Graceful Little Honey Bee

Finished chowder in a white bowl sitting on a blue buffalo check towel.

Instant Pot Ham and Potato Chowder

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This Instant Pot Ham and Potato Chowder is full of the comforting flavors that you crave all wrapped up in a hot bowl of soup and pairs perfectly with homemade bread or biscuits.

Finished chowder in a white bowl sitting on a blue buffalo check towel.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you for your support.

Instant Pot Ham and Potato Chowder

Soups and chowders are one of my all time favorite things to cook, especially when I’m using my Instant Pot. The gathering of ingredients, the chopping of vegetables and the melding of flavors is a therapeutic process for me.

I love soups because they’re filling, nutritious and warm you up on a chilly evening. They’re great for using what you have on hand and letting your creativity shine in the kitchen.

This recipe for Ham, Potato and Corn Chowder is a favorite to make for my family. We like to top it with shredded cheese, sour cream and diced green onion. Also, it pairs perfectly with my Cheddar and Green Onion Biscuits. Happy cooking friends!

How to Make Ham and Potato Chowder

Set the Instant Pot to saute and add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the onion and carrot and sauté for five minutes.

Add the garlic and sauté for two minutes, then turn off the Instant Pot.

Onions and carrots sauteing in the Instant Pot.

Add the chicken broth and use a spoon to deglaze the pot.

Add the potatoes and corn. Next season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Carrots, onions, diced potatoes and corn in the Instant Pot before cooking.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal the vent. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for five minutes.

When the cook time is up, allow the Instant Pot to do a natural release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to remove remaining pressure.

In a separate bowl, mix the milk and cream with the cornstarch and water. This is called a slurry.

Remove the lid and add the slurry. Stir to combine, then set the pot to sauté for 5 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken.

Finished chowder on a wooden spoon above the Instant Pot.

Want more quick and easy Instant Pot recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

Instant 4-Ingredient Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Sausage and Lentil Stew
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup
Instant Pot Tomato Soup

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Finished chowder in a white bowl sitting on a blue buffalo check towel.
Print Recipe

Instant Pot Ham and Potato Chowder

A delicious chowder full of the comforting flavors of ham, corn and potato.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Instant Pot Ham and Potato Chowder
Servings: 6
Calories: 293kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 carrot chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2.5 pounds potatoes peeled and diced
  • 12 ounce package frozen corn or 2 cups corn
  • 1 1/2 cups diced ham
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

Instructions

  • Set the Instant Pot to saute and add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the onion and carrot and sauté for five minutes.
  • Add the garlic and sauté for two minutes, then turn off the Instant Pot.
  • Add the chicken broth and use a spoon to deglaze the pot.
  • Add the potatoes and corn. Next season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal the vent. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for five minutes.
  • When the cook time is up, allow the Instant Pot to do a natural release for 10 minutes, then do a quick release to remove remaining pressure.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the milk and cream with the cornstarch and water. This is called a slurry.
  • Remove the lid and add the slurry. Stir to combine, then set the pot to sauté for 5 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1247mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2555IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg
Old white barn with green trim in a field.

10 Old-Fashioned Money Saving Skills That You NEED to Learn

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Are you looking for ways to save money and be more self-sufficient? Check out this list of Old-Fashioned Skills that you should learn today including gardening, bartering and mending.

A collage of photos including a white barn, drying herbs and home canned food.

This post was originally published in November 2014 and has been updated for you convenience.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information and thank you for your support.

10 Old-Fashioned Money-Saving Skills

  A lot of basic skills that were once common knowledge are now deemed old-fashioned or unnecessary, but we shouldn’t be so quick to discard them.

  If we took the time to learn how to do more for ourselves instead of paying someone else to do it, then we’d have more money and a greater sense of accomplishment that can’t be bought.

  Not to mention, the current situation that we are going through has opened a lot of peoples eyes as to how much is out of their control, but by practicing a few of these old-fashioned skills, you will not only save money, but also become a little more self-sufficient in the process.

  I personally practice a lot of these skills because I think it’s good to know how to fend for yourself if the need arises. So here are my top 10 Old-Fashioned Money-Saving Skills that I think everyone should learn!

Gardening

  You can potentially get hundreds of tomatoes from one $2 packet of seeds, but how many tomatoes will that same $2 get you from the store? Gardening is a great way to save money if you can keep costs down by growing plants from seed and using natural soil amendments. If you are new to gardening or just want some more gardening tips, be sure to check out the links below.

Additional Gardening Resources:

Preserving Food

  Knowing how to preserve your own food is an amazing money-saving skill to have especially when you grow it yourself. It also comes in handy when you can find produce in bulk at rock bottom prices. Canning, freezing and dehydrating are the most common food preservation methods. Check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation Website to start learning today!

Food Preservation Recipes:

Foraging

  Foraging is something that our ancestors knew way more about than we do today. If you don’t know, foraging is when you find food that is growing wild like picking berries in the woods or dandelion greens in your backyard.

  I wish I knew more about this lost skill, but sadly my knowledge is limited. The best way to safely learn about identifying nontoxic edibles is to sign up for a local class or take a course on the subject. You could also find books from your local library, but I’d be leery of relying on photos alone as a lot of edible plants also have toxic look a likes. Check out Wild Edibles to learn more.

Bartering

  Our culture is so used to spending money that bartering isn’t even on most people’s radar and I think that’s a crying shame. Bartering is when you trade your skills, time or goods for someone else’s. For example, I could crochet someone a hat in exchange for a couple of hours of babysitting or I could trade some of my surplus garden produce for piano lessons.

  Think about how much money you would save if you put this into practice more often. Also, there are lots of bartering groups on Facebook which would be a great place to start.

Mending

  Since clothing is so cheap and plentiful these days, sewing handmade garments is normally more expensive than buying off the rack, but having basic knowledge of mending and tailoring can save you tons of money. I don’t know how many times I’ve extended the life of my families clothes simply by sewing on buttons or mending seams. Check out Martha Stewart to learn the basics of Mending. Also, I really enjoyed the book Mending Matters by Katrina Rodabaugh.

Cooking from Scratch

  It’s amazing how much money we spend on convenience food. I did the math and I spend $50 per month on yogurt and granola bars alone!! That’s insane considering I try to keep my food budget under $100 per week. So just by making those two items from scratch I could save TONS. Just think how much you would save if you started making just one new convenience item at home per month.

Resources For Cooking From Scratch:

Hunting/Fishing

  While my family doesn’t hunt or fish much, plenty of our friends do and I think it’s a wise skill to have in case you need to provide for yourself one day. Also, store-bought meat is expensive and being able to kill your own is a huge money saver! Of course it isn’t free to hunt, but it’s still a good source of quality meat on a budget. What would our ancestors have done without dear, wild turkey or fish to keep them going?

Keeping Chickens

Disclaimer: This was originally written in 2014 when egg prices were higher.

  Keeping a few chickens may not save you much money, but in most cases the cost of feed versus the cost of eggs/meat evens out. You can keep costs down by letting them free range, feeding them kitchen scraps and selling your extra eggs to family and friends. You could also collect scraps from friends or local restaurants to feed to your hens, but make sure they are getting mostly whole foods such as vegetables, grains, etc.

  Remember, your backyard chickens will produce higher quality eggs with a denser nutrition profile, which can cost upwards of $5 or more per dozen at the store, so it’s not fair to compare the cost of the absolute cheapest eggs that you can find to the price of keeping chickens.

Paying Cash

  Paying cash definitely seems like an old-fashioned skill these days, but it’s a great one to keep alive! Did you know that people tend to spend more when they use a card verses paying cash? Also, you can normally talk someone down on price when you have cash in hand. For more budgeting tips, check out The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

Going Without

  Did your TV break? Go buy a shiny new one and put it on the card! Did the car break down? Trade it in for a new one and pay for it later! It seems like our culture tells us we deserve everything instantly, but by doing so we’re missing out on valuable life lessons such as patience, resourcefulness, hard work and gratitude.

  Not to mention that delaying gratification allows you to avoid paying interest and save even more money. The next time you want to buy something, ask yourself if you can find it cheaper, make it yourself or go without or better yet try living by the motto made famous by the great depression: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!

Which of these skills do you practice to save money? Do you have anymore to add? I’d love to know!

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Want more old-fashioned inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite articles:

 

Two beef tacos topped with lettuce sitting on a white plate.

Beef, Bean and Cheese Baked Tacos

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Here’s a fun new recipe for Taco Tuesday using ground beef, refried beans and queso dip that are baked in the oven making for a quick and easy meal!

Finished Tacos on a white plate.

Beef, Bean and Cheese Baked Tacos

Who doesn’t love a good family-friendly taco recipe? I really like baking my tacos because you can put them all together, stick them in the oven and be available to work on other things white they bake.

Kids love tacos too, so why not try these Beef, Bean and Cheese Baked Tacos on your next Taco Tuesday night? The combination of ground beef, refried beans and queso dip is delicious.

You can easily swap the beef for pork or chicken and use black beans instead of refried if that is your preference, but either way these oven-baked tacos are sure to be a new favorite for you and your family. Happy cooking friends!

How to Make Oven-Baked Tacos:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook ground beef and diced onions in skillet over medium heat.

After the meat and onions are cooked through, add the taco seasoning, tomatoes with chilies, and water.

Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce begins to thicken, around 5 minutes. (This step is important unless you like soggy taco shells!)

Place refried beans in a small skillet and heat over medium low heat until warmed.

Place taco shells in a baking dish so the shells are standing upright.

Fill the taco shells with ground beef, queso dip, refried beans, and shredded cheese.

Taco shells filled with ground beef, refried beans and queso dip ready for the oven.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and top tacos with shredded lettuce before serving.

Finished tacos topped with lettuce in baking dish.

Do you want more Taco Tuesday Recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

Southern Fried Chicken Tacos with Bacon and Ranch
Easy Mexican Pizzas
Homemade Guacamole
Blender Salsa (Restaurant Style)

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Two beef tacos topped with lettuce sitting on a white plate.

Two beef tacos topped with lettuce sitting on a white plate.
Print Recipe

Beef, Bean and Cheese Baked Tacos

Oven-baked tacos filled with ground beef, refried beans and queso dip.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Beef, Bean and Cheese Baked Tacos
Servings: 12
Calories: 250kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 10- ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 16- ounce can refried beans
  • 12 taco shells
  • ½ cup queso dip
  • 1 cup shredded taco blend cheese
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cook ground beef and diced onions in skillet over medium heat.
  • After the meat and onions are cooked through, add the taco seasoning, tomatoes with chilies, and water.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce begins to thicken, around 5 minutes. (This step is important unless you like soggy taco shells!)
  • Place refried beans in a small skillet and heat over medium low heat until warmed.
  • Place taco shells in a baking dish so the shells are standing upright.
  • Fill the taco shells with ground beef, queso dip, refried beans, and shredded cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and top tacos with shredded lettuce before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 522mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 227IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 2mg

Imperfect Foods Grocery Delivery – My Honest Review

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This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you for your support.

Groceries coming out of a box.

There are tons of subscription boxes and services out there and to be honest a lot of them seem a little frivolous to my practical nature, but then I learned about Imperfect Foods.

I’ve been ordering from Imperfect Foods off and on for a few months now which is why I wanted to share my honest review with you guys. I’ve ordered and tried a variety of products and feel like I can give any one interested in ordering some good feedback.

Below I will list some common questions about the service and my personal pros and cons list from using Imperfect Foods.

What is Imperfect Foods?

Well, they are a weekly grocery subscription box service who sources food that has been deemed not good enough for the regular grocery store.

I’m sure you’re aware that our modern society wastes tons and tons of food each year and Imperfect Foods is committed to saving as much food as they can from going to the landfill.

What makes food imperfect?

Foods that qualify as imperfect and therefore not good enough for grocery shelves may have one or more of the following issues:

  • Cosmetic (i.e. produce that isn’t the standard size, shape or color)
  • Surplus/Excess Inventory (too much product for the current market)
  • Packaging Change
  • Short-Coded (expiration date is within the next few months)
  • Undervalued (i.e. Grocery stores only buying the broccoli crown when the rest of the plant is edible)
  • Off-spec (i.e. doesn’t meet the standards of the grocery buyer)

Can I customize my box?

Yes! One of the things that I absolutely love about Imperfect Foods is that you have COMPLETE control over what comes in your box each week.

Can I skip a weekly box delivery?

Yes! You can skip as many weeks as you want which is a great feature of this subscription service.

How much does it cost?

There is a $30 minimum + $5.99 shipping, but if your order is over $60 you can get free shipping (for a limited time).

Groceries laid out on a granite counter.

Pros of Imperfect Foods:

  • You’re saving food from going to waste.
  • Groceries are delivered straight to your front door.
  • Boxes are fully customizable.
  • You can skip weekly deliveries.
  • A lot of the prices are budget-friendly (not all).
  • Imperfect Foods is committed to sourcing high quality, sustainable products.
  • Good customer service (My first two boxes were missing items and I was quickly credited, plus given a bonus credit for my trouble).

Cons of Imperfect Foods:

  • Some produce doesn’t seem to last as long as store-bought.
  • I’m not a fan of the refrigerated and pantry items all in one box. I’ve had some items (boxed pasta, chocolate bars, etc.) get wet and slightly damaged from the moisture of the ice pack.
  • Some items (mostly meats and prepacked convenience foods) seem high priced. I know these are high quality products, but since I am a frugal living website, this could be a con for budget minded people such as myself.

Well, there you have it. I’ve really enjoyed using Imperfect Foods as a supplement to my regular grocery store and plan to use them off and on in the future. If you would like to sign up for your first box using my link, you will get $10 off!

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Want to learn more about reducing food waste? Here are some of my favorite reads:

Finished dish on a white plate with whipped cream on top.

Red, White and Blue Dump Cake

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If you want a quick and easy patriotic dessert for Memorial Day or the 4th of July, then you will definitely want to try this Red, White and Blue Dump Cake that is made with pie filling and a boxed cake mix!

Finished dish on a white plate with whipped cream on top.

Red, White and Blue Dump Cake

I’m always on the look out for fun new patriotic desserts. I don’t know why I love to make them so much, they just make me happy. I guess it’s because they go hand in hand with summer and BBQ season which is one of my favorite times of the year.

This recipe for Red, White and Blue Dump cake uses only five easy ingredients and it’s literally a dump it all in a pan and throw it in the oven kind of recipe. Pair it with whipped cream or ice cream and you’ve got yourself an amazing summertime dessert. Enjoy the recipe and happy summer y’all!

How to Make Red, White and Blue Dump Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9×13 cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Spoon the strawberry and blueberry pie filling into the cake pan, creating stripes with the filling.

Strawberry and Blueberry Pie Filling alternating in stripes in a baking dish.

Top the pie filling with yellow cake mix, spreading the cake mix in an even layer.

Spoon the melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Do not mix in.

Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the top of the cake.

Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top of the cake is golden brown.

Serve warm or allow to cool completely before serving.

Finished Dump Cake in a baking dish.

Recipe Notes:

-Feel free to substitute a different flavor cake mix.
-You may use cherry pie filling in place of strawberry.
-The coconut flakes are optional.

Want more quick and easy summertime dessert recipes? Here are some of my favorites:

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Finished dish on a white plate with whipped cream on top.

Finished dish on a white plate with whipped cream on top.
Print Recipe

Red, White and Blue Dump Cake

A quick and easy dessert using pie filling and boxed cake mix.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Red, White and Blue Dump Cake
Servings: 8
Calories: 636kcal

Ingredients

  • 21 oz can strawberry pie filling
  • 21 oz can blueberry pie filling
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • ¾ cup butter melted
  • ¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spoon the strawberry and blueberry pie filling into the cake pan, creating stripes with the filling.
  • Top the pie filling with yellow cake mix, spreading the cake mix in an even layer.
  • Spoon the melted butter evenly over the cake mix. Do not mix in.
  • Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the top of the cake.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top of the cake is golden brown.
  • Serve warm or allow to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Feel free to substitute a different flavor cake mix.
  • You may use cherry pie filling in place of strawberry.
  • The coconut flakes are optional.

Nutrition

Calories: 636kcal | Carbohydrates: 109g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 634mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 72g | Vitamin A: 548IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 2mg

Gardening tools and small tomato plants in biodegradable pots.

15 Money-Saving Gardening Tips That Will Save You Hundreds

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This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

Gardening tools and small tomato plants in biodegradable pots.

This post was originally published in February of 2017 and has been recently updated for your convenience.

15 Money-Saving Gardening Tips

Gardening can be a great way to save money on your grocery bill, but you really need to plan ahead and be careful.

Just like anything else, you can really get carried away with buying expensive equipment, fencing, seeds, plants, trellises, etc. and costs can get out of control.

Of course it doesn’t have to be this way, which is why today I’m sharing 15 Money-Saving Gardening Tips That Will Save You Hundreds. If you follow these tips, you’ll be growing tons of quality food for your family all while sticking to a budget. Happy Frugal Gardening Friends!

Start Plants from Seed

  If you have the space and the desire, buying a $2 packet of seeds will go much further than buying plants for $2 or $3 each. Starting your own plants from seed is especially important if you have a large garden because buying several plants at a time can get to be really expensive.

Direct Sow As Much as Possible

  If you don’t have the time or space to start your own seeds, make sure you are direct sowing as many things as you can because this is going to be cheaper in the long run than buying starts. Most things can be direct sown into the soil with great results, but things like tomatoes, peppers and cabbage need to be started indoors or bought as starts from the store because they take longer to grow. Check out my list of the easiest vegetables to direct sow here.

Find Free Soil Amendments

  Purchasing soil amendments from the store is costly, so it’s best to source your own for free or cheap. Look around your own property first and see if there is anything that you can use. Next, check with your neighbors or on Facebook to see if you can find some good materials for free or cheap.

Free Soil Amendment Materials Include:

  • Cow, Chicken or Horse Manure (make sure it is at least 4 months old or it will burn your plants)
  • Pine Needles
  • Grass Clippings (free from herbicides)
  • Straw (free from herbicides)
  • Dead Leaves (these should be in small pieces or they will mold)

Turn Kitchen Scraps into Nutrients

  Another great FREE resource for soil amendments is right in your kitchen. I grind up our eggshells and add them to the soil for a good boost of calcium. You can also add things like used coffee grounds, banana peels and shrimp tails. Simply add before tilling or dig a hole and add amendments directly into the soil.

You may also like: Improve Your Garden Soil for FREE Using Kitchen Scraps

Preserve What You Grow

  Gardening can really save you tons of money if you learn how to preserve what you are growing to get you through the winter months. Freezing, dehydrating and canning are great ways to preserve the harvest. Learning how to preserve your own food is am amazing money saver.

Preservation Recipes:

Host or Attend a Seed Swap

  A great way to save money on seeds is to find a local seed swap. This is basically where everyone brings in seeds that they have extra of or won’t use and then swaps them for things that they need. Check Facebook or your local library to see if there is one in your area and if there isn’t consider hosting one of your own with a few gardening friends.

Make Friends with Other Gardeners

  Gardeners are notorious for being generous. Having a few in your life is bound to save you money. We gardeners love to share our bounty whether it be in free produce, seeds, plants, tools or advice. I’m ALWAYS giving things away during the gardening season and I’ve also been given many things by my gardening friends.

Mulch to Reduce Watering

  We mulch our garden with cardboard and straw every year because it saves me a lot of time pulling weeds and it also saves us from having to water so often. If you have a large garden and live in a hot/dry climate mulching can really save you money on your water bill. You can also mulch using grass clippings, but make sure they are free from herbicides or it could end up killing your plants.

Borrow or Buy Used Gardening Tools

  If you’re new to gardening and find that you need a few tools, try checking with family and friends first to see if they have any extra ones lying around. Next, check garage sales, thrift stores or Facebook before opting to buy new.

Learn to Save Seeds

  Learning to save your own seeds year after year can really save you money. Buying all new seeds each season can be costly, especially if you have a large garden so anything that you can save yourself will add money to your pocket. Some easy seeds to save are sunflowers, beans, peas and okra.

Find Seeds and Gardening Supplies for Less

  Most people buy their seeds in late winter or early spring, but if you wait until summertime, most farm and garden stores will have them as well as other gardening supplies on sale because they need to get rid of them. Seeds will keep for a long time. I just recently germinated tons of tomato and pepper seeds that were five years old.

Collect Rain Water

  Watering your garden can become expensive, but setting up a system such as a rain barrel to collect rainwater is a great way to water your garden for FREE. Check out this tutorial on how to make a rain barrel from a trash can.

Start Seeds in Recycled Containers

  You really don’t need complicated systems to start seeds. Consider using old salad containers, eggs cartons, milk jugs, plastic cups, etc. to get plants started. There are a ton of materials that can be used to start your plants in for free if you just use your imagination.

Only Grow What You Eat

  One of the best money-saving gardening tips that I can give is to only grow what your family eats. If you go through 2-3 bags of salad per week then you should grow lots of salad. If your family loves salsa, then grow tomatoes, peppers and onions to make your own. It will do you no good to grow 30 heads of broccoli if your family doesn’t eat it.

Grow Edible Perennials

  Another great money-saving thing to consider would be to grow edible perennials. Fruit is an especially great food to consider growing because you get such a good return with little work involved. Things like blueberries, raspberries, apples and peaches can be planted once and then enjoyed year after year.

BONUS TIP: Take an Online Gardening Class

  The internet is an amazing thing because you can literally learn about anything you desire. Blueprint offers over 800 gardening classes that often go on sale for half price or even less. Purchasing a class gives you lifetime access and the ability to go through it at your own pace. Below are a few of the classes that caught my eye.

  • Small Space Vegetable Gardening
  • Vegetable Gardening: Smart Techniques for Plentiful Results
  • The Extended Harvest: Vegetables for Every Season
  • Designing Elegant Edible Gardens

Click here to check out a complete list of gardening classes

 Want more Money-Saving Tips? Here are a few of my favorite posts:

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Finished Chicken Tetrazzini on a white plate.

Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini

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This Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini is full of noodles, cream and all kinds of comfort flavors. I know your family will enjoy this casserole dish for a delicious weeknight dinner.

Finished Chicken Tetrazzini on a white plate.

Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini

Who doesn’t love a quick and easy weeknight meal that is full of delicious flavor? When you want comfort food, this dish will really hit the spot. It’s full of chicken, cream sauce, noodles, cheese and allll the good things.

Plus, it only takes a few minutes of prep to get this casserole in the oven and you can be on your way to making sides and desserts for a beautiful family dinner.

Want to make it a meal? Here are my favorite suggestions:

How to Make Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, evaporated milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Stir in the chicken breast and one cup of mozzarella cheese.

Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and stir to coat.

Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.

Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Then, remove the cover and bake for 10 more minutes, until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.

Optional: Garnish with dried parsley before serving.

Want more quick and easy dinner recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese
5-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
Instant Pot Spanish Beef with Rice
Slow Cooker Sausage and Potato Casserole

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Finished Chicken Tetrazzini on a white plate.

Finished Chicken Tetrazzini on a white plate.
Print Recipe

Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini

A quick and easy casserole with noodles and chicken covered in cream sauce.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Homemade Chicken Tetrazzini
Servings: 6
Calories: 766kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 ounce package spaghetti prepared
  • 10.75 ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • 10.75 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
  • 12 ounce can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 10- ounce can chicken breast or 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, evaporated milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Stir in the chicken breast and one cup of mozzarella cheese.
  • Add the cooked spaghetti noodles and stir to coat.
  • Pour the mixture in the prepared baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes. Then, remove the cover and bake for 10 more minutes, until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.
  • Optional: Garnish with dried parsley before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 766kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 1626mg | Potassium: 624mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 867IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 471mg | Iron: 3mg
Three potted succulents on a table.

6 Practical Tips for Living Well on One Income

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This post was originally posted in September 2014 and has been updated for your convenience.

6 Practical Tips for Living Well one One Income

Some may choose to live on one income because they want to stay at home with their kids or beef up their savings account, but due to current circumstances, many families are being forced to live on one income and may not know where to turn.

I hope these practical tips for living on less will help you and your family take steps towards making ends meet and getting through these hard times. If you have any other tips to add, please do so in the comment section below.

Prioritize 

To make living on one income work, the whole family has to understand why it’s important to live on less. Why is living on one income a priority for your family?

Keep these reasons in the front of your mind and understand that it’s more important than the things you may be giving up to make ends meet. Frugal living is a mental game, so coming up with your why is important for the long haul because it can help you when it seems hard.

Make Sacrifices

Let’s face it, to live on one income you’re probably going to have to make some sacrifices. Decide with your spouse which non essentials you’re willing to give up (cable, Netflix, magazine subscriptions, gym membership, eating out, etc) and cancel them. I bet you won’t even miss most of these things, especially if they weren’t a high priority for you in the first place.

Downsize

Evaluate how much house/car you really need and cut where you can. Did you know that the average American home has doubled in size since the 1950s, yet families are smaller? If our ancestors survived with less space, then we can too. Plus, smaller house = lower payment = more money in your pocket.

The same goes for vehicles. Does your family need more than one? If so, can you sell one of your current vehicles and use the money to pay cash for an older one? As long as your car gets you safely from point A to point B then what else matters?

Be Smarter than the Joneses

Did you know that the average American is $90,000 in debt?!? Chances are the people who you envy that have nice houses, cars, etc. are stressed out because of the debt load they’re carrying.

Don’t be like them. Be grateful for what you have. If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep then you are richer than 75% of the world.

Focus on the blessings that you have instead of what you wish you had or things that you think would make you happy.

Commit to No More Debt

Seriously. Like yesterday. Cut up your credit cards and make it a priority to pay off your debt. Imagine how good it will feel when you don’t owe anyone anything.

If you need help in this area I would recommend reading Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and following his baby steps. You can also visit DaveRamsey.com for more resources.

Cook from Scratch & Eat Simply

When you read books like, Little House on the Prairie, what types of food was Ma usually cooking? Potatoes. Soups. Homemade Breads. They ate simply because they didn’t have a choice. Things like out of season produce and candy were luxuries to be enjoyed on occasion.

If you can learn to cook from scratch and simplify your menu plan (think spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, beans and rice) then you will save tons of money. Unless you find an awesome deal on convenience food, you can normally make it yourself for way less.

Additional Resources for Eating on a Budget:

30 Frugal Meal Ideas (for when you’re broke)
40 Groceries to Stop Buying and Start Making to Save Money
15 Cheap Pantry Meals with 4 Ingredients or Less
How to Feed Your Family on a Tight Budget

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Living on one income is possible for a lot of people if you're committed and focused. Check out these tips to help make your stay at home mom dreams come true!

100+ Free Online Craft Classes with Bluprint + 50% ENTIRE LIBRARY OF CLASSES!

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This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up for an account or make a purchase through one of these links, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you for your support.

Sewing supplies on a blue wooden board.

Learn a New Skill Online with Blueprint

Are you getting antsy stuck at home with nothing to do? Maybe it’s time to get your creative juices flowing by learning a new skill.

Bluprint has tons of online craft classes taught by professionals where you can learn how to knit, crochet, sew, quilt, draw, make jewelry, take better photos and more.

Their entire library of classes is currently 50% off thru 5/31/20. No coupon code required.

Once your purchase a class, you have lifetime access to it which means you can go through it at your own pace and return to it to brush up on your skills again and again.

myBluprint.com

100+ Free Online Craft Classes

If you don’t want to purchase a class, no worries because Blueprint offers over 100 FREE PREVIEW CLASSES where you can learn new skills the frugal way.

Below are some of the free classes that caught my eye, but be sure to hop on over and check what else they have to offer for free. Happy crafting friends!

Free Baking Classes

  • Handmade Sourdough: From Starter to Baked Loaf
  • Artisan Bread Making
  • Cookie Decorating Season by Season

Free Cooking Classes

  • Efficient Weeknight Cooking
  • Complete Knife Skills
  • Real Life Cooking

Free Gardening Classes

  • DIY Weekend Gardens
  • Weekend Gardening: Smart Techniques for Plentiful Results
  • Building a Raised Bed Garden

Free Sewing Classes

  • Face Mask Tutorials
  • Piece, Patch, Quilt: Basic Quiltmaking Skills
  • Bag Making Basics: Drawstring Bag and Bucket Bag

Free Knitting Classes

  • Knit Socks: Two at a Time!
  • Startup Library: Knitting
  • Fair Isle Knit Mitts

Free Painting and Hand-Lettering Classes

  • Hand-Letterting for Beginners
  • Brush Lettering: Cards, Envelopes and More
  • Painting with Watercolors

myBluprint.com

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Empty shopping cart.

40 Groceries You Should Make at Home to Save Hundreds of Dollars

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Empty shopping cart in the grocery store.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links. I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

40 Groceries You Should Make at Home to Save Money

It’s no secret that I love cooking from scratch and sharing easy recipes with my readers, which is why I’m excited to share this round up of groceries to stop buying and start making to save money.

Convenience food has it’s place, but you can save tons on your grocery bill if you cook from scratch and learn to make your own convenience items at home.

You’ll find all kinds of recipes in this list for common convenience foods in the grocery store. The more that you can cook from scratch, the more you will save on your grocery bill and the better it will taste.

Below I’ve shared some common convenience items paired with delicious recipes to replace them with. I hope this list will be a great resource to you on your frugal living journey. Let me know in the comment section which groceries you make at home to save money.

Are you looking for more ways to save on your grocery bill?

15 Cheap Pantry Meals with Four Ingredients or Less
30 Frugal Meals (for when you’re broke)
7 Frugal Cooking Tips from the Great Depression
How to Build an Old-Fashioned Frugal Pantry

Do you want to earn cashback on your groceries each week?

Check out the IBOTTA app which allows you to earn giftcards on regular items that you’re already buying!

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40 Groceries to Stop Buying and Start Making to Save Money

1. Replace prepackaged cookies with Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

2. Replace canned tomato soup with Instant Pot Tomato Soup.

3. Replace canned beef stew with Instant Pot Beef Stew.

4. Replace canned biscuits with Cheddar & Green Onion Biscuits.

5. Replace store-bought vegetable broth with Instant Pot Vegetable Broth.

6. Replace prepackaged party mix with Easy Homemade Ranch Party Mix.

7. Replace Hamburger Helper with Instant Pot Hamburger Cheese Pasta.

8. Replace store-bought chicken broth with Instant Pot Chicken Broth.

9. Replace prepackaged potato salad with Instant Pot Dill Pickle Potato Salad.

10. Replace store-bought applesauce with Instant Pot Applesauce.

11. Replace premade deli sandwiches with Ham & Swiss Sliders.

12. Replace store-bought dinner rolls with Homemade Dinner Rolls.

13. Replace store-bought vanilla with Homemade Vanilla Extract.

14. Replace Hot Pockets with Homemade Ham and Cheese Pockets.

15. Replace canned refried beans with Homemade Refried Beans.

16. Replace canned tomato sauce with Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce.

17. Replace store-bought chili seasoning with Homemade Chili Seasoning.

18. Replace canned chicken noodle soup with Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.

19. Replace prepackaged frozen breakfast bowls with Country Breakfast Bowls.

20. Replace store-bought jam with Strawberry Freezer Jam.

21. Replace canned sloppy joes with Easy 5-Ingredient Sloppy Joes.

22. Replace canned black beans with Slow Cooker Black Beans.

23. Replace store-bought taco seasoning with Homemade Taco Seasoning.

24. Replace frozen burritos with Homemade Bean and Cheese Burritos.

25. Replace brownie mix with Black Bean Brownies.

26. Replace store-bought ranch mix with Homemade Ranch Seasoning.

27. Replace store-bought salad dressing with Avocado & Lime Salad Dressing.

28. Replace store-bought energy bars with Homemade Energy Bars.

29. Replace store-bought bread with Homemade English Muffin Bread.

30. Replace store-bought elderberry syrup with Homemade Elderberry Syrup.

31. Replace canned chili with Easy Slow Cooker Chili.

32. Replace canned pinto beans with Slow Cooker Pinto Beans.

33. Replace store-bought granola bars with 3-Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Bars.

34. Replace canned apple pie filling with Freezer Apple Pie Filling.

35. Replace store-bought pie crust with Simple Homemade Pie Crust.

36. Replace store-bought muffins with Homemade Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.

37. Replace canned pumpkin puree with Homemade Pumpkin Puree.

38. Replace store-bought apple butter with Slow Cooker Apple Butter.

39. Replace store-bought coleslaw with Copycat KFC Coleslaw.

40. Replace store-bought hummus with Fast & Easy Cucumber Hummus.

This post was originally published in August of 2018 and has been updated for your convenience.

Homemade Powdered Sugar Biscuit Donuts

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These powdered sugar biscuit donuts use only three simple ingredients and are a quick and easy way to make a delicious treat at home.

Powdered Sugar Biscuit Donuts

Donuts are one of my all time favorite desserts. In fact, next to chocolate chip cookies, they’re sitting right up there at the top. I love store bought donuts, but sometimes you just want to make them at home.

The only homemade donuts we ate growing up were these fried biscuit donuts. They’re really easy to make and only require three simple ingredients: canned biscuit dough, oil and powdered sugar. They really are as fun and easy as they sound to fry up.

These biscuit donuts are great dipped in powdered sugar, but you can also mix up a quick homemade glaze to dip them in as well.

To make a glaze simply mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tbsp milk and 1 tsp extract of choice (vanilla, lemon, almond, peppermint, etc). You may need to add more milk to get the consistency that you desire.

How to Make Biscuit Donuts:

Fill a large frying pan with two inches of oil and heat over medium high heat.

While the oil is heating, remove the biscuits from the can.

Use a small round cookie cutter to cut holes from the center of each biscuit.

Biscuit dough on a cutting board with holes cut out of the middle.

Place the donuts in the hot oil in groups of three. Cook one side for two minutes, then flip each donut and cook for an additional one to two minutes or until golden brown.

Three fried biscuit donuts on a cooling rack.

Remove the cooked donuts from the oil and immediately dip in powdered sugar. Flip each donut over and coat the bottom with powdered sugar.

Continue cooking the donuts and dipping into powdered sugar until all the biscuits are cooked and coated.

Drop the centers of each biscuit in the hot oil to make donut holes. Cook each donut hole for one minute on each side, then remove from the oil and roll in powdered sugar.

Want more easy homemade desserts? Here are some of my favorites:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Flourless Brownies
Apple Pie Crescent Ring
Homemade Amish Lemon Bars
Kentucky Derby Day Pie

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Print Recipe

Powdered Sugar Biscuit Donuts

Easy and delicous three ingredient homemade donuts.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Powdered Sugar Biscuit Donuts
Servings: 8
Calories: 361kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 can biscuit dough
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • Fill a large frying pan with two inches of oil and heat over medium high heat.
  • While the oil is heating, remove the biscuits from the can.
  • Use a small round cookie cutter to cut holes from the center of each biscuit.
  • Place the donuts in the hot oil in groups of three. Cook one side for two minutes, then flip each donut and cook for an additional one to two minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove the cooked donuts from the oil and immediately dip in powdered sugar. Flip each donut over and coat the bottom with powdered sugar.
  • Continue cooking the donuts and dipping into powdered sugar until all the biscuits are cooked and coated.
  • Drop the centers of each biscuit in the hot oil to make donut holes. Cook each donut hole for one minute on each side, then remove from the oil and roll in powdered sugar.

Notes

If you desire glazed donuts instead simply mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tbsp milk and 1 tsp extract of choice (vanilla, lemon, almond, peppermint, etc). You may need to add more milk to get the consistency that you desire. Dip donuts in glaze, let harden and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 567mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g

Southern Fried Chicken Tacos with Bacon and Ranch

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These Fried Chicken Tacos are quick and easy to put together and with the flavors of bacon and ranch they taste AMAZING! They’re the perfect comfort food.

 

Southern Fried Chicken Tacos

Who doesn’t love a good Taco Tuesday recipe?? This one for Southern Fried Chicken Tacos with Bacon and Ranch is quick, easy and tastes AmAzInG!

I know you’re going to love these tacos because they only requires six simple ingredients and use already cooked fried chicken tenders, making this quick to put together. Of course if you have some extra time on your hands you can always fry the chicken yourself or pick up a pack of fried tenders at your local grocery store deli.

This dish is kid-friendly because who doesn’t love bacon, cheese and fried chicken? If you or your kids aren’t a fan of ranch, then feel free to use any dipping sauce or salad dressing that you think would work the best such as honey mustard, southwest chipotle or BBQ sauce. I know you and your family will love this easy to make recipe.

How to make Southern Fried Chicken Tacos:

Place corn tortillas on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Warm in the microwave for one minute, then set aside. (You may also choose to use flour tortillas.)

Cut the chicken tenders into small chunks. Add the cut-up chicken to the corn tortillas.

Top the chicken with chopped bacon.

Add shredded cheese to each taco and top with shredded lettuce.

Drizzle ranch dressing on top of each taco before serving.

Want more quick and easy weeknight recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese
Bean and Cheese Freezer Burritos
Easy 5-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
Slow Cooker Sausage and Potato Casserole

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Southern Fried Chicken Tacos

A simple six ingredient recipe for fried chicken tacos with bacon and ranch.
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Southern Fried Chicken Tacos
Servings: 12
Calories: 373kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 frozen chicken tenders cooked according to package instructions
  • 12 corn tortillas
  • 6 strips bacon cooked and chopped
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing

Instructions

  • Place corn tortillas on a microwave safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Warm in the microwave for one minute, then set aside. (You may choose to use flour tortillas instead.)
  • Cut the chicken tenders into small chunks. Add the cut-up chicken to the corn tortillas.
  • Top the chicken with chopped bacon.
  • Add shredded cheese to each taco and top with shredded lettuce.
  • Drizzle ranch dressing on top of each taco before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g

Simple Pie Crust Using 4 Easy Ingredients

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Simple Homemade Pie Crust

I’ve always been kind of intimidated to make my own pie crust. I’ve heard that if you don’t do it just right then it won’t turn out. But after finding this simple recipe that requires only four ingredients and no rolling I figured it was time for me to give it a whirl.

This is the perfect pie crust recipe to try if you’ve never made it before because it’s so simple and really hard to mess up. It always turns out tender, flaky and delicious!

This is a great recipe because you can choose to roll it out like traditional pie crust if you want or you can just press it into your pie pan for a quick and simple pie crust.

It really is a good recipe for beginners. I hope you enjoy the recipe and be sure to leave your best homemade pie baking tips in the comment section below. Happy baking friends!

How to Make a Simple Homemade Pie Crust:

In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.

Stir in oil and water, mixing until just combined.

Form dough into ball and place it in a greased pie pan. (You may also choose to roll your pie crust out on a floured surface).

Press dough out evenly until it covers entire pie pan including the sides. Make sure you press it thin where the side and bottom meet. Crimp edges if desired.

To Prebake (only if your pie recipe requires it):

Poke with fork and bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

Are you looking for some awesome pie recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

Kentucky Derby Day Pie
Perfect Pecan Pie
Dutch Apple Pie
Butternut Squash Pie
Freezer Apple Pie Filling

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Note: This recipe was originally published in October 2013.

Print Recipe

Simple Pie Crust

See how easy it is to make your own homemade pie crust!
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Simple Homemade Pie Crust
Servings: 8
Calories: 217kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp water

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine flour and salt.
  • Stir in oil and water, mixing until just combined.
  • Form dough into ball and place it in a greased pie pan. (You may also choose to roll out your pie crust on a floured surface if desired.)
  • Press dough out evenly until it covers entire pie pan including the sides. Make sure you press it thin where the side and bottom meet. Crimp edges if desired.

Notes

To Prebake (only if your pie recipe requires it):
Poke with fork and bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

 

Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish

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This Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish recipe is an amazingly delicious dessert that you will want to make again and again for your loved ones!

Finish dessert sliced and plated.

Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish

Normally I pride myself on making quick and easy recipes, but sometimes I like to take my time and try something a little more involved like this recipe for a homemade cream cheese danish.

Since most of us are at home these days, doing more baking than usual, I thought I’d share a delicious comfort dessert that soothes the soul. This Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish takes some time and effort to put together, but it’s well worth it in my opinion.

My husband normally doesn’t join me in the kitchen, but I enlisted his help (along with the kiddos) and we made baking this dish a family affair.

I’m a sucker for anything lemon flavored and my husband loves cream cheese desserts, so this one went over amazingly well in our house. Needless to say, it was gone pretty quickly. I know you’re going to love it just as much as my family did. Enjoy the recipe friends!

How to Make a Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl. Set aside.

In food processor or blender, process cottage cheese until creamy.

Add sugar, milk, vanilla and oil to blender. Process until smooth.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Dough will be slightly sticky.

Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead several times, forming into a ball. You may need to add more flour to the dough as you knead if it is too sticky. Dough should still be soft and pliable.

Refrigerate in a covered bowl for 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar until creamy.

Next add egg yolk, vanilla and lemon extract stirring until smooth.

Lay out a piece of parchment paper (approx. 13 x 17 in.).

Place chilled dough onto the parchment paper and roll it into a 12×16 in. rectangle. Try to keep the sides squared as much as possible.

Transfer the dough to a cookie sheet, removing the parchment paper and discarding it.

Spread the filling mixture down the center (lengthwise) in an approx. 4 in wide strip.

Sprinkle blueberries evenly onto filling.

On the lengthwise sides, cut 1 inch wide strips going about 4 inches in, toward the middle.

Beginning on one end, fold alternating strips into center at an angle, in a crisscross pattern.

Turn ends of pastry under.

Whip egg white and water. Brush across surface of dough.

Bake for approx. 22 minutes, until golden brown.

Cool on baking rack until warm.

Combine the powdered sugar with the lemon juice and vanilla extract, starting with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and adding more liquid as needed to achieve a drizzle consistency.

Drizzle glaze across warm danish.

Slice danish in 2 in pieces and serve.

Any leftovers should be refrigerated.

Want more delicious dessert recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

Homemade Amish Lemon Bars
Cherry Cheesecake Bars
Amish Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Cake Mix Sugar Cookies

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Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish

This cream cheese danish is full of amazing lemon and blueberry flavor!
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time22 mins
Total Time1 hr 7 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: European
Keyword: Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish Dessert
Servings: 8
Calories: 404kcal

Ingredients

Pastry Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Filling Ingredients:

  • 6 oz. cream cheese room temperature
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg separate
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp lemon extract
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 tbsp water

Glaze Ingredients:

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Combine flour, baking powder and salt in bowl. Set aside.
  • In food processor or blender, process cottage cheese until creamy.
  • Add sugar, milk, vanilla and oil to blender. Process until smooth.
  • Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Dough will be slightly sticky.
  • Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead several times, forming into a ball. You may need to add more flour to the dough as you knead if it is too sticky. Dough should still be soft and pliable.
  • Refrigerate in a covered bowl for 30 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
  • Next add egg yolk, vanilla and lemon extract stirring until smooth.
  • Lay out a piece of parchment paper (approx. 13 x 17 in.).
  • Place chilled dough onto the parchment paper and roll it into a 12x16 in. rectangle. Try to keep the sides squared as much as possible.
  • Transfer the dough to a cookie sheet, removing the parchment paper and discarding it.
  • Spread the filling mixture down the center (lengthwise) in an approx. 4 in wide strip.
  • Sprinkle blueberries evenly onto filling.
  • On the lengthwise sides, cut 1 inch wide strips going about 4 inches in, toward the middle.
  • Beginning on one end, fold alternating strips into center at an angle, in a crisscross pattern.
  • Turn ends of pastry under.
  • Whip egg white and water. Brush across surface of dough.
  • Bake for approx. 22 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Cool on baking rack until warm.
  • Combine the powdered sugar with the lemon juice and vanilla extract, starting with 1 tbsp of lemon juice and adding more liquid as needed to achieve a drizzle consistency.
  • Drizzle glaze across warm danish.
  • Slice danish in 2 inch pieces and serve.
  • Any leftovers should be refrigerated.

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 324mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2mg

Finished dish on a red and white striped plate.

Chocolate Chip Baked Pancakes

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These Chocolate Chip Baked Pancakes have all of the fluffy deliciousness of regular pancakes, but are way easier to make and taste amazing! Try this recipe for a quick and easy breakfast that everyone is sure to enjoy.

Chocolate Chip Baked Pancakes

Who doesn’t love a warm and fluffy pancake covered with melted butter and drizzled with sweet maple syrup? My family loves waking up to a stack of homemade pancakes on a lazy Saturday morning, but let’s be honest, pancakes take time and effort, plus make a pretty good mess in the kitchen.

That’s why I’m so excited to share this super simple recipe for chocolate chip oven baked pancakes. That’s right, you can make pancakes in the oven. What?!? This is a total game changer because now you can whip up a batch of pancake squares for a quick homemade breakfast any day of the week.

Of course, these aren’t exactly like traditional pancakes made on the griddle that we’re all familiar with, but they’re a pretty close second and I don’t think anyone will care too much because they are so good. I know you and your family will enjoy this recipe!

How to Make Baked Pancakes:

Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.

Next, add milk, vegetable oil, and egg, then whisk all ingredients until just combined.

Spread the mixture evenly over the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

Pancake batter in pan sprinkled with chocolate chips.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the middle of the pancake springs back when touched.

Allow to cool in the pan for five minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

Optional: Serve with butter and maple syrup.

Finished dish on a red and white striped plate.

Want more quick and easy breakfast recipes? Here are some of my favorites:

Homemade Cranberry Granola
Overnight French Toast Bake
Apple Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oatmeal
Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Bagels

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Finished dish on a red and white striped plate.
Print Recipe

Chocolate Chip Baked Pancakes

These oven-baked pancake squares are full of fluffy goodness!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate Chip Baked Pancakes
Servings: 12
Calories: 132kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar.
  • Next, add milk, vegetable oil, and egg, then whisk all ingredients until just combined.
  • Spread the mixture evenly over the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the middle of the pancake springs back when touched.
  • Allow to cool in the pan for five minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
  • Optional: Serve with butter and maple syrup.

Nutrition

Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg

4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese – One Pot Leftover Meal!

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Try this easy one pot chili mac and cheese that only uses four ingredients for a comfort dish that everyone is sure to love!

4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese

I love quick and easy meals that can be pulled together using pantry ingredients and put on the table in a hurry. This recipe for chili mac and cheese is especially awesome because it only uses one pan and you can either use canned or leftover chili if you happen to have it on hand.

Feel free to use more chili if you so desire and also, you can use your favorite homemade mac and cheese recipe mixed with chili or even boxed macaroni and cheese if you are in a pinch.

I almost always make extra chili so that we can make chili mac the next day with the leftovers. It’s a quick, easy and filling meal that everyone loves. I know your family will love it too!

How to Make Chili Mac and Cheese:

Pour evaporated milk into a large skillet and warm over medium low heat.

When the milk begins to simmer, add the cubed Velveeta and stir until melted.

Stir in the cooked macaroni until well mixed.

Add the chili and stir to combine.

Cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasional to prevent sticking.

Finished chili mac in large silver skillet.

Want more quick and easy dinner recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

15 Cheap Pantry Meals with 4-Ingredients or Less
Bean and Cheese Freezer Burritos
Easy 5-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
Quick and Easy Freezer Meatloaf
Instant Pot Spanish Rice and Beef

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Print Recipe

4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese

Try this one pot dish for a quick comfort meal at home!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4-Ingredient Chili Mac and Cheese
Servings: 5
Calories: 773kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 16- ounce package elbow macaroni prepared
  • 1 12- ounce can evaporated milk
  • 1 16- ounce package Velveeta cubed
  • 1 15- ounce can chili with beans (or 3 cups leftover chili)

Instructions

  • Pour evaporated milk into a large skillet and warm over medium low heat.
  • When the milk begins to simmer, add the cubed Velveeta and stir until melted.
  • Stir in the cooked macaroni until well mixed.
  • Add the chili and stir to combine.
  • Cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasional to prevent sticking.

Nutrition

Calories: 773kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 2086mg | Potassium: 1102mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1428IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 809mg | Iron: 5mg

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