Cheater Cookies - My Favorite Recipe!

Yep, another post for those who don't like to bake, like me! :) I started using this recipe about 2 years ago because I had to make a bunch of cookies for a bake sale. I had NO time to do it, but we women say "yes" to everything, right?

These cookies are SO easy and I compare them to sugar cookies. They are a bit sweeter, but you can frost them, add different flavors, top them with chocolate chips, coconut...whatever your taste!

I also like them because they taste great all by themselves...for the "I-don't-have-time-to-bake" times! This cost me about $1.35 for the whole batch with Walmart standards:)



Here is what you need to get started:

Super-Easy 3-Ingredient Meringue Cookies! No-fear!

Here is a super-easy way to take the fear out of making meringue! I made these cookies for my kids to give family members on Valentine's Day - they are strawberry flavored.  I have to admit, this was the very FIRST time I made them! I used to be terrified, but I am sure the next batch will be even more good-looking!

Give them a try and then comment below to tell me how they turned out!!!

Here is all you need:

• 6 egg whites
• 1 box flavored gelatin (this was strawberry flavor)
• Just over 1 cup sugar

VARIATION: If you don't want them a certain flavor, just omit the gelatin and use 1 1/2 cups of sugar! :) Still awesome!

Easiest Crock Pot (Dulce de Leche) Caramel Topping Recipe!

Hold onto your hats, my friends! This sensational recipe is going to knock your socks off! (Well, then I guess I should have said to hold onto your "socks"?!) Whatever, you get the picture! :) This creamy, thick combination of milky sweetness is mouth-watering!

My love affair with this started at Walmart last week. I was buying some apples when I ran into an old friend I hadn't seen in a while. We were chatting and eyeballing this yummy caramel dip that was right next to us the whole time. Now, my friend knows SO much about everything, it is sometimes intimidating.  But I am so grateful for her being able to recall this recipe off the top of her head that it was worth feeling dumb for! But in all fairness to me, who is not anywhere near as perspicacious, it is an EASY recipe! :)

If you are in love with dulce de leche or anything caramel, prepare to be wooed! This simple topping can be used to dress up every-day foods such as cookies, cakes, ice cream and even coffee! Oohhh, it is so good in coffee! :) The even more obvious use is as a dip for apples. I would also say that it is just as delicious being eaten off a spoon, however I don't want to be the one to cause you to go into sugar coma when you can't stop!

The BEST All-Natural Crock Pot Applesauce!

If you're like me, you have tons of great apples from a fun day of apple picking...BUT...the thought of making applesauce for hours at a time is overwhelming. However, I recently found that making applesauce is way too EASY!

 

If you don't have time to sit around and watch batches of apples boil, I have your solution! Here's a quick recipe for crock pot applesauce!

 

  And the best part is it's all natural! :-)

 

 

You will need:

Busy Mom Recipe - Salsa Chicken Thighs!

 

 

If you haven't figured it out, I am NOT a chef or even a remotely "good cook". I am not interested in creating the most fantastic dishes for my family (although I would LOVE to have that ability). My daily goal for dinner is simply to make something that everyone will eat without anyone saying, "Eeeew, that's gross!" AND to make a dinner on time constraints.  Not sure if there is anyone out there who understands where I am coming from?! :)

So, I got some chicken thighs a few weeks ago (mega pack) with a freshness peelie at Price Chopper.  I ended up paying less than $.80 per pound, yay!  I made half of the batch for dinner one night and had half of the batch uncooked for another...and I had just 2 days to use the rest.  I had NO clue what to do to make it taste different from the chicken thighs from two nights prior.

Now, what you may have figured out by now is that I am extremely frugal and I don't like to see things wasted when there are so many people that go without. So, of course, I opened the fridge and took a quick inventory of what I could "whip up" that just "might" taste good! I spotted 3/4 of a 16 ounce jar of salsa left over from tacos one night.

Here's my saving grace recipe when I got extremely ill and just couldn't cook for my family:

 

The night prior to dinner, I dumped about 4 ounces of the salsa into a ziploc bag along with the 5 chicken thighs and then stuck it back in the fridge.

 

The next afternoon, I dumped the bag of chicken and salsa into the crockpot and threw it on low. I added about another 4-5 ounces of salsa to the tops of the chicken, just enough to cover each thigh. In about 2 1/2 hours, I had fall-off-the-bone salsa chicken, so moist and tender!

 

**NOTE: your cooking time may vary, these were pretty big thighs, so check yours often!



The other sides in the photo were leftovers from the prior night. I ALWAYS make enough for leftovers...saves on cooking twice and my family doesn't complain about eating leftovers! I am blessed that way!

Busy Mom Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe! Quick & Cheap!

'Tis the season for the sneezin'!!! :)

I have been sick for quite a few days now and this soup sounded so good to me! I needed some comfort food, but everyone else got to go to church...I was left to fend for myself! Thank goodness it was easy! :) It's also real quick if you are in a hurry for a last-minute meal!


Here's all you'll need:

- (3) Broccoli Crowns ($1.58 @ Walmart for all these)
- (3) Cans Chicken Broth (can't remember...like .60 each?)
- (1) 8 oz Velveeta ($2.59 with my catalina) or use Cheez Whiz
- (4) cups Milk (.89 worth for me)
- (6) tbsp. Flour (maybe .20 worth?)
Total: under $7 at the most...approximately 10 servings!

 

First, bring chicken broth to a boil in a large pot while you chop your broccoli.

 I like bite-sized pieces!

Add your broccoli to the pot and simmer until broccoli is tender.

 

 

In a different bowl whisk flour into milk. Then whisk that mixture into the simmering pot. Stir frequently for 5 minutes until soup thickens.

 

Add the cheese and turn heat to low, stirring occasionally until the cheese melts!

That's it! And it is SOOOOO yummy! I made a ham sandwich to go with it...a complete AND easy AND cheap meal! :)