Five Dollar Family Feed: Pizza Boats

Hello Friends!

This has been a favorite among my kiddos each time I've made them.  I tend to make them on Friday night as they are easy, cheap and sets the stage for a relaxing weekend (again they are so easy to make).

You've probably made a version of this before but did you really think about how inexpensive this meal is?  Not only that, but our family of 4 made this into two meals.  We had them for dinner on a Friday night, then had leftovers for lunch on Sunday after church.  Just pop them back into the oven or toaster oven for 5-10 minutes at 400 degrees and you're set!!!

Peddi Girl's Pizza Boats

French Bread (sliced in half lengthwise)

Pizza Sauce

Pepperoni

Tomato (sliced very thin - optional)

Black Olives

Onion

Mozzarella Cheese

Extra Virgin Olive Oil for drizzling

•  Preheat oven to 425 degrees, rack on middle row
• Lay french bread slices onto 9x13 pan.  Spread tomato sauce onto each slice.  Top with mozzarella cheese
• Top with pepperoni, tomato, black olives and onion (or your favorite pizza toppings).
• Drizzle evoo on each slice
•  Bake for about 10 min, until cheese is melted and golden.

That's it, enjoy!!!


I will give you an update on this particular recipe.  I felt as though my french bread was a lot of bread, if you know what I mean.  I'm going to experiment with different breads to get the right one for me.  The other option would be to slice the bread, then scoop out some of the breading from the loaf.  Not a lot, but just enough to make it less thick.  This of course is a personal preference as the Mr. and kiddos loved them just the way they are.

Also, here's a frugal tip.  I like to make my own marinara sauce and freeze it in individual portions.  However, we all have crazy nights, no marinara in the freezer or just want it to be extra easy.  So for those evenings, I open a can of pizza sauce, use what I need and then freeze the extra.  I usually get 3 pizzas out of one can.  So put them in separate baggies, mark them and you're ready for the next time you make pizza boats.  They only take about 15 minutes to defrost or just put them in a bowl of warm water for quick thawing.


Hugs,
        Trish

Peddi Girl's Spicy Tex Mex Skillet

Hello Friends!

As you know, I'm a girl who loves to save my family money.  I love to get the look for less.  In addition to that, I also love to find delicious frugal recipes to feed the family.  This is a segment I'm working on that I like to call  Five Dollar Family Feed.  I've made this yummy concoction a few times and this last time the hubs said, "I love this meal, it's so filling".  Now you may not know this but my hubby has been blessed with the thin and fit fairy.  With this point made, you should know that when he eats, he totally fills his dinner plate.  So, to hear him say how much he likes this meal and that it fills him up....all for around $5.00 makes it a hit!

This is a modified version of the Campbell's Soup recipe I found on the back of the can.  It's very good as is, but I prefer a little extra heat to it.

Peddi Girl's

Spicy Tex Mex Skillet

1 lb. ground beef or deer burger 

1 Can kidney beans (I prefer black beans) rinsed and drained

1 Can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes drained

1T Chili Powder

1/4 - 1/2 Cup chopped onion

1/8 - 1/4 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1 Can Beefy Mushroom Soup

1/4 Cup Water

3/4 Cup Instant White Rice

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 Cup Shredded Cheese

Tortilla Chips

• Cook the beef, onion and chili powder in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off any fat.
  
  
• Stir the soup, water, tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and beans in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.  Cook longer if you like it spicier.  The longer you simmer red pepper flakes in this, the hotter it gets. Remove the skillet from the heat.
  
  
• Stir in the rice. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.  Sprinkle with the cheese. Serve with the tortilla chips for dipping.
  
  Feeds a family of 4 for around five dollars, enjoy!
  
  
  
  Hugs,
           Trish
  

Camel Blazer & Denim Duds

Hello Friends!!!!

I hope you had an amazing weekend!!!!  I had one of those weekends that seem to go on and on.  Not in a bad way, just in a way that I was surprised we fit in as much as we did.  We've sold most of the baby stuff in our house.  No more cribs, changing tables, high chairs, etc.  It's all gone and I have a little more dough to show for it :).  We also made a very large contribution to Goodwill.  I hope all of the little kids clothes, toys, baby books, etc help make another family very happy.

I do still need to whittle down my closet but I know there are some very classic pieces.  These are the pieces you keep season to season, year after year.   My camel blazer is one of those great classics.

I love the simplicity of throwing on your favorite tee and blazer and calling it good.  It's effortless, cute, fun and fashionable.  I got this inspiration from Pinterest here.  You can create the look with your favorite vintage t-shirt, collegiate shirt or even a simple white t-shirt would be adorable!

[Blazer: Old Navy] [T-Shirt: Express] [Skinny Boyfriend Jeans: Target]

 [Shoes: Payless] [Jewels: Stella & Dot]

 I'm going to sneak in a frugal find bit here.  I found these Skinny Boyfriend Jeans at Target for $12.48, among a whole rack of 50% off stuff.  They are so comfy and I love how they are a bit weathered without looking too beat up.   I will warn you.  The dark denim does bleed a bit with the first wash.  So if you run out to Target and grab a pair, don't wash it with anything that is too light.  You'll regret it!

I wore this outfit to a Friendship & Chocolate event the other night at our church.  What an amazing evening with some amazing women.  We talked about the types of friends we have in our lives.  How each type fits in our life and for different reasons.  What kind of a friend am I?  It was an evening of prayer, spirit, friendship and of course CHOCOLATE!!!!

Because it was a Chocolate event, I had to find something that was easy (busy schedule and all) and could divide amongst all of the women.  I made these truffles for the first time and it was incredibly easy and very frugal.  I haven't figured out the cost but you'll see in the ingredients that there's nothing that's too expensive.  In fact, most of this you probably already have in your pantry.

 

Chubby Hubby Truffles 

1½ cups pretzel pieces
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 cup milk or semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

1. Put the pretzel pieces into a resealable plastic bag and crush into very small bits (a rolling pin works great for this).

2. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and salt. Stir until all of the ingredients are completely blended and smooth. Add the pretzel bits to the peanut butter mixture and mix thoroughly. Add the powdered sugar and mix until completely combined.

3. Line a small baking sheet with wax paper. Using a small cookie scoop, or about 2 teaspoons worth of peanut butter mixture, gently shape into a ball with your fingertips. Place the ball on the wax paper-lined cookie sheet and repeat with the remaining peanut butter mixture. Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.

4. When ready to dip the truffles, microwave the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening together in a small bowl at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted and smooth.

5. Working one at a time, dip one peanut butter-pretzel ball into the melted chocolate and use a fork to roll it around, ensuring that it is completely coated with chocolate. Let any extra chocolate drip off and place back on the wax paper-lined sheet. Repeat with all of the peanut butter-pretzel balls.

6. Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator and again chill for at least 30 minutes. Garnish with a drizzle of melted peanut butter and crushed pretzels, if desired. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 

Inspiration for recipe:  Pinterest here

Hugs,

        Trish