Badcook1

Fresh tomatoes in a sauce

Badcook1 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:13:08 GMT

These days’ times are tough. To make ends meet, we took out part of our yard and created a large vegetable garden. I grew lettuce and spinach for salads, fennel, corn, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beets, and cauliflower. We had peas earlier this year, but now the pea’s plants are gone, and the beans are now in the place the peas were at. No beans as of this yet, but soon, I hope! I made a quick and easy meal the other evening, by taking the tomatoes, cutting them up and placing them in a saucepan. Then I took some of the frozen chicken pieces and placed them in the saucepan. A little Worcestershire sauce, some chopped up peppers, a dash of garlic salt, and sauté the food until the chicken is no longer pink. I steamed some rice, and had a delicious rice bowl! The garden helped the cost of needing to buy sauces or the tomatoes and peppers for the meal. Now finding some more ideas for the tomatoes other than canning them all, I will can some, but not all! Too much work!

Nacho's

Badcook1 — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:20:10 GMT

Tonight’s dinner was nachos. Nacho’s is a quick and easy meal when you keep it simple. And simple is what I am all about! I browned about one pound ground beef. I shredded about a half a cup of cheddar cheese, which is cheaper than buying pre-shredded cheese. Then In bowls I placed about a cup of tortilla chips. I sprinkled the chips with some of the browned beef and cheddar cheese. I placed each of the bowls into the microwave for 30 seconds, just enough to melt the cheese. Then I poured on some salsa and put a spoonful of sour cream on top.

The nacho’s were very quick and easy, and not very expensive to make. The nachos were a great little meal to take outside on this hot summer days to munch on while relaxing.

My toddler and I sat outside in the shade eating ours. It is about 90 in the sun, but in the shade with the wind blowing, a little of the water from the sprinkler spraying on us, the evening felt good. Nacho’s in our tummies, spending the evening outside, what could be better on a hot summer’s day!

Yes, there are many items one can add to nacho's. A person could add chili. If you like black olives or jalapeno peppers, shredded lettuce or guacamole, just about anything could spice up the delicious dish, as the comments to this article shows. People can come up with many different ideas to make the nacho's just perfect!

Taco Pizza

Badcook1 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:01:36 GMT

Taco Pizza

1 loaf pizza dough

Mozzarella cheese

1 pound ground beef

1 tomato, sliced or diced

1 can refried beans

1 can sliced olives

1 onion, sliced or diced

Sour cream

Guacamole

Set oven to 425. Form pizza dough to size of pizza pan or baking sheet. Spread the can of refried beans on pizza dough. Crumble the ground beef over the refried beans. Sprinkle onion over hamburger. Sprinkle cheese over whole pizza. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until crust is brown and cheese is melted.

Take pizza out of the oven, spread tomatoes and olives over pizza. Dollop sour cream and guacamole on top of all if desired. Cut and when cooled enough to eat-enjoy!

Chicken and Pineapple

Badcook1 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:26:21 GMT

Tonight’s dinner was quick and easy! I used whatever was in the refrigerator and freezer.

Frozen chicken pieces- about two pounds

1 can crushed pineapple, do not drain

1 can diced tomatoes

1 onion, chopped

1 cup noodles, your choice. I used the egg noodles.

½ tsp parsley

Add a sprinkling of pepper and garlic powder, according to your taste.

Put all ingredients into a pan over medium heat, stir together, cover and stir occasionally for about half an hour.

Fresh chicken pieces could be used, or cut up some chicken breasts for the meal. I like to buy the big bags of frozen chicken pieces for quick, easy, last minute meals. The onion I had cut up ahead of time and froze. I had bought a 5 pound bag of onions when they were on sale, took them home, sliced them all up and froze them. That way the onions are ready to toss into any meal I am cooking, reducing the preparation time.

Open Faced Sandwich

Badcook1 — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:25:31 GMT

I do not know why I get stuck in such a rut. I cook the same meals over and over, forgetting to look outside of the normal everyday meat-and-potato meals.

While grocery shopping the other day, I noticed shrimp at an unexpected low price, one I could not refuse. The bag of cooked shrimp, the large ones mind you, not the small salad ones, for just $5.00! I love shrimp, I just never know what to do with it meal wise. Then I remembered a meal I use to make many, many years ago.

What popped into my head was actually an open-faced sandwich. I bought a loaf of French bread to go with my shrimp. When I got home, I put the shrimp in a collider and ran water over the shrimp so they would defrost.

The loaf of French bread, I cut in half and laid it open. I spread miracle whip on the bread, then sliced the shrimp in half to cover the bread. On one half of the bread, I placed slice tomatoes (I love tomatoes, my husband does not).

I topped the whole thing with cheese. I had cheddar cheese on hand, which worked out okay, but mozzarella would have been wonderful on these sandwiches! I placed the bread on a cookie sheet and placed the sandwiches in the oven under the broiler for about 5 minutes, when the bread is getting toasted and the cheese looks melted, the sandwich is done!

I spent a total of $6.29 for the shrimp and French bread, I already had cheese, miracle whip (mayo would work also) and the tomato. The sandwich is filling and lasted two meals for my family.

Soups in the Crock Pot

Badcook1 — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:44:40 GMT

I got out the trusty crock pot. It was time to come up with something for dinner that would last for more than one meal.

Chicken is a very versatile and works great for more than one meal. A whole roaster made a great meal for my family for one night, and lunch the next day. The leftover pieces are easy to strip off the bones and use for a new meal.

I had some beans in the refrigerator that I soaked in water over night. The bag of beans was under a dollar, it has an ample amount of beans (more than one meals worth), and has less sodium then the canned beans have. I put the chicken in the crock pot. I then added about two cups of the beans. I poured in two quarts of water. Chopped up one onion and two cloves of garlic (my family loves garlic in just about everything) and tossed them into the pot. Then I started scouring the refrigerator for what else to toss in the soup. I found some left over carrots and broccoli to toss in the soup. I had a bag of dried lentils, beings the lentils did not need soaking, I poured in about a cup worth of the lentils. I dropped in a bay leaf, a little salt and pepper, a sprinkling of parsley, stirred and let the crock pot do its work for the next eight hours while we were out and enjoyed the day. By the time we were ready for dinner, the soup was ready! The soup was a large enough meal for us to enjoy for many meals, lunches and dinners. I could have frozen some for a day when I did not want to cook, but the soup was so yummy, we just kept enjoying it.

You do not have to follow my recipe. The idea is to use what you have on hand and make a tasty soup. Stocking up on dried beans and lentils would be a good source of protein that is easy to add to any meal, and the dried beans are not expensive at all.

There are other foods in my refrigerator I could have thrown in the soup. I have some zucchini I defrosted from last summer that I could have tossed into the soup, but did not remember it until after the soup was done. I could have added spinach or peppers I have in the freezer, also. Well, now I know what I need to get out for the next soup! Time to make my next creation!

AIR POPPED POPCORN

Badcook1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:45:45 GMT

When prepared with low fat ingredients, popcorn is healthy and delicious. I was researching popcorn, which brand is healthier. I found a web site called Calorie Lab. http://calorielab.com/brands/pop-secret-popcorn/71/2003397

I searched for the brand Pop-secret popcorn, the home style version. For each serving of the home style version there is 170 calories, 110 calories are from fat, 410 mg salt, 12 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat and 5 grams Trans fats per serving.

http://calorielab.com/search/?search_input=popcorn

At the link above, I found different versions of popcorn, the serving size, and amount of protein, fat, carbohydrates and calories listed on the chart. As I suspected, the old fashion air popped popcorn is the healthiest. The air popped popcorn has 31 calories, 3.3 grams calories from fat, 4 grams fat, no saturated or Tran’s fats (except what butter you add), .6 grams salt (additional if you add salt) per 8 oz. serving. Not that I want the old air popper out on my counter taking up space again, but the evidence is overwhelming.

Did you know vitamin A, phosphorous and potassium come from popcorn? 15.7 I.U. of vitamin A, 28.6 mg phosphorus and 26.3 grams potassium in a cup serving of popcorn. There are other vitamins and minerals derived from popcorn, but the three I listed are of the highest amounts.

This website I found: http://www.popcorn.org/frames.cfm?main=/nutrition/index.cfm&usernav=flash has many recipes for popcorn. There are recipes for caramel corn, popcorn brittles, and cheesy popcorn. The recipe for cheesy popcorn listed no cheese in the ingredients. The ingredient list has nutritional or brewer’s yeast listed for the cheesy taste. There is even a recipe for dilly lemon popcorn. If I am going back to the old days of popping my own popcorn, I am going to liven up the snack food a little.

I researched prices of popcorn at Albertson’s.com. A box of microwave popcorn with 3-3 oz. packages is $2.99 on the average. A 32 oz. bag of popcorn kernels is $1.99. The kernels are a dollar off the microwave popcorn price. That is four times the amount of popcorn for less money. Okay, 32 oz. compared to 9 oz., I know which one I will be buying for now on! A bag of popcorn is also cheaper to pop than the microwave version. Adding butter and salt yourself can keep down the amount of fat and sodium.

So know I have to do a little more work popping and preparing popcorn. By savings money and eating healthier homemade air popped popcorn is well worth the work.

quick food while on vacation

Badcook1 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:25:00 GMT

This week, my family and I went to the beach for a few days. We found a low priced place with a kitchenette. The room did not have a beach view, but to save money the view was something we had to live without. Having a kitchenette was a big money saver. I just packed up foods from my pantry and filled an ice chest with food from the freezer and fridge for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We did not have to pay the high price of going out to eat at all! For the first night for dinner, I made a salad big enough to last for the next day for lunch. The salad was a bag of romaine lettuce, a bag of coleslaw mix, an apple, chopped, some grated cheddar cheese (grated before leaving home), about a half a cup worth, a bag of lunchmeat sliced into pieces (I chose ham lunchmeat), and the best part is poppy seed dressing. A filling meal with vegetables and fruit for fiber and vitamins, some meat for protien and cheese for dairy. Quick and easy meal for on the go people! With one salad I took care of two meals. Breakfast was just as easy, I took along oatmeal packets that just needed some hot water added to them, a banana for each person and some chicken sausage that I cooked in the microwave. So, after breakfast we ran out to the beach, came back, had salad for lunch and ran back out the door again for more fun at the beach (there was no fun in the sun, I live in Oregon and the beach was a little drizzly while we were there). The toddler does not eat salad, so the night before the beach trip I made a batch of spaghetti and took leftovers for the toddler to eat. I took along frozen juice to drink and put milk into quart jars for cereal and to drink. Anything we can eat that is quick, easy and cheap is how I like to go to the beach! The price of gas to get to the beach and a room at the beach is enough expenditure. The price of food does not need to break the bank if a person plans ahead.

Shepherd's pie

Badcook1 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:54:10 GMT

I have a simple meal for tonight-Shepherd’s pie!

This recipe is not very expensive to make, either. Just need some hamburger, vegetables, couple cans of cream of potato soup and some mashed potatoes.

The recipe is:

1 pound ground beef

2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted

3 cups frozen peas and carrots (a 16-ounce bag of frozen vegetables makes 3 cups)

4 cups mashed potatoes (with added milk and butter)

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the soup, peas and carrots. Pour into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Top with potatoes.

Bake the shepherd’s pie, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until heated though.

This meal is easiest when you have leftover mashed potatoes, but my family usually does not leave me any leftover mashed potatoes. Therefore, I make up some instant mashed potatoes. I make 8 servings of the instant mashed potatoes to use as a topping for the shepherd’s pie. When I do not have peas and carrots, I have used mixed vegetables in the shepherd’s pie. I sometimes sprinkle garlic powder on the potatoes for a little added flavor.

Delicious stew for dinner

Badcook1 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:51:11 GMT

I do not have much time to prepare meals. I am always on the look-out for a quick, easy meal to feed my family. One of my favorites lately has been beef stew. I buy a skillet steak and cut the steak into bite-size pieces.

Yes, I know stew meat comes already cut up and ready, but the stew meat is a little more expensive than the skillet steaks. I like to save the money and cut the stew meat myself.

In a sauce pan, heat a teaspoon of oil; add one onion, diced up, and the stew meat. Brown the stew meat, then add a can of diced tomatoes and a cup of water. I like to throw in about a cup of sliced carrots. Season the stock with some garlic powder, pepper and a little basil. Cover and simmer about 45 minutes or until meat is tender. Sometimes I toss in some potatoes, sometimes some frozen or canned corn, depending on my mood!

The stew will last my family two to three days. I usually eat the stew for lunch at work for a couple of days, and freezing some so the family does not get burned out on eating stew night after night!

Spice it up, add other vegetables, and enjoy a quick, hearty meal that is not very expensive to create!

A meal in 15 minutes!

Badcook1 — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:02:01 GMT

Salsa Sloppy Joes

Here is a delicious dish to make for dinner tonight! This recipe is a quick, inexpensive meal-made in 15 minutes or less!

This recipe comes from Taste of Home, 5 ingredients recipe book.

The recipe originated from Krista Collins/Concord, North Carolina.

1 pound ground beef

1 jar (11 ounces) salsa

1 can (10 ¾ ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted

1 tablespoon brown sugar

8 hamburger buns, split

Brown ground beef. Drain. Stir in Salsa, soup and brown sugar. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until heated. Spoon on to buns and enjoy!

Now for a little twist; I cut back on the hamburger, use half a pound. I add a can of baked beans. You still get plenty of protein. Or, if you want the meal to stretch further, make the original recipe and add a can of baked beans. You have enough for a family of four for dinner, and some for lunch the next day!