Meal Planning

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  • You’ve probably heard about the Cash Envelope System. It is a tried-and-true method to help you get practical and sticking to your budget. But how do you save money using the envelope system? Read on to learn about this pragmatic and straightforward system for staying on budget.     How Do You Save Money with the Envelope System?   How

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    You asked, and I’m answering: How do you plan a family meal on a budget? Since the pandemic hit in March 2020, most of us have had our families home pretty much 24/7. We used to get a break from cooking relying upon the school or work to fill in some of the gaps. Now we seem to be planning

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    Think back to January 2020: a time when sweatpants were reserved for couch time, when couch time was reserved for evening hours, and when toilet paper abounded in your go-to grocery store. Joking aside, COVID-19 has likely changed everything from your daily routine to your shopping habits. These shifts may have thrown your budget– and your finances– into a bit

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    Freezer cooking sounds like a great idea: prep meals in bulk, freeze, and reheat. But have you ever wondered if it works for every dish in your recipe collection? I’ll be sharing my best tips and tricks today to have you freezer cooking like a pro in no time!     When I first started trying to save money on

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    Have you ever heard of a Freezer Swap Party? I don’t know about you, but the idea of having a freezer stocked full of ready-to-go meals without my having to do a lot of extra prep work sounds pretty good to me! While I love freezer cooking as a way to save on my grocery budget, I had never heard

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    What is better in the winter than a good Homemade Chili Recipe?  From super bowl parties to chili cook-offs… chili is woven into the fabric of American winter culture.  And for good reason; it’s AWESOME and there are so many variations. And if you’ve been searching for a good “standard” type chili that everyone will like, look no further!  This

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    I love creating homemade gift mixes for the holidays.  They are such a fun and inexpensive way to show someone you care!  One of my favorites is this Homemade Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Mix.  Throughout the year, I look for mason jars in thrift stores, or I save my glass peanut butter jars.  Then I wash them out and use them

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    Once fall rolls around, you can bet my crock-pot is a staple on my counter.  My family can quickly tire of the rotation of fall crockpot meals like stews, chilis, soups, and the like. Imagine how excited I was when this became a popular dish in my family: a Caribbean citrus chicken recipe that is part of my freezer menu

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    I try to mix up our recipes as much as I can in our house. The rotation of beef, pork, chicken, pasta can get pretty monotonous. Stop spending hours scrolling Google and Pinterest looking for delicious baked chicken breast recipes. I am excited to share with you one of our family favorites: Parmesan and Lemon Baked Chicken!   Of all the

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    Growing up, we rarely used jarred tomato sauce because we always made our own homemade spaghetti sauce. When I was young, I never thought anything of it until I had jarred pasta sauce at a friend’s house and hated it. My dad was generally the one who always made our sauce; it was one of his favorite things to do

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    Aldi vs Walmart – Which Store is Less Expensive? I love both stores honestly. My kids are at the point of their life where they prefer name-brand food for chips and snacks, so I usually go both places.  In this blog post, I attempt to break down some of the most popular weekly grocery items at both stores. I wasn’t

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    So… you want to start a grocery budget but have no idea where to even start.  I was there just 6 short years ago when we were in a large amount of debt, so I completely understand how you are feeling.  You know you need to – and want to –  use your available money to pay down your debt,

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    I am so excited to share with you my Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread Recipe, which is one of my favorite fall foods!   After finding out I had a gluten intolerance issue, the first thing I thought about was my favorite Pumpkin Bread Recipe.   I am so happy that it turned out AMAZING!  The only difference is that it

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    Dump Recipes are just the best right? Like with this Crockpot Pulled Pork, just toss all of the ingredients in, no pre-cooking is required. Push a button and then walk away. And let me tell you, just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it ain’t delicious! In fact, this crockpot pulled pork recipe is just the opposite. A small amount of effort

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    My family LOVES Chinese food, they would order Chinese takeout every night if I let them. That is why I developed this Crockpot General Tso’s Chicken Recipe. It tastes just like the takeout version, but made in less time and for 1/4 of the price!     A lot of my recipes are dump recipes. Why? Because they are SO

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    Are you looking for an easy freezer cooking meal plan? Look no further because you have found the EASIEST meal plan out there! Not only will this save you time, but SO MUCH MONEY!     I am SO excited to share with you my latest freezer cooking meal plan! If you’ve never used one of my meal plans before,

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    Have you heard of Crack Chicken? If not, you are in for a real treat! I loved this recipe so much when I tried it, that I developed a little bit of a different spin on it and made it in my Instant Pot. I hadn’t found of a good Instant Pot Crack Chicken Recipe so I made my own!

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    Are you looking for a delicious Instant Pot Beef Empanadas recipe? Look no further because this is your lucky day! Make this Empanada Rice Bowl, top with a green Chimichuri sauce and and toasted tortilla chips! As a debt free life coach my #1 priority is to teach you ways to save money and get out of debt. One of

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    I work so hard to make every meal plan better than the last one. That’s why I’m so excited to bring you 20 Slow Cooker Gourmet Freezer Meals! And yes… these are “dump meals” – meaning, you prepping them requires no pre-cooking at all. Just dump the ingredients in freezer bags. Now this one does require you to spend a

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    If you’re getting carried away at the grocery store, I know the best budget meal planning strategies to help you cook for less.  The average family spends about $660 on food each month, according to the latest Consumer Expenditure Survey. How much you spend depends on where you live. Rural areas tend to have cheaper food prices when compared to

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    Pulled Pork Recipes are my favorite! I love a good pulled pork sandwich or pork nachos for dinner! YUM! I have a lot of pulled recipes that I rotate in my weekly meal plan, so I thought I would share them with you today! I eat gluten free so I eat my pulled pork without the bun but my kids love

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    Meal planning is a great way to save money on groceries but it can take up a lot of time, too. So today I put together a list of meals for dinner for you. Let’s face it – you’re busy, I’m busy, and kids can be fussy about what they eat. Balancing life’s demands while trying to feed your family

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    Even though I love dump recipes and my two other chicken parmesan recipes, this one is till my absolute favorite.  It is a classic recipe that we make for almost every single one of our dinner guests. Oh – here are my other two recipes before I forget: Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Casserole As a perfect compliment

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    In 2006 I moved from NY to the Carolinas. The one thing that stuck out to me when we first moved there was their barbecue. It was different from New York and I immediately had to know how to make it. My favorite recipe was this North Carolina Pulled Pork. I finally decided to share it with you all! You

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    I have been getting this question a lot, so I thought I would answer it in a blog post. The question is How to Convert Slow Cooker Recipes to an Instant Pot. It is pretty simple but in order to understand how this works, you need to know what the difference between how a Slow Cooker and an Instant Pot work. A

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    Do you love Crock Pot Recipes as much as I do? I use my Crock Pot 4 or 5 nights a week. It is the perfect way to cook when you have a large family and are typically busy during the day. I typically make a few of these dump recipes at once, stick them in the freezer, and then

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    A few weeks ago I posted a huge article titled Freezer Cooking 101 – Everything you need to Freezer Cook Like a Pro.  Freezing foods is a great way to buy things on sale and preserve them for later.  Most foods can be frozen with no problems.  It is important to note that some foods need preparation before being placed in the

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    Hey, friends! Did you know that groceries are the #2 highest budgeted item right underneath your mortgage? We spend the most money usually on these two items. If you use your meal planner and plan out everything ahead of time you can save SO much money! I made 20 meals for $150 from my Aldi freezer meal plan! It’s that

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    I have a large family and I often get asked How I Feed My Large Family on a Budget. The answer is that I plan plan plan. Planning is key when it comes to saving money on groceries, which is why I love to put together on of my freezer meal plans. I did my April budget planning video over

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    The creation of the ALDI meal plan really started when my husband and I were in $40,000 of debt and we were running at a $1,000 deficit each month. Something needed to change . The fastest way to cut down our deficit and see immediate results was at the grocery store. I started shopping deals, clipping coupons, and taking advantage of stock-up

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    Freezer meals are the best thing since the invention of the freezer. They make mealtime prep shorter and easier, not to mention the money you’ll save just by making crockpot freezer meals. If you’re a beginner or a freezer cooking veteran, implementing these Freezer Cooking Tips have saved me time, frustration, mess, and money. I have been freezer cooking and

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    What is better than a rib-sticking, hearty, complexly flavored bolognese? How about when it’s an Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce Recipe that will take literally 45 minutes from start to finish? And most of that time is spend cooking in the Instant Pot, so you don’t have to do anything. Too good to be true? Nope. You’ve got to give this

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    Tacos might be that one meal that everyone in my family agrees on. We might not have them every single week, but definitely at least twice a month. And instead of buying taco seasoning packets, I just started making it myself. I’ve experimented and tweaked this taco seasoning recipe so that it’s absolutely perfect. And although I know those taco seasoning

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    Slow Cooker Chili is quite possibly the best thing on the planet. Especially in the Fall and Winter, and Spring, and … well, I think I love chili anytime! I enjoy it so much because it is SO EASY to prepare, it is PACKED with flavor, and it’s so hearty. These three Slow Cooker Chili recipes are very different from

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    One question I am asked on a regular basis is, “How do I save on meat and produce at the grocery store?” I understand! Meat and produce can be quite expensive and rack up your grocery bill every week. If you think about it, it is kind of unfortunate that the healthiest and most natural foods are the most expensive

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    The Pork loin is an awesome cut of meat! It can be cooked so many different ways and works amazingly in the Crockpot or Instant Pot! With these recipes, there’s a little something for everyone. We’ve got sweet, savory, smokey, creamy, and Cuban recipes. With all those, something will definitely hit that craving! 6 of my all-time favorite Pork Loin Recipes 1.

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    If you’ve been following this website for any length of time, you might know my love affair with the Pot Roast. And Pot Roast in a Crockpot? It’s a match made in heaven! There are several reasons why the pot roast is so amazing: It’s cheap. Regular price, it’s around $5 per pound. But you can often find it on

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    I LOVE me some Philly Cheesesteak! And while I admit that I haven’t been to either Pat’s or Gino’s in Philadelphia, this slow cooker Cheese Steak Recipe is pretty incredible. And it’s basically a dump recipe, which is my favorite kind. Just throw everything in the slow cooker. I wasn’t actually able to make them for my family for dinner.

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    If you love a good pot roast but are looking for a new twist on it, you’ve got to give this Asian Pot Roast a try! Pot Roast is just amazing. I swear, every time I create a recipe using a chuck roast, I must sing its praises. It’s just got that rich, rib-sticking quality that leaves you so satisfied.

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    It was hard convincing my family to stray away from boxed macaroni and cheese.  I grew up with it.  My husband grew up with it.  It was basically what some of my kids survived on in their picky years. The tide turned for us when I saw Rachael Ray make homemade cheese sauce only one time, and I knew that

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    Your family will go wild for this Baked Orange Chicken Recipe.  The flavors are bright and delicious and it’s a tad bit healthier than takeout since there’s no deep frying involved! The ingredients for this recipe are pretty basic.  You might need to pick up a few things at the market, but I promise that all of these elements are necessary

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    This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip will be the most sought after food item at your Super Bowl party for sure! Sure, there might be other Buffalo Chicken Dip Crock Pot recipes out there, but there are a couple things that make this one absolutely perfectly creamy, spicy, and tangy. Do you want to know the secret? Well, it’s

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    I know that’s a bold statement, but I stand by it. I’ve made TONS of slow cooker recipes. You can’t just take a normal recipe you like and dump it in a crockpot. The slow cooker isn’t a magician’s hat. You can’t just throw in some ingredients, and *POOF* out comes a magical meal. Some things work with a slow cooker and

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    It’s not often that I rave about a product. But in this Instant Pot Review, you’ll see why I’m raving about my Instant Pot. I’ve had several readers over the past couple years tell me “Lauren, you gotta try the Instant Pot!” or, “Lauren, we need Instant Pot recipes!”, and I just didn’t get what all the fuss was about. But

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    A Prime rib dinner is just amazing. But let’s kick it up a notch, shall we? What about a Garlic Prime Rib Roast Recipe? How about a garlic crusted Prime Rib Roast with a Red Wine Reduction Sauce? Sure it sounds fancy, but it’s super easy! I’ll show you how to make this and get that perfectly cooked prime rib

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    Not all Crockpot meals are made equal. Just because someone threw ingredients in a Crockpot doesn’t mean it’s a crockpot meal… or even good for that matter. The slow cooker (or crockpot) is an amazing tool that can make your life so much easier and save you hundreds of dollars a month – if you know how to use it. I’ve been

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    I love me some Chicken Cordon Bleu. But I’ve always felt it could be better? I mean Swiss cheese? We can do better than that, right? And I’ve got nothing against ham; I think it’s pretty darned delicious. Even the sandwich type of ham. But still, we can do better. I’ve had this idea rolling around in my head… what

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    You’ve got your list and your keys, and you’re ready to head out to go grocery shopping. Not so fast!  There are some major money-zapping items that you should mark off your list right now.  There are so many items that are overpriced in the grocery store, but here are the 14 Items with biggest markups in the grocery store. When

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    Looking for an amazing and easy meatball recipe? You gotta try these. PERFECT. The seasoning is spot on. The texture is just how you like it. They are easily cut with a fork, but they won’t fall apart if you decide to cook them in sauce for a couple hours. Just make sure to use an awesome homemade spaghetti sauce with this

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    Dump recipes save you not only time but loads of money! The term dump recipes refer to recipes that you will literally dump all of the ingredients in a bag, baking pan, or slow cooker and then cook as directed. These recipes are perfect for busy parents because you can make them before work and then come home and have

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    I received a reader question the other day which I thought was a great one to answer publicly on the blog: Here is the question: Is it better to shop each week, or monthly. I noticed I shop monthly and I spend a lot of money in drinks, soda, milk, tea, and use up my budget on those, meats, and

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    New recipes, bigger portions, and a fantastic new layout. I’ve been working so hard on this freezer cooking meal plan, and I know that you will love it. As always, it’s set up so that you can be in and out of the store in about 20 minutes at ALDI (but it will work great at any grocery store), and

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    I can’t quite say enough about this Lemon Chicken Thigh dish. I put it together and I knew it would be pretty good… but it was quite a bit more than that. It was absolutely fantastic. To start with, I’m always a fan of chicken thighs in the slow cooker. In addition to being super cheap, they just work better than

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    Anyone who has been following me for any length of time knows what a fan of Chicken Parmesan I am. I have a Slow Cooker version, and the ULTIMATE Chicken Parmesan recipe as well. But this is even easier. Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Casserole. And it’s so good! If you want to use jarred sauce, be my guest (but make

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    My favorite kind of meal – with this slow cooker chicken pot pie, there are no sides necessary. The meat, vegetables, and the biscuits are all you need. And there is absolutely no canned cream of chicken soup in this – but don’t worry, it is still very creamy and amazing – just like you’d expect a pot pie to

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    If you have a leaner cut of beef, like a Flank Steak, Sirloin, or London broil, this Spicy BBQ grilled steak recipe will hit the spot! Looking for something a little different than the same old grilled steak? Well, this Spicy BBQ Steak definitely kicks things up several notches! I’m not usually one to use sauce on a steak, but

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    Perfect for any time of the year, your family will absolutely LOVE this Chili Lime Grilled Pork Loin! The marinade is easy, and it’s easy to cook. My favorite thing about this recipe is that it works well grilled (my favorite way to make it), roasted, or in the slow cooker! So you can prepare this well ahead of time,

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    Sticking to a grocery budget can be hard! Heck, I make a living teaching people how to save money – primarily through groceries – and it can still be hard for me. Whe I first wrote this article on how to feed my family of 6 on a budget, I was married. Now as a single mom of 4, my

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    Sometimes, you just make that one recipe that stands above the others. These Food Truck Style Cuban Beef Sandwiches do just that. Now, I love me some slow cooked chuck roast. And I also LOVE the flavors of citrus, cumin and oregano. They work amazingly well in these Pork Carnitas. So I applied a similar recipe to beef… just to

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    Meatball subs are amazing. But have you ever had that problem where the meatballs fall out of the sub and into your lap? Or the ground? It’s horrible… those delicious tender meatballs… WASTED. And I also never really thought of a meatball sub as a summer food. Until now. Meatball sub burger. Problem solved. And honestly, I don’t know why

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    If you want to know how to cook steak, the Ribeye is a GREAT steak to start with, and I’ll walk you right through the process… Before I get into my Aldi steak review and directions on cooking the perfect ribeye, let me give you some background on my history with ALDI and why I decided to do this post.

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    Once I realized how well meatballs cook in the slow cooker, I had to come up with a great Swedish Meatballs Crockpot recipe! And this is it! Don’t be afraid of putting raw meatballs in the slow cooker – they turn out just fine. And this is a REALLY easy meatball recipe. Of course, it will take a little bit

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    This post was part of the Cans Get You Cooking Blog Tour Campaign. All opinions are 100% my own. Folks, this is one of my favorite ALL-TIME recipes – and it’s also my go-to recipe when I have no idea what to make (which seems to happen lots in the summer). These black beans are just fantastic and so packed with

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    Dump Recipes are my favorite recipes to make as a busy mom of four. Not only do they save me time and money, but they can be amazingly delicious.  This Crockpot Chicken Verde is one of my favorite recipes for taco night, we’ve all but said goodbye to ground beef tacos now! Yes it’s green, but my kids ate this up

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    If your family loves a home-cooked meal, then you will all love this easy to make Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast. The herbs are classic flavors – rosemary, basil, thyme, and oregano. Of course, we don’t skimp on the garlic either. The chuck roast is a wonderful cut of beef for slow cooking as it comes out juicy with a melt-in-your-mouth

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    If you want to know how to use a crock pot to its fullest potential, then you NEED to know these hacks! In case you can’t tell, I love my slow cooker. So I love slow cooker hacks and tips that can help you use it to its fullest potential! And I REALLY love my slow cooker in the summertime. The

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    Bulk food stores like BJ’s, Coscto, and SAMS club are known for their great low prices on bulk items.  What you may not know is that many of their prices are not actually that great of a deal. In this post I am going to teach you the Best Foods to Buy at Wholesale Clubs. I’ve done a price comparisons

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    Get ready to RULE Memorial Day weekend. This Raspberry-glazed Bacon Brie Burger will get glowing reviews from your family and guests… just make sure that you leave yourself one to eat. This isn’t your typical bacon cheeseburger. Throw out that floppy, nuclear-orange, plastic-wrapped American “cheese”. Let’s cook a REAL bacon cheeseburger! We all know how well brie cheese pairs so

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    If you’re doing your best to stretch your grocery budget then you’ve probably noticed that meat can really be expensive. Even worse than that is that cheap cuts of meat seem intimidating if you don’t know how to cook them. Here are my thoughts on 5 cheap cuts of meat you should be cooking with if you’re not already.  I’ve

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    When the venerable chuck roast meets Italian food, you get this Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Sauce. If you’ve been following this website for any length of time, you might know my love affair with the chuck roast. It’s the most flavorful cut of beef, and perfect for the slow cooker. And I also LOVE Italian food, so this sauce is

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    I’m not the biggest fan of green veggies… I know I should be. But I’m getting there, and if I can make more recipes like these 10 minute PERFECT Brussels Sprouts, I’ll gladly eat WAY more vegetables! I’m not joking when I say perfect. Oh, and did I mention that there are only 3 ingredients? This method will get you the ideal

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    Sweet, juicy, just the right amount of saltiness – this Slow Cooker Honey Parmesan Pork Loin is just amazing. It’s great for any season of the year too, and it’s my favorite kind of recipe – it’s one of my favorite dump recipes! Now I’ve been known to mix ingredients together that you might never put together. For example, my Asian-BBQ

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    I’ve got a fantastic slow cooker meal for you today! This Zesty Crockpot Orange Chicken has tons of flavor and is so ridiculously easy to put together. Basically, the recipe goes like this: Chop up some chicken. Dump a bunch of stuff in the slow cooker. After that’s done, mix together some water and some cornstarch for a thickener. Eat!

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    Here’s a nice twist on your standard Paprika Chicken… and it happens to be a delicious twist. With this BBQ Paprika Chicken, you will basically toss everything in the slow cooker and just let it do it’s thing. And then you come in at the end, add in some sour cream to the sauce, and serve it over noodles. The dark

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    The Easter Ham is something I look forward to all year. And this will not disappoint! The only time I make a ham is Easter. And I look forward to it every year – it’s the perfect sweet & salty roast. That’s why a sweet fruit like pineapple works so well to incorporate into it – I know you will

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      The Crockpot. God’s gift to moms, dads, working people, grandparents… basically anyone who wants to save time and money. And in the past, I might have looked down on the crockpot. I’d always insist on doing things the long way because it was the best way. Well, turns out busy moms don’t have time for the long way. And

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    Oh man, you are in for a treat with this Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken! As usually, this is a set it and forget it type recipe, with just a few small steps at the end. I tried to make this dish taste like the Fiesta Lime Chicken that they have at Applebee’s, but I wanted it to be super

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    You will be looking forward to dinner all day. But the wait is worth it. This Slow Cooker Pork loin in a Basil Cream Sauce is just fantastic. The seasoning, the spices, the creaminess of the sauce are just perfect. Throw the ingredients in the slow cooker, and just let it cook. Once it’s done, you have one small step

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    The ingredients list in this chicken dish seem a little crazy – Lemon, BBQ sauce, ginger? What?! But WOW do they work well together! The flavor of this dish is BOLD… I almost guarantee you’ve tasted nothing like this before. You will LOVE it!! You will also love it because it’s a slow cooker meal and freezes great if you want to

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    When the weather is cool, a big dish of Slow Cooker Beef Paprikash can really warm the soul and body. This is not a dish we enjoyed when I was growing up. My mom just didn’t venture out of her usual recipes very much. So when I discovered that I love the subtle smoky flavor of paprika this became one

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    Soups are a staple around our home this time of year. This White Bean and Ham Soup satisfies the hungriest of appetites with only 7 ingredients. I use Great Northern Beans in this recipe. You can use whatever mild textured white bean that you like.  Navy beans could be a good substitute. Make sure that you plan ahead to soak

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    I barely caught a picture of these Buffalo Chicken Potato Skins before the family devoured them.  Oh my!  They’re delicious and so easy to throw together. Try them for an upcoming football game or family game night. Some Substitution Ideas for your Potato Skins We used feta cheese because we like the flavor for so many dishes.  Feel free to

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    Our family loves a hearty meal.  We’ve all got great appetites and love bold flavors.  That’s why we’ve come to love this recipe for Italian Sausage Stuffed Chicken Breast. The chicken is seasoned simply and cooked just until tender and delicious.  This is contrasted with the bold and hearty meatiness of the sausage mixture.  I love the way that the

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    You are IN FOR A TREAT. First of all, this roast starts with my favorite cut of meat for the slow cooker – the chuck roast. It has such an amazing beef flavor. And when cooked low and slow, it becomes so tender. There’s hardly any ingredients in this, and since you end up just tossing them all in the

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    Sometimes it pays to simplify.  This recipe only has 5 ingredients, but it’s loaded with flavor and yum!  Pineapple pork loin is not a new concept, but this easy version takes all the complicated steps and makes your meal truly amazing in one afternoon. I came up with this recipe when I was wanting a little spice and a little sweet.

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    Sometimes flavor takes time.  Since I don’t have a pressure cooker (and I’m just slightly scared of what might happen if I did) this recipe takes a little over an hour to cook, but it’s completely worth it.  It’s not even that much work actually.  You just have to set aside enough time to let all the ingredients simmer to

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    In need of some compliments and kind words in your life? Then I’ve got a fantastic idea – Bring this Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese to your next get together (maybe a Super Bowl party). Then sit back and enjoy people coming up to you saying this like: “Oh my Gosh. This is amazing.” or – “Did you make this?! It’s

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    Sometimes winter overstays its welcome and you just want a taste of summer!  This slow cooker recipe is perfect for those days when you want an easy, tropical meal to ward off the coldness outside. I used fresh fruits in my recipe, but you can easily substitute with frozen mango chunks and bottled juices.  The taste difference won’t even be

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    Oh. My. Goodness. This slow cooker pork carnitas recipe is AMAZING! Juicy, packed with flavor, and so easy to put together! So there are only 9 ingredients, and you throw it all in the slow cooker. Piece of cake, right? You can serve these either as a rice bowl or in tortillas. For these, corn tortillas work best. Fry them

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    This dish is one of my all-time favorite easy weeknight dinners.  You can throw this crockpot scalloped potatoes and ham recipe together in 10 minutes and enjoy the aroma all day while it’s cooking.  The ingredients are usually already in my kitchen and pantry so I can whip together Scalloped Potatoes and Ham any night of the week. The ingredients

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    Comfort food at it’s best!  This slow cooker recipe combines classic American meat and potatoes with bell peppers and onions for a satisfying and flavorful easy meal.  And don’t let the garlic and Worcestershire sauce fool you, kids love this dish!  The bell peppers mellow out the flavors with their sweetness. We used London broil for this recipe, but you

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    I am SO excited to bring to you our 9th ALDI meal plan! With this ALDI meal plan, you will see just how amazing the crockpot can be with such little effort! This is such a special collection of “comfort food” recipes that will keep everyone in your family coming back for seconds. And did I mention that these are all freezer

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    Sometimes the best things in life are covered with cheese and garlic!  That’s the complete truth when it comes to this chicken.  It’s delicious and so easy to prepare. I’ve made this cheese more than once and the kids never complain.  Even people who don’t like cream cheese (how is this possible?!) adore this dish because they just can’t get

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    Mac and Cheese is awesome. Bacon is awesome. So let’s combine the two and prepare them in the greatest and most indulgent way possible, shall we? Sure… there may be some other bacon mac and cheese recipes out there, but let me tell ya – the essence of bacon is INFUSED throughout the whole recipe! More on that later… So what

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    This is not another sweet dish with sweet potatoes.  Nope!  We are spicing up this Chicken and Sweet Potato dish with just a touch of smoked paprika and cumin.  This powerful flavor combination gives just the right touch of smokiness to the dish. But let’s talk about the sweet potatoes for a second.  I love the way the sweet, creaminess

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    You are in for a treat. I was eating this Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken with my husband Mark (he actually made it), and I kept saying “this… this is good.” It’s like it was getting better and better as I ate it. I’ve had recipes like this in the past that are too heavy on the peanut butter, or

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    Pollo Asado is such a bright and lovely Mexican dish.  I love the way this recipe always turns out tender and juicy.  Pollo Asado is traditionally grilled (it actually translates to “Grilled Chicken”).  This recipe is a shortcut to the same amazing flavor without the time by the grill.  The cumin in the marinade even adds a little smokiness which

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    Sometimes, the smallest amount of effort can be rewarded with outstanding results. This recipe is one of those examples. You just gotta trust me on this one. Take all of the ingredients listed in the recipe, throw them in a slow cooker, turn it on low and wait 10 hours. Taco night just got a massive upgrade with these Slow

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    In a previous recipe, I mentioned that white chicken chili isn’t really chili… and I stand by that. It’s not. However… It’s an amazing hearty soup entirely all it’s own! But I’ll still call it chili because everyone else does. Semantics, whatever. Anyway – I was in the mood for something like this last night. Something creamy, filling but still light… this white chicken

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    When I was a kid, almost every Sunday afternoon was filled with the smell of spaghetti sauce and meatballs slowly simmering in the kitchen. My dad had a KILLER spaghetti sauce recipe, and he made great meatballs too. But ever since I’ve been on this slow cooker kick, I’ve been trying to make food the “easy way” and this Slow

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    Why order Chinese Take-out when this Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Chicken is just as good! And putting it together is SO easy! Don’t get scared by the word “spicy” in the title and the red pepper flakes in the photo, you can make this as mild or as spicy as you want. But this is just too good.

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    I have a new favorite chili recipe. The Shredded Beef and Black Bean Chili recipe is bold, rich, and filling in the best kind of way. I’ve got a secret – every year, my church has a chili cook-off where they award the best chili in the church. And every year, I’ve been robbed. Someone always makes a white chicken

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    There’s this chain restaurant we go to sometimes (when we have a coupon), and they have this Chicken Tortilla Soup that I sometimes get instead of a salad. And it’s awesome. And I was determined to make it myself at home using my slow cooker! This version tastes JUST like it! For reals. It’s SOOO good. When you are in

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    In the cold months of the year, this Sausage Kale Soup could easily become your best friend. It warms and fills you up just right. I also love this meal because it is designed for the slow cooker, and can also be easily frozen and cooked for a later day! A previous version of myself would have insisted that you pre-cook

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    Looking for an easy sauce recipe that you can set and forget that the kids will LOVE? This Slow Cooker Meat Sauce is so flavorful and hearty, no one will believe it only took you 5 minutes to throw together! If you love this recipe, you will also love my homemade spaghetti sauce recipe! This recipe is part of an

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    Spinach, artichokes, and cheese just go together. And it doesn’t always have to be a dip – although I LOVE spinach and artichoke dip. In fact, that’s what inspired me to put this Slow cooker Spinach Artichoke Chicken meal together. This is comfort food. It is just such a satisfying meal. The chunks of chicken mixed in with pieces of

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    It’s about time I figured out a good way to make Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup. It is seriously one of my favorite meals, so finding a super easy way to make it without using ‘from the can’ chicken broth was a huge deal to me. And it should be a huge deal to you too. Because this soup is PERFECT.

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    That’s it. You’ve arrived here, and now your search for the perfect chili recipe is over! This Crockpot Chili is simply amazing – perfectly seasoned, perfect texture, perfect heat – and SOOO easy. Easy as in “throw the ingredients in the crockpot and push a button” easy. I’ve had a wildly popular chili recipe on this website for years, but

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    Some recipes are just so easy, so satisfying and so cheap that I could make them every week. This crockpot chicken stew is one of those. In fact, I just made this for the first time yesterday, and the whole family was so thrilled with it that I just had to write up this post immediately. The chicken, the veges, the

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    Last month, I posted about joining a CSA as a way to eat healthy and still try to save money. Obviously, there are still items you need to pick up at the store that you can’t get from a CSA, but sometimes it can be hard to find good deals if you have specialty items (organic, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) you’re looking

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    Is it fall yet? Whether it is or not, this Apple Cinnamon Crockpot Pork Loin will fill your need for an amazing comfort food dinner. Apples, cinnamon, maple syrup all work together for a great sweet and savory meal. I thought about using brown sugar for the sweetness, but I figured maple syrup would be better for a couple reasons. 1,

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    I love Chicken Parmesan, but I also love the convenience of dump recipes.  That is why I got thinking about creating my very own Crockpot Chicken Parmesan, BRILLIANT I thought to myself….So here it is, it tastes like the real thing with the convenience of a dump recipe! I was skeptical to try and make this, but this crockpot chicken

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    Meatloaf is one of the greatest comfort foods on the planet. And I’ve got the perfect recipe for you. Best of all, this is a crockpot meatloaf recipe, so it could not get any easier. And this is like “out-of-this-world” good. Let me put it this way – if Ralphie’s little brother from ‘A Christmas Story’ was served this meatloaf

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    Dump recipes are fantastic. They save you time, money, and can be outright delicious! This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is a perfect example of this. It’s seriously the best pot roast I’ve ever had… the Texas BBQ kick just takes it over the top! Savory, a little spicy, and a little sweet, you will LOVE this. Is there a meal

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    It’s more than halfway through summer, so I’m not quite as enthusiastic about grilling every meal like I was in June. So I usually use the grill for those REALLY special grilled meals. And tonight, it’s a thickly sliced Angus Ribeye Steak.

    My local Price Chopper has an awesome selection of Angus beef. If you don’t see what you like in the aisle, you can always go over to the butcher’s counter and select a more custom cut of meat there. Better yet, tell them exactly what you want, and they will cut one for you to your liking. That’s what I did when I picked out this beautifully marbled steak. I like mine with a large rib-eye cap – or technically named the spinalis dorsi (it’s left side of the steak below). Quite simply, it is the most succulent piece of meat on the cow.

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    One of the biggest ways we waste money in our grocery budget is by having to throw out uneaten food. Let’s face it, although some leftovers get gobbled up, we often find ourselves with odds and ends. Every little bit of leftovers you have to throw out is money you could have saved. So how can you make the most of

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    In the summer it can be really easy to fall into the trap of convenience when it comes to food! Summer can also be a great time to find a day or two to try cooking new things. There are many kitchen staples, foods you buy all the time, which you can easily make from scratch if you have a

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    This ALDI Meal Plan is designed for YOU. It is designed to maximize your time enjoying your life without slaving away in the kitchen, and to also please your family with some AMAZING meals! This is your meal plan. They’re all Slow Cooker meals. And they’re all “dump” meals – meaning that you will just throw all the ingredients in

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    If you’re trying to eat more organic foods, you’ll quickly find that the prices can be quite different than on conventional items.  Here are some simple ways to save on organic food that will help you fit more organic foods into your family’s budget. Buy Organic (even if might not be certified) Do your research to find companies that operate

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    I absolutely LOVE P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef. It is seriously one of my favorite dishes at ANY restaurant. So when I figured out a way to get those flavors not only at home, but from a slow cooker, I was THRILLED! There are some slow cooker versions of this recipe out there that require you to buy flank steak (which

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    I have a secret….making homemade seasoning mix recipes will be actually cheaper than the seasoning packets at the grocery store. I know- crazy right?!? Seasoning packets on your grocery store’s shelves can seem like a good idea when you’re trying to whip up a quick family dinner.  But I think we can do better, and honestly save a lot more money.

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    Ropa Vieja. What? You’ve never heard of it before? Well you are in for a treat with this Crockpot Ropa Vieja (this recipe is part of an AMAZING slow cooker dump meal plan!). It’s a traditional Cuban dish that’s perfect for your slow cooker. It’s braised and shredded beef cooked in a tomato based sauce with peppers, onions, peas and

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    You don’t need a smoker to have AWESOME ribs! These Slow Cooker Ribs will fit the bill when you’re in the mood for some fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs.   Slow Cooker Ribs: Cooking ribs don’t have to be hard – it is actually pretty easy! Only a few ingredients and 6-8 hours in the slow cooker will make your family

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    This Slow Cooker Chicken Paprika isn’t your normal type of dump-it-in-the-crockpot recipe. Fall off the bone drumsticks, potatoes, carrots and a sour cream gravy – this recipe is PACKED with flavors and texture. It’s a new hit in our house! Like most “dump” recipes, it really doesn’t get much easier than this. Just throw the ingredients in, turn it on

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    Taco night will look different at our house from now on. Once I made these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, I don’t know if I can go back to the normal way of using ground beef… and that’s hard for me to say because I would usually prefer beef over chicken every time. This recipe is part of an AMAZING slow

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    Once in a blue moon… I make a new meal that the ENTIRE family devours. Folks, this is one of those meals. This slow cooker honey garlic chicken is sweet, a teensy bit spicy, and packed full of flavor. My 20 month old probably ate about a pound of it. This recipe is part of an AMAZING slow cooker dump meal

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    Before I get into my Aldi steak review and directions on cooking the perfect ribeye, let me give you some background on my history with ALDI and why I decided to do this post. In case you didn’t know, I’m a big Aldi fan. And I’m also a big fan of ribeye steak. And I’m also a big fan of

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    It is almost summer and I can just hear my kids – “Mom can we have a snack?”  Am I the only mom who gets asked that all.day.long? I decided to be proactive about it and start to try out some fun new easy summer recipes.  Today, I made this Gluten-Free Ranch Slow-Cooker Chex Mix Recipe – it is AMAZING! This is

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    One of my favorite summer treats – is a homemade Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.  I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to eat it anymore – so I adapted my recipe to make it Gluten-Free.  You can make this with a regular pie crust as well, but if you eat Gluten-Free try out my pie crust recipe!

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      Get out your grill and prepare for a fun season of outdoor cooking with this Grilling ALDI Meal Plan! Every recipe included in this meal plan is BRAND NEW. Amazing grilling recipes PLUS amazing side dish recipes! BUY THE PLAN HERE For around $155 at ALDI, you will have enough food to prepare 20 meals on the grill, including

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    Is it impossible to eat healthy without breaking the bank? It definitely isn’t if you are crafty with your shopping! One of the most common mistakes shoppers make are buying healthy foods that are not easy to translate into multiple dishes. Cooking healthy does not need to be expensive or inconvenient. Here are the 11 Cheap and Ridiculously Healthy Foods

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    These Grilled Red Potatoes are the PERFECT side dish for your summer meal! Just make sure that you make enough, because they will go FAST! I’ve always enjoyed cooking potatoes on the grill. They are a great side dish and in the Summer heat, it keeps one more thing out of the kitchen!   Start with a few red potatoes.

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    Are you looking for an incredible chicken fajitas recipe? You have come to the right place! I bet you have all of the ingredients in your home as we speak! Have you ever made Grilled Chicken Fajitas? I mean, where you literally grill EVERY ingredient? Grilled chicken? Yup. Grilled peppers and onions? Yup… and slightly charred. SO. GOOD. Grilled flour tortillas?

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    I’m all about cheap cuts of beef, and this marinated London Broil is as cheap as beef gets – especially when it’s on sale. London Broil is funny though… traditionally, it was another name for the flank steak. But now, it refers to a number of cuts of beef and usually never an actual flank steak (which has gotten popular in

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    Marinated Grilled Chicken – especially if you use drumsticks and thighs has got to be one of the easiest, most delicious and CHEAPEST meals to make. Hosting a party and wondering what to cook that won’t break the bank? You just found it. As of the writing of this post, dark meat chicken has been holding steady at around $1.19/lb.

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    Looking for an easy and delicious Cuban Pork Recipe? What is better than throwing some meat in a slow cooker and letting dinner cook all day long? These Cuban Pork Rice Bowls are so easy to make and very freezer cooking friendly!  You simply dump everything into a freezer bag, then freeze until you are ready to eat. We usually

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    We are thrilled to bring you our this ALDI Meal plan! The first freezer cooking plan was so popular that we decided to bring you another one! We listened to your feedback and made the following improvements: Many said that the last one took longer than the 3 hours, so we made sure that this one can be done by one person

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    The following post is a guest post from Tasia from BataviaBestBargains.com. ***************************************************** The way I grocery shop for my family is to restock my pantry instead of making specific meals. I decide what my family is going to eat based on what we have on hand, what’s on sale, and leftovers. This ends the running to the store many times a

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    I have written an article on Food Co-Ops in the past, but many of you asked for more information on the benefits. I shop at a Food Co-Op for one main reason.  Cheaper and healthier products for my family.  I tend to waver on the line of half organic and half ‘regular’ foods.  If my budget allowed it, I would shop

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    Looking for the easiest of all Chicken Enchilada Recipes? Look no further. Very few ingredients, and SO good! Plus, this is perfect for freezer cooking! I also included gluten-free modifications as well 🙂 Note that the recipe below is for a double batch, so if you only want a single batch, you will need to half it. There are two

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      This Chili Polenta Casserole recipe is super easy to throw together and freeze for a quick meal on a busy weeknight.  It’s one of my favorite meals because it’s hearty and tasty and the kids love it.  The peppers and onions aren’t really very strong so the kids don’t even realize I snuck them in. I like to use

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    If your family has any “meat and potatoes” people, they’ll love this recipe for Italian Sausage and Rosemary Potatoes.  It tastes fantastic in fall and winter or really any time that you need some comfort food. I like to buy the sausage when it’s on a great sale at the market.  I save time by preparing two meals at once.

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    Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might be biased but I think they are pretty amazing! They have saved our dinner hour for years now. Check them out!  

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    This might be the best freezer cooking meal plan on the planet – you are in for a treat! Dare I say that this is the BEST one yet? Maybe I always say that, but this one is designed specifically for freezer cooking! You can spend just a few hours on a weekend afternoon cooking, and make all 20 meals. That is stinkin

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    I had to start eating gluten free after my 3rd daughter was born. I was devastated when it came to apple season because I wasn’t sure how to make my favorite apple crisp dessert. I started trying out different recipes and came up with this gluten free apple crisp recipe. It is amazing! You are going to love it! Today

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    I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to share my Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe! I got this recipe from my brother-in-law, and have been tweaking it ever since. It is so velvety smooth and creamy – the PERFECT Alfredo Sauce. Oh – and I should mention that there is a secret ingredient in this recipe… read on for that

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    This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias and Price Chopper #HolidayAdvantEdge.  All opinions are mine alone. It is Christmas party season – did you know that?    I am pretty sure that Mark and I have a Christmas party to go to every weekend right up until Christmas Day. We love to bring snacks to parties but wanted to find something

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    This shop has been compensated by #Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.   Christmas brings so many good memories of my childhood – but the fondest one is baking Christmas cookies with my mom. If you have been following my health journey lately you know that I can have very little sugar right now.  I

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    Great mashed potatoes are such an important part of every holiday meal, and they go well with grilled steak and pot roast, too. The list goes on and on. With this recipe, you won’t see your guests grabbing for butter or seasoning; they may not even need gravy. They are just perfect all on their own (although gravy or sauce

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     This post is a sponsored post by Team Unilever Shopper and  I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!®. All opinions are my own. One thing my kids love on their ice cream is caramel sauce and this month I had a goal to learn how to make caramel sauce at home.  If you take a look at the back of the bottle

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    ** Unfortunately, this meal plan has been discounted, BUT all of the recipes that are included in it are available below, for FREE! If you want to view our current (and amazing) meal plans. Click HERE. I am thrilled to share this entire meal plan and shopping list so you can buy and make 20 meals for under $150 at Aldi *including a

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    Looking for something a little different tonight that the whole family will LOVE? Then you need to check out this Korean Beef with Fried Rice. It seriously tastes AMAZING – all 4 of my picky eaters ate this up no problem! The key to this recipe is to cook the beef separately from the rice, and then combine later. The

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    One great way to use up the fresh apples I pick in the fall is to make Crockpot Applesauce! It is so easy and the results are delicious! I made a batch of this and I can put it together just under 10 minutes! I first start by taking 10 – 15 apples, then I use my apple corer and peeler to

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    Looking for a ridiculously tasty way to bake your boring chicken? Check out this Greek-style Roasted Chicken! You can use white meat or dark meat, doesn’t matter – and it’s SO easy! With salt, pepper and oregano being the only seasoning, the flavors from the red pepper, lemon and onion are what you will taste. Whatever type of chicken you

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    Have you ever tried the AMAZING flavors of a great Cincinnati chili recipe? Wow… this tastes just like what they serve at the Skyline restaurant that made it famous! And for colder weather, this will fit the bill perfectly. As you can tell from the picture, yes – this chili is typically served over spaghetti. You can top it with

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    Russian Tea is my favorite hot drink during the Winter months – it has the perfect hint of cinnamon and cloves while offering a warm orange and tea flavor.  This Russian Tea Recipe was handed down to me by my mother-in-law, and it has since become my 8-year-old son’s favorite beverage when he comes inside from playing in the snow.

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    Looking for an easy dinner that the whole family will eat? Then you NEED to check out this Baked Ravioli! Feed your family for under $10!  My favorite part is that is takes only a few minutes to put together because you don’t have to cook the ravioli first. All of my kids at this up with no problem at

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    This easy Bolognese Sauce is the perfect example of Italian comfort food. Wow… you NEED to try this recipe. Just serve it over spaghetti or your favorite pasta, maybe with a nice crusty Italian bread and your taste-buds will be thanking you. The thing that makes Bolognese so much more than a meat sauce is that much of the flavor

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    Are you looking for the perfect Pumpkin Muffins Recipe?  Get excited because this is the best gluten-free pumpkin muffin EVER!  I make a double batch almost every week and the kids eat them up right UP. I put one batch in the freezer and store them until the kids lunches are ready to be packed. I place one in each of

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    Pumpkin Pie Spice is one of those spices that you spend $6.00 on and it just sits in your cupboard to be used once or twice a year. Since we are all about saving money here on ‘I am THAT Lady’ I wanted to share with you a homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe that uses items in your pantry that

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      This amazing Italian Soup with Sausage and Kale completely hits the mark when the weather starts to get colder. Wait… or is it a chowder? What’s the difference anyway? I’ll leave that for the foodies to argue about… all I know is that you have to try this recipe! It’s easy, cheap, and tastes very similar to a soup

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    One of our favorite good brown rice recipes is Black Beans and Rice. It took me a few years to warm up to the idea of eating black beans and rice, because I never thought I would like it. It is a very inexpensive meal and is very filling. You can make this entire meal for around $4.00, and have leftovers

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      I am on this crazy Candida diet right now, and I can’t have sugar, pork, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, or gluten.  I have to eat a lot of vegetables, but have been having some issues because I couldn’t find any salad dressings that I could eat.    I whipped together this salad dressing and it was SO good!  It is the

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    This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser.  And part of the #PriceChopperB2S program. All opinions are mine alone.  With the kids just finishing up their first full week back at school, I wanted to make them a special dinner and this one fit the bill perfectly. I’ve tried a couple different recipes for Chicken Cordon Bleu.

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    If it’s still cold outside and grilling isn’t convenient, this easy and delicious pan fried steak recipe will more than fill your craving for a juicy steak.  It’s fast and the results are just as good as a steakhouse!  This recipe is not designed for a thick steak, but rather one that is about 3/4″ thick.  This will work for

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    This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser.  And part of the #PriceChopperB2S program. All opinions are mine alone. My kids are going back to school on Wednesday (YAY!) and I usually make a special snack for them when they get home from school that first day.  I am trying to plan ahead this year so I started

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    I’ve been eating gluten free for three years and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think!  When I began creating Aldi Meal Plans, I knew I had to design a gluten-free version for those of us who struggle with our budgets due to food allergies. This meal plan does have items with

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    If you have never tried the buttery and lemony goodness that is Chicken Picatta, you are missing out!  This particular recipe comes straight from my mom, so the secret ingredient is… you guessed it – Love.  Actually, you could make this recipe while extremely angry and it would still come out great!  It is really hard to screw up. Before

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    This might be the easiest and healthiest method for how to make potato soup.  This soup is thick and creamy, yet doesn’t start with a roux – so it’s perfect for those that eat gluten-free!  The key to thickening this soup is to puree some of it while it’s cooking.  It’s a genius method that I have to credit my

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    Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own. One thing that we love to do during the summer is make Kabobs.  We love to put any kind of meat and veggies on them, throw them on the grill, and make a delicious and easy dinner. When Peeps sent me their new Peeps Mini’s and asked me

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    Would a prosciutto-wrapped pork chop stuffed with havarti cheese impress your guests?  It certainly impressed my guests.  Looks expensive and difficult to make, right?  Guess what?  It’s not!  It’s both easy and inexpensive!  There are literally only 5 ingredients needed to make this, and it only cost about $8 using ingredients from my local Aldi. Simply cut a large slit

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    This gluten-free chicken divan recipe delivers amazing flavor and is every bit as creamy and cheesy as the flour-based versions.  When eating gluten-free, it is rare to be able to enjoy a creamy casserole since most are based on cream of “fill in the blank” soup (and they’re ALL flour based!)  The key with this recipe is to make your

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    I know this might seem like such a simple recipe, but this teriyaki chicken marinade recipe is packed with flavor.  This is our go to chicken marinade. You can grill it, broil it, bake it, or toss it in the crockpot and you will have chicken that tastes amazing every time. The best part is how frugal it is. I

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    I am SO excited to share with you an entire meal plan and shopping list so that you can buy and make 20 Meals for under $150 at Aldi! Keep in mind that prices vary per store, so yours may be a little bit higher or lower depending on the item.  Also, this meal plan is based on a family

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    A few weeks ago we launched an Aldi Meal Plan where you could make 20 slow cooker “dump” meals for under $150.00. The response was amazing and within a day, I was already getting emails begging for a second plan!  I am SO excited to provide another Aldi meal plan for you, this time you will make 20 meals at Aldi

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    One of our new favorite things to eat is this easy cacciatore chicken recipe made in the slow cooker. The flavors that result from the peppers, onions and dark meat chicken in the tomato sauce are simply delicious.  The vegetables are so tender, and the meat pulls off the bone with a fork perfectly.  You will LOVE this one!   Have you

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    Here is one of our favorite week night recipe for using up a roasting chicken.  This is a super easy way to make dinner in just 5 minutes and have it ready for you when you either get home from work, or when it’s time for dinner. This meals should cost you around $6.00 or less – so a very inexpensive

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    We LOVE simple and inexpensive recipes, this easy crockpot barbecue chicken sandwich is SO easy! You simple throw everything into a crockpot for 5 hours, then shred using your kitchen aid mixer.  You can probably do this while holding a baby and doing your kids homework (I say from experience!)   Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might

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    Are you looking for a simple and easy recipe for dinner? Here is a super easy roasted red pepper chicken recipe!  I love to cook simple and easy dinners, because let’s face it…I have 6 children running around the house and focusing on anything that takes longer is too stressful! Here is a recipe that I created that includes only 4 ingredients,

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    I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. Memorial Day has passed, and it is officially grilling season!  This year, Lauren and I are trying to eat much healthier, but I am unwilling to compromise on flavor.  So I set out

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    This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipes is Chicken Divan. Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I want to show you that you can cook inexpensive and healthy meals for under $10.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store but you should find comparable prices at your local store, you can print this recipe by hitting the print

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      If there is one thing I love in the summer it is cookies… especially these Strawberry Cookies. I can make a quick batch in the morning, and have a delicious treat ready for the kids for after lunch or for after dinner. My secret ingredient for this strawberry cookies recipe is a strawberry cake mix. Yes, you read that

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    If you are looking for a simple and delicious meal, check out my cheesy chicken and rice casserole with Broccoli. This cheesy and chicken rice casserole is made right in your Slow Cooker, so it really is SO easy! Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might be biased but I think they are pretty amazing! They have saved

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    Are you looking for a recipe to make Healthy Stuffed Peppers?  Here is a favorite of ours that we make in our slow cooker, we prepare it right after lunch and we have a healthy dinner ready for us!   Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might be biased but I think they are pretty amazing! They

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    Do you LOVE s’mores as much as I do? I was with my sisters this weekend and we thought it would be fun to put together a s’mores martini!  I had just gotten my newest shipment of Iced Coffee K-Cups from Cross Country Cafe, so we figured that we would add some caffeine to the drink too. [print_recipe] S’mores Martini Recipe

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    Have you ever wanted to find a super simple lasagna recipe? Here is our favorite crockpot lasagna recipe.  This uses Cottage cheese instead of Ricotta cheese which makes it a healthier option.  You cannot tell the difference once it is cooked, so don’t get grossed out first! We used Farfalle Noodles in place of Lasagna Noodles because they were less

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    One of my favorite kilebasa sausage recipes is this quick and easy 15 minute red pepper and kielbasa pasta dish.  From start to finish this will take you only 15 minutes, it’s the perfect week night dinner dish after a hard day of work! This meal is one of my go to meals that can always be made for under

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    Using only a cast iron skillet, cooking tilapia fish to perfection is SO easy.  A light dish perfect for spring, it seriously will only will take about 10 minutes to make this blackened tilapia with mango salsa… and it is AMAZING.  I got the idea for this from a dish at a local chain restaurant.  I liked the dish, but

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    The fast food places all have their versions, but these Home Made Chicken Nuggets are better and cheaper than all of them.  Plus, you know what ingredients are going into them – and you can even make them gluten-free if you want.  So how inexpensively can you make these at home?  I mean, you can buy 20 McDonald’s chicken nuggets

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    I have never found a turkey meatballs recipe that I really liked that much, until I tried these!  The addition of the spices and my homemade spaghetti sauce recipe, made them delicious! I got the Turkey at ALDI using their 93% lean, so they are about as healthy as you can get! Needless to say, I was SHOCKED by how tender and

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      Let’s get real here, when you are making the transition to eating more healthy or organic food the price tag can be a little shocking. It’s true that if you switched overnight, and traded item for item what you eat now to all organic, it would cost significantly more. Does that mean your grocery bill has to be the

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    BONUS: Here are 5 more Pot Roast Crockpot recipes that are Amazing! You’ll want to check these out!

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    Yesterday I spent 2 & 1/2 hours grocery shopping.  It was one of those rare weeks where we were really low on food and I needed to work really hard to stay within our budget.  I was successful and actually come in $8.00 under budget!  I was exhausted from shopping at 4 different stores (I normally only go to 1),

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    If you are looking for an easy cookie recipe then here you have it!  This recipe is gluten and grain-free but it’s SOO good you’d never know it! Here is the recipe for you: 4 ingredient chocolate peanut butter cup cookies   Ingredients: 2 cups peanut butter 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 cup of mini chocolate chips Directions: Mix

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    This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipes is Heart Shaped Cinnabon Buns – Made in a Bread Machine! If you are looking for a good deal on a bread machine – I would recommend the West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise Electronic Dual-Blade Breadmaker. This is the one that I use and LOVE it! Here is the recipe for you: Heart Shaped Cinnamon

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    The question:  “Is it worth it to have a membership to Sams Club or Bj’s?” has come up a lot in the past few weeks, so I thought I would address it with a video! I actually made this video before I had Abby but totally forgot to publish it! I would love to know which things you save on

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    As I’m typing this, tonight is supposed to be the coldest night of this winter – perfect weather for an Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe.  My mom always made this growing up, but I never really realized how easy is to make, especially if you’ve already made the homemade chicken stock recipe ahead of time.  I’m not going to say that

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      I always thought there was some mystery or magic surrounding a homemade chicken stock recipe.  But (as I’m sure many of you are well aware), if you can boil water and cut a few vegetables, you can easily make chicken stock. Over the past few months, I tried several recipes for chicken stock.  After some tweaking and simplifying, I

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    Here is am AMAZING recipe for Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake. This is one of those desserts that you just dump in the crockpot and let it cook while you make dinner. It’s the perfect dessert to take to a party because everyone can try it!  It is one of my favorite ones to make! Here is the recipe:   Crockpot Chocolate

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    I LOVE Italian deli sandwiches.  But these delicious sandwiches can be real New-Year’s-resolutions-busters as they are notorious for having a TON of calories.  One source for these calories can be the sub roll; the 8″ sub roll I like to use has 240 calories.  As an alternative to bread or a roll, I recently came across Flatout wraps and have been pleasantly

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    If you recall, last week we talked about how to save money with meal planning.  I shared with you a few resources like Emeals that you can use to keep meal planning very simple and easy for you.  Today I will talk about the thing that you need most when you first start meal planning – your weekly store flyer.

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    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smart Balance. There are days when I need chocolate and I NEED CHOCOLATE NOW!!  Does anyone else have those days? Please tell me I’m not alone!  I always have ingredients to make these easy no bake cookies, that way when I am in a pinch I can make them in

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    This meal is SUPER easy – just make the chicken ahead of time in 30 seconds, and then put everything in the crockpot for 3 hours and you are DONE!  It is one of those meals that you can make ahead and freeze too.   [print_recipe] White Chicken Chili Ingredients 2 lbs boneless chicken breast, cooked and shredded (Shred in

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      Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to cook for dinner?  I am SO happy to start my new series about how to meal plan, some meal planning tips, and my favorite recipes to use! If you are interested in meal planning – you can download my FREE meal planning workbook here. Meal planning alone can save

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    Chilly Fall mornings are my favorite types of mornings!  Slipping into my bathrobe and putting on my slippers to go downstairs and start breakfast for my four children can be challenging, so I try to plan ahead of time by making meals at night that I can throw in the oven in the morning. I wanted to share with you

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    Are you looking for a super simple fudge recipe that you can make in just five minutes? I saw this recipe for 2 ingredient fudge from my friend Stephanie, and wanted to make my own chocolate version. Here is the recipe – it literally took me five minutes AND I was holding my daughter!! Two-Ingredient Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge Ingredients: 1

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    Welcome to this years Homemade Christmas Gifts Series.  We will feature many nine Homemade Christmas gift ideas over the next two weeks, so make sure that you stay tuned to learn how to make some of these great gift items. This week we will talk about a great gift idea – making Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar! These are

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    Pulled pork in a crock pot? Yes, it’s just too easy. This recipe uses a fairly lean pork loin, so it’s fairly healthy – but has tons of flavor. A bit of Italian dressing helps provide a nice zesty kick! If you need to halve the recipe, just put one half in a freezer bag to throw in the slow

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    I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and Price Chopper Supermarkets. Things are getting COLD here in New York, so I decided to share my favorite soup recipe with you all today.  This is a recipe for Mexican Corn Chowder

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    For Christmas as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias,  I made this easy and delicious Holiday Recipe called Kahlua & Cream Trifle with ingredients found at Price Chopper Supermarkets including Betty Crocker cake mix. One of the best things about the Christmas season is the holiday recipes.  And while a prime rib or turkey might be the main course

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    This Easy Italian Sausage Soup recipe is super easy, has very few ingredients, and is just perfect for the colder weather.  My son loves it, and he’s not much of a soup eater.  Italian sausage is obviously the main ingredient, and it’s much easier if you can buy the sausage bulk or loose (not in casing).   You can print

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    There are so many times that I get a great deal on something, but I can’t fit it in my refrigerator.  There are also times where I have a lot of fresh herbs and spices but can’t use them quickly enough, so here are 7 ways to flash freeze food that you eat on a regular basis. Hopefully this can

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    Savvy shoppers know that coupons for meat are few and far between — but that doesn’t mean we still can’t save on this grocery budget buster!  To make your dollar stretch farther, here are some great tips on how to save money on meat: 1. Look for “Special Deal” stickers. Grocery stores will discount their meat that is close to the sell date by as much as

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    What makes a great roast chicken?  Juicy meat?  Check.  Crispy Skin?  Check.  Rich flavor? Check.  No leftovers?  Check – I guarantee there will be no leftovers when you make this roasted chicken for your family or guests. Oh – one more item to check off… Cheap and easy?  Check and check. Enjoy! Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet?

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    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pompeian Olive Oil.  Did you know that July is National Grilling month?  Mark and I love to grill out during the summer months, it’s easy and doesn’t mess up the kitchen much either!  We also love to stock up on London Broil and Pompeian GrapeSeed Oil when it is

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    One thing that I LOVE about International Delight Coffee Creamers is the inspiration I get from their delicious flavors.  I created this Almond Joy Brownie Recipe using International Delight’s Almond Joy Creamer,  and I have to say that it really makes this recipe 1000 X’s better!   Almond Joy Brownies Brownies: 1 box of Chocolate Cake Mix 1 stick of

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    Here is a super easy and delicious spinach frittata.  

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    These Korean Pork Tacos have been a family favorite for years! The kids love them, I love them, and it’s one of those ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ slow cooker meals!   Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might be biased but I think they are pretty amazing! They have saved our dinner hour for years now. Check them out!

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    This Salsa Chicken is AWESOME! And it’s so easy! My friend Lindsey showed me how to do this… just a jar of salsa, and some chicken breast. That’s it. Since then, I added a couple other ingredients to get the seasoning just right. Super good though, especially when you crush up tortilla chips and put them on top. Have you

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    Cotton candy cupcakes just scream “summer” to me! Impress the kids with these delicious cotton candy cupcakes. They’d also be really cute to take to a picnic! If you can’t find the Frosting Creations, you can use vanilla icing with half a pack of kool-aid for flavoring. 🙂       Cotton Candy Cupcakes: Ingredients: 1 package Yellow Cake Mix

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    Who doesn’t need a chocolate cupcake every once in a while? I paired this dark chocolate cupcake recipe with my favorite coffee icing to make an amazing combination!  I hope you enjoy! Dark Chocolate Coffee Cupcake Recipe Cupcakes: 1 cup flour (You can use Better Batter Flour to make these Gluten-Free) 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon

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    Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Loin Pork loin grills so nicely – and this honey mustard marinade is PERFECT. You have to try this!    

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    Grilled Salmon    

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      Pineapple Turkey Burgers Turkey burgers don’t have to be bland! And it’s not just the pineapple that makes these turkey burgers so flavorful and juicy!  

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    Grilled Tilapia with Lemon    

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      Greek Marinated Chicken  

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    Grilled Teriyaki Steak with Pineapple  

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    One of my favorite breakfasts before going gluten-free was German Oven Pancakes.  It took me over a year of trying different recipes to find the one that I LOVED the most, so here is my all time favorite Gluten-Free German Pancakes Recipe.  You can make this a traditional German pancake just by using regular white flour instead of gluten-free flour.

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    Easy and tasty grilled chicken – perfect for the summer or anytime of year!  

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    Beef Stew. So good. This recipe is just the perfect balance of flavor and savory goodness. The meat becomes so tender after cooking for over 8 hours. But the key to getting an awesome gravy is making a roux before serving – about 30 minutes before you want to sever, get some butter in a small sauce pan melted. Add

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    I have an updated and upgraded version of this recipe HERE. Have you grabbed my freezer meal plans, yet? I might be biased but I think they are pretty amazing! They have saved our dinner hour for years now. Check them out!

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    This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipes is Easy Honey Garlic Chicken! Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I want to show you that you can cook inexpensive and healthy meals for under $10.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store but you should find comparable prices at your local store, you can print this recipe by hitting the

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    There are two schools of thought when it comes to eating a cupcake: Open wide and take a big bite (which usually results in icing on your nose) or tear off the bottom half and eat your treat in two stages. No matter which strategy you employ, there’s no denying that these Piglet cupcakes would make a sweet Valentine’s Day

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      This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipes is Loaded Baked Potato Soup. Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I want to show you that you can cook inexpensive and healthy meals for under $10.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store but you should find comparable prices at your local store, you can print this recipe by

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    This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipe is Loaded Baked potato Casserole Recipe Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I want to show you that you can cook inexpensive meals for under $10.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store but you should find comparable prices at your local store, you can print this recipe by hitting the

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    This weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap Recipes is this great Apple Salsa Recipe and Cinnamon Sugar Chips. Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I want to show you that you can cook inexpensive and healthy meals for under $10.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store but you should find comparable prices at your local store, you can print this

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    Olive Garden Copycat Chicken and Gnocchi Soup Recipe I am a HUGE lover of soup and when I went to Olive Garden and tried their Chicken and Gnocchi Soup, I knew I had to come home and try to make it myself. If you love soups, here are a couple more of our favorite soup recipes: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup (this is

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    This is a favorite recipe of ours called Cilantro Lime Chicken. We serve it with rice and Spicy Grilled Corn.   [print_recipe] Cilantro Lime Chicken with Spicy Grilled Corn Chicken Ingredients 2 lbs boneless chicken breast – cost $3.98 Zest and juice from one lime – cost $0.50 2 cloves of minced garlic 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped- FREE from

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    Did you know that you can make an Easy chicken pot pie recipe right in your slow-cooker?  

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    Organic Foods can be expensive, so how do you save on them?  One tip is to know which items are on the Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic List, and are important to purchase organic.  Based on this article by EWG Foods, you can save money by only focusing on the foods that ‘matter’ if they are organic or not.

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    One of our go to recipes every month is this Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pork with Red Peppers.  It is seriously SO easy and your family will LOVE it! I usually do a double batch, then freeze half of it in a ziplock baggie for later.  Then later on in the month, I take that out and stick it in the slow-cooker

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    This recipe is one of my favorite all times dinner recipes, Chicken Souvlaki is this weeks Cooking with the FREE & Cheap recipe.  The prices were taken from my local store, but you should be able to find comprable prices at your store.  You can print this recipe by hitting the print button your browser window. Have you grabbed my

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    This weeks recipe for Cooking with the FREE & Cheap is Apple Pork Chops.  This dish does not look ‘cheap’ at all, and is a great recipe to serve guests without feeling like you are cooking them an inexpensive meal. Here on ‘I am THAT lady’ I LOVE to show you recipes that you can make for $10 or less,

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    Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?  Especially one that costs only $5.65 and is easy to prep!  My goal is provide you with easy and delicious recipes for under $10 per meal.  The prices were taken from my local grocery store, but you should be able to find comparable prices at your local store.  You can print this recipe by

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