Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

My sister lives in Northern Colorado in the center of the agricultural region. She went to a working farm and collected red potatoes (for an incredible bargain!) and was sweet enough to share with us. It started to snow today and I always seem to want to use the Crockpot when the weather begins to cool! This wonderful recipe yields 12 hearty servings at approximately $12.00. You can enjoy on a cold day and have leftovers for a few lunches, it also freezes really well!

5 medium red potatoes, cubed

5 medium carrots, peeled and sliced – approx. $1.20

1 medium onion, sliced – approx. $1.00

2 pounds stew meat - $5.99

3 beef bullion cubes

6 cups of water

1 12oz canned diced tomatoes - $1.49

1 small head of cabbage, chopped $1.00

1 12oz bag frozen corn - $1.00 , on sale

Brown meat in skillet, remove and place in Crockpot. Add 2 cups of water and bullion cubes to the pan drippings and bring to a boil Reduce heat and stir. Simmer until bullion cubes are dissolved. Layer onions, potatoes, and carrots on top of meat. I use the layering technique when I use my Crockpot to ensure the vegetables that take longer cook (like potatoes and carrots) cook thoroughly. It also ensures that you don’t end up with soggy cabbage. Add can of tomatoes, bullion mixture, and additional 4 cups of water. Finish with cabbage and cook undisturbed for 5 hours on high. Stir and add corn in final 1 hour of cooking. I love to serve with toasted slices of fresh French bread and butter.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

I’m famous in my circle of friends for my spinach artichoke dip. I am always asked to take it to gatherings and I am always happy to oblige. Why? Mainly because we buy the artichoke hearts in a 65 oz jar at Costco and it’s a cinch to make! The artichoke hearts are fantastic in a variety of recipes and last for a very long time; the entire jar costs about $12.00!

I took this to pumpkin carving party today and it only cost me about $5.00. I also picked up the bag of baguettes for about $2.00, but I still managed to stay around $7.00 for a fantastic dip that is always a hit!

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach -$1.00

1 cup canned artichoke hearts, roughly chopped - approx $1.50

½ medium yellow onion, chopped – approx. $.50

1/2 cup mayonnaise - approx. $.50

1/2 cup sour cream – approx. $.50

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan – approx. $1.00

1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Sauté onions and chopped garlic in olive oil until onions begin to soften. Add balsamic vinegar and continue cooking until onions begin to caramelize. Heat the spinach in a microwave oven on high for 5 minutes and squeeze dry. Drain the artichoke hearts and coarsely chop in a food processor.

Add artichokes, spinach, and red pepper flakes to onions and garlic and stir until fully incorporated. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Combine all the ingredients. Stir well. Scrape into the prepared casserole dish and add additional grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes.  Serve with toasted baguettes or corn chips.

Take the Time At the Register... and Get the Club Card!!

I'm pretty sure I have signed up for just about every store club card there is, (well at least at the stores that I shop at)!  Of course, as a result I'm on just about on every junk mail list there is! Why am I happy about this you ask? Coupons! I get coupons for almost every business that I frequent. What do I do with the rest of the junk? I recycle them of course! Ulta sends me coupons every few weeks or so, usually for $3.50 off a purchase of $10.00. I regularly get emails from Borders with a 30% off 1 item offer. Do I carry cards? No way! I have way too many things to carry around with me. I just give my phone number at the cashier.

I know there are people out there who do not want companies to be privy to their shopping habits and private information. Yet, the more companies that know about their customers (especially their buying habits) the better they can tailor their business to the consumer.

I know that some buyer cards accumulate points and expire after a certain time period.. completely lame! Even if I am not sure if I will frequent a store I usually sign up for the card just in case they send out one of those "members only" offers. So next time you are asked at the register to sign up do take the couple of minutes and sign up, it could save you more than you think!

Fantastic Frugal Find! - e.l.f. products

I was just at Target (my favorite late night haunt) and I came across the e.l.f. products! hooray! Most of these wonderful cosmetic products sell on the e.l.f. website http://www.eyeslipsface.com/  for around $1.00 each. They are also selling for the same price at Target stores! I'm always a stickler about shipping and handling charges so it is wonderful to have these products close to home! Trust me when I say that even though the prices are low for the e.l.f. line, the quality is not! 

How to be a Frugalista - Lesson # 5

Shop where the crowds don't. I shop in two areas of town that seem to get less shoppers than in other areas. Alas, if you are a fellow Coloradan I'm not giving up my spots!
However, pay close attention! Do you every drive by a mall or a store and notice the parking lot is empty? That is a good sign that their clearance racks are stocked full of items! (Yes, a true Frugalista LOVES a good clearance sale!) These are also the best places to go after a holiday to pick up decorations for next year!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Mexican cuisine is by far my favorite. The combination of corn tortillas, cheese, and chicken has always been comforting to me! I'm always looking for new variations to experiment with and since my parents had a large crop of poblano peppers this season I came up with this great recipe. Beyond tasting amazing this wonderful recipe is also economical, costing about $9.70 for 8 generous servings! ole!

1 dozen corn tortillas, crumbled - $.89

1, 28oz can enchilada sauce (green or red) -$2.49

4 chicken breasts, shredded -$3.99 on sale

1 half onion chopped - Approx. $.50

8-12 roasted peppers, chopped (or 2 small cans chopped chilies)

8 oz Mexican style cheese, shredded - $1.79 on sale

Chopped green onions for garnish

Boil chicken breasts until cooked, about 15 minutes. When cool, shred into small pieces.

Sauté onion and chopped peppers until onions are translucent. Add shredded chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and allow to cook for 2 minutes.

Spread a ladle full of the green chili sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas, a layer of the chicken, and end with a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat until you have used all the ingredients and you end up with mixture a final layer of cheese on the top.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes oven or until sides are bubbly. Serve with sour cream, chopped tomato, and shredded lettuce.

Save Money With an Indoor Herb Garden

I'm the kind of cook that likes a lot of color. Of course I use dry herbs when fresh herbs are not available but obviously fresh herbs are so much more flavorful and appealing. My wonderful mother put together an herb garden for us and we have saved so much money as a result. Our little planter resided outdoors for the summer and it has since been moved inside.

As long as you are taking good care of your herb garden you will have it around indefinitely. Usually a few sprigs will suffice in a recipe and you can combine several types in one container. In ours we have chives, parsley, basil, and oregano.

There is an initial investment to begin a herb garden, but it will indeed save you money over time. As long as you have a sunny spot in your home (8 + hours of light is best), and if you can take care of a houseplant you can have an indoor herb garden too.


You can usually but together a similar herb garden for around $10.00 in supplies. Seeds are the most frugal way to start of course and will result in a longer wait to reap the benefits. If you do decide to get starter plants you will have a larger initial investment, but still well worth it! How many times have you paid a ridiculous chunk of change for fresh herbs at the grocery store and didn't use the full amount you paid for?


Waste no more my frugal friends!