Recipes Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

What To Do With A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

April 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to get the most out of one Costco rotisserie chicken.

Have you been wondering what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken??? You are not alone! This is a common question, one I use to have, but I have since learned a few ways to get the most out of each chicken. I am so excited to share how I use one of their delicious chickens in three different ways!

I started shopping at Costco almost a year ago. I was a little hesitant at first….worried that I would spend to much money, but I am now obsessed with this glorious store! It has saved our family money on groceries and we love so many of their products. Basically a win-win! One of my very favorite things to buy at Costco is their rotisserie chicken. It only costs $5, but is HUGE and delicious! A seriously good deal!

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There are many different meals you can make with your Costco chicken, but we have a few favorites that I make every single month. I am so excited to share those two dinner recipes with you! (Plus a bonus broth recipe!)

Need a Costco membership? No worries you can grab one here: Costco Membership

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Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #1: Buffalo Taquitos

My husband and I are both huge buffalo chicken fans (my kids….not so much...). But, we love to try ANYTHING that includes buffalo chicken, and these taquitos are so easy (especially when made using a rotisserie chicken) and delicious. Two huge wins in my book!

Gather Ingredients For Buffalo Taquitos Recipe

To make these buffalo taquitos you will need:

Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco Rotisserie Chicken)
Buffalo Sauce (I love Franks buffalo wing sauce)
Shredded Cheese (I use cheddar, because I always have it at home)
Cream Cheese (softened)
Flour Tortillas

First thing you need to do is use a hand mixer to mix the softened cream cheese and buffalo sauce together. This only takes a minute and is so easy.

Next, gently stir in the chicken and cheese.

Place about 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture on the bottom of a flour tortilla. Roll it up gently and tightly and then place on a greased baking sheet.

Bake taquitos in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are golden and slightly crispy.

Related: The Best Deals At Costco

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

A quick dinner using a rotisserie chicken.

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

3 oz. cream cheese softened
1/4 cup buffalo sauce
1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
flour tortillas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
With hand mixer, beat together cream cheese and buffalo sauce until well mixed.
Stir in cheddar cheese and chicken.
Place 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture on bottom of tortilla.
Starting at bottom, slowly roll tortilla into a tight roll.
Place on a greased baking sheet.
Repeat until chicken mixture is gone.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are slightly crispy and golden brown.

Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #2: White Chicken Chili

My second recipe when deciding what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken is to make our favorite white chicken chili. This is another really easy recipe that can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes, but tastes delicious!

Ingredients Needed For White Chicken Chili:

Onion, diced
Garlic, minced
Chicken Broth
Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco rotisserie chicken)
Cumin
Diced green chilis (canned)
Lime juice
White Beans (canned)

The first step to making this delicious white chicken chili is to sauté the onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in a large pot. Let it cook until they are soft and translucent.

I like to use my frozen onions because it saves me from having to dice them!

Then add the rest of the ingredients into the pot. Stir and let it simmer on stove for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve chili with tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

White Chicken Chili

Easy chili recipe using rotisserie chicken.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Ingredients

1 onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
2 12 oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
1 tsp cumin
1 4 oz. can diced green chilis
3 Tbsp lime juice
2 15 oz. cans white beans

Instructions

Sauté onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in pot until soft and translucent.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

Related: Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #3: Chicken Broth

And, here is your bonus rotisserie chicken recipe! I am calling it a bonus recipe because it’s not a recipe for a meal…and it’s not technically a recipe (I just kindof randomly throw ingredients in), but it is a GREAT way to stretch your Costco rotisserie chicken even further….which is what we all want, right? Right!

I started making my own chicken broth a few months ago and am currently obsessed! Someone suggested it to me as a way to get more use from my rotisserie chicken, rather than throwing it away, and it’s perfect! So, once you are done using the meat from your chicken, turn the leftovers into broth. It’s really so simple to make and tastes much better than store bought. Plus, if you make it using kitchen scraps it’s basically FREE! And, we all like free!

I freeze my homemade chicken broth using these freezer containers. And then when I make a recipe calling for chicken broth, I just pull one out of the freezer and I’m ready to go!

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Chicken Broth:

Rotisserie Chicken Carcass
Veggie Scraps, Celery, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, etc.
Water

Like I mentioned earlier, I really don’t use a recipe to make this broth. I just throw it all together!

First, place your rotisserie chicken carcass in a large stock pot. Make sure to include any leftover skin, meat, bones, etc. And scrap out any of the goop on the bottom. The more flavor you can get, the better.

Next, quickly cut up your veggies. You can even just use your hand to rip them into smaller pieces. They don’t need to be nice and even. I know some people save the ends of their carrots and celery for their broth, you can use those too if you want!

Add your veggies to the pot with the chicken carcass.

Fill your stock pot up with water until chicken and vegetables are covered. You can also add a bay leaf or two if you have some. Bring water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn heat down and allow to simmer for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally.

After a few hours of simmering, use a fine mesh strainer to strain broth into a bowl.

Ladle the broth into freezer containers to freeze. Frozen broth will stay good for 3 months.

Or, you can store it in a container in your fridge. Broth will stay good in your fridge for 1 week.

There Are So Many Ways To Use a Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Well, there are my three ways I use one Rotisserie Chicken from Costco. I love the feeling of getting the most out of everything that I buy. Remember to be creative with your foods and try to not let anything go to waste! Your budget will thank you for it!

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I hope this article helped you decide what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken.

Simple Banana Bread Recipe

April 10, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

You will love this Quick Banana Bread Recipe!

The other day I had a few bananas starting to brown this morning and that mixed with the cloudy skies out my window put me in the baking mood! I decided to whip up some of my Grandmas Easy Banana Bread Recipe!

My sweet grandmother shared this Banana Bread Recipe with me years ago, and we have been loving it ever since!

There is just something so sweet and special about making a recipe that I know has been made for generations. I’m going to be keeping this recipe close to my heart and can’t wait to one day share the recipe with my own grandchildren.

It only takes a few minutes to whip up this quick banana bread…..and honestly only a few minutes to eat it till it’s gone……

This recipe is the best way to use up bananas that are turning brown or even frozen bananas! Just pull the bananas out of the fridge, let them defrost for an hour or two, smash them up and plop them into the mixer.

How To Make This Simple Banana Bread Recipe

First, in mixing bowl, mix together the following ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs

Add 3 mashed bananas and mix again.

Next, add your dry ingredients:

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix these dry ingredients gently, just until the wet and dry are evenly mixed together.

Pour this mixture into a greased loaf pan and bake in 350 degree oven for 55 minutes. Insert toothpick in center to make sure it comes out clean before pulling out your bread.

Grandmas Famous Banana Bread Recipe

This Banana Bread Recipe has been loved for generations. It is quick to make and delicious to eat!

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Servings 12 people

Ingredients

3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Shortening
2 Eggs
3 large Mashed Bananas
2 1/4 cups Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Instructions

In large mixing bowl beat sugar, shortening and eggs on high for 3 minutes.
Mash bananas and add to mixer. Mix well.
Add flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Mix just until combined.
Pour in a greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Keyword Banana Bread, Bread, Quick Bread

See how easy this simple banana bread recipe is? The easiest! And it is so delicious and moist! I hope this recipe becomes a new favorite in our home, like it is in ours.

The next time you have bananas going bad, consider turning them into a loaf of this delicious bread. You will not regret it! This is the perfect after school snack, breakfast, or sweet midnight treat!

You might also enjoy these recipes:

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Light and Fluffy Pancake Recipe

Soft French Bread Recipe

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Let me know if you make this Easy Banana Bread Recipe!

DIY Bathroom Cleaner

April 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

How to make Homemade Bathroom Cleaner at home!

Want to make your own DIY bathroom cleaner? It’s easy, cheap and quick! Plus, it only takes ingredients, ingredients you probably already have inside your home. These is a very easy homemade bathroom cleaner recipe that will only cost you a few pennies and a couple of minutes to whip up. No need to go to the store!

I have been busy Spring Cleaning my house. This usually takes a few weeks to do. But, I get it done eventually!! My least favorite room to clean in the house is the bathroom. I’m sure I am not alone in this! I always put this job off for days! However, if I am going to clean the bathroom, I might as well be doing it with a cleaner that I know was affordable and environmentally friendly, right??? Right!

Years ago I started making my homemade bathroom cleaner and have not looked back since. Making your own DIY bathroom cleaner is so easy and is a great way to save money! Store bought cleaners are expensive!

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How To Make DIY Bathroom Cleaner

The first thing you need to do to make this homemade bathroom cleaner recipe is to gather your supplies. For this recipe you will need:

Plastic Spray Bottle
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Lemon Juice
Dish Soap
Water

Put the plastic spray bottle in the sink (it can overflow).

Add the 2 tsp of baking soda and 1 cup vinegar to the spray bottle. Allow the foam to settle and then add the rest of the ingredients.

Pour 1/3 cup of lemon juice, 1/4 cup dish soap and 1 1/2 cups water into the spray bottle.

Put the lid back on and then shake well.

This solution should last for 6-12 months. I use it to clean the toilet, sink, countertops, shower and bath. It’s basically your one stop shop for bathroom cleaner!

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Ingredients

2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup vinegar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup dish soap
1 1/2 cups water

Instructions

First, add the baking soda to the spray bottle and then add the vinegar. I do this in the sink, and do it slowly because it will foam.
Squeeze the foam out and then add the rest of the ingredients. After all of the ingredients are added put the lid back on the bottle and shake it up really good. That's it! You are ready to tackle the bathroom! This lasts me about a year and I use it for every part of the bathroom; the toilet, sink, countertops, shower and bath.

Enjoy This Cheap Bathroom Cleaner Recipe

Alright, well, now that I have taught you how to make my favorite DIY bathroom cleaner, I suppose it’s time to go actually clean the bathroom! If I know I am saving money, I am much more happy about the job!

Do you make your own cleaners? Have you noticed a savings when doing so?

Homemade Outdoor Window Cleaner

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

How to Make Homemade Butter

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I hope you enjoyed this DIY bathroom cleaner recipe!

Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

March 17, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Looking for a new easy chicken recipe to try? You’ll love this one!

Do you ever eat a recipe and it immediately brings you back to your childhood? Like when the smell, taste, and look of a specific dish reminds you of something you use to eat regularly as a child? That is what this Waikiki Chicken Recipe does for me.

This was a staple on the table when I was a child, and I love getting to make it for my own kids. Plus, it is so easy! Which is always a HUGE win in my book!

This Waikiki Chicken is a very simple and frugal dinner to prepare, making it perfect for those busy nights. All it requires is mixing a few ingredients together and cooking a couple of chicken breasts. I love meals that require little prep work!

Gather Your Ingredients

First, you will need to gather all of your ingredients. For this recipe you will need:

3-5 chicken breasts
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 green bell pepper, seeded, cut into rings

How To Make This Easy Waikiki Chicken Recipe

First, heat a couple of Tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

While the oil is heating, stir the flour and salt together on a plate.

Using a fork, dip each chicken breast into flour and then add it to the hot oil.

Let the chicken cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

While the chicken is cooking stir the crushed pineapple (undrained), barbecue sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar and dry mustard together in bowl.

It might not look pretty, but it tastes great!

Once the chicken is done cooking, pour the pineapple mixture over chicken in skillet.

Cover the skillet and allow the chicken to cook in the pineapple mixture for 30-40 minutes.

Garnish the chicken with green pepper rings and serve over hot steamed rice.

This is the perfect quick to fix dinner recipe. It requires very little prep, and is always a favorite with kids and adults!

Waikiki Chicken

Easy, quick to fix chicken recipe.

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Ingredients

2 Tbsp Oil
3-5 Chicken Breasts
1/2 cup Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 8-ounce can Crushed Pineapple
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Mustard
1 Green Bell Pepper Cut Into Rings

Instructions

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat on stove.
Stir flour and salt together on a plate.
One by one, dip chicken breast into flour mixture and then add to hot skillet.
Let chicken cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Turning occasionally.
Stir together undrained pineapple, barbecue sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar and mustard. Pour over chicken in skillet
Cover skillet and let cook on low heat for 30-40 minutes.
Garnish with sliced bell pepper and serve over rice.

Keyword chicken, easy dinner recipes, waikiki chicken

In Conclusion

I hope your family loves this Waikiki chicken recipe as much as my family has! It just might become your new family staple, you never know!

If you are looking for more easy recipes, be sure to check out my Recipe eBook, Mel’s Home Cooking. This is the spot where I shared our family favorite, quick to fix recipes for easier home cooking!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

Three Easy Beef Roast Recipes

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Enjoy this quick Wakiki Chicken Recipe!

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

March 5, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life21 Comments

How to make Cream of Chicken Soup Mix from scratch!

Did you know that you can make your very own Cream of Chicken Soup Mix from scratch? Yep! You can! And guess what, it’s also incredibly easy and super cheap to whip up (hooray, I love easy and cheap!). I am so excited to share my tried and true cream of chicken soup mix recipe with you today.

Truthfully, I really don’t like buying the canned soup in the store, but sometimes I just want a good old fashioned recipe with Cream of Chicken Soup in it, ya know???

I came across this recipe years ago and have been using it regularly ever since. It tastes so much better than the cans, and is a lot less processed. I use it in soups, stews, casseroles, etc. All you need is a little water added to the mix and you’re ready to cook! Easy peasy!

How To Make Cream Of Chicken Soup Mix From Scratch

This cream of chicken soup mix recipe only takes a few minutes to mix together. You can even skip a step by just mixing it all together right in the jar rather than a separate bowl.

All it takes is four simple ingredients….and you probably already have these sitting in your pantry! I love when that happens.

Ingredients

To make this cream of chicken soup mix recipe you will need:

1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 Tbsp dry milk powder
3 Tbsp chicken bouillon powder
1 1/2 Tbsp dried chopped onion

Mix all of the ingredients into a bowl and you are done!

To turn your mix into a soup just whisk together 1/2 cup soup mix with 1 1/4 cups water.

Related: Easy French Bread Recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you try it, I would love to hear if you like it or not!

Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

5 from 2 votes

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Ingredients

1 3/4 Cups Flour
1 1/2 Cups Dry Milk Powder
3 Tablespoons Chicken Bouillon
1 1/2 Tablespoons Dried Chopped Onion

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
And you are done! I like to store my mix in a quart sized mason jar.

To Use

When ready to use, just mix 1/2 cup of soup mix with 1 1/4 cups water and substitute in any recipe calling for a can of Cream of Chicken Soup. Be sure to write the instructions on the jar lid, so you'll always remember! 😉

After making your soup mix write the instructions on the lid of the jar so that you always remember the correct ratio for making your soup!

In Conclusion:

I hope you enjoy this easy cream of chicken soup mix recipe. It’s been a staple in our house for years and is one of my favorite frugal hacks! I truly hope it helps you save some extra money like it has helped me!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for future use:

What to do with your bulk chicken; including 6 Freezer Chicken Recipes

Homemade Graham Cracker Recipe

What I Learned From the July Pantry Challenge

Make this Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe today!

Easy French Bread Recipe

March 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life18 Comments

I can’t wait to show you how to make French bread at home!

Have you been wondering how to make French bread at home? This easy French bread recipe is where you should start! I turn into my kids favorite person every time I make it! It is soft and light and tastes perfect as a side for soup or pasta. You must try it!

Easy French Bread Recipe

To make this easy French bread recipe you will need the following ingredients:

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. yeast
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. salt
5 1/2 cups flour

First, in a stand mixer gently mix the water, sugar and yeast together. Let it stand for 10 minutes until yeast is dissolved. It should be frothy and bubbly.

Next, add the rest of the ingredients. Make sure to add the flour slowly, mixing it in as you go. You might need a little less flour or a little more.

I add a little flour and then mix for a minute and then add a little more until the dough looks right. The dough will be done when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl when mixing and be slightly sticky.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a tea towel. Place it in a warm spot and let it rise for ten minutes. After rising gently punch the dough down in bowl. Do this for two more times for a a total of 3 punch downs and 30 minutes of rising time.

Split dough in half and shape into two loaves. Place them on a greased baking sheet to bake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Once it’s done cooking brush with butter to make the crust soft. Slice and serve. ENJOY!

Have you ever made homemade French bread? It is so fun! And this recipe is easy to make ahead and freeze for later! Sometimes I freeze the dough in a freezer bag, and then let it rise, shape and bake later. Other times, I make the bread and freeze it after it’s baked! Whatever works best for you!

Soft French Bread Recipe

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. yeast
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. salt
5 1/2 cups flour

Instructions

Mix the water, sugar and yeast together. Let it stand for 10 minutes until yeast is dissolved. It will be frothy and bubbly.
Add the rest of the ingredients. Make sure to add the flour slowly. You might need a little less or a little more. I add a little flour and then mix for a minute and then add a little more until the dough looks right. You will want it to pull away from the sides of the bowl when mixing and be slightly sticky.
Place the dough in a bowl and cover. Let it rise for ten minutes and then gently punch the dough down in bowl. Do this for two more times for a a total of 3 punch downs and 30 minutes of rising time.
Split dough in half and shape into two loaves. Place them on a greased baking sheet. I will usually freeze half the dough in a freezer bag to use for another dinner.
Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Once it’s done cooking brush with butter to make the crust soft. Slice and serve. ENJOY!

In Conclusion

You can easily make homemade French bread yourself! Let me know if you try this recipe. I would love to hear how it worked for you….and I might just come over and sneak a few bites ;). Happy baking!

Related Recipes:

Liked what you read? Pin it for future baking!

Enjoy this easy French bread recipe, you will love it!

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

January 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out these kid friendly easy cheap dinner ideas!

This month I have been participating in a January Pantry Challenge. My goal has been to save some extra money by eating the food I already have at home and spending less at the store. This is not always an easy task, but I love the challenge and pushing myself out of my comfort zone! As I’ve been trying to cut my grocery expenses I’ve found a few pantry dinner ideas that I am so excited to share with you!

How To Stock A Frugal Pantry

I love having my pantry, freezer, and cupboards stocked with a few of our every day staples. Having a well stocked pantry makes it much easier to throw together a few easy pantry dinner ideas, without having to go to the store.

The best way to stock up your pantry is to buy a few extra of the items you would normally be buying anyways. For example, when I need ketchup, I’ll buy 3 bottles of ketchup, rather than just 1. This gives me the extra food on hand, that I know I buy and use regularly.

When stocking your frugal pantry, try to focus on buying frugal friendly food items. A few of my favorites are:

Flour
Sugar
Pasta
Oatmeal
Vinegar
Beans
Eggs
Potatoes
Popcorn

pantry dinner ideas - easy dinner ideas for picky eaters

Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

Alright! Let’s get to it! Here are a few of my easy pantry dinner ideas. I hope they will inspire you to use food that you already have at home to put together a few easy dinner ideas.

Most of these dinner ideas are kid friendly and easy to customize and change to your personal eating preference.

1. Taco Soup

Taco soup is the perfect pantry dinner to throw together using ingredients you already have at home. It’s really easy to throw together whatever you happen to have in your fridge to make this soup.

Use chicken, beef, or beans (or a combination of all three!) as the base for your soup. Then, add in onions, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and whatever else sounds good to you for a nice, warm, and hearty taco soup.

*My favorite taco soup recipe is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking recipe ebook!

2. Pasta Bake

Looking for an incredibly easy-impossible to fail-quick to fix pantry dinner idea???? This easy pasta bake is just what you need! You only need 4 ingredients to throw it together, and one of them is water (seriously.)! You can find this easy Pasta Bake Recipe here!

3. Chili With Cornbread Waffles

Have a can of chili sitting in a cupboard and some cornmeal? Make chili with cornbread waffles! This is my kids favorite cheap and easy dinner!

To make chili with cornbread waffles, you will first need to heat up a can of chili over the stove on medium-high heat.

While the chili is warming up, make your cornbread waffles using the recipe below.

Cornbread Waffles

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Ingredients

1/3 cup oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup buttermilk if you do not have buttermilk just mix 1 Tbsp vinegar into 1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

In large mixer cream together the sugar and oil.
Add eggs and milk and mix well.
In separate bowl stir together the baking soda, flour, cornmeal, and salt.
Add all at once to egg mixture and mix until smooth.
Pour batter onto waffle iron and cook until lightly golden brown.
Serve with chili and cheese on top.

Serve the chili on top of the cornbread waffles and sprinkle with cheese. You will now be your kids favorite person, seriously.

4. Spaghetti With Garlic Toast

Spaghetti is one of the easiest pantry dinners around! Have a box of spaghetti noodles and a jar of spaghetti sauce??? All it takes is a few minutes to warm them up on the stove and, boom dinner is ready!

I like to serve spaghetti with a side of garlic toast, which is so easy to make! Get out a few bread slices from a loaf of bread and spread butter on top and then sprinkle it with garlic salt. Cook the bread slices on a cookie sheet, under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until brown and toasty. That’s it! Garlic toast is a great side for a family friendly dinner.

5. Burrito Bowl

Burrito bowls are a perfect way to use up ingredients you have sitting in your fridge and pantry. Layer your burrito bowl with rice on the bottom, and layering with beans, cheese, seasonings. Top your burrito bowl with your favorite toppings.

A few topping suggestions are: tomato’s, salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, lettuce, corn, avocado, cilantro, ranch dressing, and anything else that sounds good to you!

6. Sloppy Joes

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make sloppy joes. Sloppy joes can easily be made with some ground beef and a few other pantry staples. This is a very freezer friendly meal, so I will double the recipe and then freeze half for another day.

Related: 19 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Freeze

These are best served on hamburger buns, but we have used a regular loaf of bread when in a pinch. All about pantry friendly here!

*My favorite Sloppy Joes recipe is available in the Mel’s Home Cooking ebook.

7. Tomato Soup With Cheese Toast

We always keep a can of tomato soup stocked in our pantry for nights when I’m to tired, or busy, to make a big dinner. It only takes a few minutes (and hardly any effort!) to heat up some tomato soup over the stove

I love to serve tomato soup with a side of cheese toast. Make cheese toast by placing some cheese onto slices of bread and then cooking them on a cookie sheet under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

8. Tacos

Tacos is another quick and easy dinner you can throw together using pantry ingredients. Make your tacos using any meat you happen to have at home, such as chicken, pork, or beef.

To make tacos just cook your meat over the stove. Once cooked add 1/2 cup water and a packet of taco seasoning.

If you don’t have a packet of taco seasoning in your pantry, that’s ok! You can make it yourself! Check out my favorite taco seasoning recipe below!

Easy Taco Seasoning Mix

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Ingredients

1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

In small bowl mix all ingredients together.
Use 2 Tbsp taco seasoning mix in replace of 1 packet of taco seasoning.
Store seasoning in a tupperware container or jar in your pantry.

Cook and stir your meat with taco seasoning and water until the water has cooked off, about 5 minutes.

Serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings. We love cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

9. Homemade Pizza

We love homemade pizza at our house! Use this homemade pizza dough recipe to make the crust, and then top it with your favorite toppings, or whatever you have in your pantry.

Get creative! You can use barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, or even Thai sauce. For toppings try different kinds of cheeses, vegetables and meats.

If you don’t feel like making homemade pizza dough, you can even use French bread, biscuits or tortillas to make your pizzas. Find out how here: Easy Pizza Alternatives.

10. Bean Burritos

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make bean burritos! This is a very quick and easy meal to prepare, and they are freezer friendly! (yay, I love freezer friendly!)

To make bean burritos just mix beans (we use black or pinto beans), cheese, rice, and taco seasoning together. Place mixture on tortillas and gently roll up.

Heat your burrito in the microwave or oven and serve! Easy peasy!

11. Stir Fry

Stir fry is another dinner staple at our house! It’s the perfect meal to make on busy days. The three steps to a good stir fry are vegetables, protein, and sauce.

Choose whichever protein and vegetables you have in your home already. A few protein suggestions are: chicken, beef and shrimp. There are so many vegetables that make a great stir fry, such as: peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms and peas.

Sauté your protein in a large frying pan. Add vegetables and continue to sauté until cooked. Next, add sauce and stir together. Cook and stir for a few more minutes until sauce has thickened.

Serve your stir fry over rice or noodles, whichever is in your pantry.

My favorite stir fry sauce is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking eCookbook, but I also really like this 3 ingredient stir fry sauce.

12. Stroganoff

Stroganoff is another simple and pantry friendly dinner. You can whip up some stroganoff with ground beef, sour cream, cream of chicken soup mix and some seasonings. Serve it over noodles or eat it Idaho style, served over a baked potato! Yum!

13. Breakfast for Dinner

My kids love when I make breakfast for dinner. It’s such an easy, fun dinner to make when your pantry is feeling bare. We love to make waffles, pancakes, eggs and a smoothie for Saturday night dinners once or twice a month.

14. Twice Baked Potatoes

I grew up on an Idaho potato farm, so potatoes are always a staple at my house. They are so cheap, easy and filling!

Twice baked potatoes are a great way to make a filling meal out of ingredients you probably already have at home. I love this recipe from Ree Drummond.

15. Quesadillas

Have some tortillas and cheese??? Make quesadillas for dinner! You can customize your quesadilla in whichever way you want! We use salsa, beans, chicken, onions, peppers and green chilis.

A fun way to serve quesadillas is to set out all of the ingredients you have to make them for a quesadilla bar. Let everyone fill, and customize their own tortilla and cook on the griddle.

Save Money and Cook At Home

I hope these pantry meal ideas gave you some inspiration for cooking without having to go to the store. Cooking dinner using your pantry ingredients is a great way to save extra money on groceries.

Remember, to try to use the foods that you already have at home. If a recipe calls for something you don’t already have, be creative and find a good substitute, do not run to the grocery store! Because we all know if we go to the grocery store for “just one thing” we always leave with more (is that just me????).

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easy dinners to make from the pantry ingredients - easy dinner ideas for homemade cooking

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Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe For Christmas

December 9, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Try this Christmas hard candy recipe this year!

Years ago I went home with my boyfriend (now husband) for Christmas. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas together and I was able to celebrate the holiday with new experiences. It’s always interesting to me how different families celebrate each holiday. On this visit all those years ago I was introduced to many new traditions (they open all of their presents Christmas Eve, was, ALL the presents. Anyone else do this???) and lots of new foods! One of my favorite Christmas treats his mom made for us was Cinnamon Candy. I begged her for her recipes and I have been making this Cinnamon Candy recipe ever since!

It takes less than 30 minutes to make and requires very few ingredients. Yay! This Cinnamon Candy recipe is now a tradition in our own home and we look forward to making it every year.

You can make this Christmas hard candy recipe two different ways.

The first way is with red food coloring and cinnamon oil, which is how I always make it.

Another way to make this candy is using green food coloring with peppermint oil.

My mother in law makes a batch of both flavors, but I have only made it with the cinnamon.

How to Make Your Own Cinnamon Candy

It’s easy to make Cinnamon Candy, which is one of the reasons why I love this easy recipe!

First, gather all of your ingredients. You will need white sugar, light corn syrup, water, cinnamon oil (or peppermint), and food coloring (red for cinnamon, green for peppermint).

I usually buy cinnamon oil at a local craft store in the cake decorating section. It is also on Amazon here. Do not use cinnamon extract, it will not taste the same…I promise, I have tried! It needs to be cinnamon oil.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water together in a medium sauce pan. Stir mixture continually until it boils.

Insert a candy thermometer and continue stirring occasionally. Keep stirring until thermometer reaches 300 degrees.

Remove candy from heat once it reaches 300 degrees. Quickly stir in the oil and food coloring.

Immediately pour it onto an oiled cookie sheet.

Pick up the pan and gently tilt it left, right, back, forward to help the candy fill up the pan.

Let candy cool completely and then you can break it into pieces. I usually just use the back of a spoon to crack each section.

Christmas Hard Candy Recipe

Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe for the Holidays!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

3 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1/2 tsp cinnamon or peppermint oil
1 tsp either red (for cinnamon) or green (for peppermint) food coloring for cinnamon or green (for peppermint) food coloring

Instructions

In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water.
Cook on medium to high heat until candy thermometer reads 300 degrees (hard crack stage), stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat.
Stir in oil and food coloring, keeping face away from mixture as odor is very strong. Immediately pour onto an oiled cookie sheet.
Cool and break into pieces.
Store in air tight container.

This Christmas cinnamon candy recipe also makes the perfect gifts to hand out to neighbors and friends!

Let me know if you try it and like it! It puts a big smile on my husbands face every year!

Check out my other Christmas Recipes:

Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

Easy Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

I hope you enjoy this easy cinnamon candy recipe!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

November 20, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

This Check out these easy freezer chicken recipes.

One of my favorite ways to save money on groceries is to buy my chicken in bulk. Bulk chicken is usually priced much lower than buying smaller amounts. This is also a great way to save time in the kitchen! When I buy my bulk chicken, I like to prep some of them for the freezer for quick to fix dinners. Today I am going to show you how to prep bulk chicken for the freezer and 6 of my favorite easy freezer chicken recipes.

I will receive compensation from purchases made through links in this post. Thank you!

Where To Buy Bulk Chicken

There are many different places you can buy your chicken in bulk. Watch for sales at your local grocery store. Bulk chicken will go on sale multiple times throughout the year and is usually an excellent deal.

I have also bought bulk chicken at Savory Butcher and Butcher Box, and honestly was so happy with both!

Savory Butcher

Savory Butcher is a meat coop community offering discounted meats to multiple areas around the United States. Their meat are all humanely raised, antibiotic free and no added hormones.

They are currently delivering meat to areas in Texas, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and more! Products include beef, pork, seafood, and chicken.

I just tried out Savory Butcher for the first time, and I was SO impressed! The customer service was incredible and the meat was high quality and delicious! Plus, the price is right which is so important to me.

I chose to purchase the 40 lb case of chicken, which was only $1.99/lb. This is a smoking deal! Their chicken comes fresh from the farm and already trimmed (this makes life easier, trust me!).

Butcher Box

Another great place to buy meat and get it shipped right to your door is Butcher Box! Be sure to click here for my full Butcher Box review.

How To Freeze Bulk Chicken

I just spent a couple of hours prepping my bulk chicken. It makes me happy to stock my freezer full of chicken for quick, easy dinners. I prepped 8 ready to cook dinners; and 6 bags of plain chicken. It does take a little bit of effort to prepare your bulk chicken, but the amount of money you save is SO worth it!

Related: How to freeze Pancakes for a Quick Frugal Breakfast

If your chicken comes trimmed (like mine did) you can start putting them into freezer safe packaging, right out of the box.

Sometimes bulk chicken is sold still needing trimmed. Take a few minute trimming off the fat and then you can begin packaging.

When preparing chicken for the freezer I highly recommend using a vacuum sealer. This one simple purchase will make freezing bulk chicken much easier and does a great job of preventing freezer burn.

My sealer was not working (resulting in quite a bit of frustration on my part!). So, I used freezer bags instead. These don’t work quite as well as a vacuum sealer does, but they can get the job done.

To prep your chicken for the freezer you will need to separate your chicken into dinner sized portions. For my family I put about 2-3 chicken breasts per bag for my family. Place each portioned chicken into freezer bag, remove all of the air and seal tightly.

Your chicken is now ready for the freezer! Yay! Your chicken will stay fresh in the freezer for 6-12 months.

Easy Freezer Chicken Recipes

While you are preparing your chicken for the freezer, you can whip up a few of these easy recipes at the same time. I love these recipes because I can pull the chicken out of the freezer in the morning, and half of the work for dinner is already done! They are perfect for busy days, or when you just don’t feel like cooking!

Slow Cooker Honey Chicken

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Ingredients

2 lbs. chicken breasts
Salt and Pepper
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 Tbsp diced onion
4 Tbsp ketchup
2 tsp garlic powder
4 tsp cornstarch
6 Tbsp water

Instructions

Combine chicken, salt, pepper, honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup and garlic powder in a freezer bag.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Dump entire bag of chicken and sauce into slow cooker. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
When finished cooking take chicken out of slow cooker and leave the sauce.
Combine cornstarch with water, stir well.
Add it into slow cooker with sauce. Cook sauce on high until it begins to thicken (5-10 minutes).
Slice chicken into small chunks. Return to slow cooker and stir with sauce.
Serve over rice.

Barbecue Chicken

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs. chicken breasts
1 container of barbecue sauce

Instructions

Put chicken in a freezer bag. Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Cook on grill. Top with barbecue sauce to serve.

Lemon Garlic Chicken

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Ingredients

2 lb. chicken breasts sliced thin
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in freezer bag.
Put chicken in a freezer bag. Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Cook chicken on grill.
Serve with rice and veggies.

Balsamic Chicken

This balsamic chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse. You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tacos

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Ingredients

2 lb. chicken breasts
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Combine chicken, tomatoes, brown sugar and red pepper flakes in freezer bag.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.
Cook in slow cooker on high for 5 hours.
When done cooking shred chicken in sauce.
Serve in flour tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Grilled (or baked!) Island Chicken

This grilled island chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse.

You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

Favorite Baked Chicken

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Ingredients

2 lb. chicken breasts
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in freezer bag.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.
Serve with baked potatoes and veggies.

Related: Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

Honey Lime Enchiladas

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Ingredients

1 lb. chicken
6 Tbsp honey
4.5 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
10 oz. can green enchilada sauce
flour tortillas
shredded monterey jack cheese

Instructions

Combine chicken, honey, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder in freezer bag.
Let all air out of bag. Seal tight and freeze.
When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.
Cook on low for 8 hours.
Shred chicken in sauce.
Pour a small amount of green enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
Fill tortillas with shredded chicken and cheese. Place in pan.
Pour the rest of the green enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

In Conclusion

I love buying my chicken in bulk. It has proven time and time again to be a money and time saver for me. Feel free to try any of these recipes for any chicken, it doesn’t have to be in bulk. Let me know which one is your favorite!

If you are looking for more easy recipes be sure to check out my very own recipe book! Mel’s Home Cooking offers 65 simple, delicious and easy recipes for one low price. You are sure to find a new family favorite!

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Enjoy these easy freezer chicken recipes!

How to Make Butter in a Jar

November 18, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Learn how to make homemade butter in a mason jar!

Do you know how to make butter in a jar?? It is one of my favorite activities to do with my kids! The butter tastes fresh and delicious, and it is so easy to do!

Homemade butter is a fun pioneer activity to teach kids about how life was in the 1800s. We have also made it for our Thanksgiving dinner before! It was so fun for my kids to serve their very own butter at the table.

I had a container of heavy whipping cream sitting in my fridge for a few weeks. I kept looking at it, knowing I needed to do something with it, but never knowing exactly what! My sister finally suggested to me that I should use the cream to make butter in a jar with my kids. Best idea ever!

Making butter in a jar is so so easy, cheap, and my kids absolutely LOVED it!

It was so fun watching my kids shaking their jars and checking every 5 minutes to see if the butter had formed. My daughter even said, “Wow! They use to have to work hard in the olden days! I can’t imagine doing this every time we needed butter.” This led into such a great discussion about the conveniences we have now and how hard our ancestors had to work in order to survive.

How To Make Butter In a Jar

All you need to make your own butter is a mason jar and a carton of heavy whipping cream. Seriously, that’s it! I told you this was easy!

To make your butter you will need to pour some whipping cream into your mason jar. I filled our jars about half full, but if you are doing this with your kids, or for the first time, I would recommend only filling it about 1/4 full. It just makes the process easier and quicker for the kids if the jar has less cream in it.

Once you have your whipping cream in the jar, put the lid back on, and screw it tight.

Now, all you have to do is shake the jar! Shake, shake and shake! The amount of shaking the butter will need will depend on how much cream you put in the jar. The more cream, the longer you will need to shake.

When we did it today it took us about 45 minutes of hard shaking. If I had done less cream I’m sure it would’ve been much quicker.

You can make the shaking part fun. We turned on some music and danced around while shaking our jars. If you are only making one jar of butter you can have everybody take turns shaking it for 2 minutes and then switching to the next person.

Related: 50 FREE activities to do with your kids over the Summer Break

As you shake your jar you will notice the cream will slowly becoming thicker. After a while the butter will begin separating from the cream. Keep shaking until the butter forms together in a nice solid ball. Once this happens, you are done! See, so easy!

Drain the leftover cream, rinse your butter, and then transfer it to a plate. Wah-lah! You have made butter!

Now is the fun part! You get to enjoy your butter on some fresh bread or rolls. I am so excited for you! This butter is delicious!

Butter in a Jar

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Heavy whipping cream
Mason jar

Instructions

Pour heavy whipping cream into your mason jar. Fill it between 1/4-1/2 full. The fuller it is, the longer the butter will take to make.
Screw lid onto mason jar to secure a tight fit.
Shake jar vigorously for 15-45 minutes (the more cream, the longer you will need to shake).
Once butter has separated from the cream and formed a ball, you are done.
Take butter ball out of jar and lightly rinse with water.
Enjoy on your favorite bread, rolls, or muffins!

Homemade Graham Cracker Recipe

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Fall Bucket List for Families

How to get the most out of one Costco rotisserie chicken.

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #1: Buffalo Taquitos

Gather Ingredients For Buffalo Taquitos Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

Ingredients

Instructions

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #2: White Chicken Chili

Ingredients Needed For White Chicken Chili:

White Chicken Chili

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Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #3: Chicken Broth

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Chicken Broth:

There Are So Many Ways To Use a Costco Rotisserie Chicken

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You will love this Quick Banana Bread Recipe!

How To Make This Simple Banana Bread Recipe

Grandmas Famous Banana Bread Recipe

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How to make Homemade Bathroom Cleaner at home!

How To Make DIY Bathroom Cleaner

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Enjoy This Cheap Bathroom Cleaner Recipe

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Looking for a new easy chicken recipe to try? You’ll love this one!

Gather Your Ingredients

How To Make This Easy Waikiki Chicken Recipe

Waikiki Chicken

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Enjoy this quick Wakiki Chicken Recipe!

How to make Cream of Chicken Soup Mix from scratch!

How To Make Cream Of Chicken Soup Mix From Scratch

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Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

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Make this Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe today!

I can’t wait to show you how to make French bread at home!

Easy French Bread Recipe

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Check out these kid friendly easy cheap dinner ideas!

How To Stock A Frugal Pantry

Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

1. Taco Soup

2. Pasta Bake

3. Chili With Cornbread Waffles

Cornbread Waffles

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4. Spaghetti With Garlic Toast

5. Burrito Bowl

6. Sloppy Joes

7. Tomato Soup With Cheese Toast

8. Tacos

Easy Taco Seasoning Mix

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