Category Archives: Recipes & Cooking

Favorite simple yet delicious recipes in my Texas Homestead kitchen.

Grocery No-Spend Challenge: Week 2

by Texas Homesteader

Ok y’all, we’re still trucking along with this grocery no-spend challenge where we’ve agreed not to spend any money on food of any type (except Valentine’s Day) for the entire month of February.

That includes fresh foods such as milk, fruits & veggies. (although we may tweak this as the challenge goes on) It also includes soft drinks & juices, spices, eating out, etc.

Week one went without a hitch since our freezers and pantry were well-stocked with food to start with. But what about week 2?  Were there any hitches? How much discomfort? What have we learned?  Read on…

30-DAY GROCERY NO-SPEND CHALLENGE! No money spent on food for a full month - see how we survived week 2. Tips & recipes included! #TexasHomesteader

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Grocery No-Spend Challenge: Week 1

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

What is a grocery no-spend challenge? It’s where you eat only the food you already have in your home. No buying cans of shelf stable foods, or even fresh foods like milk and bread.

I’d embarked upon a grocery no-spend challenge for a whole month. Come see how week 1 went. 

Can we go a month without buying any food at all? I've embarked upon a grocery no-spend challenge for a month. Come see how week 1 went. #TexasHomesteader

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Homemade Bread-Making Shortcuts – Less Work, Less Cleanup

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

I bake LOTS of homemade bread whether in the oven or using a bread maker.

But I’ve incorporated many bread-making shortcuts so I’m not starting over every day. This speeds along my bread baking day with less effort. Come see my shortcut tips!

I bake LOTS of bread. But I've found homemade bread-making shortcuts so I'm not starting over every day. Come see my shortcut tips! #TexasHomesteader

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Quick & Easy No-Cook Cherry Shtuff Dessert

by Texas Homesteader ~
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There’s a favored family holiday no-cook sweet cherry dessert that my family loves. It’s filled with deliciousness such as cherry pie filling, whipped topping, crushed pineapple, cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. And it’s requested, errrrrdemanded every year by all in my family that I bring it. Luckily for me it’s super easy to whip together and requires NO COOKING.

Quick & Easy NO-COOK CHERRY DESSERT - This tasty dessert uses pie filling, cool whip, crushed pineapple, sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese! #TexasHomesteader

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Simple Gluten Free Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Did you know you can make your own gluten-free sweetened condensed milk in literally minutes?? I haven’t actually purchased an expensive can of this milk in years once I found out how easy it is to make myself.

It's shocking how easy it is to make sweetened condensed milk. In our area a can of the name-brand stuff sells for about $3.49. CRAZY! #TexasHomesteader

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Roasted Garden Tomatoes – A More Powerful Flavor!

by Texas Homesteader ~  
*includes affiliate link

When my vegetable garden gives me lots of those ripe, delicious tomatoes, I want to make sure none go to waste.

I’ve found that after we’ve eaten as many fresh as we could, I like to pop some in the freezer for later. But if I roast them first they’re more powerfully flavored and ready to use in my recipes.

I love garden tomatoes & there were many ways I enjoy them, but I wanted something different. These ROASTED TOMATOES were amazing! #TexasHomesteader

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