Balsamic, Bacon & Tomato Bruschetta

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Balsamic, Bacon & Tomato Bruschetta 

Here's another yummy dish we made for our Super Bowl party.  French bread was on sale and so was the bacon.  The rest of ingredients we had on hand.

Hubby and the kids helped out in the kitchen so that brought everything together pretty quick.  These make great party appetizers.  One of my personal favorites.


(Just one note of caution, ours were gone in less than five minutes!)

If you don't have all of these ingredients just substitute anything you'd like. I'm sure it will be delicious. :o)

Ingredients:

1 French baguette, cut diagonally into slices 1/2" thick
1 clove garlic, peeled and cut in half
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
10-12 cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in 3 slices each
2 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 and 1/2 tsp. brown sugar
Good pinch of Kosher salt and black pepper
Couple of fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1 T. dried)

Directions:

Place baguettes on baking sheet and toast for a few minutes on each side, at 400 degrees.

While bread is toasting, mix dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl and set aside.  (Vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper.)

Remove bread from oven and rub cut side of garlic clove on top of each slice. Spread with softened cream cheese, then sprinkle with crumbled bacon and top with tomatoes.

Place on platter, drizzle with dressing, then top with chopped basil.

Submitted by Michelle Jones, Editor

What's for Dinner Tonight?
FrugalFamilyRecipes.com

BLT Wraps

BLT Wraps

by Michelle Jones, Founder of @BetterBudgeting

Category: Recipes, Frugal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings

Had a craving this week for a BLT sandwich (Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato). Decided to try it in a wrap. I used regular tortillas for the kids and whole wheat for me and hubby. Both were great. A quick and delicious meal for the whole family. Hope you'll try it!

Ingredients:

6 large flour tortillas (or whole wheat, or any other you like)
About half a head of lettuce, washed and separated into large pieces (no need to chop or tear)
2 large tomatoes, sliced
12 pieces of bacon (we had some leftover from a breakfast earlier in the week, probably the cause of my craving!)
Mayonnaise

Directions:

Cook bacon, drain on paper towel and set aside. Place 1 tortilla on plate (heated or not, either way is fine) then spread mayo on top, about 1 T., more or less as desired. Layer with large leaf of lettuce, a few tomato slices, then two pieces of bacon. You can also add other ingredients, such as cheese or different veggies, although then it wouldn't be a traditional BLT. ;o)

Fold in sides of tortilla, or roll, to make a wrap. Then eat and enjoy!

Chicken Lasagna Roll-Ups

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Chicken Lasagna Roll-Ups

Be sure not to use no bake lasagna noodles.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Filling:

15 ounces ricotta cheese

1 egg

2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

4 T. shredded mozzarella, plus  1/2 c.

2 T. Hormel bacon crumbles, plus 2 T.

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 1/2 c. shredded chicken (can be leftover)     

                                                                          

Sauce:

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. flour

1 c. chicken stock

1 c. milk

14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes with garlic

1 tsp. all-purpose seasoning

1/2 tsp. each of salt and pepper

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/2 c. grated Parmesan

Directions:

Melt butter in a medium sauce pan. Add flour and stir over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes. Add chicken stock and milk to butter/flour mixture, continue to cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a full boil, stirring constantly, continue to cook  for 1 min. Turn off heat and add diced tomatoes, all-purpose seasoning, salt, pepper, allspice and grated Parmesan. Set sauce aside to cool slightly.

In the meantime, start your lasagna noodles and cook according to box. Next, in a mixing bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg, Parmesan, mozzarella, oregano and bacon crumbles. Drain noodles and start assembling roll-ups in a 13x9 pan, place heaping T. of ricotta mixture and 1 T. of shredded chicken into one end of noodle and roll up, place seam side down in pan. Continue with the rest of your noodles and filling. Then spoon sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining 2 T. of bacon and mozzarella cheese.

Bake  for 45-50 minutes covered with foil (spray foil with non-stick spray), then remove foil and put on broil for additional 5 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Submitted by Gina Siska

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www.BetterBudgeting.com
www.GrocerySavingTips.com

Quick and Easy Chicken Cacciatore

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Quick and Easy Chicken Cacciatore

Hi there! First, let me say, I love your sites! Here is a quick, easy and pretty inexpensive recipe that I just love to prepare and my family loves to eat!!  Serves 8.

Ingredients:

1 T. olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 large (or 2 small) sweet onion, cut in half vertically then sliced thin on a mandolin
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning, with half of the juice
1 can plain diced tomatoes, drained
1-1/2 T. dried Italian Seasoning spices
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

In a Dutch Oven, heat oil, brown onion and garlic, slightly. Add chicken and brown lightly on both sides, 3-5 minutes. In a bowl, mix tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and spices. Pour tomatoes over chicken, stir to coat. Cover. Place Dutch Oven in a 325-degree oven for 2 hours, removing cover the last 15-20 minutes to evaporate some of the juice, if necessary. Serve over spaghetti. (You can also put this in a slow cooker for 6 hours on low. Follow same instructions for browning the chicken and adding tomatoes, then place all ingredients into slow cooker instead of oven.)

Submitted by Tammy Bish
http://www.frugalfamilyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Noodles with Tomato Soup, Corn, Cheese

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Ricky's Ship Wreck

3 cups elbow noodles
2 small cans of tomato soup  
1 can of corn
1 cup shredded cheese

Cook noodles, mix soup and corn. Top with cheese.

Submitted by Kristal McCune
http://www.FrugalFamilyRecipes.blogspot.com

Meatless Lasagna with Tomatoes and Basil

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Meatless Lasagna with Tomatoes and Basil

Michelle, I just found your BetterBudgeting.com website. I just thought I would share a cheap and delicious meal that took less than 10 minutes prep. I bought 2 jars of Ragu reduced fat Parmesan Alfredo, a 4 pack of tomatoes, 1 pack fresh basil, a package of shredded Italian cheeses and 1 box oven ready lasagna noodles.

Use a 13x9 pan, spread some sauce, layer using noodles, sauce, sliced tomatoes and basil leaves. Top w/grated cheese. Cover and bake according to box directions. Hubby was at first upset there wasn't meat in it. My dad owns DQ's in NE Texas and I keep frozen grilled chicken breast from the store and debated over cutting some to add in, would have been good but it was fine without! About $10 to fix and had enough for 2 meals for my family of 4.

Submitted by Tonya King

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Lasagna is a dish that can be adapted in so many ways, and your version sounds yummy, Tonya! When you grow your own basil and/or tomatoes you save even more! :o) - Michelle

Veggie Pasta and Minestrone Soup

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Pasta La Vista

I learned the original recipe for this from a vegetarian cookbook I had in my vegetarian days; I've since edited it a lot, to suit my needs. The great thing about this recipe is that you can change out almost every ingredient for something you already have on hand, and it's super easy because you only need one pan.

You'll need:

1 large can diced tomatoes (I like the kind with green chilies)
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables (just about anything works great -- I use whatever mix is on sale that week)
1 bag of pasta (macaroni and penne or ziti type noodles work best)
Approximately 1 cup shredded cheese
A dash of hot sauce

Directions:

In a tall-sided skillet, mix the tomatoes, vegetables, and pasta with just enough water to cover the pasta. While the pasta and veggies are cooking, add spices -- oregano, salt, pepper, garlic or garlic powder, whatever you have handy. Once the pasta's almost done, lower the heat to a simmer and stir in a dash of hot sauce or your favorite salsa, then sprinkle enough grated cheese over the top to cover it. Turn off the heat, let the cheese melt down on it, and you're done!


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Minestrone Soup

Another recipe I picked up during my vegetarian years, this one's really easy and can feed an ARMY. Whenever I make it I always end up with enough leftovers for 2-3 days of work lunch, and it's 100x better reheated anyway.

You will need:

1 large can whole stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1-2 vegetable or chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 bag of pasta (macaroni or small shells are the best)
1 bag of frozen vegetables (whatever's on sale -- I like the frozen "stew" vegetables with the whole baby onions)
1 can of beans or chickpeas
Spices

Directions:

In a big soup pot, make the bouillon according to the package instructions (generally 1 cube to 1 cup water). Add the tomato sauce and tomatoes, cooking on medium heat until it begins to boil; mash up the whole tomatoes, then pour in the vegetables. Season to taste with oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper, and 1-2 whole bay leaves. Once vegetables start to cook, add the pasta and beans. Cook until the pasta's done.

Note: You may end up having to adjust the liquid, adding some water or more bouillon in order to get it "soupy" enough for your taste.


Submitted by Tiana Bodine

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Tiana, these recipes both sound delicious, thanks for sharing them with us! :o) - Michelle

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

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I just found your site yesterday, and what a resource it will be in the future! Being an 8–5 working mother, I often don't have time to make tough or complicated recipes (especially if we want to eat before 8 pm), and many times I am scrambling for ideas as well as ingredients. Anything quick, fast, cheap and with minimal prep time is enough to catch my eye!

I thought I would pass along this recipe, as it can be put into the slow-cooker slot as well as under Italian. Though I never "measure" any of my ingredients when cooking, I did my best to accommodate. Thanks so much for the site!


Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

No one will ever know that you made from "jarred" sauces. Almost everyone I know thinks I slaved all day making it from scratch using fresh tomatoes! This recipe is also the staple to most of my Italian meals, Lasagna, Baked Ziti or any other meal calling for a tomato based sauce.

1 (28 ounce) jar spag. sauce
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (10 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1/2 pound sausage, chopped into fine pieces (sometimes I use the links, and slice giving it more "gusto" in it's appearance, as well as making it look "more homemade")
1/2 pound ground turkey
2 onions, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, minced
3 cloves garlic, pressed
basil
oregano
Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 packet's of Sweet-n-Low OR 4 teaspoons of sugar or sweeten to your individual taste

(If you need more sauce, or need more liquid, add another jar of store bought spag. sauce, or can of tomato sauce … NEVER add water!!!)

1. In a slow cooker, combine diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Set slow cooker to High.
2. Place ground turkey and ground turkey sausage in a large, deep skillet. No need to add oil, just start it over low heat, and you should not have to drain! (If you use beef, you will need to drain.) Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Crumble browned meat finely, add onions, green pepper, and garlic until onions are translucent. Transfer to the slow cooker.
3. Season with spices.
4. Cover, and cook on low for no less than 7 hours. Should you need it quicker, cook on High for minimum of 3 hours. Remember, the longer it cooks, the better it will taste!

Submitted by Leona Ruslavage

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Your spaghetti sauce sounds fantastic, Leona! I make my own as well but just cook it slow on the stove top the old fashioned way. You can also substitute a large can or two of tomato sauce and up your spices in place of the jar sauce. Then your "homemade" sauce will be even more homemade, and a little cheaper! :o) - Michelle

Taco Rice Skillet

Featured Recipe...

Taco Rice Skillet

Brown:
1 pound ground beef, drain off fat

Add:
1 chopped onion
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 cup raw rice
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 cup water
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can ranch style beans (optional)

Cook together until rice is tender.

Serve with grated cheese, chopped fresh tomatoes and shredded lettuce on top (optional).

I also love to add sour cream and picante sauce to my serving.

Submited by Kim Pierce

Church Suppers - Spaghetti, Baked Spaghetti

Featured Comment by Christine...

Good afternoon!

This weekend our church had its yearly mission emphasis weekend. Every other year, the choir from Grundy Mountain Mission in Grundy, Va comes to sing for our morning service. They arrive on Saturday evening, so they need housing. This year there were 44 who needed meals and a place to stay. We signed up to keep two girls (all the boys were taken). Our 11 year old son wasn't too thrilled to begin with, but we ended up having a great time!

Not only did we need to feed and house the girls, but on Sunday evening there was a pitch-in at church. This required additional cooking! On Saturday, before the girls came, I put together my spaghetti sauce and put it in my crock pot and put it in the refrigerator. It's a very simple sauce that my sister told me about.

1 pound of sausage, browned
2 large cans of tomato sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
2 tsp. Italian seasoning (or to taste)
1 tsp. garlic powder (or to taste)
4 T. sugar (or to taste)
2 tsp. salt (or to taste)

On Sunday morning, I put the sauce on before church. When we got home, I fixed the spaghetti. I fixed enough for lunch and for the pitch-in. After the meal, I put the left-over sauce and spaghetti together, added cheese and baked. There was plenty for lunch and for the pitch-in, and I didn't have to spend a lot of money!!

(Thanks Christine, spaghetti made with sausage instead of or along with ground beef is always SO good! And you got two meals out of one by making baked spaghetti with the leftovers, delicious!)