Category Archives: Very Budget Friendly

Food is not included in the U.S. Government’s Inflation numbers. But, anyone with common sense knows that Food is one of the things we all spend the most money on other than housing and maybe gasoline (also not included when calculating inflation). That said, everyone needs budget friendly meals to help ends meet. Please feel free to share your favorites!

Simple Authentic Mexican Chicken Taquitos

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I love discovering easy , simple, family recipes.

 

Easy Chicken Taquitos

These chicken taquitos are an authentic , Mexican recipe and so amazingly easy to make I don’t think I’ll ever buy taquitos in a Mexican restaurant or take-out ever again. And this recipe makes so many – so it’s very budget friendly.  Today, I am going to make these using leftover turkey and leftover mashed potatoes now that Thanksgiving is over. A fun batch of food now that the boys are back in town! And since the corn tortillas are gluten-free, everyone can enjoy them.

 

Ingredients:

 

  • 1-2 Chicken Breasts with Bone
  • 1-2 Heaping Tablespoons Mayonnaise
  • 1-2 Large Potatoes
  • Pepper to taste
  • Tortillas (corn but flour work as well).
  • Favorite authentic salsa , guacamole and sour cream
Chicken and potatoes after boiling and removing skin.

Chicken and potatoes after boiling and removing skin.

 

Boil chicken and potatoes in a big pot of water until done.( If using leftover chicken or turkey, boil the potatoes and drop the poultry in just a minute before potatoes are done.)

 

Let both cool enough to handle. Remove the skin from the chicken,  remove the meat and shred it with a fork. Place in bowl. Peel the skin off of the potato and add the potato without the skin to the same bowl as the chicken. Add the mayo and pepper and mix together using a fork.

 

Warm the tortillas (so they are soft enough to roll) in oven, pan or microwave.

Filling Tortillas with Chicken Mixture

 

Spoon the chicken, mayo and potato mixture into the center of a tortilla, roll up and secure with toothpicks. Stab with a fork (so they don’t explode in the oil).

 

Fry in hot oil or if you want to bake instead, place on a baking sheet and brush oil over the tortillas and then bake until golden brown and crispy.

 

Serve with cut avocado or guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

 

Maria (who I got this recipe from) also soaks sliced yellow onion in vinegar for just a few minutes and serves under the taquitos along with shredded lettuce. A really, simple nice touch!

Homemade Easy Ricotta Recipe

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Ricotta and StrawberriesOne of the easiest traditional recipes around is homemade Ricotta. First, it is so soft and delicious and store-bought does not even come close to its fresh texture. Plus it can be expensive when it’s purchased at the store. Since its’ few ingredients are almost always in your kitchen it’s something you can whip up anytime. Homemade Ricotta is great just smeared on bread or crackers served with honey or fruit. It’s amazing in homemade lasagna or any ravioli.

 

  • 1/2 Gallon (2 quarts) Whole Milk (low-fat or non-fat really doesn’t work well).
  • 1/3 C Lemon Juice or White Vinegar
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

 

Heat milk in a pot until it’s foamy and almost boiling.

 

Remove from heat and immediately stir in lemon juice or vinegar.

 

Stir and then let stand for about 10 minutes.

 

Set up a colander with a cheesecloth in it (or use a coffee filter in a small colander).

 

Remove any large chunks that do not have to be drained with a slotted spoon and place in bowl.

 

Slowly pour the remaining mixture through the colander and let sit for as little as 15 minutes or as long as an hour depending upon how thick you’d like your cheese.

 

Seal and refrigerate.

 

Grilled Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Aioli

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I rarely shop at Gelson’s market because it’s a little out of my budget. But sometimes, I splurge and swing by the one close to my Mom’s and buy some food to take to eat at her house when I visit. I am so impressed by their deli case. They have so many options and Grilled Artichoke Hearts with Lemon Aiolitheir side salad recipes are inspiring. Last time I was there, they had a huge platter of grilled artichokes in lemon aioli. I love that word, “aioli”. But let’s face it – basically it’s mayo. But “aioli” does sound so much more exotic. After tasting them, I realized it would be really easy to recreate the recipe – so I did. Now I make these frequently. Lately, I’ve been on a diet and artichoke hearts (as long as they aren’t stored in oil) are on my limited ‘free’ foods list – so I keep these in the fridge to snack on.  

 

Lemon Aioli Recipe:

  • 1/2 Cup Mayo
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest
  • Juice of 1 Lemon
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey or Agave or Brown Sugar
  • (Optional) Fresh Thyme Leaves, chopped

Lemon Aioli Recipe

I use the canned artichokes in water from Trader Joe’s. Drain, grill, cool and mix with the aioli. Chill until ready to eat. 

Italian Sliced Fennel Salad

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Sometimes when I’m posting something ridiculously easy to make here, I think – does this even constitute a real recipe? But this is a classic Italian side dish and I had never tried it. Now, I cannot get enough of it. It is so simple and yet so delicious and healthy. No wonder Italians make it all the time.  So it makes me happy to share it with my family. While this recipe just uses fennel, I’ve been told from one of my Italian friends that her mother used to add raw mushrooms sliced extra thin to the dish – and I’ve read that others add sliced onions. It’s a great side dish and now a staple on my table or when we bring a side dish to a barbecue or other outdoor Summer event.

Traditional Italian Sliced Fennel

Ingredients:

 

  • 1-2 Fennel Bulbs
  • Fruity Olive Oil
  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • Fresh shaved parmesan cheese 
  • Salt and Pepper

 

1. Cut the green stalks and the hard bottom off of the fennel bulbs. 

2. Rinse the fennel bulbs well to remove any dirt or sand.

3. Slice thin.

4. Spread out onto a large plate.

5. Drizzle olive oil , lemon juice and salt and pepper on top. 

6. Then, shave the parmesan cheese on top. Done.