Thriftism

This is a very simple recipe that is delicious and easy to make gluten free and dairy free if desired. It wouldn't be hard to transition to vegan as well (cut out chicken and cream cheese and replace with desired alternative. We loved this a a warm fall, budget friendly meal.  Embed

There are only so many sliced cucumbers you can eat over one growing season (for some that number might be zero). That's why we started branching out into sauteed cucumbers, salads, pickles and now cucumber soup. This cream soup is great served cold or heated up. We serve cold on hot summer days, but also freeze quite a bit and heat in up for a warm fall meal. Watch as we make the recipe or scroll down for a printable recipe. Before blending After blending Printable to letter size paper - click photo recipe for google drive page Final product Embed

This radish stew requires no heavy cream but offers the same creaminess as if you had added it. For those, like me, that aren’t in love with eating fresh radishes, this recipe is a wonderful way to use garden produce while taking away some of the radish bite. Not only is it tasty, radish soup offers vitamins C and B-12, magnesium, and iron and is under 200 calories per serving. This makes a great soup and salad lunch. Plus, did I mention it tastes great to a nonradish lover????

Spring is here and summer is on its way. Lighten up your meals with this fun, tasty low carb take on a deli favorite. Chicken salad offers great flavor with a hint of sweet but the carbs and calories can add up. By switching out the typical salad dressing for avocado, we upgrade the fats you're eating and add extra nutrients. We also take out the bun in favor of lettuce to create a low carb, budget friendly meal. Plus, did we mention it tastes great?? Scroll down for printable recipe, nutrition information and 2019 cost breakdown.  printable to letter size paper Cost Breakdown (2019)

Get ready for the week with a easy store, protein packed snack! Beans and rice usually sounds plain, boring and basic, but with the spicy kick these beans and rice are anything but basic. We like to keep a few cups of this on hand to use as a side dish or for a low calorie, high protein snack to keep us going throughout the day. What You'll Need: 2 Cups Water 2 tsp Chicken Bouillon 2 tsp Gelatin 1 tsp Olive Oil 2 Cups Diced Onion (1.5 Large Onions) 1 Cup Diced Bell Pepper (feel free to use spicier peppers if desired) 1/2 Cup Diced Celery  4 Cloves Garlic (minced) 2 tsp Paprika 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper 2 Cups Black Beans (Cooked ~2/3 Cup Dried) 2 Cups Rice 4 tsp Parsley Optional 1 Cup Diced Ham Equipment ( What We Used ) Cutting Boards Sauce Pot Knives Stir Spoon Storage Containers - We love Pyrex for easy transporting and microwaving How to Make Combine water, bouillon, and gelatin. Cook rice as directed on pac...

Eating on a budget can often seem restrictive and can lead to a food rut (eating the same meals over and over and over...). Spice up your meal plan this week without breaking your budget or your diet. Chicken tortilla soup packs a punch of flavor and is sure to leave you feeling satisfied while using budget ingredients. Bonus, it weighs in at around 340 calories per serving and is very simple to make. For a printable recipe, nutrition information, and 2019 recipe cost, scroll down. What You Need 2 Tbsp    Olive Oil 1.5 Cup   Diced Onion 1 Cup     Diced Celery 1 Cup     Diced Carrots 4 Cloves Garlic 1 Cup     Diced Tomatoes 6 Cups   Chicken Broth 8            6-in Corn Tortillas 6 Cups   Tomato Juice 1.5 Lb    Shredded Chicken 2 tsp      Oregano 2 tsp      Chili Powder ~1/2 tsp Salt & Pepper C...

Healthy, high protein meals seem to come at a premium. Protein is likely the most expensive portion of your meal and your grocery budget. Don't let this drive your grocery spending through the roof or let this prevent you from enjoying a high protein and healthy meal. Lentils are a wonderful alternative to meat as a source of protein and provide a plethora of additional benefits. Think high fiber, high in nutrients, and very affordable. We decided to capitalize on the cost savings of lentils by created a meal with lentils as the main focus. This lentil casserole is simple to make, is very fulfilling, and tastes great without costing a fortune. It is also a bit of a variation from the typical rice and beans meals people generally revert to when trying to save money. What You'll Need 1.5 Cup Water 2 Cup Lentils 1 Large Onion 1 Lb Carrots 2 Cloves Garlic 2 Cans (14.5oz) Diced Tomatoes 1 tsp Cumin 8 oz Shredded Cheese Prehea...

Ingredients 1 Cup Sugar (Sam's Club) 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk (Aldi) 1 Can Evaporated Milk (Aldi or make your own, see video below) 3 Eggs (Target) 1-2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract Preheat oven to 350. Melt sugar in sauce pan over low-medium heat stirring constantly.  Pour into 9" baking pan and swirl caramelized sugar to cover bottom and sides of dish. Beat eggs, add evaporated milk, condensed milk, and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly. Pour into baking dish. Bake at 350 for ~45-60 minutes or until set (toothpick comes out clean). Chill minimum 2 hours, but ideally 6-24 hours before serving. Serve cold.  Makes 8 Servings Per Serving: 349 calories, 9.7g fat, 56.7g carbohydrates, 9.5g protein, 100mg cholesterol, 139mg sodium. We halved the servings (to make 16 servings) since the dessert was very rich and we had eaten a huge meal. This was a hit with everyone from young (2) to older (not at liberty to say 🙊) and we will be making this one ...