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Category : Recipes

Pesto Pasta with Cannellini Beans

by Kristl on March 8,  2013

lenten recipes

Pesto Pasta with White Beans
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Recipe type: Main
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Serves: 6
If you’re a vegetarian or if you like to incorporate a few vegetarian meals in your menu…Pesto Pasta with White Beans is packed with protein and fiber, and it’s sure to please the entire family. It’s also an ideal no-meat recipe for Lent. If you want to sneak in a few veggies stir in lightly steamed asparagus or fresh chopped spinach.
Ingredients
  • 1, 16 oz. box of pasta (use whole wheat for a super-healthy version!)
  • 1, 15 oz. can cannellini beans or other white bean, drained and rinsed
  • ¾ cup pesto*
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Drain pasta and stir in beans and pesto.
  3. Enjoy!
Notes
Costco sells large jars of delicious and affordable pesto, and you can freeze whatever you don’t use!

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Mexican Pasta

by Kristl on March 1,  2013

lenten recipes

Mexican Pasta
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Recipe type: Main
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Serves: 6
With just 4 ingredients, you’ll have this family friendly vegetarian dinner on the table in no time! Why don’t you serve it on a Friday during Lent?
Ingredients
  • 1, 16 oz. box of pasta (shells, rotini, penne or bow tie work best!)
  • 1, 16 oz. jar of salsa (your favorite!)
  • 1, 15 oz. can of black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1, 8 oz. package of shredded mexican blend cheese or cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Drain.
  3. Stir in salsa and black beans and heat for a few minutes.
  4. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
  5. Enjoy!
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How to Cook Beans in a Crock Pot

by Kristl on February 27,  2013

cooking beans in a crock pot

How to Cook Beans in a Crock Pot
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Recipe type: side dish
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Cooking dried beans in a crock pot doesn’t really require a recipe, and it doesn’t require soaking beans overnight. After you make them once, you can file the “recipe” away with How to Cook Rice or How to Make Scrambled Eggs because it’s that easy! No more soaking beans overnight or simmering on the stove for hours.
Ingredients
  • dry beans – your choice…black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black eyed peas or your favorite dried bean!
  • seasonings of your choice
Instructions
  1. rinse beans
  2. place beans in crock pot (no more than ⅓ full)
  3. add water to cover beans plus an additional 2 inches
  4. cover and cook on high for 3 – 5 hours*
Notes
*cooking times vary by crock pot, so start checking your beans after 3 hours! Don’t forget to make a note about cooking time on this recipe, so you’ll know exactly how long beans take in your crock pot.

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Spinach Quiche Recipe – Vegetarian

by Kristl on February 21,  2013

recipes for lent
It’s Friday, another meat free day on this journey we call Lent! This week’s recipe for Lent is Spinach Quiche, a delicious vegetarian version! It is very thin and not too “eggy.”

Spinach Quiche Recipe – Vegetarian
5.0 from 1 reviews

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Recipe type: Main, Vegetarian, Brunch
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Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2, 9″ frozen pie crusts, lightly baked (not deep dish)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1, 10 oz. bag fresh baby spinach
  • 4 eggs
  • ⅔ cup cream or milk
  • 1⅓ cups feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425.
  2. Sprinkle ⅔ cup of feta cheese on the bottom of each lightly baked pie crust.
  3. Saute red bell pepper in olive oil until soft.
  4. Add spinach and stir until wilted.
  5. Arrange spinach and red bell pepper mixture on top of feta.
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Whisk together eggs and cream or milk.
  8. Pour egg mixture over spinach.
  9. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350.
  10. Bake 10 more minutes or until set.
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Cooking with Veggie Meat

by Kristl on February 15,  2013

recipes for lent
According to Rachael Ray, going veggie just one night a week can save you over $1000 a year, and Lent is the perfect time to add some meat free meals to your menu!

Meat free doesn’t have to mean an expensive trip to Whole Foods for all sorts of exotic ingredients, and it doesn’t have to mean surprising your kids with tofu! Going vegetarian can be as simple as substituting veggie meat in your favorite recipes.

If you trust a girl that’s not eaten meat for over 30 years, then try my favorite meat substitutes found in your grocer’s freezer!

Best Veggie Burger: Morningstar Farms Original Grillers – you can grill ‘em, microwave ‘em or crumble ‘em like ground beef to use in your favorite recipe. I often make chili with these, and no one knows the difference! Morningstar also makes Recipe Crumbles, but I’m not a fan…they should taste just like the Original Grillers, but they don’t. When using Morningstar Farms Original Grillers in your recipes…microwave, crumble and remember that 1, 9 oz. package is the equivalent of 1 lb. of ground beef.

Best Veggie Chicken: Morningstar Farms Buffalo Chicken Wings or Chicken Patties – great for a quick lunch! 1 minute in the microwave, and they’re done! Another option…wrap them in a tortilla or serve the Chicken Patties on a bun for an easy sandwich.

My Favorite: Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burger – delicious crumbled in my Southwest Salad or use it to make a Southwestern Wrap!

Best Vegan Option: Amy’s American Veggie Burger – a bit pricier than Morningstar Farms, but absolutely delicious!

Do you have a favorite veggie meat?

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Recipes for Lent

by Kristl on February 12,  2013

meat free meals
According to Rachael Ray, going veggie just one night a week can save you over $1000 a year, and Lent is the perfect time to add some meat free meals to your menu!

If you’re giving up meat for Lent or just on Fridays, The Budget Diet will feature a vegetarian recipe each Friday for the next 6 weeks, and don’t worry, nothing weird like tofu and spouts!

Ready to get started? Tempt your taste buds with these frugalicious and fast meat free recipes for Lent…

What are your favorite meat free meals? Please leave a comment with a link to your favorite vegetarian recipes.
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Image courtesy of: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Chocolate Is For Lovers – A Collection of Chocolate Recipes

by Kristl on February 7,  2013

valentine's chocolate recipes
Lucy from Peanuts said it best, “All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt! Impress your Valentine with any of these frugalicious and fast chocolate desserts.

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Image courtesy of ponsuwan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Super Bowl Party Menu

by Kristl on January 28,  2013

dude food
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl Party, The Budget Diet girl is here to help you with a list of great Super Bowl recipes (aka Man Food!).

Go beyond the basic chips & dip, and stay away from those expensive prepackaged snacks…my Super Bowl recipes are all frugalicious and fast (of course!).

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Image courtesy of Idea Go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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