tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981318727903465762011-10-11T14:10:33.669-06:00Balancing family and gourmet food on a budget.Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-79331891715603031912011-02-01T09:33:00.000-07:002011-02-01T09:33:15.800-07:00

Some things have changed around here and once I figure out how to direct this site to my new one I will.  I am not extremely computer savvy but I have a fantastically patient neighbor who is helping me!  Red Velvet Cake Batter Bark and Kid's Can Cook Toosday - Sweet, Savory, and Tart Popcorn MADE WITH LOVE WEEK is going on over at Budget Gourmet Mom (the new home of KD's DD) and the wife of said

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-86046300922238756292011-01-25T16:47:00.000-07:002011-01-25T16:47:51.471-07:00

Although I am not as prepared as I would like to be...it's moving day here!  We are getting a whole new name, look, and location!  You can understand why I am not as prepared as I would like to be!  It's been a bit more work than I thought it would be but totally worth it! You can find my new feed at Budget Gourmet Mom

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-86197942579898061612011-01-11T00:01:00.004-07:002011-01-11T00:01:01.045-07:00

It's the middle of winter right now in Utah and with the nights dark and cold a warm, comforting meal is just the ticket! One of my favorite budget-friendly comfort meals is Shepherds Pie. I load it with vegetables, meat, and a creamy gravy and top with some roughly mashed potatoes. The smells emanating from the oven are sure to warm any hungry soul! What you will need: 1 lb lean ground beef or

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-20992591848884354142011-01-06T12:22:00.000-07:002011-01-06T12:22:35.105-07:00

With the holidays over and a new year beginning I find myself contemplating all the events that occurred these past 12 months. It's been a tough but blessed year. We tried to sell our home without success, added a new member to the family, I recovered am recovering from a c-section, fixed flat tires, fixed broken computers, fixed broken heads (I have 4 boys), and the list goes on. Although I like

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-66061841694751333752010-12-30T14:51:00.000-07:002010-12-30T14:51:15.048-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, just because you are on a budget doesn't mean you can't live a little!  Whether you are celebrating the New Year with a group of people or an intimate dinner for two this festive and fresh drink will add a bit of class to any gathering. Each drink consists of: 1 1/2 oz orange juice 1 oz cranberry juice approx. 3/4 cup ginger ale Make sure all the

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-60797966450912751972010-12-21T10:59:00.000-07:002010-12-21T10:59:15.981-07:00

I don't know about you but it is particularly difficult to stay on budget around the holidays without A LOT of planning.  There are gifts to buy, wrap, and ship not to mention to the food to bake, make and take!  It's hard not to get "wrapped" up in the hustle and bustle. As a result of the extra strain on our wallets and time it's easy to get overwhelmed but I have found the best way to stay

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-45489237903461772672010-12-11T15:52:00.001-07:002010-12-11T15:58:10.259-07:00

I must have been crazy...or subconsciously trying to forget my ever growing age, but yesterday was my birthday which is the reason for not posting the winner.  However, we have a winner today!!!!!! (I tried to post the Random.org pic here but must have done it wrong.  Sorry for my inexperience but I promise it chose number 3...I'll be playing with that site a bit more to figure that out.  It is

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-25063119755230331262010-12-04T13:27:00.000-07:002010-12-04T13:27:21.880-07:00

Happy National Cookie Day...as if you needed an excuse to enjoy a cookie! In honor of National Cookie Day and to launch my new sweet site I am having my first ever giveaway!  Awesome, right!?  Well, I'm pretty excited...can you tell!!!!!? I recently started perfecting the art of hand decorated sugar cookies.  I could not believe all the wonderful sites dedicated to just that!  Bakers have done

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-83535627454191278602010-11-23T11:55:00.001-07:002010-11-23T12:28:40.334-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am a big fan of pumpkin!  I am also a big fan of simple recipes that are big crowd pleasers.  My next recipe is just that plus, you don't even need to write it down, it is so easy!  It is also a great recipe for kids to help out with in the kitchen which is why it is my "Kids Can Cook Toosday" grand re-posting. All you need is a spice cake mix, a 15 oz can

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-86198579931294991092010-11-20T23:21:00.001-07:002010-12-03T18:17:28.181-07:00

When it starts to get colder and the leaves start to blush I know that fall is close.  The fall here in Utah is beautiful as the mountains transform from lush and green to red, orange, and yellow mounds.  As soon as it starts to get colder I pull out one of my favorite fall ingredients...pumpkin! Pumpkin is an extremely versatile ingredient and although I love pumpkin pie that is only one of the

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-23000473123342779352010-11-18T17:22:00.000-07:002010-11-18T17:22:04.689-07:00

As a mother with 4 kids, all of which are boys, I am always in search of sturdy plates.  When they are disposable and, in this case, eco-friendly I am a happy camper.  I was given the opportunity from Marx Foods to test out their recent line of disposable palm leaf plates and I was curious as to what I would receive and how I would use them. I was surprised at how sturdy the plates were.  They

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-32446623265678206032010-11-15T22:43:00.000-07:002010-11-15T22:43:10.660-07:00

I am working hard on updating the blog and getting ready to serve up some yummy recipes along with some product reviews and... MY FIRST GIVE AWAY!!!! Stay tuned!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-14276801728055709072010-08-21T13:32:00.000-06:002010-08-21T13:32:29.167-06:00

I am officially off duty as the resident oven in our home!  Our little munchkin arrived and we couldn't be more excited with him! We have many reasons to celebrate in our house as summer comes to a close and honestly, who needs a reason but most of you are also probably looking forward to the "last weekend" of summer, Labor Day! If you are planning on one last BBQ before you retire your grill for

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-60008338474974117282010-07-15T15:14:00.072-06:002010-07-21T17:56:14.051-06:00

Wanna feel like a kid again?  I have two words for you...banana split!  All that ice cream, syrup, and toppings...Yum!  Of course, later you may feel a bit guilty but what if I could promise you a fat free, no calorie banana split, and it's free? Impossible?  NO!  Not when you make it on Kelly Ripa's Banana Split website in honor of Ovarian Cancer Research! According to the Ovarian Cancer

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-62898703605680689662010-07-04T10:56:00.000-06:002010-07-04T10:56:59.557-06:00

With Warm Wishes on this day of celebration, Find the Sugar Cookie Glaze I used to decorate these cookies at this link. Happy BBQing!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-35885025410803064302010-07-02T17:48:00.000-06:002010-07-02T17:48:17.818-06:00

Ahhh, SUMMER!  Sun, swimming, vacations, and an abundance of delicious food!  One of my favorite things to eat in the summer is watermelon.  I think it is nearly impossible to have leftover watermelon in our house but when we do we love to make these refreshing granitas.  Not only are they delicious but also healthy!  Plus, my boys think they are snow cones so it saves us a bit of dough. You

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-45220966882544998862010-06-24T16:29:00.000-06:002010-06-24T16:29:56.825-06:00

Since we are currently in the throws of summer and BBQ's are the party spot it's easy to get tired of the same ol' hamburgers and hot dogs all the time. I decided to change it up a bit and relive a fun memory at the same time by making, what I like to call, City Dogs. You know, those hot dogs you can buy from street vendors all over big cities. The first time I ate a "vendor" hot dog I was in

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-7342063803776340632010-06-11T20:31:00.008-06:002010-06-11T21:34:36.689-06:00

Tinker Cake is almost as simple as a "box cake", as my great-grandmother called them, or so I'm told. My mother doesn't remember her making this cake as often as some of the other treasured recipes I have but this is MY grandmother's cake. This is the cake I will remember her making. It is my favorite! The smell as it is baking fills the room and I am immediately brought back to my childhood. The

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-2013018521852692512010-03-27T16:09:00.007-06:002010-03-27T17:15:06.497-06:00

In honor of Easter coming up I just had to post this sugar cookie glaze that can make every cookie you decorate a masterpiece! I have been experimenting with different glazes for awhile and I think I finally found a ratio that fits the bill. It is so easy and versatile that even the least artistic person can make a gorgeous cookie.First, and probably most importantly, make your favorite sugar

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-26010217184168571082010-01-15T15:20:00.002-07:002010-01-15T15:22:38.482-07:00

I apologize for my recent absence! I wish I could say it's because I have been busy in the kitchen but it's not. I have been doing some baking of another kind and right now it requires my full attention. The KD family are happy to announce we have a little bun in the oven that should be done baking in August! Unfortunately I have been experiencing some rather debilitating morning sickness. If

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-1565628028661939262009-12-08T14:51:00.000-07:002009-12-08T16:33:53.651-07:00

Winter has finally arrived in our little town and that means shoveling snow, making snowmen, and wet clothes! There is no better time to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate than after a day of frolicking in the snow! I had never actually made my own from scratch but I finally did the other day and it couldn't be easier. Make a warm fire, curl up with a good book, and enjoy this chocolaty treat with

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-50125394898660972612009-10-17T16:52:00.006-06:002009-10-17T17:31:27.553-06:00

When the cold air arrives and the leaves start changing color it can only mean one thing in my kitchen...time to break out the crock pot! I absolutely love cooking with my crock pot because it allows me to get dinner done at the beginning of the day instead of fretting about it all day long until that magic hour hits and I need to have something on the table but the baby is crying and the boys

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-58834707229629493832009-10-02T16:22:00.004-06:002009-10-02T17:02:52.748-06:00

Okay...I may reserve the right to brag again.I just bought all this food for under $70! I know, I am awesome!(I saved over $10 just in coupons)Things are pretty tight right now so I haven't been experimenting or buying fun ingredients lately. I would hate for an experiment to go awry and waste all that food.When I first started this blog I wanted to showcase all my wonderful talent and flare

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-1812870763439937592009-09-11T12:08:00.000-06:002009-09-11T13:55:24.011-06:00

After a rather unfortunate event the other night which ended with cheesy pizza sludge all over the road I decided to finally try making my own pizza dough. It has always been something that I have wanted to do however, the previously mentioned disaster was a result of leaving our leftovers on top of our car as we left our favorite local pizza parlor. I LOVE everything they make so why change

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-61327648098571332092009-08-27T09:15:00.006-06:002009-08-27T09:49:34.559-06:00

The August 2009 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Angela of A Spoonfulof Sugar and Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella. They chose the spectacular DobosTorte based on a recipe from Rick Rodgers' cookbook Kaffeehaus: ExquisiteDesserts from the Classic Caffés of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague.My first attempt at this torte was not a complete success. I plan on attempting it again but not until I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-77495868143510157152009-08-22T11:45:00.006-06:002009-08-23T16:40:28.628-06:00

With football season soon approaching family and friends will begin their tailgate parties. Whether you party at home or in the parking lot of your favorite teams stadium you may want to spice up your usual party grub. Personally, I LOVE nachos. Cheesy, spicy, crunchy, salty! Yum! Rather than buying the cheese in a jar why not make your own! Trust me, it is pretty easy.I started

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-56464436053240808332009-08-02T14:00:00.001-06:002009-08-02T14:09:01.861-06:00

I am back in the kitchen, as a matter of fact, I never left I just took a bit of a break from documenting my adventures. I must admit this summer has not been as I imagined it. I imagined hours of the kids playing outside while I whipped up every kind of imaginable recipe. Instead we put our house up for sale to move into a slightly larger home (with three boys it is really necessary to

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-38924432325844626852009-07-04T07:00:00.001-06:002009-07-07T16:05:40.860-06:00

I scheduled this to post on Saturday and just discovered that it didn't so...To all of those who have ever fought andcontinue to fight for the freedom of the United States of America...Thank You!Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-73884826699324550062009-07-01T13:33:00.007-06:002009-07-01T15:25:44.696-06:00

No...it's SUPER FOOD!!!!Okay, so a super food doesn't have the power to fly (unless you are flinging it across the room, which I do not recommend) but it does possess multiple nutritional values. I was recently turned on to edamame, and what I consider to be a super food, by one of my long time friends, Fuji Mama. Edamame, or soybeans, are considered a vegetable and a protein hence its super food

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-56634958404866246722009-06-27T07:00:00.003-06:002009-06-27T14:39:17.926-06:00

The June Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Annemarie of Ambrosia and Nectar. They chose a Traditional (UK) Bakewell Tart... er... pudding that was inspired by a rich baking history dating back to the 1800's in England.After months of stalking The Daring Bakers I finally joined once I thought I could commit to the monthly challenge. Life had

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-53373055285004448462009-06-16T20:55:00.000-06:002009-06-16T20:55:00.178-06:00

If you have moved away from the city you grew up in than you are like me. If you go back to visit and have a list of restaurants you need to visit than you are, again, like me!One of my favorite Italian restaurants to visit when I go home is Vince's Spaghetti. I don't know if it is the great memories or the delicious homemade spaghetti that is my favorite. When we go we try to get the whole

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-84437998828822803252009-06-04T16:03:00.005-06:002009-06-04T16:40:30.259-06:00

One of my favorite foodie stores to shop in is World Market. Not only do they have gadgets and serving dishes but food from other cultures as well. Unfortunately I don't live a hop, skip, and a jump away from one but my parents do. When I visit them I try to take at least one trip to World Market; more than one and I would have to take out a small loan!During my last visit as I was browsing

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-75577738365054625062009-05-31T12:20:00.000-06:002009-05-31T12:20:00.223-06:00

When I am not cooking in the kitchen I am running. This is something new and exciting much like completing a difficult recipe or serving a marvelous dinner! A friend and I started training for long distances a couple of months ago. After weeks of increasing our miles we completed our first race yesterday! It was a 10 K (6.2 mi) and I completed in 1 hr. 15 min. It is just the first race in a

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-78622542048865012672009-05-24T07:00:00.000-06:002009-05-24T07:00:01.418-06:00

A cook is only as good as her (or his) gadgets! Well, I don't actually believe that but cool gadgets can't hurt right!?I love kitchen gadgets. I could spend hours, oh who am I kidding, days in Williams-Sonoma, World Market, Crate and Barrel, and any other gadget haven. When I get a new gadget I carefully devise my plan of action to experiment with it. I must admit it is quite a rush!I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-92120143070242547352009-05-22T07:00:00.000-06:002009-05-22T07:00:01.946-06:00

I am a Domestic Engineer (SAHM) so I am in charge of A LOT! You are entitled to your own opinion but my opinion is that it is the hardest job in the World. Yes, harder, even, than being the President. Shoot, the President has help 24/7.In order to save my sanity and make sure my kids eat healthy...no, that wasn't me at Carl's Jr. the other day, I like to have things in my freezer that I can

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-30128390742227178382009-05-21T06:00:00.001-06:002009-05-21T06:00:01.703-06:00

You may not always have leftover turkey on hand but I bet you do have leftover mashed potatoes in your fridge. Although we love mashed potatoes in our home the leftovers get thrown out more often than I'd like to admit. Luckily, just in time for my leftovers, I came across a post in Snooty Primadona's neck of the woods for potato pancakes. A delicious way to use leftover mashed potatoes!I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-81135349961063113782009-05-20T06:00:00.001-06:002009-05-20T06:00:01.542-06:00

As you know I have some leftover turkey in my fridge. Lots and lots of leftover turkey. There is always the traditional reheat and eat which I am a fan of but it gets a little old eating the same thing 3 days in a row. Ewww, turkey and stuffing again?One of my favorite things to do with leftover roast turkey is make a sandwich! My sis and I loved to make dinner roll turkey sandwiches after

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-35957208012594133822009-05-18T10:30:00.002-06:002009-05-18T23:32:34.719-06:00

You know how some people celebrate Christmas in July? Well, here at the KD household we celebrated Thanksgiving in May! Actually, it wasn't a full blown Thanksgiving. We were missing extra family and friends, pumpkin pie, and a few more side dishes but it was certainly a start.I don't know about you but I can only handle a couple of Thanksgivings a year. Any more than that and I am turkeyed

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-19913350131225927092009-05-15T07:00:00.000-06:002009-05-15T07:00:02.724-06:00

If you don't have kids keep reading or scroll to the bottom for another cool freezer tip...My baby has now reached the age of solid foods. He is my youngest so it is quite bittersweet. It would a little bit sweeter if it would help him sleep through the night but I suppose a few more months won't kill me! With my other children I fed them jarred baby food until they were ready to eat from the

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-30994905897962497452009-05-06T20:16:00.000-06:002009-05-06T20:16:00.462-06:00

Ever have one of those days when you look at your life and wonder how you got there. Well, if you're a mommy you may have more of those days than you'd like to admit. Mine just happened to occur today. With the never ending cycle of cleaning, washing, folding, wiping it is easy to get discouraged from time to time. It is during these times when I do my best work! In the kitchen, that is, and

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-8732678597098892852009-05-05T16:16:00.005-06:002009-05-05T17:55:58.901-06:00

I belong to the Tastemaker Program on Foodbuzz which means every once in awhile I get a package (woohoo!) with a sample product in it. Who wouldn't like receiving food on their doorstep!? If you would like to sign up check out our foodie community!So, the other day I received my FIRST package! I was super excited, especially since the box was huge. When I opened it I found this...Yummy, two

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-4007795867572136422009-05-01T07:00:00.002-06:002009-05-01T07:00:01.445-06:00

I absolutely love Italian food! Especially lasagna and spaghetti. Fast, easy, healthy! Since I started really exploring cooking and recipes I have gained some confidence in my own talent to whip up dinner without a recipe. One meal I wanted to experiment with was rolatini. I absolutely love this twist on lasagna and manicotti. I felt sure that I could come up with a delicious meal combining

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-37710533370415734992009-04-29T07:00:00.001-06:002009-04-29T07:00:00.581-06:00

One of my all-time, hands down, need my stretchy pants food is cheesecake. Any kind of cheesecake, as long as it is good! Thankfully Mr. KD knows this and tries to quench my desire for cheesecake any chance he gets. A great restaurant to accomplish this in is The Cheesecake Factory. Despite being a chain restaurant I can honestly say I have never had a bad meal there and they have a really

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-88231467152305317022009-04-27T10:17:00.002-06:002009-04-27T10:22:51.795-06:00

Okay, so I know the last few posts have been seriously lacking in recipes and why change..right!?  I mean, really, recipes on a food blog.  Why in the world would I do that?  I am just super excited about the photo collage I just created for my header, which was in need of a makeover!  It still needs some tweaking because I am OCD and can't stand to have it leaning to the right but for now I am

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-24838813120259670652009-04-24T08:52:00.004-06:002009-04-24T09:37:44.500-06:00

Growing up my parents always recycled, we cleaned up after ourselves when we went outdoors, and were careful about turning off the lights, A/C, television, etc. In recent years people have become much more conscientious of how much energy they use and their "global footprint."The city I live in recently started a recycling program that I am more than ecstatic about and I know there is more I can

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-22186467523509655422009-04-20T15:00:00.000-06:002009-04-20T15:31:52.439-06:00

No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth! I've just returned from a wonderful visit to sunny, Southern California. What is it about a vacation that makes you need another vacation after it's over!? As soon as we returned home we had other obligations that deterred me from getting everything cleaned up and for days my house looked as if suitcases full of clothes had suddenly exploded!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-35136750336727585112009-04-11T11:00:00.000-06:002009-04-11T11:00:01.066-06:00

I feel like I haven't done a relatively easy dessert in awhile. The chocolate cake was amazing, if I do say so myself, but not something you can whip up in a split second. The other day I was in a serious mood for coconut and lemon. Perhaps it was because it was a wintry day and I needed something to cheer me up. There is something about lemon that just says SPRING!Anyways, I was flipping

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-13060530120720385932009-04-10T07:00:00.000-06:002009-04-10T07:00:00.540-06:00

Today's post does not utilize the freezer however, it is related. I wanted to address food storage. It is something that I know little about and am trying to learn more. I hope this helps some of you too!I have always been interested in having food storage. I feel that it is important to be prepared for an emergency...including being laid off! Mr. KD's father lost his job years ago and they

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-6590693508371570412009-04-08T07:00:00.004-06:002009-04-09T10:12:25.208-06:00

Easter is coming up and I know there will be plenty of hard boiled eggs just laying around needing some dressing up! Honestly, I love hard-boiled eggs with a little bit of salt. They make a great on-the-go breakfast but I also love egg salad. I don't make it very often but around Easter I can practically guarantee it!I had so many eggs from Toosday that a little egg salad was definitely in

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-2367823935019753822009-04-07T07:00:00.001-06:002009-04-07T07:00:01.140-06:00

I was going to start this post with a bit of history regarding how the Easter egg got its start but frankly, I couldn't find anything that I really trusted or that was that interesting. If you are interested, as I was, just Google "the history of the Easter egg" and you can pick through the first few sites to see what they say. So, regardless of the history of the Easter egg it is a tradition

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-43491040065702947682009-04-04T11:00:00.002-06:002009-04-05T18:18:36.716-06:00

Believe it or not empanadas are one of the easiest appetizers or meal you can make. Seriously, you could have an empanada party with sweet and savory empanadas. How fun would that be! Yeah! You can bake them or fry them. The latter is the version we prefer but to each his own. Baking would definitely be preferred if you were making a ton for a dinner/appetizer party.Living in Argentina Mr.

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-81202731902285924092009-04-03T11:00:00.000-06:002009-04-03T11:00:00.253-06:00

I am lucky enough to have a large 18 cu ft freezer in my garage to hold just about whatever my heart desires! (thanks m and c) The main reason for the freezer is to store the beef we receive when we butcher one of our (Mr. KD's family) cows. For those of you who may not have a large freezer it is important to prioritize what you keep in it. There five things in my freezer that you can ALWAYS

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-27711366597723359082009-04-02T10:00:00.000-06:002009-04-02T10:43:54.294-06:00

There is simply nothing better than having your mom around! I was lucky enough to my parents visiting the other day and I always love when they visit. One simple fact is they love to play with the boys. What grandparent wouldn't love to spend practically every waking moment with their grandchild, right? The other fact is my mother can whip up a great dinner from practically anything we have

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-14121622647737058912009-03-31T14:00:00.000-06:002009-03-31T14:00:00.849-06:00

For all of you who have never checked out Bakerella's site you need to! She has fantastic baking skills and wonderful ideas for treats. The other day I needed to make treats for a class of young girls that I teach and her site was the first I visited. Honestly, I needed something that wasn't too involved and didn't take much time but was still different from the traditional cookie or brownie.

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-59536668535468577492009-03-28T18:00:00.001-06:002009-03-28T18:32:52.564-06:00

There is one thing on this earth that can be found in almost every woman's kitchen...that is chocolate. I have expressed before my love of chocolate so I am always looking for delicious recipes using it.The other day I was asked to make a cake for a church function and obviously my first choice was chocolate! I wanted it to be decadent and rich and beautiful! I searched the internet for days

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-57813155937453006732009-03-27T07:00:00.000-06:002009-03-27T07:00:00.881-06:00

When I hear "the San Francisco treat" my mind immediately finds the recessed memories of Rice-a-Roni commercials. Honestly, that city has so much more to offer than rice! Chocolate, seafood, and one of my all time favorites...sourdough bread! YUM!Mr. KD recently had an opportunity to visit San Francisco and I made him bring home some fresh (well almost) sourdough bread. I absolutely love it

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-62842192889148161302009-03-24T07:00:00.000-06:002009-03-24T07:00:01.263-06:00

Kids grow up so fast and in no time all of my boys will be in school. When school starts there will be no more leisurely mornings of tinkering around the kitchen making breakfast. Like most kids my boys love pancakes and even more than pancakes, Mickey Mouse. What better way than to put smiles on their faces then Mickey Mouse Pancakes!The boys loved putting on toppings to make the face and

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-83378152735841597732009-03-20T07:00:00.000-06:002009-03-20T07:00:01.760-06:00

Today is Friday and typically it would be a Freezer Food Friday but this week I have taken somewhat of a sabbatical from blogging. Don't worry...I haven't lost interest and I am still cooking like crazy!I have so many exciting recipes to share with you and I will but right now I am happily distracted with my mama and papa visiting, enjoying the AWESOME spring weather, and cooking so much that I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-22778362812273162832009-03-17T10:00:00.001-06:002009-03-17T11:30:42.707-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!In the foodie world St. Patrick's Day is holiday that is not as overlooked as it may be for others. All I remember of the holiday is making sure I wore green so that I didn't get pinched! This year, although I didn't cook any traditional Irish meals, I did do some fun things this morning for my boys.I got this idea from my mom who used to be a kindergarten teacher. On

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-53744798131989753982009-03-15T16:00:00.001-06:002009-04-03T11:10:25.153-06:00

During my lifetime I have had people in my life who have introduced me to new foods and inspired my taste buds. Many, many years ago my aunt, who happens to be Japanese, introduced me for the first time to Japanese cooking. She prepared a full traditional meal for our family and I loved it. I have always had a bit of an adventurous appetite (to a certain degree) so I didn't need too much

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-22689592480699539962009-03-13T11:00:00.000-06:002009-03-13T11:00:01.235-06:00

Last year we planted a garden and during the end of summer and into fall we had a lot of fresh produce that we couldn't eat fast enough! I loved it and can't wait until the snow is gone and I can plant my garden again...oh, spring come soon!When I was inundated with vegetables last year I wanted to preserve some for later and, not knowing how to can, I chose to freeze. Can you guess which

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-27635110573253439492009-03-12T07:00:00.000-06:002009-03-12T07:00:00.173-06:00

This is going to be a shorter post...having a post everyday this week has been a bit more demanding than I originally thought plus my house is a mess and my kids are sick...again! I am going to take a bath tonight! (I am actually writing this Weds. night.)I was going to scrap this post all together but than I remembered my really cool pics of my dinner, at least I thought they were cool!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-65907145729371166332009-03-11T07:00:00.009-06:002009-03-11T07:00:00.785-06:00

I grew up in California and my family loves avocado so naturally it is a food that continues to find its way into my recipes! I love the buttery texture and the flavor of an avocado. Every time I eat one it reminds me of the lazy days of summer. It's great in recipes like guacamole that will featured in a minute but my favorite way to eat an avocado is sliced with a little salt on it. Yum!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-52518608409789056692009-03-10T07:00:00.003-06:002009-03-10T07:00:00.800-06:00

The other night it was just me and my boys so of course we are going to have a fun dinner, why not, right? When I was a little girl my mom used to make breakfast for dinner when my dad was gone, which wasn't very often. My sis and I loved it. It was like we were breaking the rules or something.But I digress...we didn't have breakfast for dinner but we did get to "play" with our food. We made

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-87872925532505193472009-03-09T07:00:00.001-06:002009-03-09T07:00:01.025-06:00

It wasn't until I was an adult that I grew to enjoy this next food. Perhaps it was because I didn't eat it much growing up or the fact that it is hairy. Okay, it's not really hairy but fuzzy, I guess. I still haven't learned to enjoy the fuzz so I peel it. It is a berry, which is something I didn't know until I did some research for this post and it is a native of China although it got its

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-80571174012714939442009-03-08T07:00:00.002-06:002009-03-08T07:00:00.352-06:00

Let me just preface by saying this week is all about the color green and not "being green" aka environmentally friendly. Although I am focusing on the color green it does not mean that, inadvertently, my posts can't also "be green". Whether you believe in global warming, climate change, ozone depletion, etc. or not we all need to do our part to keep our Earth healthy for future generations. I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-13506701036936020942009-03-06T07:00:00.000-07:002009-03-06T07:00:01.137-07:00

This week has gone by so fast! I can't believe it is Friday already. This week I decided to share a favorite of mine that I happened to find over a year ago and use it often. It's a breakfast pocket that I found on Real Food 4 Real People which features once a month cooking (OAMC) recipes.Mr. KD really likes a warm breakfast in the morning with some protein so he doesn't feel hungry an hour

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-38536248980369916382009-03-05T15:43:00.000-07:002009-03-05T15:43:01.876-07:00

Mr. KD had the opportunity to live in Argentina for a short time and while he was there he was introduced to its unique cuisine. Although I have never been there he has taken me to restaurants that serve traditional Argentine food and I quickly fell in love with it.Argentine food is heavily influenced from European cuisine. It also has its own uniqueness that utilizes their produce. One of

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-32988300609725632042009-03-03T10:00:00.001-07:002009-04-03T11:07:24.471-06:00

My kids recently had the opportunity to visit a local pizza restaurant and fun learning how pizza was made. The chef asked them what certain ingredients were and many of the kids recognized them and shouted out the answers. I knew my kids probably didn't know many of the items he showed and it made me feel sad. My two older boys (4 and almost 3) are definitely at the age where they can start

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-51030841640690285222009-02-27T10:07:00.001-07:002009-03-06T19:35:16.585-07:00

TGIF! It's Freezer Food time!Honestly, I can not sing enough praises about freezing food ahead of time. It really creates the illusion that you have everything organized and put together even when that could be the farthest from the truth!This week I made a simple streusel. I know streusel isn't that complicated and most cooks probably know how to make one but have you ever thought to freeze

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-12945114929293587822009-02-25T21:24:00.005-07:002009-03-06T19:35:34.981-07:00

I promise that if you make this recipe everyone will eat it; unless they are a vegetarian, then you would have to tweak it a lot!Mr. KD's family owns cattle so you can always find meat in our freezer. We absolutely LOVE eating our own meat because we know exactly where it came from. Plus, Mr. KD loves to "play cowboy" a couple times a year. Anyways, I love making dishes with beef because one,

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-56193503155322895702009-02-22T14:04:00.001-07:002009-04-03T11:09:25.704-06:00

It has been more than 10 years since my last visit to New Orleans...I know, I know, how did I possibly survive! Even though it has been that long the sights, smells, and sounds still linger. One of my fondest and tastiest memories is sitting in a cafe in the French Quarter. At the time I didn't realize the importance of it but it was the Cafe Du Monde. Cafe Du Monde is the premier place to

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-33039438755766105572009-02-20T13:44:00.001-07:002009-02-20T14:00:28.953-07:00

Storing prepared food in the freezer can be such a life saver! Whenever I have an extra minute or there is a really great sale at the grocery store I try to make a few meals that I can store in the freezer for those days that I don't feel up to cooking. Many people even participate in a phenomenon called Once a Month Cooking (OAMC). You shop one day and get all of your ingredients then the

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-88260738689248708012009-02-19T16:34:00.000-07:002009-02-19T16:43:19.297-07:00

Life around my house has been hectic lately. Actually, let me get real here. I have a husband who has a demanding job, three kids under the age of 5, a house to keep reasonably clean, and keep everyone fed, including me! Life is always hectic! There are days when I know I could easily be mistaken for a chicken running around with it's head cut off. On days like that I need to have an arsenal

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-87708593048384843802009-02-18T14:37:00.005-07:002009-04-03T11:08:18.674-06:00

I have three children and I am pretty sure that is all I will have. There is something frightening and exhilarating about that. Frightening on one hand because for the last 6 years I have been a mom and always had the "there is definitely one more" thought in the back of my head. On the other hand, I am exhilarated at the thought of having some more me time, thanks to Mr. KD. Although my

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-14613330482279330062009-02-16T11:00:00.004-07:002009-03-06T19:36:19.776-07:00

If you are like me you love quick and easy meals that look like you spent all day in the kitchen. They are great for entertaining or everyday. To accomplish this I have discovered that one of the most versatile ingredients you can have on hand is a box of puff pastry sheets. They can be used for savory or sweet dishes and bake up fairly quick.You all know me and my sweet tooth and it was

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-42180468460783751772009-02-13T09:59:00.008-07:002009-03-06T19:36:39.798-07:00

As a mother and a wife I am always looking for recipes that are not only healthy but that my family loves. If it can be frozen than that is even better! I love to have healthy, homemade meals ready at the touch of a button for those busy days when cooking dinner is a "pie-in-the-sky" dream.Last night I came up with some Spicy Sausage Manicotti which definitely fit the bill! It was inspired by

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-29627524737472808272009-02-12T21:53:00.005-07:002009-03-06T19:37:04.042-07:00

I was invited to post on a friend's foodie blog. Check out my guest appearance on lafujimama.blogspot.comfor the full post. In the meantime here is a picture to peak your interest!

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-15262043781594469732009-02-09T17:00:00.002-07:002009-03-06T19:37:26.243-07:00

I have never been very brave when it comes to cooking or baking without a recipe to follow. The other night was my first attempt at making dinner without a recipe by incorporating flavors I already liked and that I thought would be good together. I would give myself an "A" for effort.I hesitated to post this because I have always wanted to appear "perfect" to other people, especially when it

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-54009912402787253922009-02-08T18:47:00.002-07:002009-03-06T19:37:42.998-07:00

Apparently I have been craving sweets lately, more specifically, cookies. Perhaps it is the cold weather outside that is influencing this trend and the fact that cookies straight out of the oven are the ultimate comfort.One of my all time favorite cookie recipes is for a ginger cookie that I received at a holiday party a couple of years ago. They are great all year long but I especially love to

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-11515916420144926862009-01-27T22:40:00.002-07:002009-03-06T19:34:39.134-07:00

After having a baby the first thing you want to do is sleep and then you want to lose the baby weight. It was no different for me this time around. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to melt away as quickly after the 6th week postpartum so you need to step up your game.Since I am on a quest to lose that weight I am always looking for reduced calorie or low fat recipes that still satisfy my sweet

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-42119656965224880882009-01-19T22:00:00.003-07:002009-03-06T19:38:09.380-07:00

I used to be one of those people who skipped breakfast thinking that if I did it would allow me to eat more calories later. That all changed when I became pregnant with my first son. All of a sudden I couldn't skip breakfast because if I did he would suffer plus I would feel ill and weak until I ate.I am so glad that eating breakfast became a habit and now that I don't "have" to eat breakfast I

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-798131872790346576.post-56223880548242366592009-01-19T15:46:00.006-07:002009-01-19T16:32:56.668-07:00

I wish I could say I have memories of my mother baking in the kitchen and as a result I grew up having a passion for cooking but I can't. That is not to say I don't have memories of my mother cooking (my mother is a great cook) but I just never had a passion for cooking until I got married and it was suddenly up to me to make dinner.Thank goodness for the Internet, Food Network, and Pizza Hut

Budget Gourmet Momnoreply@blogger.com2