You had me at drizzled white chocolate... My 2nd son is my most adventurous eater...BUT...he doesn't care for chocolate chip cookies. (Sometimes I wonder if he really is my kid because how could he not get the "loves chocolate chip cookie" gene from me?!) Those are the default cookies around here because they are easy and I have my favorite recipe memorized. But Charlie's … [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...]
Salsa Verde Layered Chicken Enchiladas
Holy yumness! Yummy, yummy, nummy, yumness! I adore the salsa verde flavor...it's the perfect tangy green salsa with just a tiny bit of "zip" and "zest." If you've never cooked with salsa verde...it is not spicy. On a "Thai food restaurant scale of spice, it's a negative 3. That makes it not really spicy at all. It has a tiny bit of zip and zest, like I said. But it's not … [Read more...]
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe
Homemade cream of mushroom soup or sauce is bazillion times better than the canned version. Because they taste better...fresher...and because you know exactly the ingredients that were added to the sauce. You can pronounce them all. And then there's the you can season it as you like. Give it some garlic flare. Or a punch of onion flavor. I began making homemade 'cream of … [Read more...]
Shredded Salsa Verde Chicken
If you've spent any time on $5 Dinners in the past, then you know that I'm all about recipes that are quick, easy, simple, family friendly and budget friendly. I'm all about hacking the grocery shopping experience, so I (really, we!) can spend less money on groceries. This Salsa Verde Chicken recipe is super versatile and here's why... 1. It only uses 2 (maybe 3) … [Read more...]
Winter Spinach Salad with Chicken
I love to make this salad for lunch...and we've had it for dinner too. My boys aren't the biggest salad fans, but when I load it with their faves - chicken, apples, cranberries - they don't seem to mind as much. I've got some pecans and dried cranberries leftover from the holiday baking that happened in my kitchen...so I imagine this salad will be making several appearances … [Read more...]
Homemade Almond & Pecan Toffee
Got a gluten free friend who is addicted to "Christmas Crack" but can't have it because it uses saltine crackers? Or are you trying to eliminate grains or gluten but still want your favorite holiday treat? Here's a simple and easy recipe that is loaded with sweet and salty crunch that is completely grain and gluten free. (Please note, it is does contain tree nuts and … [Read more...]
Holiday Beef Roast with Mushrooms and Pearled Onions
Turkey Day is coming!!!! So why in the world and I am sharing a Beef Roast recipe?!?! I'm just sharing it as an option. In case you don't like turkey. (I don't like turkey. I mean I'll eat it, but I really don't like it. I think years of stuffing myself, followed by a tryptophan-induced coma has led me to a place of admitting that I just don't like turkey! I can flavor it … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
Ride 'em Cowboy! Get your boots on and toss these delicious beans onto the table for a filling and scrumptious dinner. Our family gives these beans a huge stamp of approval...even my bean-averse kiddo loved these. The BBQ-the bacon-the beef-the beans....perfect cowboy food! Yeehaw!!! Beyond the fabulous flavor, this meal was super easy to throw together. Here's … [Read more...]
Lemon Chicken & Kale Soup
o Turns out it's a bit challenging to photograph white-ish & forest green cooked kale ;) Here's what you need to know this here soup. It's delicious. And this is why... See what's happening in the photo below... This is lemons simmering with the chicken stock before you add all the other ingredients. The lemon juice leaks out and marries with the chicken … [Read more...]