tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17826694932660796772024-03-05T23:57:25.597-08:00$2 DinnersEasy, delicious meals…for $2 or less per serving!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-14403906513666075782015-02-11T13:46:00.000-08:002015-02-11T13:49:27.714-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ballparkbrand.com/assets/media/patties/5450019147_BP_BeefCheese_Patty_3d.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><h2>
<img border="0" class="product-image" src="http://www.ballparkbrand.com/assets/media/patties/5450019147_BP_BeefCheese_Patty_3d.png" /></h2>
</a></h2>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Yummy Burgers in a Hurry</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things about being a food blogger is that occasionally I get asked to test a new product, service, or cook book for free. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That was the case when I was recently given the opportunity to test a new product from the folks at Ball Park. Being a big fan of their delicious hot dogs, it didn't take me long to agree. <br />
<br />
The new product I was asked to test is Ball Park's new fully-cooked, flame-grilled burgers. I was given a choice of several flavors, and since I'm a big fan of pretty much anything that includes cheese, my decision wasn't hard- I went for the Beef & Cheese Patty of course. The box from Ball Park arrived a few days after I made my choice, and conveniently, it was Super Bowl weekend. So, since Ball Park is an all-American company, my son and I decided to make these burgers for the granddaddy of all-American sporting events- the Super Bowl.<br />
<br />
I have to be honest here and say that I went into this with a healthy dose of skepticism. Generally I'm not a huge fan of pre-cooked patties, even if they <em>d</em>o include cheese. This is because in my experience they tend to be dry and tasteless...and I hate the "painted on" grill marks you find on some brands. However, this wasn't the case with the Ball Park patties. They were fast and easy to make and more importantly, they tasted great too. In fact, the only "flaw" I could find was that I wish they had been a more just-grilled burger color....they don't really look like they just came off the grill. But thankfully they don't have the fake grill marks you see often on pre-cooked patties.<br />
<br />
But color issues aside, these burgers were really good. I can see them being a "go-to" freezer staple at my house for quick, last-minute meals or as a fast and yummy snack. I also think they'd be great for a quick and delicious weeknight meal: you could do a "burger bar" for supper; just put out all kinds of toppings and condiments with some fresh bakery buns, and let your family make their own customized burgers in record time. <br />
<br />
Give them a try at your house and see what I mean- these really are yummy burgers in a hurry!</div>
</div>
Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-50945110186203021662014-09-17T06:49:00.003-07:002014-09-17T07:34:20.490-07:00Make Your Own Freezer Meal Kits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5q7Rlc37KpbPHhdhlN_WgbEOUsLrIGIc5AH1HDm0ZEz0uF3IUCsdKI4_orM4GB40Kmp5zXC52JUjCH3Jf-OvcTk8oBivy2JSUFraFcWibho_s1EV8KHo_wNnaOS2xwwmSBNLPwn0trxM/s1600/Italian+Chicken+and+Pasta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5q7Rlc37KpbPHhdhlN_WgbEOUsLrIGIc5AH1HDm0ZEz0uF3IUCsdKI4_orM4GB40Kmp5zXC52JUjCH3Jf-OvcTk8oBivy2JSUFraFcWibho_s1EV8KHo_wNnaOS2xwwmSBNLPwn0trxM/s1600/Italian+Chicken+and+Pasta.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian Chicken and Pasta <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever purchased one of those frozen meal
kits from the store? They sure are fast and easy…just toss the contents in a
large skillet with some water, bring to a boil and then simmer, and dinner is
done in about 20 minutes. Couldn’t be easier right? But there are also
drawbacks to these convenient kits. They’re fairly expensive when you consider
how much you’re getting, they’re typically high in sodium, and the ones that
include meat are so skimpy with it, you wonder why they even bothered. In addition,
most of these kits claim to feed four people, but the portions would have to be
mighty small at best, so unless you buy two kits, chances are good that someone
is going to be hungry later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Given the drawbacks of store-bought meal kits, it’s
understandable why you might be tempted to avoid them altogether. But why miss
out on the ease and convenience? Instead of buying your meal kits already
assembled by a machine in a factory, why not make your own meal kits at home
instead? It’s easy, and you’ll have the added comfort of knowing that you're in
control over the ingredients. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To help you get started developing your own meal kit
ideas, here’s an easy meal kit recipe that I came up with recently. This Italian Chicken and Pasta Dinner Kit is
super-easy and my family loved it. By prepping your noodles and chicken ahead,
and by making use of frozen veggies from the store, this yummy kit is a cinch
to make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><em>For a printable PDF version of this post and accompanying recipes, please click on the post title to open in a new window and look for the "Print-Friendly" button at the bottom of the recipe.</em></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Italian Chicken and Pasta Dinner Kit</span></span></h3>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 lb. Penne pasta</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 (16 oz.) bag frozen broccoli</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 (14 oz.) bag bell pepper and onion blend (such as Fajita blend)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 frozen crushed garlic cube</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 frozen chopped Basil cube</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
a small bowl, combine tomato paste and Italian seasoning. Spoon tomato paste
mixture into ice-cube tray sections; place in freezer and freeze until firm. Prepare
pasta according to package directions. Drain and let cool. Meanwhile, brown
chicken in a large skillet; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked
through. Remove from skillet and let cool on a paper towel-lined plate. In a
large bowl, combine frozen broccoli and onion/pepper blend. Divide vegetable
mixture between two gallon-size freezer bags. Add 1 frozen crushed garlic cube,
1 frozen chopped Basil cube, and half the frozen tomato paste cubes (about
three) to each bag. Divide cooled pasta between two gallon-size freezer bags,
making sure to remove as much air as possible and seal. Divide cooled cooked
chicken between two quart-size freezer bags, making sure to remove as much air
as possible and seal. Add one bag of cooked chicken and one bag of cooked noodles
to the bag with the frozen vegetables (you may have to fold the tops of the
bags down a bit to make everything fit). Makes 2 kits @ about $5.19 per kit.
Each kit makes 4 generous portions @ about $1.30 per serving. Cook’s note:
Frozen crushed garlic cubes and frozen chopped Basil cubes can be found in your
grocer’s frozen vegetable section.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><em>To
prepare Italian Chicken and Pasta Dinner Kit:<o:p></o:p></em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Remove
noodle bag and chicken bag from the vegetable bag. In a large skillet, combine
contents of vegetable bag with 1 ½ cups of water over medium heat. When mixture
begins to boil, reduce heat and add noodles and chicken. Simmer over medium-low
heat, stirring occasionally until mixture is heated through, about 15 minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4 @ about $1.30 per serving. Cook’s note: you may need to add a bit more
water if it boils off too quickly. Mixture should be well-sauced but not
“soupy” or too dry. For added richness, substitute chicken stock for the water.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span></div>
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Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-162700846917185092014-09-03T09:33:00.001-07:002014-09-17T06:57:12.038-07:00Save money and time with these double-duty recipes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pVm9dXgxkujwF7cPrtzaEEzyJutRUQwD9v-kTIgtpEJIqy7MpIgtSHkfFpeJW6FANJ37nnPHPVHEfuTAHVXfe3MuwnoR-8MVuPZCAfz6Ti1_RswFWpSSIHWNwwu1qohSCXJmHfqgsE2A/s1600/Italian-Style+Pulled+Beef+Sandwiches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pVm9dXgxkujwF7cPrtzaEEzyJutRUQwD9v-kTIgtpEJIqy7MpIgtSHkfFpeJW6FANJ37nnPHPVHEfuTAHVXfe3MuwnoR-8MVuPZCAfz6Ti1_RswFWpSSIHWNwwu1qohSCXJmHfqgsE2A/s1600/Italian-Style+Pulled+Beef+Sandwiches.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
the mornings start to get cooler and autumn is right around the corner, don’t
you find your thoughts turning towards comfort food? You know… dishes like soups,
chili, meatloaf and pot roast? Here at $2 Dinners we love a good pot roast, but
let’s face it, roast beef is delicious, but it’s not exactly the most
budget-friendly meal in the recipe box is it? Even though it may not be an
affordable option for just one meal, if you split one roast between two
recipes, it suddenly becomes a frugal cook’s new secret weapon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Using
one roast for two meals doesn’t have to be boring either. We love leftover
roast beef sandwiches as much as anyone, but we also know that there is so much
more you can do with your leftover beef. Our Italian-style pulled beef
sandwiches and Vegetable Beef Soup with a Kick are perfectly delicious examples
of what you can create from just one roast and they couldn’t be easier. Make
the sandwiches for lunch or dinner one day, use the leftover beef for a
delicious soup later in the week, and you’ve got two great meals for one
budget-friendly price. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><em>For a printable PDF version of this post and accompanying recipes, please click on the post title to open in a new window and look for the "Print-Friendly" button at the bottom of the recipe.</em></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Italian-Style
Pulled Beef Sandwiches<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">4
½ - 5 lb. beef roast <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
(14 oz.) can beef broth<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">¼
cup water <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3
tbsp. salt-free Italian seasoning<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
(16 oz.) jar Pepperoncini (whole or slices) with juice<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sub
or hoagie rolls, if desired<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cheddar
or Mozzarella cheese, if desired<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Combine
broth, water, Italian seasoning, salt, and juice from ½ jar Pepperoncini in a
slow cooker. Add beef. Scatter ½ jar Pepperoncini over and around beef. Cook on
low for 8-10 hours or until beef is tender. When beef is cooked, remove to a
cutting board and let rest for 10- 15 minutes. Then, using two forks, gently
pull and shred beef apart. To make sandwiches, toast rolls or buns, top with
shredded beef, a drizzle of juice, peppers and cheese. Store beef and peppers,
almost covered in juice, in a container in refrigerator. Serves 10 for approx
$1.36 per serving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Vegetable
Beef Soup with a Kick<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Leftover
Italian-Style shredded beef (include juices and peppers)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
(10 oz.) bag frozen mixed vegetables<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2
(14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes with juice<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
(30 oz.) carton beef broth<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2
cups water<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">¾
cup barley or small pasta <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Combine
all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer until vegetables are cooked through and
flavors are combined. Serves 6-8 for approx. $1.00 per serving.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-67099052291935366622014-08-07T13:57:00.003-07:002014-09-03T09:36:44.190-07:00Muffins Make Back-To-School Mornings Delicious <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqSO3VL_i3RpusiRAzri845gGpO9ps5wlsT_DEi1VK-11z5Ozzyr0ow-DoNFDHgoOMzXlb0QrsRfoBHzNEsm98ZSCwQEEZFQ-8fYWL9kFEHb6XKHMtph_gFBbj2dbU1DuR2Y2VoH3ApWO/s1600/Muffin.jpg" height="288" width="320" /><span style="color: black;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While
some kids in our area have already started back-to-school, for most families
the countdown to the end of summer vacation has just begun. And while kids may
be sad about the end of summer, many parents view the approach of
back-to-school time with equal amounts of anticipation and dread. Why? Because while
it means settling back into a comfortable routine, it also means the return of
the school day morning stress and all that goes with it. With the rush to
gather scattered homework, lunches, book bags, etc., it can be a challenge to
make sure your kids have some sort of (hopefully healthy) breakfast in their
tummies before they go out the door. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
how can you make sure your kids get a healthy breakfast before school? Bake them
some delicious and healthy muffins. They’re easy to make, yummy, portable, and
endlessly adaptable to taste and nutrition preferences. Here are some tasty
recipes to get you started.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>For a printable PDF version of this post and accompanying recipes, please click on the post title to open in a new window.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tropical
Morning Muffins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2
½ cups white whole wheat flour (or a mixture of whole wheat and all-purpose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
tsp. baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/2
tsp. ground cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup honey (or maple syrup)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/2
cup light brown sugar, loosely packed (or dark brown sugar)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
cup mashed very ripe banana (about 2 large very ripe bananas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt (or any yogurt)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
large egg, beaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3/4
cup milk (almond milk, soymilk, cow's milk, rice milk)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">zest
from 1 orange<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
¼ cup diced pineapple (fresh or canned)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
thinly sliced banana for topping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup shredded coconut, optional<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Preheat
oven to 325F degrees. Spray 15 muffin tins with nonstick spray (do not use
cupcake liners- muffins will stick to the liners). Set muffin tin aside. In a
large bowl, gently toss the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together
until combined. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the honey and brown sugar
together, using a fork to break up as many lumps as you can. Add the mashed
banana, yogurt, and beaten egg. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry
ingredients. Gently begin to fold it all together. It will be very thick. Add
the milk slowly and continue to gently mix the ingredients together. The milk
will thin everything out, but the batter will still remain thick. Fold in the
orange zest and pineapple. Do not over-mix the batter, which will lend tough,
dense-textured muffins. Divide the batter between 15 muffin tins. Fill all the
way to the top. Top with 2-3 thin slices of the sliced banana and a sprinkle of
coconut. Bake the first 12, then the last three in another batch. Fill the
empty muffin tins halfway with water in the 2nd batch to ensure even baking.
Bake for 17-18 minutes until very lightly browned on the edges. A toothpick
inserted in the center should come out clean. Allow the muffins to cool completely.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cook’s
note: Muffins taste even better the next day, like most banana bread recipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muffins remain fresh and moist stored at room
temperature for up to 5 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muffins
freeze well, up to 3 months. Makes 15 muffins @ about .67 cents per muffin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Blueberry-Applesauce
Muffins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
1/3 cups whole wheat flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3/4
cups rolled oats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
tsp. baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/2
tsp. baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3/4
tsp. cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
heaping cup unsweetened natural applesauce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
tsp. oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
egg, slightly beaten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/2
cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
¼ cups blueberries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/2
cup chopped walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For
topping:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3
Tbsp. oats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup chopped walnuts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
Tbsp. whole wheat flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
Tbsp. butter, melted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
tsp. cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Preheat
oven to 375 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with liners and coat the inside
of them with cooking spray In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder,
baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl combine applesauce,
oil, brown sugar, egg, and almond milk. Add flour mixture and stir until just
combined. Don't over-mix! The batter will be slightly lumpy, but that’s ok.
Gently fold in the walnuts and blueberries. To make the topping: In a small
bowl combine oats, walnuts, flour, butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle 1 heaping
teaspoon over each muffin. Bake muffins for 15-19 minutes or until toothpick
inserted into center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Makes 12
muffins @ about $1.20 per muffin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Chocolate
Chip Muffins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2
1/3 cups all-purpose flour <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
cup sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3/4
cup semisweet chocolate chips <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/3
cup unsweetened cocoa <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2
tsp. baking powder <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3/4
tsp. salt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
cup ricotta cheese <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>large eggs, lightly beaten <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1 1/3 cups milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1
tsp. vanilla extract <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1/4
cup canola oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Preheat
the oven to 350°. Spray a 1/4-cup muffin tin lightly with cooking spray (do not
use paper cupcake liners). Mix the flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt)
in a large bowl. Place the cheese in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, one at a
time, beating well after each addition. Whisk in the milk and vanilla until
blended. Fold the cheese mixture and oil into the flour mixture until just
blended. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, and bake 25 minutes, or until a
wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the muffins from
the pans immediately, and cool on a wire rack. Makes 18 muffins @ about .44
cents per muffin.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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</div>
Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-37961443330431691072011-12-14T08:10:00.000-08:002011-12-14T08:26:45.286-08:00When is a Writer Really a Writer?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I read this post the other day by Crescent Dragonwagon (yes...that's her name, trust me...just Google it) and just had to share it with all of you who may be struggling at "being" a writer. Let me state for the record, I do not know Crescent, have never had the pleasure of actually meeting her, although I wish that were not the case. However, I do admire her a great deal, own some of her cookbooks and have exchanged comments with her on Twitter and Facebook on occasion (does that count?)<br />
<br />
Why is she important to me? Well, in spite of the fact that we have never met, I consider her a mentor of sorts. A few years ago, when I began writing seriously, I was struggling...doubting myself and wondering if I would ever really "be" a writer. I reached out to Crescent on Twitter...and she responded. The thing about this that's so incredible is that Crescent Dragonwagon is a well-known, very successful author (over 50 books) who took the time to actually answer me. Amazing! She gave me words of encouragement...and then she told me "always remember..every day that you write, you're a writer!" I held on to those words, kept writing, and am now under contract for my first cookbook (coming 3rd quarter 2012). I will always be grateful to Crescent for her generosity and for being so approachable and genuine....she helped me more than she can ever know.<br />
<br />
So here's a link to her recent post...I hope you get as much out of it as I did. And remember, whether it's a blog, a book, web content, or something else...every day that you write, you're a writer.<br />
<br />
http://crescentdragonwagon.typepad.com/nothing_is_wasted_crescen/2011/12/real-writer.html</div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-21843127109687327102011-02-01T19:54:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:47:04.714-08:00My Adventures in "Extreme" Couponing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy6VbGnkBQdUJYyP0txVQKM56dfyrw_GYVz8tMT6yYpIynk6LGIkHNzmoXjkzrycf21BQpcAH3NKWkmOyXSA7rAxEeLv-zu498zy8ufGgkG4ix4O28LMsdtFFmNJqXYi_OhSB6PB-Xogr/s1600/blue_woman_coupon_clipping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy6VbGnkBQdUJYyP0txVQKM56dfyrw_GYVz8tMT6yYpIynk6LGIkHNzmoXjkzrycf21BQpcAH3NKWkmOyXSA7rAxEeLv-zu498zy8ufGgkG4ix4O28LMsdtFFmNJqXYi_OhSB6PB-Xogr/s200/blue_woman_coupon_clipping.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Maybe some of ya'll heard about this...recently there was a show on TLC about "extreme" couponers. According to an article I read the day after the show aired, these people take couponing to a whole other level. For example, the woman who dumpster dives for coupons, or the man who's turned his garage into a mini-warehouse to store all the stuff he buys with coupons (including approx. 150 years worth of stick deodorant). I didn't personally see this show, but my impression from the article I read was that the show painted these people as borderline hoarders who buy anything as long as they have a coupon for it. I use coupons when I can, so I have to admit the concept of "extreme" couponing intrigued me in a train-wreck sort of way, so I did some digging for articles about it on the Internet. To my surprise, there was quite a lot of info. There are lots of blogs and websites dedicated to couponing, extreme and otherwise, with all kinds of systems and theories that seem (to me) very elaborate, complicated and time-consuming. Worse than that, many of them seem to be more about what you save than what you buy. I was more mystified than ever.<br />
<br />
Most of what I found was overwhelming and a bit frustrating, because it didn't seem to apply to me and my lifestyle. My time is valuable (so is yours!) and I'm just too busy for some of the stuff I read about! A lot of these women are stay-at-home moms so I'm not sure how they have time for elaborate systems either! Obviously they must be more organized and better time managers than me. Then, just when I was getting ready to give up on finding anything useful, I came across a website that made me stop in my cyber tracks. It's called Southern Savers and it's written by a lady named Jenny who really knows her stuff. She explains in an easy-to-understand way how to effectively use coupons, and she doesn't advocate complicated systems or elaborate methods. On top of that, she has links to most of the major coupon sites like RedPlum and Coupons.com, as well as current weekly sales circulars for most major grocery chains. The best part of all, though, was that Jenny isn't trying to sell me anything...she's simply trying to share what she knows with the rest of us. Amazing! At last....here was what I was looking for...a site full of common sense and practical advice! I looked at the weekly sales circulars for the stores close to my house, checked off items I was interested in and printed my shopping lists with the convenient tool built right into the list. So easy! Jenny even tells you which items have manufacturers coupons, so I was able to grab those from my coupon file and match them with my shopping lists. It only took me a few minutes and I was ready to shop.<br />
<br />
I approached this trip to the store very differently than normal. Instead of just making a list and then shopping like usual, I focused on items we use regularly that were on sale and for which I had coupons. For the first time ever, I would build my weekly menu around what I bought instead of creating a menu and then making a list of what I needed. This fits in perfectly with the $2 Dinners savings pyramid idea of having core budget-friendly recipes that make use of what items you have on-hand. Getting those items at a discount just maximizes the savings! My extreme couponing shopping trip took me to three grocery stores and one drugstore, all within 3 miles of my house (I wouldn't have gone to so many stores if they weren't so close). A few things I bought were necessities that weren't on sale, and for which I didn't have coupons, but most of what I bought was stuff we use on a regular basis, that was on sale, and for which I had a manufacturer's coupon, a store coupon, or both. Some of what I bought is planned for meals this week (I'll be posting recipes), and some things, like the canned tomatoes (5 cans for $1!) were purchased to stock up because I use them often. Here are the stats on my extreme couponing shopping trip:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Time spent = 2 1/2 hours </li>
<li>Grocery bags unloaded = 28</li>
<li>Total money spent = $97.83</li>
<li>Retail value of purchase = approx. $150.00</li>
<li>Money saved = approx. $52.17</li>
</ul>Here are pictures of the loot from my trip, so you can see for yourself what I was able to buy for less than $100.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8swPw08-I5iwks3w_iAdHaSBLWbvXbZYbGTK_zmDb49Ca2i3BPoEvc9LzxGGuMPOuZIOiyfLCkMlJiGvfyEHmgiBAsSz13om9TKa1T6qNDjQO_JeL6UhsT1h9mGYxERo_oJwG4SPm9gd/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8swPw08-I5iwks3w_iAdHaSBLWbvXbZYbGTK_zmDb49Ca2i3BPoEvc9LzxGGuMPOuZIOiyfLCkMlJiGvfyEHmgiBAsSz13om9TKa1T6qNDjQO_JeL6UhsT1h9mGYxERo_oJwG4SPm9gd/s320/IMG_0498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDTNxBAv1QKWbTd6TJTBedW0Uq0fcQQe81V4n-f4ENMhMX_9ADAzcwtB8kKwajotgl1O7w6J4yUtJn6MxjllCCQVyhtjpoxRZcnEMVZHmkQZPN2RNwhQOkvR7dmj64DvymakW8ybPT_2T/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDTNxBAv1QKWbTd6TJTBedW0Uq0fcQQe81V4n-f4ENMhMX_9ADAzcwtB8kKwajotgl1O7w6J4yUtJn6MxjllCCQVyhtjpoxRZcnEMVZHmkQZPN2RNwhQOkvR7dmj64DvymakW8ybPT_2T/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7R6vn55VO41VUYjFRVtd38eeansfCIgbjc2r-LazN-wyMNhSeXr786Z0fc87oxcSwLAoYhO3Fhl_wlVyZtOsWrH-eX6rDho0MSW-OHG8RX7L_LORLKCxN-m6fO4gJn1UO5nKI7zQmZXFv/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7R6vn55VO41VUYjFRVtd38eeansfCIgbjc2r-LazN-wyMNhSeXr786Z0fc87oxcSwLAoYhO3Fhl_wlVyZtOsWrH-eX6rDho0MSW-OHG8RX7L_LORLKCxN-m6fO4gJn1UO5nKI7zQmZXFv/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think once I get used to this new way of shopping, I can cut down the time it takes considerably. I have to admit it was fun...almost like a game to see how much I could save, and I was extremely pleased with the results. I learned that you don't have to go to extremes to save on your grocery bill, and you don't have to buy 150 years' worth of deodorant! So far this week we've had chicken and dumplings and pot roast, all made with items I purchased on sale.Thanks to Jenny at SouthernSavers.com for her great site, practical advice and awesome tools! If you're interested in learning more about couponing, I encourage you to check out <a href="http://southernsavers.com/">southernsavers.com</a>!</div></div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-8084037837754122042010-12-16T13:14:00.000-08:002010-12-17T09:17:19.349-08:00Wow your friends and family with this stress-free holiday dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRolJOk5ArMFcIclQ_FztcTI0Sj_xv6zUxN1AiuosSHuZKdWCPGyeQNqE84gXkyC1te3WZl7byYa9lDe3k-r68rdgoN7wd-dsPMOMJHV_EAdbSPBvZZG33raLidz_NK2SzXW0P9frbVR-/s1600/christmas+ham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRolJOk5ArMFcIclQ_FztcTI0Sj_xv6zUxN1AiuosSHuZKdWCPGyeQNqE84gXkyC1te3WZl7byYa9lDe3k-r68rdgoN7wd-dsPMOMJHV_EAdbSPBvZZG33raLidz_NK2SzXW0P9frbVR-/s320/christmas+ham.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>For most of us, the holiday season means gathering in our homes with friends and family to enjoy company, conversation, and great food. If you’re planning a holiday gathering at your house, you may be looking forward to it with equal amounts of excitement and fear. I don’t blame you! It’s never a small feat to hold a gathering that involves food, and even small dinner parties can make your palms sweaty; the holidays only add an extra layer of stress! You’re not alone though, because even veteran hosts/hostesses can find it a balancing act to put together a great meal without spending all their time in the kitchen (and neglecting their guests).<br />
<br />
The good news is that a holiday dinner party doesn’t have to be stressful, and you can pull it off easily and within budget. How? The secret is to plan ahead and to have an easy but delicious menu. The menu for our $2 Dinners “Stress-Free Holiday Dinner” is full of recipes that are delicious, super-easy and guaranteed to “wow” your guests! The best part is that each one has six ingredients or less (not counting salt and pepper)! For your upcoming holiday meal, try “Heavenly Christmas Ham”, “Scalloped Potatoes”, and “Bacon-y Green Beans”. With rolls and dessert purchased at your local bakery, you will have a delicious, stress-free holiday feast you can be proud of!<br />
<br />
<strong>$2 Dinners Hints for a Stress-Free Holiday Meal:</strong><br />
<br />
- Read and re-read the recipes to make sure you understand the steps and to double-check that you have all the ingredients. Make a grocery list and do your shopping a day or two in advance.<br />
- Set and decorate your table the morning of your party. Set out all your serving bowls and utensils as well. Guests who arrive early will most likely offer to help, so put a piece of paper with the name of the food it will contain beside (or inside) each serving dish. That way, your helpers will know where things go and you won’t be interrupted every 5 minutes to give them instructions.<br />
- To avoid washing all those dishes, consider using paper plates. There are some really gorgeous patterns available and paper makes things so much easier. I love using my great-grandmother’s china, but since it has to be carefully hand-washed, I usually choose paper instead. While I still use my good flatware for the main meal, I do use plastic ware for appetizers and desserts (otherwise I would run out of forks!). I also purchase paper or plastic cups in a coordinating color or pattern for guests to use before and after the meal.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong> <br />
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<strong>Heavenly Citrus Ham (makes 15 servings @ about $2.00 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/heavenly-citrus-ham-520228?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Really Easy Scalloped Potatoes (makes 6-8 servings @ about .75 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/really-easy-scalloped-potatoes-520230?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Bacon-y Green Beans (makes 6 servings @ about .35 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/bacon-y-green-beans-520235?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-35830408007065983782010-12-13T13:29:00.000-08:002010-12-13T13:29:18.546-08:00Share Our Strength's Progressive Dinner- Share Our Holiday Table<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQHAt_YbGd6iCSyiAMLXPpgwfp9LQp_q8VGaKEHARQa3GZzzFyAMSKa6Gi6cdNI_UTmStrl1RGu9-oNOednsWEPL4lbWDYaJhTnfMwgvSCJ3aUUaUI3NlAEODa1W6RPuq73Fjh0YzWRZb/s1600/SOHT-logo150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQHAt_YbGd6iCSyiAMLXPpgwfp9LQp_q8VGaKEHARQa3GZzzFyAMSKa6Gi6cdNI_UTmStrl1RGu9-oNOednsWEPL4lbWDYaJhTnfMwgvSCJ3aUUaUI3NlAEODa1W6RPuq73Fjh0YzWRZb/s200/SOHT-logo150.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Today's post is really special to me because it's part of <a href="http://www.strength.org/">Share Our Strength's</a> No Kid Hungry Campaign during the holiday season. $2 Dinners and about 40 other bloggers were invited to take part in a seven-day, online progressive dinner series—Share Our Holiday Table—that will help raise funds for Share Our Strength during the critical holiday period. <br />
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Before I get to the post, I want to tell ya'll a little about the No Kid Hungry campaign. No Kid Hungry™, is an unprecedented, five-year effort designed to end childhood hunger in America. Our nation has the food and programs in place to end childhood hunger, but consider what we are up against: The stigmas and embarrassment that surround hunger, the challenges presented by access to healthy food, and the struggle to connect children with the resources they need to thrive. For 25 years, Share Our Strength has been confronting hunger head-on to break down these barriers. Together, with your support, we can put an end to childhood hunger. Won't you join us in the No Kid Hungry campaign?<br />
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Welcome to day 4 of SOS's virtual progressive dinner...we're serving up a family-friendly soup that's easy, delicious, and budget-friendly. Today's soup recipe is based on an American fast food favorite...bacon cheeseburgers with fries! I know it sounds off-the-wall, but the flavors we all love in this classic combination translate surprisingly well into a soup too. Besides, anything with bacon in it can't be all bad (can I get an "amen")? This soup is a snap to prep, goes from stove to table in about 30 minutes, and it tastes amazing! Give it a try this week...I bet your kids will love the idea of "cheeseburger soup" (my 7-year-old grandson, who loves soup, said he thought cheeseburger soup was "crazy" but after tasting it, his mom said he asked for more!).<br />
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P.S. Please check out the links at the bottom of this post to see more awesome recipes from other bloggers for SOS's "Share Our Holiday Table" virtual progressive dinner, and please click on the "No Kid Hungry" button on my home page to donate whatever you can to help stop childhood hunger.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong><strong>Mimi's Bacon Cheeseburger and Fries Soup </strong>(makes 6 servings @ about $1.89 per serving)<br />
<strong></strong></strong><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/mimi-s-bacon-cheeseburger-and-fries-soup-515420?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
<strong>Please check out these other great posts from the Share Our Holiday Table virtual progressive supper:</strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Day 1- Appetizers</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em>Gourmet-</em> <a href="http://italiandish.squarespace.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/12/6/parmesan-gougeres-and-a-virtual-dinner-party.html">The Italian Dish</a> <br />
<em> </em><a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2010/12/06/share-our-holiday-table-sundried-tomato-polenta-bites/">Recipe Girl</a><br />
<em> </em><a href="http://neo-homesteading.blogspot.com/2010/12/share-our-holiday-table-potato-bacon.html">Neo-Homesteading</a><br />
<em>Family Friendly-</em> <a href="http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2010/12/06/cheese-stuffed-mushroom-bacon-appetizer-recipe/">Family Fresh Cooking</a><br />
<a href="http://www.givinguponperfect.com/2010/12/share-our-holiday-table-family-friendly-appetizers/">Giving Up On Perfect</a><br />
<em>Vegetarian-</em> <a href="http://twopeasandtheirpod.com/cranberry-orange-brie-crostini/">Two Peas and Their Pod</a><br />
<a href="http://www.smithbites.com/2010/12/dates-stuffed-wparmesan-slivers-walnuts/">Smith Bites</a><br />
<em>Gluten Free- </em><a href="http://wenderly.com/2010/12/06/proscuitto-wrapped-asparagus/">Wenderly</a><br />
<em> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_171809085"> </a></em><a href="http://www.lafujimama.com/2010/12/endive-boats-avocado-pomegranate-crab-salad-gluten-free-appetizer/">La Fuji Mama</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Day 2- Drinks</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em>Gourmet- </em><a href="http://www.foodwoolf.com/2010/12/crab-apple-vodka-recipe.html">Food Woolf</a><br />
<a href="http://thegringochapin.blogspot.com/2010/12/ponche-de-navidad-christmas-punch-for.html">The Gringo Chapin</a><br />
<a href="http://neo-homesteading.blogspot.com/2010/12/mead-cocktails-honey-vodka-recipe-share.html">Neo-Homesteading</a> <br />
<em> Family Friendly</em><strong>-</strong> <a href="http://threemanycooks.com/recipes/nibbles-and-drinks/milk-punch/">Three Many Cooks</a><br />
<a href="http://fatwuzhere.blogspot.com/2010/12/share-our-strength-progressive-dinner.html"> Fat Wuz Here</a><br />
<em> Vegetarian</em>-<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.lexieskitchen.com/lexies_kitchen/2010/12/7/cashew-horchata-sharing-our-strength.html">Lexie's Kitchen</a><br />
<a href="http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/eggnog-share-our-table-at-slightly-indulgent-tuesday/">Simply Sugar and Gluten Free</a><br />
<strong> </strong><strong> </strong><em>Gluten Free</em><strong>-</strong> <a href="http://glutenfreeeasily.com/reindeer-antlers-punch/">Gluten Free Easily</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><br />
<strong><u>Day 3- Salads</u></strong></strong><strong></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em> Gourmet-</em> <a href="http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2010/12/beet-and-tangerine-salad-with-cranberry-dressing-.html">The Bitten Word</a><br />
<em> </em><a href="http://our-strength-holiday-table.html/">girlichef</a><br />
<em>Family Friendly- </em><a href="http://foodformyfamily.com/">Food For My Family</a><br />
<em>Vegetarian-</em> <a href="http://glugleglutenfree.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/golden-beet-persimmon-pomegranate-salad-with-ginger-honey-vinegarette/">Glugle Gluten-Free</a><br />
<em>Gluten Free- </em><a href="http://addapinch.com/cooking/2010/12/08/share-our-holiday-table-composed-choppe-salad/">Add A Pinch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.glutenfreediva.com/2010/12/share-our-strength-event-arugula-pear-pomegranate-salad-gluten-free/">Gluten Free Diva</a><br />
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<strong><u>Day 4- Soups</u></strong><br />
<em>Gourmet- </em><a href="http://www.edible-cville.com/">edible cville</a><br />
<a href="http://therunawayspoon.com/blog/2010/12/chestnut-bisque/">The Runaway Spoon</a><br />
<a href="http://agirlamarketameal.blogspot.com/2010/12/soups-on.html"> A Girl, A Market, A Meal</a><br />
<em> Family Friendly- </em><a href="http://www.ladlesandjellyspoons.com/2010/12/share-our-holiday-table-snow-white-soup/">Ladles and Jellyspoons</a><br />
<a href="http://allaboutalton.blogspot.com/">All About Alton Brown</a><br />
<a href="http://cookiecentralbakesale.blogspot.com/">Cookie Central's Great American Bake Sale </a><br />
<em> Vegetarian- </em><a href="http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2010/12/sos-progressive-dinner-roasted-red-pepper-soup.html">Good Life Eats</a><br />
<a href="http://www.feedourfamiliesblog.com/2010/12/sharing-souper-split-pea-soup-for-the-holidays.html">Feed Our Families</a><br />
<em> Gluten Free-</em> <a href="http://www.celiacteen.com/2010/share-our-holiday-table/">Celiac Teen</a><br />
<a href="http://celiacsinthehouse.blogspot.com/2010/12/share-our-table-with-glutendairy-free.html">Celiacs in the House</a><br />
<a href="http://andloveittoo.com/butternutsquashandpearsoupsoht/">And Love it Too!</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a></div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-76640664813012164502010-12-13T13:25:00.000-08:002010-12-13T13:30:02.013-08:00Pumpkin is Perfect for More Than Just Pies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijIYY8u5KGCW-TuDIQRRxcGB6RRd9Uq-ezlesPl_KSkLtoMTWth7kwRBZdJbTHkA4PI3l3ZEASA4XCxlwG4Pykih4wsxLwoZ7UOYWIgzHWwOhwAcTxftJUspmEKkNWmZ-7h2V2XezBMgd/s1600/pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijIYY8u5KGCW-TuDIQRRxcGB6RRd9Uq-ezlesPl_KSkLtoMTWth7kwRBZdJbTHkA4PI3l3ZEASA4XCxlwG4Pykih4wsxLwoZ7UOYWIgzHWwOhwAcTxftJUspmEKkNWmZ-7h2V2XezBMgd/s200/pumpkin.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and rows of canned pumpkin are beginning to appear in local stores, ready to be turned into holiday pies. With visions of delicious, whipped cream-topped custard pies dancing in our heads, it’s easy to forget that pumpkin is also a versatile and budget-friendly ingredient in many other recipes as well. Economical at around $1.89 per can, pumpkin can be used in surprising ways for both sweet and savory recipes. From soups and stews to pancakes and lasagna, pumpkin adds a delightful touch of holiday flavor to a wide variety of dishes. So, if you’ve never tried pumpkin for anything besides pie, you don’t know what you’re missing! The following recipes will get you started thinking about pumpkin in a whole new and delicious way.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Pumpkin Soup (makes 10 servings @ about $1.35 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/pumpkin-soup-517358?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
<strong>Pumpkin Lasagna (makes 6 servings @ about $1.98 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/pumpkin-lasagna-517360?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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</div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-7812022382716880152010-12-13T13:11:00.000-08:002010-12-13T13:30:42.330-08:00Apple Harvest Time Means Delicious Deals<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-ltSpSLCcYhVLIh5DbB37vFFtFNhyU-khX23hSGf6GCQotXnP0UFucT-rkGnVi34ogxPwXWvxTcd2I_Hb1emjMpLdVQtbg6f77PjtcI2z7H-Mi8VHIJbJZBbQA7AyUl5sdILTr0QKqGJ/s1600/apple+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-ltSpSLCcYhVLIh5DbB37vFFtFNhyU-khX23hSGf6GCQotXnP0UFucT-rkGnVi34ogxPwXWvxTcd2I_Hb1emjMpLdVQtbg6f77PjtcI2z7H-Mi8VHIJbJZBbQA7AyUl5sdILTr0QKqGJ/s320/apple+harvest.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For maximum taste at a minimum price, smart shoppers know that the best time to buy fruits and vegetables is when they’re in season. Right now in many parts of the country its apple harvest time, and that means delicious bargains await you in the produce section of your favorite store. Whether they’re sweet, tart, red or green, there’s nothing that beats a juicy, crispy apple. One of the best things about apples, however, is that not only are they a delicious and inexpensive snack, they’re also adaptable to a wide variety of sweet and savory recipes that are easy on your budget. </div><br />
So what can you do with apples besides putting them in a pie? The following recipes are just a sampling of the wonderful dishes you can create with apples for breakfast, lunch and dinner. <br />
Don’t miss out on delicious apple deals at your local store…take advantage of apple harvest time and cook up some delicious apple-inspired and budget-friendly meals for your family this week.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Apple Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup (makes 4 servings of 3 pancakes each @ about 99 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/apple-pancakes-with-apple-cider-syrup-516970?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Cider Pork Chops (makes 4 servings @ about $1.68 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/cider-pork-chops-517354?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Easy Apple Crisp (makes 8 servings @ about 60 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/easy-apple-crisp-517355?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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</div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-37092705282306630692010-12-13T13:00:00.000-08:002011-05-17T05:24:22.781-07:00Save Money and Time With This Double-Duty Dinner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVCoz165aKuU6HEWEYgrAMfrhSPzjieSkRN6uOJXK3N82d-XAFRHCv8StBnoz7m3X_lCG8puo4R2JmPEsjy5XwJeyVU1HEEcBhDPFEYWngIYcJeyfKCfIfY2fDKeAf4NxhGLMBjgA6sPB/s1600/j0427591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVCoz165aKuU6HEWEYgrAMfrhSPzjieSkRN6uOJXK3N82d-XAFRHCv8StBnoz7m3X_lCG8puo4R2JmPEsjy5XwJeyVU1HEEcBhDPFEYWngIYcJeyfKCfIfY2fDKeAf4NxhGLMBjgA6sPB/s200/j0427591.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When the mornings start to get cooler and autumn is right around the corner, don’t you find your thoughts turning towards comfort food? You know… dishes like soups, chili, meatloaf and pot roast? Here at $2 Dinners we love a good pot roast, but it’s not exactly the most budget-friendly meal in the recipe box is it? Even though it may not be an affordable option for just one meal, if you split one roast between two recipes, then it suddenly becomes a frugal cook’s new secret weapon. <br />
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Using one roast for two meals doesn’t have to be boring either. We love leftover roast beef sandwiches as much as anyone, but we also know that there is so much more you can do with your leftover beef. Our Italian-style pulled beef sandwiches and Vegetable Beef Soup with a Kick are perfectly delicious examples of what you can create from just one roast and they couldn’t be easier. Make the sandwiches for lunch or dinner one day, use the leftover beef for a delicious soup later in the week, and you’ve got two great meals for one budget-friendly price.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Italian-Style Pulled Beef Sandwiches (makes 10 servings @ about $1.36 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/italian-style-pulled-beef-sandwiches-516961?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Vegetable Beef Soup With a Kick (makes 6-8 servings @ about $1.00 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/vegetable-beef-soup-with-a-kick-516964?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<div></div></div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-61427537954579140562010-12-03T07:50:00.000-08:002010-12-03T07:50:02.073-08:00I just joined a great new food blogging community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QQLJVf8xPs14ys883EJvYUwFSml5n1LgZD8Wa0WV3_q225IPvbN0B9X27l0deiVFLg0cRykA1-kdJsZ3bmbrs4qHrI8OXJfRew_wZ-iiB-Yb1qSZRxeVph1mF68rZLBYDHHgtWAGpVfS/s1600/logo_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="39" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QQLJVf8xPs14ys883EJvYUwFSml5n1LgZD8Wa0WV3_q225IPvbN0B9X27l0deiVFLg0cRykA1-kdJsZ3bmbrs4qHrI8OXJfRew_wZ-iiB-Yb1qSZRxeVph1mF68rZLBYDHHgtWAGpVfS/s320/logo_2.png" width="320" /></a></div>Hey ya'll...I just joined a great new food blogging community that I want to share with you. It's called Foodie Blogroll and it's lots of fun.....they have community forums, great contests and lots more. Right now they are having a contest to promote Foodie Blogroll and the prize is a great customized FBR tote. It's easy to enter...all you have to do is join!<br />
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So if you're a foodie, what are you waiting for? Join Foodie Blogroll today and network with other foodies, get you blog noticed and be part of a fantastic food blogging community!Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-2959275765472612512010-10-21T06:56:00.000-07:002010-10-21T06:57:26.520-07:00The $2 Dinners Cookbook is coming!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsBFHnmq8pC7zMpyIy5fi0tSbgo8QpEJfPJ3PVRVFSXMEs164ZPFkMEVaLJQIOcgYKrYt03-5fFd5RkGycfyUuYh9GBfmBKa2RYtQOIn4BrEHnLs-wo9c-_HEEfqW2r9uxo3MPS6GsPGR/s1600/chefrecipebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsBFHnmq8pC7zMpyIy5fi0tSbgo8QpEJfPJ3PVRVFSXMEs164ZPFkMEVaLJQIOcgYKrYt03-5fFd5RkGycfyUuYh9GBfmBKa2RYtQOIn4BrEHnLs-wo9c-_HEEfqW2r9uxo3MPS6GsPGR/s200/chefrecipebook.jpg" width="118" /></a>Guess what ya'll? Last month I was offered a book contract to do a $2 Dinners cookbook.....can you believe it? That's one of the reasons I have been behind on my posts, the other(s) being the launch of the new Carolina Gourmet line, tastings and demos, and writing my column. So....my plan is to get back on track and post some new content so ya'll don't get bored with me and stop visiting. Thanks for sticking with me...I love ya more than my KitchenAid Pro Mixer! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Also, I'm thinking about doing a recipe contest...anybody up for a little friendly competition? It would have to involve budget-friendly recipes of course. Let me know what you think and I'll put something together to announce real soon. The prize? I'm thinking a basket of gourmet goodies from my company, The Carolina Gourmet.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-23173690812404825702010-09-20T15:02:00.000-07:002010-12-06T06:56:08.579-08:00A back to school menu that really makes the grade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MwYjtfusn4pWqZ8X9tWgWEXLK4VAqhD1M0nZYVqUZksj-prPbICAZv-V2mydhqBTlfJYX2IYfDxbmQ405PXsULUnP_P5iqMWCf1Rn8VRTSUu_T9-rOmOjAVXszsGd8yMIWp2efaTmLly/s1600/meatball+casserole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MwYjtfusn4pWqZ8X9tWgWEXLK4VAqhD1M0nZYVqUZksj-prPbICAZv-V2mydhqBTlfJYX2IYfDxbmQ405PXsULUnP_P5iqMWCf1Rn8VRTSUu_T9-rOmOjAVXszsGd8yMIWp2efaTmLly/s200/meatball+casserole.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Our $2 Dinners look at back-to-school menu ideas continues this week with more easy recipes for delicious school-week meals. This week’s recipes complete our fantastic menu with a wonderful dinner and dessert combo that are a snap to prepare and budget friendly too. Our Easy Overnight Meatball Casserole is a busy cook’s dream because it comes together in minutes and then hangs out in the fridge overnight to work its’ magic. Then, when you get home after a busy day, just pop it in the oven and let it bake until the pasta is tender and the cheeses are melted and golden brown, while you help the kids with homework, pack lunches, etc. It couldn’t be easier and your family will love it! And, because at $2 Dinners we believe that every delicious dinner needs an equally delicious dessert, we have a recipe for Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies that are the perfect ending for the perfect meal. Full of chocolate and peanut buttery goodness, these chewy brownies are sure to be a hit at your house. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Easy Overnight Meatball Casserole (makes 6-8 servings @ about $1.82 per serving)</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/easy-overnight-meatball-casserole-494761?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong>Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies (makes 24 brownies @ about 18 cents per brownie)</strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/chewy-peanut-butter-brownies-494763?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Want another great meatball casserole recipe that's budget-friendly? Check out this recipe on Foodista...the cooking encyclopedia that everyone can edit! <br />
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<a href="http://www.foodista.com/recipe/P35DZN4S/meatball-casserole" style="background: url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat 0px -10px; display: block; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; text-decoration: none; width: 260px;"><span style="background-color: #c44f50; display: block; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px;"><img alt="" src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/images/184ebf883c6eefa456ff5e069bd4e9729a34137b_240x180c.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 180px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 240px;" /><span style="-moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; background-color: #c36c6d; color: white; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 155px;">Meatball Casserole</span><img src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; float: right; height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 70px;" /></span><span style="background: url(http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_red.png) no-repeat 0px 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_P35DZN4S_CB68PFSW" style="display: none;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a></div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-23815297242600004902010-09-03T13:22:00.000-07:002010-09-20T15:00:25.405-07:00Get an A+ on savings with this back-to-school menu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAnXygeWh-bVxivzsgFRXcCdGy0YXRfOs0cdsI10MBp8wcUPP-HrZjsqjHeakpca5IOQqJ3Z0xmdRdqtDmOcm-g20of9Ky6rG9WtV5nG0DDz1ZY3oSrYcVGI9nGtKMSki404D_b5jOm4H/s1600/schoolbus_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAnXygeWh-bVxivzsgFRXcCdGy0YXRfOs0cdsI10MBp8wcUPP-HrZjsqjHeakpca5IOQqJ3Z0xmdRdqtDmOcm-g20of9Ky6rG9WtV5nG0DDz1ZY3oSrYcVGI9nGtKMSki404D_b5jOm4H/s200/schoolbus_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It’s back-to-school time, and for many of us that means the annual “back to school” frenzy and all that goes with it. As parents, while this might mean relief that peace and quiet will return to our homes during the day, it also means the stress of planning before-school breakfasts, packed lunches, after-school snacks, and dinners that are quick, and easy. While it’s true that meals must also be planned and prepared when the kids are home for the summer, somehow it seems like a bigger deal when you know you have to accomplish multiple meals in the midst of all the school-related chaos like getting your kids to the bus on time, finding lost books, shoes, coats, etc., not to mention helping with all that homework! It can be stressful and exhausting.<br />
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Our budget-friendly back-to-school menu brings you easy and delicious ideas for preparing a whole day’s worth of school-week meals, without all the stress and without spending hours in the kitchen. This week’s recipes cover breakfast, lunch, and an after-school snack, and in our next column we’ll bring you recipes for a wonderful school-week dinner and dessert. Your family will love these tasty recipes, and kids will love helping with the preparation, especially the “Beary” Delicious Snack Mix.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong> <br />
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<strong>Lemon-Blueberry Muffins (makes 12 muffins @ about 23 cents per muffin)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/lemon-blueberry-muffins-488518?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Hearty Hoagies (serves 4 @ about $1.95 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/hearty-hoagies-488521?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>"Beary" Delicious Snack Mix (makes 5 1/2 cups, serves 5 @ about 85 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/beary-delicious-snack-mix-488523?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-53257805547645980162010-09-02T19:02:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:45:41.992-07:00Zero in on savings with zucchiniI don’t know what it is about zucchini, but this scenario happens to me every year, and I know I’m not alone: Early in May or June, you plant “just a couple” of harmless-looking zucchini plants in your garden, figuring you’d grow enough of the tasty green squash to enjoy for a few meals, right? But, little do you know that those small zucchini plants have other ideas...for they proceed to grow enormous and to produce enough zucchini to feed your whole family...and half the neighborhood! As a result, by mid-August you’re knee-deep in zucchini, and your friends, neighbors, and co-workers are running in the other direction when they see you coming with another bag to give away. Sound familiar?<br />
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So what can you do with all those zucchini once you can’t even give them away anymore? Here are a couple of easy and economical recipes your family will love that make delicious use of the zucchini bounty from your garden. <br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Zucchini Salad (serves 4 @ about 71 cents per serving- if zucchini is purchased)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/zucchini-salad-488304?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Fried Zucchini (serves 6-8 @ about 45 cents per serving- if zucchini is purchased)</strong><br />
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<strong><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/fried-zucchini-488307?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-39534262655657618192010-08-06T06:44:00.000-07:002010-08-20T09:08:10.727-07:00$2 Dinners on WSVA today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx6EMKb0HM5In2uAW-k_10UF6xs9lJUkYgwaD9HNJSFw-noS9Fe4UZsqWSPGDzcf2vSNFXEYW__naG9cFEOX8do6QTIr5Wz-ZvX32o4hAiZLs23srRDR5lAssJ6HwBLz8Erv47skCfjxd/s1600/stinger%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx6EMKb0HM5In2uAW-k_10UF6xs9lJUkYgwaD9HNJSFw-noS9Fe4UZsqWSPGDzcf2vSNFXEYW__naG9cFEOX8do6QTIr5Wz-ZvX32o4hAiZLs23srRDR5lAssJ6HwBLz8Erv47skCfjxd/s200/stinger%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Just a shout out to all my followers that my $2 Dinners will be <a href="http://www.wsvaonline.com/pages/6954600.php">on the radio</a> today...WSVA in Harrisonburg Virginia at 3:35. Check out the live stream by clicking <a href="http://sp.crystalmedianetworks.com/player/?q=show/wsva">here</a>.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-37626077017790996232010-07-30T13:44:00.000-07:002010-08-20T09:09:34.019-07:00Grilling on a budget doesn’t have to mean just burgers and hotdogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBkKOLA6jxqArLSsB5IH_JY8a7zeKiqGLmysARZRmOOMB1wV_R4r_E5WWv9zIxnH1BD39TZsXKzwW6lzNhVIqHOwB8ODjrMe3wL3QPGDr3wHsLn75-Y23zSoSQXJ9khGUjVRdOSxbNOP5/s1600/hamburgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBkKOLA6jxqArLSsB5IH_JY8a7zeKiqGLmysARZRmOOMB1wV_R4r_E5WWv9zIxnH1BD39TZsXKzwW6lzNhVIqHOwB8ODjrMe3wL3QPGDr3wHsLn75-Y23zSoSQXJ9khGUjVRdOSxbNOP5/s200/hamburgers.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>As the heat-wave across most of the country continues, if you’re like most of us, you’re probably relying more and more on your grill for meal preparation. After all, even though it’s no fun standing over a hot grill when it’s 90+ degrees outside, it sure beats heating up the inside of your house by preparing meals in the kitchen. But what can you grill when you’re on a budget? Chances are that you may feel limited to burgers and dogs because anything else seems out of your price-range. <br />
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However, here at $2 Dinners, we know it doesn’t have to be that way. While burgers and dogs are both popular choices for budget-minded grilling, you don’t have to feel restricted to just these two sandwiches. In addition to those all-American favorites, there is a wide variety of taste-tempting, easy and economical sandwiches that can be prepared on the grill.<br />
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This week’s menu is a perfect example of the flavorful and budget-friendly sandwiches you can create on your grill. Our affordably-delicious Philly-Style BBQ Chicken Sandwich comes together in a flash, and your family is sure to love this savory combination of smoky BBQ chicken, melted Mozzarella cheese, and crisp-tender veggies nestled on a soft roll. Serve these incredible sandwiches with chips or macaroni or potato salad, and you have a budget feast you can be proud of. For a cool and refreshing treat at the end of your meal, try our Orange Granita (think gourmet “slushy” that you eat with a spoon). <br />
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</strong><br />
<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong> <br />
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<strong>Philly-Style BBQ Chicken Sandwich (Serves 4 for approx. $1.78 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/philly-style-bbq-chicken-sandwich-469112?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Orange Granita (Serves 4-6 for approx. .10 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/orange-granita-469115?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-41204445558001095192010-07-15T20:30:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:45:10.924-07:00A frugal fiesta that’s perfect for a hot summer day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZcO5Z5SxEHdqpgzZAXqJa6G5RHsiAJ6BnUlWxuvvvYlpvRbBbN67yYxrz9AYBZgEhBjSmTXL4eg0sVj3GitKkRD7We7BQDIWaOe17Ood4ax5Fo4oG1I8jUOzfY5L0uYJtnpSJtDHCUnF/s1600/salsa+and+chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZcO5Z5SxEHdqpgzZAXqJa6G5RHsiAJ6BnUlWxuvvvYlpvRbBbN67yYxrz9AYBZgEhBjSmTXL4eg0sVj3GitKkRD7We7BQDIWaOe17Ood4ax5Fo4oG1I8jUOzfY5L0uYJtnpSJtDHCUnF/s200/salsa+and+chips.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>The “dog days” of summer have arrived; bringing with them the kind of heat and humidity that saps the energy right out of you. On days like this, even if you can find the motivation to cook, the thought of heating up the kitchen can send you running straight to the nearest air-conditioned restaurant. However, during a prolonged heat wave like we’ve been having recently, dining out every time the heat gets to be too much can get expensive in a hurry. <br />
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So how can you put an easy, healthy meal on the table on a sultry summer day without breaking the bank? How about letting your slow cooker do the work? Ideal for hot-weather cooking because it won’t heat up your kitchen, your slow cooker can help you prepare a surprising variety of dishes that are easy on your wallet, healthy, and tasty too. Our $2 Dinners Frugal Fiesta, which begins with savory and slightly spicy Slow Cooker Burritos, is a perfectly delicious example of what you can create with your slow cooker in warm weather. Served alongside the cool, clean flavors of our Summer Salsa with Tortilla Chips, they’re so good you might just forget all about the heat outside for a while.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Slow Cooker Burritos (serves 6 @ about $1.45 per serving)</strong><br />
<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/slow-cooker-burritos-460423?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Summer Salsa with Tortilla Chips (serves 8 @ about 45 cents per serving)</strong><br />
<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/summer-salsa-with-tortilla-chips-460428?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<div></div>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-69122257259934328642010-07-01T21:35:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:44:34.161-07:00This 4th of July picnic that gives you more bang for your buckPlanning a family picnic for the 4th of July? This year, celebrate your independence from out-of-control grocery bills and try our super-easy and delicious $2 Dinners menu. Parmesan-Crusted Oven-Fried Chicken tastes great hot or cold, takes minutes to prep, and “fries” to a delicious golden-brown right in your oven. Our tangy German-Style Potato Salad with Herbs is the perfect savory side dish because it contains no mayonnaise, so you won’t have to be as concerned about food spoilage on a hot day. For dessert, the classic combination of oranges and chocolate come together in a spectacular Chocolate Chip Orange Cake that’s soaked in orange syrup, so it needs no frosting (making it easier to pack and transport to your picnic). Add some raw veggies like carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes with ranch dip, and sweet tea or lemonade, and you have a perfect, budget-friendly 4th of July picnic that your family will love.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for printable versions of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Parmesan-crusted oven fried chicken (serves 6 @ about $1.23 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/parmesan-crusted-oven-fried-chicken-460926?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>German-Style Potato Salad with Herbs (serves 6 @ about 47 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/german-style-potato-salad-with-herbs-460933?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Chocolate Chip Orange Cake (serves 9 @ about 23 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/chocolate-chip-orange-cake-460936?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-72424069487600334112010-06-17T21:46:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:43:25.646-07:00For dad’s big day, this meal is one tasty dealOn Father’s Day, dad deserves a meal that’s as special as he is, and this $2 Dinners menu is the perfect way to show him how much you care. This tasty and inexpensive meal has something to please everyone in the family, and since you make it in your slow cooker, you’ll have more time (and money) to spend with dad on his special day. This Father’s Day, why not surprise dad with a delicious and affordable meal you made yourself at home? Here’s how:<br />
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Your Father’s Day meal starts with our Amazing Slow Cooker Chili Dogs. Yes…you read that right…these delicious dogs are made right in your slow cooker. No need to stand outside by a hot grill, or to heat up your kitchen either, because your slow cooker will do all the work while you stay cool and comfortable. And, since no Father’s Day feast would be complete without a fantastic dessert, we have a Chocolate Chip Swirl Bundt Cake that’s so incredibly delicious, your dad will wish every day was Father’s Day. To round out this tasty, easy menu, serve your favorite chips, or make up a pot of our $2 Dinners <a href="http://twodollardinners.blogspot.com/2010/05/this-memorial-day-cook-out-is-big-on.html">Ranch-Style Beans</a> for a Father’s Day Feast that costs just under $2 per person. <br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong> <br />
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<strong>Amazing Slow Cooker Chili Dogs (serves 8 @ about $1.06 per serving)</strong> <br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/amazing-slow-cooker-chili-dogs-460981?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Chocolate Chip Swirl Bundt Cake (serves 12 @ about 45 cents per serving)</strong> <br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/chocolate-chip-swirl-bundt-cake-460983?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-68410759300054160682010-06-03T19:30:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:42:35.629-07:00Grill up some savory savings with Sirloin Shish KabobsThe summer cook-out season is here and it’s time to fire up your grill! Cooking outdoors just seems to make everything more festive and fun, not to mention the fact that it also keeps the heat outside where it belongs instead of in your kitchen. But maybe the best thing about grilling is that not only can you cook your entire meal outdoors, you can also make inexpensive ingredients into a budget-friendly gourmet feast. <br />
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One of our favorite $2 Dinners grilled meals is Sirloin Shish Kabobs that features boneless sirloin steak, marinated in a tangy sauce and teamed up with colorful vegetables. These flavorful kabobs are so easy to make, you can even have them on a weeknight because they can be assembled ahead of time, they grill in just a few minutes, and there’s almost no cleanup after the meal. However, maybe the best thing about these kabobs is that since men love beef and kids love just about anything on a stick, this meal is sure to be a hit with your family. The next time you’re ready to fire up the grill, consider making Sirloin Shish Kabobs for a fantastic all-in-one meal. Add some hot cooked rice or maybe a piece of grilled pita bread and dinner is done! <br />
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<strong>Click on the orange box for a printable version of the recipe</strong><br />
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<strong>Sensation Sirloin Shish Kabobs</strong> <strong>( makes <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">5 servings @ about $1.75 per serving (with rice or Pita bread- $2.00)</span></strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/sensational-sirloin-shish-kabobs-461026?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-42255530162380620232010-05-20T20:19:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:40:40.436-07:00This Memorial Day cook-out is big on flavor and easy on your walletMemorial Day is right around the corner, and for many people that means inviting family and friends over for a cook-out to signal the “official” start of summer. It’s always fun to cook outside, especially when you include your friends and family, but if your budget is tight it can also be a challenge to feed those extra people. While you may be tempted to cut back on expenses by throwing some bargain frozen patties on the grill and grabbing some bulk potato salad from the superstore, there are tastier options that are just as easy on your wallet.<br />
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This year for your Memorial Day cook-out, try this easy, taste-tempting Memorial Day menu from $2 Dinners. You’ll love this menu because not only does it taste good, it can be done in advance, leaving you free to spend time with your friends and family. The stars of this fantastic menu are our Garlic and Herb Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers that you can put together ahead of time and grill when you’re ready. You won’t believe how juicy and flavorful they are, and everyone will love the gooey, melted nugget of cheddar cheese hidden inside. And of course no cook-out would be complete without some traditional side dishes, so we came up with two that are both delicious and easy to put together in advance. Our Easy Potato Salad is quick to prepare and only takes 4 ingredients, and our Ranch Beans come together in a flash but taste like they have been slow-cooked all day. <br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for a printable version of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Garlic and Herb Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers (serves 4 @ about $1.00 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/garlic-and-herb-cheddar-stuffed-burgers-460989?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Easy Potato Salad (serves 4 @ about 35 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/easy-potato-salad-460990?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Ranch-Style Beans (serves 4 @ about 45 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/ranch-style-beans-460992?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-17794609530799190462010-05-06T14:29:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:39:43.346-07:00Honor your mom with this affordable Mother’s Day brunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2LLSkEvXLchyphenhyphenRgQ3J7KT-qyWOHTIK_-3MSCgGsoAZi3biLr3608s0XpQecZ100CCy1oP_Kr5wKBthbiYQHynPrkrQqNC4AvxxjcI5hBh6UcA1i0zifyN_x_RRzfES_Yfsi9AlVmK5zmw/s1600/gourmet+breakfast.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2LLSkEvXLchyphenhyphenRgQ3J7KT-qyWOHTIK_-3MSCgGsoAZi3biLr3608s0XpQecZ100CCy1oP_Kr5wKBthbiYQHynPrkrQqNC4AvxxjcI5hBh6UcA1i0zifyN_x_RRzfES_Yfsi9AlVmK5zmw/s200/gourmet+breakfast.png" width="200" /></a></div>Are you on a budget and wondering what to get mom for Mother’s Day? Why not give her the gift of your time and do something that lets her sit back, relax and enjoy? For most moms, it really is the thought that counts, especially when you do something that provides a rare opportunity for us to skip a chore like cleaning or cooking a meal. So this Mother’s Day, why not surprise mom with a delicious and affordable brunch you made yourself at home? <br />
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We have the perfect $2 Dinners menu to help you make this the best Mother’s Day ever. Mom is sure to love the herbs and spices in our savory Sausage Patties with Sage, and Gourmet Scrambled Eggs take a boring breakfast staple from ordinary to extraordinary. The true stars of this fantastic brunch, however, are the sweet, gooey and oh-so-easy cinnamon rolls you make with frozen bread dough. <br />
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So this year for Mother’s Day, show mom how much you care by preparing this wonderful brunch that’s so easy on your budget, you’ll have enough money left to surprise her with a little something to unwrap as well.<br />
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<strong>Click on the orange boxes for printable versions of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Sausage Patties with Sage (serves 4 @ about 43 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/sausage-patties-with-sage-461032?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Gourmet Scrambles Eggs (serves 4 @ about 69 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/gourmet-scrambled-eggs-461034?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Cinnamon Rolls (makes 24 rolls @ about 13 cents per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/cinnamon-rolls-461037?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1782669493266079677.post-67835376589001422652010-04-22T14:01:00.000-07:002010-09-20T14:38:16.272-07:00Easy skillet meals are a good deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3uZEVZ4JyvRG1yBixFSubED1fnwHVQe8VNR5KamhuZrV44HN4sFqIEz-lbnwl6mdwnWt1gvQnH60orRP7XQ6zYpKsuncXYPbV2ox36Cau6zeDJVtv-HX9Wi6LVHYF9O1WGSpKLTJ7YfD/s1600/alarm+clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3uZEVZ4JyvRG1yBixFSubED1fnwHVQe8VNR5KamhuZrV44HN4sFqIEz-lbnwl6mdwnWt1gvQnH60orRP7XQ6zYpKsuncXYPbV2ox36Cau6zeDJVtv-HX9Wi6LVHYF9O1WGSpKLTJ7YfD/s200/alarm+clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Are you a busy cook on a budget looking for dinner ideas that are low-cost, fast and easy? Skillet meals may be just what you’re looking for! These one-pan wonders are a busy cook’s best friend because they need just a few budget-friendly ingredients, require little preparation time, and are literally a “meal-in-one”. You won’t even need to worry about serving a side dish unless you want to add some fruit or a small salad. The best thing about skillet meals though, is that since your whole dinner cooks in just one pan, there’s only one pan to wash when dinner is done! <br />
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So, if you’re ready to try a time-saving skillet meal, these $2 Dinners recipes are a great place to start. Your family with love the south-of-the-border flavors in our Beefy Enchilada Skillet Dinner, and our Skillet Pasta and Meatballs is a real winner that goes from the stove to the table in under 30 minutes, and needs just five ingredients!<br />
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<strong>Click on the oranges boxes for printable versions of the recipes</strong><br />
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<strong>Beefy Enchilada Skillet Dinner (serves 4 @ aboout $1.94 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/beefy-enchilada-skillet-dinner-461563?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<strong>Skillet Pasta and Meatballs (serves 4 @ about $1.75 per serving)</strong><br />
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="430" src="http://www.cookeatshare.com/embed-recipe/skillet-pasta-and-meatballs-461564?height=430&width=400" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.copyscape.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Check" border="0" height="31" src="http://banners.copyscape.com/images/cs-bl-88x31.gif" title="Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Checker - Do not copy content from this page." width="88" /></a>Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07030751814186790025noreply@blogger.com0