Healthy Recipes to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Last year was the first year we actually did something Irish (think corned beef hash, Guinness, and soda bread), at the invitation of friends, for St. Patrick's Day.  And it was surprisingly fun!  This year, I've been searching out healthier recipes for alternative St. Patty's Day recipes - some of the classics, and some a little different.  Since I'm not a hard-core St. Patrick's Day observer, I figure it's okay to switch it up a little!  I think these would be fun to have for a green St. Patty's Day get-together with friends.  You could even split up each part of the meal potluck-style for less work.  Enjoy!

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip - 2 WW Points!

Savory Spinach Bites

Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad

Spinach Mac and Cheese "Muffins"

Beef and Guinness Stew - Cooking Light

      Green Beer

     

Hearty Stout Wheat Bread - Cooking Light

Irish Coffee - Cooking Light    

Kiwi Lime Pie - Kid Friendly!

 

Irish Cream Pie

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day!

Breakfast Sundaes

In honor of Valentine's Day, these banana breakfast sundaes are perfect for a romantic breakfast in bed.  If your weekday mornings are as busy as ours, wait for the weekend to serve these tasty treats.  With only 15 minutes of prep time, they pack a punch with little work!

Banana Breakfast Sundaes

2 oz. chocolate, chopped

2 ripe bananas, peeled and halved, then split lengthwise

2 6-oz. cartons of vanilla yogurt (or about a cup fill of vanilla Greek yogurt)

1/4 cup low fat granola

Garnish with blueberries or fruit of your choice

1.  Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on 70% power for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or heat in a small saucepan.

2.  In bowls or mugs, place two banana quarters and top with yogurt.  Drizzle with chocolate and sprinkle with granola.  Garnish with fruit if desired.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Treats (that you can make yourself!)

For Valentine's Day, it is the thought that counts.  Don't be tricked into thinking it's about chocolates, flowers, or big trips... Valentine's Day is just an excuse to show those that you love that you value them.  You can show your spouse that you love them by doing things that they love most: baking them a special treat, giving them a foot massage, or watching their favorite show while eating their favorite ice cream.  Even a card or acronym with the qualities that you like best about them written out can be meaningful and special.  Be creative!

 

In our house, we love food for special occasions (not that I'm recommending that - it's just how we are!), so when I saw these fun treats that are special, relatively easy, and inexpensive to make - I knew they would be perfect for a special Valentine's Day treat.

Red Velvet Cupcakes in a Jar 

 (Adapted from My Cakies Blog)

mycakies.blogspot.com

Cheap Date Friday (Don't BE one, PLAN one!)

Maybe the biggest challenge of all when having to live frugally on a tight budget rolls around each weekend - date nights.  It's not always easy to plan out a budget-friendly date or give up eating out.  We've been there.  Actually, we still are there.

Which is why every Friday we'll be posting a Cheap Date idea for your weekend ahead.  Hopefully this will help you (and us!) to approach dates in a budget-friendly, adventurous way! 

{February 3 Edition}

5 Easy Steps.... to Chocolate-Covered Strawberries (Perfect for Valentine's Day!)

1 :    Chop 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate into coarse chunks.

2 :    Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl for 30-second intervals in the microwave. Stir in between each time until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. (Don't overheat!)
3 :    Dip washed strawberries into the melted chocolate.  Hold the strawberry by the stem end, and let excess chocolate drop off before getting to step 4.  Repeat with remaining strawberries.

4 :    Place the dipped strawberries on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.  As you place each strawberry on the sheet, slide it 1/2 inch to the side to prevent a"chocolate foot" at the bottom.

5 :    Refrigerate the strawberries until the chocolate is firm - this will take at least 30 minutes.  They will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container or tray. 


Voila!  Enjoy the delicious treat you have made (and think of all the money you have saved!).  These make great Valentine's Day gifts for your special someone, family members, or friends.   Who doesn't love chocolate-covered strawberries?

{recipe adapted from Real Simple}

{picture source}

Simple Giving Gift Ideas

This year for Christmas, I decided to give only handmade (or thrifted) items.  I did this mostly out of panic, at first, thinking I would be embarrassed with how modest our gifts would be because of our budget.  So I figured I could give more, and more meaningful, gifts if I could be creative.  Once I discovered how many fun and easy ideas there were out there for DIY gifts, I realized I could have fun along the way and personalize my gifts in a way I hadn't been able to in years past.

I wish that I would've taken more pictures of the gifts I made this year!  Somehow in the Christmas rush, I forgot all about pictures for later... I did find a few, which I'll share with you, and try my best to describe and link to any other sources that I used.

 

From Left:

• Vanilla Coffee Syrup: A big hit this year! (and unbelievably easy!)  Check out the original recipe at A Beautiful Mess.  I used a combination of my own, reused bottles and cute oil and vinegar bottles from Dollar Tree that I covered with my own labels and brown paper.

• Vanilla Almond Sugar Skin Scrub: A great scrub for winter skin after washing dishes, being outside, and for really any other reason!  I found the original recipe at RadMegan, and adapted it a little by adding both almond and vanilla extracts.  I also made a Pumpkin Pie version (with canola oil and pumpkin pie spice) for my sister.  It smelled so good that I had to gift a little to myself too!

• My friend Kensey's homemade Peppermint Vanilla Skin Scrub: I'm guessing this could easily be made by adapting the above recipe with peppermint extract instead.

• Apple Butter: This was the easiest apple butter recipe I have ever come across!  It is from Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook, a resource for tons of crockpot recipes in one book. The recipe calls for 7 cups applesauce (unsweetened) + 2-3 cups sugar (and then I just added as I tasted it, since I like it sweet!) + 2 tsp. cinnamon + 1 tsp. nutmeg + 1/4 tsp. allspice (or ginger if you don't have allspice).  Again, you can add the spices to taste.  Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker on high for 8-10 hours.  For the last hour, take the lid off and stir occasionally.  It will smell so good, so start in the morning and you'll have the whole day to let it cook and have your home smell amazing!  Ladle into jars and refrigerate. (Makes 2+ pints)

Peppermint Sugar Skin Scrub - Made by my friend Kensey

My own vanilla almond sugar skin scrub

Homemade Granola

•   Homemade Granola: This is my favorite thing to gift!  We had brown bags of granola that I baked for favors at our wedding, so it always has a spot close to my heart.  There are so many good recipes out there, but here are a few of my favorites: 
• From Cooking Light: Classic, Easy Granola
• From Joy of Baking: Granola with Dried Fruit and Maple Syrup
• From the "Recipe Doctor" (my favorite recipe!!): Coffee Granola (also called Cinnamon Dolce Granola)
• Other Things that I wish I had time to make but didn't this year: 
• Flavored Hot Chocolate Mix
• Ornament for Newlyweds
• Burnt Sugar Toffee

Christmas may be past, but it's never too early to start planning for next year! Most of these would be great birthday, housewarming, and just because gifts.  Not only will they not break your budget, but your friends and family will feel the love each time they use/enjoy your handmade gifts!