Author Archive
Basic Chili III
October 16, 2024 Lee
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Basic Chili III

Lee
Another name could be Skillet Chili since I made this in a wok pan. I made this on 15 Oct 2024 with ingredients I normally keep on hand. Easy and tasty chili.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons chili seasoning mix, (or one 1 or 1ΒΌ oz / 28 or 35 g packet)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained, (565 g / 20 oz)
  • 2 cans red Kidney beans, undrained, (400 g / 14 oz each)

Instructions
 

  • Heat a non stick wok pan or pot, add the ground beef, breaking up the beef with a spatula, cook until no pink is visible, drain off most of the excess fat.
  • Add the chili seasoning mix.
  • Stir the mix into the beef.
  • Pour in the tomatoes and beans, mix together. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy. Top with oyster crackers, shredded cheese, or sour cream, as desired.

Notes

Fair cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Add a diced onion and or diced green bell pepper when cooking the beef. 2. Use ground pork in place of beef. 3. Use canned pinto beans in place of red kidney beans.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Chili Bean Chili
October 7, 2024 Lee
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Chili Bean Chili

Lee
I came up with this on a whim. I like chili beans and I like chili with ground beef, so I made this, and it is very good and easy, and only 5 ingredients.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cans chili beans, (439 g / 16 oz each)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, (565 g / 20 oz)
  • salt and pepper, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Heat a non stick pan on medium heat, add the onion and ground beef, season with black pepper as desired. Cook, breaking up the beef and mixing with the onion.
  • While the beef is cooking, open the chili beans and diced tomatoes, and pour into a pot.
  • Cook the beef until no pink remains, drain out most of the fat.
  • Add the beef to the pot with the tomatoes and beans.
  • Stir together and place on low heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
  • Serve and enjoy.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Frito Casserole
September 17, 2024 Lee
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Frito Casserole

Princess Pinky Girl
I found this recipe while looking for dishes to make with canned chili, and this is perfect! This is also known as Frito Pie and Frito Pie Casserole. Three ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time and you can have a great dish.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Casserole (2 quart)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans chili with beans, (15oz / 425g)
  • 4 cups Fritos chips, divided
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • sour cream, for topping, optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180Β° C (350Β° F), lightly butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
  • Add 2 cups of the Frito chips to the bottom of the casserole.
  • Pour the chili over the chips and spread out evenly.
  • Sprinkle the rest of the chips over the chili.
  • Sprinkle with the cheese.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chili is bubbly on the sides of the casserole. Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes.
  • Serve, and optionally top servings with a big dollop of sour cream, enjoy.

Notes

The most expensive item in this casserole is the Frito chips, so this is a high cost meal but an excellent one in a while meal.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,CASSEROLES
Dirty Martini
September 3, 2024 Lee
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Dirty Martini

Just a twist on the standard martini, however this drink is shaken, not stirred, to infuse the olive brine into the gin and vermouth.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Bar Jigger

Ingredients
  

  • 2Β½ oz dry gin, chilled
  • Β½ oz dry vermouth, chilled, goes without saying
  • Β½ oz olive brine
  • ice as needed
  • cocktail spear, or toothpick
  • 3 green olives with pimento
  • 1 cocktail glass, chilled

Instructions
 

  • Spear the olives and place in the chilled cocktail glass.
  • Add handful of ice to a cocktail shaker, add the gin, vermouth, and olive brine to the shaker, cap and shake until well chilled.
  • Strain into the glass, serve and enjoy.
#1 Go-To Recipes,DRINKS
“Canned” Ham & Bean Soup
August 24, 2024 Lee
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"Canned" Ham & Bean Soup

Lee
I call this "Canned" in the title as I use canned beans and canned condensed soup. This is easy to put together, flavor is excellent! I made this on a whim to use up some frozen ham steaks I had lingering in the freezer. I made this on 23 Aug 2024, updated this on 10 Oct 2024, and when I make again, I will take photos.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cans white beans, undrained, (400 g / 14 oz each)
  • 2 cans condensed mushroom soup, (10Β½ oz / 298 g each)
  • 500 grams sliced sandwich ham, diced, (1 lb)
  • black pepper, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Add the beans (undrained) and the soup to a saucepan, mix together.
  • Dice the ham and add to the saucepan, mix together. Season with black pepper as desired.
  • Place on low to medium heat and simmer to heat through, stirring often.
  • Ladle into bowls, serve and enjoy.

Notes

Fair cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Use canned pinto beans in place of white beans, or combination of white and pinto beans. 2. Use condensed creamy mushroom chicken soup in place of mushroom soup.
Updated on 9 October 2024.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Yellow Bird Cocktail
August 21, 2024 Lee
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Yellow Bird Cocktail

A refreshing cocktail that uses Galliano as one of the ingredients.
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Prep Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Cocktail Picks or Toothpicks
  • Cocktail Glass chilled

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz white rum
  • Β½ oz Galliano
  • Β½ oz Cointreau
  • Β½ oz lime juice
  • ice cubes, as needed
  • maraschino cherry, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • And a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, add the rum, Galliano, Cointreau, and lime juice. Cover and shake until well chilled.
  • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a maraschino cherry and lime slice as desired. Enjoy.
#1 Go-To Recipes,DRINKS
Blue Hawaiian
August 17, 2024 Lee
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Blue Hawaiian

An easy and refreshing drink. Many of the Blue Hawaiian recipes call for white rum, I am using Malibu rum which is coconut flavored. I also use unsweetened coconut cream and many recipes call for cream of coconut which is sweetened. The flavor is excellent, and the family loves these! Keep in mind, the quality of the Blue Curacao you use will determine on the quality of blue color (it may come out greenish blue), the taste will be the same. You can also add a drop or two of blue food coloring into the shaker before shaking.
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Prep Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Bar Jigger

Ingredients
  

  • 1Β½ oz Malibu rum
  • ΒΎ oz Blue CuraΓ§ao
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • ΒΎ oz coconut cream
  • ice cubes, as needed
  • cocktail straw
  • maraschino cherry, for garnish
  • cocktail umbrella, for garnish, optional
  • hurricane glass, (350 ml size is perfect)

Instructions
 

  • Add ice cubes to the hurricane glass, about half full.
  • Add a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, add the Malibu rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, cover and shake until the outside is well chilled. Strain into the hurricane glass.
  • Add the straw, pierce a maraschino cherry with the umbrella and add that, serve and enjoy.
#1 Go-To Recipes,DRINKS
Malibu Sunset
August 15, 2024 Lee
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Malibu Sunset

Family Fresh Meals, Corey, United States.
This is a great tasting cocktail that is easy to prepare. My family loves these, highly recommended.
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Prep Time 1 minute
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Bar Jigger

Ingredients
  

  • 4 oz pineapple juice
  • 2 oz Malibu rum
  • Β½ oz grenadine
  • ice cubes, as needed
  • cocktail straw
  • maraschino cherry, for garnish
  • cocktail umbrella, for garnish, optional
  • hurricane glass, 350ml size is perfect

Instructions
 

  • Add ice cubes to the hurricane glass, about half full.
  • Add a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, add the pineapple juice and Malibu, cover and shake until the outside is well chilled. Strain into the hurricane glass.
  • Hold a spoon upside down at the side of the glass and slowly pour the grenadine over the spoon so it flows down the inside of the glass, this makes the layered effect.
  • Add the straw, pierce a maraschino cherry with the umbrella and add that, serve and enjoy.
#1 Go-To Recipes,DRINKS
Sausage & Pasta
June 11, 2024 Lee
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Sausage & Pasta

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I found this recipe on Instagram, excellent flavor, easy to put together, but I did change the amount of chicken stock as the original did not have enough liquid for the pasta. The recipe here has that change included.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo smoked sausage, sliced Β½" thick, (2 lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • Β½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 500 grams dry bowtie pasta, (1 lb)
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • black pepper, as desired, to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot on medium heat, add the sausage and cook, stirring/turning often, until cooked through and starting to brown. Remove to a dish lined with paper towels to drain.
  • Same pot, medium to low heat, add a little cooking oil if there is no fat leftover from the sausage, add the onion and garlic powder, cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened and just starting to brown.
  • Add the sausage back to the pot, then add the diced tomatoes, broth, cream, and dry pasta. Stir to mix together, season with black pepper as desired. Add the chicken broth and water. Cover and cook.
  • Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking on the bottom, until the pasta is tender.
  • Stir in 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese, once it is mixed in, add the second cup and mix that in as well.
  • Once the cheese is mixed in, leave the cover off, turn off the heat, and let any remaining liquid evaporate, will take just a few minutes.
  • Give the pot another stir, serve and enjoy.

Notes

Fair cost, I use Spicy Pork Sausages from Makro, this makes a lot so the cost per serving is reasonable.
Updated on 10 June 2024.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PASTA,Pork - Sausage
Chicken Nugget Cordon Bleu Casserole
June 8, 2024 Lee
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Chicken Nugget Cordon Bleu Casserole

Just a Pinch Recipe Club, Raymond Spencer, United States.
This recipe is from a recipe site called Just a Pinch, and this is my tailored version of this recipe. It is easy to make, taste is excellent, and it is filling! I made this on 6 Jun 2024 and was well liked by the family. A great use for chicken nuggets, and the bleu cheese gives this casserole and excellent flavor.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Equipment

  • Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams dry cavatappi pasta, or cellentani pasta, (8 oz)
  • 170 grams bleu cheese, (6 oz)
  • 1 kilo frozen chicken nuggets, thawed, you may not use all of them, (2 lb)
  • 250 grams cooked ham, cubed, (8 oz)
  • 250 grams Swiss cheese, cubed, (8 oz)
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, (10Β½ oz / 298 g)
  • ΒΎ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix, Shortcut
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ΒΎ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Β½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to boiling, then add the pasta and cook until just tender, drain.
  • While the pasta is cooking, preheat your oven to 180Β° C (350Β°F), and lightly grease with butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Crumble the bleu cheese into the bottom of the baking dish evenly.
  • Also while the pasta is cooking, cube the ham and Swiss cheese, set aside. Add the soup, cream, milk, and Italian seasoning mix to a mixing bowl and whisk together.
  • After the pasta is drained, add that to the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly.
  • Add the chicken nuggets on top of the pasta.
  • Top the nuggets evenly with the ham and cheese.
  • Pour sauce over evenly over the casserole.
  • In another mixing bowl, add the melted butter, panko, and parmesan cheese, mix together and sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole. (I skipped this step as the dish was heaping!)
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy.

Notes

Fair cost per serving based on the cheese used, but makes a lot so the cost is reasonable.
Shortcut: Italian Dressing Mix.
Variant: 1. Use Condensed Creamy Mushroom Chicken Soup in place of the Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.Β 
Updated on 06 June 2024.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES,Chicken - Nuggets