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Cooking on a Budget: Recipes and Tips

Whether you have to eat gluten free or lactose free or simply want to eat healthier, it doesn't have to cost a fortune. On the following pages you'll find recipes, tips, advice, and food reviews to help you feed your family great meals without spending a fortune.

Colonel Popper’s Popcorn Maker: Healthy (but Delicious) Snacking Made Possible

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Colonel Popper Microwave Popcorn Maker

Colonel Popper’s Popcorn Maker

I have a foodie confession to make. I am a snacker. What’s more, I am a snacker who is uncommonly passionate about her snacking. When I stop and think about it (which I’m doing now, for better or worse), I do very few things without a snack within reach.

  • Watching a baseball, football, or basketball game on tv
  • Watching an old movie on TCM
  • Posting on one of my blogs
  • Cooking supper
  • Working a puzzle
  • Reading

Yep… everything has to have a snack close by.

Popcorn

I have popcorn in front of me at the moment – made with my new obsession: Colonel Popper’s Popcorn Maker.

We’ve already established that I’m a snacker of the highest order, so it’s obviously very important to me that my snacks be as healthy and low-calorie as possible. Otherwise I’d be in a world of trouble.

Fortunately my favorite “go to” snack is popcorn and now, with this ingenious little popcorn maker, it’s healthier than ever.

Colonel Popper’s Silicone Popcorn Maker is super durable, safe, and eco-friendly. You can eat fresh microwave popcorn right out of the colorful popcorn bowl. I can say from experience – you’ll never want to pop popcorn without a Colonel Popper again.

Five things you’re going to love about Colonel Popper:

  1. Such an inexpensive snack! Use any popcorn kernels – which are about as cheap as it gets.
  2. BPA Free Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper makes up to 14 cups of popcorn, plenty for your kids and family.
  3. MUCH healthier than microwavable popcorn you buy in stores. Who wants those harmful chemicals around their family? I certainly don’t.
  4. Easy and convenient. You simply pour the desired amount of kernels into the bowl, add butter/oil or (my personal favorite) ghee, and “pop” it into the microwave. After you remove the perfectly popped popcorn, add a little salt or other additions that float your boat (M&Ms, Parmesan, etc.)
  5. Easy to store. The bowl collapses, when not in use, to a height of 2 inches – freeing up counter space and minimizing cabinet space. Perfect for college dorm rooms or even an RV Camper with portable microwave.
  6. Dishwasher Safe – these words are always like choir music to my ears. You can either hand-wash your Colonel Popper or use your dishwasher.
  7. Available in eight gorgeous colors. You can match your personality, style, or favorite team colors. Truth be told, the Colonel Popper is so inexpensive, you can grab several different colors. Some of the colors are transparent and others are solid. Be sure to take a close look at each – and good luck choosing. They’re all beautiful!
  8. Makes a great gift idea – fun, original, and highly useful.

The Colonel Popper’s Silicone Popcorn Maker  comes with a handy guide that tells you everything you need to know to pop perfect popcorn time after time. You’ll want to hang onto this guide by either storing it right with the popper or keeping it in a drawer.

When you add the kernels to the popper, be sure it’s in the “up” position, as opposed to the collapsed position. It’s at this point you can add either oil, butter, or (my personal favorite, by far) ghee – my favorite ghee is the best ghee available, Ancient Organics Ghee. I fell in love with ghee on popcorn about a year ago and haven’t seen fit to eat it any other way since!

Topped off with a little salt (I love Rachael Ray’s Pink Himalayan Salt) and you have a fun, delicious, and guilt-free snack for any occasion.

Click through any of the links to learn more about this ingenious little popcorn maker and… trust me… even if you do buy several for fun gift-giving, you will want a Colonel Popper’s Silicone Popcorn Maker for yourself.

Colonel Popper Microwave Popcorn Maker 2


The Beauty of Buddha Bowls (Perfect for Meatless Mondays)

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Buddha Bowl

When I had to give up gluten and wheat (health reasons), I became obsessed with “bowls” – simply putting food that I may have once put between bread into a bowl with various vegetables as costars. Sloppy Joes were no longer piled onto buns but were, rather, layered into bowls with onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and (when I’m feeling carb-tastic) fried potatoes.

Somewhere along the way “bowls” have become a really big deal nationwide – not just in my kitchen.

One of the biggest stars in the world of bowls right now is the simple, humble, and outrageously delicious Buddha Bowl.

I’ve heard “Buddha bowls” also referred to as glory or hippie bowls, but I like the name Buddha Bowl best. It just seems to fit.

Buddha Bowls are healthy, beautiful, VERY filling dishes that are made up of your choice of vegetables, beans, and a healthy grain (rice, quinoa…). The vegetables can be roasted, boiled, sauteed, or even raw. My personal preference is to have a combination of both cooked and raw. I’m not sure why, but it’s absolute perfection.

When I first made Buddha Bowls for my husband and I, I told him beforehand, “If you get hungry later, I’ll make you some bacon and eggs…” I honestly wasn’t sure how filling they’d be. Suffice to say, not an egg was cracked and the bacon was undisturbed. When we slowly got up from the table, we both agreed… they’re VERY filling!

While I didn’t do it in the meal pictured here, topping your Buddha Bowl with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds ups the looks as well as the nutrition and taste.

Some of my favorite ingredients for Buddha Bowls:

Avocados

Obviously this will fall under the “uncooked vegetables” category. Simply (but carefully) cut your avocado(s) into wedges, drizzle with lime juice, and lightly salt.

Zucchini “Noodles”

Zucchini noodles (made, of course, by spiralizing zucchinis) are nutritious and delicious, but if we’re being totally honest, when it comes to Buddha Bowls… well….I love them for their looks! I toss mine in raw, with just a splash of salt and a little lemon juice. You could, of course, cook them briefly but I like the texture of uncooked zucchini noodles.

If you don’t have a spiralizer, be sure to check produce sections. Many stores are now selling zucchini noodles.

Rice, Brown Rice, Quinoa, or Cauliflower Rice

The pictures shown have cauliflower rice but I’m just as crazy about the other grains named above. If you’ve never cooked with quinoa before, you honestly have to. It’s delicious and FUN. And who isn’t up for a little more FUN in the kitchen?!

If you aren’t keen on the idea of ricing your own cauliflower (even though it is easy peasy in a food processor – simply place chunks into the food processor and process until the cauliflower is the consistency of rice), check grocery stores. I’ve seen Cauliflower Rice sold in the produce sections of Meijer’s and Kroger. Cauliflower rice cooks easier than the others, which makes it an easier as well as healthier option.

Carrots

I like for my carrots to have a bit of bite to them, so I just boil them until they’re “fork tender.” As with most vegetables, I keep a fork right beside the stove. When the fork can pierce the vegetable without any resistance, I know we’re good to go. Overcooking vegetables leads to smooshieness, which is never good to the taste or eyes.

Roasted Radishes

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Cut radishes into halves. 
  3. Toss radishes in olive oil (about 1 TBS per bunch).
  4. Spread radishes onto prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Be sure they aren’t touching one another. 
  5. Roast (tossing every 5 minutes) for 15 to 20 minutes.

Roasted Broccoli

I use the same approach for broccoli as I do for radishes when roasting. In fact, I often roast them together.


Cucumbers

Raw… never cooked. I mean, why would you???

Squash

I had used up all of my crookneck squash for a meal the night before (fried, along with green tomatoes – it doesn’t get any more Southern or delicious), so there was no squash in the meal shown here. It is, ironically, one of my favorite Buddha Bowl guests, however. I love the color as much as the taste.

Spaghetti Squash is also fantastic in these bowls. My oldest daughter, Emily, and I could eat spaghetti squash 7 days a week. Whatever it is that it’s got, we’re wild about it!

Corn

Whether it’s boiled, roasted on the cob, then scraped off or roasted frozen corn (SO EASY!), like squash, corn adds great color and taste as well as texture to your Buddha Bowl.

Etc…

Chickpeas (raw, heated, or roasted), beets, shredded cabbage, black-eyed peas, black beans, wax beans, green peas (I like to use frozen peas for bowls and salads. I keep them in the freezer until right before I begin the meal. As we’ve established, however, I am uncommonly here for the crunch, so use your own preference as your guide.) The options are almost endless.

One tip, though, when using uncooked canned beans – drain them well and allow them to sit in the container before tossing them into the bowls. Same goes for cooked beans. Drain really, really well so they don’t bring their bath water with them!

As with most things, when it comes to cooking, it’s all about personalizing your meals to your family’s needs and likes. Make the bowls your own by adding your favorite vegetables and combinations. I read where a woman once ALWAYS (not usually… ALWAYS) paired frozen peas and beets in her Buddha Bowls. Me? I’d never go down that particular road… but it’s her vehicle, she’s free to drive it where she chooses!

When I first saw her pics, I thought, “Ummm…. not… sure… about… that…” but then I thought about it and I realized that she was to be commended. She was adding her own twist, creativity, and personality to her bowls and THAT is the whole idea.

One final tip: When it comes to planning your meals – whether they’re casseroles, salads, soups, side dishes, or bowls – do a little research into the health benefits of vegetables. Each one wields its own superpowers. If you combine several different “powers,” you’ll have yourself an especially powerful meal!

Buddha Bowl

Recipe: Oven-Baked Omelet with Broccoli, Asparagus, and Tons of Cheese….

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Oven Baked Omelet with Broccoli and Asparagus

Oven Baked Omelet with Broccoli and Asparagus

Two of my husband’s favorite foods are omelets and asparagus, so combining the two always makes me feel kind of like my favorite superhero, Hawk Girl. If only I had the uniform…  never mind, it’d be too traumatic for the cats.

I’m one of the few people who actually enjoys making traditional, skillet omelets (the “secret” is using an 8-inch non-stick skillet and a spatula that isn’t too big or too floppy OXO makes an ingenious Omelet Flipper). The only drawback is, if you’re feeding more than one person at the time, it’s really tricky to time two omelets to be served at the same time. That’s why I love the occasional Oven Omelet. It’s still delicious and can be packed with even more vegetables and cheese than a skillet omelet (unless you don’t mind it when it splits its seams). It’s also a ridiculously easy and inexpensive meal – who doesn’t need that in their life?

Best of all, no one has to eat a cold omelet.

Oven-Baked Omelet with Broccoli and Asparagus

6 eggs
1⁄2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheese (I almost always use Monterrey Jack and Cheddar but it’d be almost impossible to go wrong with your cheese selection)
1⁄2 cup chopped broccoli
1⁄4 cup chopped asparagus
1 tablespoon onion (sweet or green are my go-tos)
salt and pepper

  1. Combine eggs and milk, then whip them with a whisk or fork.
  2. Add in rest of ingredients. Moment of honesty – I generally add more than 1 cup of cheese. Probably more like 1-1/4 cups, but use your own judgment.
  3. Pour into pie dish.
  4. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

You could also, of course, add bacon, ham, red bell pepper (one of my favorites)… whatever floats your boat.

Oven Baked Omelet with Broccoli and Asparagus

Fast & Easy Summer Meal: Meatless Tostadas

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Tostadas with Refried Beans and Tomatoes

Given the fact that I have a food blog and talk about food without even taking a breath, you probably already know that I love to cook. In fact, I enjoy it so much that I stare in blank amazement when people say they don’t enjoy cooking.

Having said that, on the hottest days (and nights) of summer, I appreciate a quick, easy, and no oven required meal. These tostadas are so quick and easy to pull together and there are endless options to “make them your own.” They’re also great for eating on a budget – especially if you make them meatless.

The Toppings Are Your Call:

  • Refried Beans or Ground Beef w/Taco Seasoning
  • Cilantro
  • Shredded Cheddar
  • Mexican Crumbling Cheese
  • Green Onions
  • Shallots
  • Shredded Lettuce
  • Jalapeno Peppers
  • Chiles
  • Tomatoes
  • Pico de Gallo
  • Sour Cream
  • Salsa
  • Salsa Verde
  • Black Olives
  • Lime Juice
  • Roasted Corn
  • Roasted Red Peppers
  • Etc…

The NON-Recipe for Refried Beans Tostadas

Guerrero Tostadas

There’s No Need to Even Heat These Tostadas

It all starts with the base: the Tostada shells.  I love the Guerrero Tostadas pictured above. They’re delicious and ridiculously inexpensive. That’s a combination I don’t take lightly.

Line a baking sheet (or several) with the number of tostadas you’ll be serving. There’s no need to heat the shells at all for tostadas.

Refried Beans: I use canned refried beans and am pretty darn brand-loyal. I buy Old El Paso Traditional Refried Beans almost exclusively. For 10 tostadas, I used two cans. Now you can use refried beans straight from the can for this recipe or to serve as is.  However, I love to add a little water (couple of tablespoons) to the beans when I first add them to the skillet, along with about 1/2 tsp of cumin and a splash of hot sauce. In full disclosure, I add cumin to more things than not. In this particular dish, I also added 1/2 cup of sour cream to the beans. It makes them creamier and dreamier.

Cook the beans on low, stirring frequently. Season with a little salt.

Tostadas with Refried Beans and Tomatoes

Make Some with Avocado and Some Without: Just In Case Someone Isn’t a Fan

When the beans are nice and hot, plop them evenly among the tostada shells, spreading them to the edges. Top the hot beans with shredded cheddar cheese so it’ll melt irresistibly into them.

Now this is where you can really get cute. Add whatever floats your boat at this point. Cilantro, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, scallions, shallots… you do you!

I add different toppings just about every time I make tostadas but the cast of characters almost always includes cilantro, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, and avocado.

You’ll want to put the sour cream on top, if for no other reason than it looks cool. Finally, the thing that really seals the deal? Squeeze a little lime juice over the whole shebang.

I’m not sure why, exactly, but lime juice simply makes every single Mexican dish you can think of even better.

 

Avocado on Tostadas

Ideas for Side Dishes:

  • Rice
  • Tossed Salad
  • Chips and Salsa
  • Corn
  • Fried Potatoes


Caribbean Tuna Salad: A StarKist Recipe That’s as Delicious as it Looks

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StarKist Tuna and Avocado Recipe

If you don’t have avocados on hand, you can serve this delicious tuna salad in leaf bowls, in a hollowed-out tomato, on toast, or even in grooves of celery sticks. You could, of course, go old school and serve it on toast…. do you have any idea how delicious StarKist tuna salad on toast sounds right about now??

The recipe below is out of this world – since I’m deathly (literally, it seems) allergic to mangoes, I leave them out. I replace them with chopped green grapes. For whatever reasons, grapes and tuna fish make the perfect pair. Then again, as far as I know, mangoes and tuna fish do too – you’ll have to try and let me know!

Caribbean Tuna Salad in Avocados

2 (5 oz.) Cans – Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water, (or NEW Low Sodium Solid White Albacore Tuna) drained
21⁄2 Tbsp. light mayonnaise
2 tsp. chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1⁄4 cup chopped jicama
1 mango (1⁄2 diced for salad and 1⁄2 sliced for garnish)
4 avocados, halved
Cilantro and lime juice to taste
Leaf lettuce, if desired

In a medium bowl mix mayonnaise and chipotle pepper well. Add tuna, jicama and diced mango and mix well.
Cut avocados in half and remove seed. Hollow out slightly if needed.
Place tuna salad in avocado half and sprinkle with a little fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro. Place on lettuce-lined plate with mango slices as a garnish.

Also See: Simple and Spicy Tuna Tacos (Crazy Delicious!)

See more StarKist Tuna Recipes.


Simple and Spicy Tuna Tacos: A Quick & Easy StarKist Tuna Recipe

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StarKist Tuna Tacos

We have Taco Tuesdays in our house – I’m not sure why Tuesday was selected but I suspect it was because it sounded good… “Taco Tuesday.” You’d be amazed at the number of decisions I make in my life for simple reasons like this.  Taco nights are inexpensive as well as delicious – another reason they’re a weekly guest in my kitchen.

The delicious recipe below is quick, easy, and won’t heat up your kitchen, so it was love at first sight when I saw it.

Tuna is uncommonly healthy and delicious – I work it into as many meals as possible. My favorite is to make tuna fish salad and place it in endive cups or celery sticks but tuna tacos has become something I love just as much.

The recipe below is from StarKist – a name synonymous with tuna. The tacos are fresh and delicious and… you’ll love this… they’re Charlie approved!

Sigh, I’ve always loved that guy.

Simple and Spicy Tuna Tacos

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Recipe Yield: 2

2 pouches (2.6 oz.) StarKist Tuna Creations® BOLD Jalapeno
4 corn tortilla shells
1⁄2 cup shredded lettuce
1⁄4 cup diced tomato
1⁄4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, finely shredded

Directions:

  • Place tortilla shells on plate. Distribute tuna over the shell.
  • Top with lettuce and tomato and cheese as desired.
  • Garnish with avocado and cilantro as desired

More Charlie Approved recipes from StarKist!

Creamy Salsa Dip: Perfect for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day or Anytime…

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Creamy Salsa Dip
When I was sent the recipe for Creamy Salsa Dip –  created by Chef Anthony Stewart from Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa  – I rounded up the ingredients immediately. I knew this was something I had to make immediately.

I am a dip fanatic and anything that calls for both sour cream AND green onions is something I have to have in my life.

This creamy and delicious dip has a lot going on for it. For one thing, most of us already have the ingredients on hand. I only had to grab fresh sour cream because Christmas Day had confiscated every container I owned.

I also love that it’s inexpensive to make – as in very inexpensive. Post-Christmas shopping, we could all use that, right?!

The best thing about the dip, however, is the taste. It is outrageously delicious. I served mine with Glutino Crackers and Veggie Chips. When I break it out for football on TV later, I’ll serve vegetables with it.

After I made one batch and tasted it… I made another right away. It’s THAT yummy.

Creamy Salsa Dip and Glutino Crackers
Creamy Salsa Dip

Creamy Salsa Dip by Chef Anthony Stewart

  • 1/2 cup yogurt (plain, nonfat)
  • 4 tablespoons sour cream (reduced-fat)
  • 1/4 cup green onions finely chopped (white and light green parts only)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin ground
  • 2/3 cup salsa ( (non chunky varieties)
Instructions
  1. Mix by hand all ingredients, except for 1 tablespoon of green onions (which will be used as garnish topping).

Thanks so much to  Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa for passing this delicious recipe along to my readers (and me!)

Creamy Salsa Dip and Veggie Chips

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget: It’s Possible, if Not Always Easy

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I’m sure you’re as familiar with the high cost of groceries as I am. Each trip to the grocery store leaves me staring at prices, waiting for the punchline. Seriously? $5 for a tub of Crisco? Shouldn’t that come with a whole chicken or a pan to fry it in?

Since I’m not the proud owner of a money tree, I’ve always had to operate within a set budget when it comes to grocery shopping. I’ll let you in on a secret – if I didn’t have a budget for grocery shopping, I’d make a perfect fool of myself. I LOVE grocery shopping, cooking, eating… the whole shebang.. and I tend to get very carried away when planning meals, snacks, and desserts.

It’s been this way since I can remember, but it has been even more of a problem since I became a food blogger. Now, I want to cook all the things, test all the things, and enjoy all the things! Sadly, all the things cost money.  Some more so than others.

A set budget reigns me in, thereby ensuring that we are still able to have water, electricity, and silly things like that.

Oddly, enough, before I had to start eating gluten free, I honestly had no idea what a high grocery bill was. Everything is more expensive when you have to buy gluten free – it’s just something that we all come to expect. A part of the gluten free life, if you will.

It can also be pretty expensive to eat healthy. Grass fed beef, butter from cows who’ve been feeding on grass, organic vegetables and fruit, salmon, shrimp… the list goes on – right along with the dollar signs.

Below, I wanted to share a beautiful infographic with you – it has healthy eating on a budget on its mind, too. But before we get to the infographic, I’ll give you a few tricks I’ve picked up over the years – they’re applicable for saving money when you’re trying to eat healthy AND for when you have to eat gluten free.

  1. Check your grocery store’s circular and, if possible, plan your meals around what’s on sale that week. If there’s a great deal on chicken – chicken it is. Is cauliflower (finally!) on sale? Work in cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower, or roasted cauliflower.
  2. Never allow leftovers to go to waste. If you have leftover chicken, use it for chicken tacos. Leftover ham? Omelets! Leftovers also come in handy when it comes to stews, salads, soups, and casseroles.
  3. When you get in the swing of using leftovers, you’ll find it helpful to always keeping taco shells, tomato juice, eggs, and broths on hand.
  4. Keep an eye on coupons in the Sunday paper. They aren’t always that great, but every now and then, you can find some real beauts.
  5. Check brands’ websites for coupons.
  6. If there’s a brand you use frequently (for me a few would be Bob’s Red Mill, Amy’s Kitchen, CedarLane, McCormick Spices….), subscribe to their website’s newsletter, if one is available. In addition to great recipes, they also include the occasional coupon.
  7. If Kroger has “some” things cheaper and Meijer’s has “some” things cheaper, take the extra time and hit both stores. Not only do I often divide my grocery shopping between two stores, I often throw Wal-Mart and Target into the mix as well. I will, literally, go the extra mile for a bargain.
  8. Ibotta, Ibotta, Ibotta. I LOVE Ibotta! It’s an app that, basically, pays you money for shopping. As you’d suspect, it’s a favorite app in my world. Click through the link to read more about the wonderful program or go ahead and download the app. If you join now (totally free to join, totally free to download the app), you could have some extra money in time for Christmas shopping! I use mine for Christmas and it comes in so handy!  When you sign up, if you use this REFERRAL CODE: iyjbib I’ll get credit for pointing you in the right direction and you will make my day by doing so. You’re going to love Ibotta as much as I do.  I just saw on Ibotta’s Twitter account that, for a limited time, if you join Ibotta you’ll get a $10 welcome bonus. That is all the way amazing!

Now, for the infographic…..

Clever Ways to Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget

Infographic Source: Positive Health Wellness

Monday Morning Cheese Grits

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Cheese Grits
I think I could eat grits at every meal – there’s just something so comforting and “right” about enjoying a hot bowl of grit deliciousness.  When it comes to eating grits (whether it’s breakfast or supper), the options are fairly endless….

  • Grits with butter and sugar
  • Grits without butter and sugar (but, why… why would you do that?)
  • Grits with Cheddar
  • Grits with Smoked Gouda Cheese – topped with bacon, a fried egg, diced tomatoes, and chives (HAVE MERCY!)
  • Grits served alongside fried apples – a personal favorite
  • Grits topped with a spoonful of blackberry pie filling (or blueberry, cherry, apple, strawberry…)

The quick and easy Monday Morning Cheese Grits recipe below is my Weekday Morning “go to recipe” – I love them any day of the week, of course, but on Monday mornings, I reallllly sing their praises. So quick. So simple. So easy.

Print
Monday Morning Cheese Grits

Cheese Grits

Ingredients

  • 2-1/4 Cups Water
  • 1/2 Cup Quick 5-Minute Grits
  • 1/2 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (plus a little extra)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Paprika

Instructions

  1. Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan.
  2. Add grits, slowly, to prevent clumping. Stir well.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 12 minutes, or until thickened. Stir occasionally - grits really love to clump, so stay on top of your stirring game!
  4. Stir in cheese, a pinch of salt, and a dash of garlic powder.
  5. Pour grits into bowls and top with a little more shredded sharp cheddar. Sprinkle a little paprika on top of the whole shebang.


Why I Always Keep Instant Mashed Potatoes On Hand

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Instant Mashed Potatoes
Let me preface all of this by saying that one of the first things I ever learned to cook (at the wise old age of 19) was mashed potatoes. They were a favorite food, and when I got married and moved out of my mom and dad’s and in with my husband (seemed like the thing to do, you know?), I realized that if I wanted “mashed potatoes like mom makes,” I’d better learn to make them.

So I did.

I’ve always made mashed potatoes from real life, honest to goodness potatoes straight from the bag. If I do say so, myself, and I do… my mashed potatoes are the best there is. Whether I make them traditionally or get jazzy with sour cream, cream cheese, garlic, and/or chives…. I make a mean pan of mashed potatoes.

So, there you have it. I know how to make mashed potatoes and even love to make them. When I’m making mashed potatoes as a side dish for holidays or for weeknight dinners, I break out my potato peeler and have at it the old-fashioned way.

And, yet… you’ll find me regularly throwing a few instant potato packets into my grocery cart.

What’s up with that?!

Leftover Stew Over Instant Mashed Potatoes
Here’s What’s Up With That…

  • Instant Mashed Potatoes are as simple as pouring the package into a pan of boiling water and stirring with a fork. Fast. Easy. Delicious. Yes, delicious. Sometimes you’ve put together a great meal and realize that “a little something extra” would be nice. Within minutes, you can have just that.
  • Instant Mashed Potatoes come in a HUGE variety of flavors and styles… I mean HUGE. I always grab a couple of different flavors.
  • Any type of stew and most soups are fantastic served over a bowl of mashed potatoes. Here’s the story behind the picture above: I had made a big Sunday Crock-Pot of Ground Beef/Italian Sausage Stew. We’d had a few bowls at lunchtime and I knew we’d be having more at supper. I wanted to add a little something extra to the situation, so I had made some garlic-flavored instant mashed potatoes and served our stew on top. It was so freaking delicious that I don’t wait for “leftovers” or “second-helpings” anymore, I make up a batch or two right off the bat. It’s the quickest way imaginable to add a little extra flavor and fun to a meal.
  • Ever had a KFC Bowl – mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken, corn, and cheese? Instant mashed potatoes help you pull together something similar almost instantly. Vegetarians could use mushroom gravy and “soy” chicken or simply go without the chicken altogether.
  • They’re, honestly, good enough to serve with any meal you put together.
  • Instant mashed potatoes are excellent to have on hand when you feel a little under the weather or are simply tired after a particularly grueling day. Trust me, you’ll find yourself singing your own praises when you’re trying to pull something together quickly and easily and you spy a few packets on the shelf. I was hit once with an allergy attack from hell and may or may not have called myself a “freaking genius” when I remembered I had a few packages of garlic mashed potatoes on hand. The freaking genius paired them with chicken strips and sweet corn and had supper on the table inside of 20 minutes and me back on the couch in a Benadryl stupor in no time.
  • Once you start looking for things to put on your instant mashed potatoes, you’ll be amazed at how many options there are. We all use rice frequently for “bowls,” right? It’s been my experience that instant mashed potatoes can serve as the same type of foundation for quick, easy, and downright delicious meals.
  • They’re cheap. Enough said.

Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes