Archive for the ‘#1 Go-To Recipes’ Category
Meatball Mostaccioli
This is an excellent dish, highly recommended! I made this as written, this is a keeper and going to be a regular. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 box mostaccioli pasta, (1 lb / 454 g)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 carton Ricotta cheese, or cottage cheese, (1 lb / 454 g), Shortcut
- 500 grams ground beef, or ground pork, (1 lb)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, Shortcut
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 jars pasta sauce, with meat, (24 oz / 680 g each)
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated
- 340 grams frozen meatballs, thawed
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until just tender, then drain.
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F). Grease a 9x13 baking pan with butter. In a mixing bowl, mix together the eggs and Ricotta cheese.
- Heat a large pot on medium heat, when hot, add the onion and ground beef. Break up the beef with a spatula and cook until no longer pink, then drain excess fat. I used ground pork.
- Mix in the brown sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Add the pasta and pasta sauce. and mix together with the beef.
- Add half of the beef and pasta to the prepared baking.
- Top with the Ricotta mixture.
- Top with remaining beef and pasta mixture.
- Sprinkle with Romano cheese, top with the meatballs, then sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until heated through.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Cottage Cheese, Italian Seasoning.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
No Fail Mint Oreo Fudge
This recipe comes from a friend and I made this on 4 Feb 2020. Only 6 ingredients and 1 is optional.
Ingredients
- 1 can vanilla frosting, (16 oz / 454 g)
- 1 bag white chocolate chips, (11-12 oz / 312-340 g bag)
- green food coloring, (about 8 drops liquid coloring)
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 20 Oreo cookies, (or 10 Double Stuffed Oreo's)
- candy sprinkles, optional, as desired
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 baking pan with foil. Count out the Oreo cookies and place them in your freezer for 5 minutes to firm up, then take them out and chop them coarsely.
- Add the white chocolate chips to a heatproof mixing bowl, microwave on full power for 30 seconds, take the bowl out of the microwave.
- Open the frosting and remove the foil seal, discard the lid and seal. Place the frosting container in your microwave, microwave on full power for 1 minute.
- Pour the hot frosting onto the chips, stir together.
- Stir in the peppermint and a few drops of green food coloring (I used 8 drops liquid coloring) and mix until an even color.
- Stir in half of the Oreo's you chopped earlier into the frosting mixture..
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread out evenly.
- Top with the remaining Oreo pieces and push them onto the top.
- Sprinkle with candy sprinkles as desired, I used some chocolate sprinkles.
- Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. Cut into squares and place on a serving tray.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
Homemade Spaghetti Os
Homemade meaning the sauce, not the actual pasta. I have made this with ditalini pasta and ring pasta, either one is perfect.
Ingredients
- 2 cans tomato sauce, (15 oz / 425 g each)
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 226 grams dry ditalini pasta, or ring pasta, (8 oz)
Instructions
- To a large pot, add the tomato sauce, water, and milk. Heat to a boil then reduce to low.
- Stir in the garlic and onion powders, then stir in the cheese, stir until the cheese is all melted and takes just a minute or two really.
- Add the pasta and stir that in, reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook for 20-30 minutes and stir occasionally so the pasta does not stick.
- When the pasta is tender, the Spaghetti Os are ready. Serve as is.
- Or with meatballs added, highly recommended!
- Or as an ingredient when making Spaghetti Os Goulash. (Use 2 cups of this homemade Spaghetti Os per one 15 oz can.)
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Add some chicken broth instead of all water, such as 1 cup broth and 2 cups water or 2 cups broth and 1 cup water. 2. Add frozen meatballs, heated. 3. Use as an ingredient to make Spaghetti Os Goulash.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Spaghetti Os Goulash, Made it, GO-TO recipe.
Pig Pickin' Cake
Sounds good and is on my to make and taste list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix, Shortcut
- 1 can Mandarin oranges, undrained, (11 oz / 311 g)
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce, Shortcut
For the Topping
- 1 can crushed pineapple, undrained, (20 oz / 567 g)
- 1 box instant pudding mix, small 4 serving size box
- 1 tub whipped topping, (8 oz / 226 g)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F) and grease a 9x13 baking pan with butter.
- In a mixing bowl, add the Cake ingredients.
- Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour into the prepared pan, bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake on a wire rack until completely cooled.
- When the cake is completely cooled, add the pineapple and pudding mix to a mixing bowl, mix together, the pudding mix soaks up the juice.
- Fold in the whipped topping until just mixed.
- Spread the topping over the cake, cover, and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Optionally, add some mandarin orange segments to the top, or pineapple tidbits, each one well drained, then place in the fridge.
- Cut into squares, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
White Chicken Chili II
This is my Go-To white chicken chili! Easy to put together and common ingredients. Feel free to use cooked from dry beans instead of canned. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Notes section.
Ingredients
- 4 cans Great Northern Beans, drained, (15 oz / 425 g cans), Shortcut
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, Shortcut
- 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
- 1â…” cups milk
- 1 can green chilies, chopped, drained, (4 oz / 113 g)
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes, or 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- sour cream, optional, for serving
- oyster crackers, optional, for serving
Instructions
- To a large pot, add the beans, chicken, soup, and chilies and give the mixture a stir.
- Add the milk, cilantro, onion and garlic powders, cumin, and oregano, stir together and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Stir occasionally and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Serve, top with sour cream or oyster crackers as desired, enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving. If using beans cooked from dry, which is a cost saver for you, use 6-7 cups of cooked beans.
Shortcuts: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, Great Northern Beans (Pressure Cooker).
Pasta Piselli
This is an easy and tasty side dish. Keep in mind for these photos I made half of this recipe.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- pinch cayenne pepper, as desired, or red pepper flakes
- 454 grams frozen peas, (1 lb)
- 4 cups water, and as needed
- ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped or 2 tablespoons dried
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 454 grams ditalini pasta, (1 lb)
- salt and pepper, as desired
- Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, 3-4 quart size, heat the olive oil on low heat then add the onion and saute until translucent and soft. Add the cayenne pepper and saute for another minute.
- Add the frozen peas and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the water, salt, and parsley, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook the peas for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the pasta and increase heat to medium high. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring often, until tender and the water is absorbed. If all the water is absorbed and the pasta is not tender, stir in ¼ cup of water and continue cooking until tender.
- When the pasta is tender, taste and season with salt and black pepper as desired.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese for a topping if desired. Enjoy.
Notes
Variant: 1. Added heated meatballs for a meal.
Meatball Stew II
This is an excellent stew. Quick and easy. This version of the stew will use some canned items in place of fresh and will not use a slow cooker. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 680 grams frozen Italian meatballs, (24 oz), Shortcut
- 2 cans sliced potatoes, drained, rinsed, (425 g / 15 oz each)
- 1 can sliced carrots, drained, (425 g / 15 oz)
- 1 can green beans, drained, (425 g / 15 oz)
- 1 onion, halved, sliced
- 1 can tomato sauce, (15 oz / 425 g), Shortcut
- 3 cups beef broth, fresh or from powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ cup beef broth, cold
Instructions
- To a large pot, add the tomato sauce, 3 cups of broth, garlic powder, and pepper. Stir together to mix. Put pot on medium high heat.
- Add the meatballs, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and onion to the pot and mix together.
- Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Let stew simmer for 40 minutes, stir occasionally.
- Stir together the flour and the ½ cup broth in a measuring cup. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the stew. Heat to a boil then reduce to a simmer to thicken the stew.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Â Tomato Sauce, Italian Meatballs.
Variant: 1. Use chicken broth in place of beef broth. 2. Add 1 can sliced and drained mushrooms (4 oz / 113 g) or fresh sliced mushrooms.
Tortilla Alfredo Pizzas
This is a cheater recipe when you want a fast and simple pizza. This is a base recipe for 1 tortilla pizza (1 serving), no quantities are listed, this is a make as much as you want guide. The use of a microwave makes this quickly with no heating up of your kitchen with an oven.
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 flour tortilla, 8-10 inch size or so
- alfredo sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- chicken, cooked and cubed, canned chicken is perfect
- Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Place a tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Spread some Alfredo sauce evenly on the tortilla, keeping about ½ inch from the edge.
- Add some chicken.
- Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese as desired.
- Sprinkle with Italian seasoning as desired. Cook in your microwave on full power for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and serve right on the plate it was cooked on. Enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per pizza.
Variants: 1. Add some diced red bell pepper or tomato. 2. In place of chicken, use chopped ham, cooked and crumbled bacon, or pepperoni.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
This is excellent fudge! I use a double boiler for melting chocolate as I have had chocolate seize on me when using a microwave. This comes together quickly and is tasty! Highly recommended.
Ingredients
For the Fudge
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk, (14 oz / 396 g)
- 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips, (12 oz / 340 g)
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
Optional Toppings - Use 1 or More
- peanuts, chopped
- pecan halves
- chocolate chips
- sprinkles
- mini Reese cups, cut in half
- peanut butter MM candies
Instructions
- Line a 8x8 pan with foil.
- Setup a double boiler and add the condensed milk and chocolate chips.
- Heat until the chocolate is melted and stirred into the condensed milk.
- Add the peanut butter and stir until the mixture is smooth. No photo of the peanut butter mixed in, as once you add the peanut butter and mix that in, it will begin to set, so do not delay getting it into the prepared pan.
- Spread the fudge into the prepared pan.
- Top with additional items as you like, pressing them into the top of the fudge. I added a couple of handfuls of peanut butter MM candies.
- Place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill or leave on the counter for several hours to set.
- Lift out of the pan with the foil, cut into squares, enjoy.
Notes
Low cost per serving.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
Butter Cracker Thin Mints
You can use Ritz crackers for this or go the frugal route (I know I will) and use a store brand butter cracker. This is incredibly easy and I wonder why I never thought of this. Quantity made is approximate.
Ingredients
- 500 grams chocolate compound, (chocolate bark, 1 lb)
- 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 40 butter crackers, Ritz or your choice, and as needed
Instructions
- Setup a double boiler and add the chocolate compound. Heat until the chocolate is fully melted. Stir in the peppermint extract. Line a baking pan or two with parchment paper or foil.
- When the chocolate is ready, drop a cracker in the chocolate, flip it over with a fork then lift it out and drip off excess, place the cracker on the paper or foil.
- Repeat until all the chocolate is used, I sprinkled the mints with some chocolate sprinkles I had on hand. I used 2 sleeves of a store brand cracker and made 45 mints.
- Allow crackers to fully cool or if in a rush, place them in the fridge for a few minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
This is low cost based on the amount of mints made.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
United States.
