I adore a bowl of Minestrone soup. I adore pretty much any bowl of soup. And that's why I've loved this month...sharing all these amazing soup recipes with you. My taste buds and tummy are happy, and I hope yours will be too...as you try these new recipes! I like to make my Minestrone soup with butter as the fat base for sauteing the veggies. It some how adds just the … [Read more...]
Italian Meatball Soup
First, let me start by saying this is not Italian Wedding Soup. (See that recipe here.) This is a more tomato-y version of Italian Wedding Soup. It's thicker and more like spaghetti and meatballs in soup form. And using small shell pasta instead of spaghetti. Also, I'm very much a 'make your own' kind of girl. But this week, something had to give. I've been traveling more … [Read more...]
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
I love a great bowl of chicken noodle soup. And not just when I'm not feeling well. (Although, it certainly does make me feel better when I'm under the weather.) Now that we're coming up on the winter months, I'll be getting a 'stash' of onions, celery and carrots into the freezer so that I'll have them handy when I need to make another round of this delicious-wonder-pot. … [Read more...]
Tomato Basil Chicken over Linguini
While I'm anxiously looking forward to cooler weather, I'm still trying to hold onto summer too. These 'transition months' between seasons, I find myself doing this every year. It's still really hot in TX and I'm longing for Pumpkin Spice Lattes (I know I could get a cold version, but it's not the same!) and bottomless pots of chili. But at the same time, I'm still craving the … [Read more...]
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon-Laced Bread Crumbs
This doesn't happen too often around here on $5 Dinners, but it's happening now. I'm talking about 'food trends.' And by 'food trends,' I really mean food that I'm currently obsessed with. (And seems that you are too based on your response to these recipes and meals.) Specifically, I'm referring to "Homemade Macaroni and Cheese" Recipes. This is the 3rd recipe I've shared … [Read more...]
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese with Beef and Bacon
An amazing new macaroni and cheese recipe with ground beef and bacon, drowned in a homemade Gouda cheese sauce...yes, please! I've used in this amazing homemade cheese sauce and the flavor is outta this world... How to Make Homemade Macaroni & Cheese If you've never made a homemade cheese sauce, here's what that looks like: Melt the butter in a large … [Read more...]
Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
I think if there was really such a thing as "comfort food heaven," this would be the first pasta served in the buffet. I have vivid memories of eating Chicken Cordon Bleu as a child. VIVID ones. Let's just say that my mom was not a fan of cooking. The "I love cooking" gene skipped a generation from my grandma to me. But my mom was fortunate enough to be rescued sometime in … [Read more...]
Sun-Dried Tomato & Parmesan Pasta Bake
Let me tell you where this meal comes from. It comes from the fact that I absolutely adore this skillet recipe (and thought it needed an oven-version!)...AND...the fact that I have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes leftover from the recent 20 Meals for $150 meal plan! I love sun-dried tomatoes and the flavor that they add to a meal, especially pasta. This pasta bake calls for … [Read more...]
Southwest Shells with Beans and Corn
Smoky, smoky, smoky! The flavor in this simple pasta salad gets kicked up a few notches by adding 2 spices to the mayo before you toss it all together. My guess is that you have all of these items on hand you could make this TONIGHT. I adore pantry staple recipes like this one...not only because of how easy and simple they are to put together, but also because they … [Read more...]
Barbecue Spaghetti with Smoked Chicken
Flavor overload my friend. This right here will make your taste buds explode! Amazing smoked chicken doused in BBQ sauce and mixed with a bunch of fresh summer veggies...then topped with cheddar cheese (I'd suggest sharp cheddar for this one!)...piled high over a plate of pasta. Drooling. Seriously, I might have had to wipe a little drool off my chin while I typed this … [Read more...]