Dijon Chicken

So easy and quite tasty.

• Boneless Skinless chicken thighs- 1 package
• Dijon mustard- 1/2 cup
• Maple syrup- 1/4 cup
• Rice/rice wine vinegar- 1 tablespoon  ( i substitued apple cider vinager+pinch of sugar)
• Fresh rosemary (or rubbed sage)
• Salt and pepper

Whisk up the Dijon mustard, maple syrup,  and vinager.


Salt & pepper the chicken thighs and arrange in a heavily foiled casserole dish (if you don't foil you'll be cleaning the dish for days).

Arrange the chicken in the dish - cover the chicken with the sauce.

Bake at 450 for 20 minutes then broil for another 20.

Easy Peasy and QUICK prep.

*note: feel free to double the sauce recipe.  I used the above amounts for just 3 thighs because i was just cooking for me and my husband.  If i was cooking the whole package of chicken - I'd double the recipe because I'm a saucy person.

 Make Sauce

Put in the oven - 450 degrees for 40 min total.  

 num num

adapted from http://www.wittyinthecity.com/2011/08/man-pleasing-chicken/ which was adapted from Trader Joes cook book.

cheap, chicken, dinner, easy, healthy,

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Caramel Dumplings

Sauce:

• 1 c brown sugar
• 2 TBSP butter
• 1 1/2 cups water

Melt brown sugar and butter together over medium heat in a sauce pan. Add water, bring to boil. Boil a few minutes.

Batter:

• 1/2 c white sugar
• 2 TBSP softened butter
• pinch of salt
• 1 c all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 c milk

Mix all ingredients to make batter.

Pre heat oven 400 degrees. Put the caramel syrup you made into a greased casserole dish.
Drop spoonfuls of batter into syrup. Bake for 20 minutes.

Easy peasy yappaneesy.

Before

After

Served

cheap, dessert, easy, sweet,

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Ramen Noodle Stir Fry (Cheap & Easy Dinners)

 

Yes this is a meal using Top Ramen (or any ramen noodle package). Another edition of Mrs. Scales CHEAP & EASY meals. :)   

Ingredients:

1-2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (or meat/seafood of your choice)
1 block of  ramen noodles
1 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c frozen veggie mix
1 egg
1 tsp cooking oil (olive, sesame, vegetable)
seasoning salt, to taste
salt/pepper, to taste

First, cut up your boneless skinless chicken breast or whatever meat you use. 

On medium heat, put garlic and the tsp of oil in the frying pan or wok.

                                             

Toss your chicken in the pan with soy sauce, Worcestershire, frozen veggies, a couple dashes of seasoning salt.  Stir with wooden spoon.

While this is cooking and blending flavors, put a bowl of water in the microwave for 3 minutes.  When the 3 minutes is up you'll have boiling water, while still in the microwave add your block of noodles (break in half if you wish).  Turn microwave back on for another 2.5 min. This method makes the perfect consistency of noodles.. not soggy or puffy.

Back over to the pan - Once the veggies are almost cooked crack in the egg.  Stir again with wooden spoon or spatula to scramble the egg.

Back to the microwave - Your noodles should be done at this point.  Drain all the water from the bowl.  Use an oven mitt, the bowl will be HOT. (Note: if you want to save those couple extra minutes, I recommend using this rapid ramen bowl, which will give you the same perfect consistency with only 3 minutes total in the microwave rather than the 3 minutes then extra 2.5 minutes),

Add the noodles and ramen seasoning packet to the pan/wok and stir it all up.  Add a little more oil if you need to and a little water (maybe a table spoon). 

Serve.  

I recommend trying it with mushrooms too if you have them on hand (pic on right). 

Try also

Easy Fried Rice

Chicken Satay w/ Thai Peanut Sauce





asian, cheap, chicken, dinner, easy, pasta,

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Thai Peanut Sauce

Looking for a very LOW COST thai peanut sauce?  Found this gem on Budget Bytes.  Tasty and goes quite perfectly with my chicken satay.

Total Cost: $1.75

Cost Per Serving: $0.22

Serves: 8 (1/4 cup ea.)

Ingredients

• ¾ cup natural style peanut butter $0.82
• ¼ cup coconut milk (optional) $0.16
• ½ lime juice $0.17
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled, grated (optional) $0.24 (or 1/8 tsp dried ginger)
• 1 clove garlic, minced $0.06 (or 1/2 tsp minced)
• 1 tsp sriracha sauce (rooster hot sauce) $0.05
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce $0.03
• ½ tsp sesame oil (optional) $0.02
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar $0.03
• ¼ bunch cilantro $0.17
• ¼ – ½ cup water $0.00

Instructions

1. Make sure your natural style peanut butter is thoroughly mixed before measuring (you don’t want to get all oil or all solids). In a blender or food processor combine all of the ingredients except the sriracha sauce. Begin with only ¼ cup of water and add more until you get the consistency you want (I used ½ cup total). Add the sriracha sauce a little at a time (blending between) until it is to your desired heat (I used about ½ tsp).
2. Enjoy the peanut sauce on salads, pasta or as a dipping sauce!

appetizer, asian, cheap, dressing, side, thai,

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Pot Pie Over Rice (Cheap & Easy Dinners)



Have no time?  No money? This is a fast, tasty meal that is easy on the pocketbook.

Ingredients:

• Stouffer's (or any brand) Frozen Pot Pie (turkey, chicken, ham & cheese,  whatever you feel like)
• Cooked White Rice

Directions:   

1. Cook pot pie.  These days you can do them in the microwave for 5 minutes.  If you prefer you can do yours in the oven according to the printed directions.


2. Cook your rice according to package.  Minute rice or old fashioned rice that take 25 min to cook.. whichever you prefer.


3. Dump your pot pie over your steamed white rice... doesn't have to be pretty.  Grab your fork and salt/pepper to taste and dig in!   Great for kids when running short on time.

Enjoy

cheap, dinner, easy,

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