Homemade Hamburger Helper

 As we work to cut processed foods and anything with MSG out of our diets for the sake of my migraines, I'm trying to turn some of our favorites into something we will enjoy! :)

Here is one of my homemade spices, it cuts down on sodium, it will soon be included as a recipe.

 The finished product, was delicious!

I paired it with a salad, it was a great meal.

Want to make your own hamburger helper?  Here's what you'll need:

Homemade Hamburger Taco Helper:
1# gr beef/turkey
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 C uncooked pasta
8 oz cheese (I used half velveeta & half shredded, you can use cream cheese too!)
2 C frozen corn
1 C onion.

Cook pasta in a separate pan, do not drain.  Brown meat w/onion, sop up any grease or drain off.  Using a slotted spoon scoop noodles from pasta water into beef mixture, you want some of the liquid to come with it.  Add 1/2 - 1 C of water from the pasta to the beef mixture, add taco seasoning, cheese & corn, bring to a boil and cook until cheese is melted and it is thick and creamy.  Enjoy!

You could even make a double of this dish & freeze it if so desired!

Dry Cream Soup

In an effort to "DIY" our house and save money on stuff we spend a ton on, like.  Cream soups, a dollar a can, and.. a lot of recipes we use take several cans.  

So I found a recipe online that gave a base of powdered milk.

 4 cups of powdered milk, 3 cups of corn starch, 3/4 cups onions.

1 cup bullion

 4 t each of basil, thyme and ground pepper.  Much like the original creator I didn't have Thyme so I originally planned on using parsley.

 I then remembered I had Thyme that was dried in the fridge.  So I  chopped it up.

To use in a recipe of a substitute of one can of condensed cream soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick.  I do a lot of these recipes in the crock-pot, I've just been tossing in the ingredients, for cream of mushroom, I used canned mushrooms and used the juice in place of some of the water.  Boiled down a bit of broccoli and used that water and chopped broccoli. 

It's much less fattening.  Enjoy!

Dry Cream Soup

4 cups non-fat dried milk

3 cups cornstarch

1 cup bouillon of your choice

3/4 C freeze dried minced onions

4 teaspoons each dried basil, dried thyme & pepper

One can of condensed cream soup= mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick

Gee Wiz! Homemade Cheese Wiz?!

I was making cheeseburger meatballs the other night, and needed Cheese Wiz. I was not running to the store to buy a $5.00 bottle for 1/2 cup of something I "should" be able to make at home. So, I got on the trusty internet and searched for something I could find that was similar... In came my kitchen pantry!

4 ingredients & I was off, making something I needed quick!


I threw the extra's in a bowl for my husband to use with chips when I am mean and don't make dinner :)


Make your own today!

2 oz evaporated milk
1/2 t Vinegar
1/4 t Salt
1/2 lb velveeta (I used 8 oz of cheese)- cut up into cubes
1/4 t dry mustard

Heat up the milk on the stove, add the vinegar, heat to steaming (remember it's milk, no boiling), add the cut up cheese, cube by cube, once melted, add spices (mustard & salt).

Enjoy!

Frugal.. Make your own.. Fajita Seasoning

Well, I didn't do well keeping you updated last week did I? Sorry about that, so here right off the bat is a recipe for you!

Homemade Fajita Seasoning, and why, yes it was a Pinterest idea! It also was one of my desires, because those little seasoning packets are horribly expensive! (still very convenient)

The majority of my spices come from Sam's Club, the Dollar store or, if they are on clearance, I'll pick them up in bulk. I have several of any kind, I should be more organized & keep a list, but I don't bother!
Here are the ingredients. I get horrible migraines, it's a way to avoid MSG, you have to watch bouillon, some have MSG.

Don't laugh at my pretty labels!


1 T Corn Starch
2 t Chili Powder
1 t Salt
1 t Paprika
1 t Sugar
3/4 t Crushed chicken bouillon
1/2 t Onion Powder
1/4 t Garlic Powder
1/4 t Cayenne Pepper
1/4 t Cumin

Use 2T per 1# meat (chicken, ground turkey, beef, etc)

I doubled the batch, I'd rather have a lot more than I need on hand then have to make it several times!

Good luck & enjoy!!