Restaurant Style Salsa

Where has this recipe been all my life! This salsa tastes just like the salsa at my favorite Mexican restaurant. Love it!

I found this recipe on Give Me Some Oven and tweaked it slightly.

Restaurant Style Salsa

2 (14-ounce) cans fire-roasted tomatoes, drained if you like a thicker salsa
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 bunch (about 2 cups loosely-packed) fresh cilantro
1/4 cup diced white onion
1 jalapeno, stem removed (and seeded, if you want less heat)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Pulse all ingredients together in a food processor or blender until smooth, or your desired consistency is reached. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. 

Serve immediately, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Makes about 4 cups.

(Optional modifications: If you're worried about the salsa being too spicy, just add in half of a (seeded) jalapeno to start, and then see if you want to add more. If you want more heat, add in the entire jalapeno with seeds, or even add in two jalapenos.)

Price Break Down

tomatoes $.98 x 2 = $1.96

garlic (I had this already)

jalapeno $.13

cilantro $.41

onion $.14

bag of tortilla chips = $1.98

TOTAL = $4.62 with salsa left over for another snack or to use in a recipe

Pepperoni Pizza Quesdillas

Combine the Picky Kid Quad's favorite foods, pizza and quesadillas, and you've got a winning dish.

Pizza Quesadillas

5 whole wheat tortillas
2 cups shredded mozzarella made with 2% milk
1 package turkey pepperonis
28 oz spaghetti sauce
2 tbs oil

Heat oil in a frying pan. Place one tortilla in the pan. Sprinkle tortilla with a thin layer on mozzarella. Cover half of the tortilla with a layer of pepperonis. After the tortilla is browned and the cheese has started to melt, about 2 minutes, fold tortilla in half. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to remove excess oil. Repeat with the rest of the ingredients.  Divide spaghetti sauce in 5 small bowls. Heat each for 30 secs - 1 min. In the microwave. Cut quesadillas into 4 wedges. Serve sauce with quesadillas for dipping.

Makes 5 quesdillas.

Nutritional information

1 quesadilla with sauce, CALORIES 332, FAT 17.1 g, CARBS 32.6 g, FIBER 5.7 g, PROTEIN 18.3 g, Weight Watchers Points plus: 9 points

New Picky Kids Breakfast/Snack Obsession: Homemade Hashbrowns

With a 10 pound bag of potatoes for $1.99 at Aldi, you can't say no to this super easy breakfast/snack idea!

Homemade Hashbrowns

1. Use one small potato per serving. Peel and shred the potato.
2. Pat the shredded potatoes dry with a paper towel.
3. Fry in an hot oiled skillet until bottom is browned. Flip and cook the other side. Hashbrowns should stick together.
4. Enjoy with plenty of ketchup.

Picky Kid Quad approved!

Homemade pizza, $6.12 two pizzas

 

We are pizza people, for sure. We have homemade pizza at least once a week. Pizza is great because you can customize it for your family and what you have on hand. In the picture above, I had some leftover turkey ham and turkey bacon that I used as a topping on one pizza. The other I left plain cheese, a homage to Kevin from Home Alone. (Guess what we watched today?) Here's how I make our pizza crust and sauce. YUM!

Homemade Pizza

Crust:

•  1 1/2 cups of warm water
• 1 pk yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast)
• 1 TBS oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed

Dissolve yeast in warm water in your stand mixer bowl. Stir in oil and salt. Add 3 cups of flour. Don't mix, but attach the bowl to the mixer. Mix with the stand's kneading hook until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, adding more flour in needed. Pull dough off the hook and form into a ball in the bowl. Drizzle with some oil and turn to coat dough and bowl. Cover and place in a draft-free, warm area until dough is doubled, about an hour.

Punch dough down; divide it into two pieces and press onto two greased, round 12 inch pizza pans.

Lazy-gal's Pizza Sauce:

• 8 oz can tomato sauce
• garlic powder
• oregano

Pour half of tomato sauce on each pizza crust. Sprinkle each with garlic powder and oregano and then spread the sauce evenly over dough with the back of a spoon.

Toppings

• 3 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella
• Turkey Pepperoni (or toppings of your choice)

Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese on each pizza, then top with pepperonis or other toppings you have chosen.

Bake in preheated 425 degree oven on lowest shelf for 13-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned. Makes two 12 inch pizzas.

Total: $6.12 two pizzas,  $.38 per slice (calculated at Aldi's prices)

Nutrition Info
1 slice, CALORIES 179, FAT 5.3g, SODIUM 372, CARBS 21g, FIBER 1, PROTIEN 11g, Weight Watch points plus 5

 

No Bake Granola Bars

I've been on the look out for a good granola bar recipe. I knew that making our own bars would be cheaper and better for us. How knows what all they put in the ones you buy from the store. After a few fails, I found a no-bake recipe and modified it a little. The results are super yummy and the Picky Kids Quad begged for more.

Quick and Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

• 2 cups quick oats
• 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

 Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil leaving a 2-inch overhang. In a large mixing bowl, toss together oats and Rice Krispies, set aside. In a separate microwave safe mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, corn syrup, brown sugar and salt. Heat mixture on HIGH power for 1 minute, remove and stir. Return to microwave and heat on HIGH power 1 minute longer. Remove from microwave, pour in vanilla and whisk mixture for 30 seconds. Pour peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and toss well to evenly coat. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, firmly press mixture into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze 10 - 15 minutes to make it easier to cut. Lift bars from dish using foil overhang and cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.



Total: $1.84, $.12 a bar

Compare to Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, which are about $.22 a bar at Walmart.com. (maybe more in stores, I'll check it out.)

Cheesy Pepperoni Pasta Bake

This started out as an idea for a meatless meal until I realized that I would have pepperoni leftover from pizza this week. The Picky Kid Quad liked this because it reminded them of pizza.

 

Cheesy Pepperoni Pasta Bake

16 oz whole wheat rontini or penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
24 or 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
4 oz turkey pepperoni (1/2 bag, save the other half for homemade pizza)
2 cups shredded mozzarella

Stir the pasta and sauce together and pout into a 13 x 9 inch pan. Lay pepperonis over pasta and top with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Simple and delicious. Serves 8.

Total: $4.53, $.57 per serving

Nutrition Facts
1/8 of recipe, CALORIES 235, FAT 9.3g, PROTEIN 16g, CARBS 25g, FIBER 3.4g,
SODIUM 786mg, WW Points Plus 6 points

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

Our Kroger region regularly has boneless pork chop buy one get one free. I usually take advantage of this sale and make these chops. Freeze leftovers to use in other dishes.

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

1 cup dry bread crumbs

3/4 cups grated Parmesan 

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup milk

2 lbs boneless pork loin chops

Oil

 Mix bread crumbs, Parmesan, salt and pepper in a small. Pour milk in another bowl. Dip pork in milk and then in crumb mixture, coating both sides. Heat oil in pan. Add pork chops and cook turning to cook both sides.  Serves 8.

Total: $5.13, $.64 per serving

Nutrition Facts
1 chop, CALORIES 276, FAT 13, SODIUM 428, CARBS 9.7, FIBER .625, PROTIEN 28.8, Weight Watchers Points + 7 points

Creamsicle Smoothies

 

My family loves these drinks. When all four of the Picky Kids Quad like something, I take note. Creamsicle Shakes are awesome for a snack or with breakfast. We've even made them for dessert. At a serving, it's easy to make room for them in the grocery budget. 

 

Creamsicle Smoothies

1/2 can frozen orange juice concentrate, undiluted

1 cup water

1 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

10-12 ice cubes

In a blender mix all ingredients except the ice cubes until mixed. Add ices cubes two at a time until thickened. Enjoy! Makes 4 servings.

Total: $.87, $.22 per serving!

Out of This World Waffles: $.14 a serving

Love me some waffles. How could I not? My very picky kids eat them, and they are only $.14 a serving! Plus these waffles are only 6 Weight Watcher Points Plus points if eaten with sugar free syrup! I've even been known to make waffles for dinner. Why not? :)

Out of this World Waffles
 Taken from Country Living Cookbook 2001

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour         ($.16, Aldi, $1.29 five pound bag)
1 TBS plus 1 tea. baking power   (price not calculated)
3/4 tea. salt                                (price not calculated)
1 1/2 TBS sugar                         (price not calculated)
2 large eggs, beaten                  ($0, we have chickens)
2 1/2 cups of milk                      ($.39, Aldi, $2.49 gallon) 
3/4 cuo vegetable oil                  ($.30, Aldi, $2.39 bottle)
Sugar-free syrup                        ($.09 for 1/8 cup, Walmart brand, $2.14)

Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl.

Combine eggs, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture, stirring with a wire wisk just until moistened.

Cook in preheated, oiled waffle iron until golden. Yield: 16 (4-inch) waffles.

Total: $2.29, just $.14 per serving

Nutrition Facts
1 waffle, CALORIES 203, FAT 11.5g, PROTEIN 4g, CARBS 24g, FIBER 2g,
SODIUM 163mg, WW Points Plus 6 points

Budget tip: Make this even cheaper to make by using milk made from powdered milk Save the "real" milk to drink with the waffles.

Leftover Tip:  Throw any leftover waffles in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to one month. Reheat them in the toaster. So easy!