An Easy Smashed Potato & Ramp Frittata for the Best Brunch Ever

When I was growing up, my dad traveled a lot for work. He’d leave on a Monday and sometimes be gone for days. Once a year, his work would take him to the Pacific Northwest. I remember this because he would return from this trip each year with a special…

When I was growing up, my dad traveled a lot for work. He’d leave on a Monday and sometimes be gone for days. Once a year, his work would take him to the Pacific Northwest. I remember this because he would return from this trip each year with a special piece of cargo: fresh salmon on dry ice.

He’d re-tool his usual travel plan, checking his perfectly overhead bin-sized suitcase so that he could bring the salmon onto the plane as his carry-on. In Kansas, fresh, quality fish (at least fish from the sea) was a serious luxury. So when the salmon arrived home, it was treated like gold: My mom cooked it lovingly and carefully (seared and placed onto a ciabatta bun that had been mayo-ed and topped with lightly dressed arugula and a fat slice of peppered tomato). Dad went through all of this effort (and frankly, expense) for one meal’s worth of payoff, just so my mom and we kids could taste really good, fresh fish. This is one of the perks when you grow up in a house that takes food seriously.

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Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies

These super fudgy homemade brownies are thick, rich, extra-chocolatey, and super moist. They’re the ultimate homemade fudge brownie!

The post Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies appeared first on Budget Bytes.

These are some seriously fudgy brownies, guys. Like, if you’re not really into chocolate, you might want to just skip this one because these homemade brownies are about as close as you can get to fudge while still being a brownie. Consider the lines blurred. But if you like ’em thick, rich, fudgy, and moist, these are the brownies for you!

P.S. Did I mention that you can make these incredible brownies in just one bowl? Yeah, they’re easy AND delicious!

A stack of fudgy homemade brownies.

Fudgy Brownies vs. Cakey Brownies

There are two main camps when it comes to brownies: fudge brownies and cake brownies. Fudge brownies are dense, chewy, and rich. Cakey brownies are lighter and fluffier, and just more cake-like in texture. I’m definitely all about those fudge brownies, so that’s what we have here. But not just any fudge brownies, SUPER fudgy brownies.

How to Make Brownies Fudgy

The secret to making moist, fudgy brownies is all in the type of fat you use and how you use it. Butter offers the best flavor for brownies, but because it’s solid at room temperature, adding a little cooking oil in addition to the butter helps keep the brownies extra soft and moist as they cool.

Using melted butter instead of cold butter also helps keep the brownies extra rich and fudgy. When solid butter is creamed together with sugar, it aerates the batter creating a light cake-like texture in the brownie. Melted butter can’t trap air in the same way, resulting in a dense, rich brownie.

What Type of Chocolate to Use for Homemade Brownies

This recipe calls for chocolate in two forms: unsweetened cocoa powder and chocolate chips. I used a generic cocoa powder because I wanted to make sure these brownies would still be excellent even on a budget (they are), but if you have room in your budget for a higher quality cocoa powder, your brownies will only get better.

As for the chocolate chips, you can choose just about anything. Semi-sweet, dark, mint, peanut butter, large, small, whatever. Anything goes when it comes to the chips! This is a great way to use up leftover chips that you might have in your pantry. ;)

Homemade brownies scattered on a surface, from above.
A hand holding a stack of super fudgy homemade brownies.

Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies

These super fudgy homemade brownies are thick, rich, extra-chocolatey, and super moist. They're the ultimate homemade fudge brownie!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Total Cost $3.93 recipe / $0.44 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 9
Calories 374kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 12 Tbsp butter (salted) $1.32
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder $0.42
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar $0.20
  • 2 large eggs $0.42
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract $0.56
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.01
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour $0.05
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips $0.83

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Melt the butter in a large bowl (or in a saucepot and then transfer to a bowl).
  • Add the cooking oil and cocoa powder to the melted butter and whisk until smooth.
  • Whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture until evenly incorporated, then whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt.
  • Stir in the flour until it forms a thick batter. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Prepare an 8×8-inch baking dish by coating it with butter or non-stick spray, then laying in a piece of parchment paper (the paper does not need to cover all sides of the dish). Add the brownie batter to the prepared dish, then spread it out evenly.
  • Bake the brownies in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. The brownies will be quite soft and moist, even when fully baked.
  • Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes before lifting them out of the baking dish. Slice into nine pieces and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 22g | Sodium: 205mg | Fiber: 3g
A hand holding a stack of super fudgy homemade brownies.

How to Make Fudgy Homemade Brownies – Step by Step Photos

Butter in a bowl

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Melt ¾ cup (12 Tbsp, or 1.5 sticks) butter in a large bowl. I use a microwave, but you can also do this in a saucepot and then transfer it to a bowl.

Cocoa powder added to melted butter.

Whisk ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 Tbsp cooking oil into the melted butter until smooth.

sugar added to the butter and chocolate.

Whisk 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar into the butter and cocoa mixture.

Eggs and vanilla added to batter in the bowl.

Whisk two large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp salt into the batter.

flour added to the bowl of brownie batter.

Stir ¾ cup of all-purpose flour into the brownie batter until evenly combined.

chocolate chips being added to the brownie batter.

Fold ½ cup chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

Brownie batter in the prepared baking dish.

Coat an 8×8-inch baking dish in butter or non-stick spray, then lay parchment paper in the dish (it doesn’t need to cover all sides, it just makes it easy to lift the brownies out of the dish). Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread it smooth.

Baked brownies in the baking dish.

Bake the brownies in the preheated 350ºF oven for 40 minutes. The brownies will be very soft and moist when hot, so let them cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the dish.

sliced brownies on a piece of parchment paper.

Once the brownies are slightly cooled, you can use the parchment to lift them out of the baking dish. You can cut them while still warm (they will still be quite soft) or let them cool even further for cleaner cuts.

Side view of a stack of fudgy homemade brownies.

Enjoy all that fudgy brownie goodness! 🤤

Love Chocolate? Try These Recipes:

The post Super Fudgy Homemade Brownies appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Homemade Crepes

This easy crepe recipe will make your weekends extra special! Make sweet or savory crepes with all your favorite fillings.

The post Easy Homemade Crepes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

In the battle between crepes and pancakes, I’ll side with crepes any day. Why? Because they’re endlessly versatile (serve them up with sweet or savory fillings) and their thin and light texture means I can enjoy a lot more of them before feeling overly stuffed. 😅 I mean sure, a big stack of fluffy pancakes always have their place, but crepes for me are just tops. Need more convincing? Keep reading…

Originally posted 5-11-2015, updated 4-9-2022.

Two folded crepes on a plate stuffed with peanut butter and bananas

What’s the Difference Between Crepes and Pancakes?

Crepes, like pancakes, are made with a simple batter comprised of flour, eggs, milk, and butter. The main difference between crepes and pancakes is the ratio of ingredients in the batter which creates different textures in the pancakes. Crepes are very thin and flexible, making them perfect for filling, folding, and rolling. Their delicate flavor also pairs well with both sweet and savory ingredients. American pancakes, on the other hand, are thick, fluffy, and far more cake-like. 

Make Sweet or Savory Crepes

The basic crepes recipe below is neutral in flavor and pairs well with either sweet or savory fillings. If you want your crepes to be a little sweeter and more dessert-like, you can add 1 Tbsp granulated sugar and ½ tsp vanilla extract to the batter.

Crepe Fillings

The best part about crepes is filling them with all sorts of fun ingredients! Scavenge your fridge and pantry for anything you might need to use up, and come up with your own fun flavor combinations, or try one of these filling ideas for crepes:

  • Yogurt and jam
  • Ham and cheese
  • Lemon curd and whipped cream
  • Nutella and berries
  • Spinach and goat cheese or swiss
  • Sweetened ricotta and berries
  • Banana and peanut butter
  • Egg and cheese
  • Chocolate and strawberries
  • Apples and cinnamon

side view of stacked crepes folded over on the plate.

Fold or Roll Your Crepes

Once you’ve chosen the fun fillings for your crepes, you can either fold or roll those fillings up in the crepe. To fold the crepes, cover half of the crepe with your toppings, fold the crepe in half to close, and then fold in half once more so it’s in a quarter-round. To roll the crepes, place your toppings down the center, or slightly to one side, then fold one side over the toppings, then continue to roll to the other side. 

How to Store Leftover Crepes

…If there are any leftovers! Leftover crepes store well in the fridge for quick use later in the week, and you can even freeze them for longer storage. Keep refrigerated crepes in a gallon-sized zip top bag or other air-tight food storage container for 4-5 days. To freeze, make sure to place a piece of parchment between each crepe so they don’t stick together once frozen. 

Folded crepes on a plate with ingredients on the sides.

Folded crepes on a plate with ingredients on the sides.

Easy Homemade Crepes

This easy crepe recipe will make your weekends extra special! Make sweet or savory crepes with all your favorite fillings.
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine French
Total Cost $1.16 recipe / $0.19 each
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rest time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 crepes
Calories 216kcal
Author Beth - Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour $0.07
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.02
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature* $0.46
  • 1 cup milk, warmed* $0.20
  • 3 Tbsp melted butter $0.33
  • 1/4 cup water $0.00
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil, for the skillet $0.00

Instructions

  • Add the flour, salt, eggs, milk, melted butter, and water together in a large bowl until it forms a smooth and slightly thick batter.
  • Let the batter rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to two days.
  • When ready to make your crepes, heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Once hot, brush with about ½ tsp oil.
  • Pour about ⅓ cup of the batter into the skillet and begin to tilt the skillet in a circular motion to allow the batter to evenly cover the surface of the skillet.
  • Allow the batter to cook until mostly set, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side. The total cook time for each side will vary depending on your skillet and stove top. You may need to adjust the heat up or down as you go.
  • Repeat with the rest of the batter, adding more oil between crepes as needed. As you cook the crepes, stack them on a clean plate and cover with a towel to keep warm. Once all of the crepes are cooked, fill, fold, or roll the crepes then serve.

Notes

*Using room temperature or slightly warmed milk and eggs helps the melted butter incorporate more evenly into the batter rather than having it solidify as soon as it comes into contact with cold milk and eggs.
**To make sweet crepes, add 1 Tbsp sugar and ½ tsp vanilla to your batter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1crepe | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Sodium: 279mg | Fiber: 1g

close up side view of two crepes on a plate stuffed with peanut butter and bananas.

How to Make Crepes – Step by Step Photos

Melted butter being poured into the bowl of crepe batter ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ tsp salt, 2 large eggs (room temperature, 1 cup milk (room temperature), 3 Tbsp melted butter, and ¼ cup water.

crepe batter dripping off the spoon into the bowl.

Whisk the ingredients together until it creates a smooth batter that is thin enough to run off the spoon. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to two days.

Oil being brushed onto a skillet.

Heat a 10-inch non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, brush about ½ tsp oil over the surface of the pan.

Crepe batter being poured into the pan.

Pour about ⅓ cup batter into the center of the pan, then immediately tilt the skillet around in a circle to allow the batter to thinly cover the surface.

crepe batter covering the surface of the skillet.

Getting the batter to evenly cover the surface may take a little practice, but don’t worry, even if they’re not perfectly shaped they still taste great! And it can make for a fun Saturday morning game. Once the batter is mostly set, it’s time to flip the crepe.

golden brown flipped crepe in the skillet.

Flip the crepe and cook until golden brown on the second side. The time needed to cook the crepe until golden brown on each side will vary depending on your skillet and characteristics of your stove, so you may need to play around a bit and adjust the heat as you go.

cooked crepes tucked in under a towel on a plate.

As you cook the crepes, pile the finished crepes onto a plate and cover with a clean towel to keep warm. This recipe will make about six crepes.

yogurt and jam being spread on the center of a crepe.

Once they’re all cooked, it’s time to fill and enjoy! To roll the crepes, place your fillings down the center or slightly to one side, then fold one side in over the toppings and continue to roll to the other side.

peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chips on a crepe.

To fold the crepes, place your fillings over one half of the crepe, then fold to close. 

Filled and folded crepe on a plate.

Fold in half one more time to create a quarter-round.

Two filled and folded crepes on a plate.

And then once the crepes are filled and folded or rolled, you can top them with even more ingredients like powdered sugar, whipped cream, or maple syrup.

Stacked crepes on a plate fanned out.

What is your favorite crepe filling? Share in the comments below. :)

The post Easy Homemade Crepes appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Blood Orange Curd Brownies

Vibrant in both flavor and color, these blood orange brownies feature a layer of rich, fudgy chocolate brownie topped with a tart blood orange curd. Chocolate and orange are a classic combination, but not one often seen in brownies (or if it is, flavored with little more than a bit of zest or orange extract). […]

The post Blood Orange Curd Brownies first appeared on Love and Olive Oil.

Vibrant in both flavor and color, these blood orange brownies feature a layer of rich, fudgy chocolate brownie topped with a tart blood orange curd.

Chocolate and orange are a classic combination, but not one often seen in brownies (or if it is, flavored with little more than a bit of zest or orange extract). This lovely layered treat is as much about the citrus curd as it is about the brownie, resulting in a rush of flavor and luscious texture in each and every bite.

Cut squares of Blood Orange Curd Brownies topped wtih little wedges of blood orange, on parchment with whole and cut oranges around.

I first set out to make a lemon bar brownie, with a layer of tart lemon curd on top of a rich chocolate brownie. It was an unusual idea, for sure, but I was kind of excited about it, to be honest.

But Taylor has some sort of moral opposition to the combination of lemon and chocolate, why I cannot say, and managed to talk me into doing an orange version instead.

I actually made a half batch of each, one orange, one lemon, for research purposes, and brought both with me to ceramics class along with a paper to collect votes on which one everyone preferred. It was a close match, but ultimately the orange won by a single vote. And who am I to deny the people what they want?

Neat grid of Blood Orange Curd Brownies cut into squares, one piece propped up to showcase the perfectly defined layers of brownie and deeply-colored blood orange curd.

My main challenge when testing this recipe is that orange curd, unlike lemon curd, has a tendency to be somewhat bland tasting (especially when you are comparing it bite for bite to lemon curd, which is why it surprised me that the orange version won, since it was my first batch and the orange was rather dull in comparison).

While the flavor of orange and chocolate go together beautifully, the lemon definitely had a noticeably brighter, punchier flavor. I wanted to see if I could replicate that tartness in the orange version.

(more…)

Vegetable Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice is a fast, easy, delicious, and budget-friendly meal that you can whip up with ingredients on hand at any time!

The post Vegetable Fried Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Fried rice is a take-out classic because it’s fast, easy, filling, delicious, and inexpensive, which is everything I want from a meal made at home, too! I love making vegetable fried rice at home because it’s an easy way to use up odds and ends in my fridge, it’s always satisfying, and it’s FAST. Plus, I can always add some meat or seafood if I’m feeling it!

Originally posted 6/2/2010, updated 3/30/2022.

Overhead view of a black plate full of vegetable fried rice on a yellow background

What is Fried Rice?

Fried rice is a Chinese dish made with cooked rice that is then stir-fried in a wok with other ingredients, like meat, seafood, vegetables, and eggs, and then seasoned with a savory sauce. It’s extremely flexible and budget-friendly, which is why we love this dish! The recipe below is an American adaptation, using a skillet instead of a wok and ingredients that are easily sourced in most American grocery stores. If you’d like to try an authentic Chinese Fried Rice recipe, be sure to check out Chinese Fried Rice from Rasa Malaysia, Egg Fried Rice from Red House Spice, or Classic Chicken Fried Rice from The Woks of Life.

Use Leftover Rice for Best Results

To avoid clumpy or gummy fried rice, use rice that has been previously cooked and completely cooled, preferably overnight. The slightly drier, less starchy rice is perfect for stir-frying because it can absorb moisture from the sauce and vegetables without becoming overly sticky. If you don’t have leftover rice from the day before, simply cook some rice, spread it out thin on a baking sheet or wide baking dish for faster cooling, then refrigerate until completely cool before using in the stir fry. 

Do I Need a Wok?

Woks are wonderful for stir fry because the large surface area makes it possible to add a lot of ingredients without overcrowding. While using a frying pan doesn’t work quite as well, we can make up for the crowding issue by cooking the ingredients separately, then combining them at the very end. 

What Else Can I Add to Vegetable Stir Fry?

Here’s my favorite part. A simple Vegetable Stiry is a blank slate for all sorts of add ins, whether it’s more vegetables, a meat or seafood, a different sauce, or even a crunchy topping! Here are some other fun add-ins for your stir fry:

  • Other vegetables like beansprouts, mushrooms, green beans, corn, broccoli, red chiles, or kimchi
  • Meat or seafood like chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, or sausage
  • Other sauces like oyster sauce, sriracha, or chili crisp
  • Crunchy toppers like cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds, crushed ramen noodles

Overhead view of fried rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

Overhead view of a plate full of vegetable fried rice on a yellow background.

Vegetable Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice is a fast, easy, delicious, and budget-friendly meal that you can whip up with ingredients on hand at any time!
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American, Chinese
Total Cost $4.50 recipe / $1.13 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 4 about 1.25 cups each
Calories 336kcal
Author Beth - Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced $0.16
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger $0.10
  • 1 carrot, diced $0.16
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced $1.50
  • 4 green onions, sliced $0.40
  • 1 cup frozen peas $0.50
  • 3 Tbsp cooking oil, divided $0.12
  • 3 cups cooked and cooled rice $0.62
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce $0.18
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil $0.30

Instructions

  • Prepare the vegetables before hand so they're ready to go when needed. Mince the garlic, grate the ginger, dice the carrot and bell pepper, slice the green onions (separate the green ends from the white ends), and measure the frozen peas.
  • Lightly whisk the eggs in a small bowl. Heat a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the eggs and gently scramble until cooked through. Transfer the cooked eggs to a clean bowl or plate.
  • There should be a good amount of oil left in the skillet. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Add the diced carrots and stir and cook for about two minutes. Next add the bell pepper and the white firm ends of the green onions. Cook and stir for one minute more. Finally, add the frozen peas and stir and cook until heated through. Transfer the vegetables to a clean bowl or plate.
  • Add the remaining 1 Tbsp cooking oil to the skillet and swirl to coat the surface. Add the garlic, ginger, and cooked and cooled rice to the skillet. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the rice is heated through.
  • Pour the soy sauce and toasted sesame oil over the rice. Stir the rice and sauce together until evenly combined. Turn the heat off.
  • Add the eggs and vegetables back to the skillet with the rice and stir to combine. Allow the residual heat to heat everything through. Top with the remaining green ends of the sliced green onions. Taste and adjust the soy sauce or sesame oil to your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Sodium: 771mg | Fiber: 4g

side view of a plate full of fried rice with chop sticks on the side.

How to Make Fried Rice – Step By Step Photos

Chopped vegetables on a cutting board

Prep the vegetables before you begin cooking because once you start, it will go fast! Mince two cloves of garlic and mince or grate about 1 tsp fresh ginger. Peel and dice one large carrot and one red bell pepper. Slice four green onions, separating the tender green top half from the firm lower half, and measure out one cup of frozen peas.

Scrambled eggs in a skillet

Lightly whisk two large eggs. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 Tbsp cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface. Add the eggs to the skillet and gently scramble until cooked through. Remove the scrambled eggs to a clean bowl or plate.

Sautéed vegetables in the skillet

There should be quite a bit of oil left in the skillet after removing the eggs. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Add the diced carrot to the skillet and stir fry for about two minutes. Next, add the bell pepper and the firm white ends of the sliced green onion. Stir fry for about a minute more. Lastly, add the frozen peas and stir fry just until heated through. Remove the vegetables to a clean bowl or plate.

Stir fried rice in the skillet.

Add another tablespoon of cooking oil to the skillet and swirl to coat the surface again. Add the minced garlic, ginger, and three cups of cooked and cooled rice to the hot skillet. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes. Don’t worry if the rice sticks a bit to the bottom. It will loosen after the sauce is added.

Stir fry sauce being poured over the rice.

Add 3 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil to the rice. Fold the rice and sauce together until the rice is evenly coated in the sauce.

vegetables and eggs added back to the rice.

Add the vegetables and eggs back to the skillet. Turn the heat off and stir to combine, allowing the residual heat to reheat everything through.

Finished vegetable fried rice in the skillet.

Top with the sliced green ends of the green onions and you’re done! Give it a taste and add extra soy sauce or sesame oil to fit your taste buds.

finished vegetable fried rice in a skillet against a yellow background.

What do you like to put in your fried rice?

You Might Also Like:

The post Vegetable Fried Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Mini Broccoli Cheddar Quiches

Impress your guests with the perfect little mini broccoli cheddar quiches. Great for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any brunch gathering.

The post Mini Broccoli Cheddar Quiches appeared first on Budget Bytes.

A couple of years ago I made these adorable little mini pecan pies, and then last year I did a pumpkin pie version, and now I’m doing it with a savory pie! Or a quiche, rather. These cute little two-bite Mini Broccoli Cheddar Quiches make a fun grab-n-go meal prep breakfast, or a great finger food for brunch or Easter gatherings. They’re so cute that they’re sure to impress any guest!

Mini broccoli cheddar quiches in a muffin tin.

Can I Make Them Ahead?

These little quiches are definitely best right after baking, although I still enjoyed the leftovers quite a bit. If I were making them for guests, I would definitely make them on the same day as serving. If I were making them for myself, I’d happily eat the leftovers over the span of a few days. The biggest change is that the crust softens as it is stored in the refrigerator. They’ll probably be good for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Mini Quiches?

I did test a couple of the quiches to see if they held up to freezing (mostly for meal prep purposes). I microwaved one straight from the freezer without thawing for one minute and it came out piping hot and delicious, but with a very soft crust. I allowed the second quiche to thaw in the refrigerator over night and then microwaved until warm. That method turned out about the same as the one microwaved straight from the freezer.

Try Different Flavors

You can try swapping out the broccoli and cheddar with different flavor combinations. Here are some other ingredients you can try:

  • Sausage (browned)
  • Ham
  • Onion (sautéed)
  • Bell pepper (sautéed)
  • Bacon
  • Spinach (sautéed)
  • Sun dried tomatoes
  • Swiss cheese
  • Gruyere
  • Smoked mozzarella
  • Parmesan
Side view of a mini broccoli cheddar quiche cut in half.
mini broccoli cheddar quiches in a muffin tin.

Mini Broccoli Cheddar Quiches

Impress your guests with the perfect little mini broccoli cheddar quiches. Great for Easter, Mother's Day, or any brunch gathering.
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $4.74 recipe / $0.40 each
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 12 quiches
Calories 213kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

Crust

  • 8 Tbsp butter, room temperature $0.80
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature $0.58
  • 1 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour $0.07

Filling

  • 2 large eggs $0.46
  • 1/2 cup milk $0.10
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan $0.44
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/2 lb. frozen broccoli florets, thawed $1.08
  • 4 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded $0.58

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Add the room temperature butter and room temperature cream cheese to a bowl. Use a mixer to whip them together until evenly combined.
  • Begin stirring in the flour, about ¼ cup at a time, until a dough forms. The dough should be soft, but not sticky.
  • Divide the dough into 12 equal portions (begin by dividing into four pieces, then divide each quarter into three equal-sized pieces). Roll each piece of dough into a ball, then drop each one into the well of a muffin tin. Use your fingers to press the dough down into the center and up the sides of the wells (see step by step photos below for more help).
  • Finely chop the thawed broccoli florets (about 1.5 cups once chopped). Shred the cheddar cheese (about 1 cup shredded). Add the broccoli and cheddar to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
  • Divide the broccoli cheddar mixture between the twelve mini pie crusts. The liquid egg mixture will not fully submerge the broccoli and cheddar in the crusts, but it will puff up and fill the crust once baked.
  • Bake the mini quiches in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until puffed in the center and golden brown around the edges.
  • Carefully transfer the baked quiches to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm, or at room temperature within two hours of baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1mini quiche | Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 259mg | Fiber: 1g
Mini broccoli cheddar quiches on a wire cooling rack.

How to Make Mini Broccoli Cheddar Quiches – Step by Step Photos

Butter and cream cheese in a bowl.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Add 8 Tbsp room temperature butter and 4oz. room temperature cream cheese to a bowl.

whipped butter and cream cheese in a bowl.

Use a mixer to whip the butter and cream cheese together until well combined.

Finished quiche dough after flour is added.

Begin stirring in all-purpose flour, about ¼ cup at a time, until it forms a dough (it should be similar in texture to playdough). You’ll need to add about 1 cup + 2 Tbsp flour total.

Dough being pressed into the muffin tin

Divide the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces. To do this, divide the dough into four equal-sized pieces first. From there, divide each quarater into three equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place them into the wells of a muffin tin. Use your fingers to press the dough down and up the sides of the muffin tin wells. Make sure to get down into the corners of the well where a lot of the dough can accumulate and get too thick.

eggs, cheese, and milk in a bowl with a whisk.

Whisk together 2 large eggs, ½ cup milk, ¼ cup grated Parmesan, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp pepper, and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl.

Chopped broccoli on a cutting board.

Finely chop ½ lb. thawed frozen broccoli florets. You’ll want about 1.5 cups once chopped.

Broccoli and cheddar added to egg mixture.

Add the chopped broccoli and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese to the egg mixture and stir to combine.

broccoli cheddar mixture being portioned into muffin tin.

Divide the mixture among the twelve mini pie crusts.

broccoli cheddar quiches in the muffin tin ready to bake.

Don’t worry if the liquid egg and milk mixture does not come all the way to the top of the broccoli and cheddar. The egg will puff up and surround the broccoli as they bake. Just try to get a fairly even amount in each one.

Baked broccoli cheddar quiches in the muffin tin.

Bake the broccoli cheddar quiches in the preheated 350ºF oven for about 35 minutes, or until puffed up and golden brown around the edges.

Mini broccoli cheddar quiches on a wire cooling rack.

Transfer the mini quiches to a wire rack to cool, then serve. The quiches should just pop right out of the muffin tin if you insert a butter knife between the tin and the side of the quiche. Just be gentle, as they will be slightly soft when hot.

broccoli cheddar quiches on a wire cooling rack, some stacked

Enjoy warm, or at room temperature within two hours of baking. Or, store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

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Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

These dairy-free flourless peanut butter cookies are soft, rich, and have the perfect salty-sweet balance.

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Flourless AND dairy-free peanut butter cookies, I should say. These cookies are a great option for my gluten-free and dairy-free friends, but I love them just because they’re just so incredibly easy. These peanut butter cookies are rich, soft, and perfectly salty-sweet. And because they’re so easy to make (no mixer required), I bet they’d be a fun weekend project to make with the kids!

Overhead view of peanut butter cookies scattered on a surface.

What’s in Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies?

Flourless peanut butter cookies have been around for a while and the concept is simple: peanut butter + egg + sugar bakes into a tasty, sweet, and soft cookie. Most flourless peanut butter cookies use peanut butter-like JIF or Peter Pan, which has a fairly solid texture at room temperature. I prefer natural peanut butter, which is a little runnier, so I had to adjust the formula a bit to help the cookies keep their shape.

To account for the softer, almost liquid-like, texture of natural peanut butter, I substituted some of the regular sugar in the cookie for powdered sugar. Powdered sugar has an incredible thickening property that worked perfectly for helping these cookies hold their shape despite the soft peanut butter.

a peanut butter cookie broken in half facing the camera close up.

Can I Use Other Nut and Seed Butters?

While I haven’t tried other nut butters in this recipe, I would expect them to work so long as they have a similar texture to the natural peanut butter used here. Almond butter sounds great, as does sunflower butter. I bet tahini might even be interesting! Just keep in mind that if your nut butter has added sugar, you may want to reduce the sugar in the recipe below.

You may also need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar depending on the viscosity of your nut butter to make sure the dough has the correct texture.

What Else Can I Add?

These peanut butter cookies would be so fun to add some mix-ins or toppings! I originally planned to drizzle a little melted chocolate over my cookies (after they’re cooled), but realized too late that I was out. You could also mix in some chocolate chips, nuts, or crushed pretzels into the dough.

A stack of peanut butter cookies with a few scattered around.
flourless peanut butter cookies scattered on a surface

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

These dairy-free flourless peanut butter cookies are soft, rich, and have the perfect salty-sweet balance. 
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Total Cost $1.65 recipe / $0.14 each
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 12 cookies
Calories 207kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup natural peanut butter $1.10
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar $0.12
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar $0.05
  • 1 large egg $0.23
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract $0.14
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder $0.01

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and stir until it forms a cohesive dough. It should be firm enough to pull away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough is still too soft, add a tablespoon or two more of powdered sugar to further firm up the dough.
  • Divide the cookie dough into twelve pieces. Roll each piece into a ball then flatten it slightly. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and then use a fork to create a corss hatch pattern on the top of the cookie.
  • Bake the cookies for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. After baking, allow them to cool for about five minutes on the baking sheet, or until they're firm enough to lift with a spatula.
  • Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, then serve and enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 123mg | Fiber: 1g
flourless peanut butter cookies lined up on a baking sheet.

How to Make Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies – Step by Step Photos

peanut butter cookie ingredients in a bowl, unmixed.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Add one cup natural peanut butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ⅔ cup powdered sugar, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon baking powder to a bowl. The dough will be easier to mix together if the peanut butter is not chilled.

peanut butter cookie dough mixed in the bowl.

Mix these ingredients together until they form a cohesive dough that is firm enough to pull away from the sides of the bowl.

a fork pressing into unbaked shaped cookies

Divide the dough into twelve pieces, roll each one into a ball, then flatten slightly. Use a fork to make a cross hatch pattern in the top of each cookie.

unbaked peanut butter cookies on a baking sheet

I like to bake the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet to make cleanup super fast and easy. Make sure to space the cookies a couple of inches apart, as they will grow a bit as they bake!

Baked peanut butter cookies on the baking sheet

Bake the cookies in a preheated 350ºF oven for 12 minutes. Let the baked cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes so they can firm up before using a spatula to transfer to a wire rack (they’ll be super soft when hot).

A stack of peanut butter cookies with a few scattered around.

After allowing the cookies to cool completely, store in an air-tight container at room temperature for about a week, or they can be frozen for a few months!

Try These Other Cookie Recipes:

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Salsa Poached Eggs

These salsa poached eggs are like a southwest spin on shakshuka—eggs poached in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce with onion, garlic, and green chiles.

The post Salsa Poached Eggs appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If you love shakshuka, you’re going to love these Salsa Poached Eggs! Just like shakshuka, these eggs are poached in a rich tomato-based sauce, but I’ve traded in the sweet bell pepper and paprika for a sort of cooked salsa made with onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, and green chiles, giving it a southwest spin. The result is a really tasty and filling dish that can be served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. And, as always, I’ve got multiple serving suggestions and optional add-ins for you below so you can make it your own!

Originally posted 6-7-2011, updated 2-26-2022.

salsa poached eggs in a skillet with tortilla chips and green onion on the sides

How to Serve Salsa Poached Eggs

I originally posted this recipe as a bowl meal served over grits. The tomatoey sauce goes perfectly with a hot bowl of grits, or even better yet, cheese grits, but it’s great served other ways as well. These saucy eggs also go great with tortilla chips. You can either serve the eggs in a bowl with tortilla chips crushed over top, or scoop the chips right into the sauce. Or, if you’re a rice person, serve the eggs and plenty of the sauce from the skillet over a bowl of warm rice.

What Else Can I Add?

I love this recipe because it’s really flexible. There are so many things you can add if you have them on hand. Try adding the following ingredients to the sauce:

  • Jalapeños
  • Chipotle powder (for extra smoky-spicy flavor)
  • Black beans
  • Chorizo
  • Fire-roasted corn

And you can also get creative with the toppings! Here are some extra topping ideas for your salsa poached eggs:

  • Cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Avocado
  • Hot sauce

Make 4-6 Eggs

I cooked four eggs in my “salsa” but you could probably fit six if you wanted to try to stretch it a little further!

Close up of salsa poached eggs in the skillet with tortilla chips

Close up of salsa poached eggs in the skillet with tortilla chips

Salsa Poached Eggs

These salsa poached eggs are like a southwest spin on shakshuka. Eggs poached in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce with green chiles.
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Israeli, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Southwest, Tunisian
Total Cost $3.96 recipe / $0.99 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 187kcal
Author Beth - Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow onion $0.32
  • 2 cloves garlic $0.16
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32
  • 1 15oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes $1.00
  • 1 4oz. can diced green chiles $0.67
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste $0.14
  • 1/2 tsp cumin $0.05
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne $0.02
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.03
  • 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 1/2 cup water $0.00
  • 4 large eggs $0.93
  • 2 green onions, sliced $0.20
  • 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional) $0.10

Instructions

  • Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add both to a deep skillet with the olive oil and sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft.
  • Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), green chiles (with juices), tomato paste, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and water. Stir to combine.
  • Allow the salsa to come up to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Let the salsa simmer for about ten minutes, or until it is slightly thickened.
  • Use the back of a spoon to make four indentations in the sauce. Crack one egg into each indentation.
  • Place a lid on the skillet, turn the heat down to medium-low, and let the eggs simmer in the sauce for 7-10 minutes, or until they reach your desired doneness (less time for runny yolks, more time for solid yolks).
  • Once the eggs are cooked, garnish with sliced green onion and chopped cilantro, then serve with tortilla chips or over a bowl of grits.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 706mg | Fiber: 2g

 

salsa poached egg in a bowl with grits

Shown served over a bowl of grits.

How to Make Salsa Poached Eggs – Step By Step Photos

Onion and garlic in a skillet with oil.

Start by dicing one yellow onion and mincing two cloves of garlic. Add the onion, garlic, and 2 Tbsp olive oil to a deep skillet. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft.

Tomatoes, chiles, and spices added to the skillet.

Add one 15oz. can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with juices), one 4oz. can of diced green chiles (with juices), 2 Tbsp tomato paste, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper, and ½ cup water. Stir to combine.

Simmered salsa in the skillet, a spoon dragging to show thickness.

Allow the mixture to come up to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer the “salsa” for about 10 minutes. It should be a fairly thick sauce.

Eggs cracked into the tomato sauce.

Use a spoon to make slight indentations in the sauce, then crack one egg into each indentation (four or six eggs total). 

Poached eggs in the sauce.

Place a lid on the skillet, turn the heat down to medium-low, and let the eggs simmer in the sauce for 7-10 minutes, or until they’ve reached your desired doneness. Set whites with runny yolks will be about seven minutes while a fully cooked yolk will take about ten minutes.

Poached eggs garnished with green onion and cilantro.

Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped cilantro (optional).

Finished salsa poached eggs with chips and green onion on the sides

Serve hot with tortilla chips or over a bowl of rice or grits. 

close up of the yolk being broken with a fork in a bowl of salsa and grits

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How to Hard-Boil Eggs to Dye for Easter

Every year on the Saturday before Easter, my family gathers around our kitchen table and dyes eggs together. We fill my parents’ set of Corelle Shadow Iris mugs with hot water, a splash of white vinegar, and a few drops of every shade of dye in our box…

Every year on the Saturday before Easter, my family gathers around our kitchen table and dyes eggs together. We fill my parents’ set of Corelle Shadow Iris mugs with hot water, a splash of white vinegar, and a few drops of every shade of dye in our box of McCormick food coloring. We grab spoons and toothpicks, rubber bands and Q-Tips, and begin to discuss décor ideas: pink ombré, a warm sunrise, stripes and polka dots, or a cross crafted out of the aforementioned rubber bands.

But before dyeing said Easter eggs, my dad spends part of the morning carefully cooking eggs for our favorite holiday craft. Turns out, there’s no real difference between cooking perfect hard-boiled eggs for a quick breakfast or eggs for Easter. If anything, it’s slightly easier to boil eggs for coloring because you don’t need to worry about any “easy-peel methods”—such as adding baking soda to the boiling water or letting the eggs cool off in an ice bath for five minutes post-cook, pre-peel. Here’s how you do it.

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Chicken Meatballs

We make meatballs all of the time because they are easy and our boys LOVE them. Spaghetti and Meatballs are the classic, but when we want to lighten things up a little and go a little more basic, we make Baked Chicken Meatballs. The meatballs are moist…

We make meatballs all of the time because they are easy and our boys LOVE them. Spaghetti and Meatballs are the classic, but when we want to lighten things up a little and go a little more basic, we make Baked Chicken Meatballs. The meatballs are moist, flavorful, and you only need one bowl to…