Low Cost Healthy Meals

11/09/2025

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

* Portions may be adjusted to suit individual tastes

1 (15oz) can crushed pineapple (May substitute pineapple chunks)
1 (11oz) can Mandarin oranges
1 (14.1oz) jar Maraschino cherries (sliced) (no stems or pits)
2 cups shredded, sweetened, flaked coconut
1 cup crushed walnuts
1.5 cup mini-marshmallows
8oz sour cream
8oz whipped cream (Cool Whip)

Drain all fruit into a separate container and discard or drink.
Place all fruit together into a large, non-aluminum, mixing bowl.
Add coconut flakes, walnuts, and marshmallows to the fruit, stirring until well blended.
Stir in the sour cream.
Stir in the whipped cream.
Mix thoroughly until everything is well-blended.

Delicious the first day and keeps getting better for 3 days after! Drain excess liquid from the mixing bowl prior to serving leftovers.

07/17/2023

Brenda's Beef Stroganoff

* Spice amounts are approximate and may be adjusted to suit taste

1-lb cubed lean beef (3/4" - 1/2" pieces)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp chopped garlic
1/4 cup minced red Bell pepper
1 Tbsp butter

Salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp Ground black pepper
1-Tbsp Paprika
1-tsp Curry powder
1- Tbsp Garlic powder
1-Tbsp Onion powder

2 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1 can Cream of mushroom soup
1 can Cream of broccoli soup
8-oz Sour cream

16-oz package Wide egg noodles

Boil water for the egg noodles. Cook and drain according to package instructions. (You can do this while making the sauce)

Melt butter in a large deep skillet.
Add garlic, onions, and bell pepper. Cook until soft but not browned.
Push to the pan sides and add beef to the center.
Sprinkle with all dried seasonings and mix together with the cooked onion mixture until well blended.
Reduce heat to medium and cook until beef is tender.
Reduce heat to low.
Stir in Worcestershire sauce, soups, and sour cream.
Mix until well-blended.
Pour sauce mixture into cooked egg noodles and stir until completely mixed together.
Serve hot and enjoy!

09/21/2022

Looking to make pancakes fit for royalty? The internet is flipping over the recipe Queen Elizabeth II sent President Eisenhower back in 1960.

02/04/2022

12/21/2021

Eggnog

6 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
(May substitute 3 cups of half & half for milk and cream)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch clove powder
Nutmeg (sprinkle)

Beat eggs until lighter in color and slowly work sugar into mix, continuing to whip mixture until it is foamy. Add milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon, & cloves. Blend until smooth and foamy. Pour into glasses and sprinkle nutmeg on top.

OPTIONS:
- Use French Vanilla ice cream in place of milk for a eggnog shake. You may eliminate the sugar and vanilla extract from the recipe, if desired. Top with whipped cream and additional nutmeg or white chocolate sprinkle.
- Hang a gingerbread ornament on the side of the glass or partially submerge in the drink.

08/31/2020

Vegetable Datalini Soup

1 Tbsp grapeseed or olive oil
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 medium onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 md. kohlrabi, peeled and diced
1/2 cup fresh green beans, diced
1 sm. bunch Swiss chard
1 sm. bunch beet greens
3 qt. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 dz cherry tomatoes halved (or 2 lg tomatoes, diced)
1 md carrot diced
1/2 cup sweet corn
1/4 cup green peas
1 cup Datalini pasta, uncooked
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 lg Bay leaves
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp curry powder

In a large stock pot over high heat, cook garlic, onion, celery, and kohlrabi in oil until softened. Add all spices and stir until well mixed. Mix in remaining vegetables, salt and pepper, cooking until the greens are wilted. Stir in water and bouillon. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Cook on high heat until pasta is firm but not too soft. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until pasta is soft and the tomatoes have broken down, stirring often. Remove from heat and serve.

08/24/2020

Cream cheese pumpkin pie
1 (8oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups pumpkin puree
1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, according to taste
2 (9") pie crusts, unbaked
Blend cream cheese, eggs, pumpkin, condensed milk, and spice until smooth. Pour into pie crusts. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.
* Pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp Allspice, 1/4 tsp ground cloves

07/29/2020

07/19/2020

It's Like Having A Medicinal Garden In The Backyard

07/18/2020

Seed saving is a tradition worth reviving in the garden. The joy of growing a plant that has fully adapted to your specific region is a delight! Another reason is to preserve a unique variety of plant that can be found nowhere else. As an organic farmer, I find myself growing my seeds for food and n...

02/18/2020

Brenda's Scotch Eggs

1 pound finely ground breakfast sausage
1 raw egg
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/4 cup flour (approximate)
1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (approximate) (may use Panko crumbs to be more authentic)

Mix raw egg and sausage together.
Form sausage into 4 equal patties.
Coat hard-boiled egg in flour.
Wrap egg in sausage so it's completely covered.
Roll in breadcrumbs until completely covered.
Place on baking sheet so they are not touching.
Bake at 400 F degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until sausage is thoroughly cooked.
Remove from oven and enjoy!