Spaghetti White Clam Sauce $3.83

I love this dish because it is fast, tasty, nutritious and super affordable. Canned clams have lots nutrients including protein, iron, and potassium. Pottasium is


1/2 lb pasta .99
reserve 1/4 cup pasta water
1 can 6 oz clams 1.99
1 tablespoon olive oil .40
1 tablespoon garlic powder .20
1 tablespoon dried parsley.20
red pepper optional.05

boil noodles according to instruction
heat oil on low and add garlc powder and parsley
rinse clams and add to oil in pan
drain noodles and pour remaining 1/4 cup water into sauce
add noodles in skillet and toss for a minute
serve

Popcorn Trailmix

Popcorn is fun and convenient whole grain snack. it is an excellent source of fiber. It also helps steady one's blood sugar levels. Aside from this, it can be incorporated as a low fat snack, having a lot of nutritional benefits. I like to create afterschool snacks the kids can enjoy, and yet get tons and tons of health benefits When they come home and smell the popcorn, they dive right in, and there is nutrients in every bite of this Popcorn "trailmix". This mixture contains cranberries, candied pecans and dark chocolate, and these are packed with nutrients. Vitamin C, E, B complex, riboflavin, fiber, and lots of antioxidents.
This serves 4

1 bag microwave popcorn
1/2 cup cranberries
1/4 cup pecans
1 oz dark chocolate bar(cut into small pieces)

microwave popcorn and pour into bowl(make sure popcorn completely cooled before adding other ingredients)
add 3 other ingredients and mix well

Walnut Pecan Granola $5.40

Great antioxident, snack, breakfast and sweet enough to be a dessert!! Although Oats have made my top 10 convenience store super foods, they are also on tons and tons of others super 10 list. With fiber, protein, vitamin A, B6, zinc and did I mention FIBER. Oats are so great because just 1/2 cup a day will help to lower cholesterol and aid in cardio health, not to mention control blood sugar, which can keep diabetes at bay. Try to eat Oats everyday, and if oatmeal gets boring, find different ways to prepare the little beige gems.
6 cups oats 2.10
1/3 cup canola oil .50
3/4 cup honey 1.20
1/4 cup apple juice .20
1/4 cup pecans .60
1/4 cup walnuts .60
1/4 cup raisins .20

mix oil, honey, and apple juice in bowl
add oats to the liquid mixture
mix evenly, so the oats are completely covered in oil
pour into a large cake pan, and pat down so the oat mixture evenly lays in the pan
bake at 350 for 40 minutes
remove from oven and toss the oats and repat them down in the pan
bake another 20 minutes on 250
remove and pour into another pan
add raisins, walnuts and pecans

Oatmeal Banana Muffins $4.27

preheat oven at 350
1 cup flour .36
1 cup oats .35
1/2 cup sugar .40
1 tbsp honey .40
1/2 cup butter .64
1 cup banana baby food .80
2 egg.30
1 cup milk .20
1 tsp vanilla .15
1 tsp baking powder.05
1/2 tsp baking soda.02
1/4 cup walnuts .60

beat butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, banana baby food, and honey with a hand mixer or by hand
in seperate bowl combine flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder
combine liquid ingredients with dry
add milk and mix all together
when it mixed well together add walnuts

in muffin pan place muffin cups
pour batter in muffin tin, filling each about 2/3
bake for 25-30 minutes

Mexican Mini Quiche $3.29

These little egg muffins make a great breakfast or appetizer, I have served them for both. Also, I was making them for an adult crowd, so I used Rotel because I wanted a little kick in them, but they could be made with so many different ingredients. My son is happiest when they are made wth bacon, but then again he is happy when anythng is made with bacon. Next time Michael. Prep time for these quiches was approx 10 minutes and bake time 15-20, so very easy for an elegant meal or appetizer.

makes 12 minis
6 slices of bread(cut two rounds out of each slice of bread for bottom of muffin tin) .60
4 eggs .60
1 cup milk .20
1 cup shredded cheddar 1.00
1 cup Rotel .89

place rounds in bottom of greased muffin tin
evenly sprinkle cheese on top of all 12 muffin rounds
in bowl combine egg and rote
mix well
pour evenly over bread and cheese combo
bake in preheated oven 15-20

Remove let stand for a minute
place toothpick in center, if toothpick comes out clean, quiche should slide right out of pan by lifting a side with a fork or knife

Coffee Smoothie .80

1 cup cold fresh brewed coffee .20
1 tsp sugar .20
2 ounces dark chocolate .30
1/2 cup cold milk .10
4 ice cubes

melt dark chocolate in microwave. make sure to only give it 30 seconds, if the chocolate isnt completely melted give it another 10 seconds
when melted pour chcolate in milk and stir until completely blended

pour chocolate milk, coffee, sugar and ice cubes in blender and mix until smooth

Cold Shrimp and Crab Pasta Salad $7.18

This dish made great use out of my left over shrimp and crabmeat from yesterdays soup. I must say, on top of being constntly surprised by myself and the ease of the contstant flow of cooking ideas from living in my own made up food dessert, I love that I never have any waste. I used to be one that would buy and use part of something to cook with, and refrigerate or store the remaining food ingredient and then many times forget about it. It would go bad, or get rancid, and eventually get tossed. Now, however, Im always looking ahead for other recipe ideas, and incorporating them into other meals. Its chanllenging, fun and frugal, and at times convenient. Instead of searching for something I dont have in the kitchen, I find what I have, and work with that.

4 ounces elbow pasta .49
2 ounces canned shrimp (rinsed)$3.50
3 ounces canned crabmeat(rinsed)$1.99
1/4 cup drained diced tomato .50
1/4 cup green or black olives .40
1/4 cup mayonaise .20
1 tablespoon white vinegar .10

boil noodles according to instruction, since and let cool
in bowl combine all ingredients including pasta, mix thoroughly
serve immediately at room temp, or refrigerate for an hour or longer and serve
either way, delicious