Turkish Chicken in the Instant Pot

By Valerie | October 26, 2020

Jump to recipeI saw a recipe for Doner Kababs on Recipe Tin’s Facebook page a month or 2 ago. Fabulous recipe. But I wanted it FASTER. An hour in the oven during the summer months is a bit much. I decided to give this a whirl in my Instant Pot,…

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Decadent Hazelnut Chocolate Pie

By Valerie | February 23, 2020

Jump to recipeThis incredible recipe takes just minutes to make. If you have an Aldi nearby, they have all the ingredients for a fraction of what a regular supermarket charges. You can, of course, make this with Nutella, a Keebler crust, and Cool Whip, but nobody I’ve made it for…

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Super-easy, Fabulous, Low-Carb, Crispy Hot Legs

By Valerie | August 2, 2019

Jump to recipe   Super-easy, Fabulous, Low-Carb, Crispy Hot Legs Cuisine american Category Budget-Friendly Cooking Low Carb Persons 8 Serving Size 2 legs Cook Time 1 hour, 10 minutes Total Time 1 hour, 10 minutes Ingredients 3 1/2 lbs chicken drumsticks (about 16 legs) 2 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp…

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best refrigerator cookie ever oatmeal coconut crispies

My new favorite cookie: Oatmeal Coconut Crispies

By Valerie | December 11, 2016

Jump to recipeI was looking for a recipe for some cookies for a cookie swap and turned to an old reliable source: the 1963 “Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book”. It’s the book I grew up with, that my sisters and I learned to cook with, and has fabulous photos of all…

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deviled egg tulips video

Easter Appetizers – Deviled Egg Tulips

By Valerie | April 16, 2014

Whether for Easter or just for spring, these deviled eggs that look like tulips are sure to be a hit. Everyone loves deviled eggs, and they are particularly inexpensive to make (especially around Easter when eggs are on sale). In the following video I show my technique for my spring-time…

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frozen turkey? no problem

My turkey is still frozen! What can I do?

By Valerie | November 27, 2013

Have you checked your turkey? Is it still frozen? Don’t fret, there is still time to defrost it and brine it at the same time. My 16 pound frozen turkey was purchased and popped in the fridge last THURSDAY. According to the ‘experts’, one should allow 1 day per every…

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Cutting a pineapple the easy way

By Valerie | October 15, 2013

How to cut a pineapple I’m a gadget addict, I fully admit it. I rarely buy my gadgets new, though. Hubby and I find them at garage sales. Sometimes they are keepers, sometimes not. The below demo of a pineapple cutter, shows one of my favorites and shows how to…

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Baked Ziti Recipe

By Valerie | June 14, 2013

Jump to recipe Baked Ziti Category Saving Money Persons 8 Ingredients 16 oz Pasta, Ziti 1 lb Beef, Ground, 75% lean 1/2 cup Onions — chopped 2 cloves Garlic — minced 6 cup Marinara or Spaghetti Sauce — divided 8 oz Water — from pasta 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese –…

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Keeping chickens for eggs: is it frugal?

By Valerie | April 26, 2013

I started keeping chickens (hens) about a year ago. I wanted the fresh eggs and I love being self-sufficient. I’ve been keeping detailed records about what I’ve spent and how many eggs my 4 chickens have provided me with. Things to consider: cost of a coop (hen house and run),…

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Backyard Gardening to Save Money

By Valerie | March 16, 2013

It’s a gorgeous pre-spring day, just over 70 degrees here in Chesapeake, Virginia. I took to the opportunity to get some seeds in the ground for fast-growing cool weather crops. Realistically some of these could have been planted a few weeks ago, but I really don’t like working outside in…

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