Tag Archives: recipes

How to Make Ice Cream

A fun activity to share with your children is making ice cream.  You do not need to buy an ice cream maker to have fun with this activity.  I just purchased an ice cream maker and the family loves it.  Just be warned it does take time to make ice cream, unless you do it by hand as the recipe is for below. Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker Ingredients 2 cups cold heavy/whipping cream 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk Your choice of mix-ins (berries, chocolate, cookies, etc.)   Instructions   Whip cream with mixer or whisk until … Continue reading →

Fourth of July Fun for Less

Celebrating America’s birthday doesn’t have to send you to the poorhouse.  By opting to party at your own home this holiday, you can save money and still have fun.  To cut down on food and beverage costs, consider having a potluck and asking each guest to bring along a favorite dish to pass. Edible American Eagles Ingredients: One package of Oreos 1/2 cup white chocolate One dozen large marshmallows One cup of finely shredded coconut 12 cashews Black icing Directions: Melt the white chocolate in a bowl in the microwave. Spread the shredded coconut in an even layer on wax … Continue reading →

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Nothing says, “Happy Father’s Day!” quite like the smell of fried chicken… or any type of chicken that Dad didn’t have to cook himself. To honor the man of the house on Sunday, consider combining some of his favorite foods in one dish.  By incoporating a variety of Dad’s beloved ingredients you are sure to create a winning Father’s Day meal. The following recipes are not only affordable, but they’re also simple enough for even young children to help out with.  What’s more, because the ingredients are kid-friendly Dad won’t have to deal with a table full of whining offspring as he digs into dinner on … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Mother’s Day Fun

There’s no better way to show mom how much she is cherished than by giving her a break from the daily grind.  For many mothers, a day without having to make a single meal is heavenly… though potentially very expensive. Celebrating Mother’s Day at a restaurant is not cheap, especially if you are treating the entire family to a lavish buffet.  To save on a delicious dining experience while still showing mom that she is worth her weight in gold, consider starting the day with breakfast in bed. Gather the kids and have fun in the kitchen making mom these … Continue reading →

Favorite Recipes

Sometimes it is hard to keep track of all of the great recipes that are our there. Today, I thought I would make it a little easier by linking up some of the favorite Families.com recipes that we have posted over the years. It is a good selection of different kinds of food, from soup to desert, although I have to say that I am partial to the desert. Enjoy! *** The Serious Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Cake Have you ever seen the gigantic chocolate cake that Costco sells? It is a 5 layer chocolate cake, with chocolatey whipped frosting and … Continue reading →

Creating a Recipe Binder

Last year I was on a quest to get organized with my meals.  I spent several months making a couple of new meals each week, so I would have a wider variety to choose from.  I am starting to finally see the positive effects of this…or should I say my family is. One of my goals was to avoid cooking the same meals over and over again.  So I purchased a binder with clear pocket holders to help in organizing my recipes. I have to share one of the best resources on the web for printing recipes.  It is the … Continue reading →

Gearing Up for the Big Game

The biggest sporting event of the year is little over a week away. The countdown to Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers is on. Watching the game can be a fun event for the entire family.  In fact, millions of clans around the world gather together to cheer on their favorite team at huge Super Bowl parties, though hosting one can be quite challenging and expensive if you are not careful. One way to reduce the cost of hosting a viewing party is to make simple and affordable snacks.  Not only will the following … Continue reading →

9 Meal Ideas for Leftover Chicken

The prices on whole roasting chicken has been pretty good lately, so I have been finding myself buying quite a few chickens for our meals. My family likes roast chicken, so it isn’t usually a problem, except for the leftovers. They can get a little boring after a while. That is why we usually have one meal of roast chicken (I vary the seasonings), and then use the leftover chicken in new dishes, some of which I can freeze.   Here are my favorite ways to use leftover chicken.   Chicken Pot Pie: You can use a butter crust, shortening … Continue reading →

Slow Cooker Basics

Save money when you use your slow cooker or crockpot. You can have dinner on the table, ready for you, and spend just a few dollars a meal for the privilege. Most people who want to save money, really want to save money, rely heavily on at least one slow cooker to help them prepare low cost meals. Others may have given up a slow cooker or crockpot prematurely, because they had a bad experience, such as with an overcooked, an undercooked, or a tasteless meal. Usually this is because they simply weren’t aware of some slow cooker basics. Slow … Continue reading →

Curried Pumpkin Soup

Soup and pumpkins are beautiful signs of fall. Combining the two will warm up a cool autumn evening. The soup is great paired with a salad or a sandwich. Keep the recipe on hand for Thanksgiving celebrations. You may want to have it on hand to give to your guests as they are sure to ask you for the recipe. I was surprised that a few of my kids also liked pumpkin soup. Normally, I make butternut squash soup but this goes over a bit better. If you don’t like curry the omit and get creative. Think about how squash … Continue reading →