I put together a list of inexpensive family meal ideas that are not only delicious but are dirt cheap! These meals work great for big or small families and can be adjusted easily to meet your needs.

Of course, if you can use garden fresh or home canned goods, then it’s even more affordable. Family meals on a budget don’t have to be boring or bland! Any of the recipes on this list of easy cheap meal ideas are sure to please the whole gang!

25 dirt cheap and delicious meal ideas

Grocery shopping can really kill your monthly budget, but we all have to eat. Learning how to feed your family on a budget is a skill that’s worth learning.

As you cruise through these recipes, I’ve also included some tips for making the most out of what you have. So be sure to check those out while you’re hunting for something to make for dinner.

Chicken recipes

Buying chicken in the store can get expensive, but you can save money by purchasing a whole chicken and breaking it up yourself. Watch this video to learn how to cut up a whole chicken to use in thse dirt cheap dinner ideas.

Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Mexican Chicken Spaghetti
Easy Sesame Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Oven Baked Drumsticks
Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies
Chicken Rice Casserole
Slow Cooker Chicken Soup with Butternut Squash

More frugal living resources:

Beef recipes

You can still feed your family delicious beef meals on a budget. Ground beef lends itself to lots of cheap quick meal ideas. You can make these cheap meal ideas go even further by learning how to get more meals out of 1lb of ground beef.

Poor Man’s Lasagna
Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Baked Spaghetti
Sloppy Joe Sliders
Cheap Beef Stroganoff
Cheesy Beef-a-roni

Sour Cream Rice Bake
Tomato and Macaroni Soup
Easy Meatloaf
Beef Enchiladas
Pizza Layer Casserole
Walking Tacos

Turkey Recipes

Healthy Stuffed Peppers With Ground Turkey

Pork Recipes

Egg Roll in a Bowl
Cheese Potato Stuffed Pork Chops
Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops

Vegetarian Recipes

Even if you’re a meat eater, it’s fun to add in some vegetarian meals on occasion. Why not have breakfast for dinner?! You can also sub in beans or mushrooms for meat in any recipe.

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

Here is a great resource for more delicious vegetarian meals on the cheap.

Make your life easier by prepping for these budget-friendly meals ahead of time.

Prepping your meals ahead of time can save you time and stress! Get a head start on these cheap and delicious meal ideas with my meal prepping tips.

*updated 2/16/22 to remove broken links

The post 25 Dirt Cheap and Delicious Meal Ideas appeared first on You Should Grow.

For many, monkey bread has become a Christmas morning tradition, but if you’re like me you’d love to see monkey bread served at every meal. So I’ve gathered some sweet and some savory monkey bread recipes that can be eaten any time of day.

Gooey monkey bread is an indulgence that’s always a hit at family dinners, potlucks, and even breakfast. So these delicious breads are perfect for holiday gatherings of all varieties.

Monkey Bread Recipes

Also known as pull-apart bread, monkey bread is a loaf or cake made with balls of dough and can be flavored with spices, sweeteners, and even cheese and herbs. Once baked, the balls of dough are soft and gooey and can be pulled off for bite sized bits of goodness.

Whether you prefer something hearty and savory or find yourself craving something sweet and fruity, you are sure to find a recipe here to tempt you.

Sweet Monkey Bread Recipes

Homemade Monkey Bread – Sally’s Baking Addiction

Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze – Lydi Out Loud

Strawberry Monkey Bread – Crazy for Crust

Tropical Hawaiian Monkey Bread – Yellow Bliss Road

Maple Pecan Monkey Bread – Julie’s Eats and Treats

Gingerbread Spice Monkey Bread – A Night Owl Blog

Caramel Pumpkin Monkey Bread – The Typical Mom

Easy Mixed Berry Monkey Bread Recipe – Lolly Jane

Cranberry Orange Pull Apart Monkey Bread – Dinner At the Zoo

Savory Monkey Bread Recipes

Savory Herb & Cheese Monkey Bread – Five Heart Home

Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread – Brown Eyed Baker

Mini Garlic Monkey Bread – The Girl Who Ate Everything

Jalapeno Cheddar Monkey Bread – La Terra Fina

Cornbread Pull Apart Bread – Always Order Dessert

Monkey Bread Made Healthy

The Ultimate Healthy Monkey Bread – Amy’s Healthy Baking

Vegan Gluten-Free Monkey Bread – Allergylicious

Keto Pumpkin Spice Monkey Bread Muffins – I Breathe, I’m Hungry

Sugar-Free Fruity Monkey Bread – My Kids Lick The Bowl

These sweet and savory monkey bread recipes offer something for every taste.

If you like these monkey bread recipes, you’ll love:

15 Tempting Holiday Cranberry Recipes

101 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

20 Fall-Inspired Meals in a Bowl

The post Sweet & Savory Monkey Bread Recipes appeared first on You Should Grow.

Sauce from fresh cranberries is a far cry from the canned stuff, but you can go beyond this traditional condiment and add cranberries into some other dishes on your holiday menu.

The lovely thing with cranberries is how flexible they are. Their sweet tartness allows them to work well in desserts, but they also work magic in appetizers, side dishes, and more.

Best Cranberry Recipes

Surprise your guests with a refreshing cranberry topped salad or warm their tummies with some serious comfort food like the cranberry meatballs.

Whatever you choose, the holiday season simply isn’t complete without some cranberry. And with these amazing recipes to choose from, you may find yourself enjoying cranberry all autumn and winter long!

Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without some cranberry sauce. Once you learn how to make a basic cranberry sauce you can jazz it up with cinnamon, orange juice, red wine, or another one of your favorite ingredients. Here are some recipes to get you started.

Basic Cranberry Sauce – Josef Plavjak

Cranberry Raspberry Sauce – Nums The Word

Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce – Celebrating Sweets

Cranberry Relish Recipes

Cranberry relish is made with raw chopped cranberries mixed with other ingredients. Cranberry sauce is made by cooking down the cranberries with sugar and water. If you’re used to the usual cranberry sauce, consider adding in one of these relish recipes for your holiday meals this year.

Classic Cranberry Relish – Dinner At The Zoo

Nutty Cranberry Relish – Food Network

Jalapeno Cranberry Relish – Stay At Home Chef

Cranberry Bread Recipes

Cranberry bread is like the banana bread of the holidays. Whether sweet or savory, cranberries cook into bread for some amazing results.

Artisan Cranberry Bread – The Busy Baker

Cranberry Bliss Bread – The Soccer Mom Blog

Cranberry Orange Pecan Loaf – Great Grub Delicious Treats

Cranberry Salad Recipes

Cranberries are a sweet and chewy topping for salads. Try them in these salad recipes for something new this year.

Cranberry Apple Pecan Salad – Wholefully

Cranberry Waldorf Salad – Spend With Pennies

Cranberry Quinoa Salad – Gimme Some Oven

Cranberry Appetizer Recipes

If you’re having guests over, pique their holiday palates with one of these tasty cranberry appetizers.

Cranberry Feta Pinwheels – Spend With Pennies

Cranberry Jalapeno Salsa Cream Cheese Dip – No Biggie

Cranberry Pinot Noir Meatballs – Julie’s Eats and Treats

Cranberry Side Dishes

Cranberry lovers will rejoice to see cranberries incorporated into these dinner side dishes.

Cranberry Pecan Roasted Vegetables – Yellow Bliss Road

Cranberry Zucchini Slaw – Inside Bru Crew Life

Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf – The Recipe Critic

More holiday recipes:

101 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes For Every Meal

Low Carb Thanksgiving Sides

Veggie Recipes Perfect For Holiday Meals

The post 18 Amazing Cranberry Recipes For Your Holiday Meals appeared first on You Should Grow.

We are blessed with lots of pecan trees here in the south. We often sit under their shade in the summer and many southerners will go foraging for pecans in the fall. The flavor of a fresh pecan is a little sweet, a little buttery, and it has a soft toothy feel.

Harvesting pecans for recipes

Because pecan trees are giant, most nuts are gathered after they fall from the tree using these wire nut picker upper thingies. Pecans should be harvested as soon as possible after they fall from the tree. Otherwise, they will get moldy or eaten by squirrels, birds, etc.

When they fall to the ground, they may still be in the green or brown outer husk. After the husk opens, it reveals the brown nutshell which must be cracked open to harvest the nut. Pecans are best when harvested from dried brown outer husks.

Use a nutcracker to open the shell and remove the nut. You may have to use a knife or pick to get them out. Dry the nuts in a single layer in a cool dark place for 2-10 days. They can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Check out this easy way to crack into some pecans even if you don’t have your official nutcracker!

Harvesting pecans is kind of a tedious job, and disease, weather, and the variety of tree will affect the flavor and quality of the pecans. If you have a pecan tree but no good nuts, check out this article on evaluating pecan tree disease issues.

Sweet and Savory Pecan Recipes

Whether you harvest your own or buy your pecans, you’ll find they are surprisingly flexible in recipes. I’ve gathered the best pecan recipes I could find to showcase the many ways you can enjoy this yummy nut!

1. Savory toasted pecans recipes

• Asian Spiced pecans at MyRecipes
• Savory spiced pecans at The Kitchn 
• Spicy toasted pecan recipe at Epicurious
• How to toast pecans at Savory Sweet Life

2. Sugary candied pecans recipes

• Candied pecans from Joybilee Farm 
• Spicy maple cinnamon pecans from This West Coast Mommy
• Muddy Buddy pecans from Crazy for Crust 
• Slow cooker candied nuts from The Domestic Rebel
• 5 Minute candied pecans from Amy’s Healthy Baking

3. Bake pecans in cookies, cakes, and pies.

• Almond flour chocolate chip pecan cookies by This West Coast Mommy
• Butter pecan cookies by Sally’s Baking Addition
• Pecan pie cheesecake by Lil Luna
• Easy pumpkin pecan muffins by Experimental Homesteader
• Pumpkin pecan granola bars by A Virtual Vegan
• Apple pecan cake with caramel glaze by Great Grub, Delicious Treats

4. Salads With Pecans

• Raspberry Pecan Chicken Salad by Taste Of Home 
• Mixed green salad with pecans from Simply Recipes
• Apple cranberry pecan salad from Damn Delicious
• Pecan chicken salad by Southern Bite 

5. Prepare a pecan pesto.

• Basil pesto frugal edition at Schneider Peeps 
• Sage pecan pesto at Kayln’s Kitchen
• Pork chops with orange pecan pesto at Tastes Lovely 
• Collard and pecan pesto at Bon Appetit
• Rapini and pecan pesto at Food Nouveau 

6. Top with chopped pecans 

• Easy grilled peaches and pecans from Experimental Homesteader 
• Apple pecan waffles with topping at Loaves and Dishes
• No bake pumpkin cheesecake with pecan streusel topping at With Salt and Wit 
• Southern praline sauce at A Southern Fairytale
• Paleo pecan pie granola at Jay’s Baking Me Crazy

7. Pecan Crusted Recipes

• Pecan crusted baked brie from Experimental Homesteader
• Paleo Key Lime pie from Paleo Running Momma
• Sweet potato pie with pecan crust from A Dash Of Soul 
• Maple pecan crusted BACON from Unsophisticook 
• Pecan crusted chicken from The Adventure Bite 
• Pecan crusted tilapia from Taste Of Home

8. Make a pecan nut butter.

• Pecan butter recipe by Cookie and Kate 
• Pecan Praline Butter by Five Heart Home 
• German chocolate cake batter butter by Good Mama Gracie

9. Add pecans to savory side dishes.

• Green beans with caramelized pecans at Epicurious 
• Brussels sprouts with glazed pancetta and pecans at From Jessica’s Kitchen 
• Cranberry apple pecan wild rice pilaf at Carlsbad Cravings 
• Cornbread sausage and pecan dressing at Bon Appetit 
• Creamy pecan crunch grape salad at Wishes and Dishes

10. Try pecans rolled into delectable truffles.

• Pecan pie balls from Just A Pinch 
• Bourbon pecan truffles from Martha Stewart
• No bake coconut pecan truffles from Frugal Living Mom 
• Maple BACONpecan truffles from The Grateful Girl Cooks 

11. Pecan ice cream recipes

• No churn salted caramel butter pecan ice cream by No Spoon Necessary 
• Low carb pecan praline ice cream by I Breathe, I’m Hungry 
• Caramelized banana pecan paleo ice cream by My Natural Family 

12. Allergy friendly pecan pie recipes

• Dairy free pecan pie by Go Dairy Free
• Keto pecan pie by Kyndra Holley
• Gluten free pecan pie by A Lady In France
• Paleo pecan pie by The Banana Diaries
• Vegan pecan pie by Rhian’s Recipes

The post 55 Sweet and Savory Pecan Recipes appeared first on You Should Grow.

Don’t let the external appearance of dragon fruit intimidate you. Inside this neon colored fruit is a soft sweet flesh that is surprisingly satisfying.

How To Eat Dragon Fruit

This exotic fruit is quite healthy being low in calories and full of vitamin c and fiber. You might even say it’s a superfruit.

Although the fruit might look intimidating, you can safely eat the soft flesh and seeds inside. The skin can even used as a strikingly beautiful bowl or glass.

What does dragon fruit taste like?

Dragon fruit tastes like a mild sweet kiwi. The texture of the fruit is very soft and it’s easy to scoop directly out of the skin with a spoon.

The flesh is full of tiny black seeds that are usually consumed with the fruit. The seeds are crunchy, and it’s a nice contrast to the softness of the flesh.

Do red and white dragon fruit taste the same?

The flavor of a dragon fruit is highly dependent on the variety and conditions under which it was grown. Some varieties of dragon fruit have white flesh while others are bright pink to red.

They all have the same general flavor, but some are sweeter than others. Commercially grown fruits are picked too early sometimes which makes them very bland.

You may have even bought one from the grocery store that frankly had no flavor at all. However, homegrown dragon fruit is much sweeter.

How to cut and eat dragon fruit

Although the skin of the dragon fruit may look scary, it’s actually quite soft to the touch. The spikes on the fruit are not spiny but soft.

You should be able to slice a whole dragon fruit in half easily with a knife. The simplest way to cut and eat the dragon fruit is simply to slice it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.

For a refreshing snack, try chilling a whole dragon fruit in your fridge for a couple of hours. Once it’s cool, slice your fruit in half and eat it with a spoon. It tastes almost like sherbet.

How to choose a ripe dragon fruit

A dragon fruit is ripe when it has bright pink or yellow color on the outside and the spines on the skin are soft and brown. It should have a fresh fruity scent similar to other tropical fruits.

When you pick up the fruit and gently squeeze it, it should be a little soft but not squishy. And there should not be any brown or mushy spots on the skin.

As the fruit becomes overripe, rotten spots develop on the skin as well as in the flesh you see after it’s cut. You will recognize underripe fruits by uneven color with bits of unripe green skin.

23 tasty dragon fruit recipes

The mild creamy sweetness really needs no improvements, but it also goes well with many other fruits and flavors. You can use dragon fruit in a fruit salad, salsa, cocktail or smoothie.

Take a look at these 23 recipes that highlight the delicious flavor of dragon fruit.

Dragon fruit salads and salsas

Blackberry, Mango, Dragon Fruit, Blueberry, and Kiwi Fruit Salad
Make it : https://t.co/GtPKK4q0pM pic.twitter.com/eSoMFTzLoC

— Chef’s Life (@MyLifeInKitchen) July 18, 2017

1. Dragon fruit breakfast parfait.
2. Dragon fruit salsa with cilantro and lime
3. Dragon fruit salsa with avocados
4. Patriotic fruit salad

Dragon fruit smoothies

What’s in my hot pink smoothie: bananas, dragon fruit, coconut water, vanilla powder and topped with hemp seeds pic.twitter.com/U6HqZhB2L0

— Vegan Tiandra (@vegantiandra) August 30, 2017

1. Coconut chia dragon fruit smoothie jars
2. Dragon fruit smoothie 
3. Dragon fruit smoothie bowls 
4. Dragon fruit goji berry smoothie

Dragon fruit desserts

#Vegan Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars from @choosingchia https://t.co/1PXjt0bBZm pic.twitter.com/CEw4qGpoGS

— TruVeganic (@TruVeganic) February 25, 2017

1. Vegan dragon fruit cheesecake bars 
2. Dragon fruit jam
3. Dragon fruit coconut treats
4. Dragon fruit macaroons
5. Pink dragon fruit layer cake

Frozen dragon fruit treats

Feeling the need for a tropical moment this winter? Turn up the heat and enjoy Dragon Fruit Banana Sherbet: https://t.co/VJorbxyh3W #ExoticFruit pic.twitter.com/6WC7uPHkqd

— Health Alliance (@Health_Alliance) December 17, 2017

1. Dragon fruit popsicle
2. Dragon fruit sherbet
3. Dragon fruit frozen dessert
4. Dragon fruit ice cream

Dragon fruit cocktails

https://youtu.be/3DmcAW6VwPg

1. Dragon fruit vodka cocktail
2. Dragon fruit margarita
3. Frozen pineapple dragon fruit margarita
4. Dragon fruit mojitos

Virgin dragon fruit drinks

When life gives you lemons, grab some Pitaya and make Dragon Fruit Pink Lemonade!

Recipe – https://t.co/Vulw7xlS0C pic.twitter.com/fASrGh4xwo

— Pitaya Plus (@pitayaplus) August 16, 2016

1. Tropical detox water (for the morning after cocktails)
2. Dragon fruit lemonade

How do you eat dragon fruit?

Share your experience in the comments below!

The post How To Eat Dragon Fruit: 23 Fruity Recipes appeared first on You Should Grow.

What I love about frittatas is that they’re basically a quiche without the crust. This makes them a great breakfast option for gluten-free or ketogenic diets.

Personally, I like to let the tomatoes shine in this recipe, but you could also add some crumbled bacon or pancetta for a crispy salty crunch.

If you are not a fan of frittatas, then I’d venture to guess that you’ve never had a good one. A good frittata is light and delicious with a soft, creamy mouthfeel that is ultra satisfying.

The trick to fabulous frittatas

When it comes to making frittatas (and quiches too), the key is in the egg to dairy ratio. You just can’t get a smooth creamy frittata without it, and skim milk is not going to cut it.

Whole milk or cream blended with eggs makes for a smooth, silky texture and extremely satisfying dish.

You also must not overbake a frittata. You want it to be a little bit jiggly in the center when you pull it out of the oven. It will continue to cook in the hot dish or pan, so if you wait too long to pull it out, you can easily overcook it.

This is especially true if you’re cooking your frittata in a cast iron pan.

Choose heirloom tomatoes for this frittata dish

The quality of the tomatoes you choose in this recipe will make a big difference. A lot of tomatoes at the grocery store are watery and bland. That’s not going to be any good in any recipe.

Of course, I think you should grow your own, but the farmer’s market is a great alternative for anyone who can’t grow tomatoes. Choose some red, purple, and green tomatoes in various shapes and sizes.

Since we’ll be adding sliced tomatoes to our egg mixture. It’s important to remove as much of the tomato juices as you can before putting them in your dish.

The juices will water down your egg mixture sacrificing the smooth creamy texture, so we’ll slice our tomatoes and lay them out in a single layer on some paper towels and let them drain for a few minutes.

I love the flavor combo of tomatoes with mozzarella and basil, but you could change up the herbs or cheese to your liking if you wish.

Super easy frittata recipe: just prep and bake!

I’m all about easy meals, and they really don’t get any easier than this yummy heirloom tomato and basil frittata. Just make sure to use full fat cream or milk and don’t let it bake too long in the oven.

For sides, you can serve each slice with a spicy arugula salad and home fried sweet potatoes for a satisfying meal any time of day.

This dish just screams summer with garden fresh heirloom tomatoes and fresh basil. I think it’s the variety of tomato shapes and colors that makes this dish so stunning.

It’s shockingly easy to put together, too.

Have you tried our heirloom tomato and basil frittata?

Let us know in the comments below!

The post Heirloom Tomato and Basil Frittata (Gluten Free + Keto Friendly) appeared first on You Should Grow.

When you’re tired and just not feeling like making a big supper, stuffed peppers with ground turkey are a great healthy option. You might think that kids would not like peppers for dinner, but even my super picky daughter loves this recipe.

The fact that it’s also stuffed with rice and melted cheese probably doesn’t hurt!

Turkey stuffed peppers are easy to make

All you need to do is cook the ground turkey and spices, mix with rice and cheese, fill a bell pepper and bake for a few minutes. None of these steps requires much babysitting so it’s a great option for nights when you don’t have a lot of time.

What makes this recipe even easier is to cook up your meat in advance on your meal prep day. When you’re ready to eat, simply put the rest of the ingredients together and bake.

This recipe is also really versatile. We used green bell peppers, but you can use the sweeter red peppers or spice it up with some poblanos.

You can also vary the cheese to your liking. We usually use cheddar but pepper jack also tastes great with these turkey and rice stuffed peppers.

Turkey And Rice Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Ingredients:

6 bell peppers, tops, and seeds removed
2 cups cooked wild or white rice (+/- bay leaf)*
1 lb. ground turkey
2 garlic cloves, minced finely
1 medium onion, diced finely
16 oz. crushed tomatoes
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a large cast-iron skillet. Boil bell peppers in a large pot for 5 minutes to soften. Let dry completely.
• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat and saute onions and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until turkey meat is browned.
• Add crushed tomatoes, rice, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and 3/4 cup cheese to the cooked turkey and mix.
• Place bell peppers in prepared skillet and fill each one with the rice and turkey mixture. Bake for 28-30 minutes.
• Remove and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the top, then bake for another 5 minutes to melt.

*One trick we use to add incredible depth of flavor to this recipe is to add a bay leaf to the rice while it cooks. The bay leaf adds fragrance to the rice that really helps all the other flavors come together perfectly. Remove the bay leaf after the rice is cooked.

What to serve with stuffed peppers

Alongside stuffed peppers, I like to serve bean and corn salad and dollop of guacamole. Fried green tomatoes or blistered shishito peppers are popular in our house, too.

What more peppers? Oh Yeah!

Other sides to serve with ground turkey stuffed bell peppers include beans and rice or keep it simple with a fresh garden salad.

Have you tried stuffed peppers with ground turkey?

I’m all about easy, and for me, this recipe is one I keep coming back to. It’s warm and satisfying with all fresh and healthy ingredients.

Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

The post How To Make Stuffed Peppers With Ground Turkey appeared first on You Should Grow.

Aaahhh, the day after Thanksgiving! The house is full of guests, the kitchen is a mess, and of course, the fridge is full of leftovers! If your family is like ours, then you have an impressive quantity of leftover food…and a lot more than just turkey!

I’m always left hunting for creative ways to transform Thanksgiving leftovers so our family and guests don’t have to eat the same dishes two (or three) days in a row.

Well, we’re in luck, because there are so many Thanksgiving leftover recipes you can try. It doesn’t matter if you have too much turkey, stuffing, carrots, or mashed potatoes. There’s a way to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into something new and exciting.

I’m sharing some of the best ways to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. More than a few recipes for leftover turkey, this round-up is full of recipes for appetizers, soups & sides, main dishes, and of course, desserts … because there’s always too much cranberry sauce!

Breakfast with Thanksgiving leftovers

1. Leftover Turkey And Sweet Potato Frittata from Skinny Taste
2. Loaded Turkey Panini from Pinch Of Yum
3. Egg, Turkey & Stuffin’ Muffins from No Spoon Necessary
4. Squash And Rapini Frittata from The Healthy Foodie
5. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins from Two Peas And Their Pod
6. Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Cranberry Cream Cheese Sandwich from Family Food On The Table
7. Cranberry Pumpkin Breakfast Bake from Cook Nourish Bliss
8. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Waffles from Just A Taste
9. Thanksgiving Leftover Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches from Running To The Kitchen
10. Leftover Turkey Dinner Hash from Pickled Plum
11. Leftover Stuffin’ Muffins from Budget Bytes
12. Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing Waffles from If You Give A Blonde A Kitchen
13. Bubble And Squeak Potato Cakes from The Flavor Bender
14. Thanksgiving Leftovers Croque Madame from Half Baked Harvest
15. Mexican Turkey Breakfast Pizza from Taste And Tell Blog
16. Thanksgiving Leftover Waffles from Foxes Love Lemons
17. Egg, Turkey & Stuffin’ Muffins from†No Spoon Necessary
18. Tempeh Pumpkin Hash from Kara Lydon
19. Thanksgiving Leftovers Panini from Life In The Lofthouse
20. Waffled Cranberry Cream Cheese Turkey Sandwiches from Neighbor Food Blog

Appetizers using Thanksgiving leftovers.

1. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Muffins from Just A Taste
2. Baked Thanksgiving Leftover Egg Rolls from Laura Fuentes
3. Leftover Turkey Tartines from Mon Petit Four
4. Leftover Turkey Taquitos from Bless This Mess Please
5. Turkey Avocado Flatbread from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
6. Stuffing Frittata Bites from Running To The Kitchen
7. Leftover Turkey Butternut Squash Enchiladas from Kim’s Cravings
8. Thanksgiving Quesadillas from Mantitlement
9. Homemade Tater Tots from Cook Craft Love
10. Fried Mashed Potato Balls from Spicy Southern Kitchen
11. Thanksgiving Leftovers Pierogies from Yes To Yolks
12. Thanksgiving Leftover Bites from Food Fanatic
13. Sausage And Stuffing Balls With Cranberry Dipping Sauce from I Should Be Mopping The Floor
14. Sweet Peppers With Two Kinds Buttermilk Dips Recipe from Chef De Home
15. Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe from†Home Cooking Memories
16. Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Nachos from Bless Her Heart Y’all
17. Sushi-Inspired Thanksgiving Turkey Rolls from Arts & Crackers
18. Thanksgiving Leftovers Pocket Pies from Two Twenty One
19. Fried Mashed Potato Balls from Gather For Bread
20. Thanksgiving Leftovers Quinoa Burgers from Fork And Beans
21. Loaded Leftover Mashed Potato Balls from Handle The Heat

Soup and side recipes for leftover turkey, stuffing, and more!

1. Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing Muffins from Kirbie’s Cravings
2. Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes from The Endless Meal
3. Homemade Turkey Soup from Mantitlement
4. Mashed Potato Croquettes from Spicy Southern Kitchen
5. Spaghetti Squash Pancakes from Half Baked Harvest
6. Low-carb Turkey Soup With Zucchini Noodles from Kalyn’s Kitchen
7. Leftover Mashed Potato Puffs from Cinnamon, Spice, And Everything Nice
8. Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup from Skinny Taste
9. Hearty Pot Pie Soup Recipe With Turkey Leftovers from Jessica Gavin
10. Leftover Turkey And Rice Soup from Girl And The Kitchen
11. Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes from Spend With Pennies
12. Cheesy Jalapeno Potato Cakes from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
13. Whipped Carrots With Sriracha Butter from Healthy Delicious
14. Deep Fried Loaded Mashed Potato Bites from the Cookie Rookie
15. Thanksgiving Leftover Stuffed Egg Rolls & Cranberry Dipping Sauce from Cake’n Knife
16. Turkey Orzo Soup from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen

You might also like: 20 Fall-Inspired Meal In A Bowl Recipes

Dinners made using Thanksgiving leftovers.

1. Turkey, Cranberry, And Brie Crescent Braid from Spicy Southern Kitchen
2. Thanksgiving Leftovers Turkey Shepherd’s Pie from Culinary Ginger
3. Leftover Turkey Tacos With Brussels Sprout Slaw from Skinny Taste
4. Thanksgiving Leftover Nachos from Sugar & Soul
5. Leftover Thanksgiving Ham Cobb Salad from Damn Delicious
6. “Leftovers” Zucchini Pasta†from Inspiralized
7. Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas from Taste and Tell
8. Creamy Turkey Artichoke Casserole from Family Food on the Table
9. White Turkey Chili from Taste and Tell
10. 30-Minute Leftover Turkey Chili from Just a Taste
11. Leftover Turkey And Cranberry Enchiladas from Cook Nourish Bliss
12. Easy Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini from Platings & Pairings
13. Leftover Turkey Taco Salad from Creme De La Crumb
14. Mini Turkey Pot Pies from Catz In The Kitchen
15. Turkey Chow Fun Zoodles Stir Fry from Cotter Crunch
16. Blue Cheese And Roasted Brussels Sprouts Pizza from The Endless Meal
17. Leftover Turkey Tacos With Apples And Cranberries from Cook Nourish Bliss
18. Roast Turkey And Cranberry Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Pineapple And Coconut
19. Leftover Turkey Quinoa Salad With Cranberry Vinaigrette from Tasteful Venture
20. Thanksgiving Burger from Real Food By Dad
21. Turkey Fajita Rice Bowl from Whitney Bond
22. Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Bowl from Amanda’s Cookin’
23. Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie from Jo Cooks
24. Thanksgiving Pizza from The Gunny Sack
25. Turkey Enchiladas from Gimme Some Oven
26. Leftover Chicken Or Turkey Pasta Skillet from An Italian in my Kitchen
27. Turkey Chili (with Leftover Turkey) Recipe from Simply Recipes
28. Creamy Turkey Casserole from Cutefetti
29. Turkey And Rice Stuffed Peppers

Desserts made with Thanksgiving leftovers

1. Thanksgiving Leftover Pumpkin Pie Shake from The Crafted Sparrow
2. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins With Oat Streusel Topping from Ahead Of Thyme
3. Mashed Potato Cinnamon Rolls from Le Creme De La Crumb
4. Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
5. Cranberry Bars from Dessert For Two
6. Leftover Cranberry Sauce And Apple Crisp from Just A Taste
7. Cranberry Chia Pudding from Real Food With Dana
8. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bread Recipe from Oh My Veggies
9. Easy Cranberry Hand Pies With White Chocolate Drizzle from Amanda’s Cookin’
10. Cranberry Sauce Cheesecake Brownies from Damn Delicious
11. Apple Cranberry Quesadillas from Lana’s Cooking
12. Leftover Pumpkin Pie Frappe from A Beautiful Mess
13. Banana Cheesecake With Pecan Graham Cracker Crust from Desserts Required
14. Leftover Cranberry Sauce Parfaits from Well Plated
15. Leftover Sweet Potato & Cranberry Rolls from The Beautiful Balance
16. Cranberry Sauce Mini Cheesecakes from Sweet Peas & Saffron
17. Cranberry Sauce Bundt Cake from Roti’n Rice

I think that just about covers it all!

What are your favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes?

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The post 101 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes For Every Meal appeared first on You Should Grow.

Halloween is the time for wearing crazy costumes and eating all sorts of sugary treats! Unfortunately, a lot of those treats are also full of coloring and other unhealthy chemicals.

Try these healthy Halloween treats

You can easily make healthy Halloween snacks for kids with these ideas! In fact, all of these creepy and creative Halloween treats use whole food ingredients. And they’re just as fun and yummy as other less-healthy options.

If you’re trying to diet or practice clean eating, Halloween treats are certainly a big temptation. With all the candy being shoved in your face it’s hard to avoid eating a bite or two, but it’s totally possible to stay on track with your healthy eating goals.

You might also like: Eco-Friendly Halloween Tips 

I have some super cute and surprisingly healthy Halloween food ideas for you…Because clean eating doesn’t have to be boring!

And while Halloween treats are usually full of artificial coloring, these healthy options use the natural color of whole foods as Mother Nature created them.

Plus, all of these creative Halloween food recipes are kid friendly and will be a hit at your Halloween party!

Here are 21 Healthy Halloween Food Ideas For Kids

I love the idea of using beets for the gorgeous color of these All-Natural Zombie Brain Cupcakes from Bren Did.

Try these moist, chocolatey, and spooky Halloween monster witch cakes from Neurotic Mommy.

Peanut butter and honey make a great combo in these healthy Halloween bat energy bites from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

These raw chocolate Black Cat Cake Pops from Fork&Beans are just too cute!

Need a last minute healthy option? Here are some super simple Halloween food ideas for kids from Thirty Hand Made Days.

Check out these simple but creative healthy Halloween spider snacks from Family Food on the Table.

Healthy Halloween Treats With Vegetables

Here’s a video showing you how to make some easy fruit and vegetable Halloween snacks from Meaningful Eats.

Sneak in some festive Halloween themed vegetables with this roasted veggie recipe from Live, Eat, Learn.

Snap peas and almond slivers make fun Goblin Grins from Snixy Kitchen.

The purple and orange colors along with adorable cucumber jack o’lantern faces make a super cute healthy Halloween pasta salad. Recipe from Smile Sandwich.

Make your own healthy Halloween gummy treats. Here’s a video tutorial from Green Healthy Cooking.

Looking for a vegan Halloween treat? Make these purple sweet potato monsters! Recipe from Healthy Slow Cooking.

If you need a fun healthy Halloween dinner recipe, try these stuffed pepper jack o’lanterns from One Little Project.

Healthy Halloween Treats From Fruit

Here’s a Halloween fruit treat idea that kids can make for themselves! Learn more at Sugar, Spice, and Glitter.

This is a clever use of fruit to make healthy gummy eyeballs! Recipe from Oh The Things We’ll Make.

Make a Halloween fruit Frankenstein! Watch this quick video from Pink When to learn how.

Here’s a simply spooky fruit salad recipe with haunted honey dressing from Paper-And-Glue.com.

Try these easy yogurt-dipped Halloween banana popsicles from Well Plated.

Looking for a haunted smoothie recipe? Try this Frankenstein smoothie bowl recipe from Healthy Little Foodies.

Turn chocolate covered strawberries into adorable little ghosts! Tutorial on Yummy, Healthy, Easy.

Turn an orange into a fun jack o’lantern! From Thrifty Jinxy.

You can’t go wrong with any one of these creative healthy Halloween food ideas!

Since we’re talking about making healthy foods for Halloween, have you ever wondered which Halloween candies are the worst for you?

I did! According to Prevention.com, the top 7 candies to avoid for clean eating are:

1. Snickers
2. Peeps
3. Peppermint Patties
4. Butterfinger
5. Tootsie Rolls
6. Candy Corn
7. Peanut Butter Cups

Should have known some of my favorites would make that list! At least now I have plenty of ideas for fun and healthy Halloween treats to take their place.

And without the sugar crash, the kids will have more energy for playing pumpkin games!

What other fun Halloween food ideas do you have?

Tell me what you plan on making this year in the comments.

The post 21 Of The Cutest Healthy Halloween Treats appeared first on You Should Grow.

Are squash and pumpkin leaves edible?

There are many edible parts of common vegetable plants besides the fruit. For some veggies, like tomatoes, we know that the leaves are toxic but the leaves and flowers of squash and pumpkin plants are edible.

Even though we grow some plants like lettuce and kale just for their leaves, it had not ever occurred to me to try eating pumpkin leaves.

What do pumpkin leaves look like?

Pumpkins have flat broad leaves. The larger the pumpkin variety the larger the leaf gets. Younger leaves are smaller and more tender. Those are the ones you’ll want to harvest for your meal.

The leaves on a pumpkin plant are not naturally appealing because pumpkin leaves, like other squash plants, are very spiny. The little spikes on the leaves and stems can give you a painful poke and make your skin super itchy.

Because of this, pumpkin plant leaves must be prepped by removing the spikey coating before you can eat them. It’s a bit of a tedious process to get rid of that unpleasant part, but more on that in a minute.

Nutritional benefits

Like many other leafy green veggies, pumpkin greens are very nutritious. Health benefits of pumpkin leaves come from their high vitamin and mineral content.

They are full of vitamins A, E, B, and K plus folate, calcium, iron and other minerals. They also provide a lot of protein for a veggie, are low in sodium, cholesterol free, and high in fiber to help with digestion. 

Being high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, they are beneficial for healthy skin, bones, and your immune system. Some even blend pumpkin leaves with coconut oil to treat skin conditions.

Is it good to eat a pumpkin leaf raw? They can be eaten raw, but still need to be prepped first. Pumpkin plants grow little spines on their stems and leaves, and the older the leaf the larger and more pokey the spines will be.

Harvesting pumpkin leaves for eating

When harvesting leaves from your pumpkin plants, choose the smallest leaves on the youngest part of the vine and make sure to leave every other one so the plant can continue to grow. Do not cut off the growing tip of the pumpkin plant vine.

Like other veggies, the older they get the more fibrous and bitter they get, so always pick the youngest leaves for cooking. You’ll be able to tell the younger leaves because they are smaller and located at the tip of the vine.

How are pumpkin leaves used for cooking?

In some parts of the world, like Africa and India, it is not unusual to harvest pumpkin leaves for cooking. In Nigeria, pumpkin leaves are called Ugu, and they are very commonly used in soups and main dishes. They are used similarly in Indian cuisine.

When cooked and prepared properly, pumpkin vine leaves are a smooth and creamy compliment to coconut based curries and peanut sauces.

How to prepare pumpkin leaves for cooking

Make sure to clean pumpkin leaves before you add them to your meal. The first thing to do is to rinse them or soak them in some water. You want to get rid of any dirt, debris, and sandy bits that would be unpleasant in your food. Next, you’ll want to address the spines that grow on pumpkin leaves.

How do you get rid of those spiny bits on the leaves? The spiny strands can be pulled off by pinching the cut tip and peeling. It takes quite a long time, but it’s not hard to do. 

Fresh pumpkin leaves can be used in recipes immediately or freeze them for later. You can also dehydrate pumpkin leaves for future use. Store pumpkin leaves in sealed containers out of direct sunlight.

How to cook pumpkin leaves

Once your leaves are cleaned and prepped, you can chop and cook the leaves in any recipe that calls for green leafy vegetables. The taste of pumpkin leaves makes them great in soups, stews, and sautees. They can be substituted for collard greens or turnip greens in any recipe.

You can also eat raw pumpkin leaves in salads. For fresh eating, choose only the smallest, youngest leaves on the plant as they’ll be the most tender pumpkin leaves. I didn’t use a recipe to cook my pumpkin leaves. I just wanted to get a feel for how they tasted first. So I decided to chop up them up and sautee them in olive oil with tomatoes and garlic.

Cooked pumpkin leaves taste like turnip greens to me but softer in texture. They have a smooth pleasant mouthfeel despite starting out with tiny thorns. I would eat pumpkin leaves again for the flavor, but the work of preparing them makes it not appealing to try again. It was quite time-consuming to prepare them. If you want to skip that step, you can purchase dried pumpkin leaves on Amazon.

What do you think?

Will you try eating pumpkin leaves?

The post Pumpkin Leaves For Dinner? Yes, Please! appeared first on You Should Grow.