Chicken wings are the ultimate appetizer! You will find a few different recipes for these on this site. These particular ones are first beer brined, then rubbed in spices and deep fried. They are very, very good! You can use store bought blue cheese dressing for this. However, home made dressing makes a great difference. Here is what you are going to need for these:

2 pounds chicken wings
1 – 12 oz. bottle beer
1 TBS brown sugar
1 TBS coarse salt
½ TBS paprika
½ TBS garlic powder
½ TBS onion powder
½ tsp. black pepper
4 TBS butter
¼ cup red hot sauce
Oil for frying

• Cut the end tips of the wings and save them for chicken stock. Separate the drumette from the flat part of the wing. Rinse and place in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the beer, salt and brown sugar. Pour over the wings and brine for about 30 minutes.
• Mix the paprika, garlic power, onion powder and black pepper.
• Drain the wings and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• Add the paprika mix and toss to coat evenly. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a small pan. Add the hot sauce. Bring to a simmer, turn off heat and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet with about 3 inches of oil. Heat until 375 degrees. Add the chicken drumettes and fry until browned and cooked through – about 13 minutes. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Fry the rest of the chicken.
• Heat the butter sauce. Place the wings into a bowl. Add the sauce and toss to coat well.
• Serve immediately with celery and blue cheese dressing. Enjoy!

Print the Buffalo Wings Recipe Here

We have many recipes for chili on this site. This one is more of the ‘original’ chili if you want. It consists mainly of meat – has very little beans – and has quite a bit of sauce. It is spicy enough to leave a bite but not too much so as to make you sweat! Serve it with shredded Cheddar cheese, corn bread and sour cream on the side if you wish. This is what you are going to need for this:

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 large onion – chopped
¾ cup chopped bell pepper
2 TBS minced garlic
2 large green chilies – seeded and chopped
28 oz. chopped tomatoes
1 TBS tomato paste
2 TBS + 1 tsp. chili powder
3 cups chicken stock
2 – 8 oz. cans kidney beans – drained
Salt & Pepper/ Oil

• Heat a large skillet with some oil. Add the meats and brown. Drain the excess fat and set aside.
• Wipe skillet and add a little more oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic and chilies. Cook for about 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and translucent. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and 2 TBS chili powder. Mix well. Add 2 cups chicken stock and stir well. Cover skillet with aluminum foil and simmer for 1 hour – stirring occasionally.
• Add the beans to the meat and the remaining chicken stock and 1 tsp. chili powder. Mix well. Cover and simmer for another 30 minutes.
• Serve as is or with shredded cheese, corn bread or sour cream on the side.
• Enjoy!

Print the Super Bowl Chili Recipe Here

Other chili recipes:
Black Eyed Pea Chipotle Chili
Vegetarian Stagg Chili
Butternut Corn Black Bean Chili
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Vegetarian Black Bean Chipotle Chili
Left Over Brisket Chili
Spicy Beef Chili
Chili con Carne

This dish is really easy to make and is loaded in flavor. It is elegant enough to entertain and very, very frugal. I used chicken legs and thighs but wings work beautifully with this glaze. Here is what you are going to need for these:

Serves eight

16 chicken legs (you can use thighs if you want)
2 TBS olive oil
2 tsp. coarse salt
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup soy sauce
¾ cup Balsamic vinegar
¼ cup molasses
2 TBS sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place rinsed chicken in a roasting pan in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Toss the chicken making sure to coat all sides. Place pan in oven and roast for about 35 minutes – or until chicken is cooked through. All ovens are different so make sure you check for doneness.

While the chicken is cooking, place the soy sauce, vinegar and molasses into a pot. Bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally, and reduce heat. Simmer sauce until it thickens and reduces by 1/3rd – about 20 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the oven and discard any rendered liquid. Pour the sauce on to the chicken and toss to coat well. The glaze will thicken on the chicken so don’t worry if it is too liquid. Add the sesame seeds and serve. Enjoy!

2 chicken legs – CALORIES 353; FAT 16.36 grs (sat 4.05; mono 7.68; poly 3.58); PROTEIN 30.48 grs ; FIBER 0.55 grs; CARBS 16.24 grs; CHOLESTEROL 110.00 mg; IRON 3.46 mg; SODIUM 2354.26 mg; CALCIUM 30.99 mg

Print the Soy Molasses Glazed Chicken Legs Recipe Here

Shrimp tacos are so fresh and easy to make. They are great for these days that the weather is starting to get warm. The beauty of tacos is that you really do not need a whole lot of ingredients to make a wonderful meal. Here is what you are going to need for this:

FOR THE SAUCE:
¼ cup cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 TBS lime juice
1 tsp. chipotle powder
1 TBS chopped cilantro

FOR THE SHRIMP:
1 pound shrimp – peeled, de-veined and halved
4 garlic cloves – minced
1 chipotle pepper in adobo – chopped
½ a large lime – juiced
½ cup chopped cilantro

FOR THE CABBAGE SALAD:
2 cups sliced green cabbage
2 tomatoes – peeled and diced
½ cup chopped cilantro
1 large lime – juiced
Salt

Corn tortillas

• Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt. Set aside.
• Heat 2 TBS of vegetable oil in a skillet. Add the garlic and chipotle. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp. Mix well. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes – until shrimp turns pink. Add the cilantro. Mix well. Set aside.
• Place all the cabbage salad ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.
• Heat your tortillas. Place two tortillas on a plate. Smear some sauce on the bottom.
• Top with shrimp and cabbage salad.
• Serve with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!

Print the Chipotle Shrimp Tacos Recipe Here

Here is a nice variation from your typical chili. The butternut and corn will counter the heat and make an interesting dish. Go ahead and adjust the spices according to your resistance to spicy heat!

You will need:
1 pound ground beef
1 small or 1/2 large butternut squash, peeled and chopped
1 cup thawed corn kernels
1 large yellow onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
2 TBS. chili powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. chipotle pepper
1 TBS ground cumin
8 oz. chicken broth
1 -14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 – 14.5 cans black beans
Sour cream, finely chopped red onion, cilantro and corn chips for garnish

Heat a large pot and add the beef. Season generously with salt and pepper. Brown, stirring often. Drain excess fat and set aside.

Wipe the pot and add some olive oil. Add the onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minutes. Add the squash, bell peppers and jalapenos. Mix well and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the dry spices and mix well. Cook for another minute, until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, tomatoes with their juice and the beans with their liquid. Return the beef to the pot and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover pot and reduce heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add the corn and bring back to a simmer. Cook for an extra 30 minutes.

Ladle chili into deep bowls and garnish with sour cream, finely chopped red onion and cilantro. Serve with corn chips or corn bread. Enjoy!

Print the Butternut, Corn & Black Bean Recipe Here

Other chili recipes:

Black Eyed Pea Chipotle Chili
Vegetarian Stagg Chili
Super Bowl Chili
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Vegetarian Black Bean Chipotle Chili
Left Over Brisket Chili
Spicy Beef Chili
Chili con Carne

Here’s a smooth, silky cream that can be made as a week day meal or as an appetizer when entertaining. It is smooth, silky, elegant and delicious! However you decide to use it, I promise you will love it! Here is what you are going to need for this beautiful soup:

3 leeks – white and light green parts sliced
6 small red potatoes – peeled and chopped
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth – or water
½ tsp. sugar
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ cup heavy cream
Salt & Pepper
2 TBS Butter
Parsley and chives – chopped

• Wash the leeks very well – rinsing them off 4 or 5 times until all the dirt is removed.
• Melt butter in a pot and add leeks. Cook for about 5 minutes until leeks are softened.
• Add the sugar to the leeks and mix well.
• Add the potatoes and the liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Bring pot to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for about 20 minutes – until potatoes are cooked through.
• Cool soup a little and blend into a smooth cream.
• Return to pot and add nutmeg and cream. Mix well.
• Heat through and serve.
• Garnish with chopped parsley and chive.
• Enjoy!

Print the Potato Leek Soup Recipe Here

Here’s a wonderful, delicious recipe for the much loved Shepard’s pie! It is loaded with veggies and is just plain good. Here is what you are going to need for this:

8 medium Russet potatoes
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 celery stalks
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons butter, sliced
½ cup milk

1. Peel and quarter the potatoes. Place in a pot, cover with water, salt and cook until potatoes are tender.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. Heat a pan with olive oil. Add the beef. Season with salt and pepper and brown. Drain the excess grease.
4. Clean pan with a paper towel. Add more olive oil and heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme. Cook for three minutes, stirring often. Add the carrots and celery and mix well. Add tomato paste and ½ cup stock. Mix well and cook for 6 to 7 minutes.
5. Add the beef and mix well. Add the rest of the stock and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. While the beef and veggies cook, place the potatoes in a bowl with some of the liquid it cooked in. Add the butter and the milk. Using a hand held mixer and mix, slowly for 2 to 3 minutes until potatoes are mashed and creamy.
7. Place a thin layer of mashed potatoes in a baking dish. Add the beef and vegetable mixture on top. Top with extra mashed potatoes.
8. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until beef is bubbling and potatoes are dry on top.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Print the Frugal Shepard’s Pie Recipe Here!

This recipe yielded enough meatballs for 2 meals. I made this soup and will use the rest for meatball and marinara sauce subs. This soup is quite easy to make and is delicious. Although it’s name suggests it, this soup is not Italian. It is an American creation that is quite popular. Here is what you need to do for this great soup:

FOR THE MEATBALLS:
½ pound ground beef or ground chicken
½ pound Italian sausage or chicken sausage
1/3 cup bread crumbs
3 garlic cloves – minced
1 egg – lightly beaten
2 TBS heavy cream
3 TBS finely chopped parsley
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 TBS grated yellow onion
2 tsp. coarse salt
2 tsp. black pepper

Place all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and make meat balls – about 1 inch in size. Place meatballs on a lined baking sheet. You should get at least 48. Calculate 6 meatballs per person and bake them. Freeze the rest for future use.
Heat an oven at 350 degrees. Place the meatballs into the oven and bake for about 30 minutes – until meatballs are cooked through and browned.
FOR THE SOUP:
2 TBS olive oil
1 small yellow onion – finely chopped
2 celery stalks – chopped
1 large carrot – diced
6 cups chicken broth
½ cup dry white wine
¾ cups small pasta – any kind will do as long as it is tiny (orzo, pearls, shells, etc)
1 cup torn spinach leaves

Add the olive oil to a large pot. Heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots. Sauté for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened.

Add the chicken stock and white wine. If you do not like cooking with wine go ahead and skip it. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Add the pasta and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes. You want the pasta to be al-dente. When the pasta is cooked, add about 24 of the cooked meatballs. Add black pepper and stir.

Add the spinach leaves. All you want is for them to wilt. Serve and enjoy with some crusty bread.

Print the Italian Wedding Soup Recipe Here

Black beans burgers are a great alternative to beef. They are full of protein and very low in fat. You can go ahead and make a sandwich with them or serve them as I did with a cabbage, tomato, cilantro and lime salad. Here is what you need for this:

2 – 15 oz. cans black beans –drained and rinsed
1 large garlic clove
3 TBS mayonnaise
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. dried oregano
1 small chipotle pepper (or ½ a large) – optional
1/3 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup minced red onion
1 TBS chopped cilantro

• Place on of the cans of drained and rinsed beans in the food processor.
• Place the second can into a bowl.
• Add the garlic, mayo, cumin, oregano. Chipotle and bread crumbs to the food processor. Process until beans are mashed and all ingredients are incorporated.
• Add the mashed beans to the bowl of whole beans. Add red onion and cilantro.
• Mix well and form patties.
• Heat a skillet with a little bit of oil. Add the patties and cook until bottom forms a brown crust. Flip burger and cook until second sides browns as well.
• Serve in a sandwich with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, red onion and tomato OR topped with cabbage salad.

CABBAGE SALAD:
1 small green cabbage head – sliced
2 medium tomatoes – chopped
¾ cup chopped cilantro
1 large lime – juiced
Salt to taste
• Mix cabbage, tomatoes and cilantro in a bowl. Add lime juice and season with salt.

Patty no bread or salad – CALORIES 220.75; FAT 4.41 grs (sat 0.48; mono 1.21; poly 2.06); PROTEIN 11.44 grs ; FIBER 12.77 grs; CARBS 42.07 grs; CHOLESTEROL 3.75 mg; IRON 4.11 mg; SODIUM 1702.68 mg; CALCIUM 146.96 mg

Print the Black Bean Burger Recipe Here

Vegetable soup is loaded in nutrients and quite easy to make. Here is a step-by-step video on how to make this very healthy meal. Feel free to use any vegetables you prefer. This is what you need to do for this:

1 medium white onion, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBS chopped cilantro
1 TBS chopped parsley
Veggies
1 ½ TBS white rice
6 cups water, vegetable broth or chicken broth
Salt & Pepper
Dried herbs of choice (oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme)-optional

· Heat a pan with some olive oil. Add all of the above ingredients and sauté for a few minutes, until onion starts browning lightly.
· Add any of the following veggies: cubed butternut squash, sliced green beans, diced potatoes, sliced cabbage, sliced carrots, peas, corn, sliced
okra, diced bell peppers, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets or any other vegetable you desire. Sauté for a few minutes.
· Add rice and liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Add your herb of choice, if any.
· Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes until veggies and rice are cooked through.
· Ladle into bowls. Garnish with finely chopped parsley.

Print the Vegetable Soup Recipe Here