Tortellini Gorgonzola

tortellini gorgonzola recipe

This Tortellini Gorgonzola recipe was inspired by a local restaurant called The Neighbors Italian Bistro.  I order it almost every time I go there, so I wanted to figure out how to make it at home.  This semi-homemade version is quick and easy – ready in 30 minutes.   Plus, now that I feel I’ve got a good version of my own I may branch out and try something different the next time I’m there.

Tortellini Gorgonzola
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
A quick, easy at-home meal that will satisfy your craving for Italian restaurant food
Ingredients
  • 2 chicken breasts (1/2 per serving)
  • 1 bag cheese tortellini noodles
  • 1½ C. fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
  • ½ jar Alfredo sauce
  • 1 C. half and half (to thin the sauce)
  • ½ container Gorzonzola cheese crumbles
  • ½ C. chopped walnuts
  • 1 red pepper, sliced (optional)
  • ¼ C. diced Roma tomatoes (optional)
Instructions
  1. Prepare tortellini noodles per bag instructions. Meanwhile, saute the spinach and red peppers in 1 Tbsp. of butter. Add the Alfredo sauce. Next, add the walnuts, gorgonzola crumbles, and diced tomatoes. I grilled my chicken breast on my George Foreman grill. I didn’t add the red peppers and tomatoes this time because I didn’t have them, but the original restaurant version includes them. Add the cooked tortellini noodles to the sauce. Slice ½ chicken breast and add to the top of the noodles and serve. Serves 4.
  2. Note: I really “eyeballed” the quantities on this recipe. You may want to adjust according to your taste – but it’s really yummy, quick, and easy too!

 

Frugal Tip:  Flash frozen chicken breasts that come in a bag are pretty cheap, but they often get dried out and don’t taste as flavorful as fresh chicken breasts.  One thing I’ve discovered is that if you par-boil them in chicken stock before grilling, they taste better and are more juicy.

tortellini gorgonzola ingredients tortellini gorgonzola ingredients tortellini gorgonzola ingredients tortellini gorgonzola ingredients tortellini gorgonzola ingredients

Copycat Orange Julius Recipe

copycat orange julius recipe

 

Orange Julius has been around ever since I can remember.  They were always one of my favorite mall treats as a teen, and I still enjoy them today.  My mom has been making this copycat version for years and years.  It’s pretty close to the original, and a great way to enjoy this yummy mall treat at home for less.

Copycat Orange Julius Recipe

6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 C. milk
1 C. water
1/2 C. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
6-8 ice cubes (about 1 1/2 C. ice)

Combine ingredients in a blender. Blend until frothy. This makes enough for about 4 large glasses or 6 small ones.

Note:  I originally posted this Copycat Orange Julius Recipe and photo on Mommysavers.com.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake

blueberry cheesecake via frugalbites.com

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake

blueberry cheesecake It’s the first day of spring, but it definitely doesn’t feel like spring here in Minnesota.  It was 5 degrees this morning, the winds are howling, and there is still plenty of snow on the ground.   Summer is nowhere NEAR being on Mother Nature’s radar around here, but at least I can bring the flavors of summer into my kitchen.  I spotted these blueberries on sale at ALDI this week for $1.99.  They were my muse for this Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.

I used Smucker’s Blueberry topping for the glaze on top.  It’s basically a topping meant for ice cream, waffles or pancakes but definitely works well with this cheesecake recipe as well.  you could substitute blueberry jelly or preserves, but you’d want to thin it out a little bit before drizzling it on your cheesecake.

Frugal Tips: Look for serving plates, utensils and table linens at thrift shops. That’s where I found this gorgeous silver serving tray! I’ve also purchased linen napkins, tablecloths, and other great pieces at our local Goodwill.  In many cases, they’re cheaper than disposable partyware!  Plus, you get to keep them and reuse them over and over again.

blueberry cheesecake

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake
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Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
A gorgeous cheesecake will stun guests at any brunch, dinner or party!
Ingredients
  • CRUST:
  • Butter, for greasing the pan
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • ⅛ tsp. cinnamon
  • 9 graham crackers (one sleeve)
  • ½ stick unsalted butter, melted
  • FILLING:
  • 16-oz. cream cheese (two packages), room temperature
  • 2 eggs
  • 6 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • ½ C. sugar
  • 1½ cups fresh blueberries
  • ½ jar blueberry topping
  • Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/lemon-blueberry-cheesecake-bars-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325. In a food processor, pulse together the cinnamon, sugar, graham crackers until they are the consistency of bread crumbs. Add the melted butter. Press down into a tart pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 minutes or until light brown. Remove and cool completely.
  2. Beat the cream cheese, eggs, lemon juice and sugar in a mixer until well combined. Pour over the cooled crust and arrange blueberries on top. They will sink slightly – that’s OK.
  3. Bake for 32-35 minutes. Center still may be slightly “jiggly.” Cool, then refrigerate. After refrigerating at least 3 hours, remove from pan using the parchment lining. Spread half the jar of blueberry topping over the top. Cut into ten wedges.

 

I was inspired by this Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars recipe by Tyler Florence on Foodnetwork.com.

Easter Chick Cupcakes

Easter Chick Cupcakes

You know I love the Wilton Candy Eyeballs, right?  I had to make an Easter cupcake with them.  I made these Easter Chick Cupcakes

 First, I frosted the cupcakes with yellow frosting.  Next, I “dipped” them in coconut dyed with yellow food coloring.  With a little dab of frosting, I added the Wilton Candy Eyeballs.  The beak is a jelly bean cut into a triangle.  You could also use a gumdrop.  I think they’re cute!!

Frugal Tips:  Look for your Easter baking supplies and candy at ALDI food stores.  I was surprised to see name-brand candy there like Peeps, Starburst Jelly Beans (what I used for this project), M&Ms, Hershey, and others.  For Wilton supplies, I look at Michael’s Craft stores.  They regularly have a 40% off one item coupon (both in the Sunday paper and via their mobile app) that often can be put towards the Wilton Baking Supplies.


aldi easter candy aldi easter candy

  easter cupcakes

 

Copycat Recipe: Carrabba’s Italian Grill Salad Dressing

Carraba's Italian Grill House Dressing Copycat Recipe

This copycat version of the creamy Parmesan dressing from Carrabba’s Italian Grill is my new favorite. Not only is it delicious, it’s incredibly easy to make.

Frugal Tips:  This recipe only calls for a little bit of buttermilk, so don’t let the leftovers go to waste.  Did you know you could freeze buttermilk?  Here are some great ideas to use up buttermilk after making this dressing.

Copycat Recipe: Carrabba’s Italian Grill Salad Dressing
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • ½ C. mayonnaise
  • ¼ C. grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ C. buttermilk
  • 1½ tsp. minced garlic
  • ½ tsp. minced fresh parsley
  • ½ tsp. lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients and serve with romaine lettuce, croutons, fresh black pepper and any of your other favorite salad ingredients.

 

carrabbas-salad-dressing

See how simple the ingredient list is?  Much of this is in your refrigerator already.


carrabbas-salad-dressing

 

Mix the dressing well.

carrabbas-salad-dressing

Serve with romaine and croutons.