Easy wins again! I’m on day 6 of an 8 day work week, so that means two things: I’m tired and I’m hungry. Quick skillet pasta dishes like this Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta are perfect...
Under $1 per serving
My love for pizza runs deep. I like pizza in any form. From gourmet to frozen and deep dish to thin & crispy, I love it ALL. I really enjoy making my own pizza...
Happy Fourth of July! I know most of you are out having burgers and beer (and I’m about to myself), but I had this Ham & Potato Frittata recipe waiting in the queue, so...
Okay… some of you are going to think this is the grossest thing you’ve ever seen, while others will think it’s the best idea ever. I’m in the second camp. This quick microwave hummus breakfast...
It’s been a while since I’ve made bread for the blog because I pretty much have all of the basics covered (Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread, Focaccia Rolls, Oatmeal Molasses Bread, No Knead Ciabatta, Naan,...
THIS is the salad of the summer. This Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is so fast, so easy, and SO refreshing! I just love it. Bring it to a potluck, eat it as a cold refreshing...
You know how I love kale. You know how I love lentils. You know how I love sweet potatoes. This salad has them all together in one bowl! Yes! It has everything you need...
I have a little confession to make… last week I impulse bought a tub of hummus at the grocery store. I almost never buy hummus pre-made because it’s so cheap and so easy to make...
I love single serving desserts. They keep you from over indulging because there are no leftovers and they can be whipped up on the fly. I also love quesadillas, with their crispy outside and...
As soon as the weather warms up, I get really into salads. I like the fact that they’re cold (or at least warm or room temp) and they provide a lot of texture and...
Oh, this one is so much fun! (and delicious!) I really wanted to do some sort of peanut butter baked oatmeal, but I couldn’t figure out what to put with it… until I thought...
I think we’re experiencing one of the last cold spells of the year here in Louisiana, so I wanted to make one last hearty, soul-warming soup. This Navy Bean Soup was incredibly easy, but...
Okay, this one was kind of a candy making FAIL, but I’m still posting it because even in its failed state it was so good that I couldn’t stop munching on it. Why was...
The idea for this awesome little recipe came courtesy of Annie, who wrote to tell me that every since she tried The “One” Chocolate Mug Cake, she’s been trying all sorts of mug cakes!...
I’m calling this one “Nature’s Candy” because my first thought upon tasting it was, “OMG, WHO NEEDS CANDY WHEN THIS EXISTS?!” … Yep, I thought it in all caps and everything. This recipe comes...
Last night I was hit with a sweet tooth. It doesn’t happen often, so I was completely unprepared. This morning I took action. I like to make things like scones to keep in the...
Shhhhhh…. They’re VEGAN! I decided to experiment a little more with vegan food in 2013. Now, before you get your panties all in a bundle, hear me out. I’m an omnivore and probably always...
I couldn’t let the season go by without making at least one Christmas cookie. But what kind? There are bazillions of delicious Christmas cookies out there! I decided to get all nostalgic and make...
I’ve been loving “quick fixes” lately because I’m cooking triple time in preparation for the cookbook. So, at the end of the day the last thing I want is something elaborate, time consuming, and...
Hmm… I’m not doing a very good job convincing you that I’m not a chocolate person, am I. Well, this granola is the shiznit, even for a non-chocolate person like myself. Granola uses sugar...
You need to make this for dessert on Thanksgiving this year. Trust me. This bread is really easy to whip up (who needs something complicated on Thanksgiving? NO ONE), is super delicious, and totally...
This is a super easy, quick fix for dinner. I made the basic version with just chicken, pasta, sauce, and cheese, but you could get really creative with the add-ins. Try black beans, corn,...
It’s soooo cold here! (read: below 75 degrees) So, I’ve been really into soups lately, if you can’t tell. Earlier this week I got an email from Lindsay with a red lentil soup recipe...
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite ingredients. They’re inexpensive, packed full of nutrients, and, most importantly, DELICIOUS. So, when my coworker told me about seeing someone make sweet potato grits on a chef...
I made an impulse buy the other day… one of those little packets of Mexican hot cocoa mix. I constantly crave hot cocoa this time of year so I thought I’d give this Mexican...
Seriously, who needs those autumn themed Glade plug-ins when you’ve got apple pie oatmeal baking in the oven? NO ONE. So this, the latest installment in my baked oatmeal series, is an absolute winner....
I usually like to make my own version of recipes, but every now and then I come across a recipe that just looks too perfect to change. This recipe for Lemon Pudding Cakes that...
Every now and again I get a pretty strong craving for canned tuna, but there are two problems with that: 1) canned tuna has gotten quite expensive and 2) All that mayo can be...
If you’re in the need of a super quick and easy side dish, this might be the one for you. I wanted something really fast and easy tonight so I turned to my pantry....
Mmmmm… I LOVE spinach pie. Whenever I eat at Greek restaurants, I always make sure to order some spanikopita. I love the flakey crust and the rich, warm, spinach filled interior. Popeye totally knew...
Will I ever get tired of baked oatmeal? Probably not. It’s easy, cheap, deceptively filling, and I can cook it one day and then eat it throughout the rest of the week. I love...
You know those little jars of sun dried tomatoes packed in delicious herb infused olive oil that cost about $5 a pop? This (not) Sun Dried Tomato Sauce is just like those yummy tomatoes. …Except...
Enchilada sauce is one of my very favorite things, ever. I love when it soaks into tortillas while baking and makes everything all tangy, spicy, and good. Mmmmm. 🤤 But when the selection of...
Do you want evidence that this recipe is good? How about the fact that I’ve been eating it for lunch AND dinner for the past three days straight, and I still wanted a piece...
Okay, I know that practically every food blogger and their mother has posted a recipe Baked Zucchini Fries, but there’s a reason for that… THEY’RE REALLY GOOD. These baked zucchini fries have been on...
I’ve been dying to post this all week because these Sweet Potato Corn Cakes are SOOO good and I just know that you’ll love them as much as I do… and if you don’t,...
Meatloaf isn’t pretty. Let’s just get that out on the table. It’s so ugly, in fact, that I couldn’t stop giggling while taking these pictures. All I could think about were those silly post...
I had an email from a reader (sorry, can’t find the email to fetch your name!) a while back requesting that I try to make a raita similar to the one she had at...
There comes a time in every girl’s life when she needs a chocolate mug cake. Perhaps it’s one of those days where you just want to curl up on the couch all day and...
It’s a MIRACLE. Macaroni and cheese that is smooth, creamy, and gooey, is made in one pot, with only a few ingredients, and is every bit as easy as the blue box. I’m serious....
I love all things tropical. I love the weather, I love the music, I love the FOOD. I often day dream of a prince charming who owns a jet and insists on flying me...
During the hot summer months all I ever want to eat is lemon raspberry slushies. There’s something about that sweet tart flavor that I find ultra refreshing. Lemon raspberry muffins are also pretty tasty,...
I may have stumbled upon the most refreshing drink on the planet. …well, one of the most refreshing drinks, anyway. If you’ve never heard of a lassi, it’s a drink made with yogurt, spices,...
That’s “keen-wah tab-ooh-lay.” Don’t let the name scare you away from this incredibly simple and refreshing salad! I’ve been obsessed with tabbouleh since I first tried it as a child. It’s full of texture...
Pink slime got you down? Maybe you’re already a vegetarian? Or maybe you just don’t like paying $4/lb. for ground beef? Well, if you don’t already know, lentils make a fantastic substitute (or extender)...
As much as I love eggs, I never make egg salad. I guess it just always seemed a little too heavy, ooey, and gooey. This egg salad, on the other hand, is light, fresh,...
If I haven’t convinced you yet to try no-knead bread, perhaps this post will. These easy little Focaccia Rolls are so good that I’ve had to stash them in my freezer just so that...
So, I got a really excellent deal on chicken thighs this week – $0.99 / lb. Ironically, the regular 2 lb. package was the same price as the large, 5 lb. “value pack.” No...
Let me first say that I’m sure this is probably not authentic Chicken Yakisoba. I’ve never actually eaten this classic Japanese street food on the streets of Japan, but I have seen Mark Bittman...
One of my all-time favorite, easy side dishes is coconut jasmine rice. So, I started thinking that if cooking rice in coconut milk was so good, maybe cooking lentils in coconut milk would be...
When someone suggested that I make soda bread for St. Paddy’s day, I have to admit, I cringed a little. I tried making soda bread once, maybe twice, about ten years ago and it...
I never really understood why people say that chocolate is better than sex. Chocolate? Chocolate?! No ma’am. If any food is even going to come close, it’s gonna be this sriracha hummus. Okay, so...
Okay, so this little gem really deserves a post of its own, rather than being hidden in the Chili Lime Shrimp Bowls recipe post. This easy pineapple salsa is SO good that I could...
Words. Cannot. Describe. …how insanely good these Black Bean Quesadillas are!! This is my new favorite recipe, hands down. Hands down. Last week I stopped by Whole Foods to stock up on grains and...
Here’s a quickie for ya before I get started in the kitchen today… This was really just an experiment for myself, but it turned out quite tasty so I thought I’d post it! One...
So, this isn’t really alfredo, it’s more of a (not) alfredo recipe… I’ve made too many alterations for it to truly be alfredo, but it’s still creamy and delicious! I mean, I love alfredo...
Ahhhh… vacation was GOOD! But I couldn’t wait to get back into the kitchen ;D I’ve been craving granola for weeks, so I decided to whip up a batch as soon as a I...
I’ve got another quickie for you tonight. It’s more of an idea than a recipe. I’m sure a lot of you Budget Byters already stock your freezers with these handy smoothie packs, but I...
Okay, I’ll admit, this recipe is a re-post. Savory coconut rice is one of the first recipes I made for the blog and it has been a staple in my house ever since. I...
During the four weeks of giveaways, I posed the question, “What is your favorite Christmas cookie?” Classic sugar cookies were definitely the number one answer, but coming right behind behind were gingersnaps and snickerdoodles…...
Every winter, after weeks of eating hearty soups and stews, I start craving something really light and fresh. I just get sick of all of the super cooked down hot food. I want bright,...
Ever since the magical experience of the pumpkin pie baked oatmeal, I’ve been experimenting with other flavors and varieties of baked oatmeal. I made this one last week and while it wasn’t quite as...
I’ve hesitated to make potato soup for quite some time because all I could think about is how creamy and carby it must be. Surely it’s not good for me to eat that every...
Okay, I might just have to make egg rolls all the time. They were so much easier than expected! And, because I decided to bake mine, they’re pretty freakin’ healthy. And, wow, super inexepensive!...
Fresh cranberry sauce is one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving foods. I love the tangy-sweetness and how it juxtaposes all of the other savory Thanksgiving dishes! I eat it on my turkey and on...
I’ve made a few variations of red sauce for Budget Bytes, but this Slow Cooker Marinara is definitely the best of the best. I don’t like using my slow cooker for everything, but for...
Cauliflower was on sale! YAY! It’s a rare occasion when the price of cauliflower is what I consider to be reasonable, so when it happens, I take advantage. Roasting cauliflower is, IMHO, one of...
Believe it or not, in the 2.5 year history of this blog, I have never made a basic chicken noodle soup. Well, I almost made it this weekend until I went perusing through my...
“Oh no she didn’t…” Oh yes, yes I did. I’ve had so much fun over the past year playing with different variations of the no-knead bread that when I discovered a few left over...
I made this Chicken and Apple Salad on a total whim today and I’m SO glad I did. It is so delicious that I want to eat it every day for the rest of...
This Corn and Cheddar Pudding is a little indulgent with the cream, cheese, and eggs… but every now and then I think you’re allowed. It’s all about moderation, right? Right. Corn pudding is another one...
If you’re the type to love anything and everything pumpkin pie flavored, you’re going to LOVE this Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal. It’s got all the goodies of pumpkin pie baked right into your breakfast...
So, a couple of weeks ago my friend Jenni (of the vinaigrette slaw fame) sent me a message saying that the Creole Creamery had sriracha peach ice cream. I was all like, “What the...
There is a constant war going on between my brain and my stomach. My brain likes things that my stomach doesn’t, and when I eat it anyway, my stomach throws a fit. Raw cabbage...
I’m really not one to use all sorts of fancy “health food” ingredients but strangely enough, I enjoy the flavor and texture of things like bran and flax meal. So, when I spotted a...
I’ve had a few people ask for an oatmeal molasses bread recipe so I thought I’d break this good ‘ol recipe out of my vault of .txt files from about ten years ago. This...
So, back when I lived in Baton Rouge, there was a Mexican restaurant (Ninfa’s) that kept jars of pickled carrots and other vegetables on the tables as an appetizer. Practically every time I went...
Why can’t vegetables be plentiful and yummy all year long? I don’t know, but I intend to enjoy them while they’re around. This Summer Vegetable Tian is the perfect easy side to showcase the medley...
So, have you had gnocchi yet? No? Well, you better get on that. Gnocchi are wonderful little chewy pasta pillows. They’re light, fluffy, slightly chewy, and completely satisfying. Totally nosh-tastic. And they go with...
I’ve made pizza sauce before but I wanted one that was even thicker and richer because I had some big plans to dip things in it (and by “things” I mean pizzadillas). Dipping sauces...
What is baked oatmeal and why is it different than regular old boiled oats? I had the exact same questions, my friends. Baked oatmeal is the thicker, almost custard-like cousin, to oatmeal. How can...
Okay, this is a pretty big statement to make, but… This Yellow Jasmine Rice is the best rice I’ve ever had. Yep. The flavor is simply out of this world. The aroma as it...
Sambal might be my new favorite sauce. There are a million different kinds, some sweet, some salty, some vinegary, but almost all are spicy. I recently bought a small jar of sambal oelek made...
I’m always trying to work beans into my diet because they’re just so good for you, and I happen to think they’re delicious. These quick marinated white beans are one of my favorite side dishes because they’re so...
I’ve been craving pasta salad lately so onto the menu it went. In effort to up my vegetable intake, I packed this Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad as full of as many veggies that I possibly...
I wanted to make some green goddess dressing but couldn’t find the herbs that I needed… so I ended up with this instead. I couldn’t be more happy with the result. This delightfully creamy...
I love Italian cooking because the pasta recipes are just so simple. Throw together some cooked pasta, olive oil, garlic, and maybe one or two other tasty ingredients and you’ve got yourself a meal....
Roasting vegetables in the oven is one of my all-time favorite ways to prepare them. The roasting process seems to concentrate the flavors and makes everything just a tad sweeter. Corn is no exception...
Have you ever seen those bags of 16 bean soup mix in the dry bean aisle at the grocery store? Well, they’re kinda like the ramen of the bean world. They come with their...
Wow, I’ve had so many good recipe suggestions from readers lately! And I guess that’s a good thing because I’ve been so busy with school and other projects that I don’t even have time...
This recipe comes courtesy of one of my wonderful readers, Diana. I was intrigued by this recipe for multiple reasons. I remember when I was a teenager I had found a recipe similar to...
It’s time for another installment of delicious no-knead bread! One of my favorite breads to buy fresh from the bakery is olive bread. I’m crazy about olives to begin with so when they’re baked...
I was SO HAPPY to see asparagus selling for $2.49 per bunch at the store last weekend. Yeah, that’s still pretty expensive but as far as asparagus go, that’s about as low as they...
Nom nom nom… (I’m eating one of these as I type this blog post) So, I’m usually not that into muffins because they really just seem like cupcakes in disguise. Morning glory muffins, on...
Alright, here is a recipe for those nights when you just need something quick, easy and light. With just a few ingredients, no chopping and barely any cooking, this is a no brainer. The...
Oh, the controversy! The recent roll out of McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has sparked quite a debate all over the internet. Is it healthy? Is it the devil? Does it really have as...
I got a request from Nelson (a BB reader) last week to make some homemade mac n’ cheese and what a fantastic idea it was. I really need some mac n’ cheese in my...
I’ll admit, for a long time I didn’t know exactly what chutney was. All I knew is that it looked like little jars of jam when I saw it at the store… but why...
I used to be really intimidated by Indian food. The flavors are deep and complex and the recipes often call for ingredients that are foreign to even a foodie like me. Despite this, I’m...
I’m all about making a special meal at home for Valentines Day rather than fighting the crowds at the restaurants. Cooking together is more intimate, special and is some of the best “quality time”...
