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Mediterranean Pizza

by Kristl on March 16,  2012
mediterranean pizza recipe

Mediterranean Pizza
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Recipe type: Main
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
Pizza is my favorite food, and I love experimenting with different toppings! Mediterranean Pizza is a delicious combination of hummus, feta, tomatoes and black olives!
Ingredients
  • your favorite pizza crust* (homemade, store bought)
  • olive oil (to brush on crust)
  • garlic salt (to sprinkle on crust)
  • 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt, to taste
  • 4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
  • 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives or kalamata olives, sliced
Instructions
  1. Brush pizza crust with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt.
  2. Lightly bake pizza crust at 425 for 10 minutes.
  3. While the crust is baking, prepare the hummus by combining the garbanzos, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice in a food processor and pureeing until smooth.**
  4. Add salt to taste.
  5. Spread hummus on lightly baked crust.
  6. Sprinkle with feta and mozzarella.
  7. Top with diced tomatoes and olives.
  8. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
Notes

*My favorite pizza crust starts as a ball of dough that I buy at my grocery store for $1 – ask at your deli counter or check the freezer section!

**If you want to take a short cut, purchase an 8 oz. container of hummus. Of course, The Budget Diet way is homemade – cheaper and tastier!

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Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich

by Kristl on March 9,  2012
italian grilled cheese

Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich
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Recipe type: sandwich
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 3 mins
Total time: 8 mins
Serves: 1
Italian Grilled Cheese is a tasty and grown-up variation on the traditional grilled cheese sandwich. Delicious served with a cup of Tomato Basil Soup.
Ingredients
  • 2 slices Italian bread, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon pesto (store bought or homemade)
  • 1 slice Provolone cheese
  • 1 slice of tomato
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
  1. Spread one slice of bread with the pesto.
  2. Top with provolone cheese, tomato and the other slice of bread.
  3. Brush the outsides of the bread with butter, and grill in a skillet until golden brown.
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10 Minute Taco Soup – Vegetarian

by Kristl on March 2,  2012
recipes for lent

10 Minute Taco Soup (vegetarian)
5.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: Soup
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 4
Just 6 ingredients for this vegetarian 10 minute Taco Soup that will taste like it simmered all day! If you’re not in the mood for a meatless meal, add some chicken!
Ingredients
  • 1, 32 oz. container vegetable broth
  • 1, 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 11 oz. can of corn
  • 1 1/2 cups of salsa
  • 8 oz. sharp cheddar cut into small cubes
  • tortilla chips, crushed
Instructions
  1. Combine vegetable broth, black beans, corn and salsa in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Simmer 5 minutes.
  3. Put a handful of crushed tortilla chips and cheese cubes in the bottom of each bowl.
  4. Laddle soup over the tortilla chips and cheese.
Notes

A great meatless meal to serve during Lent!

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Homemade Granola

by Kristl on February 29,  2012
homemade hostess gifts

Homemade Granola
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Recipe type: Breakfast
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 6
I’m always tempted by the homemade granola samples at Whole Foods until I see the price! Thankfully, I’ve created a quick and easy homemade granola recipe that tastes just as good for a fraction of the price. When you make your own granola, you can create different fruit and nut combinations to make the granola recipe your very own. If you’re looking for a great hostess gift, put some of your homemade granola in a cellophane bag and tie it with ribbon. Any hostess will enjoy a nice breakfast the morning after a party!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup nuts, chopped – suggestions: chopped pecans, walnut or sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit – craisins and golden raisins are yummy!
  • 1/2 cup coconut (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. Mix together all ingredients except nuts, dried fruit and coconut
  3. Spread on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
  4. Bake 20 minutes, stirring once.
  5. Add dried fruit and coconut, bake 5 more minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and cool completely.
  7. Store in an airtight container.
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Black Beans and Rice

by Kristl on February 24,  2012
cinco de mayo recipe

Black Beans and Rice
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Recipe type: Main Dish, vegetarian
Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 6
A delicious 10 minute vegetarian recipe that’s perfect for Lent or your Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • Optional: serve over rice and top with sour cream, shredded mexi-cheese and diced tomatoes.
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil.
  2. Brown garlic, oregano and peppers. This only takes a couple of minutes.
  3. Add black beans and balsamic vinegar.
  4. Optional: serve over rice and top with sour cream, shredded mexi-cheese and diced tomatoes.
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Recipes for Lent

by Kristl on February 23,  2012

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…
 
 
Black Bean Tart
Black Bean Tart – colorful & delicious!

Cheese and Corn Quesadilla
Cheese and Corn Quesadilla Recipe – you won’t even miss the meat!

Fettucine Alfredo
Fettucine Alfredo – if you’ve never made Fettucine Alfredo, you’ll be surprised how easy it is!

Spinach Quiche
Spinach Quiche – great for dinner or brunch!

Make Your Own Burrito Bar
Make Your Own Burrito Bar – a fun & festive dinner idea!

Crock Pot Red Beans & Rice
Crock Pot Red Beans & Rice – just leave out the sausage and toss in some Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patties, crumbled!

Southwest Salad
Southwest Salad – beans for protein, cheese for dairy and lots of veggies!

Lazy Day Lasagna
Lazy Day Lasagna – super fast!

Pizza Fun 101
Pizza Fun 101 – think beyond the veggie lovers pizza, think white pizza, Mexican pizza or Mediterranean pizza!

Black Bean Soup
Black Bean Soup – just 3 ingredients!

Frozen Fake Meat
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!
  • Best Veggie Chicken: Morningstar Farms Buffalo Chicken Wings – great for a quick lunch! 1 minute in the microwave, and they’re done!
  • My Favorite: Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burger – delicious crumbled in the Southwest Salad or use it to make a Southwest Wrap!

 
Don’t Forget Eggs

  • Eggs are a wonderful source of protein, so consider serving breakfast for dinner!

    •  
    What are your favorite meat free meals? Please leave a comment with a link to your favorite vegetarian recipes.
    ~~~~~~~

    Image courtesy of: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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    Why do we eat pancakes on Fat Tuesday?

    by Kristl on February 20,  2012

    Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, a.k.a Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. It always falls on the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent.

    So, why do we eat pancakes on Fat Tuesday?

    Lent is a 40 day period of self-denial, and during Lent many Christians abstain from eating meat on Fridays. In the early church, many abstained from eating all animal products during Lent including lard, egg and dairy.

    Hmmm…lard, eggs and dairy…just the ingredients you need to make pancakes! Families would have pancake feasts on Fat Tuesday trying to use up all their lard, eggs and dairy before Lent began.

    Now you know how the tradition of eating pancakes on Fat Tuesday began!

    In the spirit of Fat Tuesday, why don’t you have a pancake feast tonight? Try my homemade pancake and syrup recipe – it’s a frugalicious and fast dinner!

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    Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice

    by Kristl on February 17,  2012
    crock pot red beans and rice

    Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice
    Print
    Recipe type: Main
    Author: Kristl Story, TheBudgetDiet.com
    Prep time: 10 mins
    Cook time: 7 hours
    Total time: 7 hours 10 mins
    Serves: 4
    An easy Red Beans and Rice Recipe that’s frugalicious, fast and perfect for Mardi Gras! If you want to reduce your prep time to just 5 minutes, opt for the frozen chopped bell pepper, frozen chopped onion and dried minced garlic.
    Ingredients
    • 1 lb. dried red kidney beans
    • 1 lb. smoked sausage sliced in 1″ pieces (turkey sausage, Andouille sausage, your choice!)
    • 4 celery stalks, sliced
    • 2 green bell pepper, diced or use 1 cup of frozen chopped bell pepper
    • 1 onion, diced or use 1 cup of frozen chopped onion
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tablespoon of dried minced garlic
    • 1 T. Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning
    • 2 cups rice, cooked
    Instructions
    1. Combine all ingredients (except rice) in a crock pot.
    2. Add 7 cups water.
    3. Cover and cook on high 7 – 8 hours or until beans are tender.*
    4. Serve over rice.
    Notes

    *Crock Pot cooking times vary greatly, and your beans may be done in as little as 3 hours! Start checking your beans after 3 hours and make a note on your recipe with the exact cooking time for your crock pot.

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    Photo courtesy of nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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