Archive for the ‘5 Ingredients or Less’ Category
Easiest Pineapple Cake
June 11, 2020 Lee
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Easiest Pineapple Cake

This sounds like an excellent cake, on my to make and taste list soon. And only 5 ingredients!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 can crushed pineapple, with juice, (20 oz / 567 g can)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F). Grease a 9x13 pan with butter.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, and baking soda. Mix together.
  • Add eggs and pineapple, mix together until well combined.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Start checking at 28 minutes, as you do not want to overcook this cake.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • Top with your favorite cream cheese frosting or whipped topping in a pinch.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Inspired by Spend With Pennies and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,DESSERTS
Wild Rice (Pressure Cooker)
June 11, 2020 Lee
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Wild Rice (Pressure Cooker)

Hip Pressure Cooking, Laura Pazzaglia, United States.
I have not used this recipe yet but will be making this in the next 1-2 months and will come back with a report on how that goes. I will use my 9 liter (9½ quart) stove top pressure cooker with a pressure of 12 psi (80 kPa), so this will work with a electric pressure cooker as well. Follow all safety precautions for your model of pressure cooker.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 3 cups cooked rice

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dry, wild rice
  • 3 cups water

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the wild rice and place in the pressure cooker. Add the water.
  • Place the lid on the pressure cooker and lock in place, add the weight to the lid. Place on high heat.
  • When the weight (jiggler) starts to vent pressure and move a little, reduce heat to low or medium low, but maintain the pressure venting and movement on the jiggler. Set your timer for 25 minutes.
  • When 25 minutes have passed, turn off the heat to the pressure cooker and move the cooker to an unused burner. Allow a natural pressure release, meaning you don't need to do anything, just let the pressure cooker cool until all pressure has vented, and the lid lock device indicates that zero pressure remains inside the cooker.
  • When no pressure is in the cooker, keep your face pointed generally away from the cooker and open the lid.
  • Drain any water. Fluff the rice, use as is as a side dish, add to soups, or even freeze for later use. Enjoy.

Notes

I will determine cost per serving after I make a batch and see how many cups dry I can get from a 1 lb bag. I will be bringing some wild rice from the US when I return to Thailand. Wild rice is available through Lazada for those in Thailand, at 650 Baht/500g. I will say high cost per serving for now and will revise that after I make it and determine cooked amounts.
Variant: 1. Use broth, or a mix of broth and water, as long as the amount is 3 cups total.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,Ingredients - Pressure Cooker,Sides - Pressure Cooker
Basic Vinaigrette Dressing
June 9, 2020 Lee
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Basic Vinaigrette Dressing

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This is more of a guide than a recipe, and can be tailored in many ways.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 0 3/4 cup dressing

Ingredients
  

  • 9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1-2 pinches sea salt
  • 1-2 pinches coursely ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Add everything to a pint mason jar (or any small jar), cap, then shake. As easy as that.
  • Use on a salad, enjoy.

Notes

Variants: 1. Add a tablespoon of herbs such as dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, or thyme. 2. Add a minced clove of garlic. 3. Add a teaspoon of grated ginger. 4. Add a tablespoon of horseradish. 5. Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard. 6. Add a teaspoon of honey. 7. Use white wine vinegar in place of rice vinegar.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
5 Ingredients or Less,INGREDIENTS,Ingredients - Salad Dressings
Ranch Mashed Potatoes
June 8, 2020 Lee
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Ranch Mashed Potatoes

From a magazine article dated 1998.
This recipe comes from a food magazine in 1998, and it sounds good to me. This can be as easy as using instant mashed potatoes and a store bought packet or you can make homemade mashed potatoes and a homemade Ranch dressing packet. On my to make and taste list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups hot mashed potatoes, Shortcut
  • 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix, Shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the mashed potatoes your favorite way, I will use my pressure cooker.
  • Sprinkle on the Ranch dressing mix and mix well into the potatoes, stir in butter as desired.
  • Serve as a side dish and enjoy.

Notes

Shortcuts: Mashed Potatoes (Pressure Cooker), Ranch Dressing Mix.
5 Ingredients or Less,POTATOES,Potatoes - Pressure Cooker,SIDES
Baked Jalapeno Poppers
May 30, 2020 Lee
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Baked Jalapeno Poppers

These are really good, I made these on 31 May 2020 to test these out, excellent poppers. Now I need to grow some of these peppers in Thailand! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 fresh Jalapeno peppers
  • 250 grams Cream cheese, softened, (8 oz)
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix, Shortcut
  • 2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

Instructions
 

  • Slice each pepper in half lengthwise, leaving the stem on one of the halves, remove the seeds.
  • Preheat your oven to 190 C (375 F). Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and taco seasoning. Mix together.
  • Spread the cheese mixture into the pepper halves and place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the cheese filling in the peppers. I used two teaspoons to add the filling to the peppers, worked great.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the peppers are just tender, so start checking on them at 15 minutes. Serve as appetizers or as a side dish, enjoy.

Notes

In the US, this is low cost per serving, in Thailand I have not seen Jalapenos in any grocery stores but I am going to try and grow them again soon.
Shortcut: Taco Seasoning.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,SIDES
Tuna & Noodles
May 28, 2020 Lee
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Tuna & Noodles

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This is an old time favorite when I was growing up, and it is just as good now as it was then. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Notes section.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams dry egg noodles, (16 oz)
  • 2 cans tuna, drained, (12 oz / 340 g each)
  • 1 can sweet peas, drained
  • 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, Shortcut
  • salt and pepper, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to a boil, then add the egg noodles and cook until just tender. Drain noodles and return to the pot.
  • Add the soup and tuna and mix in, then add the peas and mix together (I used a variant and used frozen peas and carrots that were steamed first).
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired. Simmer for a few minutes until heated through.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Shortcut: Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Variants: 1. Use frozen peas, steamed, in place of canned peas. 2. Use peas and carrots (I used a 12 oz bag of frozen). 3. Add sliced mushrooms. 4. Use pasta of your choice. 5. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese.
# Buster Approved,#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,Fish - Tuna,PASTA
Italian Bean Soup Mix
May 15, 2020 Lee
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Italian Bean Soup Mix

This is a straight forward bean mix using common beans. This makes 1 bean mix of 452 grams (1 pound). Measurements are in grams as that is more accurate. This is a make ahead recipe, and you can make several types of bean mixes at one time and the beans are then all prepped for use in another recipe. The recipe that uses this mix is in the Recipe Notes section at the end.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 1 bean mix

Ingredients
  

  • 113 grams dry white kidney beans
  • 113 grams dry chickpeas
  • 113 grams dry red kidney beans
  • 113 grams dry Pinto beans, or cranberry beans

Instructions
 

  • Weigh each bean type, place in a zip lock bag, label, use as directed in a recipe to make bean soup.

Notes

These are common beans in Thailand and this is low cost per mix.
Used in Recipe Listed on this Site:
 
My creation from researching a bag of Italian beans, Lee Thayer,
United States. 
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,INGREDIENTS
Frosted Graham Crackers
May 6, 2020 Lee
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Frosted Graham Crackers

I remember these from my childhood, and remembered these after I put some frosting in my shopping cart and wandered through the cracker aisle and seen graham crackers. Feel free to use your favorite canned frosting for convenience or make your own frosting. Store brand crackers would be a cost saver over name brand. This is a make as much as you like guide.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can chocolate frosting, (1 lb / 453 g)
  • graham crackers
  • candy sprinkles, optional, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Open a package of graham crackers and break each cracker in half so you have squares.
  • Generously frost a cracker square, top with another square. Repeat with as many crackers as you have.
  • Optionally, add some candy sprinkles to a bowl and tap the frosting oozing cracker edges into the sprinkles. This is one package, there is 3 packages in a box.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving, keeping in mind, store bought frosting in the US is very inexpensive and store brand crackers is a cost savers as well. For Thailand, the frosting would best be homemade to lower cost but the graham crackers are pricey however but you can make a lot from box of crackers.
Made these many times when I was a child, Lee Thayer.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,DESSERTS
Smoky Hard Boiled Eggs
May 3, 2020 Lee
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Smoky Hard Boiled Eggs

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I made these on 30 Dec 2021 and taste tested on 31 Dec, and these are excellent hard boiled eggs salty from the soy sauce and a nice flavor from the liquid smoke. This recipe assumes you have hard boiled eggs on hand, if not, a Shortcut is provided to my preferred way to make them. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Passive Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • hard boiled eggs, amount is up to you, Shortcut
  • 1 cup light soy sauce, for less salty, use ½ cup light soy sauce and ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the hard boiled eggs with your preferred method. Cool and peel. Place eggs in a glass or ceramic container, preferably with a watertight lid, makes for turning the eggs easier. I used just 4 eggs to test out the recipe.
  • Measure out the light soy sauce and liquid smoke.
  • Add the liquid smoke to the soy sauce and mix together, pour over the eggs, cover and soak eggs for 3 hours or even overnight, rotating the eggs occasionally until all the sides are a nice brown, containers with waterproof seal, just shake the eggs around to turn them. Soak longer for a darker brown.
  • Serve as is, make into deviled eggs, slice for salad or a sandwich, enjoy.

Notes

Shortcut: Perfect Hard Boiled Chicken Eggs.
#1 Go-To Recipes,5 Ingredients or Less,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken,INGREDIENTS
Chinese Pie
April 2, 2020 Lee
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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.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, or ground pork, (1 lb)
  • 1 can whole kernel corn, small can, (8.5 oz / 240 g)
  • 1 can creamed corn, small can, (8.5 oz / 240 g)
  • mashed potatoes, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F), get out a 8x8 casserole dish.
  • Brown the ground beef in a non stick pan, drain the fat, then place beef on the bottom of the baking dish and spread out evenly.
  • Open the kernel corn and drain the water, sprinkle corn over the beef.
  • Open the creamed corn and spread that out on the kernel corn.
  • Prepare mashed potatoes, instant or fresh, your choice, although instant would be perfect for this. Spread mashed potatoes over the corn.
  • Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Add some diced onion to the beef when browning it. 2. Add some sauteed mushrooms to the beef mixture in the casserole dish. 3. Sprinkle the mashed potatoes with Cheddar cheese for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,BEEF