. If your family likes things a little on the spicy side, you can increase the chili powder to 3 teaspoons. If desired, add a small amount of the canned corn "juice" to the skillet when you mix the corn, rice & beans.

Recipe adapted from Pillsbury: Best of the Bake-off Cookbook

Asian Pork Chops

Serves: 4

4 pork chops
1 T. lemon juice
1/2 c. soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. ground ginger
Salt & pepper
Hot, cooked brown rice (optional)

In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, salt & pepper. Marinate pork chops in sauce for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. After pork chops have marinated, place in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, covered, for 6-8 minutes on each side or until no longer pink in the middle. Serve with brown rice, if desired.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: These were tasty, simple pork chops that were easy to put together and needed only a small amount of extra time for the marinating. Our family has been going to brown rice a lot more lately but any type of rice or pasta along with a veggie or salad make this a great filling meal.

Recipe from The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Garlic & Lemon Roast Chicken

Serves: 6

2 lemons
2 T. butter, melted
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 (approx. 3 lbs.) whole frying chicken

In a small bowl, squeeze juice from one lemon. Add remaining ingredients (excluding chicken); mix well. Rinse chicken inside and out with cold water; drain and pat dry. Brush lemon mixture over chicken and inside cavity. Place chicken, breast side up in a shallow roasting pan. Cut remaining lemon in half and place inside chicken. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours. Chicken is done when drumstick moves easily and juices run clear. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: Lemon and garlic always make a great seasoning blend for chicken. If you prefer chicken without the garlic, try my Roast Chicken recipe. I always remove the skin when I roast a chicken so that the extra fat is removed. I find that as long as I don't overcook the chicken it is still tender and juicy but this is all personal preference. Watch for whole chickens to go on sale and you can make this whole dinner for less than $4-$5. Any leftover chicken can be used to make chicken soup. I recommend Chicken & Vegetable Chowder, Chicken Wild Rice Soup or Rustic Chicken Soup because the garlic & lemon flavors shouldn't clash with the regular flavor of the soup.

Recipe from Pillsbury All-American Chicken Magazine

Tomato Meatloaf

Serves: 4-6

Meatloaf:
1 lb. ground beef
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce, divided
1/4 - 1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt (or less)
1/4 c. crushed saltine crackers (about 4-6 crackers)
2 eggs, beaten
3 tsp. ketchup

Gravy:
1 (15 oz.) can Italian stewed tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp. flour
Water

Meatloaf: Mix 3/4 cup tomato sauce into ground beef. Mix in onion, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt and saltines. Once meat mixture is well combined, add in eggs. Pat down into 9 x 5 loaf pan. In a small bowl, combine remaining tomato sauce and ketchup. Pour over meatloaf, sprinkle with small amount of salt & pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Gravy: When meatloaf is done, carefully drain off juice into small saucepan. In a small container or bowl, mix flour and small amount of water until smooth. Stir into saucepan. Cover meatloaf and put back in turned off oven. Cook gravy for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Slow pour in juice from can of tomatoes. Turn heat down. Add 1/2 can tomatoes. Add water if needed. Cook 5 minutes or until desired thickness.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: This is my mother-in-law's meatloaf and I like it because it has a gravy that you make specifically to compliment the meat. The gravy can be a little bit of work but tastes great over the meatloaf as well as mashed potatoes. I will try to share my mom's Italian Meatloaf recipe with you soon.

Recipe from my mother-in-law, Connie.

Glazed Pork Chops

Serves: 4

4 pork chops
1/3 c. plus 1 T. cider vinegar, divided
3 T. soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch

In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown pork chops on both sides. In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup vinegar, soy sauce and garlic; pour over pork chops. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. In a bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining vinegar until smooth; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.

Check my coupon resources page to save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: These were very simple pork chops to put together and goes great with rice or noodles. In my opinion, any type of pork chops can be used just make sure you adjust the cooking time accordingly. I also shared this recipe at Frugal Follies' Frugal Food Thursday.

Recipe from Taste of Home's 2002 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes

Spicy-Sweet Ribs and Beans

Serves: 8

2 (16 oz.) cans pinto beans, drained
3-4 lbs. country-style pork ribs, fat trimmed
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (10.5 oz.) jar red jalapeno jelly
1 (18 oz.) bottle hickory-flavored barbecue sauce

Place beans in the bottom of crock pot. Sprinkle ribs with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place ribs on broiler pan. Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat for 18-20 minutes or until browned, turning once. Add ribs to crock pot and sprinkle with onion. Combine jelly and barbecue sauce in a small saucepan; cook over low heat until jelly melts. Pour over ribs; stir gently. Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 9-10 hours.

Check my coupon resources page to see if you can save money when you make this recipe!

Tips: These ribs had a great flavor and were not too spicy so don't let the jalapeno jelly scary you away. I found the jelly in the jams & jelly section at the grocery store on the very top shelf. The meat should fall off the bone when it's ready so a slotted spoon is probably the best to remove both the meat and beans. You can also use one large can of pinto beans in place of the two smaller cans.

Recipe adapted from Southern Living: Slow-Cooker Cookbook

Sausage Spaghetti Pie

Serves: 4

4 oz. spaghetti
2 eggs, divided, lightly beaten
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 c. cottage cheese
8 oz. ground sausage
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/3 c. green pepper, chopped
1 c. spaghetti sauce
1/2 c. (2 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

To make the spaghetti crust, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and rinse with hot water. Combine spaghetti, 1 egg and Parmesan cheese; stir well. Press pasta mixture evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9" pie plate. In a small bowl, stir or smash the cottage cheese until smooth (see tips). Add 1 egg and mix well. Spread the cheese mixture on top of the spaghetti crust. In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion and green pepper until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Spoon sausage mixture on top of cheese filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake about 5 minutes more.

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Tips: This dish was wonderful because it was such a change from the ordinary pie or pasta bake. We cut it with a pizza cutter then dished it out with a spatula. The original recipe called for the cottage cheese to be pressed through a sieve. All I have is a strainer so I don't think it worked quite the same but I think the outcome just needs to be a smoother spreadable cheese. To make this healthier, consider using turkey sausage and low-fat diary products.

Recipe adapted from Healthy Homestyle Cooking