Author Archive
Red Hot Applesauce Jello
I remember this when I was growing up. My Mom just showed me this recipe in her cookbook she put together when she was in high school. Time to make this again. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 box strawberry jello, (4 serving size)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cinnamon red hot candies
- 1 can applesauce, unsweetened, (15 oz/425 g or 2 cups fresh), Shortcut
Instructions
- Place the red hot candies and the jello powder in a heat proof bowl. Boil water on the stove, when hot, measure out 1 cup, pour the water into the bowl while you are stirring.
- Continue to stir for 2-4 minutes, until the red hots are dissolved.
- Stir in the applesauce. Now pour into smaller serving cups if using those. Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set and chill.
- Serve as a side dish or as a dessert, enjoy.
Notes
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
This sounds like an excellent pork tenderloin recipe, on my to make and taste list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo pork tenderloin, (2 lbs)
- 2 cups BBQ sauce, Shortcut
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the tenderloin to your slow cooker.
- In a measuring cup, add the remaining ingredients and mix together.
- Pour sauce over the tenderloin. Place lid on the slow cooker, and set to Low setting and cook for 4 hours or until the internal temp reaches 63 C (145 F), let rest 10 minutes. Or cook on High setting for 2 hours or or until the internal temp reaches 63 C (145 F), let rest 10 minutes.
- Slice and serve with the sauce. Mashed potatoes and fried corn would be great side dishes.
Notes
I will price this when I buy a pork tenderloin.
Shortcut: BBQ Sauce.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
Banana Split Pie
Easy and tasty! This is a delicious pie.
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cookie crust
- 2 cups cold milk
- 2 boxes instant vanilla pudding, (4 serving size)
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced lengthwise
- 1 banana, sliced
- 12 maraschino cherries, drained well
- 1 tub Cool Whip, divided, (8 oz tub)
- 1/4 cup pecans, chopped
- chocolate syrup, as desired
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the milk and pudding mixes, whisk for 2 minutes.
- Spread 1 1/2 cups of the pudding in the pie shell.
- Top the pudding with strawberry and banana slices.
- Add half the Cool Whip to the remaining pudding and stir together until blended.
- Spread mixture over the fruit. (I totally missed taking this photo.)
- Spread remaining Cool Whip over the pudding mixture.
- Drizzle with chocolate sauce and sprinkle with the chopped pecans.
- Cover and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours to set.
- Slice, top each slice with a maraschino cherry, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost in the US, I will price this again if I can make this in Thailand.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Mandarin Orange Pie I
Sounds good, on my to make and taste list, and soon.
Ingredients
- 1 can condensed milk, (14 oz can)
- 1 package Cream cheese, softened, (8 oz / 250 grams)
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 2 cans Mandarin oranges, drained well, (14 oz 425 g cans)
- 1 graham cracker crust
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the condensed milk, cream cheese, and lemon juice.
- Beat with an electric mixer until mostly smooth.
- Fold in the drained orange segments.
- Spread filling in the graham cracker crust. Cover and place in the fridge for at least 3 hours to fully set.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving in the US, for Thailand, I will experiment making this with fresh mandarin oranges and will price that when I prepare that.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
15 Bean Soup (Slow Cooker)
I prepared this on 21 Nov 2019, and used a variant and added some meat and broth, result is hands down, delicious! I will be taking several bags of these beans back to Thailand with me.
Ingredients
- 1 bag 15 Bean Soup, (20 oz / 567 g)
- 8 cups water
- 500 grams smoked sausage, sliced, (1 lb) (optional)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, (optional)
- 1 can diced tomatoes, drained, (14.5 oz / 411 g can)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Sort the beans and remove any debris or stones, and remove the Seasoning Packet and set that aside for use later, then rinse the beans.
- Place the beans, onion, sausage, garlic, and chili powder in the slow cooker. (I went overboard with the meat addition, I added smoked sausage, Andouille sausage, and smoked ham, about 1 kilo / 2 lbs.)
- Add the water or broth, stir to mix, cover, and set the slow cooker to High setting and cook for at least 5 hours, without lifting the cover.
- At the 5 hour mark, check the beans for tenderness. If the beans are not tender, continue cooking, checking again each hour until tender. (Mine were done, and perfect right at the 5 hour mark.)
- When the beans are tender, stir in the tomatoes and lemon juice. Turn the slow cooker to Low setting and cook for another 30 minutes.
- You can leave on Keep Warm for several more hours if needed, and this blends the flavors as well.
- Just before serving, open and stir in the seasoning packet that came with the beans.
- Serve with bread, biscuits, or even over rice. Enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Omit the sausage for a meat free dish. 2. Substitute the sausage with ham, ham bone, or ham hocks. 3. Increase the amount of sausage or other meat to 1 kilo (2 lbs). 4. Replace half the water with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth.
Adapted from the 15 Bean Soup recipe on the Hurst Beans website.
Bruschetta Chicken Bake
This recipe comes from a box of Stove Top Stuffing, and I will say this does sound good, and easy. The stuffing can also be made from a shortcut, which would certainly be a cost saver in Thailand. On my to make and taste list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained, (14.5 oz / 411 g)
- 1 box Stove Top stuffing, chicken flavor, (6 oz box), Shortcut
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 750 grams chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, (1 1/2 lbs)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 C (400 F). Get out a 9x13 baking pan.
- Cut the chicken into bite size pieces, place in the bottom of the baking pan. Sprinkle the chicken with the basil and cheese.
- In a mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, the stuffing mix, water, and garlic. Stir until the stuffing is just moistened.
- Spread the stuffing mixture over the chicken.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve and enjoy with sides of your choice.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcut: Stove Top Stuffing.
Adapted from a recipe on a box of Stove Top Stuffing.
Soft Molasses Cookies
This recipe is from my Mom and she has prepared these for many years, and they are excellent cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F). Get out a baking sheet and line with foil or parchment paper.
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together to make the dough.
- Roll the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until just starting to brown on the edges.
- Remove from the oven, let cookies rest on the sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost.
Adapted from my Mom's recipe.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
This is a make the day before casserole (or at least 3 hours prior to baking) and it comes from a good friend. This is on my to make and taste list very soon. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 14 slices bread, see Step 1.
- 500 grams bulk Italian sausage, (1 lb), Shortcut
- 3 spring onions, sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups Italian blend cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Shortcut
- black pepper, to taste, as desired
Instructions
- For the bread, slice off the crusts then slice the bread into cubes. Spread the cubes out on a baking sheet and allow them to air dry on the counter overnight. You can also place the bread cubes in a 150 C (300 F) oven for about 10 minutes to slightly dry them, do not toast them or it will change the flavor of the casserole.
- Heat a non stick pan and add the sausage, cook, breaking it up with your spatula, until no pink remains. Drain off any excess fat and set aside to cool.
- While you are ready to assemble the casserole, grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter. Spread 1/2 of the bread cubes in the baking dish, top that with 1/2 the sausage, then 1/2 the spring onion, then 1/2 the peppers, then 1/2 the cheese.
- Repeat the layers, starting with the bread cubes and ending with the cheese.
- In a mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, Italian seasoning, and black pepper as desired. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the egg mixture over the casserole, making sure the bread cubes have all been covered. Cover with foil and place in the fridge overnight, or at least 3 hours.
- When you are ready to bake the casserole, simply remove from the fridge, leave covered, and place in your oven. Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Bake for 65 to 75 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving and for the best value, use the shortcuts to make the sausage and seasoning as well.
Shortcuts: Italian Sausage, Italian Seasoning.
Variants: 1. Use breakfast sausage in place of Italian. 2. Use left over hamburger or hot dog buns in place of loaf bread. 3. Use ham in place of or with the sausage.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
Coconut Dream Pie
This recipe makes use of the dry whipped topping called Dream Whip, and sounds very tasty. On my to make and taste list.
Ingredients
- 2 envelopes Dream Whip
- 2 3/4 cups cold milk, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding mix, (4 serving size)
- 1 cup coconut, flaked
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 pie crust, blind baked or graham cracker
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the 2 envelopes of Dream Whip, 1 cup of milk, and the vanilla, beat with an electric mixer on High speed for 6 minutes or until soft peaks form.
- Add the pudding mixes, remaining 1 3/4 cups of milk. Beat on Low speed until blended, then switch to High speed and beat 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the side and bottom of bowl.
- Fold in coconut and chopped nuts.
- Spoon mixture into the prepared crust and spread out evenly.
- Cover and place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost in the US, I will price this in Thailand when I obtain the local version of Dream Whip.
Adapted from the recipe on a box of Dream Whip.
Dream Pie
This recipe makes use of the dry whipped topping called Dream Whip, and sounds very tasty. On my to make and taste list.
Ingredients
- 2 envelopes Dream Whip
- 2 3/4 cups cold milk, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding mix, (4 serving size)
- 1 pie crust, blind baked or graham cracker
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the 2 envelopes of Dream Whip, 1 cup of milk, and the vanilla, beat with an electric mixer on High speed for 6 minutes or until soft peaks form.
- Add the pudding mixes, remaining 1 3/4 cups of milk. Beat on Low speed until blended, then switch to High speed and beat 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the side and bottom of bowl.
- Spoon mixture into the prepared crust and spread out evenly.
- Cover and place in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost in the US, I will price this in Thailand when I obtain the local version of Dream Whip.
Adapted from the recipe on a box of Dream Whip.