Archive for the ‘#1 Go-To Recipes’ Category
Cookie Dough Fudge
I found this recipe and made it on a whim, was not disappointed! This is excellent fudge, and so easy!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, room temp, (3/4 block / 1 1/2 sticks)
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a 9x9 pan with foil.
- Add the butter, cream, vanilla, and condensed milk to a mixing bowl, mix with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
- Add the brown sugar and mix again.
- Add the flour and mix that in with the electric mixer.
- Remove the mixer and clean off the blades. Swap those out for a sturdy spoon. Add half the powdered sugar and mix that in, then add the remaining powdered sugar and mix that in, the dough will be quite stiff. Then add the chocolate chips.
- Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop the dough into the prepared pan, and pack down evenly. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 3 hours.
- Run a butter knife along each side of the pan where there is no foil, then use the foil and lift the fudge out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Use large knife and cut into 16 squares.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Chinese Pie
No, this is not Chinese, not even close, this is a French Canadian dish very much like a Shepherd's Pie. The French name for this is Pâté chinois. Possibly created by Chinese immigrants working on the Canadian Pacific Railway, or just a variant of making Shepherd's Pie.
Equipment
- Casserole (3 quart)
Ingredients
- 500 grams ground beef, or ground pork, (1 lb)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can whole kernel corn, drained, (16 oz / 454 g)
- 1 can creamed corn, (16 oz / 454 g)
- mashed potatoes, as needed, about 4 cups
Instructions
- Prepare the mashed potatoes, fresh made or instant. I made fresh, using 5 medium potatoes, peeled, boiled, mashed with milk and butter.
- Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), get out a 3 quart casserole and lightly grease with butter.
- Brown the ground beef in a non stick pan, season with salt and black pepper as desired, drain the fat after no more pink is visible.
- Place the drained beef on the bottom of the casserole and spread out evenly.
- Open the kernel corn and drain the water, sprinkle corn evenly over the beef.
- Open the creamed corn and spread that out over the kernel corn.
- Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the corn.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges of the potatoes are starting to brown.
- Let casserole rest for 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving using beef.
Variants: 1. Add some sliced canned mushrooms or sliced fresh mushrooms to the beef while browning that. 2. Add a diced green bell pepper to the beef when browning. 3. Sprinkle the mashed potatoes with Cheddar cheese for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Chocolate Malt Chocolate Chip Cookies
Excellent cookies, probably the chocolate cookies I have made, everyone loved these. Highly recommended!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temp, (1 block / 2 sticks)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup malted milk powder
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and malted milk powder. Whisk together.
- In another mixing bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, and sugar, cream together using an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix with electric mixer until fully incorporated.
- Now use a sturdy spoon and add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined, repeat until all the flour mixture is mixed in. The dough will be stiff.
- Add the chocolate chips and mix those in.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour or even overnight. (I chilled it for an hour then proceeded with cooking them.)
- When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Spoon dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes or until set.
- Remove from oven and let cool on sheet for 5 minutes.
- Then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Creamy Baked Tortellini
This is absolutely delicious, I did however use a jarred sauce, but the flavor of the dish is excellent. Highly recommended.
Ingredients
- 567 grams cheese tortellini, refrigerated, (20 oz)
- 2 cups ham, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- salt and pepper, to taste, as desired
- 1 2/3 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F), get out a 9x13 baking dish.
- Cook the tortellini per the package instructions, boiling would be the preferred method. Drain.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter with the garlic and basil on medium heat. Cook for a few minutes or until fragrant.
- Whisk in the flour and season with salt and pepper as desired. Cook and whisk for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, bring to a boil while continuously whisking on medium heat.
- Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup of Cheddar and the Parmesan cheeses. Whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked tortellini, ham, and peas to the 9x13 baking dish, pour the sauce in.
- Mix everything together and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle on the remaining Cheddar.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Serve with sides of your choice and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Variant: 1. In place of making the sauce, use your favorite jarred Alfredo sauce (22 oz jar), just heat sauce, stir in the cheese, and proceed per the instructions.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
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Fusilli with Meat Sauce
Or Rotini, either way, this is a quick and tasty meal. I made this on 21 Apr 2020 with several of the Variants listed, delicious. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Shortcut
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 1 jar pasta sauce, (24 oz / 680 g)
- 250 grams dry fusilli pasta, (8 oz)
- 1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Heat a large non stick pan and add the beef, onion, and garlic, cook beef until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- While the beef is cooking, heat a pot of salted water to a boil then cook the pasta until just tender. Drain the pasta.
- Return the pan with the beef to heat, add the broth and Italian seasoning, stir into the meat, simmer until the broth evaporates.
- Stir the sauce into the meat, simmer for a few minutes to heat the sauce through.
- Add the pasta and stir into sauce, simmer for another few minutes to warm the pasta through.
- Sprinkle the cheeses on the top.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcut: Italian Seasoning.
Variants: 1. Use bulk Italian sausage in place of ground beef. 2. Use ground pork in place of beef. 3. Use rotini or sprials, or colored versions.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
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White Chocolate Biggies
For Christmas 2019 my Mom gave me a cookbook, specifically 'the chocolate cookbook' and that is where this recipe comes from. These are excellent cookies, hands down! Highly recommended.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups butter, softened, (1 1/2 blocks / 3 sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 package white chocolate chips, (312-340 g / 11-12 oz)
- 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup golden raisins, or sun-dried raisins
- milk, as needed, just a tablespoon or two
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 C / 350 F, line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly greased foil.
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, whisk together.
- In another mixing bowl, add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until well mixed.
- Add the flour mixture and use a sturdy spoon to mix together until well mixed. The dough will be very stiff, if too stiff, mix in 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, but keep the dough stiff.
- Stir in the chips, pecans, and raisins.
- Drop by very heaping tablespoons, 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten dough slightly.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until firm in the center. Cool on the sheets for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost.
Adapted from a recipe listed in 'the chocolate cookbook', page 42.
15 Bean Slow Cooker Chili
This is excellent chili! Easy and flavorful. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 bag 15 Bean Soup, with Ham flavor packet, Shortcut
- 500 grams ground beef, or ground pork, (1 lb)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes, (14.5 oz / 411 g)
- 1 can green chilies, drained, (4 oz / 113 g)
- 1 can tomato paste, (6 oz / 170 g)
- 2 quarts beef broth, (8 cups)
- 1 packet chili seasoning mix, Shortcut
- salt and pepper, to taste, as desired
Instructions
- Heat a non stick pan and brown the ground beef, drain, and add the beef to your slow cooker.
- Rinse the beans and add those to your slow cooker.
- Add the diced onion and bell pepper, bean seasoning packet, and 1/2 of the chili seasoning packet.
- Add the broth and stir to mix. Set on High setting and let cook for 5 hours.
- At the 5 hour mark, check if the beans are tender, if not, cook for another hour.
- If the beans are tender, add the can of diced tomatoes, green chilies, tomato paste, and the rest of the chili seasoning packet.
- Stir, taste, and season with salt and pepper as desired, cook for another 30 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy with your favorite chili toppings.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Chili Seasoning Mix, 11 Bean Soup Mix.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
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Meatball Dinner
This is a basic dinner to put together, easy for a weekday meal for a family or quickly prepared by senior citizens. I based this guide on Kroger brand meatballs, which I think are excellent in taste and value. Stated here will be a good meal for 3 people with leftovers that you can add to to make another meal. The meatballs are based on 4 oz per serving, or four 1 oz meatballs per serving. Use a store brand, or homemade, for the items and that is a money saver as well. The nice thing about this meal is that all the items are prepared at the same time. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 225 grams dry egg noodles, (8 oz)
- 2 packets beef gravy mix, Shortcut
- 12 frozen meatballs, 1 oz each, Shortcut
- vegetable of choice, frozen or canned, for a side dish
Instructions
- Heat a pot of salted water to a boil, add the egg noodles and cook until tender, drain.
- While the noodles are cooking, go ahead and prepare the gravy as listed on the package, and heat up the canned or frozen vegetables, I used the stove top for this or you can use your microwave, up to you. Count out the meatballs, add some extras, and heat those per the package instructions as well.
- Serve, ladle gravy over the meatballs and egg noodles, and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Beef Gravy Mix, Frozen Meatballs.
Variants: 1. Use mashed potatoes in place of egg noodles. 2. Use your own cooked and frozen meatballs for this.
Tart Cherry Crisp
This is an easy to prepare dessert with common ingredients. I made this on 18 Mar 2020, as written using canned tart cherries, absolutely delicious. My parents also enjoyed this dessert. This will be a regular. When I get back home (Thailand), I will be making this using fresh cherries.
Equipment
- Oven
- Pie Dish (9 inch)
Ingredients
- 2 cans tart cherries, drained well, (14½ oz / 411 g each)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cold butter, cubed, (¼ block / ½ stick)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190° C (375° F), get out a 9 inch pie pan.
- In mixing bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon, whisk together, then add the butter and cut in with a large fork until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Add the well drained cherries to the pie pan, spread out in an even layer and sprinkle with the granulated sugar.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture over the cherries.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top is crisp and the cherries bubbly.
- Serve warm or cold, enjoy.
Notes
Variants: 1. Use 4 cups fresh tart cherries, pitted, in place of canned. 2. Use 1 can drained of tart cherries and 1 can of sweet cherries, also drained. 3. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Jon's Mac & Cheese
This recipe comes from my brother in law, Jon, and I must say, this is excellent Mac & Cheese and one of my favorites! And only 5 ingredients.
Ingredients
- 500 grams dry elbow macaroni, (1 lb / 16 oz)
- 8 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided, (about 1 kilo / 2 lbs / 32 oz)
- 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, (1/2 block / 1 stick)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F). Grease a pyrex 9x13 baking dish with butter.
- Heat a pot of salted water to boiling then add the macaroni and cook until just tender.
- While the pasta is cooking, add the whipping cream and eggs to a mixing bowl and mix with a whisk.
- When the pasta is just tender, pour into a colander to drain then add the butter to the pot and put back on heat to melt.
- When the butter is melted, return the drained pasta to the pot and add the whipping cream mixture. Stir together.
- Add 4 cups of the cheese and mix until the cheese is melted in.
- Pour pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining 4 cups of cheese. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown on top.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
- Slice into 8 squares, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
I will price this when I make this in Thailand, for now this is a fair cost per serving dish in Thailand.
Provided by my brother in law, Jon Bargeman.
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