Budget Meals Posts
Rustic 5-Spice Potato Chips
It’s easier than you might think to make potato chips at home. These particular chips are skin-on, thicker than usual, asian-spiced crunchy bliss. And? They take about 10 minutes to make.
The short version of this recipe goes like this: Slice. Fry. Sprinkle. Inhale. Read on for detailed instructions.
Mini Meat Loaves
Based on Ina Garten’s fabulous recipe, these meat loaves pack huge comfort-food goodness in a small package. They’re a great thing to serve at a dinner party. I mean, come on: Who wouldn’t love a little meatloaf, made just for them?
Sunday Pot Roast (a.k.a. Beast in a Pot)
Pot roast is stick-to-your-ribs, winter home cooking at its coziest. It’s also an economical way to feed a crowd when you’re on a budget. All you need is a big hunk of beef, an even bigger pot, a handful of ingredients, and a little patience.
Bacon & Potato Leek Soup
Ah, soup weather in New England. The air in Salem is finally turning a little colder, at least in the evenings. There are few things I love more on a nippy night than having a steaming pot of soup bubbling merrily away on the stove.
For this soup, I started with Julia Child’s famous Potato Leek [...]
How to Make Pulled Pork in the Oven
I knew I wanted to make pulled pork. I also knew that our grill wasn’t set up, and we don’t have a smoker yet (yet!). I figured, “OK, it’s a pork shoulder. I’ll braise it.” And that’s where it all started.
Cajun Catfish Bites
Hands down, this is our favorite way to prepare catfish: Cut into chunks, coated with spicy breading, then shallow fried ’til golden brown.
Super Simple French Fries (Crisp & Crunchy in Just One Step)
No soaking? Only one fry? Start the potatoes in cold (yes, cold) oil? Come on. I had to try it. And man, am I glad I did. Hands down, these are the easiest, most delicious fries I’ve ever made.
Sesame Noodles
These noodles are one of my favorite things to bring to a picnic. They’re a little salty, a little sweet, and only get better once they sit in the fridge overnight. They’re super simple to make, and will keep for about week in the fridge. They have an excellent balance of salt (from soy sauce), sweetness (from sugar) and heat (from fresh ginger and Sriracha chili sauce).
Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken
OK, so this is cheating. Well, sort of. This may not be real barbecue, but it is one of my favorite ways to make chicken legs: Indoors. In the oven. Seared, then smothered in hot, spicy sauce and slow baked.
Let’s face it: Nothing can replace good, outdoor barbecue. But, sometimes you just don’t feel like [...]
Garlic & Herb Roasted Pork Shoulder
C’mon. Let’s do some magic tricks in the kitchen. We’ll start by making a feast that’s fit for a king—for practically pennies. All you need is a sharp knife, a few hours, and a roomful of friends to feed.
This pork shoulder is butterflied, rubbed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, then slow roasted—a method that [...]
