Honey Ginger Pork Chops

I found this on Recipezaar.com, while searching for simple recipes that wouldn't require anything that wasn't already in my pantry. This recipe will serve well as either an overnight marinade, or as an OAMC dish!

Honey Ginger Pork Chops

Ingredients:
4 pork chops
1 tsp ginger
2 garlic cloves
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cup honey
2 Tbsp butter, melted

Directions:
-Prick pork chops with a fork and rub the ginger and garlic on both sides of each chop.
-Melt the butter in a small saucepan, then add the soy sauce and honey and cook for 1-2 minutes on low or until blended.
-Pour over chops and marinate in the fridge overnight.

(**if making for OAMC, allow the marinade to cool, then place chops in a gallon freezer bag and pour marinade over them. Seal and keep frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw completely and cook as directed below)

-When ready to cook, remove chops and discard marinade. Grill 8-10 minutes per side, turning several times.

(These can also be baked in a shallow baking dish at 375 degrees for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chops)

Total Cost
Pork Chops: $4.00
Honey - $0.55
Butter - $0.14
Seasonings - $0.15

Grand Total: $4.84 for 4 servings

Butternut Mac

This recipe showed up in my November '09 issue of Parents Magazine, and I just happened to have some mini-pasta and squash on hand to give it a try! The result - creamy, cheesy mac with a little fall flair! The original recipe was for 6 small servings baked in ramekins - I doubled everything and made a 9X13 pan. The recipe below reflects my adjustments.

The recipe calls for white cheddar cheese, but you can use any hard or semi-soft cheese - try a fontina, farmer cheese, or cheddar jack to mix up the flavor!

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash (about 2-3 pounds), peeled and cut into half-inch cubes
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1 lb box elbow pasta (or other small pasta)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
3 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-Toss squash with oil and salt on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until tender, set aside.
-Cook pasta for 2 minutes less than recommended time. While pasta is cooking, melt butter on low heat in a medium saucepan. Whisk in flour, cook for about 2 minutes.
-Slowly whisk in milk. (add about a half cup at a time to avoid scalding the milk) Increase to medium heat and bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer. Cook for 3 minutes, whisking occasionally.
-Add 3 cups of cheese, whisk until melted.
-Combine drained pasta and baked squash in a 9X13 baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and squash, fold to combine and spread evenly (I used a slotted spoon)
-Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top of the pasta. Bake 10 minutes.

Total Cost:
Squash - $1.80
Pasta - $0.75
Olive Oil - $0.12
Butter - $0.20
Flour - $0.02
Milk - $0.42
Cheese - $1.75

Grand Total: $5.06 for 8 servings!

Chicken Bombay

This recipe comes from the OAMC annals of Recipezaar.com - it has a great flavor and the sauce caramelizes nicely in the oven! You can bake a batch and then freeze it to reheat later but I made just the sauce, let it cool, then put into gallon freezer bags with the raw chicken and froze it that way - it works great with either method!

Chicken Bombay

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
3 lbs chicken (I use boneless chicken breast cut into big pieces, but you can use any chicken parts!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Combine all ingredients except the chicken in a sauce pan. Heat over medium heat until smooth and slightly warmed.

***(if you want to freeze at this stage, let the sauce cool, place chicken in a gallon freezer bag and then pour in the sauce. Seal the bag and freeze up to 2 months. To serve, thaw and then bake in a greased baking dish at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, turning chicken about halfway through and basting with the sauce)

Roll each piece of chicken in the sauce, and place in a greased 9X13 baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Spread remaining sauce over chicken and bake an additional half hour or until chicken is done.

***Freeze baked chicken for up to 4 months. To serve, thaw and bake at 375 for half an hour or until heated through.

Total cost
Chicken - $6.00
Butter - $0.27
Mustard - $0.15
Honey - $0.88
Seasonings - appx $0.25

GRAND TOTAL: $7.55 for 6 servings

Pizza Roll Ups

I was introduced to this recipe courtesy of Once A Month Mom and I was immediately hooked! We are BIG pizza eaters in this house, and these make great meals or snacks - AND they freeze wonderfully! We use pepperoni, the original calls for ground meat, but you can really use any pizza topping for your filler! The original recipe is linked below and can be found on Recipezaar.com.

Pizza Roll Ups

Ingredients:
1 batch pizza crust
5-6 oz Pepperoni slices (appx 2/3 of an 8-oz bag)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare pizza dough as directed, but allow to rise 45 minutes to an hour. Punch down dough, transfer to a floured surface, and roll out until it is appx 14 X 24 inches.

Lay pepperoni slices in a single layer, covering the entire surface

Cover with mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with seasonings.

Beginning at one long end, SLOWLY roll into a jelly roll. Slice into 1-inch slices, place them on a greased cookie sheet as you go. Let them sit for about 10 minutes (this allows the dough to rise a little more and tightens up the rolls)

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until browned. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping!

**To freeze - I individually wrap each roll in a little plastic wrap, then store in gallon freezer bags. To reheat, place frozen in the microwave and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.

Total Cost
Pizza dough - $0.94
Pepperoni - $2.00
Cheese - $1.50
Seasoning - appx $0.05

GRAND TOTAL: $4.49 for 8-10 servings!

Stuffed Zucchini

This one comes straight from my recipe hero, Erin at $5 Dinners. She offered this up in a guest post at Debt Proof Living, and I had to add it to my recipe stash! Zucchini are inexpensive and healthy veggies, and this is a great way to make them the center of attention instead of just a side dish!

Stuffed Zucchini

4 medium zucchinis, about 2 pounds
1 pound ground beef
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350F. Cut off stem and bottom of each zucchini. Slice zucchinis in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and middle flesh, leaving about 1/8 inch of flesh in the zucchini.

In skillet, brown the ground beef with chopped onion and crushed garlic. Drain and return to skillet. Add diced tomatoes, salt and pepper. Let simmer for about 10 minutes. Scoop meat mixture into the zucchini shells. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and place into a lightly greased glass baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Total Cost
Zucchini - $1.98
Ground beef - $1.99
Onion - $0.15
Diced Tomatoes - $0.89
Cheese - $0.75
Garlic - $0.05

GRAND TOTAL: $5.81 for 4 servings

Black Beans and Rice

I can't even remember where I first saw this recipe, it was in my old roommate's cookbook collection and I copied it down without noting the source. I believe it was originally referred to as "Moors and Christians" rice. At any rate, it's a great and super-easy use for the black beans my hubby has become so fond of! I have been known to toss in some mexican shredded cheese, mostly because we are cheeseheads :)

Black Beans & Rice

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 med onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp thyme
1 can black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked dried beans)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup uncooked rice
2 cups water (can also substitute chicken or vegetable stock if you like)
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 tsp white pepper

Directions:

- Saute the onion and pepper in the olive oil with garlic, cumin and thyme just until the onions are translucent.
- Stir in beans, rice, tomatoes, water, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20-25 minutes.

Total Cost:
Olive Oil - $0.08
Onion - $0.30
Pepper - $0.30
Garlic - $0.03
Black Beans - $0.25 (from dried)
Diced Tomatoes - $0.85
Rice - $0.20
Seasonings - appx $0.15

Grand Total: $2.16 for 4 servings!

Basic Pancake Mix

I found this on Recipezaar.com and I will never buy another boxed mix again. I had to make a few small adjustments to the original recipe, since we like our pancakes a little thicker, but you can easily adjust the milk or flour amounts to your liking. I find it lends itself VERY easily to add-ins as well!

The original author also mentioned that you can pre-mix the dry ingredients and either store or give away as jarred mix gifts...another great and frugal gift idea :)

Basic Pancake Mix

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
2 Tbsp sugar (white or brown)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk (increase to 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups if you like thinner pancakes)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

Make a well in the center, and add the milk. Stir with a whisk until well blended and slightly thicker than your desired consistency.

Add eggs, vanilla, oil and any add-ins you like. Stir to combine well - you can add extra milk or flour at this point if you want to change the consistency at all.

Pour in 1/4 cup measures onto a hot griddle or pan. Cook until bubbly across the surface. Turn over and cook for an additional 45 seconds-1 minute. DO NOT TURN THEM AGAIN! (this makes pancakes rubbery!)

Total Cost:
Flour: $0.14
Sugar: $0.02
Baking Powder: $0.04
Salt: less than a penny
Milk: $0.12
Eggs: $0.24
Vanilla: $0.02
Oil: $0.06

Grand Total: $0.64 for about 8-10 large pancakes!