Meat Lovers Pizza

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Halloween parties are coming! When I was younger, my favorite part of Halloween parties (besides dressing up and getting TONS of candy that is) was eating some delicious greasy pizza paired with root beer someone’s mom had added dry ice to.

Of course as an adult, most of the time I’ll pass on the extra cheap, extra greasy pizza, and go for home made! Its easier than it seems, way cheaper, and you get a better quality product you can feel satisfied about.

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One of our favorite pizzas in the Cason household is the extra hearty, much beloved Meat Lovers pizza! The best part about Meat Lovers is you can smother it in your favorite kinds of meat and make it completely your own! We go towards a more traditional approach to it, but you can add whatever meat tickles your fancy!

Love this pizza, but need another flavor for your big pizza bash?! Check out our other pizzas here!

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

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Crisp leaves falling outside, temperatures dropping, sweaters being pulled out of the closet… Fall is absolutely the best!

One of the best parts of when the weather gets colder is you can finally pull out your favorite soup recipes! Sure, you can make soup during the summer, but you’ll heat up the house like crazy! And the best part of soup is eating it to warm up!

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This split pea soup is made in the slow cooker, so you can easily start it in the morning and come back to it after a fun romp in the brisk outdoors! So hearty and good, your family will beg to have it again and again!

Now you’re going to need a ham bone or something similar to make this recipe! We save our bones from when we buy pork shoulders to make pulled pork. I’ve seen others save the bones from their spiral hams or use smoked ham hocks. If you don’t have one saved in your freezer, you can likely find something at your local butcher’s.

This dump-and-go soup is one you’ll want to keep on hand all season long!

Check out some of our other soups for chilly season! Tried any of them yet? Let us know in the comments!

Reese’s Monster Cookies

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Halloween is only 2 weeks away!!

With that in mind, I’m sure you have a Halloween party or two coming up, and you’ll need something to bring! May I suggest this festive twist on the classic monster cookie?

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Some of you may be asking what a monster cookie is. If you’ve ever had a cookie with M&Ms in it, then you’ve had one! Our version features delicious Reese’s Pieces in place of the classic chocolate candies. It gives them a peanut buttery bite in festive brown, orange, and yellow!

If you have a favorite cookie base, simply mix in the Reese’s pieces. If not, we’ve got a new one we’ve been testing this season that is divine! So simple, and easy to change up!

With the colder weather finally here, we’ve been baking up a storm. What cookie recipe do you want to see in the future? Comment below!

Creamy Oyster Stew

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Hey all! This week’s post doesn’t contain any pictures. We ate this stew so fast we didn’t get a chance to snag a pic!

Seriously, it is so good! We LOVE oysters in this house, but living where we do we don’t get them very often. Here they cost an arm and a leg and are canned. Though there’s nothing wrong with canned, you can’t beat fresh oysters.

We stock up on fresh seafood when we visit family in Oregon and freeze most of it for use during the next year. These oysters were the last of the ones from our last trip (yay for another trip in a few weeks!), and boy was it worth it to use them!

With soup season finally being here, this soup goes together fast and easy and is great paired with some fresh bread!

Do you love oysters as much as we do?! Let us know in the comments if you want more oyster recipes!

Delicious Homemade Corn Dog Nuggets

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Fair season is winding down, and something I personally miss as it ends is the deliciously decadent fried foods. Luckily, most of these foods can be made easily from home. One perfect example is corn dogs, and their adorable counterparts, corn dog nuggets!

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You’ll need a deep fryer! Grab this one for only $67.82!
(Price accurate at time of posting)

I know what you’re thinking – how are these different from the ones I can buy in the freezer section? First, you know exactly what are in these. You can go as far as making your own hot dogs (though I’m not sure if that would be worth it), and you’ll know exactly what’s in the batter. These dogs are heartier than the ones you buy, and can be made in bulk for much cheaper!

You should pair them with some homemade french fries to complete the meal! They are definitely toddler approved, as our little guy couldn’t get enough of them.

What is your favorite fried food? Comment below!

Easy Set and Forget Mexican Chicken

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We’ve all been there – you get going through your day and realize you haven’t thawed anything for dinner! You get stuck between trying (and usually failing) to get the meat thawed in time or throwing in the towel and going out to eat.

Well not when you’re making this recipe!

Slightly spicy with crispy skin without being dry, this chicken is cooked low and slow, so you can start with frozen chicken!

You’ll need to grab a 9×13, and this one is only $18.99! (Price accurate at time of posting)
You’ll need some tinfoil too! Snag it for $9.49 (Price accurate at time of posting).

This chicken is perfect paired with some refried beans, Mexican rice, and a couple of corn tortillas to sop up all the delicious juices at the end! And, since its made from some pretty common spices, you more than likely have all the ingredients on hand, meaning its a great go to in those DOH! moments!

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Need a different chicken recipe?! Check these out!

Creamy Harvest Soup

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Along with cooking, I also love gardening. The smell of damp soil, the tang of a sun-warmed tomato, making my own fresh salsa – I can’t resist the fresh veggies!

Its budget friendly as well. As long as you can re-use your supplies year after year, you can save lots of money growing your own produce and prepping it for long term storage.

One of our favorite ways to use our spoils is to make this super hearty soup! Though there isn’t any meaty protein in it, this soup is ultra filling and it gives you a full feeling without being too heavy.

The only thing more amazing than the flavor is how easy it all is! Throw the veggies on a pan to roast, then blend them with some broth and dairy to add a touch of creaminess.

The best part is you can mix and match whatever you’ve grown in your garden! Keep it simple, keep it hearty, and keep it delicious!

As cooler weather rolls in and harvest time comes, what is your favorite fresh treat from the garden? Comment below!

Like the sound of this soup? Check out these others!

Slow Cooker Baked Potato | New England Clam Chowder | Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Easy Lemon Bars

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As summer winds down, I can’t help but feel a little sad. Though I can’t wait for the cooler temps, football season, and beautiful autumn leaves, I will definitely miss some parts of the summer.

Hanging out on our patio with my wife watching our son play in the backyard while sipping on some lemonade will be one of those things I’ll miss most. Of course I can sip on lemonade whenever I want – or I can up the ante and make these delicious lemon bars!

This simple dessert is super easy to make, and its made using ingredients most people keep on hand – so they are cheap!

They are ultra tangy and tart with just the right amount of sweet balance blended in that you won’t be able to get enough of them. They’re perfect for your little one’s fundraiser bake sale or to bring to the next family party.

Of course if you want something MUCH sweeter, you should check out our White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies!

What is your favorite dessert bar? Let us know in the comments

Eating Salads on a Budget (with Spinach Apple Salad recipe!)

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A simple way we try and keep our family healthy while making our food last as long as possible (read: less money spent on food!) is pairing foods with a great salad!

When we had our pizza night the other day, we paired those delicious slices of carb filled glory with this tart and savory salad!

We splurged a little on candied walnuts, and found the feta in bulk on sale at a discount store that sells excess products that restaurants didn’t end up needing.

Eating healthier doesn’t always have to break the bank. Here are our tips for eating salads on a tight budget!


Eat produce that is in season

When you eat produce that is in season, you’ll have fresher, better tasting salads that cost you less! If you garden this can get even cheaper! Not to mention, nothing tastes better than a warm tomato that was on the vine less than 5 minutes ago!

Not sure what is in season? Check out a list here.

Make it yourself

Sure, grabbing those bag salads as you walk through the produce section is easy and convenient. You tear open the bag a few minutes before you’re ready to eat, throw everything in a bowl (or not – sometimes we get lazy) and boom! You’re done.

However, those salads cost way more than the sum of their parts! You are trading convenience for cost. You also usually don’t know everything that goes in the dressings. If you like to keep your costs down and know what is going in your body, you’ll need to take a little extra time and make your own salads.

Buy some ingredients in bulk

Obviously, unless you have a very big family, you can’t buy some produce in bulk and eat it all before it goes bad. You can, however, buy some of your favorite salad mix ins and keep them on hand for when things go on sale.

If you know you love tortilla strips or chia seeds, buy them in bulk! Then you’ll always have them ready to go when your produce is in season or on sale!

Watch for deals and utilize them

I mentioned before that we bought feta cheese on sale. It was a HUGE 15 lb restaurant supply tub. Feta is typically a cheese we feel is out of the budget, but this tub was less than $0.60 a pound! We took it home, crumbled it, divided it into 1 lb bags, and froze them. Now, if we know we’re going to need feta we thaw a bag overnight, and use it up before it goes bad. We then can be on the lookout when we hit the store for things that pair well with feta.

If you watch for amazing deals and take advantage, you’ll cut your costs in the future.


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Anyone can consistently eat salad when they follow the above tips. Next time you’re planning your menu, keep them in mind!

Now without further ado, our yummy Spinach Apple Salad!

What is your favorite salad mix in? Do you buy it in bulk? Share your favorite salad making tips and tricks in the comments below!

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

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As summer is winding down, my wife loves to get into the kitchen and start baking! She loves making desserts galore, and this week she had to make some to take to the first football game of the season (Go Ducks!).

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She decided to lean a little fancier and look for something that was easy but wouldn’t taste like it.

Cue the deliciousness that are these super sweet blondies!

Soft with bits of crunch, super sweet paired with the tang of cranberries and orange zest, you’ll please everyone with this bar!

Which do you prefer?! Blondies or brownies? Leave your vote in the comments!