photo by twoshortplanks
Packing school lunches can be hard work. It’s too easy to rely on pre-packaged snacks. Take a break from chips and preservative-laden store-bought cookies. Make these kid-friendly oatmeal treats. They’re great as after-school snacks, too. Remember advice from Cookie Monster: These are a sometimes food.
Banana Oat Muffins
1-1/2 cups flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable …

photo by biskuit
Every cook needs a few budget recipes she feels comfortable serving to guests. These south-of-the-border-inspired recipes will satisfy your spicy-food cravings. They are based on familiar recipes and will be well received. Enjoy!
Taco Cups
2 medium bell peppers
1/2 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 (16-ounce) can kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons taco-seasoning mix
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped …

photo by sporkist
Foil-packet meals are ideal for camping and open-fire cooking. But they can be made at home and cooked in the oven or on the grill, too. You can make sides such as potatoes or vegetables or entire meals. Grease your foil with nonstick cooking spray. Stack the ingredients in the middle of the foil, and don’t overfill your packets. Wrap loosely, and double-fold the foil over one inch …

photo by naotakem
Pasta is budget-friendly. It’s best stored dry in your pantry and cooked within a year and eaten within three days once cooked and refrigerated. It’s great any season, too. There are thousands of pasta shapes you can experiment with. So set aside the jar sauce and incorporate new pasta dishes into your weekly meal rotation.
Blushing Penne
16 ounces penne pasta
1 cup onions
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons …