Budget Meals Posts
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 [...]
Buttermilk Cornbread
Sometimes I bake things, then need to immediately give them away so I don’t gobble down the whole pan. You know how that goes? This cornbread is like that. It’s sweet, light, and soft—with just the right amount of bite from stone-ground cornmeal. And since it’s made with low-fat buttermilk and olive oil (instead of [...]
Fiery Chili Lime Rice
I’ve said it before: I love hot food. This rice is a fabulously spicy side that’s packed with flavor. Turn it into a more substantial meal by tossing in some sauteed shrimp or leftover roast chicken or pork. This rice gets a triple kick of heat from cayenne, chipotle, and Aleppo chili flakes—and a potent [...]
Blackened Chicken Fingers with Lime-Infused Marmalade
Mmm, mmm, mmm. We love spicy food at The Mouse House. You know…the kind that makes your nose sweat just a wee bit? These chicken fingers are hot and spicy on the outside and juicy as can be on the inside. A quick dip in a buttery, lime-infused marmalade knocks the edge off the heat [...]
Make Your Own Deli-Style Roast Beef
Forget the deli. Make your own roast beef at home. It’s simple and typically way more economical than hitting the deli counter every week—plus, you can personalize your roast beast with whatever flavors you like. All you need is a piece of meat, a few spices, and a really sharp knife. Deli-Style Homemade Roast Beef: [...]
Mussels in Ginger Stout Broth
Mussels are very forgiving to cook. They come with a built in timer. When they open, they’re done. It’s really that easy. These mussels cook up in no time flat and are bathed in a fragrant, gingery broth made with shallots, butter, and stout. Serve with a crusty loaf of garlic bread to sop up [...]
Sweet Chili Chicken Drummettes
This is one of my favorite things to serve at a cocktail party. These Sweet Chili Chicken Drummettes are easier to eat than chicken wings, and are sweet and spicy with just a little bit of crunch. It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients to create a heavy dose of flavor. These drummettes get a [...]
Making Gourmet’s Panfried Smashed Potatoes, Step by Step
Ever since this month’s Gourmet magazine showed up at The Mouse House, I kept going back to this recipe. When I found a bag of the sweetest little red bliss potatoes, I took it as a sign. The skins are crisp, the potatoes are soft and fluffy, and it’s ridiculously fun to fry a whole [...]
Deep-Fried Chicken Fingers with Crispy Cheez-It Crust
It’s Friday the 13th and the day before Valentine’s Day. There’s a dizzying array of mouthwatering, chocolate-y recipes out there this week. So…let’s make something fun and crunchy. Mouse discovers Cheez-It breading. Film at 11. It didn’t happen exactly like this, but this is close enough.
Rustic, Family-Style Pork with Red Sauce
This is a fabulous way to feed a crowd on a budget. Pork shoulder is a tough cut of meat, so it’s generally on the cheaper side. (In fact, this is the same cut of meat that’s often used to make pulled pork.) My pork roast was about 8.5 lbs. and was only 99 cents/lb. [...]
