Posted in Breakfast

Sunday Brunch: Steel Cut Oats To Go

Steel Cut Oats To Go

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1 2/3 cups steel-cut oats
4 cups water
Large pinch salt

Mix-Ins:
Milk or soy milk
Cinnamon or other spices
Raisins or other dried fruit
Walnuts or other nuts
Jam
Honey

Equipment:
5 pint-sized Mason jars with lids (I used wide-mouth jars)
Large saucepan
Ladle

Prep Day: Collect your jars and other equipment. I like pint-sized jars for this as they allow a little more room for adding nuts, raisins, and milk later. But you can also use half-pint jars.

Bring the oats, water and salt to a boil. Simmer for about 3 minutes then turn off the heat.

Ladle the oats and water into the jars. Cover the jars tightly with their caps and rings. Leave on the counter overnight. (This is how I make my oatmeal and I have had absolutely no problems with it, healthwise, but if for some reason you are not comfortable leaving hot oatmeal out overnight, you can also refrigerate the jars. The oatmeal won’t be quite as well cooked in the morning; it will be a thinner, less creamy oatmeal. But it will still be fine.)

The next morning, put into jars in the refrigerator. Till ready to use.

Serve Day: Open jar. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until quite hot. Add any milk, raisins, or other mix-ins. Enjoy!

Additional Notes: You can also add your raisins, cinnamon, or other mix-ins to the rest of the jars before putting them away in the refrigerator. Then all you have to do is grab one and go on your way out the door.

Posted in Tips and Tricks

Side Dish ‘n’ Saturdays: Lemon Cornmeal Waffles

Lemon Cornmeal Waffles

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Makes about 6 waffles (actual yield depends on your waffle iron)

2 cups almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Prep Day: Preheat waffle iron. Combine almond milk, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup. Allow this mixture to sit while you combine the rest of the ingredients, so that it has a chance to curdle, making “buttermilk.” Mix the dry ingredients together. Add in the wet ingredients, and stir until well-combined. Spray the waffle iron with a bit of non-stick cooking spray, and start cooking up those waffles.

You can freeze these, wrapped individually, for quick breakfasts or snacks later on.

Serve Day: Just reheat by toasting in a toaster or oven, just like you would a store-bought frozen waffle. Serve with BBQ Chicken or Fried Chicken.

Posted in - Poultry, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas

Barbecue Chicken Quesadilla

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Serves 4

1 red onion, thinly sliced -$.99
2 tbsp butter -$.22
1 cup cooked chicken, chopped -$1.56
1 cup barbecue sauce -$1.16
2 cups monterey jack cheese -$2.39
8 flour tortillas -$3.39

Total Cost -$9.31
Cost Per Serving -$2.33

Prep Day: Melt butter over low-medium heat on stove.

Saute onions in butter about 5-7 minutes, until cooked.

Meanwhile, add chicken and barbecue sauce to pan on stovetop. Heat over low-medium heat until warmed through.

Cool chicken mix, package with tortillas for freezing. Freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw.

Fill tortilla with some of the barbecue chicken mixture, cheese, and onions.

Cover with additional tortilla.

Cook quesadilla for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned and flip over.

Cook another 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

Using pizza cutter, slice into quarters and enjoy!