Pumpkin Deviled Eggs for Halloween

October 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

pumpkin-deviled-eggs

Halloween food doesn’t have to all be about candy!  Last night, I made these cute little pumpkin deviled eggs.  Basically all you do is add a little red and yellow food coloring to the egg yolk mixture for the orange color.  I used a knife to get the striated look of the pumpkins, and sprinkled with paprika.  Then, I cut a strip of lettuce for the pumpkin’s stem.  You could also use chives or green onions for that.  My boys (the big one AND the little one) love these things.  All twelve were gone within about half an hour.

Frugal Tips:  Eggs just may be the most versatile frugal food.  Plus, they’re a really inexpensive source of protein.  It’s easy to compare the price of eggs to the price of other protein foods. A dozen large eggs weigh 1 1/2 pounds, so the price per pound of large eggs is two-thirds of the price per dozen. For example, if large eggs cost 90¢ per dozen, they cost 60¢ per pound. At $1.20 per dozen, large eggs are only 80¢ per pound.*

Source:  Incredible Edible Egg

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Recipes Tagged With: ,

Asian Glazed Salmon: A Flavor-Packed Dinner in Under 30 Minutes

October 27, 2012 by 1 Comment

asian glazed salmon ruby tuesday

The best thing about salmon, other than its great flavor, is the fact that it’s good for you.   It’s packed with Omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to lower your cholesterol and improve your memory (among other great things).

When it comes to preparing salmon, I often get stuck in a rut.  I went about searching for recipes the other day and came up with this one.  I love that this dish can be made in under 30 minutes from start to finish.  The red pepper flakes add a kick, but you can dial back the heat by adding more or less according to your taste.  Hoisin sauce is almost like an Asian molasses.  I found it in the ethnic section of our regular grocery store, but if you have trouble finding it you can always get it on Amazon.com.   If you want to go the frugal route, don’t get it at all and substitute molasses.  It won’t be as authentic-tasting, but it will still be good.

Frugal Tips:  Many people avoid eating salmon because it tends to be expensive.  A bag of four salmon fillets is just $4.99 in the freezer section at ALDI Food Stores.   When you offset a dish like this by serving it with rice, the cost is actually very reasonable.

This was originally posted on Mommysavers:  Ruby Tuesday copycat salmon

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Asian Glazed Salmon
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • ½ C. brown sugar
  • ⅓ C. soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, chopped finely
  • 1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 4 salmon fillets
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix together the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, garlic powder and fresh lime juice. Heat in a medium saucepan until bubbly. Place salmon fillets in a baking dish. Pour the sauce over the fillets, coating well. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Serve over rice.

 

 

Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Copycat Recipes, Fish and Seafood Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rainbow Cupcakes with Cool Whip Frosting

October 21, 2012 by 15 Comments

rainbow cupcakes with cool whip frosting

I’ve been wanting to make the colorful rainbow cupcakes I’ve seen online for a long time, but I wasn’t sure the best method to use.  First, I turned to my friends on the Mommysavers forum for advice on how to make rainbow cupcakes.  There are a few different methods of doing it, but I make mine the old-fashioned way with adding a few drops of food coloring into four different bowls of batter:  red, yellow, green and blue.  My friend Shell also has a real cool cheater method of making rainbow color swirl cupcakes.  That may be my NEXT project!

First, I headed off to get my supplies.

  • White box cake mix (I had eggs and oil at home already)
  • Food coloring
  • Frosting
  • Cupcake liners

Plus, for a limited time you’ll be able to print a high-value coupon for the Cool Whip Frosting I used:

kraft cool whip frosting #CoolWhipFrosting

First, frosting.  This new Kraft Cool Whip frosting is available in ready-to-go in three different flavors:  vanilla, chocolate and cream cheese. My Walmart only carried the chocolate and vanilla, but the cream cheese flavor sounds wonderful.   I found mine at Walmart for $2.28.  Each container frosts one cake or a batch of 18-24 cupcakes.  While at the store, I also picked up a boxed cake mix, food coloring, muffin cup liners, and a magazine (not on my list- oops!).

First, prepare your cake batter according to package directions.  A white or yellow cake works best.

rainbow cupcakes recipe

After you prepare your white cake batter, separate it into four separate bowls.  Add a few drops of food coloring into each bowl in rainbow colors you choose.

rainbow cupcakes recipe

Place 18 cupcake liners in muffin tins.  Layer the batter according to the colors of the rainbow.  I first did blue, then green, yellow and red.  I added approximately one teaspoon of each color in the bottom of each cupcake liner.

rainbow cupcakes recipe

Bake your cupcakes according to package directions and cool completely.

cool whip frosting

rainbow cupcakes

Since Cool Whip Frosting is a softer consistency than most frostings, make sure your cakes have thoroughly cooled before using it to prevent it from melting.  I also took the frosting out of the freezer to warm up for a few minutes before using it.  It was the perfect consistency for my piping bags.  It’s slightly firmer than regular Cool Whip whipped topping, but softer than a typical frosting.

cool whip frosting

To make frosting cakes and cupcakes easier AND more attractive, I use a basic Wilton cake decorating set coupler and tip.  You can get one for less than $10, and if taken care of will last forever.  Note:  Since the frosting is cream-based, you’ll need to make sure you keep them refrigerated.

rainbow cupcakes


rainbow cupcakes yum

My son LOVED them. He ate three right away and said, “The frosting is the best part!”

Frugal Tips:  You don’t need to purchase the fancy piping bags.  I just use a cheap-o sandwich bag like the one pictured above by cutting the tip off.  I can throw it away when I’m done, and wash my couplers for the next time I bake.

View my entire Rainbow Cupcakes with Cool Whip Frosting Photo Gallery on Google+.

Check out more awesome cupcakes & cakes on the Kraft Cool Whip Frosting Pinterest Board and more recipes at Kraft recipes.  Want to find out more about Cool Whip Frosting? Join the #CoolWhipFrosting Twitter Party on Wednesday, October 24 at 1pm EST if you are available!

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Kraft Cool Whip.  #CoolWhipFrosting #CBias #SocialFabric.  All opinions are my own.
Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sweet and Savory Party Poppers

October 18, 2012 by 2 Comments

sweet and savory party poppers

These Sweet and Savory Party Poppers were one of the best things I sampled at the ALDI Taste Kitchen Event.  Thanks to the ALDI kitchen team and Chef Alyssa for sharing the recipe.

Frugal Tip:  ALDI has a variety of gourmet cheeses as seasonal offerings during the holiday season.  Goat cheese, brie, edam, and gouda are available for about 30-50% less than what you would pay at your typical grocery store.  View photos of ALDI 2012 fall seasonal offerings.

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Sweet and Savory Party Poppers
Recipe type: appetizers
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
These sweet and savory party poppers require only four ingredients, but will be a big hit at your next party!
Ingredients
  • 8 oz. pitted dates
  • 4 oz. brie cheese round
  • 6 oz. slivered almonds
  • 1.5 lb. thick sliced bacon
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Cut dates in half lengthwise.
  3. Cut brie into bite-sized pieces (about the size of a peanut). Place a piece of brie and 4 almond pieces on the open half of the date; place the other half on top.
  4. Quarter the bacon slices and wrap tightly around the stuffed date. Secure with a toothpick.
  5. Line a baking sheet with foil an place wrapped dates on top.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes until bacon is crispy.
  7. Serve warm.

 

Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: , , , , ,

Barley Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan and Sage

October 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

barley mushroom risotto

I originally posted this Barley Mushroom Risotto recipe on Mommysavers.com.  Now that it’s fall, it’s the perfect time to make it again!  I love the earthiness of mushrooms and sage as well as the nuttiness of the Parmesan cheese.  Barley makes for a great for a change of pace from traditional rice risotto, and doesn’t cost a lot.

Frugal Tip:  Grains are extremely frugal — and healthy, too!  Instead of serving the same grains over and over again, experiment with different options like quinoa, barley, other varieties of rice, and different pasta shapes.  The variety will prevent you from experiencing frugal fatigue!

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Barley Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan and Sage
 
Ingredients
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp. sage
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. In a skillet, melt the butter. Saute onion, celery, garlic until translucent. Add mushrooms and sage and cook until mushrooms are tender. In another pot, boil the barley with 2 cups chicken broth until all the liquid has been absorbed. Tranfer barley to the skillet with the onion/mushroom/sage mixture. Add ½ cup chicken broth and Parmesan cheese. Stir until risotto is creamy, adding another ½ cup chicken broth if necessary. Top with more freshly grated Parmesan to garnish. Serve immediately.
  2. You can serve this alone as a meatless skillet dish or as a side with beef, pork, or poultry.

 

Filed Under: Salads and Sides Tagged With: , ,
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