Butter Cornbread Biscuits – 24¢/biscuit

Bisquik (or other brand of biscuit/baking mix)

Can of cream-style corn (8.5 oz)

Butter

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter
3. Combine 2 2/3 cups of biscuit mix and a can of cream-style corn in a bowl. Stir until a soft dough forms. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 3 minutes. Options: A) Roll into a rectangle. Cut into 3×1″ strips. B) Roll into small balls.
4. Dip strips or balls into butter.
5. Place on an ungreased baking pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Swiss-Onion Bread

Poppy seeds

Refrigerated tube or frozen unbaked loaf of white bread (I buy packs of 5 frozen loafs from The Superstore and always keep them on hand in the freezer. They are so versatile and easy to make so they’re great when they are in a pinch)

Swiss cheese

Green onions

Butter

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Shred 1 cup of Swiss cheese.
3. Slice 3/4 cup of green onions.
4. Melt 1/4 cup of butter.
5. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of poppy seeds into a greased pan. A fluted tube pan is best. The first time I used a loaf pan and it worked fine, but I’ve since accumulated a bundt pan, I use that now and it works great too. Cut the dough into 20 1″ pieces. Place half in prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of the cheese and green onions.
6. Top with 1 tsp of poppy seeds. Drizzle with half of the butter. Repeat layers. Bake for 25 minutes. Immediately invert onto a wire rack. Serve warm.

Orange Pull-Apart Bread

Tube of refrigerated crescent rolls

Butter

Honey

Orange

 

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Take butter out of the fridge to soften.
3. Grate the orange peel. Set aside 1 tsp of zest.
4. Open tube of crescent rolls. Do not unroll. Place on a greased baking sheet, forming one long roll. Cut into 12 slices to within 1/8″ of bottom, being careful not to cut all the way through. Fold down alternating slices from left to right to form a loaf. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Combine 2 Tbsp of butter, 2 Tbsp of honey, and 1 tsp of grated orange peel. Brush over the loaf. Serve warm.

Carrot Casserole

2 lbs carrots

Butter

Velveeta (or 6 oz of another process cheese)

Dill weed

Saltine crackers

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Peel and slice carrots.
3. Cube Velveeta cheese
4. Crush 15 saltine crackers.
5. Place carrots in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes. Drain. Place in a greased baking dish.
6. Melt 1/4 cup of butter and Velveeta cheese in a small saucepan. Stir often. Stir in 1/4 tsp of dill weed. Pour over the carrots. Toss crushed saltines with another 1/4 cup of butter. Sprinkle over carrots. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes

Tortellini Alfredo $3.98/serving

Butter

Heavy whipping cream

Nutmeg

Parmesan cheese (shredded is best)

Package of cheese tortellini (19 oz) – I use fresh, but frozen would work too. Just make sure to follow the instructions listed.

 

1. Melt 1/2 cup of butter over medium-low heat in a saucepan. Add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1/8 tsp of nutmeg. Heat through but DO NOT BOIL. Stir in 1 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese until melted.
2. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the cheese sauce and toss to coat. It’s better fresh – leftovers don’t taste quite as good with this one.

Dilled Zucchini

3 zucchini

Butter

Dill weed

Salt

Pepper

1. Cut zucchinis in half lengthwise.
2. Melt 1 Tbsp of butter.
3. Place zucchini in a skillet and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook about 12-14 minutes. Drain. Brush with butter. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of dill weed, salt, and pepper.

Great side dish to chicken! 

  

 

Sautéed Mushrooms

Butter

1 lb fresh mushrooms (white or brown ones will work fine, but my grocery store sometimes offers a 1 lb package of “exotic” mushrooms and includes a little bit of portobello, oyster, shimeji, chanterelle, shiitake, cremini, etc and it’s even more delicious!)

Lemon juice

Soy sauce

1. Slice mushrooms so all pieces are relatively the same size.
2. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large skillet. Add mushrooms, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice,and 1 Tbsp of soy sauce. Saute for 6-8 minutes.

Sautéing is a great way to prepare mushrooms because it concentrates and accentuates the flavor. Make sure pan and butter are hot, but don’t burn it. And use a large skillet to avoid overcrowding the mushrooms. They exude a lot of moisture as they cook so if there are too many in the skillet they will steam rather than sauté. Plus, you need to be able to stir them around in the pan to avoid steaming AND burning. 

Golden Game Hens (Dinner for Two Week 26)

Breakfast: Scones

Lunch: Taco Dogs + pears, rhubarb, strawberries, watermelon

Dinner: Sweet ‘n’ Sour Chicken, Golden Game Hens, Mexicali Pork Chops, rice or potatoes, eggplant, endive, asparagus

Spicy Cherry Chocolate Souffles

1. In a small pot, bring 3/4 cup of dried tart cherries and 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 8-10 minutes.  Blend until smooth in a blender and return to low heat.  Stir in 2 Tbsp of coconut sugar, 3/4 tsp of freshly ground grains of paradise, and 1 1/2 Tbsp of coconut or regular rum, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.  Lightly butter four ramekins.  Tap a small amount of granulated sugar into each ramekin, and gently shake so that the sugar coats all edges.  Tap out extra sugar.
3. In a double boiler, melt 4 oz of semi-sweet chocolate, 2 tsp of salted butter, and 3 Tbsp of whole milk over gently simmering water, stirring constantly.  When smooth, remove from heat and quickly whisk in 2 egg yolks.  Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, beat 2 egg whites and 1/8 tsp of cream of tartar until soft peaks form.  Slowly add 2 Tbsp of coconut sugar, beating all the while.  Beat until stiff but not dry.
5. Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture in two batches.  Gently spoon batter into each of the ramekins, filling about 3/4 of the way full.  Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 16 minutes.  When they are done they will have risen to the edge of the ramekin or above it, the tops will be beginning to crack, and the centers will still be very moist.  Serve warm with cooled cherry sauce and fresh whipped cream.

Mexicali Pork Chops

Rub an envelope of taco seasoning over 4 boneless pork loin chops. Cook chops in 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat about 9 minutes. Serve with salsa.

Golden Game Hens

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Loosely stuff 6 Cornish game hens with a sliced tart apple and a sliced onion. Place on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Combine 1/4 cup of melted butter and 1/4 cup of soy sauce. Brush over hens.

Bake, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes, basting occasionally.

Sweet n Sour Chicken Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook rice according to package directions. Cook and cube two chicken breasts. Combine 2 cups of chicken, a drained can of unsweetened pineapple chunks, a jar of apricot preserves or spreadable fruit, a can of cream of chicken soup, and a drained can of water chestnuts in a bowl. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Taco Dogs

Prepare a 1 lb package of hot dogs according to package directions. Place a slice of process American cheese and a hot dog in a taco shell. Top each taco with 3 Tbsp of warmed baked beans.

SHOPPING LIST:

Process American cheese slices (like Kraft singles)

Whipped cream

Scones

3 endives (purple if you can find it)

Eggplant

Onion

Potatoes

Asparagus

Strawberries

Watermelon

Lemon

6 pears

Rhubarb

Apple (Pick a tart variety)

Hot dogs

4 boneless pork loin chops

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

6 Cornish game hams (20 oz ea)

Can of baked beans

Can of unsweetened pineapple chunks (20 oz)

Can of condensed cream of chicken soup (11 oz)

Can of water chestnuts (8 oz)

Jar of apricot preserves or spreadable fruit (12 oz)

Salsa

Grains of paradise

Envelope of taco seasoning

Dried tart cherries

Hard taco shells

Rice

Coconut rum or regular rum

[Also needed: dried tart cherries, butter, soy sauce, vegetable oil, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, olive or canola oil, milk or buttermilk, icing sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, almonds or almond meal]

Pasta with Sausage and Tomatoes (Dinner for Two Week 24)

Breakfast: Vegan No-Sugar Oat Drops

Lunch: Cheesy Crab Burritos + grapefruit, pomegranate

Dinner: BBQ Steak Flatbread, Pasta with Sausage and Tomatoes, Broiled Orange Roughy, rice, yellow beets, yellow bell peppers, lettuce

Dessert: Crepes with peaches, raspberries, and icing sugar

Broiled Orange Roughy (or Red Snapper or Haddock)

If frozen, thaw  1 1/2 lbs of orange roughy, red snapper, or haddock fillets. Place fillets in a shallow dish. Sprinkle with 1 tsp of garlic powder. Combine 1/4 cup of melted butter, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of soy sauce. Pour over fish and turn. Marinate for 10 minutes.

Drain and discard marinade. Place fillets on a broiler pan. Broil* 3-4 inches from the heat for 10 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle with paprika.

*Can also be cooked on an outdoor grill for easy kitchen clean up

Cheesy Crab Burritos

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine a package of softened cream cheese and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese in a mixing bowl. Stir in a flaked package of imitation crabmeat. Spoon down the centre of 8 flour tortillas. Roll up tightly and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve with salsa.

Serve with a green lettuce (I recommend lettuce, yellow bell peppers, and yellow beets), rice, and beans.

Crepes

I featured the recipe I use for crepes last week. I made them again this week, but with raspberries, peaches, and icing sugar instead of sliced strawberries.

Pizza, Burger, and Fries (Dinner for Two Week 23)

No-Sugar Vegan Oat Drops

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of regular rolled oats (or whatever type of oats you have on hand), 1/4 cup of almond meal (or another nutmeal of your choice), 1/2 cup of finely chopped mixed nuts and 1 cup of coconut flakes. Stir in 1/2 tsp of allspice and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Add 1 cup of dried fruit/chocolate chips/berries (I usually do 1/3 cup of each but if you truly want no-sugar, skip the chocolate chips). Stir. Make sure the dried fruit do not stick together in big batches.
In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup of canola oil (or oil of your choice), 3 mashed banana and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until well combined. 

Take a large cookie cutter and press spoonfuls of the batter into it. Remove cookie cutter.  Or simply form balls with your hands and flatten slightly. Bake for about 20 minutes.

***Applesauce or 2 eggs could be subbed for mashed bananas, if you prefer***

Pasta with Sausage and Tomatoes

Cook and drain a package of your favorite pasta according to box directions. Cook 1 lb of bulk Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Drain. Add 2 cans of diced tomatoes (don’t drain them) and 1 1/2 tsp of chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp of dried basil. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Serve immediately over pasta.

BBQ Steak Flatbread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grill and cube a small round steak. Place a prebaked Italian flatbread on a pizza pan. Spread with 2/3 cup of honey garlic BBQ sauce. Sprinkle with a chopped red onion, cubed steak, and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes.

SHOPPING LIST:

Cream cheese (8 oz)

Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

Mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

Soy milk

Non dairy butter alternative

Eggs

 Prebaked Italian flatbread (14 oz)

8 10″ flour tortillas

3-6 grapefruits

3-6 pomegranates

Raspberries

One other kind of berry

Lemon

2 peaches

Bananas

Red onion

6 yellow beets

3 yellow bell peppers

Lettuce

Fresh or dried basil

Paprika

Round steak (small)

1 lb Italian bulk sausage

Pkg of imitation crabmeat (8 oz)

1 1/2 lb fresh/frozen orange roughy, red snapper, or haddock

2 cans of diced tomatoes (16 oz ea)

Can of your favorite beans

Salsa

Pkg of your favorite pasta (12 oz)

Rice

[Also needed: honey garlic BBQ sauce, rolled oats, coconut flakes, cinnamon, allspice, salt, almond meal, mixed nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, vanilla, cornstarch, sugar, poppy seeds, icing sugar, garlic powder, butter, lemon juice, canola oil]

Gluten-Free Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie (Dinner for Two Week 18)

Breakfast: Cinnamon Bread or Cinnamon Bun Doughnut

Lunch: Leftovers + elderberries, grapes, plums, or pomegranates

Dinner: Turkey Asparagus Casserole, French Bread Pizza, Saucy Spareribs, or Sesame Ginger Chicken, rice or French fries, Jerusalem artichokes, jicama, kohlrabi or mushrooms

Dessert: Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie

Cinnamon Bun Doughnuts with Vanilla Glaze

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray doughnut pan with cooking spray.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 3 Tbsp of light brown sugar, 3 Tbsp of regular sugar, 1 tsp of baking powder, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup of applesauce, 2 Tbsp of lowfat buttermilk, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp of vanilla and 1 Tbsp melted butter. Whisk or stir to combine.  Slowly add to the dry ingredients. Stir until *just combined.* Do not overmix.

Using a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner cut off, pipe the batter carefully into prepared doughnut pan making sure each cavity is only 2/3 full. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan, about 5 minutes. Dip into glaze.

While doughnuts are baking or cooling, combine 1/2 cup of icing sugar and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract. Add 2 tsp of milk or cream, one teaspoon at a time. Dip the donuts into the glaze after they’ve cooled for 5 minutes out of the oven.

 

Saucy Spareribs

Brown 2 lbs of pork spareribs in a large nonstick skillet. Drain. Add 2 cans of cola and 1 cup of ketchup. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

Remove ribs and keep warm. Transfer 2 cups of sauce to a pot. Bring to a boil. Combine 2 Tbsp of cornstarch and 2 Tbsp of cold water in a small bowl. Stir into sauce. Bring to a boil. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Serve over the ribs.

Note: Can also be made in the slow cooker. Combine all ingredients, set to low, and cook for 4-6 hours. 

 

Sesame Ginger Chicken

Combine 2 Tbsp of soy sauce, 2 Tbsp of honey, 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds, and 1/2 tsp of ground ginger in a small bowl. Set aside. Pound 4 chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Grill over medium-hot heat, turning and basting frequently with soy sauce mixture, for 8 minutes. Cut 2 green onions with tops into thin strips. Garnish chicken with green onion.

 

Gluten-Free Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie Part I – Filling & Topping

Put 4 egg yolks in a medium bowl and whisk well.

In a pot, whisk to combine 1/3 cup of cornstarch, 1 1/2 cups of water,  1 1/3 cups sugar and 1/4 tsp of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and add about ¼ of the hot mixture to the egg yolks. Whisk well. Add the rest of the mixture to the eggs gradually, whisking well. When all the hot mixture is added to the egg yolks, pour the mixture back into the saucepan, turn the heat to low and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly. The mixture should be thick. Take mixture off the heat and gently stir in 3 Tbsp of cold unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1 Tbsp of finely grated lemon zest.

Put mixture into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, placing the plastic wrap right on the surface of the lemon mixture. Refrigerate until cold – about 2 hours.

Whip 1 cup of heavy cream with one tsp of sugar until stiff peaks form but do not over mix.

Just prior to serving, pour the lemon mixture into the meringue pie crust. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with lemon slices.

Gluten-Free Upside Down Lemon Meringue Pie Part II – Crust

Spray a 9 inch pie plate with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment beat 2 egg whites, 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar and 1/4 tsp of salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup of sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is very stiff and glossy. Rub a little of the mixture between your thumb and forefinger and see if the mixture feels gritty. If so continue to beat until smooth, this will mean the sugar has completely dissolved. Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and mix in well.

Spread mixture into the prepared pan forming a shell by spreading the mixture up the sides of the pie plate. Bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the meringue crust in the oven for another hour. Remove from oven and allow it to cool completely.

This crust is best used the day it is baked as humidity will soften the crust. It is also preferable to fill the crust just prior to serving.

 

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Combine 1/2 cup of warm milk, 1/2 cup of warm water, a quarter-ounce package of yeast and 2 tsp sugar in a measuring cup and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.

While the yeast is resting, combine 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 3 Tbsp softened butter, 1 1/4 tsp of salt and 1 Tbsp cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the water mixture to the dry ingredients and knead on a floured surface or in a KitchenAid until smooth.

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough ball in. Cover with a cloth and let rise for 1.5 hours in the warmest spot of the house.

While the dough is rising, mix together 3 Tbsp butter with 1.5 tsp cinnamon and 1 Tbsp sugar in a small bowl. After the dough has risen to double it’s size, roll out with a rolling pin on a floured surface to a long rectangle. Smear the butter mixture all over the top and roll up tightly.

Place dough in a greased loaf pan, cover with cloth and let rise for another hour in a warm spot.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together an egg and 2 Tbsp of warm water and then brush all over loaf. Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool and slice.

French Bread Pizza

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook 1/2 lb of ground beef over medium heat in a skillet. Drain. Stir in a can of pizza sauce and a drained jar of sliced mushrooms. Set aside. Cut a loaf of French bread in half lengthwise and then into eight pieces.

Spread meat sauce on bread. Place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Note: Feel free to add veggies or sub out the meat for something else. 

Turkey Asparagus Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook a package of frozen chopped asparagus in a small amount of water for 2 minutes in a small pot. Drain. Place in a greased baking dish. Cook and cube two turkey breasts. Top asparagus with turkey. Combine a can of cream of chicken soup and 1/4 cup of water. Spoon over turkey.

Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with a can of french-fried onions. Bake 5 minutes longer.

Note: Chicken can be substituted for turkey. 

SHOPPING LIST:

Heavy cream

Lowfat buttermilk

Eggs

Mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

Loaf of French bread

Elderberries

Grapes

 4 lemons

6 plums

4 pomegranates

6 Jerusalem artichokes

3 jicamas

Green onions

3-6 kohlrabis

Mushrooms

1/2 lb of ground beef

2 lbs pork spareribs

2 turkey breasts (or chicken)

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Pkg of frozen chopped asparagus

Can of condensed cream of chicken soup

Can of pizza sauce

Jar of sliced mushrooms

Can of french-fried onions

Applesauce (unsweetened)

Unsalted macadamia nuts

Sesame seeds

Yeast

Whole wheat flour

2 cans of cola

[Also needed: milk, butter (unsalted), all-purpose flour, cinnamon, salt, sea salt, sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla extract, soy sauce, ground ginger, ketchup, cornstarch, light brown sugar, baking powder, icing sugar, cream]