Hey guys! This post is one of those that is inspired by something I do so cheaply and enjoy so regularly that when I realized I had never written about it on here, I was 100% facepalming myself. Crockpot apple sauce is one of those things that my mom taught me and I appreciated at a minimal level until I ate plain dry oats one day (#desperation, save me) and then promptly bought a bag of apples the next weekend at the farmer’s market with my sister because that is just too gross to repeat twice in a lifetime. Those that know me know that I have a really hard time with sugar. I love it, but it makes me terribly sick, and regularly because I have no self control. Making my own apple sauce is actually the perfect thing for me because apples are naturally sweet – especially cooked-…
French onion soup is one of those cheesy, carb-y, savory indulgences that you dream about diving face first into a bowl of after being outside on a cool day. It’s also the kind of dish that you can whip up out of some onions from the pantry, boxed beef stock, stale bread and some cheese and herbs. Those Frenchmen… so smart and surprisingly thrifty! This is one of those dishes that could easily appear to be intimidating. But in reality, all you’re doing is carmelizing onions with thyme, then simmering with beef broth and some other savory items, and then melting cheese on top of a small bread round before serving. I have a few suggestions for how to do this, depending on if you have oven safe bowls or if you’re freezing the soup. Traditionally, you would place a round piece of old/dry baguette in an oven/heatsafe bowl, top…
Hey guys! I wanted to design a three-course Valentines Day menu for under $30 including wine, something fun and sweet but attainable on a lower price range than going out. I’m the type of person where quality time reigns supreme, so if you’re like me and think a romantic night at home is as good as it gets (or your partner feels that way!), check out this easy and affordable menu. You’ll start with sharing a meat and cheese board and opening a bottle of wine. Next, serve up pan fried butterflied jumbo shrimp with a souped-up mushroom aglio e olio (cut the mushrooms if you’re a mushroom hater ha, but absolutely follow the other steps). Dessert is inspired by the adorable french toast churro bites that Vera from Oh My Goodness Chocolate Desserts posted back in January, just as a dessert rather than breakfast! I also am adding a…
Hey guys! I have to start this post apologizing for the shoddy quality of these pictures- I try to only post things if the pictures are at least decent, and these were taken when my phone was on its last legs. That being said, I REALLY wanted to share this post because it is such an easy way to stretch a buck and make amazing comfort food at the same time. Great idea+bad pictures= kindof ok to post, right? These enchiladas are far from traditional, but they are yummy and perfect to tuck into after freezing outside for the day. Even better, there’s only 1/4 cup of taco beef (yes, seriously) in this recipe, with the rest of the filling being black beans and rice! That keeps this recipe nice and affordable. This is also my new favorite way to use up slightly dry wraps, because you can’t tell when…
Hey guys! Since one of my very best friends is now vegan, I’ve been hanging out with her and doing food prep days periodically and ending up with some vegan freezer meals! Curries are not something I typically make vegan since I like to use jarred curry paste, but believe it or not you can get vegan curry paste in a jar! Who knew?! We used Patak’s Mild Curry Paste. I didn’t grow up in a family that ate a lot of Indian food, not even westernized Indian food (I’m looking at you, most butter chicken). Any, really, except for samosas! Indian food was something I really realized I liked on a food tour in college, as well as through friend’s mum’s cooking it! When I was finishing my BBA, I remember vividly one of my colleague’s mum bringing in chicken biryani and nearly dying of happiness it was so…
Hey Guys! In my quest to share how to make more out of nothing, I’m continuing the “almost free” stock series with this post- how to make corn stock. Everything in this stock is literally a kitchen scrap that was either carefully saved by myself or my mom and frozen until I had a day where I could make corn stock. Believe it or not, I have 12 cups of stock still from this batch that I made in December and I have enough fixings for another big batch of stock. Go me, right? I love to make stock in my giant crock pot (#lazy, just keeping it real), but you could easily do this in a stock pot, too! I’ve linked some suggestions in the Shop the Post section below, from a fancier crock pot that’s programmable to a more affordable option that is manual, some awesome stock pots…
Hi Guys! I hope the first week of 2017 is going well for you! Since this time of year is often when we want to focus on health and weight loss goals, I wanted to share my favorite salad of late! This is inspired by a salad my family had out for dinner one night (I wasn’t there) at a restaurant, that my mum then tweaked to her preferences and I am in LOVE. This salad is so stinking simple, and while it has cheese, it’s a small amount that feels decadent because you’re literally just shaving it in. This is fast to make but delicious and a total show stopper- and is SO affordable for a salad this time of year! I posted the picture below right after Christmas and people were liking it like crazy- so I knew I wanted to share with you. Tomato Basil Salad with…
Hey guys! I hope that you had the merriest Christmas and are looking forward to an awesome 2017. If you’re like me, you may be teetering on the edge of “turkey’d out” for the season and ready to eat something a bit different. This recipe is similar to my regular puttanesca, which I’ve blogged about eating before with zucchini noodles! The difference in this case is that I eat it with spaghetti squash, and mix in a can of tuna for an extra bit of protein. I love tinned tuna for its affordability and am always looking for new ways to incorporate it into my meals about once a week. This recipe is easy and so, so quick. No standing over a stove for 2 hours- just make your sauce while your spaghetti squash roasts and keep it warm! Tuna Puttanesca with Spaghetti Squash Serves four for $7.56, or $1.89 per serving…
Check out my vegan makeover on mushroom risotto!
A 1$ per serving easy vegetarian meal that is perfect for freezer planning!