Tortilla Casserole

A couple of weeks ago, I told you I would share this recipe.

This recipe is from a gal that goes to our former church.  It is very nummy...easy to make, and easy to substitute other ingredients to suit your family's tastes.

Tortilla Casserole (from Lisa)---as she gave to me...with my changes included
*1 pound ground turkey, browned (I often use ground beef)
*1 onion, chopped
*1 can kidney beans, drained---I have used black beans
*shredded cheese (Mexican)---I usually use cheddar, 1 - 2 cups
*Tortilla chips
*Taco Sauce---I usually don't even use this....
*Medium Salsa---I use mild :)
Pour some of the sauce and salsa, to cover the bottom of a casserole dish.  Cover sauce with a layer of chips, 1/2 can of beans, 1/2 of the meat, and cheese....continue layering chips, salsa/sauce, rest of beans, rest of meat, chips, cheese and sauce.  Bake at 350* for one hour.
***I have often skipped the taco sauce and added taco seasoning to my meat instead.  This recipe is so flexible.  Feel free to experiment with other combinations!  We like to eat it with a little sour cream on top too!  :) 

I wish I had a picture to show you....:(

Enjoy!

Other recipes at:
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Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Mouthwatering Mondays
Delicious Dishes Pin It

Ham and Cheddar in a Loaf

Well, yesterday afternoon I decided to change my menu plan...but just a little bit.  Instead of making On-the-Go Pizza Rolls, I decided to make this Ham and Cheddar Loaf.   Similar ingredients...just prepared a different way.

(Not my picture...but from Kraft Foods...mine did look very similar though!  :) )

This great recipe came from a Kraft Food & Family magazine that I used to receive.  (I don't think they send them out anymore, but you can find the great recipes on their website.)
(***Actually, I see you can purchase a subscription....)


I made my loaf with salami instead of ham.

This is how I made it:

Ham and Cheddar Loaf
One recipe pizza dough
*1/2 package salami (approx. 5 oz.)
*1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
*1/4 c. miracle whip
*Parmesan cheese

Roll out dough to a 12 x 10 rectangle.  Lay salami over the dough, overlapping the slices.  Mix miracle whip and cheese together.  "Spread" over the top of the salami.  Starting on the long side of the dough, fold over 1/3 of the dough.  Fold the other third over the top of the first fold.  Pinch edges closed.  Place the loaf, seam sides down, on a greased cookie sheet.  Slice three "vents" across the top of the loaf.  Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of loaf.  Bake at 350* for 35 - 40 minutes, until golden brown.  Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

For the most part, my family really enjoyed this loaf.  The taste of the miracle whip was a little overpowering for my boys though.  I think next time I might not mix the miracle whip with the cheese, but just spread half of the dough with it before placing the meat on it.

Kraft Foods site offers some tasty variations to the recipe too.

For more recipes, check out:

Tasty Tuesdays
Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays
A Southern Fairytale
$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Delicious Dishes Pin It

Frugal Hamburger Gravy over Mashed Potatoes

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This is one of my favorite recipes from my school days!  It is definitely considered "comfort food".

My mother gave me the recipe book (that is over 30 years old)!!!  I have already shared the nummy Cowboy Bread recipe with you.  I hope some of you have made it, and enjoyed it as much as we do.

Tonight I will be making Hamburger Gravy for supper, so I thought I better share the recipe too.  (Pictures will have to come later....)

Hamburger Gravy
*1 1/2 lb. ground beef
*1 medium onion, chopped
*2 T. green pepper (optional)
*2/3 cup celery, chopped
*2 tsp. Better than Bouillon beef base (Target link) (Amazon link) or 2 cubes beef bouillon
*1 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet (I never have this...I don't even know what it is for...)
*1 1/2 tsp. salt
*1 1/2 cups water (divided)
*3 T. flour

Brown ground beef.  Drain off grease.  Add onions and green peppers to the browned meat.  Saute slightly.  Add the celery, 1 cup water, bouillon, Kitchen Bouquet and salt.  Stir the flour into the remaining water, removing any lumps.  Add to the mixture and stir.  Continue to cook gently, stirring occasionally, until thickened.  Serve over mashed potatoes.


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Chicken Broccoli Casserole

I chuckled last night as we sat down to dinner.  It was a night where the whole family could eat together, so we made sure to wait until my husband was home.  Yay!  I brought the casserole to the table.  My husband said, "This isn't Chow Mein Hotdish."  He went on to say, that he thought we were having the Chicken Broccoli casserole on Friday night.

He was right!

He had read my menu plan, (he subscribes to my e-mails)!!!!!!

I was the one who got mixed up!!!!  I had indeed, made Friday's meal on Monday!

Oops!!!!  :)

He quickly said, that it wasn't a problem...he likes both of the meals.  We just had to laugh a little.

Please tell me that you do things like that too!!!!! :)

So, here is the recipe that we did have last night instead of Friday.  :)  This casserole was originally brought to us from a friend from church, when one our oldest (I think) was born.  Why is it, that these delivered meals taste so incredibly good????  I think it has a lot to do with knowing how much people care about you!!!  :)

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

*10 oz. broccoli (cooked)
*2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
*1 can cream of chicken soup (I'm sure this would easily be substituted w/ a homemade cream sauce)
*1/4 c. milk
*6 slices cheese (I actually used 1c. of shredded cheddar)
*1 cup Bisquick (I used a homemade master baking mix from 30 Day Gourmet)
*1/4 c. butter, softened

Pre-heat oven to 375*.  Layer cooked broccoli on bottom of baking dish.  Layer cubed chicken on top of broccoli.  Mix soup with milk and spoon over the chicken.  Sprinkle cheese (or place slices) on top of soup.  Cut butter into Bisquick, until crumbly.  Sprinkle over the cheese.  Bake for 25 - 30 minutes at 375*, until topping is golden brown.

Comments from my boys:  "This tastes better than it smells."

That one made me laugh!!!!  :)

This post is linked to the following (where you can find more recipes):
*Tasty Tuesday
*Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
*$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
*Mouthwatering Mondays

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Sloppy Josephs

My mother used to make a similar recipe growing up, but I have wonderful memories of this specific recipe!  You see, when my youngest was born, my friend had her husband deliver this meal to our house.  It was so delicious (doesn't food always taste better when someone else makes it for you???)

Her version uses ground turkey, which adds a little different flavor.  She also places pickles on top...which we have come to love!!!  :)

I hope you enjoy it too!

Sloppy Josephs

*2 lbs. ground turkey, browned
*2 cans Campbell's Chicken Gumbo soup
*2 T. mustard (the recipe calls for dry mustard...I used plain mustard)
*6 T. ketchup
*2 medium onions (skipped this time)

Brown turkey with the chopped onion.  Add soup, mustard and ketchup.  Simmer 15 minutes.  Serve on buns with large dill slices.
(Or...cook turkey in crock pot on high, breaking it apart as it cooks, which takes awhile.  Once the meat is done, add the other ingredients.  Continue to cook on high, until ready to serve.  Approx. 4 - 6 hours total.)

This mixture can be easily frozen in containers for later use, which I always try to do.

This post is linked to:

$5 Dollar Dinners
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
A Southern Fairytale Pin It

Crock Pot Turkey Tetrazzini

A new recipe that I am trying today is based on this recipe, Easy Crockpot Turkey Tetrazzini.

It looks delicious, as it is slowly getting ready in my crockpot!  I imagine that it will taste good too!  :)

Here is how I made it today:

Crock Pot Turkey Tetrazzini
*2 cups cooked and cubed turkey (or chicken)
*1/3 cup cream soup mix
*1 1/4 cup water (mixed with cream soup mix)
*1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
*dash nutmeg
*1 tsp. dried parsley
*1 tsp. dried onions
*2 cups broken, uncooked linguini noodles

Mix chicken soup base and water, and microwave on high for 2 minutes, stirring after 30 second intervals, until thick.  Add turkey, cheese, nutmeg, parsley and onions.  Add noodles, and mix.  Pour into greased crock pot and cook on high for 4 - 6 hours, until noodles are tender.  It will look something like this:

 I will try and add a picture of it, once it has cooked for 4- 6 hours!  :)

****UPDATE:  This was very nummy, but you need to add more liquid!!!  It also only took about 2 - 4 hours.

This post is linked to:

$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
A Southern Fairytale
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Crock Pot Recipe Exchange Pin It

Tex-Mex Enchiladas

***This post contains affiliate links***
During my meal planning yesterday, I chose to put 2 new recipes in the plan for the week.  Tonight was the night to try one of them.  I got the original recipe from Mr. Food's website.  He called it Tex-Mex Enchiladas.  As I was making them this evening, I changed the recipe a little bit.  This is how I made them.

Tex-Mex Enchiladas, 2 Make Ends Meet Style

*1 cup cubed, cooked turkey
*1 cup cooked, brown rice (my new favorite: EcoLife Quick Cook Organic Brown Basmati
*2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
*dried minced onion (I didn't measure, but shook some into the bowl!)  :)
*1/2 can enchilada sauce
*5 flour tortillas

First of all, my recipe is divided in half from the original.  I did this because I didn't have enough turkey to make the full recipe.  That is also why I used brown rice...to stretch my meat farther!  :)
Mix turkey and rice together.  Add 1 cup of shredded cheese, the onion, and half of the sauce.  Mix together.  Divide this mixture evenly between the tortillas.  Roll up tortilla and place seam side down in a greased 8 X 8 pan.  Pour the remaining sauce on top of tortillas.  Sprinkle one cup of cheese on top of the sauce.

Bake in a 400* oven for 15 to 18 minutes.

This post is linked to:
$5 Dollar Dinners
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods
A Southern Fairytale Pin It

Paninis on a George Foreman Grill

***affiliate links included***

Update 4/15/2017: I see George Foreman grills are even advertised as grills/panini press!  (Maybe they saw this post of mine ;))


Yay!

My idea worked!

Not that this idea was original, I'm sure, but I had never thought of it before...

I had been using my George Foreman grill (GF) exclusively for burgers, chicken breasts, and hot dogs.

Then, yesterday, as I was writing my weekly menu plan, I thought that I might try doing my melts on my GF  grill.

It worked out great!

I knew I would need some good bread for it, but didn't want to go out and buy a heavier bread, so I made some.  I chose to make a French bread dough in my bread machine.  I then let it rise in a loaf pan and then baked it the oven.  Oh, the crust turned out so crispy!  My boys would have eaten the whole loaf I'm sure, but of course I couldn't let them!  We needed it for supper!  :)

Paninis on the George Foreman Grill

Once again, I hardly can call this a recipe.  It's more of a "how to" post.

All you need are:

*Slices of heavier sandwich bread (I used my french bread)
*Shredded cheese, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, etc.
*Butter, to spread on the outside of the sandwich (optional)...maybe even olive oil
*Deli ham, turkey, roast beef, etc.
*Mustard, or mayo, if desired.

Butter one side of the bread and place butter side down on the GF grill.  Spread any condiments on the bread that you would like.  Place meat and cheeses on the bread.  Spread butter on top slice of bread and place on top of sandwich.  I was able to fit 2 sandwiches at a time on my GF grill.  Close cover and wait.  I don't know how long this part took...a few minutes perhaps...I just kept opening it, until they looked done!  :)

I don't know if this truly classifies as a "panini", but I sure thought it was fun to make.  I don't have to spend more $ to go out and buy a panini press (and use up more space in my kitchen)!!!

Do you make paninis???

This post is linked to:

$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Tasty Tuesdays
Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays
A Southern Fairytale
What's On the Menu Wednesday Pin It

Easy Chicken Pasta Salad

This is what we are having for dinner tonight.  It is SO easy to put together.  My kids like it better the plainer  I make it!  :)  Tonight I am using leftover chicken from my freezer.  It was from our chicken soft tacos last week.  I barely had enough to make one cup of chicken, so I cut the pieces small!!!  :)

Easy Chicken Pasta Salad

*1/2 box small shell pasta (small rings, elbows, any shape you would like)
*1 - 2 cups of diced cooked chicken
*1/4 c. Miracle Whip or mayo, (I usually start with this and mix, then I add more as needed).
*Grapes, cut in half, to make 1 - 2 cups
*1/2 cup roasted almonds
*Salt and pepper, to taste

Prepare pasta as directed.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Add miracle whip and mix.  Add chicken, grapes and almonds.  Mix.  Salt and pepper, to taste.

Other ideas for add-ins include:  pineapple tidbits, craisins, raisins, pecans, walnuts, peas...

Any other ideas???  I would love for you to share them.

This post is linked to:

$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
A Southern Fairytale 
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Creamy Potato Salad Made Over

Well, I am finally getting my real posting of the day on here!!!  I am loving my class, and I will have to tell you more about that another time!

For now, here is one of those recipes that has been "hanging around my recipe hoard" for awhile.  I finally made it on Saturday, but didn't get around to eating it until yesterday.  Mmm, I must say!  It is a rather mild tasting, but creamy potato salad.

I tore the recipe out of Kraft Foods Food and Family magazine.  The date says Summer 2009!  It's about time I tried it!  It is actually a healthier version of potato salad.  As is usually true with me, I didn't have all of the ingredients.  I made it with what I had, and I still liked it!

Here is how I made it...

Creamy Potato Salad Makeover

1 lb. red potatoes (cut into chunks)
1/4 cup Kraft Light Zesty Italian Dressing (this is an ingredient I omitted)
1/3 cup Miracle Whip Light dressing
1 1/2 tsp. Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
1 hard-cooked egg (my son really wanted it...so he ate it, instead of adding to recipe!  LOL!!)
4 green onions, chopped (I used chives from my garden)

Cook potatoes in saucepan of boiling water 15 minutes, or just until tender; drain.  Rinse potatoes in cold water until cooled.  Drain.
Mix dressings and mustard in a large bowl.  Add potatoes, eggs and onions.  Mix lightly.  Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

This post is linked to:

Tasty Tuesday
Tempt my Tummy Tuesday
$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Mouthwatering Mondays Pin It

(On-the-Go) Pizza Burgers

Since this was one of my meals this week, I thought I would share the recipe with you.

My original recipe includes SPAM, but I didn't have any, and truthfully don't really like using it, so I skipped it.  I think they tasted just great without it!

Here is my recipe:

Pizza Burgers
Printer-Friendly Version

*Ground Beef, one pound (browned)
*1/2 Tbsp. Minced Onion or 1/2 fresh chopped onion
*1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (a little more, if you like!)  :)
*1 cup spaghetti sauce
*1/2 cup tomato sauce (skipped this last time...worked out fine)
*1/4 tsp. sage
*1/2 tsp. oregano
*1/4 tsp. salt
*1/2 tsp. parsley

Combine browned ground beef, onion, and cheese.  Add sauce and spices.  Mix well.  Spread meat onto open face hamburger buns.  Bake at 350* for 15 minutes.

This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. and frozen.  I like to freeze the mix alone.  I have never tried freezing the mix on the buns before, but it probably would work out fine.

I think this would qualify for an on-the-go meal, don't you??  :)

This recipe was featured at Family Balance Sheet as part of "12 Fast Family Dinners"!  Check it out! Pin It

Ham & Cheese Melts with Poppyseed Mustard Sauce

I am happy to report that my menu planning has been going very well!  Yay!  Last week, I changed a couple of the days around, but that wasn't a problem....I can be flexible!  :)
This week, I have stayed on schedule and I wanted to share a recipe that my WHOLE family loved!  Those recipes are KEEPERS!

We used to have the pleasure of eating at church on Wednesday nights.  It was wonderful!  One of the menu items was nummy little ham & cheese melts with a mustard & poppy seed sauce.  I didn't have the recipe, but I sure can let my fingers do the walking on Swagbucks!  Hee hee!  To my delight, I found many recipes for Poppyseed Ham Rolls, Party Ham Rolls, Poppyseed Ham Delights....they had all different names, but were basically the recipe I was looking for!  Yay!

So, this is what I did:
Ham and Cheese Melts
*8 hot dog buns (I had these leftover from the weekend, you could use any buns)
*6 T. butter, melted
*3 tsp. mustard
*1 tsp. poppyseeds
*1 tsp. worcestershire sauce (I might try without this next time)
*deli ham (8 slices)
*swiss cheese (8 slices)

Preheat oven to 350*.  Melt butter in small saucepan.  Add in mustard, poppyseeds, and worcestershire sauce.  Mix well, but do not boil.  Open buns and spread (pour, maybe) sauce on both sides of open buns.  Layer swiss cheese and deli ham on each bun.  Place buns in a 9x13 pan.  Cover with foil.  Bake in 350* oven for 15 minutes.

These are very nummy!  They actually could qualify for my On-The-Go meals, I believe!  They could easily be individually wrapped, frozen and then thawed before baking.

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Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

You don't really need a recipe for the pork portion of this recipe.  It is very easy.  In the morning, I place my pork roast (any different kinds will work...I don't know all of the cuts of meat!  Hee hee!!) in the crock pot on low.  I don't even add any liquid at this point.  After it has cooked on low all day, I will start pulling the pork apart.  I find it helpful to hold the meat with a fork and pull "shreds" of meat off with another fork.  Then I will add the BBQ sauce to it.  Here is the sauce recipe:
Homemade BBQ sauce
*1/2 c. tomato sauce
*1/2 c. sugar
*2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
*6 T. vinegar
Makes approximately one cup.  Can be doubled for this recipe if you have a large portion of pork or if you like a lot of sauce in the sandwich! 

I will let that simmer in the crock pot for at least a half hour.  Sometimes I have fixed the pork roast one day, and then put it back in the crock pot on day 2 with the BBQ sauce.  You can be very flexible with this recipe.
After the BBQ has simmered with the pork, place scoops of pulled pork onto hamburger buns.  Enjoy!  :)

This post will be linked to:
$5 Dollar Dinners
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Tempt my Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
A Southern Fairy Tale Pin It

On-the-Go Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes always sound messy, don't they?  I'm not sure if giving something so tasty a name like that, is very fair.  In my attempt to make "on the go" meals, I am first looking at recipes that my family already enjoys.  I thought about how I could make some of these and still take them with us, if need be.  Of course, sloppy joes are always best eaten at a table, or a least with a plate in front of you but here's a thought....I am going to prepare sloppy joes the usual way and then try serving them in a pita pocket!  I think my family would like that for a change.  Here's the recipe that I am preparing today.  (No baseball tonight, so we will use buns.)  I plan to buy pita bread to have on hand, however.  I will post a picture when I do.  :)   

Often when I make sloppy joes I don't measure anything but add a little ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar to taste.  I will give you a "real" recipe here!!!  LOL!!

Sloppy Joes
*3 lbs. ground beef
*1 1/2 c. ketchup
*3 T. brown sugar
*2 tsp. dry or regular mustard
*2 T. apple cider vinegar
*2 1/2 tsp. salt (that's quite a bit, use less if desired)
*1/4 tsp. pepper
*1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
*1 can tomato soup
***Brown hamburger.  Mix all ingredients and let simmer 15 to 20 minutes.  Fills 20 buns.

This is a great recipe to make and then freeze in portions.  When ready to use just reheat and fill buns.

Here is the On-the-Go version, I said I would post!  Mmm!  I bought Tasty Onion flavored Kangaroo Pita Pockets and they went well with the sloppy joe flavor!  By the way, I made it without the tomato soup and the worcestershire sauce.  It still tasted great!  :)
This post is linked to $5 Dollar Dinners, Blessed with Grace and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

For a printable version of the this recipe click here. Pin It

Stuffed Jumbo Shells

I just came across this recipe in my notebook that is stuffed with recipes!  I had forgotten about it!!!  I will be making this VERY soon, and will post pictures when I do.  In the mean time, here is the recipe.  I got this one from my wonderful sister.  :)

Stuffed Jumbo Shells
1 pkg. jumbo shells, cooked
8 oz. mozzarella cheese (shredded)
15 oz. cottage cheese (could use ricotta, or mix 1/2 cottage, 1/2 ricotta)
1 egg
28 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cook shells according to package directions.  Mix cheeses and egg.  Pour 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.  Stuff cooked shells with cheese mixture and place shells, open side up, in the pan.  Pour the remaining sauce over the top.  Cover and bake at 350* for 30 minutes.  (You can remove the cover for the last 10 minutes.)
This post is linked to $5 Dollar Dinners, Blessed with Grace and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Pin It

Super-Easy Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Well, I have a problem.....I hoard recipes!   Do you have this problem too?  Little by little, however, I am trying to sort through all of the recipes I have clipped from the newspaper, ripped out of magazines and printed from the internet.  I used to get the Food and Family magazine from Kraft Foods too.  They don't send it to me anymore, but I have a pile of them just waiting to be looked at again!
SO....I have successfully gone through a good chunk of my stash of recipes and I prepared one of them for dinner last evening.  To my delight, EVERYONE in my family really liked it!!!!!  :)  My middle son took one bite and said, "I give this a 5!"  Yay!!!!!  You see, we have a rating system in our house, that I maybe have mentioned before.  When I try a new recipe, my family can give me honest feedback by rating it 1 star (please don't make this again) to 5 stars (I love it).  So hearing, "I give it a 5", is music to this mother's ears!

Here is the original recipe from Kraft's Food and Family magazine (Holiday 2006 issue--I told you I hoard recipes!) and the picture from their website:

Super-Easy Chicken Enchilada Skillet
 I changed the original recipe a bit....this is how I made it.  (This was 1/2 a recipe.)
*Turkey breast, cooked and cubed, approx. 2 cups
*8 oz. turkey broth
*2 T. ranch dressing
*1 T. flour
*3 flour tortillas, cut into small pieces
*1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese (approx. because I grabbed a handful & sprinkled it on top!)
*1/4 cup salsa (didn't have because I didn't realize my family had eaten it already!!!)

Place turkey in deep skillet.  (My turkey was frozen, so I heated it on medium heat, while I mixed the broth.) In a separate container, mix broth, dressing and the flour until well blended.  Gradually add this to the turkey in the skillet, stirring constantly.  Add tortilla pieces, and stir to combine.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 3 minutes until heated through and thickened.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover and simmer 3 - 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.  Top with salsa, if desired.  Makes 5 small servings.  Original recipe is double these amounts, and I will make it that way next time, so we can have seconds!!!  :)

This recipe was a great way to use leftovers too.  The turkey and broth were in my freezer from the BOGO free turkey breast I bought at Byerlys a while back, so it is almost like it was FREE!!!  The other ingredients are items I usually have on hand too, so it was super easy to assemble!!

This post is linked to *$5 Dollar Dinners 
*Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
*BlessedwithGrace.
*Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms Pin It

Frugal Chicken Pot Pie

Here is a tasty chicken pot pie recipe that I created.  I was pretty proud of myself to put this together without a recipe and my family enjoyed it.  This is what I did:

Chicken (or Turkey) Pot Pie
1 1/2 c. cooked chicken (cubed) or turkey
1/2 c. peas
1/2 c. corn
3 small-med. potatoes, cubed (boiled for 15 min.)
1/3 c. dry cream soup mix
1 1/4 c. water
1 c. flour
1/3 c. butter
2 T. water
Make white sauce by combining white sauce mix with 1 1/4 c. water.  Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until thickened.  Add chicken, peas, corn and cooked potatoes to the sauce.  Spoon mixture into a deep 9 inch pie plate, or a 9x9 inch square baking dish. 
For the crust, cut the butter into the flour, until crumbly.  Gradually add the water until the mixture is moistened.  Gather into ball and press gently on a floured surface.  Roll out to the size needed for the top of your pot pie.  (I used a 9 inch pie plate, but really should have used a 9 x 9 pan, as my pie plate wasn't deep enough and some spilled over when baking.)  Gently place crust on top of pot pie.
Bake  in a 425* oven for 30 - 35 minutes until golden brown.
This recipe can easily be varied depending on what you have on hand.  You could substitute any vegetables, and turkey would be wonderful too.
For a printer friendly version, click here.

This post is linked to $5 Dollar Dinners. Pin It

Frugal Turkey (or Chicken) a la King

***Post contains affiliate links***

This is the recipe that I mentioned in my Frugal Mini Popovers post the other day.  It is from a dear friend of mine.  She converted the recipe to the format used in the 30 Day Gourmet cookbooks.  I was unable to post it in that format, but it is a recipe that can easily be doubled, or tripled and frozen. 
Frugal Turkey (or Chicken) a la King
¼ c. Butter or margarine   
¼ c. Flour  
1t Instant Chicken bouillon   
1/8 t. Pepper   
2 c. Milk
2 c. cooked diced chicken or turkey 
8 oz. Frozen peas   
1 jar Sliced pimento (drained 2 oz jar)--optional, I didn't use the last time I made it.   
1/8 t. Thyme   
Assembly Directions: Melt margarine in saucepan.  Stir in flour, bouillon, pepper and thyme.  Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.  Cook over medium-high heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly.  Stir in chicken/turkey, peas and pimento.  Simmer 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Freezing Directions:  Gladware works well.  Thaw and microwave to heat up to serve.
Serving Directions: Heat on stove top.  Spoon chicken/turkey mixture into hot split puff pastry shells or popovers.
Comments:  Can substitute 2-5oz cans chunk chicken.
This was wonderful served in the mini popovers!  My youngest picked his up and took a bite!  LOL!  I laughed and said, "you probably should still use your fork!"  :)

This post is linked to 5 Dollar Dinners Pin It

Frugal Homemade Pizza

I mentioned on my facebook status a few days ago that we had homemade pizza for Saturday night supper!  It has become our latest family night tradition.  We eat pizza (homemade, or sometimes Little Caesar's.  Even as cheap as you can buy Little Caesar's, I did figure it is cheaper to make mine at home.) and watch "This Old House" or "Ask This Old House" on PBS.  If we are eating late, we might catch "Antiques Road Show" too.  I think it is great that my boys think that this is a fun thing to do! :)
Anyway, I said that I would share the recipe.  Here goes....

Homemade Pizza Crust (made in bread machine)
1 1/4 - 1 3/8 cups water
3 tbsp. olive oil
4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. active dry yeast
Place ingredients in bread machine pan.  Set on "dough" cycle and let the machine work for you.  When dough cycle is finished, place dough on a floured surface.  This amount will make one deep dish 14 inch round pizza, or 2 thin crust pizzas (12 inch).  The last time I made one thin crust and one small deep dish (9 inch) pizzas.
 Toppings:
14 oz. jar pizza sauce (did not even use the full amount)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (or more, if you really love cheesey pizza!!)
pepperoni, canadian bacon, pineapple chunks (these are our favorites), anything you love on your pizza!

For a thin crust:  Roll out dough to desired size and place on pizza pan, or pizza stone.  Spread pizza sauce* over top.  Sprinkle cheese, and any other toppings over the cheese.  Bake in a preheated 400* oven for about 15 minutes on lowest oven rack.

For deep dish:  Press dough into greased deep dish pan.  Sprinkle cheese on the dough first.  (This will prevent the crust from getting soggy.)  Then add toppings, with the final topping of pizza sauce*.  Bake in a preheated 425* oven for 20 - 25 minutes on lowest oven rack.

*A note about pizza sauce: my family does not like a lot of sauce on their pizza, so I am able to get by using less than a 14 ounce jar for 2 pizzas (or one deep dish).  I have not found the perfect pizza sauce recipe (to my husband's liking anyway ;), but will certainly share it with you, when I do!!!)
Also, I think the amount of toppings for a pizza, is personal preference, so my amounts might be different than yours!  :)

By the way, if you haven't already done so, you can become a fan of 2 Make Ends Meet on Facebook, and pass the word around! 
 
Enjoy your pizza!  :)
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Eat Better America website....Healthified Manicotti

Looking for healthier recipes, healthy living ideas and coupons?  One of the websites that sends me regular e-mails is EatBetterAmerica, hosted by General Mills, and others.  The recipe that came today is for Healthified Three-Cheese Manicotti.  It looks really nummy.  I will have to give it a try very soon!

Another cool feature that they offer is to submit a favorite recipe of yours and they will "healthify" it for you.  Haven't tried that yet, but it sounds kindof fun!  :)

You can sign up to become a free member and get healthy meal ideas in your inbox, or just keep reading my blog, and I will continue to share with you too!!!  :) 

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