Mexican Rice Veggie & Cheese Burritos

Free tortilla from my mom worked perfect for this recipe...

I used waxed paper as it's my preference for burritos wrapping/making..

I love to make up Mexican Rice Recipe or white rice ahead of time to use in recipes. This allows for them to come together quicker. I used in this recipe.

I had these in the freezer I was going to just nuke to heat but then decided sauteed would be better nice and caramelized.

I picked these red onions already pre-diced this morning for $2.00 for 2 containers and that was perfect for this recipe and all I had to do was cooking them until nice and caramelized...

Any kind of cheese is good in these I had some hot pepper cheese but sometime my mom stops over and grabs thing for her and my dad that I keep in the freeze and would hate for my dad to get a hot pepper cheese..(sensitive tummy)

I love beans however I prefer lentils but I had these to use up and that is what I did I mashed them up with some salsa

As stated in the picture ingredients in the center then roll up & wrap in wax paper this allow 4 you to write easily on the wax paper in-case your burritos have different ingredients... it is easy to see in those Freezer Ziploc bags.

Spinach Black Bean Quesadilla

It started off with a basic recipe here on Thursday morning before work....however I played just grab the leftover ingredients from the refrigerator (as not to waste thing and went with that) as most of you know I am just that way........

I used what type I had on hand from my mom giving me 2 packages of this brand...:O) FREE!!!


The answer is not every picture is perfect as is life and cooking so I like to add a little character to my blogging...I mashed up the leftover chili beans from the lasagna meal the other night..

I yet again a sauteed up some more spinach had I thought this through lol it would already have been done in the frig for this recipe way do 2 batches when you can do it all at once and keep it in the frig until ready to use.

I love my electric skillet for making quesadillas it is quick and easy...I do one with Beans/Spinach/Mushrooms/Green onions and one with cheese..Then I put together and squish with a plate on top :O)
Beans/Spinach/Mushrooms/Green onions

Verdict: I couldn't get enough of this I made 2 and cut into wedges that I took to work to eat later in the afternoon it was perfect can't want to make them again....

Spinach Black Bean Lasagna

Canned Chili Beans
Leftover Lasagna Noodles
Cream Cheese



Fresh Baby Spinach perfect for this Recipe



I filled the pan and see how much it shrinks down when steams/cooks in a little butter..



I just grabbed a bread pan to layer since it was just for me I would be able to get 2 pieces to eat and 2 to freeze.



Quick Ready the Beans


Do the Layer thing many times



Used the Homemade Veggie Sauce I made earlier that day

Verdict: needed to add more sauce the beans and noodle sucked up the extra broth from the sauce.

Venison Wonton Wraps

Leftover Venison Roast From My Mom's House
Wonton Wraps
My Mystery Pantry Items Cocktail Onions


Mozzarella Cheese and Box of Mushrooms


Bag of Diced Pepper since right now 1 pepper is colored pepper is $.79 to over a $1.30 each so this was better for me in the long term

Those Cocktail onions were soaked in a vinegar so I want to try to rinse/soak it off to reduce the strong taste..


Butter and some olive oil I sauteed these nice onions :O) YUMMY & squished them up some as well.


Easiest way to do this is get all the ingredients in an assembly line and just roll roll roll


REMEMBER THESE WRAPS IS SMALL NOT LIKE A TORTILLA SO LESS IS BETTER OR IT WILL BREAK..

Damp towel over the wraps so they don't dry out.


This batch I didn't spray with butter and you can see the tops dried some but still very tasty I had to try one...I froze them and gave mom 4 to try...

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

Recipe Here I decided to make a double batch of this new recipe to use and freeze for several different recipes...yes I am sure I added extra this or that of certain things but that is just perfect...

1 box mushrooms
1/2 bag of shredded carrots
2 cups of mixed peppers
2 cans of Diced tomatoes w/ garlic
1 can of tomato paste
2 tbsp of garlic



Brown sugar/Italian Spices/ Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper



The mushrooms needed to be nicely diced for this recipe




Layering the ingredients (Tossing them in I don't layer anything)



Mixed up the ingredients and added the spices next and stirred them up



And I forgot the minced onions from the cabinet :O) better late then none at all

Verdict: YUMMY KEEPER only change will be to add 2 more huge tbsp of garlic

Broccoli Hot Dish

Homemade broth I made last week I decided to use in place of the chicken broth due to I didn't want to open a container of chicken broth when I had 4 containers of vegetable broth


Except it was frozen so I quickly ran it under cold water then was able to pop it out of the plastic container & into a large measure cup




The broccoli I had needed to be diced up in to better eatable pieces as well and prepping the leftover broccoli for another meal later in the week saves time.



I have never used crimini mushrooms but I thought I would give them a try in the recipe..and a little butter...




Mystery ingredient I decided to add extra to the recipe since I love onions and well the jar needs to be used up..Cleaning the Pantry



Months ago I got this chicken on clearance and I froze it for quick use later just perfect for this recipe I didn't use 1/2 but I diced it up well.



3 tbsp of flour and some panko bread crumbs



Sauteed the Mushrooms and onions in butter



Added the flour to the butter mixture to make a Roux



A few nights ago I had made Mac & Cheese using a jar of Ragu Cheese Sauce well I have over half of a jar of sauce left so I add 3 big huge spoonfuls of cheese.



Layer the casserole (I just wing it by mixing it all together ) and topped it with panko and some spices :O)



Verdict: Don't it look pretty and yummy?? Well it was very yummy....Keeper for me..The cocktail onions would have been better sauteed in butter and fried nice...

Menu Feb 7-19

I sat down and created a menu for about 2 + weeks I have been SLACKING in doing and following this to save $$ as well as having meals and not playing the guessing what I am going to take to work or eat for dinner. I have been slacking for months and I have been paying dearly by not eating &/or grabbing stuff out of the house to eat which cost me more then making it myself from home...HELLO Stupid...I can make burritos with Mexican Rice (free have all ingredients) plus shredded cheese (have this as well) and tortillas (this would cost me under $2.00) & I would get this 10 nice homemade burritos with sour cream and salsa (ALSO FREE have in the house) for under $2.00 yet the other day I bought a Rice and Cheese burritos for I am ashamed $3.50 what the hell was I thinking?? I wasn't... So this week I will be making and freezing different types of burritos....guess what my mom bought me tortilla yesterday I just heard about it from her so for FREE!!! I can make 10 burritos can't beat that....

So last night while I was at work I found recipes I wanted to try plus paired that with items I had on hand and created a shopping list of things I need to get like fresh veggies and Dairy products. The following it the recipes and Menu plan....

Right now these are not in order or correctly posted will update later today...

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce- (New Recipe)

No Meat Added--keep on hand in the freezer portion controlled for single servings (cleaning pantry using up stuff in this will added extra veggie etc)
Using for pizza sauce as well

No Knead Focaccia Bread- (New Recipe)

I will be using this for 2 meals Pizza & Bread

Broccoli Hot Dish

Adding extra things to this recipe to basically clean out things...Dinner & Freezing for lunches


Zucchini, Carrot and Black Bean Quesadillas- (New Recipe)

I have 2 zucchini in the frig that I wanted to find a new recipe to use them in...as well as as leftover carrots/black beans in the freezer and leftover tortillas as well.
1 box of cream cheese to use up

Spinach Black Bean Lasagna- (New Recipe)

Leftover spinach/Leftover Black Beans/ Spaghetti Sauce From above/ anything else I can add :O) oh cream cheese since I have 4 boxes that need a new home in a recipe

All About Wonton Wraps


Venison Wonton Wraps- (Making it up)
Leftover venison roast that my mom made paired with pantry/frig items

No Fry Crab Rangoo (New Recipe)
1 box cream cheese/green onions/ a can of crab meat

Trader Joe Shopping

A few items I purchased last week and added to this weeks picture due to they will be used in recipes this week :O)

2 bags of ORZO pasta .99 cents each love this pasta from Trader Joe's
1 bag of Rice Blend it was under $2.00
1 spicy mustard LOVE THIS item from here..$1.50 or less
1 package of turkey burgers-4 meals for $3.30 great deal..




3 bags of frozen diced multicolored bell peppers $1. 69 ** I went to 3 different places checking on pepper prices as most of my recipes this 2 weeks called for diced peppers I have know that green peppers are cheapest usually around 50 cent each & red and yellow usually being around 79 cents to over $1.25 each I decided $1.69 and in the freezer (ready to use as much or as little as needed..(Note to self this summer when prices are low freeze some for recipes later in the year)

1 bag of butter lettuce love this stuff $1.99 but I have found that this brand stays fresh for a week where other types/brand this winter have been yucky the next day :O)

1 head of broccoli - I can diced it up myself (I know how) for $1.69 very nice looking

1 bag of molasses cookies very pricey but I budgeted a special treat $3.99

2 cans of Whipped Cream in a can -Love Trader Joe's brand and $2.69 but will last me all month so it was cheap...

Dollar Store Deals

I started off my day trying to figure out what place was the cheapest for the items I needed for my recipe/menu plan.
First Issue- I was not sure if the dollar store would have all the items I needed since I couldn't remember what day new produce & dairy arrives. Guess what it was today so that helped me with a few things I needed...



5 containers of crimini mushrooms for a $1.00 per container to use in various recipes that I have planned this week...

3 boxes of Land o Lake half and half $1.00 each ...:O) good until March I use 1 a week now in my steel cut oats I eat for breakfast...



1 bag of brown rice I wanted to try eating this (I don't like how dry it gets)

1 can of apple pie filling - Homemade Apple Pockets ( I have crusts in freezer)

2 different cans of olives- never tried either brand but I haven't had olives in awhile so

2 container of chicken broth for emergency use

Not in picture-forgot to place in the photo 2 huge bags of pre-shredded carrots :O)

Menu Feb 2011

Feb 1- Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes
Feb 2-Grandma's House Pizza and Wings
Feb 3-Lentil Chicken w/ White Rice
Feb 4-
Feb 5-
Feb 6-
Feb 7-

Homemade Vegetable Broth

I started off reading a lot of recipes about using scraps (leftover veggies for meals gone by ) by creating a Scrap Bag in the freezer and collecting enough to fill a gallon ziploc from every day leftovers a spoon or carrots or some leftover onions.
Well that would be great however I wanted broth now :O0 Yes instant gratification that is how most people are .So basically set out to figure what I had on hand water/herbs/veggies so I set out to give it a try with what I had on hand in the house.



Step 1 Located my large crockpot- A must for this so I don't have to baby sit it as this afternoon I have a few errands to run and boiling broth on the stove would be a pain. So I poured water into my crockpot I am not sure on the measurement I winged it.



Step 2 I love to have celery on hand when I need it I dice it up and freeze it but then I am left with all these great still use full tops and ends I have ran them before in the food processor to use in recipes that call for celery but this time I used them in this broth...and 2 bags (4 cups) of diced celery went into the freezer for use later :O)



Step 3 This time with the tops and end I gave them a rough chop and dropped them in the the crock-pot along with......



Step 4
I needed to dice up my green onions so I would have them ready to use over the weekend for meals I don't have the time to diced them daily when I wish to use them so I pre-diced and fill up a mason jar with them when needed...Major Time saver so I had leftover tops and bottoms of these as well pieces that were a little wilted so I trimmed the roots of and diced those up as well into the crock-pot they went.




Step 5
As I was raiding my re-frig I noticed this bag of carrots that need to be used up asap & so I rinsed and diced them as well into the broth water they went :O)

Step 6
Other ingredients I added

Minced garlic from a jar that need to be used and 3 tbsp. of parsley dried


Started this around 1 pm....and ending it at 7 pm...Note to self lol start earlier in the am so it can start cooling down around 6pm and be ready to freeze at 9 pm :O)

Verdict: Needed some salt but will add that when using as well as more onions next time but yielded me 8 cups of broth :O)