Delicious!!! Bread Pudding!!!!

Ok, so I was cleaning out my fridge and realized there was way to many different bags of bread with about 1 to 2 slices of bread in them, all different bread, some middle slices, some corner slices, some potato bread roles… you name it, it was in my fridge. What can you do with multiple delicious slices of bread??? Bread Pudding!!! I LOVE BREAD PUDDING! Its the ultimate comfort (desert) food!

And this is the cheapest, easiest, bread pudding recipe!

Here goes…

Recipes Under $10 - Bread Pudding

Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Cost: Not quite sure, but very cheap and under $10, especially if you use scrap bread :) approximately $2.50 if you are using scrap bread and about $6 if you use fresh bread you buy for the recipe :)

Ingredients
7 cups chopped bread (all kinds, 7 grain breads are delicious because they have all those yummy grains, this will make for a really hearty bread pudding, potato breads and brioches are also good because these will add richness and sweetness to your pudding!)
2 cups water
1 cup whole milk $.50
5 tbsp. butter $1
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs $1


IN A POT OVER LOW HEAT - MIX TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES - Then let cool for about 10 minutes (while you cut your bread into cubes)
2 cups water
1 cup whole milk
5 tbsp. butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 tsp. vanilla

In a 13in by 9in pyrex spread the 8 cups of bread evenly and well mixed, especially if you are using scrap bread :)

Now whisk your three eggs until well beaten and then pour into your cooled milk and spices mix and whisk again until everything is mixed well.

Then pour the mixture over the bread in the pyrex, make sure you soak up all the bread, sprinkle with cinnamon and a little brown sugar.

Cover with tin foil and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve with some sprinkled cinnamon!

Meals Under $10 - Farro & Asparagus (Vegetarian)

This is a delicious, pretty easy, vegetarian recipe that is pretty healthy too!

Total Time: 30
Total Cost: Approx. $5.69

Asparagus -
1lb. asparagus $1.99
(Clean and cut the bottoms of the stems, about 1 inch)
In a pyrex -
Spread asparagus out and add -
1/4 cup green onions, chopped, spread out evenly $.20
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (if you want it spicy)
Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil

Cook at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Farro -
In a small sauce pan - Add
1 cup farro, rinsed $2.50
3 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt

Cook for 15 minutes, taste, cook longer if you want it chewy or less time if you want it more al dente.

Pour water out and add -
1 tbsp. cream cheese $.50
1 large chopped vine tomato $.50
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. sage
salt and pepper to taste
Mix well - until cream cheese is well mixed in.

Ready!
Serve Farro over the asparagus and garnish with some fresh ground pepper!

Best and Easiest Pulled Pork Recipe!

So, this recipe is not under $10 but that is because it is A LOT of food! This recipe yields a lot! You could probably feed about 8 people on this, so technically if you are only feeding two it is under $10 because you will probably get about 4 meals from this :)

This pork is great over rice or in a sandwich. Try it on a brioche roll or a potato roll for a delicious pulled pork sandwich!

Total Cost: $15.40
Total Time: 30 minutes to prep.  / 5 hours cooking

Saute in 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
8 green onions, chopped $.40
1/2 yellow onion, chopped $.50
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (if you want it spicy, you can add or take away depending on your taste)

Then Add - 1 large chopped vine tomato

Saute for another minute

Then Add - Pork Shoulder $13 (approximately 4 lbs.)
And -
1/2 cup barbecue sauce $1
1/4 cup brown sugar $.50
1 tsp. adobo (find it in the spice area of the grocery store)
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cup water

And mix really well! Make sure the pork is covered in the seasonings and sauce.
Let cook on medium to low heat for 5 hours, or until the meat falls of the bone. Make sure to flip the pork over every hour :) Make sure it is well cooked! Don't eat pork raw :/

Here are some images - We have had Two dinners, and two lunches and there is still A LOT left!

Meals Under $10 - Corn Chowder

Hello there! And a happy wednesday to you too!

Here is a new simple, healthy, cheap, easy and delicious recipe for you to try!

Time: Approx. 30 minutes
Cost: Approx. $5
Servings: Approx. 4

NOTE: Please don't judge me for my dirty stove… it was late and I didn't feel like cleaning it before cooking… I was soooo hungry!

Ingredients

3 Potatoes, chopped, approx. 1/2 lb. $1
(I like to clean them really well and keep the skin, its tastier that way).
2 Cups corn $1 (I used the frozen corn, much easier and I feel frozen is better than canned)
1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped $.25 (this is my estimated cost)
4 Garlic Cloves, chopped
1 Cup Milk $.50
2 Cups Water with 3 tbsp. flour (this will make your soup thicken, I used whole wheat flour because I ran out of white flour but I would probably use white, whole wheat has a much stronger flavor).
1 Celery stalk, chopped
2 Tbsp. Butter $.25 (guestimated this)
4 oz. of cheese (white cheddar or mozzarella) $2
1/4 tsp. turmeric
salt and pepper to taste

Saute - at medium to low heat in a large pot, until just slightly golden brown
- Butter
- Garlic Cloves
- Onion
- Celery
- Turmeric
- Salt & Pepper (you may want to add more later so go easy at first)

Then - Add Potatoes and mix

Then - Add the water with the flour and the milk and let cook until the potatoes are close to being fully cooked, about 20 minutes but it really depends on how small you chopped your potatoes, so make sure to check them after 10 minutes. At this point add the corn and mix. And last, turn the heat off and add the 4oz. of cheese. Mix until the cheese melts and then serve! Grinding a little fresh pepper on top is delicious!

NOTE: If the soup is to thick you can always add a little milk or water. Just make sure to add a little more turmeric and salt and pepper.

Meals Under $10 for Two - Chicken Cordon Bleu

Well it has officially been forever since I last posted! Way to much chaos in my life the last two months, and I am hoping for some tranquility now. More on the chaos some other time.

So here is the easiest Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe EVER!
Time: 30 min. approx.
Total Cost: $8.75 approximately, not including spices and butter.

Ingredients
Chicken -
2 large chicken breasts $4.25
2 slices of cheese (I used Swiss cheese) $0.50
2 slices of ham (I used turkey) $0.50
5 cherry tomatoes, chopped $1.00
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped $.025
2 tbsp. butter
1 cup milk $1.00

Rice -
1 cup jasmine rice $0.50
1 tbsp. butter
salt and pepper to taste

1 cup arugula $0.75

Directions -

Start with cooking your rice, so that it is ready when you are  done, follow instructions on the back of the package, some may vary.

Cut your chicken breasts in half, like you would a baguette for a sandwich, place a slice of cheese and ham in each. Set to the side.

In a pan, at medium to low heat, sauté garlic cloves, onion and 2 tbsp. butter until lightly brown with salt and pepper, not to much you can always add more at the end. About 2 minutes. Now add cherry tomatoes, sauté for about a minute. Now add your chicken breasts and cook until chicken is fully cooked, I cheat and stab my chicken all the way to the middle to check that there is no more pink, but you can also use the temperature method, etc. Just make sure its fully cooked :)

Once chicken is fully cooked, place rice in the middle of the plate, then 1/4 cup arugula on top, then the chicken breast. In the pan, which should be on low heat, pour the milk and mix, taste check for salt and pepper. Now pour your sauce over your plates, and voila! You are done :)

And here are image directions. Enjoy!

Cover your chicken - this will help in cooking and will also help keep your chicken moist. 

Meals Under $10 for Two : Curry Vegetables with Rice (Vegan)

Curry Vegetables with Rice
Total cost : $4.50 approx.
Total Servings: 2 large ones 

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup jasmine rice $1
1 16oz. package of Italian Blend Vegetables (You can choose any mix you want, this one has the cauliflower which is why I chose it, the cauliflower is delicious in a curry sauce!) $1.99
1/2 green pepper $.50

Cook rice with two cups water, follow directions on packaging for best results. 

In a pot with 1 tbsp. olive oil or butter (depends on if you want your dish to be vegan or just vegetarian) saute the green pepper chopped into one inch pieces for about a minute on medium heat. 

THEN ADD: 
1 tsp. Turmeric 
1 tbsp. Curry powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder 
1/4 tsp. paprika
salt and pepper to taste
a dash of sugar

Let simmer until veggies have thawed. About 20 minutes on medium to low heat. Add about 1/2 cup water to make a nice sauce to pour on top when you serve it. 

And done! Take about 25 minutes :) Healthy, cheap and quick! Three of my favorite things!!!

Pickled this and pickled that!

I love things that are pickled!

Except one suggestion - Never eat a huge platter of multiple different yummy pickled things and then drink beer all on an empty stomach... it leads to a stomach ache. I know this from experience, a little to much sour for an unfed gut.

Anyways, next time you are in the mood for pickled items, make them yourself! They are so much yummier when home made, because they taste so fresh and are much crisper when you eat them, also, they are SOOO much cheaper!

I made three jars of pickled food for under $5!

Here goes my recipe....

PICKLED CARROTS, JALAPENOS AND RADISHES

- 1 chopped purple onion
- 3 large carrots
- 3 large jalapeños
- approximately 10 radishes
- salt and pepper (whole pepper corns are best) to taste
- 5 whole garlic cloves
- a little garlic powder
- 3 green onions (chopped)
- approximately 1 cup white vinegar
- a dash of sugar in each jar 

Fill jars with all your chopped goodies, then add salt, pepper, sugar and garlic powder, fill half way with vinegar and the rest with water (you can do all vinegar, but I find doing half water makes it just a little less sour in a good way) Shake and let sit at least one day :)

TIP - I like to keep old tomato sauce jars and peanut butter jars that are glass, wash them and boil them and re use them :) Just make sure you are cleaning them properly. Also if you want to gift these, you can go out and buy some mason jars, however, you can also just cover the lid with some kraft paper and some cute string or even a nice fabric :) 

Images below, ENJOY :)