Strawberries and Cream

 

This is probably my absolute favorite summertime dessert. (Well, at least right up there with Blackberry Cobbler & Cherry Cheese Cobbler . . . yum!) I got it from a very sweet lady at our old church fifteen years ago, and I’ve been known to lick the bowl a time or two making sure not to miss an ounce of that yummy cream. If you’re looking for just a fun sweet treat to try out this Memorial Day, I promise. . . this one’s for you.

 

Strawberries and Cream

Ingredients

  1. 8 ozs. cream cheese, softened
  2. large package instant vanilla pudding 
  3. 2 cups milk
  4. 12 ozs. Cool Whip
  5. 1 tsp. vanilla
  6. 1 prepared angel food cake
  7. 1 qt strawberries 
  8. 1 cup blueberries (optional)
  9. 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions

  1. Cream together first five ingredients, if too thick add more milk.
  2. Cut angel food cake in cubes or slices.
  3. Layer half the cake, half the cream, and half the fruit in trifle bowl, then sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar.
  4. Repeat layers again and serve.

 

Here are a few sales you’ll want to watch for this week on these items (I love the great produce prices on Memorial Day!)

  • Cool Whip 8 oz $.88 at Publix or $1 at Kroger
  • Strawberries $.99 at Aldi or $2.50 at Publix
  • Blueberries $1.99 at Aldi
Let me know if you try this one out ~ I promise you’ll love it!

 

Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE

Slow Cooker Ribs

Trying to decide what to make this Memorial Day? Try out these yummy ribs on the grill, or if you’d rather keep the cooking inside, make these Simple Slow Cooker Ribs in your crockpot.

 

Here’s the trick to these ribs:  do NOT just put the ribs in the slow cooker.  (I know, I know . . . that takes a little of the fun out of slow cooking, but I promise spending a few minutes to prepare those ribs in the morning will reward you with some fall-apart-heavenly ribs!)  Allow just thirty minutes in the morning to pre-bake them in the oven, and then let your slow cooker to the rest of the cooking for you.  These were so good that my husband declared them better than Logan’s Roadhouse, and liked them as much as our favorite rib recipe for the grill.

 

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Ingredients

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic Salt
  • Barbecue Sauce (we used Sweet Baby Rays)
  • 3-4 lbs. Pork Long Country Style Ribs, or Pork Sirloin Chops

Instructions

  1. Season ribs with salt, pepper and garlic salt.
  2. Bake at 350 in oven for 15 minutes, then turn ribs over and bake another 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer ribs to slow cooker (you may need to cut them to fit into Mrs. Potts!) :)
  4. Pour bottle of barbecue sauce over top of the ribs.
  5. Cook for 6-7 hours on low.
  6. Serve along with extra barbecue sauce (optional).
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Here are a few sales you’ll want to watch for this week:

  • Kraft Barbecue Sauce $.68 at Publix after BOGO sale
  • Pork Loin Back Ribs $1.99/lb. at Publix, $2.99/lb at Kroger, or $1.99/lb. at Sam’s Club

Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and if you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE.  

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Are you looking for a special side dish to share this week for Memorial Day?  This is our family’s favorite (seriously, best ever) Broccoli Cheese Casserole, and I know you’ll love it too.

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
  • Frozen Broccoli (I usually use two bags of Green Giant Steamers)
  • 16 oz. Velveeta Kraft Velveeta
  • 3/4 stick of margarine
  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
  • 1/4 stick margarine

Instructions

  1. Cook broccoli in microwave.
  2. Meanwhile, melt Velveeta & 3/4 stick margarine on stove top over low heat.
  3. Thoroughly drain broccoli. (You'll want to press out as much excess water as you can so that the Cheese Sauce doesn't become runny.)
  4. Stir together broccoli and velveeta mixture, then put in 8x11 casserole dish.
  5. Melt remaining 1/4 stick of margarine in margarine. Crush Ritz crackers and mix with margarine, then top Broccoli Cheese mixture with crackers.
  6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, until cooked through and crackers begin to brown. Enjoy!
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Looking for more recipe ideas? Visit the Passionate Penny Pincher Recipe Index


Menu Plan Monday: Week Of 5/20/13

 

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Have you made your menu plan yet for the week? With summer right around the corner (really!), this week is absolutely crazy for us, so we’re keeping it really simple around here. We’re actually doing a little traveling too, so here are my super penny pinched meal ideas for that as well!

 

Do you have anything yummy on your menu plan this week?  I’d love to hear what you’re having, and if you have any great recipe ideas please leave a comment to share!  Also, I could use any suggestions on how to eat frugally while on a road trip ~ leave your comments by clicking HERE.

 

 

Check out my recipes to try board on Pinterest, and see more penny-pinched recipe ideas.  This post is linked up to OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday where you can find lots more menu planning ideas! 

 

Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

Ready to make the yummiest brownies ever? (I knew you were!) This recipe for peanut butter fudge iced brownies is soooo good, and since our weeknight’s have been nuts around here for making new recipes I figured you all could handle a little dessert. ;)

 

I know I know . . . aren’t you glad there’s no time for dinner? Here’s the recipe.

Peanut Butter Fudge Iced Brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 or 2 prepared brownie mixes, depending on how much brownie you want underneath the yummy frosting (If you're planning to bake two, cut your oven temp down to 325, and bake about fifteen minutes longer than the box states)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 7 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp shortenning
  • 2 tbsp margarine
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Prepare brownies according to package directions and allow to cool completely before beginning icing.
  2. To make icing, combine sugar, milk, shortening, margarine & salt in heavy saucepot on stovetop.
  3. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring conatantly.
  4. After it reaches a rolling boil, continue to boil two more minutes on stove without stirring, until it reaches soft ball stage.
  5. Remove from heat, add vanilla and peanut butter.
  6. Beat until smooth, then quickly spread over completely cooled brownies. This will work in a 9x13 or 8x8 pan, you'll just have more or less frosting.
  7. ****Note: my frosting was a little on the thin side (I'm not sure that I boiled it long enough), so I let it cool in the freezer to thicken up a bit before frosting the brownies. Once it cooled it was perfect, but I was a little unsure to start!
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Brownies just begging to be frosted

 

Shortening-butter-sugar-goo mixing up on the stove


Brownies all iced and ready to go!

 

Here are a few sales that you’ll want to watch for this week on these items if you don’t have them at home: 

  • Starting Sunday at CVS, Skippy Peanut Butter is on sale 2/$5, and you’ll get $5 in ECBs back when you spend $15 (making it $1.67 after the coupon!)
  • Peter Pan Peanut Butter on sale 2/$5 at Winn Dixie or Food Lion

Thanks to Southern Plate for this great recipe!  Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Find more penny-pinched slow cooker recipes!

 

This Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken recipe has been on my slow-cookin’ Pinterest board forever, but when my friend Mary mentioned last week that she tried it out and loved it, I knew I needed to make it at our house too! And, when I looked over what was in my pantry and fridge yesterday to make dinner, I realized this is one of those simple recipes that calls for ingredients I already had at home. (I love that.)

 

While I love coupon shopping, I absolutely hate making a second trip for things that weren’t on my list the first time around, so if I can find a meal with what I have at home I’m always so happy to try it out. This one was great for a busy weeknight meal, and having Mrs. Potts do the cooking after I spent five minutes filling her up of course makes life easier around here. Let me know what you think if you make it for dinner sometime soon!

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast (can be frozen)
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • tortillas

Instructions

  1. Place chicken in the crock pot.
  2. Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken.
  3. Mix together soup and salsa and pour over chicken.
  4. Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours.
  5. Shred chicken and mix in sour cream.
  6. Serve on tortillas, or you could use it as a dip with chips or even over rice.
  7. Enjoy!
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Here are a few sales that you’ll want to watch for this week on these items if you don’t have them at home: 

 

Recipe adapted from Mostly Homemade Mom.  Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE

Menu Plan Monday: Week Of 5/13/13

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

 

Have you made your menu plan yet for the week?  We’ve got activities every night this week, so while this is what I’m thinking, I’m not so sure how much will actually get made! (School’s almost out, surely summer will be quieter, right???)

 

Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

Do you have anything yummy on your menu plan this week?  I’d love to hear what you’re having, and if you have any great recipe ideas please leave a comment to share!  

 

Check out my recipes to try board on Pinterest, and see more penny-pinched recipe ideas.  This post is linked up to OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday where you can find lots more menu planning ideas! 

 

Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake


Since frozen blueberries and cake mix are both Buy One Get One Free at Publix this week, I wanted to remind you about this yummy recipe for Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake! It’s always a favorite at our house, and I’m betting your family will enjoy it too.

 

Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 box yellow cake mix 
  • 2 cups blueberries 
  • 2 sticks of melted butter or margarine 
  • 1 15 oz. can crushed pineapple

Directions

  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
  2. Put blueberries and pineapple in 9×13 baking dish or casserole.
  3. Shake cake mix over top, then drizzle with melted butter or margarine.   (My littlest makes this one – I just put it all out for her to dump!)
  4. You won’t need to mix the cake mix with anything, just drizzle well with margarine (I know that’s hard to imagine, but it really does work!)
  5. Cook for 45 minutes or until brown on the top. Enjoy! 

 

If you need a little more menu inspiration, check out the Recipe Index.  JoinPassionate Penny Pincher on Facebookto keep up with all the meals & deals.

 

Blueberry Banana Bread

Find more penny pinched recipes HERE

Homemade Blueberry Banana Bread

I made two loaves of this blueberry Banana Bread today, and oh my heavens it’s just delicious. With blueberries on sale at Publix Buy One Get One Free this week, and bananas at Aldi’s just $.33/lb. (don’t forget many Walmart stores will price match . . .) I just couldn’t wait to try it!

 

My son tried it after school for a snack and gave it rave reviews, which always makes this momma’s day. Here’s how to bake some up for your family ~ save a loaf for yourself and you could even give a loaf away as a teacher’s git.

 


Blueberry Banana Bread

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 medium size loaf pans.
  2. Mix together flour, baking soda and salt.
  3. In mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add 1 egg in at a time, then add vanilla.
  5. Add in bananas and then flour mixture until thoroughly combined.
  6. Carefully fold blueberries into batter, pour into loaf pans.
  7. Bake in preheated oven 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in comes out clean.
  8. Cool on wire pans for 10 minutes, then cool thoroughly on wire racks.
  9. Enjoy!
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This post is linked to Real Kitchen Life & Beyond’s Fabulous Frugal Living.  Recipe adapted from All Recipes.  Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE

Savory Cream Cheese Chicken Rolls

Find more penny pinched recipes HERE

 

Do you ever have those nights where you know you’ve got to scoot out the door in a hurry but have handed over a peanut butter and jelly sandwich one too many times that week? This recipe is for exactly that night.

 

 

These Cream Cheese Chicken Rolls are a super easy way to throw together dinner in a pinch, but your family will at least get a hot meal as you race out the door. And of course, since you can’t mess up a Pillsbury crescent roll these are just perfect. (You really can’tmess. them. up.) ;)

 

They’re also are pretty versatile . . . if I make them again I think I’ll exchange the cream cheese in some of them for shredded cheddar cheese (I’m thinking my kids will like cheddar cheese better) and add some chopped broccoli. We served them with carrot sticks and apples, and headed out the door . . . but definitely beat eating a hamburger at the drive thru!

 

Here’s what how to make them at your house too . . .

 

Crescent Roll Recipe: Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Rolls

Crescent Roll Recipe: Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Rolls

Ingredients

  • (***Note: this makes 4 large rolls, if you need more you'll want to double the recipe)
  • 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 2 cups cooked chicken (I used a large can of canned chicken)
  • 1 tbsp. minced onion
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1 tbsp. butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs

Instructions

  1. Mix together cream cheese, butter and cooked chicken with blender.
  2. Stir in minced onion, salt, pepper and milk. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
  3. Open crescent rolls and make into four squares (each square will have two rolls.)
  4. Place 1/4 chicken mixture in the center of the square and pull together corners of dough to make a pocket.
  5. Pinch corners around chicken mixture.
  6. Repeat with remaining 3 squares.
  7. Place on baking sheet, and brush with melted butter, then sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
  8. Bake at 350, for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned.
  9. Cool and enjoy!
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Here are a few sales that you’ll want to watch for this week on these items if you don’t have them at home:

 

  • Bumble Bee Canned Chicken Breast 10 oz BOGO $3.30 at Publix, or use Kroger Boneless Chicken or Tenders 2.5- 3 lb bag $6.99 
  • 4 C Bread Crumb 8-15 oz  BOGO $1.50 at Publix 

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.  Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE