Sweet Frugal Life

Being Frugal Doesn't Make Life Any Less Sweet

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

You can make your own pizza with this easy homemade pizza crust recipe!

Over a decade ago we started our friday pizza and movie night tradition with our little family.  The tradition is to eat pizza and watch a movie together as a family on the first Friday of every month.  We started out watching Barbie movies and now as the kids have grown, so has our choice in movies.  However, the one thing that hasn’t changed is we still eat pizza!  Sometimes I make my own pizza using this easy homemade pizza crust recipe, and other times we order out…either way the pizza always happens!

I thought we would grow out of this tradition as the kids grew, but we didn’t.  The kids still look forward to our monthly pizza and movie night!  Today I am sharing my favorite pizza dough recipe.  I have tried many recipes, and this one is by far the best, trust me!

 

easy pizza dough recipe - how to make homemade pizza

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How To Make Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza is one of those foods that seem intimidating to make, but is actually SO easy!

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Next, mix 2 1/4 tsp. of yeast with 1 cup warm water.  Let it sit until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy.

Add 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 2 1/4 cups flour to the yeast mixture and mix well.  You might need to add a little flour.  The goal is for the dough to be slightly sticky, but also able to bounce back when you poke it.

Put your dough into a greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let it rise for 30-60 minutes or until doubled.

Once risen punch down dough and place it on a lightly floured surface.  Roll it out into a pizza shape.

Place your rolled out dough on a greased pizza pan.  I prefer to use a pizza pan similar to this one.  The holes in the bottom helps the crust to cook evenly.  If you don’t have a pizza pan you can use a cookie sheet!  It will work great!

Top your pizza with your favorite toppings.  Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

 

See how easy that was?!?!?!

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ tsp yeast
  • 1 cup warm water baby bath temp
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 ¼   cups flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • In mixer lightly mix water and yeast together.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  • Add the oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture.  Mix well.  You may need a little less or little more flour.  You want the dough to bounce back if you poke it.  I also usually keep the dough slightly sticky.
  • Put dough into greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let rise for 30-60 minutes until doubled.  I will usually put it next to the flour or in the sun to speed up the rising process.
  • Place dough on lightly floured surface.  Roll out into a pizza shape.  (If you don’t have a pizza pan, just use a cookie sheet.  It works great!)  Place on greased pan.  Poke all over with a fork.  Cover with your favorite toppings.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

The fun thing about homemade pizza is all of the easy ways to customize.  My kids love pepperoni, so that’s what I make most days.  You can make it Hawaiian, cheese stuffed, thick crust, thin crust, and so on.

Encourage your kids to help with making the pizza.  They will love rolling out the dough and covering it with all the toppings!

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Don’t forget to pin this recipe for your next pizza night:

Homemade pizza dough recipe - make your own easy pizza

how to make your own pizza - easy pizza recipe

 

Easy homemade pizza dough recipe.

Easy Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to make a Broccoli and Grape Salad.

Have you ever eaten a broccoli and grape salad???  Because if you haven’t, you are for real missing out big time!  It’s sweet, flavorful and delicious, basically all the best things!  Every time I make this easy broccoli grape salad recipe I always get so many compliments and requests for the recipe.  It’s a huge crowd hit!

Today I’m sharing this recipe with each of you!  I know you are going to love this easy salad recipe and wow everyone you serve it to.  I am so excited for you!

This recipe was passed down from my grandma, to my mom and to me.  I love sharing it with others because I get to remember my dear mom and grandmother and the hands that have perfected the recipe.  It’s been loved and shared by so many!  Aren’t family recipes just the best kind of recipes???  I think so!

broccoli grape salad recipe - easy salad recipes for parties

Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

To make this salad you will need:

  • 4 bunches of broccoli, florets cut
  • 2 cups of grapes, sliced in half
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup honey roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Putting It All Together

First, cut broccoli florets off of 4 bunches of broccoli and put them into a large bowl.  Then slice 2 cups of grapes in half.  Add them to the bowl.

Next, add the honey roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds.  I love watching all of the colors come together in this salad!

 

In a separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar.

Once mixed, pour dressing over the salad and stir well.

All done!  It’s ready to serve!  This salad tastes even better after it sits in the fridge for 12-24 hours.  So, don’t be afraid to make it in advance!

 

 

Broccoli Grape Salad

This easy salad recipe is a crowd favorite!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Course Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 4 bunches broccoli cut
  • 2 cups grapes sliced in half
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup honey roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Mix broccoli, grapes, sunflower seeds and honey roasted peanuts together in a large bowl.
  • In a small separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing.
  • Pour dressing over broccoli and grapes mixture.
  • Stir well until mixed throughout.
Keyword easy recipes, salad

Try it!  You’ll like it!

Let me know if you try this broccoli and grape salad!  I would love to know what you think of the recipe!  Just last week I took it to a BBQ with friends and everyone was complimenting me and going back for seconds and thirds.  I love surprising crowds with this salad!

 

Mel’s Home Cooking

Do you want even more easy recipes?  Check out my cookbook, Mel’s Home Cooking, for more quick to fix recipes.

mel's home cooking recipe ebook - ecookbook

 

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broccoli grape salad recipe - easy salad recipe for a crowd

I can’t wait for you to try this easy broccoli grape salad recipe!

Rice Krispie Monsters

By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Check out these easy spooky rice krispie treats!

My kids school has a fun Halloween carnival each year.  It’s a great fundraiser and always a lot of fun for the kids to participate in.  As part of the carnival they have a Bake Sale.  All of the baked goods are donated and sold off as a way to earn money for the school.  I’ve started making these easy Rice Krispie Monsters every year for the bake sale and they are always one of the first items sold!  These spooky rice krispie treats are truly so fun for everyone!

monster rice krispies - halloween party food

Disclosure:  “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Rice Krispie Monsters Directions

One of my favorite parts of this easy Halloween treat is that it is so easy to make, but makes such a cute and fun statement.

1.  Make Rice Krispies

The first step is to make rice krispie treats according to the package directions.  If you have never made rice krispie treats before, don’t worry, they are a so so easy and only take a few minutes to whip up.

Pour your finished rice krispie treats into a 9×13 pan and let them cool and harden.

Once your spooky rice krispies are cool, cut them into rectangles.  The size and dimension really doesn’t matter.  It actually would be cute to have a few different sizes and maybe a little un-uniformed!  They are rice krispie monsters after all!

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2.  Prepare Chocolate

Next, you will want to prepare your chocolate for dipping. 

I bought these candy melts from Walmart.  You can order them off of Amazon, but they were cheaper at Walmart.  It’s fun to experiment with different colors.  I have found turquoise, purple, and orange to be our favorite monster colors.

To melt your chocolate, pour the candy melts into a glass bowl and place in microwave.  Heat on 50% heat for 1 minute.  Stir well and then return to microwave for another 15 seconds.  Keep stirring and heating in 15 second intervals until chocolate is smooth and melted.

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3.  Dip Rice Krispies in Chocolate

Now it’s time to make your monsters!  My kids love helping with this part!

Dip each rice krispie rectangle half way into the melted chocolate.  Be quick with this step.  As the chocolate cools it is harder to dip and use.

Lay each dipped rice krispie treat on a parchment paper and add eyes before chocolate hardens.

 

4.  Add Candy Eyes

All that’s left is to add on the candy eyes.  I also bought these at Walmart, but they are available on Amazon. 

This part is so easy and fun!  Use your creativity to make silly faces on each monster!  My kids had some fun ideas for making the eyes unique.

Let your cute rice krispie monsters cool, and the chocolate harden. 

And that is it!  You are done!  Now, feed your monster treats to your little monster darlings.  😉

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Pin for future reference:

how to make monster rice krispies - easy halloween treat

Enjoy these yummy Rice Krispie Monsters!

Simple Banana Bread Recipe

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!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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

 

Pin This Recipe For Future Reference:

homemade banana bread recipe

moist banana bread recipe

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

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life56 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 to replace cans of cream of chicken soup in soups, stews, casseroles, etc.  All you need is a little water added to the mix and you’re ready to cook!  Easy peasy!

FF61C34A-590C-405D-A31E-86CBAF63F074

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 cups 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.

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

4.60 from 5 votes
Print Recipe

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!

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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:

how to make cream of chicken soup mix

homemade cream of chicken soup mix

 

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Make this Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe today!

Easy French Bread Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life27 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 immediately become 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.  Put the bowl 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

5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe

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!

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Liked what you read?  Pin it for future baking!

easy french bread recipe

how to make french bread - homemade french bread recipe

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

Free Recipe Binder Printables

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to make a recipe binder.

You want to know what the biggest game changing with Meal Planning has been for me???  My Recipe Binder!  I made my first recipe binder a few years ago and I still use it every single day.  This article is all about teaching you how to make a recipe binder for painless meal planning, and includes some free recipe binder printables to help you make your own binder!  Yay!

What is a Recipe Binder?

A recipe binder is a binder where all of your recipes are organized into one simple spot.  Instead of having 5 cookbooks and hundreds of recipe pins saved, you can print off all of your tried and true recipes and keep them organized in one simple spot.

The recipes that you put into this binder should be ones that you have tried multiple times.  These are the recipes that you want in your regular cooking routine.

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How Does a Recipe Binder Help With Meal Planning?

Meal Planning can be made so much easier when you use your binder.

Here’s how I Meal Plan using my Recipe Binder:

  • Pull out my Binder and look at the Meal Ideas I have previously written down.
  • Choose a few meals to make throughout the week, writing them down on my Meal Planning worksheet (free meal planing printable below).
  • Look through the recipes in my binder to find the ingredients I will need to buy at the store that work.
  • Jot the ingredients down on the shopping list.
  • And done!

See how easy that was?????

When you meal plan with a recipe binder it takes out the stress of wondering:

  • What should I make this week?
  • What foods do we like?
  • What do I need to buy at the store?

Supplies Needed

You can make your own recipe binder using my free recipe binder printables!  To make a recipe binder you will need:

  • A Binder.  I recommend a binder between 1″ to 2″, depending on how many recipes you will be putting in it.
  • Page protectors.  Don’t skip this step!  Page protectors will keep your recipes fresh for a long time and can be wiped clean.  (when I cook, it gets real messy, real fast!)
  • Pocket Dividers.  Dividers in the binder are great, they will help you find all of your food sections quickly.  I also love having dividers with pockets, as a place to put all of my random recipes when I don’t have time to organize them into page protectors.
  • Recipes.  Spend a few hours finding all of your favorite recipes.  Don’t forget to look through cookbooks, pinterest, or magazines.  Just make sure to only choose the recipes you have tried multiple times and love.  The point of the recipe binder is to have one spot for your favorite recipes.  You want to be able to open it up and know every recipe inside is a good one.
  • Recipe Binder Printables.  You can grab these for free by signing up for my newsletter below.

 


 

 

Putting The Recipe Binder Together

Now, for the fun part, putting the recipe binder together!  Fortunately this is so easy to do too!

First off, slide the Favorite Recipes cover into the front of your binder.  It’s always fun to see something pretty from the beginning.

Next, search through all of your cook books and favorite recipes and collect the recipes you want in your binder.  You can print these out from the internet, make a copy from your favorite cookbook, or reuse recipes you already have printed.  Feel free to grab my favorite recipes here.

Once you have found all of your most loved recipes take some time to put them and your Recipe Binder printables into page protectors.  This is a great activity to have your kids help with or to do while watching a movie!

Next, take out your pocket dividers and write the different categories you want in your binder onto each tab.  A few of the categories I have in my binder are:

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Appetizers
  • Salad
  • Soup
  • Chicken
  • Meatless
  • Drinks
  • Veggies
  • Bread
  • Side Dish
  • Snacks
  • Crock Pot
  • Seafood
  • Pasta
  • Pork
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Cookies
  • Dessert

Lastly, put all of your recipes, recipe binder printables, and dividers into your binder.  Organize them in the way that will make the most sense to you!  I included a blank category so that you can personalize it for the recipes you use most.

Don’t forget to use the Meal Ideas printables.  These are really the secret sauce to quick meal planning.

Write down all of the recipes that you chose to include in your binder (remember, these should all be recipes you have already tried and loved) and put these papers at the front of your recipe binder.  The next time you can’t think of what to make for dinner, just look at the Meal Ideas in your binder!

Finishing Up

That’s it!  Your recipe binder is complete!  Now, it’s time to use it regularly.  Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your recipe binder:

  • Put it somewhere you will see it often.  I keep mine on my cookbook shelf, right next to the kitchen.  This makes it easy to grab, and also helps me remember to actually pull it out and use it (which is important….for obvious reasons…..)
  • Set a specific day each week when you will pull out your recipe binder and meal plan.  The day I have chosen is on Sunday afternoons.  I am almost always home this day and it’s a great way for me to start the week organized.
  • Update your binder regularly.  As the years go by you will hopefully find new recipes you enjoy, and maybe a few you tire off.  Make sure you pull out your binder every now and then, throw out the recipes you don’t enjoy anymore, and add your new favorites.

Need more help meal planning?  Check out my article, Start Meal Planning For The Complete Beginner, where I share all of my best tips for beginners to make a successful meal plan.

Alright!  It’s your turn!  Grab your free Recipe Binder printables below to make your own Recipe Binder today!


 

 

Need recipes for your binder????

Are you needing some new, fresh recipes to try?  Something easy to make that your family will be sure to love??

Check out my recipe ebook!  Mel’s Home Cooking contains over 60 of my favorite, easy, and family friendly recipes.

Want to make rolls, but don’t have time to roll them out???  Try the fairy rolls!

Looking for something different, yet easy, to make your family for breakfast?  You will love the Hootenany pancakes!

Are you tired of the same old dinners, but don’t like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen?  Try my chicken pesto pasta recipe!

These recipes have all been in my kitchen for decades and I am so excited to share them with you!  You can learn more about Mel’s Home Cooking ebook here.

Pin For Future Reference:

Free Recipe Binder Printables - how to make a recipe binder

how to make a recipe binder - free printables for a recipe binder

free recipe binder printables

Enjoy these free recipe binder printables!

Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The best campfire dinner recipe.

A few years ago I stumbled upon the best tin foil dinner recipe ever, for reals though…..I’ve tried a lot of tin foil dinners!  I found it originally on Melyssa Saves Instagram Story Highlights.  I’ve since adapted it to our own personal liking, but I still give her credit for introducing me to this amazing campfire dinner recipe.

This recipe has become our favorite camping dinner recipe.  It’s easy to cook over the fire, and perfect for customizing to everyone’s preferences.  We also use it regularly for backyard fires.  When I don’t feel like cooking, or cleaning up a messy kitchen….I whip up these easy tin foil dinners and we eat outside.  The kids think it’s a fun family activity, and I think it was the best way to keep my house clean…..

tin foil dinner recipe - how to make tin foil dinners

Ingredients

Like I mentioned earlier, this recipe is very easy to customize to your own specific taste preferences.  So, don’t be afraid to take my suggestions and add a few of your own!

  • Little Smokies
  • Shredded Cheese (we like mozzarella, but you can also use cheddar)
  • Diced onions 
  • Green Beans
  • Peas
  • Corn
  • Seasoning Salt
  • Shredded hash browns
  • Carrots
  • Jalapeno peppers
  • Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

You will also need:

  • Cooking spray
  • Tin foil

Putting it All Together

Pull out two strips of tin foil and lay them one on top of the other on your counter top.  Spray generously with cooking spray.

Layer hash browns on the top tin foil.  You can add as much or as little as you want.  I always put less on the kids dinners and much more in my husbands (he likes to eat!).

Next add the little smokies.  Again, there is no set recipe.  Just add as many or as little as you want to eat.

Now it’s time for the vegetables.  I try to use whatever veggie is in my garden at the time.  We have used carrots, corn, green beans, diced onion, peas, and jalapeno peppers.  All were good and delicious!

Sprinkle your veggies with your favorite cheese.  We enjoy mozzarella cheese, but cheddar is also delicious!

Next add salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste.

Add a few pats of butter on top.

And it’s all done!  Look how yummy!  Can you believe it even tastes better than it looks?!?!

All that’s left to do is roll your tin foil packet up and refrigerate until ready to be cooked.

Cook your tin foil dinner over hot coals until thoroughly heated through and cheese is melted.  It usually only takes about 10 minutes, depending on the heat of your fire.

Pull a packet out and peek inside to test for doneness.

I promise you will love this delicious, easy tin foil dinner recipe.

Easy Tin Foil Dinner

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Shredded Hash Browns
  • Little Smokies
  • Favorite Veggies We like green beans, peas, carrots, corn, onion and jalapenos.
  • Mozzarella or cheddar Cheese
  • Seasoning Salt
  • Butter

Instructions
 

  • Lay two pieces of tin foil on counter top. Spray with cooking spray.
  • Layer hash browns on top of tin foil.
  • Add little smokies on top.
  • Put your favorite veggies over little smokies and hash browns.
  • Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste.
  • Add 2-3 pats of butter.
  • Wrap tin foil up tightly.
  • Cook over hot coals in camp fire until done.

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easiest tin foil dinner - best campfire dinner

easy camping recipe - campfire dinner recipe

What is your favorite tin foil dinner recipe?

Easy Non Alcholic Drink Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Our family favorite mock champagne recipe.

Are you looking for the perfect non alcoholic drink recipe???  Something easy, but also family friendly?  I have the perfect one for you!

My mom used to make this delicious drink for us on special occasions.  It was something we all looked forward to.  She called it Mormon Champagne Punch, but I am renaming it to JoAnnes Mock Champagne.  You may call it whatever you like!  When she passed away this recipe passed with her.  I tried for years and years to remember the right ingredients and tested many different concoctions.  After many fails, I finally rediscovered this delicious mock champagne recipe.  We are all so happy to have it back in our family and want to share it with you!  I know it will soon become a family favorite in your household!

This is a great reminder to all of us to write recipes down!  I wish I would have written this recipe down when she was still alive!  It would have saved me a lot of hassle and headache trying to find the right ingredients.

Recipes are meant to be shared.  There is beauty in a recipe loved and shared by many with many.  So, if you have a recipe you love, share it!!!  Your loved ones will appreciate it!

How To Make This Easy Non Alcoholic Drink

This Mormon Champagne is so easy to make!  All you need is 4 ingredients:

  • 1 can frozen white grape juice
  • 1 can frozen lemonade
  • 1 tsp. almond extract
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Empty both frozen juices together in to a large pitcher.  Add the required amount of water on both frozen juice cans (it’s usually 3-4 cups per can).

Add the almond and vanilla extracts.

Stir well.

Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

easy mock champagne punch recipe

The great part about this recipe is that it is so incredibly easy to make!  A few minutes of stirring and mixing and you have your non-alcoholic punch all ready to go!

Mock Champagne

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 can White Grape Juice
  • 1 can Lemonade
  • 1 tsp Almond Extract
  • 1 tsp Vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Make juice according to can instructions.
  • Mix juices, almond extract and vanilla together in large pitcher.
  • Serve cold and enjoy!

I have heard of others who add a can of ginger ale or sprite to this recipe, but we like it just like this!  It is the perfect blend of juice and extracts (oh how I love almond extract!).

This recipe is perfect for Christmas, New Years Eve, or anytime you want a special drink!

Let me know if you try this easy non alcoholic mock champagne!  I would love to hear how it turned out for you.  

Want Even More Great Recipes?

Check out my very own recipe eCookbook, Mel’s Home Cooking, for even more family friendly recipes!

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How To Make A Recipe Binder

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Be sure to pin this recipe for safe keeping!  I don’t want you to have to test for years like I did!

non alcoholic champagne punch recipe - easy non alcoholic drink recipe

I hope you love this non alcoholic drink recipe as much as we do!

Easy Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

By: Sweet Frugal Life9 Comments

How to make overnight oats.

Getting my three kids ready for school in the morning is no easy task.  The mornings are hectic and I am always on the search for ways to make it smoother and easier.  I was so excited a few years ago when I learned how to make this overnight oatmeal recipe.  Not only is it EASY (check), and QUICK (check), it is also HEALTHY and BUDGET FRIENDLY (check and check!).

I make a dozen or so of these every Monday and keep them in the fridge handy for quick breakfasts throughout the week.  The best part of this overnight oatmeal recipe is that they are so easy to customize anyway your kiddos (or maybe a picky husband…. ;) ) would like them best.

Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

It only takes a few minutes to whip up these overnight oats.  Make them right before going to bed at night, or during the weekend while meal prepping.

The first thing you need to do is add one cup of oatmeal to a mason jar.  We have tried all kinds of oatmeal and have decided we prefer Old Fashioned Oats best.

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Next, add one cup of milk.

I usually use regular cows milk, but have also tried it with both almond milk and water. They have all turned out great!  I have heard that some people enjoy using yogurt in place of the milk.  Do what works best for you!  This is your breakfast after all!

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Now comes the fun part of customizing!

Add 1 Tablespoon of sweetener.  I prefer brown sugar, but have also tried honey, syrup, white sugar and brown sugar.  They are all great!

Also add a good handful of fruit.  Our favorites are frozen blueberries or raspberries.  We have tried diced apples and canned peaches as well.  Mix it up and try different combos to keep it interesting.

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Lastly, put the lid on your mason jar and shake it really well.

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After you finish shaking, put the jar in the refrigerator.  It needs to sit in the fridge for at least 10 hours, but up to 5 days!

When you are ready to eat your overnight oatmeal, pull it out of the refrigerator and you can eat cold or warm it up in the microwave for a few minutes.  Eat it straight from the jar, or put it in a bowl.  Either way will treat you to delicious oatmeal!

Overnight Oatmeal

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 handful fruit

Instructions
 

  • Add oatmeal, milk, sugar and fruit to mason jar.
  • Secure lid and shake well.
  • Let sit in refrigerator overnight.
  • Eat cold straight from the jar, or warm up in the microwave.

Enjoy your quick breakfast!

I hope these easy overnight oats will make your mornings easier!  Let me know if you have any questions, I promise you won’t mess these up!

 

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Pin For Future Reference:

easy overnight oatmeal recipe - how to make oatmeal in a jar

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overnight oatmeal recipe - how to make oatmeal in a jar

I hope you love this quick and easy overnight oatmeal recipe as much as we do!

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