Roasted Tomato & Garlic Soup

One of my favorite meals to eat is tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich. This particular soup recipe is not only for the health conscious eaters, but also for all the lazy folks out there who prefer not to slave in the kitchen:) The majority of the work consist of peeling the garlic, slicing the tomatoes, and chopping the onions and basil leaves... the rest you can let the oven/stove do ;)


Ingredients:

• 2 bulks of garlic
• 12 Roma tomatoes
• olive oil
• salt & pepper
• a handful of fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbsp. of herbs (ex. rosemary, parsley)
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes with italian herbs
• 4 cups of vegetable stock 
• 1 onion

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven 425F. Peel dry layers off of garlic cloves. Place cloves on aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the cloves with the aluminum foil. Cook for 40-45 minutes. 

2. In the meantime, clean tomatoes and cut in half lengthwise. Place halves faced up on foil on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbs. Then, set the oven to 300 F and cook for about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

3.When the tomatoes are done, on medium heat, saute chopped onions with olive oil until soft for about 10 minutes.

4.Place the roasted garlic cloves, half of the roasted tomatoes, the sauteed onions and the canned tomatoes in a food processor/blender. Puree until smooth. Place the mixture in a pot with the vegetable stock. Stir and simmer on low heat.

5. Chop the remaining roasted tomatoes and stir them into the soup to add texture. Sprinkle in half of the shredded basil leaves.

6. Chop the remaining basil leaves more finely, and sprinkle on top of soup when serving. 

Costs:

• 2 bulks of garlic- $1.00
• 12 Roma tomatoes- $3.40
• olive oil
• salt & pepper
• a handful of fresh basil leaves- $2.47
• 2 tbsp. of herbs (ex. rosemary, thyme, parsley)
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes with italian herbs- $1.24
• 4 cups of vegetable stock - $2.45
• 1 onion- $0.27

Approximate Total Cost: $10 for a serving of 7-8

xoxo,

Amy

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I went to P.F. Changs recently, and I always order the lettuce wraps for an appetizer. These lettuce wraps are amazing and extremely delicous! So I decided to look up the recipe and make them myself! :)


Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. oil
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup water chestnuts
• 2/3 cup of mushrooms
• 3 tbsp. chopped onions
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 4-5 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce Ingredients(optional): 
(I didn't end up making this sauce, so I can't tell you how it taste.)

• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbs. soy sauce
• 2 tbs. rice wine vinegar
• 2 tbs. ketchup
• 1 tbs. lemon juice
• 1 tbs mustard
• 2 tbs. water
• 1-2tbs garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 tbs. soy sauce
• 2tbs. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar

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Preparation:

1. Special Sauce- Dissolve the sugar in water in a small bowl. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, and lemon juice. 
2. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Combine the hot water with the mustard and set aside.
4. Stir Fry Sauce- Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
5. Chicken Mixture- Chop onions. Mince garlic. Chop water chestnuts and mushrooms to the size of your pinky nail.

Instructions:

1. Chicken Mixture- On medium-high heat, pour oil into a skillet. Saute chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes per side or when fully cooked. Remove chicken and lay on paper towels on a plate to cool.
2. Keep oil in pan, hot. 
3. When chicken is cool cut it into the same size pieces as the water chestnuts/mushrooms.
4. Lower temperature to medium. Add another tbs. of oil to the pan.
5. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts, and mushrooms to the pan. Add the prepared stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a few minutes.
6. Top with the prepared special sauce.

Costs of ingredients:

• 3 tbs. oil
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts- $3-4
• 1 cup water chestnuts- $0.50
• 2/3 cup of mushrooms, 4-5 medium mushrooms - $0.70 ($1.87 for 8 oz)
• 3 tbs. chopped onions-$0.08 ($0.47 for an onion)
• 1 tsp. minced garlic(1 clove)-$0.12 ($0.50 for 1 bulk)
• 5-6 leaves iceberg lettuce- $0.99 for a head of lettuce

• 2 tbs. soy sauce
• 2tbs. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar

Approximate Cost: $6-7 for a serving for 2-3

xoxo,

Amy

Pigs in a Blanket with Chorizo

These are great snacks for parties, or even game days at the house. These are similar to your everyday pigs in a blanket except there's a bit of a kick from the chorizo. ;)


Ingredients for pigs in a blanket:

• A package of 6oz chorizo sausage( usually comes in 12)
• A package of Puff Pastry Sheets(usually comes in 2)
• 1 egg

Instructions for pigs in a blanket:

1. Preheat oven 400F. Thaw 1 puff pastry sheet. Unfold and cut in 4ths hamburger style, cut in thirds hotdog style. Now you should have 12 small rectangles. Cut each rectangle diagonally into 2 triangles. Refrigerate triangles until needed.
2. Cut 6oz sausage into 24 pieces. Working with one triangle at a time, arrange a piece of sausage at the base of the triangle and roll up snugly. Seal the triangle with a dab of beaten egg. Brush triangle with beaten egg. Bake all until golden brown for about 20-25 minutes. Then cook for another 5-10 minutes on 300F.

Costs for pigs in a blanket:

• A package of 6oz chorizo sausage( usually comes in 12)- $$0.75
• 1 sheet of Puff Pastry (package usually comes in 2)- $2
• 1 egg-$0.08

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Dipping Sauce

Ingredients for dipping sauce:

• 2 1/2 cups of herbs such as cilantro and parsely
• 1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 1/2/ tbs. of red wine vinegar
• 2 tbs. warm water

Instructions for dipping sauce:

1. Combine all ingredients into a food processor. Serve with pigs in a blanket.

Costs for dipping sauce:

• 2 1/2 cups of herbs such as cilantro and parsely- $0.29
• 1/4 tsp. of crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 gloves of garlic- $0.15
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 1/2/ tbsp. of red wine vinegar
• 2 tbs. warm water

Approximate Cost for 24 pigs in a blanket: $2.82

Approximate Costs for dipping sauce: $0.50

xoxo,

Amy

Garlic Fries with Pesto Sauce

So I went to Mandola's, a great Italian restaurant, and I had garlic fries for an appetizer. These fries came along with a pesto dipping sauce, and were delicious! I loved them so much, I decided to make these at home:) These are great along burgers, or even as party appetizers!


Ingredients for fries: 

• 1/3 a bag of shoestring fries
• 1 tbsp. of vegetable/canola oil
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsely 
• 1 tbsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions for fries:

1. Place oil and garlic in a large nonstick skillet, and cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Once the garlic is toasted, pour the garlic oil into a small dish.
2. Follow the directions to cook the shoestring potato fries. Once cooked, toss with the garlic oil mixture, parsley, and parmesan cheese.

Costs for fries:

• 1/2 bag of shoestring potatoes-$0.59 
• 2 tsp. of vegetable/canola oil
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• 2 garlic cloves, minced-$0.10---$0.50 for 1 bulk
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsely-$0.20(1 sprig)---$2.47 for 12 springs ( you only need 1)
• 1 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese-$0.10---$2.48 for 1.5 cups

Fruit Kabobs Infused with Passionfruit Vodka

Fruits are always great at barbeques and pool parties, but they are even better when infused with passionfruit vodka! In this particular fruit kabob, I used cantaloupe, mango, and strawberries and soak them in fresh citrus juices from oranges and limes. I think watermelon would also work really well because they're succulent and absorbent.


Ingredients:

• 10 small navel oranges
• 6 key limes or 3 regular limes
• 1 cantaloupe
• 3 mangos
• 1-2 lb. of strawberries
• 20 wooden skewers
• passionfruit vodka
• cranberry juice

Instructions:

1. Rinse and clean all of the fruit.
2. Slice the oranges and 2 limes. Squeeze the juices into a medium size bowl. Add a splash of cranberry juice and add however much vodka your heart desires. 
3. With one skewer, poke holes in the strawberries, and toss them into the bowl to soak. Next, cut the cantaloupe into squarish pieces, and toss them in with the strawberries. Lastly, peel the skin off of the mangos with a vegetable peeler, slice the mangos into squarish pieces, and add them to the fruit mixture. Mix well.
4. Let it sit in the fridge over night or for a few hours, so the fruit can soak up the juices and alcohol.
5. Slide the strawberries on the skewers first and last so it can hold the rest of the fruit in place. Drizzle the remaining juices and the last lime over the skewers, and chill them in the refrigerator until your party starts!

Costs:

• 5 oranges- $2.00
• 6 key limes or 3 regular limes- $1.00
• 1 cantaloupe- $0.77
• 3 mangos- $1.50
• 1-2 lb. of strawberries. $2.00
• 20 wooden skewers
• passionfruit vodka, I used three olives vodka

Approximate Total Cost: $7 for about 15-20 skewers 
(+ $ of alcohol)

xoxo,

Amy

Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Looking for something light? This linguine pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, and kalamata olives will hit the spot without the extra calories ;) I think it's perfect for lunch with a salad or even for dinner! 

Ingredients:

• 16 oz linguine pasta
• sea salt
• olive oil
• 5-6 roma tomatoes, diced
• 3/4 cup of pitted kalamata olives
• 6 sun-dried tomatoes, drained and diced
• 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese (you can replace this with parmesan cheese, but it will be more salty)

Ingredients for the dressing:

• 5-6 sundried tomatoes in oil (drained)
• 2 tbs. garlic infused red wine vinegar (or regular red wine vinegar)
• 6 tbs. olive oil 
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 3/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 garlic clove
• 3/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup of packed basil leaves, chopped

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, bring water to boil with salt. (Just follow the instructions on the back of the pasta package)
2. For the dressing, in a food processor/blender/the magic bullet, combine sun-dried tomatoes, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. After 10-12 minutes of boiling the pasta, drain the pasta. In the same pot, add the tomatoes, olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Mix well. Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and chopped basil leaves. Toss well.

Costs: 

• pasta- $1
• 5-6 tomatoes- $1.12
• parmesan cheese- ~$2
• mozarella cheese~$2
• kalamata olives- $2-3
• basil leaves- $2

Approximate Cost: $10-11 for a serving of 6

xoxo,

Amy

Greek Shrimp Linguine

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. finely chopped garlic
• 3 tbs of olive oil
• 20 peeled and deveined frozen shrimp
• 1 tsp. oregano (fresh or dried)
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup feta cheese
• 6-7 sliced campari tomatoes or a can of tomato wedges
• salt and pepper
• half a package of linguine pasta

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, boil pasta to desire tenderness. (Follow the instructions on the back of the package.) Drain water and set pasta aside. 
2. In large skillet, on medium high heat saute garlic in olive oil. Add shrimp until pink but slightly undercooked. Add tomatoes, oregano, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Remove from heat. 
3. On medium-low heat, in a large pot add a little more olive oil and throw in the shrimp mixture. Add the cooked pasta and feta cheese. Mix well. 

Costs:

• 1 tsp. finely chopped garlic- $0.15
• 3 tbs of olive oil
• 20 peeled and deveined frozen shrimp- $4
• 1 tsp. oregano (fresh or dried)
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup feta cheese- $3
• 6-7 sliced campari tomatoes or a can of tomato wedges- $2
• salt and pepper
• half a package of linguine pasta-$0.60

Approximate Cost : $10 for a serving of 4

xoxo,

Amy

Sauteed Noodles & Steak

A delicious snack, lunch, dinner, whatever you want to eat it for. Not only is it a simple recipe, it's REALLY affordable. 

Ingredients:

• Ketchup( 5-8 ketchup packets)
• 2 tbs minced garlic
• A package of shoulder steak( it should be about $3-4 worth)
• a package of wide egg noodles
• 3 tbs. of chopped onion
• 2 tbs. of oil (preferably olive)
• 4-5 tbs. of soy sauce

Preparation:

• Clean the steak. Slice the shoulder steak into thin- ish slices. Sprinkle a bit with soy sauce, salt, and pepper.

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Cook the noodles for about 5 minutes. Drain in a stainer. ( Follow the instructions on the back of the package.)
2. In the meantime, on medium high heat , cook the minced garlic, onions, and olive oil for a few seconds in a large skillet. Toss in the sliced shoulder steak, and mix it around a bit. Cook the meat medium style, where it's slightly still pink. (You don't want to cook the meat too well because we're gonig to cook it again with the noodles later.) 
3. Using the same large pot(without the water,) pour a tbs. of olive oil in and add the garlic-steak mixture. Throw in the cooked noodles, and mix evenly. Squeeze in all the ketchup, and pour in a about 3 rings of soy sauce. Toss evenly. Sprinkle generously with pepper and salt. (Add sriracha, or crushed red pepper if you want it to have a kick :)

Costs:

• Ketchup( 5-8 ketchup packets)- Free at any fast food restaurant
• 2 tbs minced garlic- $1 for a bulk
• A package of shoulder steak( it should be about $3-4 worth)
• a package of wide egg noodles- $1.30
• 3 tbs. of chopped onion- $0.29 for one onion
• 2 tbs. of oil (preferably olive)
• 4-5 tbs. of soy sauce

Approximate Total Cost: $6 for a serving of 6

xoxo,

Amy