I am a Texas girl through and through. And then I have a meal with Andouille sausage...and it's like I ditch my TX roots and become a Louisiana girl for 20 minutes during dinner. I love, love, love the Cajun flavors. Especially the smoky bite from Andouille sausage. Pair that with some mirepoix and I'm in Cajun food heaven. (Mirepoix is a mix of Cajun trio of aromatic … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker New Brunswick Stew
This is a soup/stew that I used to make when we lived in the Dominican Republic years ago. Many years ago. It's super delicious and super budget friendly! And perfect with a side of dinner rolls or a hunk of crusty loaf bread! Mmmmmm! This recipe freezer friendly - so make up a batch for dinner and double it up and freeze what you don't eat! Slow Cooker … [Read more...]
Guinness Beef & 15 Bean Stew
Have you ever added beer into your chili or stew? If not, I highly recommend trying it! The added depth of richness and taste is remarkable. When I think about meals that I'll make over and over and over for my boys as they eat their way through the teenage years, these are the kinds of meals that I plan to serve them. Hearty. Filling. Delicious. And super easy to make … [Read more...]
12 Best Chili Recipes
There is nothing that celebrates the taste of fall more to me than a good bowl of chili. Even though we do eat chili year-round, there is something special about a steaming hot bowl of chili with brisk temperatures outside. In honor of nearing that lovely time of year, we've gathered up the 12 Best Chili Recipes on $5 Dinners (although you can actually find a dozen more if … [Read more...]
Minestrone Soup
Today is a soup day. Yes...in San Antonio...in the middle of August. Some kind of freak weather pattern and it's been low of 72 all week. I know...not really that cold, but cold enough for fleeces and soup ;) We'll be back to tank tops and flipflops next week! (Not really...but I'm sharing this now because it's freezer friendly, delicious and needs to be on your menu … [Read more...]
Gnocchi Minestrone Soup
Yes, yes...I know...2 Minestrone Soup recipes in one week. This one below is a typical minestrone soup that uses gnocchi in place of pasta. A few weeks back, I found a 2 pack of 24 oz. gnocchi bags at Costco for $5.99. That makes 4 meals worth for us and it significantly less expensive that what I see at my grocery store. So...I bought a pack and dropped them into … [Read more...]
15 Bean Minestrone Soup
See that soup right up there...this is a soup that resulted in a "fight over the leftovers" ;) My husband and I had to duke it out for what was leftover from this soup. This is a hearty and filling soup that we gobbled up! It makes a ton so there were some leftovers after my boys were through with it. Oh, and if I ever write a "Feeding Teenage Boys on a Budget" cookbook, … [Read more...]
15 Bean Buffalo Chicken Chili
Game Day's Food is getting a facelift this year....not only is this super budget friendly, filling for your crowd, but it's ridiculously easy too! There's just something about a bowl of chili while you're watching the players freeze on the sidelines. (Maybe it's just me?!) But I love to be warm and cozy while watching the game AND the commercials. This year, I'm sharing a … [Read more...]
White Bean Chicken Chili
This white chicken chili is divine. It's packed with great flavors and has just the right "creamy kick." Actually, it doesn't really have any kick at all...thanks to the sour cream toning down the super mild spice from the green chilies. I made this for our church group dinner not long ago, and it received a number of compliments...from both parents and kids! With the … [Read more...]
Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Easy Tom Kha Gai)
Oh my flavor explosion! I just have thing for Thai food. I've always loved a good curry...and was recently reinspired to make more Thai food after a friend from Thailand made us dinner recently. I loved watching him work and cook in our kitchen and we were all pleasantly stuffed at the end of our leisurely and delightful meal. Spoiled rotten tonight...friends … [Read more...]