Fondue Cheese Recipe – Gruyere, Swiss… Oh My!

Fondue Cheese Recipe

Fondue Cheese Recipe

1 tsp. minced garlic
1 C. dry white wine
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 C. Swiss cheese, shredded
2 C. Gruyere cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
Pinch nutmeg

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, simmer the garlic, wine, and lemon juice. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cheeses, and blend well until melted. Add mustard and nutmeg. Keep warm over Sterno with a fondue pot.

Dip assorted breads, meats, and veggies in the cheese. We diced French bread, salami, and fresh mushrooms to eat with our fondue.

Frugal Tips:  Gruyere isn’t exactly frugal.  I found it at Sam’s Club for $12/lb., and that was the best price I could find.  However, a splurge like this doubles as a Fun, Frugal Family Activity while providing a meal as well.  You can do the whole thing for less than $20, which is much less than an evening out.

Fondue Cheese Recipe Fondue Cheese Recipe

Thanks, Mommysavers!  Originally posted here: Melting Pot Cheese Fondue

Maple Crostini with Brie

maple crostini with brie

I first posted this brie recipe on Mommysavers.com.  I was inspired by watching chef Amy Thielen, the host of Food Network’s Heartland Table and author of The New Midwestern Table.  What’s great about this recipe, other than its simplicity, is that the ingredients are pretty frugal.  I got my brie at ALDI for $2.99.  I made a huge batch of this for a mom’s wine night last week and spent well around $5 for a huge tray of these.  Plus, I had bread left over.

Maple Crostini with Brie

  • 4 slices sourdough bread, sliced thinly and cut into fourths
  • 1/2 C. real maple syrup (split)
  • 1 stick butter (split)
  • 1 round brie cheese (I get mine at ALDI)

In a frying pan, melt the maple syrup (1/4 cup) and butter (1/2 stick) over medium heat.  Place half of the bread in the pan, flipping right away to get the butter/syrup mixture to saturate both sides of the bread as much as you can (you may want to lower the heat if it gets too hot so the crystalized maple sugar doesn’t burn).  Continue flipping the crostini until golden brown on both sides.  Place tiny wedge of brie on top.  Smear a little.  Serve immediately while the bread is still warm.

Substitutions:  Don’t have sourdough bread?  You can make it at home (recipe HERE) or use any dense white bread.  Goat cheese or camembert will work for the cheese as well.  I have also made this recipe with the honey goat cheese they sell at ALDI and I’d highly recommend that as well.  Check that out here:  Maple Crostini with Goat Cheese.

 

Homemade Chili

homemade chili

This Homemade Chili Recipe is from my dad.  It’s super-easy and good for busy weeknights since it’s basically a pantry-to-table recipe.

Frugal Tips:  Keep a grocery price book so you know when pantry-staples like tomato soup and beans are at their lowest price – then stock up!  Save by buying a 3-4 month supply when prices hit rock bottom.

Homemade Chili
 
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cans tomato juice (5.5 oz each)
  • 2 cans tomato soup
  • 2 cans chili beans with sauce
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1 Tbsp. chili powder
Instructions
  1. In a large pan, brown ground beef with onion. Drain. Add remaining ingredients and heat for an hour on low until flavors have melded together.

Parmesan Stuffed Roasted Artichokes

stuffed-artichoke

I love artichokes.  I usually get them in cans, so I considered it a challenge to learn how to prepare whole artichokes at home.  I recently spotted a 3-pack of artichokes at our local ALDI grocery store for just $1.59.  For me, it was the perfect opportunity to experiment!  I had previously tried to make roasted artichoke appetizer without much success.  My failing had to do with the fact that I didn’t cook the artichoke long enough.  I find it tastes the best when you boil it before you roast it… and quite a while.   If I were to do this again, I’d cut even more of the artichoke off the top.  The fleshy, tender heart is what tastes good.

Parmesan Stuffed Roasted Artichokes
 
An easy introduction to roasting artichokes
Ingredients
  • 3 artichokes
  • ½ C. breadcrumbs (I used Panko crumbs)
  • ⅓ C. Parmesan cheese
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Olive oil
Instructions
  1. Cut off the stems, bottoms, and top ⅓ of the leaves of the artichokes. Tear off the hard outer leaves.
  2. Boil for about 30 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  3. Pry the leaves apart in order to stuff with filling. Sprinkle bread crumb/parmesan mixture over the top and press into leaves. Bake for 25 minutes at 400.
  4. To eat them, pick off a leaf and eat the soft inner portion. The harder outer edges of the leaves serve as a “handle” for them, for lack of a better way to put it.

parmesan roasted artichoke recipe parmesan roasted artichoke recipeparmesan roasted artichoke recipe parmesan roasted artichoke recipe parmesan roasted artichoke recipe

Streusel Muffins with Heath Bits

streusel muffins with heath bits

I’ve got to give our neighbors credit for this one.  They started bringing us these yummy muffins several months ago, and my son LOVED them.  I asked for the recipe, thinking they were homemade.  Nope.  Just a box of Krusteaz mix and half a bag of Heath candy bits (you’ll find them near the chocolate chips).  They can’t be much easier, but they taste great!

Here’s how to make them:  Start with a box of Krusteaz streusel cake/muffin mix (pictured below).  Make according to package instructions for the muffins, but stir in about 1/3 of a bag of Heath bits into the mix, and a little bit on top (use about 1/2 a bag with each batch of muffins).  They’re so yummy!

streusel muffins