Strictly Recipes

  Eating well on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing taste or nutrition. With smart meal planning and cost-effective ingredients, you can make delicious, healthy meals without overspending. This guide will help you discover easy, budget-friendly recipes that are perfect for families, busy moms, and anyone looking to save money on food. How to Save Money on Meals Without Compromising Quality Before diving into recipes, here are some smart ways to stretch your grocery budget: ✅ Buy in Bulk: Purchase staples like rice, beans, and pasta in larger quantities. ✅ Meal Plan: Plan weekly meals to reduce impulse buys and food waste. ✅ Use Affordable Protein Sources: Beans, eggs, and chicken thighs are cost-effective. ✅ Cook in Batches: Prepare large portions and freeze leftovers for later. 10 Easy Budget-Friendly Recipes for the Whole Family 1. One-Pot Chicken and Rice ✅ Budget: ~$10 ✅ Servings: 4-6 ✅ Budget Tip: Use frozen vegetables instead of fresh to reduce waste. 📌 Recipe: One-Pot Chicke...

  Stovetop Chocolate Mug Cake: A Quick and Easy Dessert Recipe Craving something chocolatey but don’t have an oven? This Stovetop Chocolate Mug Cake is the perfect solution! It’s a quick, easy, and delicious dessert made in minutes. You can enjoy a rich, moist chocolate cake without turning on the oven. Whether you're in a rush, craving a treat, or just want a little indulgence, this stovetop chocolate mug cake recipe has you covered. Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes Servings: 1 serving (perfect for a single indulgence) Tools and Equipment Needed: 1 microwave-safe mug or small heatproof bowl A stovetop-safe pan or skillet with a lid Spoon or whisk for mixing Small trivet or metal rack (optional but recommended) Ingredients: 4 tbsp all-purpose flour 4 tbsp granulated sugar 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1/8 tsp baking powder A pinch of salt 3 tbsp milk (any kind, including dairy-free alternatives like almond milk) 2 tbsp vegetable oil (or melted butter) 1/4 tsp v...

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Tools & Equipment: A measuring cup or scale Your sourdough starter Flour, water, and salt (for dough) Baking sheet, Dutch oven, or stone How to Use Sourdough Starter in Recipes: 1. Use Your Active Starter Always use a starter that is bubbly and has been recently fed. If it's been in the fridge, take it out and feed it at least 4-6 hours before using it in a recipe. 2. Measure Correctly Most recipes will tell you exactly how much starter to use. Typically, you'll use about 20-30% of the total flour weight in the recipe as starter. 3. Feed Your Starter If you're not using all of your starter, you can either discard it or keep it for future baking by feeding it with equal parts water and flour. 4. Use in Sourdough Recipes Bread: The most common use for starter is in sourdough bread, like the recipe above. Pancakes or Waffles: Sourdough starter can be used to make a tangy batter for pancakes or waffles. Pizza Dough: You can substitute sourdough ...

  Preparation Time: 15 minutes Resting Time: 4-6 hours (bulk fermentation) Proofing Time: 2-3 hours (or overnight in the fridge) Baking Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 6-10 hours Tools & Equipment: Large mixing bowl Dutch oven or baking stone A sharp knife or razor blade for scoring the dough Proofing basket or bowl (optional) Measuring cups and spoons Ingredients: 1 cup (240g) active sourdough starter 1 1/2 cups (360ml) water (room temperature) 3 1/2 cups (440g) bread flour (or all-purpose flour) 1 1/2 tsp salt Instructions: Step 1: Mix the Dough 1. In a large bowl, combine the sourdough starter and water. Stir until the starter is dissolved. 2. Add the flour to the mixture and stir until combined. Add the salt and mix well. Step 2: Autolyse (Resting Time) 1. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This step allows the flour to fully hydrate and makes kneading easier. Step 3: Knead the Dough 1. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes on a floured surface or use the stretch and fold...

  Preparation Time: 10 minutes Resting Time: 5-7 days Tools & Equipment: A large glass jar or container A wooden spoon or spatula for stirring A clean cloth or lid to cover the jar Ingredients: 1 cup (120g) whole wheat flour (or rye flour) 1/2 cup (120ml) water (room temperature) Instructions: Day 1: 1. In a clean glass jar, mix 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup of water. Stir well until combined, making sure there are no dry flour spots. 2. Cover the jar loosely with a cloth or lid, leaving some space for air circulation. Allow it to sit at room temperature (70-75°F/21-24°C) for 24 hours. Day 2: 1. You may see small bubbles or no changes yet. Don't worry if it's not active yet. 2. Discard half of the mixture (about 1/2 cup) and add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of water. Stir well. 3. Cover loosely and let sit for another 24 hours. Day 3 to 7: 1. Continue discarding half of the mixture and adding fresh flour and water each day. By Day 3-4, you should notice b...

  Preparation Time : 10 minutes Freezing Time : 4-6 hours Total Time : 4 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups heavy cream (cold) 1 cup sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Optional: Mix-ins like chocolate chips, crushed cookies, or fruit Tools & Equipment Needed: Hand mixer or stand mixer Mixing bowl Rubber spatula Freezer-safe container with lid Measuring cups and spoons Whisk (optional, if using a stand mixer) Instructions: Whip the Heavy Cream In a large mixing bowl, pour the cold heavy cream. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the cream on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until soft peaks form. Add Condensed Milk and Vanilla Gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract using a rubber spatula. Make sure the mixture is well combined but don’t overmix. Optional Mix-ins If you'd like to add extra flavor, fold in mix-ins such as chocolate chips, crushed cookies, or diced fruit. Mix u...