Creamy Potato and Cauliflower Soup!

This is usually a winter delight - but it's so easy I couldn't resist!  This makes a HUGE pot of soup! It fed 4 last night and 3 people for lunch today...with the fourth being a teenaged girl...I'm sure there will even some after she's done.... ALL for around THREE BUCKS!


Creamy Potato and Cauliflower Soup


1 Head of Cauliflower
1 Bag of Potatoes
1 Bunch of Celery

Boil potatoes and celery first. 

Then add cauliflower until it's softened. As with most of my recipes - your seasonings are up to you. I added oregano, salt, seasoned pepper and EVOO.

Then CAREFULLY add some veggies and some broth into a mixer. 

Cover loosely with the lid and start whirring on a low setting, ending on a faster setting to pulverize it all. Add it to a pot. Repeat this until it's ALL done. One thing I do is leave the last batch a bit chunky, but you can blend all of them to have an entirely creamy soup.

Put it back on the stove and warm up. Add some milk or cream. And serve!

Some extras you can add is cheese and sour cream!

Baked Rigatoni

This is a dish that's easy to do and thanks to 99 Cent Only Store...I fed my family of 4 with PLENTY of leftovers for around SEVEN BUCKS!

Here's the Recipe and Savings!

(You can cut this recipe in half...but I love having leftovers to feed the mass of teens in and out of our house during the summer days and nights!)

2 Bags Rigatoni Pasta

1 Can Whole Tomatoes

1 Can Garlic & Onion Tomato Sauce

1 Bag Cheese (variety is king at the store - so choose what kind you want)

2 Pkg. Italian Squash

*There's your $7.00

Seasonings can be whatever you have on hand!

Boil the pasta until it's al dente - you don't want them mushy and falling apart. 

Drain noodles. 

Rough chop whole tomatoes. 

Put the noodles back into your pot you cooked them in and add the whole tomatoes and sauce and stir. 

Add the cheese and any seasonings you want from simple salt and pepper to garlic salt, oregano, basil or any Italian seasonings you wish! And STIR!

Pour everything into a casserole dish and back at 400 for about 20 minutes. 

AND EAT!!

I was lucky to find Italian Squash at the 99 Cent Only Store and I sauteed that in some EVOO with a dash of salt, pepper and oregano and there's my side!

Oh...and for dessert - Chocolate Chip Cookies....so for a grand total of about $8.00 for dinner for 4 AND leftovers galore!

Breakfast Tacos

Unfortunately as my life goes - it was a BUSY morning in our household. I woke up at 5:30am as usual and scampered to the kitchen to start 3 pasta salads for myself, one of my kids and my mister for lunches. While that was going I had to make breakfast tacos for everyone....take out the dog, get coffee started and attempt to get myself together for work.

When I had everything just about done, I went to throw some clothes on and there was Vallie Cat MEOWING to get in her 'mommmie's' room (my daughter). So, I opened the door to let her in...discovering that I forgot to wake up my kid! (She goes to work with me during the Summer) GASP! I rushed in and woke her and got her going.

Threw some clothes on and back to the kitchen to put the tacos together and put the pasta salads in 'To Go' carry alongs for lunches.

WHEW! It's a wonder I got out the door at all this morning!

So, for my very first 99 Cent Only Stores food post - it's not glamorous in the least. It's cell phone pics - from my oldest at my request! Gak!

Breakfast Tacos For 5
*For around 5 bucks!*


1 Bag Frozen Tator Sticks             .99 cents
Eggs                                            .99 cents
Cacique Queso Fresco Cheese       .99 cents
Tortillas (I had these already in the fridge) (but are usually a buck or so anywhere)
*Total (without tortillas) is $2.97 (before tax)

- I browned the tator sticks in a skillet with a little bit of oil. As they cooked, I chopped them up to resemble hash browns.

-When the tators are done, I added the cheese that I chopped up and put a lid on the skillet to soften the cheese. After it's soft, I mixed the skillet to blend the cheese with the tators.

-I cracked 6 eggs (so that would be around $0.495 worth) and cooked, mixing the tators and eggs.

-Lastly I turned off my burner and put the lid back on to steam any uncooked eggs.

-Spoon them into the tortillas - or eat right out of the skillet!

For additions - you can add ketchup, picante sauce, any extra cheese,and any seasonings. Don't forget 99 Cents Only Stores has a HUGE selection of spices and seasonings!

I fed a clan of 5 this morning! 2 Tacos Each!

THANK YOU 99 Cent Only Stores!

Living The 99 Cent Lifestyle!

Hi there! My name is Dawn and I'm a mommie of two teens (and the teen friends who travel in and out our revolving front door!) and a wife to a wonderful mister.

Budget : The total sum of money allocated for a particular purpose or period of time. 

That word pretty much dictates everything we do - cooking, school activities, mommy and daddy activities, clothes, shopping in general! It's tricky and frustrating - and challenging. But I love a challenge!

I love to cook! I love to cook GREAT food! I am also a vegetarian, married to a meat-a-vore and have one child that's a veggie and another that's a partial veggie. SO - as you can see - just cooking is a challenge in this house!

I discovered the 99 Cent Only Stores a years back - and have always enjoyed the bargains I get on cleaning items, toiletries, dishes and food!

The last few times I went - I was amazed that on a tight budget and with a total of maybe 60 bucks, I filled my truck which in turn filled my pantry and subsequently filled my family's bellies with food and deals!

I decided to then write this blog and share how to shop and cook on a budget. Cooking good food, from the 99 Cent Only Stores that look great and taste great and good for your wallet!