by Kristl on February 7, 2012
Chocolate is for Lovers Week continues on The Budget Diet, and if you’re looking for a quick and easy chocolate treat…make heart shaped fudge!
Recipe type: candy
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 6 mins
Serves: 48 squares
If you’ve never made homemade fudge, this is the recipe to try! It’s easy, foolproof and only takes 5 minutes…no candy thermometer required! The average price per pound of fudge from a candy shop is $8 a pound, and this recipe makes 1 1/2 lbs. for about $4!
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1, 5 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Line an 8″ square pan with heavy duty aluminum foil.
- Combine butter, evaporated milk, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly.
- Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in miniature marshmallows and chocolate chips until melted and smooth.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Stir in nuts, if desired.
- Pour into pan.
- Refrigerate 2 hours.
- Cut into squares or use a heart shape cookie cutter for a Valentine’s treat.
recipe adapted from Nestle’s Carnation Famous Fudge
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by Kristl on February 6, 2012
Fudge Pie – It’s another frugalicious and fast recipe from The Budget Diet, and it’s the perfect Valentine’s dessert!
Recipe type: Dessert
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 35 mins
Serves: 8
Fudge Pie is frugal because it’s made with ingredients that we almost always have on hand! Fudge Pie is fast…30 minutes total preparation and baking time! If you need to satisfy your chocolate craving make a Fudge Pie! Totally indulge by serving with ice cream and hot fudge!
- 1, 9″ frozen pie crust, unbaked (do not buy deep dish)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares, melted
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs 1 minute.
- Add flour, sugar, vanilla, melted butter and melted chocolate and beat until combined.
- Pour into unbaked pie crust.
- Bake 25 – 30 minutes or until center is almost set.
- Cool 1 hour.
- Top with vanilla ice cream and homemade hot fudge sauce to serve.
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For an extra dose of decadence, drizzle with The Budget Diet’s homemade hot fudge sauce!
“All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” (Lucy in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)
by Kristl on February 5, 2012
Today kicks off “Chocolate is for Lovers” week on The Budget Diet! Each day, I’ll feature a frugalicious chocolate treat perfect for Valentine’s Day! Lucy from Peanuts said it best, “All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!
Recipe type: Dessert
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 4
Give this 10 minute hot fudge recipe a try, and you’ll never buy the stuff in a jar again…I promise! Delicious on ice cream or just about any dessert that needs a little extra chocolate like my Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie or Fudge Pie.
- 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- Melt chocolate & butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat (stir constantly).
- Add sugar, stir constantly until blended.
- Add milk, stir constantly 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved (do not boil).
- Remove from heat, stir in vanilla & salt.
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Enjoy!
by Kristl on January 29, 2012
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 snack…my Super Bowl recipes are all frugalicious and fast (of course!).
by Kristl on January 28, 2012
Recipe type: Appetizer
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 35 mins
Don’t settle for chips and dip at your Super Bowl Party…wow your friends with super easy, super yummy and super cheap Pepperoni Rolls! These are always a favorite with teens!
- 1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
- 8 oz. sliced pepperoni
- 8 oz. sliced provolone
- Marinara sauce for dipping
- Press dough out on a greased cookie sheet to form a 15″ x 12″ rectangle.
- Place half the pepperoni lengthwise down the center third of the rectangle and top with half of the provolone.
- Fold one side of the dough over the filling. Pinch the edges to seal.
- Top with the remaining pepperoni and provolone.
- Fold the remaining dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal.
- Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool 10 minutes, then slice & serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
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by Kristl on January 27, 2012
Cook Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork is sure to satisfy your Super Bowl crowd!
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Recipe type: Main
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 8 hours
Total time: 8 hours 5 mins
Serves: 6
Easy recipe for BBQ Pulled Pork – throw a few ingredients in your crockpot this morning, and it will be ready by dinnertime. No slaving over a hot stove!
- 3 lb. boneless pork roast or pork shoulder (very inexpensive if you buy them on sale!)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 12 oz. can Dr. Pepper
- 2, 18 oz. bottles of your favorite BBQ sauce (my family likes Cattleman’s Kansas City BBQ)
- Buns for serving
- Put roast in crock pot.
- Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper.
- Pour Dr. Pepper and 1 bottle of BBQ sauce on meat.
- Cook on low 6 – 8 hours. Note: Meat is done when it shreds easily using the back of a spoon.
- Drain and return to crock pot.
- Using the back of a spoon, shred the meat in the crock pot.
- Add the other bottle of BBQ sauce.
- Reduce heat to warm until ready to serve.
- Serve on buns.
If you’re serving BBQ Pulled Pork for your Super Bowl Party, use small slider buns and this recipe will easily feed 12.
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by Kristl on January 26, 2012
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl Party, why don’t you set up a “Make Your Own Nacho Bar” using this easy Taco Meat Recipe and all sorts of yummy nacho toppings!
Recipe type: Main
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Serves: 4
You’ll love this quick and easy 3-ingredient Taco Meat Recipe! Use it for traditional tacos or use it for a Make Your Own Nacho Bar.
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup picante sauce
- 1, 16 oz. can chili beans (do not drain)
- Nacho Toppings:
- Grated Mexi-Cheese
- Shredded Lettuce
- Chopped Tomato or Pico de Gallo
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Jalapenos
- Black Olives
- Brown ground beef and drain.
- Add picante sauce and beans.
- Simmer 10 minutes.
- If you’re using the Taco Meat for a Nacho Bar, keep it warm in a crock pot and set out assorted toppings for your guests to make their own “Nacho Mountain!”
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by Kristl on January 25, 2012
In Texas, Chili is a “must-have” for any Super Bowl Party!
Recipe type: Soup
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Total time: 50 mins
Serves: 6
Chili is the official state food of Texas, and it’s a great comfort food on a cold night! My Chili recipe starts with a homemade chili seasoning mix, and it is best served “Frito Pie Style!”
- 2 lbs. ground beef or lean ground beef
- 1/3 cup chili seasoning mix (see The Budget Diet’s Chili Seasoning Recipe, link below)
- 2 cans Rotel tomatoes (mild or hot depending on how spicy you like your chili)
- 1, 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1, 16 oz. can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1, 16 oz. can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
- optional: fritos and shredded cheddar cheese for serving
- Brown ground beef and drain.
- Sprinkle ground beef with chili seasoning mix and stir to combine.
- Stir in Rotel, tomato sauce, black beans and pinto beans.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In Texas we love to use our chili to make Frito Pie…simply put a handful of Fritos in the bottom of your bowl, top with chili and cheese.
recipe adapted fro Southern Living
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The Budget Diet’s homemade Chili Seasoning Recipe
