Thursday, March 17, 2022

Simple Living & Save - $$

 I am on a roll this week about using what you have and not spending a ton of extra money.  It works in so many areas of our lives.  I hope I am not driving you all nuts!

I just love being able to know that no matter what, we can survive and survive well.  Life can be about the simplest things and those things can save $$$.

Great way to use up those older cheap cakes mixes you got on sale and haven't used yet!!!  Any flavor!

Doesn't get much easier than that!  No eggs, no flour, no sugar - healthy cookies

Click on pic to enlarge for easier reading.  I love all these!!!!

Frugal and easy dinner bites.  Slices of potatoes - topped with your favorite toppings and baked.  Nobody said dinner has to be complicated and many dishes.  I have used sliced zucchini this way as well!


Another easy dinner bite.  These are tasty.  You can use Bisquick or your own mix for topping.  No limit to the combinations you can come up with.  Nice with a salad.


It will soon be that time again.  Zucchini coming  out your ears!!!!  LOL  Zucchini cakes are light and fluffy and oh, so tasty,  Basically you can use what  veggie you have to make fritters.  I have made corn fritters, okra fritters, potato fritters - I would think you can get real creative with this.  Using what you have.
Stuffed zucchini boats are the bomb.  One of my favorites.  Stuff like you would a stuffed pepper or fill with cheesy mixture or anything your little heart desires.  Half, remove seeds, I stem in microwave for about 10 minutes - then fill and bake.  One dish meal!!!!!


Corn bread muffins with cut up hot dogs or smoked sausage in center.  YUM.  These are so good.  FUN


I know I have shown some of these before -, but reminders are always nice.  We can eat well, live great, spend little and just have a happy time of it - if we choose!!!
It is about choices and using what you have!!!!!

See ya all later!  Have a good one.

23 comments:

  1. Of that list of 10, we do go out to eat but these days 2-4/month. Before retirement it was 2-3/week! And I use ziploc bags, washing and reusing until the zippers won't seal anymore.

    I'm eating leftovers this week in a snacking manner. I heated up some riced cauliflower, melted some cheese over it and topped with 2 easy-over eggs. A bit of spanish rice was a great snack. 2 blueberry buckwheat pancakes for dinner yesterday about 230pm. A chicken thigh diced into a burrito. That's all I remember. All tasty though! Hubster returns tomorrow evening so cooking shall resume.

    I don't know that I have ever purchased a cake mix!?

    Happy Thursday everyone :-)

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    1. I think I am all 10. Rarely go out to eat - maybe once or twice a year!
      Good for you on using all the foods in fun ways. That is pretty neat.
      Really - never bought a cake mix? I must say I have, just so easy - and cheap at times.

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  2. Great ideas! Some I've already done and others are new to me. Therefore, I will be giving them a try. When the zucchini start bearing, I'm always hunting for more ways to fix them.

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    1. My late hubby used to say I was the Bubba Gump of zucchini!!! LOL
      I can come up with more ideas for that than anything. It is such a prolific plant and just so versatile.
      Thanks

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  3. Those mini bites look like a great idea, not only to use up leftovers, but as an appetizer on a holiday.

    The grandson will be here today, and I have a couple of cake mixes in the cupboard (that I bought on sale). Baking a cookie cake might be just the idea for an activity. Silly kid, he doesn't often enjoy home made treats - preferring the store bought cookies instead.

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    1. Those would be great for appetizers as well.
      Silly kiddo - maybe helping grandma make something will make it more special.
      Enjoy your visit.

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  4. Some really great ideas here. I am definitely going to do the stuffed squash and those corn muffin bites. THe grandkids will love them.

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    1. Kids love them - adults too! The stuffed squash is just the best.

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  5. Can't wait to try the little pot pies. I have made the stuffed squash. It is wonderful, you can change it up so many different ways!

    I do keep shelf stable products. They are great to have in your pantry. When I don't have time or energy, I can always pull something together.

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    1. I think you will enjoy them - so many options. Any kind of goodies inside you want.
      I think it is nice to have a few easy to fi items - some days we just have no energy. That is why I like my frozen leftovers too.

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  6. All super good ideas! We had corned beef with potatoes and carrots today for lunch. I am going to take the potatoes and carrots and mash them up coarsely and make patties, adding some of the corned beef, serving them with sautéed cabbage, onions and apples. Love zucchini boats! The variety of fillings is endless.

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    1. Oh my goodness, the patties sound tasty. Thanks for mentioning that - just shows us all another type of patty we can make.
      That sounds like a very tasty meal. I had my corned beef and cabbage today as well!
      Zucchini boats are easy and yes, so many topping options!

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  7. I had wanted to make some cornbread with sliced up hotdogs in the batter a few weeks ago but had totally forgotten. I already added that to next week's menu so I wouldn't forget again. Thanks for the reminder.

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  8. Lots of great ideas!
    The stuffed zucchini made me laugh - years ago my dad loved to experiment when cooking but with 5 kids he was often met with more than a bit of hesitation. One night I came home to find that we were having shrimp stuffed zucchinis for supper - my reaction? What's a zucchini!!!

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    1. LOL - that's funny. It sure is an odd name, isn't it? I can see kids thinking that.
      I use them in so many ways

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  9. Debby in Kansas USAMarch 18, 2022 at 3:38 PM

    The Bubba Gump of zucchini!!!! Bahaha!! Those zucchini boats look delicious. I might even get hubs to eat one!
    We were given lots of zucchini last year. The only way he would eat them was parmesan coated and baked with ranch dressing. The boats might just work.....

    One of my friends used to make those corn dog muffins for an after school snack. A healthier and cheaper corn dog.

    When we were at our tightwadest in the 90s, we used to do an Amy D. recipe. I'd toss potato peels with a little oil and seasoned salt and bake them. They were yummy. Just scrub them good before peeling!

    Just gotta be creative.

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    1. The boats ae super good - you get the nutrition on the zucchini - but really don't taste it. I love fried zucchini too.
      Indeed - inexpensive corndogs - that is all it is!

      Fried potato skins - loved them. Haven't had in years. Those used to be the thing and they would charge a bundle for them at restaurants.

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  10. I keep forgetting to buy Jiffy Mix and hotdogs.

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    1. Both are pretty inexpensive and make a nice little bite!

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  11. I love stuffed zucchini. So refreshing.

    Reminders are always great.

    God bless.

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    1. I do too. We tend to forget from year to year.
      Thanks

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  12. Such fun foods in this post! I'll bet moms with littles will love it!

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