Posted in Breakfast, Side Dish

Side Dish ‘n’ Saturdays: Potatoes O’Brien

Potatoes O’Brien

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Serves 8

6 large russet (baking) potatoes
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch dice
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Prep Day: Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Drain, then set aside until cool. Once cool, cut into 1/2-inch dice.

Combine the potatoes, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion in a mixing bowl. Drizzle in the vegetable oil, and gently stir until evenly coated. Spoon the mixture into resealable freezer bags. Store the mixture in the freezer.

Serve Day: To prepare, cook the frozen mixture in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until crispy and golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.

Posted in - Red Meat, Budget Friendly

Frugal Fridays: Healthier Burger

Healthier Quarter Pounder

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Adapted from Pennies & Pancakes

Makes 4 burgers

1 lb ground beef (I like 85/15 for burgers) – $2.25 sale
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce – $0.22
1/4 onion, finely diced – $0.13
1 beaten egg – FREE (we have laying hens)
salt and pepper – $0.02
4 toasted buns – $0.67

CONDIMENTS:
tomato – FREE (we have an organic garden)
purple onion – $0.16
pickles – $0.47
lettuce – FREE (we have an organic garden)
ketchup – $0.09
mustard – $0.04

Total Cost: $4.02
Per Quarter Pounder: $1.01

Prep Day: In a bowl, combine all the ingredients EXCEPT the salt and pepper, and mix together. Don’t overwork the meat! Form into four, 1/2-inch thick patties. Lightly season the patties with salt and pepper. Wrap each patti in plastic wrap and place in freezer bag. Freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw. Place the patties on a medium-high pre-heated griddle, skillet, or grill. Make an indentation in the middle of the patties with your thumb to avoid a bulge in the center. It will come back up as the burger cooks.

Turn once, cooking about 5-6 minutes per side for medium burgers. Don’t press the burgers down with a spatula while they cook… unless you like dry burgers better than juicy ones… which isn’t likely.

Serve immediately on warm, toasted buns with tomato, purple onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mustard.

Posted in Dessert

Tasty Treat Thursdays: Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

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Cake mix ingredients:
18.5 oz. Chocolate cake mix
1 T. Cocoa powder, unsweetened
1-1/3 C. Milk
1/2 C. Vegetable oil
3 Eggs
1 t. Vanilla extract

Frosting:
1 C. Peanut Butter, creamy
1/2 C. Butter, softened
2 C. Powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 C. Milk
2 t. Vanilla extract

Prep Day

Cake: Combine all ingredients for cake mix; beat together until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with oil and pour in cake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Cake should be done when the center springs back to the touch and the sides are just starting to pull away from the pan.

Frosting: Blend peanut butter and butter with an electric mixer. Add in milk and vanilla; mix together. Add in the powder sugar and beat until frosting is fluffy. This is a thick frosting, but if it seems too thick add in another tablespoon of milk.

To Freeze: Allow cake to cool completely then spread frosting on top. This is a sheet cake so frosting is only applied to the top. Frosting should be spread on thickly, about an inch deep. Flash freeze to set frosting then cover with foil, label and freeze.

Serve Day – Thaw completely to serve.