whew. after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is nice to have things settled and quieter. the new year always helps all of us re-evaluate everything. we all want everything to be better. much better! should i be cutting back? am i doing this right? what can i do to make this better? for me, i find myself questioning my recipes the same way. with this new year, i want them to be even better. i want to find more creative ways to make meals on a budget. i was not trying to push myself too hard, but i have noticed that it seems like my mind had not been flowing very freely when brainstorming recipes. i guess subconsciously, i was putting too much pressure on myself, as we all do with things in everyday life. so, i think it all boils down to don’t sweat the small stuff. it will all come together on it’s own timing. with that said, lets get rolling!
wanna help me out? submit your recipes!
here we go!
chicken and zucchini saute’ – this was an attempt to use up all of the zucchini that my hubby bought at the store. one of the easiest dishes you will make. very few ingredients, crunchy caramelized zucchini, tender chicken and a yummy sauce made from the pan drippings. the perfect weeknight meal.
creamy sausage gravy pasta – hold on to your biscuits! we are having sausage gravy for dinner, today! my hubby had the genius idea of having some sausage gravy over pasta and we licked our plates. i added some bell pepper, fresh onion, garlic and mushrooms to make it more ‘dinner-like’. if you feel so inclined, make my homemade buttermilk biscuits and use them to sop up the luscious gravy. i won’t be mad at ya!
hearty tomato, zucchini and spinach soup – i have made this soup about 3-4 times since i posted the recipe. it is so comforting and healthy, especially when it’s cold outside. loaded with tons of veggies, this soup will have you coming back for more. make extra and freeze.
black-eyed pea cakes with paprika-lime cream – this is the perfect vegetarian dish for this month’s edition. i slow cooked the black-eyed peas in a onion and garlic broth until fork tender. then added tons of flavor by way of fresh veggies, aromatics and spices. these black-eyed peas cakes are full of flavor. perfect with a fresh salad on the side.
baked ziti with sweet italian sausage– other than crock pots, casseroles are my soul mate. they work great for us with our big family. throw everything together in one pot and pop it in the oven. leftovers, even better. double up on the casserole and freeze? i’m in love! there is nothing like having an extra casserole in the freezer, defrosting it in the fridge the night before and popping it in the oven when you get home from your busy day. sweet sausage, creamy cheese, rich savory sauce… so good.
we did great this month ya’ll! almost $2 under. here is our receipt, by the way…
okay, let me know how you liked these meals along with your own unique touches. please don’t forget to send in your great tasting meals! see you next month!
-tijuana
4 responses to $30 for 5 meals (01/13 edition)