Fall Recipes! Let's Swap!!

I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but I absolutely LOVE the Fall season! As soon as the leaves start falling off the trees, I'm struck with Fall-fever. My husband laughs at me because it could be 90 degrees outside, and I'm decorating our house in Fall colors already. I can't help it!

Growing up in Michigan, we had the most beautiful colors on the trees every Fall. I miss it at this time of the year... So, I try to compensate by creating that feeling I used to have in my house here in Florida. I love hot apple cider, apple orchards, hay rides, bonfires, and the smell of pumpkin pie in the oven! So, with my memories of crisp, cool Fall mornings, I'm bringing to you some fun Fall recipes to help you get Fall-fever!

Emeril Lagasse has great reviews on this Hot Apple Cider with Rum! You can choose to not use the rum as well. In just 15 minutes, you can make this delicious drink. Once it does indeed get cooler, I can totally see putting the kids to bed, starting a fire in the fireplace, and cozying up with my husband on the couch while we sip our hot apple cider...

Our family has a favorite recipe that's a special treat for the Fall season! This Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pudding will get you in the mood for harvest time! Need a quick dessert for dinner? Add this one to your go-to recipes this season.

Apple Crisp a-la-mode! YUM!! Family Fun offers this delicious recipe. I think I have to make it tonight. It looks so delicious and I have all the ingredients. Let your kids help with this simple recipe and you might just start a Fall family tradition...


Frugal Girls has a fun recipe for Red Velvet Apple Cupcakes! Aren't these so adorable?! I think it would make for a fun treat for a Fall playday or bring dessert to your next get-together with friends or family.

Do you have a favorite Fall recipe?! Please share a link or a recipe in the comments. I love recipe swaps - especially this time of year!

Easy Morning Breakfast! (CrockPot Make-Ahead)

I love finding recipes that make breakfast and mornings easy. ThisLunchRox.com is a website I've been diggin' lately. Jamie has a healthy breakfast to get you and your kids started in the morning without any morning fuss. Who doesn't love that?!

Place your ingredients in your crockpot before you go to bed, and you'll wake up to homemade and healthy oatmeal perfect for a Fall morning! I love this idea and will definitely be adding it to our breakfast menus.

Click HERE for Jamie's full post and recipe.

Here's another great CrockPot Oatmeal recipe if steel-cut oats is not your style...

Deluxe CrockPot Oatmeal

Ingredients:

2 cups milk
1/4 cup brown sugar (or Sucanat)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup finely chopped apple
1/2 cup raisins and/or dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Directions:

Grease the inside of your crockpot. Put ingredients in and mix well. Cover and turn on low heat. Cook overnight or 8-9 hours. Stir before serving.

Yields 4 cups.

This recipe was found over at ThatsMyHome.com.

Frozen Banana Bites

I came across this super easy and delicious treat that I could probably gobble up as quick as any bon-bon out there!

(Never Home)maker has this yummy recipe for frozen banana bites that look to die for! You all probably know by now how much I love the dark chocolate Banana Babies (especially when they're BOGO at Publix), so... now I can make them at home!! I'm completely beside myself with excitement over this discovery. I love the smaller portions of these bites, which will probably only mean that I'll eat more! These are definitely going on my menu plan for next week.

Go HERE to check out the recipe!

Resurrection Rolls & Easter Recipes

BeautyAndBedlam has a fun and simple recipe for Resurrection Rolls. They are a wonderful way to enjoy a delicious treat while teaching your children about Christ's resurrection!

Since I'm not as creative in the kitchen, be sure to check out her post on Easter recipes HERE. And be sure to share your favorite Easter meal recipes!

"Chick-en" Falafel Nuggets

Here's a versatile recipe that would make for a great after-school snack for the kids, a light lunch on a salad for mom, or place in a pita with some plain Greek yogurt and sliced cucumber for a falafel sandwich.

Ingredients:
16-oz can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1/2 cup onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped finely
1tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 egg
1 Tbsp olive oil
1tsp lemon juice
1 cup plain bread crumbs

Directions:
1. Mash garbanzo beans with potato masher or use a food processor until you get a smooth consistency.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. You should have a crumbly mixture that can easily be pressed together to form "nuggets".

3. Coat a medium skillet with olive oil spray.

4. Form bite-size nuggets approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

5. Place nuggets in skillet and cook at Medium-Low heat for approximately 2 minutes per side or browned.

Makes 20 nuggets.

Make a double or triple batch and freeze for easy meal planning!

For those on Weight Watchers PointsPlus program, 2 nuggets equals 3 points. Not bad for a healthy snack!

Find this recipe and more at RecipeNut.com.

My New Favorite Recipe Website!!

I am SO excited to share with you my new favorite recipe website!!!

I love finding new recipes online. I'm always plugging in my ingredients and trying to find ways to save on meals. If you're anything like me, RecipeNut.com is the place to check out. You can easily store all of your favorite recipes you find online with a simple link or create your own. Share them with your friends and family with a simple click!

This is my new favorite website for recipes and organizing my favorites! I've already added a few of my favorites that you can check out HERE.

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pudding

I am a fan of pumpkin and try to learn as many simple recipes as I can. "Simple" is key right now in my life with 3 young children. My family has enjoyed this super simple pumpkin pudding for years. I'm not exactly sure where I got the recipe, but here it is.

Ingredients:

• 1 box (5 1/10 oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
• 1 can (12 oz) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
• 1 can (15 oz) 100% Pure Pumpkin (or homemade puree)
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Whipped Cream to top!

Directions:

Whisk together pudding mix and evaporated milk according to package directions. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Divide mixture among dessert cups (approx. 6 custard cups). Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes and serve with whipped cream.

Homemade Cinnamon Apple Sauce

When Fall comes around, I can't think of anything more wonderful than the smell of cinnamon apples lofting throughout my house! It's time to open those windows, let the cool breeze in, and enjoy a cool morning of applesauce-making with me.

You'll start with a 3-lb bag of Gala apples - or your favorite cooking apple. Core and peel apples, then cut into quarters. Peels can be left on if you like it that way, but I recommend cutting the apples smaller so that you do not have large pieces of the peel.

Since this is my first time making homemade applesauce, I kept the peels on thinking it would make my life simple... (Later, I picked it out as it was just too tough for my liking.) Place apple quarters in large sauce pan and add 1 cup of water. Over medium heat, bring to a boil.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon of allspice and toss with spoon to distribute the flavors. Then place a lid on top and simmer for 20 minutes.

Once your apples are soft, do not drain the liquid - even though it may seem a little too soupy. Just give it a minute and start mashing them with a potato masher. (At this point, I was seeing too many peels and picked them all out.)

Here's the consistency I typically end up with - a little chunky and super yummy. (Typically, meaning this is the first time I've made it and I loved it this way, so I'm going with it!)

All this work, and you end up with a one quart jar. Knowing that it's homemade and that it only took me 30 minutes to whip up, I can't help but believe it was worth the $1.99 I paid for the apples. Even better, I think I'll buy some apples in bulk when I come across an even lower price, and make a bigger batch to can!

*Note: You can add 1/2 cup of white sugar when you add the cinnamon and allspice if you like a sweeter applesauce. However, if you start with a fairly sweet apple, you should be able to skip the extra sweetener.

(Thanks to my friend Wendy for tips on making homemade applesauce!)

Thank you, Julia!!

That's all I can say... Julia Child has made my day! For years, I have tried to figure out how to boil and peel the perfect hard-cooked egg, and today I did it!!! I realize this may not be exciting to the general public, but if you're anything like me, you'll understand the excitement about this simple task.

I've mentioned this book before, but I absolutely recommend it for these types of cooking tasks that may seem impossible yet should be simple. Everyone has their "perfect" method for boiling an egg, but for me, I've found Julia to have the right method.


Click HERE to view inside.

So, here are the steps I took (paraphrasing from her book):

1. With a small pin, poke a hole into the fatter end of the egg. This allows the air to come out. Do this with 12 eggs.
2. Place 12 eggs in a deep pot and fill with cold water to cover eggs approx. an inch.
3. Turn heat to high and bring to a rolling boil. Then take pan off the heat and cover. Let sit for exactly 17 minutes.
4. Get a bowl full of ice water ready.
5. Place cooked eggs in ice water and let sit for 2 minutes. In the meantime, reheat water in pot to boiling.
   
6. After 2 minutes in ice water, place 3 eggs at a time into the boiling water for exactly 10 seconds. Do this with all the eggs and chill for 20 minutes.

I know this might sound very involved, but if you follow these steps exactly, you'll find your eggs to be perfectly cooked on the inside and easy to peel leaving a smooth surface great for deviled eggs. (Oh, if you peel your eggs under cold running water, your fingers will slide under the shell easier to make peeling easier.)

20 Easy Breakfast Meals!

Need a quick and easy breakfast menu? Click HERE for 20 free easy recipes.

Mother's Day Recipes & Crafts!

Click above to get some fun ideas for Mother's Day brunch or dinner!



And for the kids to have fun... click above for craft ideas!

Italian Sausage Pizza Bites

This snack/lunch recipe is priced based on this week's Publix Deals found HERE.

Italian Sausage Pizza Bites
Total Price = $6.47 (makes 16 bites)
Recipe adapted from FoodTV.

Image courtesy of FoodTV

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil (pantry)
  
• 8 oz Italian turkey sausage ($1.50)
• 2 c fresh spinach or 1 pkg frozen spinach ($1.00)
• 4 oz cream cheese, room temp ($.63 on sale last week)
  
• 1/3 c Parmesan cheese ($.75)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
  
• Pillsbury Pizza Dough ($1.50 on sale last week)
• 1 egg beaten ($.12)
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
  
• 1 jar marinara sauce ($.97 Ragu on sale)

Directions:

In medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break apart. Cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and heat until wilted. Set aside to cool slightly.

After slightly cooled (about 10 minutes) add cream cheese, Parmesan, salt and pepper and mix together until combined and melted.

Preheat oven to 400F. Roll out the pizza dough on lightly floured surface to make a 20 x 12-inch rectangle. Cut rectangle in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 8 equal rectangles. Spoon mixture by tablespoon or so onto each rectangle.

Wisk egg in a small bowl for egg wash. Brush edges of rectangles and fold over to make triangles. Press edges together with fingers or crimp with fork.

Place triangles on parchment-lined cookie sheet and brush tops with egg wash. Sprinkle additional 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese atop and bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve alongside heated marinara sauce.

Spaghetti with Zucchini in Brown Butter Sauce

Here's another recipe using the deals at Publix this week. This is a meatless recipe, so if you have a family who can't live without meat at dinner, add some slow-cooked chicken leg quarters (also on sale this week).

Spaghetti with Zucchini in Brown Butter Sauce
Total Price = $2.89 (serves 4-6)

Photo courtesy of RecipeZaar

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchini, sliced thinly ($1.49/lb)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil (pantry stockpile)
  
• 1 lb spaghetti (Mueller's $.15)
• 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks) ($.75 purchased on sale)
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (Kraft $.50)
  

Directions:

Slice zucchini with a mandolin on the bias or cut thin with knife on diagonal. Set on paper towel. Heat olive oil in large skillet. Saute zucchini in oil for 7-10 minutes or until softened. When cooked, remove from pan and set on plate.

In the meantime, cook spaghetti according to instructions on box. Toss with olive oil to keep noodles from sticking together.

In the same skillet you cooked the zucchini, place butter, garlic, salt, and pepper until butter is browned. Watch carefully so that you do not burn the butter. Add pasta and zucchini and toss together. Mix in 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese and place on serving dish.

Top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Chicken Divan

Here's an idea for dinner this week based on this week's Publix Deals.

Chicken Divan
Total Price = $6.00 (serves 4)
Recipe adapted from Campbell's Kitchen.

Image courtesy of Campbell's Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs chicken leg quarters, cooked & torn off bone ($.59/lb = $2.36)
• 1-2 pkgs Eat Smart broccoli, depending on how much broccoli you like ($1.00)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (pantry stockpile)
• 1/3 cup milk
  
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.00)
• 2 Tbsp bread crumbs (pantry stockpile)
• 1 Tbsp melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450F.

Cook down chicken in skillet, crockpot, or oven until falling off bone or cooked through. Shred chicken with fork and put in 8x8 dish or 9-inch pie plate. Add broccoli.

In a separate bowl, mix together cream of mushroom soup and milk. Pour over chicken and broccoli and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese atop.

In a small bowl, stir together bread crumbs and melted butter and sprinkle over.

Place in 450F oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Serve over rice or Mueller's pasta ($.15/box).

Flatout Chicken Roll-Ups

This recipe and pricing is based on this week's Publix Deals found HERE.

Flatout Chicken Roll-Ups
Total Price = $6.95 (serves 6)

Image courtesy of FlatOut News

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Flatout Flatbread (BOGO $2.89 or $1.45/1)
• 1/2 bag Publix Salad Blend ($1.00)
• 1/2 lb Boar's Head EverRoast Chicken Breast ($3.00)
• 6 Publix American Cheese Slices ($1.00) *Omit for lower price or lower calories.
  
• 1 Tomato, sliced thin ($.50)

Directions:

Lay out flatbread and place lettuce from salad blend on top, then thin slices of lunchmeat and cheese, and top with sliced tomato. Roll up, then slice in half on diagonal. Enjoy this quick and easy lunch or dinner-to-go with some red or white seedless grapes ($1.69/lb) or sliced cantaloupe ($2/each).

Valentine Recipes

Looking for some yummy recipes to make for your Valentine?! Check out this FREE Valentine Recipe eBook. Click HERE.

Chili Turkey Burgers

Looking for a good recipe to match up with this week's Publix Deals? Check out these yummy Chili Turkey Burgers!

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 chopped onion
  
• 1/4 c shredded or finely chopped carrots
  
• 1/2 c unseasoned bread crumbs
  
• 1 pkt McCormick Chili Seasoning (on sale BOGO $1.29 = $.40/1 after Q)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 c water (FREE!)
  
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  
• 4.5 oz can diced green chiles
  
• 1 lb ground turkey (on sale $1.99/lb @ Publix)
  
  
• 6 Hamburger buns or rolls (use $1/2 Harvey's coupon HERE @ Publix)
  

Directions:

In a skillet, heat 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Add onion and chopped carrot and saute over medium-high heat until onion is translucent. Remove from heat an let cool slightly.

In a medium bowl, combine onions, carrots, bread crumbs, chili seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and green chiles. Mix until incorporated. Add ground turkey and combine.

Form 6 patties and place on grill or in skillet. Cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until cooked through.

Serve on burger buns with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Top with your favorite barbecue sauce.

Serve alongside homemade potato strips (potatoes on sale at Publix) and steamed veggies.

Tight Budget Recipe:
Sometimes our budgets are super tight. So, to make this recipe on a lower budget, simply use ground turkey, chili seasoning, bread crumbs and water to make your burgers. Eat on whole wheat bread if you don't have buns or rolls.

Here's a Tip: Buy a bag of onions when they're at a good price and chop them up. Store them in sandwich baggies in 1 cup measurements, then place these baggies into a 1 gallon freezer bag. Your freezer will stay free of onion smell, and you'll save money on freezer bags! You can do this with many different veggies.

Mini Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies

My New Year's Resolution was to start eating more naturally and learning to, ahum... enjoy cooking (the second is not very easy for me). Well, I'm happy to say that I am learning new ways to make great food naturally and having fun with it, believe it or not. Here's a super yummy 3-ingredient dessert my whole family loves!

Adapted from a recipe in Ellie Krieger's book, So Easy. (This is one of the cookbooks I invested in to help me enjoy eating and cooking naturally - more on that later...)

Here's what you need:

Ingredients:

1 box Back to Nature Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/2 c Breyers 1/2 the fat All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream

1.5 oz Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped finely
(choose a high Cacao % if you choose another brand)

Instructions:

Remove ice cream from freezer and let stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. In the meantime, chop chocolate finely. Line a freezer-proof container with wax paper. Place 1 cookie face-down and scoop approximately 2 tablespoons ice cream onto cookie and top with another cookie, pressing slightly to flatten. Roll the edges of your cookie sandwich in chocolate to cover sides. Place in freezer container and put in freezer to harden.

*Yields 10 cookie sandwiches.

Total Cost = $3.99

Money Saving Dinner! - Taco Wraps

This is one of the ways that we keep food costs low in our house. Prepping dinners and lunches ahead and freezing them is a great way to have food ready to go without having to run through a fast-food drive thru.

One of our new favorites is Taco Wraps. This is a healthier option to Taco Bell and you'll get a lot more food for your buck.

Here's what you need:
(some items are optional)

Each of these items were bought on sale at the lowest cost. And all of them (except the sour cream) can be frozen or stored in the pantry until you have all the ingredients to make the dish!

Here's my price breakdown on ingredients:

• Ground Beef = $1.44/lb on sale w/coupon
  
  
• Shredded Cheese, 8 oz = $.59 on sale w/coupon
  
  
• Whole Wheat Tortillas, 8-ct = $1.52 at Walmart
  (Get plain Flour Tortillas even cheaper!)
  
  
• Refried Beans = $.88
  
  
• McCormick Taco Seasoning = FREE w/coupons
  
  
• Salsa = $.90
  
  
• Sour Cream (optional) = $.47
  
  
• Chopped Onions (optional) = $.30 on sale
  
  
• Chopped Green Peppers (optional) = $.42 on sale

TOTAL = $5.33 for 8 wraps

Here are the steps to make this dish:Place cooked ground beef, refried beans, and salsa in a bowl and mix thoroughly. I used 1 lb cooked ground beef, 1 cup salsa, and 1 can beans, but you can add to your taste.

Next, lay out your tortilla wrap and place 1/3 -1/2 cup meat mixture in center and top with shredded cheese.
Fold your wrap as pictured.

When you're done place your wraps in a gallon size freezer bag and freeze! These are great to grab straight out of the freezer and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Top with cheese and sour cream if you'd like.

Substitutions:

• Switch out the beef for shredded chicken.
• Use rice or instead of refried beans.
• Use corn tortillas in place of flour tortillas.
• Omit cheese, if dairy is an issue.
  

A Fun Birthday Cake Idea!

My little boy turned 3 yesterday! I am constantly amazed at how quickly our children grow. For weeks he had been talking about his "Bug Cake" he would get on his birthday. We found a picture of it in our Southern Living Kid's Cookbook and did a little variation on it.

Here's the end result:

To make this cake, I used 1 cake mix, 1 tub of white frosting mixed with green food coloring, 1 package of shoestring licorice, 1 small bag of M&M's, and Store brand Oreo cookies.

I used a bundt cake pan, baked the cake, and cut it in half to arrange it in an "S" pattern on the platter. Then, we frosted and decorated!

He loved helping me put the M&M's on and crushing the Oreos to make them look like dirt.

This was a fun cake to make with my very excited son. And he had NO problem gobbling down a slice of his "bug"!

If you're doing a "bug-themed" birthday party, this might be the cake for you. :)