Since we’re all in relative quarantine, physical distancing, whatever you may want to call it, it’s more important than ever to ensure we’re not wasting food. Here’s a great use-up recipe for Tortellini Soup!
Hey Guys! For the second installation of my Sunday Dinner Series, I wanted to share this twist on an Ina Garten recipe that my mum has made some tweaks to that made it easier and more our tastes. For those that don’t know, one of the great spices in a mild Italian sausage is ground fennel seeds- so the addition of fresh fennel is a perfect pairing. Rather than a tomato-heavy sauce, some cream binds everything together. Fennel and Sausage Rigatoni 1 package of mild italian sausage (decased) 1 fennel bulb, diced 1 small onion 1 clove minced garlic 1.5 cups of heavy cream 1 cup white wine 1 tbsp tomato paste Herbs/Spices: ground fennel seeds, red pepper flakes Ground Parmesan for garnish Enough rigatoni for four Like I said, this is an adaptation of Ina Garten’s recipe that you can find here on James Beard Foundation’s website. The main…
Hellloooo! Today I’m back with my favorites from the month of March, only about halfway through April. I debated on finishing this video and post since while these are FAVORITES, I’m also at least 2 weeks late! Life has been pretty busy. But so many of these items are new to me, or never mentioned before on this blog that I felt like it was really still worth putting this post up to share my favorites. Skincare: Recently I’ve been using a combination of this Biotherm serum and a Biotherm night cream to combat my ridiculously dry skin. I love the combo because it’s starting to breathe some light back into my sad and angry skin which is so appreciated. My night cream is no longer available, but I’d love to try this one! Haircare: I’ve been loving the Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof spray! It’s meant to protect your…
Hi Guys! This is a brand new series on The Broke Girl Blog and it’s called “Sunday Dinners”- basically, all of those meals our mama’s and grandma’s and dad’s and grand-dad’s did so well that we somehow just don’t know how to make ourselves. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Actually… my mom’s got you because she’s the one who taught me this. Also, I texted her like eighty times writing this. I had to get it authentic, guys. That’s not code for “Mom always does it but I help” at alllllllll. These won’t be the cheapest meals in the world- these are the ones all of the cheap cooking can help you afford, so you can do that favorite meal every now and again, or when it’s a special Sunday. Traditional Spaghetti and Meatballs Meatballs: 1 Pack ground pork (~3/4 pd) 1 Pack ground beef (~3/4 pd) 2 slices of bread…
Hey guys! Well, most of us are firmly in the holiday season now, and temperatures are really cooling down. Or nosediving, if you live in Edmonton. Something about this time of year makes me run for comfort food, which can at times be tough if you’re sharing a meal with a friend who is vegetarian, but even more so if they’re vegan. This is a meal I made for my friend Kirsten and I, only about 5 months after she became a vegan. Yeah, it took me that long to percolate on how to share one of our favorite things (pasta) together while eliminating the meat, cheese, butter… you know, all of the things that I love! As I talk about this recipe, keep in mind- these are obviously not “meat” balls. The texture is similar to that of a falafel, but the flavor profile is Italian meatball. Because these…
Hey Guys! I’m back with a fun and easy meal idea! This was a total salvage use-up, with wrinkly tomatoes I stole from my mum that were headed to the garbage and some fennel she had laying around! With some other bits and bobs it became a perfect bit of sauce for penne. I love fennel, it has this flavor profile that reminds me of the spice blend in mild Italian sausage, just without the meat! The natural sweetness comes out as you cook it down. This dish is naturally vegetarian, and vegan if you omit or swap out the parmesan cheese, so this is a perfect dish for when you don’t know all of the food preferences of a guest. Tomato- Fennel Penne $5.32 for 4 or $1.33 per serving (but really… 59 cents a serving if those tomatoes were going in the trash) ~15 wrinkled tomatoes (salvaged from…
Well, I made it around a month. Not my best but… there were 3$ pints of strawberries that I just couldn’t deny myself. I also really wanted fresh dairy. So after thirty days of not buying groceries, I bought a few things. This no-buy isn’t firmly over, I’m still trying to work out of the meals and proteins I have frozen and my shelf stable items, but I’m running out of things like eggs and in my house… that just won’t do. March was a pretty easy month to not be buying groceries. I had a hospitality suite at work for three days and lots of invites out to my family’s place. I also did a cooking class that sent me home with three+ days’ worth of food. I think as I go forward my “no buy” will just be modified- if I need eggs or a fresh item,…
Dieting, or making major life changes to be healthier, can be difficult enough to begin with. Add in that it can be isolating because often we make poor food choices when gathering as a group, and suddenly becoming healthier can become very lonely. One of my very best friends has been on a health and fitness journey for over a year (check her out over at Life as Alyx, she posts some of her healthy recipes there!) so when I ask her over it’s usually her “cheat” meal, but even so I try to provide her with options to make it a bit more healthy for her. I support you, so that means I support your goals, too, right? Recently she came and visited with another friend of ours and we were having a “celebration” dinner of sorts. I wanted to serve something decadent, festive and fun- but I…
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…
Hello! Tomatoes are easily one of my favorite things! I love fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato salads, soups and sauces! Recently uncooked tomatoes have been giving me some sort of weird heartburn, so I have been cooking my tomatoes in different ways so I still get my “fix”. Since I also love pasta, an easy roasted tomato marinara seemed like just what I needed to make. This is a super affordable post which is surprising given that we’re using ten fresh tomatoes, and while you can definitely buy cans of tomato sauce for cheaper, but honestly this was so delicious that it felt fully worth the extra money. I also used a can of tomato sauce to make my roasted tomatoes go further so keep that option in mind as well! Roasted Tomato Marinara and Spaghetti $0.92 per serving or $5.50 for six Ten tomatoes (five romas and 5 vine ripened)…