eat well on a budget with easy recipes from Jessica Fisher
Serving a Build-Your-Own-Burrito Bar is a great way to make dinner simply, easily, and economically. With tortillas, beans, cheese, and any number of fillings, all can have a burrito just the way they like it. On a mission to make easy dinners? Fighting picky eaters all the way? Need something that can be made in […]
Simple Bean Tostadas come together quickly and easily for an affordable meatless meal, with tortillas, refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and your favorite toppings. Life is busy. Especially when you’re trying to save money. As economical as it is, DIY takes time. That’s why you need an arsenal of double win meals. What’s a double win […]
Ever been tempted by the contents of the frozen food aisle? It will be easy to just say NO when you’ve made your own homemade freezer burritos. These freezer burritos are loaded with beans, cheese, and tender chunks of chicken, making for a quick and easy lunch, snack, or dinner. You’ve been there before. Strolling down […]
This White Bean Chicken Chili, redolent with spices and bursting with chicken and white beans, comes together quickly in 30 minutes or less for an easy, delicious dinner. Did you graduate from high school in 1990? Cut your adult teeth on the foods of the era like Chicken Caesar Salad? Chinese Chicken Salad? BBQ Chicken Pizza? […]
I’ve been on a ground turkey kick. Part of it is an effort to reduce our red meat. It’s probably not that good for us to eat it as often as we were, plus it’s getting more expensive. I just can’t swing it when the kids could easily eat two to three pounds in one sitting. We’re enjoying it twice a week, which is good.
I didn’t used to like ground turkey, but since I tried Trader Joe’s, I’m hooked. (Sorry to all you people who don’t have TJ’s or don’t like it. I fell out of love with Trader Joe’s a few years ago, but I’m finding ways to make their products and prices work for me, and it’s working really well.)
Anyway, this dish is the antithesis of what I would have made five years ago when I was a sworn beefeater.
Black Bean Pot Pie is an interesting twist on your standard savory pie. Meatless yet packed with flavor, the flaky crust is filled with beans, peppers, onions, and cilantro. Are you looking for a dish that is meatless yet still packed with flavor? Affordable but still fun? Easy to prep and also freezer-friendly? This Black […]
Pepper Bellies are a simple yet comforting dish. With only four ingredients, it comes together quickly, making for a super easy supper that will please any crowd. Curried potatoes and pork chops, Oslo Kringle, and Pepper Bellies — those are all tastes and memories of my childhood. My mom may have been feeding five kids […]
This easy Chihuahua Beer Chili comes together quickly on the stove or in a slow cooker. Flavorful from enchilada sauce, beer, and spices, it is the perfect bowl of red. When I’m going to feed a crowd, I often lean on chili. It’s hearty and filling and easy to serve. It can be made vegetarian […]
Beans are an affordable ingredient with great main dish potential. But what can you MAKE with beans? I’ve gotcha covered with these easy and delicious bean recipes. Beans, beans, the musical fruit, the more you eat… the more you save! Surprised ya, there, didn’t I? While beans may sometimes get a bad rap for causing […]
This Bean and Rice Soup comes together in minutes. Packed with flavor it’s a great way to use up leftovers, eat well, and save money! Beans and rice. Rice and beans. If you’ve ever listened to folks give budget cooking advice, you’ve probably heard some version of the beans and rice mantra. But the thing […]
Cooking pinto beans from scratch is a great way to enjoy beans as a side dish or as a meatless main dish. They are so much cheaper than canned beans. Wanna save some money on food costs? Well, then, maybe it’s time to embrace the bean. If you read any money-saving advice when it comes […]
Pinto beans and rice are a good cheap eat, especially when you top them with chips, salsa, and some other goodies. They make a filling meal to help you save money and eat well. Are you looking for an easy, affordable meal that doesn’t look or taste like fast food? There’s nothing so homey and […]
Summer is an ideal time to throw a party or other festive gathering. And a build your own nacho bar is an easy appetizer or main dish to serve your guests. I love a good party. And I love good eats. When the two come together — with as little work and mess as possible […]
Chimichangas are crispy burritos that are easy to make at home! While frying is traditional, you can also crisp them on the griddle or bake them in the oven. Have you ever had a chimichanga? Basically it’s a crispy burrito, usually deep fried. It’s considered Tex-Mex, Southwestern fare, but it may just be Cal-Mex as […]
Reminiscent of canned bean with bacon soup — without the bacon or the can! — this Smoky Bean Soup is an economical and filling, without much fuss. If you grew up eating soup from cans with red labels, you may have been a fan of Bean with Bacon soup. I know I was. I can […]
Fresh jalapenos give heat and flavor to this simple homemade chili that comes together in 30 minutes or less. Enjoy it for an easy weeknight dinner. You work hard all day. Your family is hungry. You want a quick and easy meal that doesn’t take all day or cost a fortune. It’s not too much […]
Taco Soup is an easy-to-prepare dish, so easy even a 5-year old can do it. And it tastes great, especially when you make it without the packets of junky mixes. Some days you just don’t want to cook. You want to eat, to be sure. But, cooking? No way, Jose. However, in the life as […]
This Santa Fe Salad is super easy to pull together. Signature corn and black beans get added protein from shredded chicken and other tasty toppings.
Beans are a frugal food, full of fiber and a good option for protein. Dry beans are cheaper than canned, but can be intimidating and time-consuming to prepare. These Easy Instant Pot Black Beans will transform your bean game. Pressure cookers and I have a long history. My mother and her mother before her embraced […]
Save money and enjoy a hearty meatless meal with this Easy Vegetable Soup. It comes together quickly, tastes amazing, and reheats beautifully. You’ll want to start Meatless Mondays just to make this soup! My friend Kate, who lives in the frozen tundra of Smithers, British Columbia, can’t understand how I can eat soup in San […]
