Cheap and Easy Holiday Side Dishes

Here are  2 of my favorite cheap and easy side dishes just in time for your Holiday Party. If your asked to bring a side dish or salad to your Holiday Party try one the recipes below, they are fool proof and a nice change from the boring green salad or cold vegetables.

Asian Mandarin Salad

Prep: 15 minutes
Meal Preparation Ingredients:
·    1 package Dole Tender Garden or 7 Lettuces Salad mix
·    1 Can (15 oz) Mandarin Oranges, drained
·    1/2 cup Litehouse Sesame Ginger Dressing
·    1/3 cup won-ton strips (any flavor, you choose)
Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    Combine salad and Mandarin oranges.
2.    Pour dressing over salad and toss.
3.    Sprinkle with won-ton strips.
Meal Assembly:
Makes – 6 servings. This is the perfect “bring a green salad” recipe for a nice change!

Vegetable Toss

Prep: 10 minutes
Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, quartered and sliced
  • 1 pkg (16 oz) frozen broccoli,cauliflower and carrots, cooked and drained
  • 1 can (7oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tbs. parsley
  • 2/3 cup whole pecans

Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    In a large frying pan, cook onions in oil over medium heat until tender.
2.    Add cooked vegetables and mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes.
3.    Season with salt, paprika, and parsley and stir well
4.    Sprinkle with pecans
Meal Assembly:
Makes – 6 servings. Forget the cold cut up veggies this year, bring some warm delicious cooked vegetables for the perfect side dish.

December 13th, 2008 | Tags: , , | Category: Dream Dinners Made Cheap | 3 comments

Holiday Dip Recipes That are Cheap and Easy To Prepare

Everyone is looking for Holiday Dip ideas that are cheap and easy to prepare so I dusted off some of my favorite Holiday Cookbooks and pulled out a few of the cheapest recipes that will be a hit for you Holiday Party but won’t put a dent in your wallet.

Chicken Dip Recipe

(also called Buffalo Chicken Dip)

Meal Preparation Ingredients:
·    2 cans (10oz.) chicken chunks
·    2 pkg. cream cheese
·    1 cup ranch dressing
·    1/4 pepper sauce ( I use Franks REDHOT)
·    1 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese
Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    Place cream cheese in shallow casserole dish and microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes.
2.    Stir in drained chicken, ranch dressing, pepper sauce and 1 cup of the cheese.
3.    Sprinkle top with remaining cheese.
4.    Microwave on high 2-4 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Meal Assembly:
Makes 6 cups – serves 20 to 24. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips or celery sticks.

7 Layer Mexican Dip Recipe

(also called bean dip, 7 layer dip)

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 can re-fried beans (16oz.)
  • 1 container sour cream (16oz.)
  • 1 pkg taco dry seasoning mix
  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup guacamole ( can use the dry guacamole seasoning mix)
  • 1 cup of chopped tomato
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives

Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    Spread re-fried beans in shallow serving dish.
2.    Mix sour cream and seasoning mix until well blended. Spread over re-fried beans.
3.    Top with cheese, dollops of guacamole, tomatoes, onions and olives.
Meal Assembly:
Makes 8 cups – serves 20 to 24. Serve tortilla chips.

Easy Sunset Dip

Meal Preparation Ingredients:
·    8 oz. softened cream cheese
·    1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
·    1 cup chunky salsa
Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    Spread cream cheese in 9″ microwave safe dish.
2.    Sprinkle cheese on top and microwave on high 2-3 minutes or until cheese melts.
3.    Top with chunky salsa.
Meal Assembly:
Makes 3 cups – serves 8 to 10. Serve with tortilla chips or Frito’s scoops.

Creamy Ranch Dip

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of sour cream
  • 1/2 cup of ranch dressing
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup grates Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup bacon bits
  • 2 Tbsp. sliced green onion

Meal Preparation Directions:
1.    Mix all ingredients and refrigerate.
Meal Assembly:
Makes 1 1/2 cups. Serve with crackers, or cut up fresh vegetables
TIP: Use leftover dip as a tasty sandwich spread or tortilla roll up spread.

I would love to hear about your family favorite dip recipes or Holiday Meal Ideas. Please leave a comment or sent me an email. Happy Holidays -Machelle

December 12th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: cheap snack ideas | 2 comments

Chunky Monkey Bites

I love to bake for my kids.

Cookie or cakes it doesn’t matter as long as its easy to prepare and the kids can help.

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe and my kids love helping make the monkey bites almost as much as eating them.

I know it seems strange including the baby food but I will tell you it gives it the best flavor!

These Chunky Monkey Bites are moist and just plain YUMMY!!

A perfect cheap snack idea the kids will love.

Chunky Monkey Bites

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 11-13 minutes
Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 pkg (14oz.) banana nut muffin mix
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup banana baby food
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
  • 2/3 cup walnut pieces

Meal Preparation Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Combine muffin mix, oil, sugar, eggs and baby food and stir until well mixed.
3. Stir in chocolate chunks and walnut pieces.
4. Drop heaping tablespoons of the dough on baking sheets, spacing 2″ apart.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown.
Meal Assembly:
Make – adds 24 bites. Serve with a tall glass of cold milk for the perfect after school snack.
TIP: Double or Triple the batch and freeze the dough in Ziploc bags for the perfect make ahead freezer snack idea.

December 12th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: cheap snack ideas, freezer meals recipes | One comment
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