Down Home Cooking Recipe #05 - Ranch Chicken Calzones

One of my favorite grocery stores is Trader Joe's. Those who are not familiar with this chain, it is a small grocer focused on organic and healthy foods. This past week I found one of the best finds there.... Pizza Dough for $1!

They had three types, plain, whole wheat, and garlic herb. I picked up two packages of the garlic herb to make calzones for my family and parents for Father's Day. These were a HUGE hit, inexpensive to make and ooh so GOOD!

Servings Size: 4 Calzones

What You Need:
1 pkg (20oz) garlic herb pizza crust
2c cooked chopped chicken
2c cooked chopped broccoli
1/4 ranch
1 egg
1 tsp onion powder
2 garlic cloves minced
1c mozzarella cheese shredded
1c provolone shredded
1/2c butter
1 1/2 tsp pizza seasoning (Italian seasoning will work)

How to Make:

1) Preheat oven to 450 (f). Grease baking sheet. Divide pizza dough into 4 parts, rolling out four 8in circles.

2) In a large bowl whisk egg, onion powder, 1 tsp pizza seasoning, and minced garlic. Stir in ranch, chicken and broccoli. Mix in cheese.

3) Spoon mixture into center of each dough circle. About 1 cup mixture each. Fold over dough and seal. Cut 2 small air vents on the top of each calzone.

4) Melt butter in microwave. Mix in remaining pizza seasoning. Brush butter mixture onto each calzone.

4) Bake the calzones for 15 minutes, re-brush with butter, then put in for 5 more minutes or until outer calzone is lightly brown and crunchy. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.


You can change the fillings as fits your taste. For the less picky eaters in my family I enjoy serving a roasted red pepper, spinach, and fresh mozzarella pizza.

Down Home Cooking Recipe #04 - Amazing Truffles

This is a family favorite my grandma use to make them for Christmas every year, now I make them along with 6 other candies for all our friends and family. You can find these truffles in bakeries for .75 a piece. You can make a batch of 50 for less than $4! Whats even better you can change the flavors and coating to suit your needs.

I made 500 brown and pink of these truffles to serve at our dessert buffet at our wedding. They were a HUGE hit! 

What You Need:

1 (8oz) package of softened cream cheese

3c confectioners' sugar

3c chocolate chips (you can use any type: white, caramel, dark, etc.)

1 1/2 tsp flavoring (examples: vanilla, raspberry, orange, mint, etc.)

1/4c sprinkles (you can also use powdered sugar, chopped nuts, or you can dip them in almond bark)

How to Make:

1) In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add in confectioners sugar until smooth and blended. 

2) Melt chocolate chips in 30 sec intervals, stirring occasionally until smooth. Mix in with cream cheese and sugar. 

3) At this point you can divide the mixture to make various flavors from one batch. Add flavoring to each batch. Stir until well blended.

4) Refrigerator for an hour. Roll into balls, then roll each ball into sprinkles or any other coating.

Keep Refrigerated

How to Clean Out A Microwave

While cleaning a microwave on a daily or even weekly basis is not a problem, this post is for those who have neglected their microwave until it seems like quite a task to clean it out. Keeping your microwave clean is very important to keep your food safe and tasting good. 

One important thing to mention is to make sure that you don't use any harmful chemicals in your microwave. I don't ever use anything in my microwave that I would not use on my dishes.

Anyway back to the tip. The best way to start is to mix 2c. water with 2 tbsp. of white vinegar and 1 drop of dish soap in a glass container, such as a glass measuring cup. Put the cup in the microwave for 4 minutes. The water mixture should boil over. Let sit in the microwave for several minutes. The steam/vinegar mixture will loosen any caked on junk in your microwave.

Dip a washcloth in the water mixture and wipe out the microwave. Everything should wipe off very easily and deodorize. For additional cleaning/deodorization power sprinkle baking powder inside before wiping down.

Down Home Cooking Recipe #03- Best Ever Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are a household favorite; they disappear almost as quick as it takes to bake them! What is even better is I always have the ingredients on hand and they are easily adaptable. You can omit the cream, pudding and white chocolate chips, or add raspberry extract or jam like thumb print cookies. Whatever your tastes take you, they turn out great. Like a soft, moist brownie fresh out of the oven. YUM!

Yield: 36 servings

What you Need:

• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 pkg of chocolate pudding
• 2 tbsp cream (I use my hazelnut creamer)
• 2 eggs
• 1 16oz pkg white chocolate chips 

How to Make:

1) In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and cream. 


2) Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, pudding and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Add White chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. 


3) Roll into 1-in. balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets. You can flatten the cookies with a fork at this point, but is not necessary. Bake at 350 degrees (f) for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. 

Simple & Elegant Summer Centerpiece

This is a simple and inexpensive centerpiece that can be used in spring or summer for less than $5. You can also easily change the color pallet to match the space, your dishes, or your decor.

What you will need:

Various Sized Vases

Food or other coloring

Small Rocks

Silk Flowers

How to Make:

In the bottom of your vases put about half an inch layer of rocks. Add water one inch from top. Put in desired amount of coloring. Stir. Add a floating (some will sink) silk flower to the top.

This centerpiece is so easy and inexpensive that it can be used for unexpected guests, outdoor parties, or as an simple centerpiece on your dining room table.

Down Home Cooking Recipe #02 - Cake Balls

This past Christmas I decided to give out candy tins to all our neighbors, family and friends. With having to make about 30 tins full of candy I went on a search for easy recipes that yielded a lot without breaking the bank. 

I stumbled across this recipe, which is wonderfully adaptable to any taste and design. I made two types: Birthday Cake Cake and Frosting with White Chocolate Coating and Dark Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting and Chocolate Coating (It tasted just like Hostess!). This coming 4th of July I am thinking about making red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting with white chocolate coating with blue/red stripes! 

What is really great about this recipe is that it makes about 50 candy pieces for under $3. 

What You Will Need:

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared  frosting
• 1 (3 ounce) bar of confectioners coating or almond bark
• 
  
• How to Make:
• 
  
• 1) Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done let cool for 30 minutes, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended. Place mixture in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• 
  
• 2) Melt chocolate coating in glass bowl in microwave, or in a double broiler over the stove, stirring occasionally until smooth.
• 
  
• 3) Roll the dough into grape size balls using a melon baller or your hands. Dip the balls in melted chocolate coating using a toothpick or fork to hole them. Place on wax paper to set. 
• 
  
• 4)Once set drizzle the top with offsetting color coating or while the coating is still setting you can add sprinkles.

• 
  

Beautiful Craft Supply Holders for Under $1

How many times have we all gone on a search for that elusive writing utensil or found a drawer full of craft scissors? It is hard to keep crafting supplies and writing utensils organized in a drawer, but who wants to have mismatched pencil holders throughout the house corralling all your items?

This is a great idea that I came across while trying to organize all my crafting items. What's even better is that it can be easily changed to match your space and it costs under a dollar to make!

These match my purple, silver, and white craft room.

What you will need:

Empty can
Scissors
Glue Stick or Rubber Cement
Ruler
Scrapbook paper that matches your decor
Spray Paint (Optional)

How to Make:


Before you start, you can decide whether or not you would like to spray paint the inside and outside of the can first. It adds a nice touch if your holder is going to be placed below eye level. 


1)Measure the space between the lips of the can. Make a straight line on your scrapbook paper according to your measurement. Cut.


2) Glue stick or rubber cement the entire cut portion of your paper, paying extra attention to each of the ends. Carefully wrap your scrapbook paper around the can, pressing it against the can as you go.


3) Let dry for up to 24 hours. Place your beautiful, perfectly matched holder, and enjoy!

Down Home Cooking Recipe #01- Peanut Butter Chicken

Since I have been married I have dived into cooking learning all their is to learn. There is nothing like welcoming your hubby home to a beautiful hot dinner for him on the table.

This is a family favorite that we serve only on special occasions. I make it every year for my husband's birthday and he always looks forward to it. It is very moist on the inside while crunchy on the outside. Worth the trouble I promise.

You will need:

4 chicken breasts hammered flat
1c peanut butter
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 pinch salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp fresh cilantro minced
pepper to taste
1 tsp ground lemon peel
2c chopped peanuts

In a large, gallon sized Ziploc bag mix together peanut butter, honey, white vinegar, lime juice, and soy sauce. Place flattened chicken breasts inside the Ziploc baggie. Make sure all sides of each piece get coated. Put chicken in the Ziploc bag in the fridge for an hour or longer. 


Preheat oven to 425 degrees (f). Grease pans. Mix remaining ingredients in bowl. Dip refrigerated chicken in peanut mixture. Make sure all sides are coated. Place on greased pan.


Bake for 20-25 minutes until the coating is crispy and the inside temp reaches 165 degrees (f).

Beauty Tip #01

One of passions that I have always had is using homemade remedies for beauty regimens.  I have been making my own soaps and bath salts since I was 16 and through all my research on aromatherapy and other products I have picked up a few things I am excite to share with you.

This tip may seem a little odd, but trust me and my friends who I have shared it with.. it works!

Before going to bed, after washing your face, get a dab of toothpaste (It must be the white cream kind, no gels) and gently put it over your blemish. Try not to get it on healthy skin as it does have a drying effect which is great for zits.

When that occasional blemish pops up instead of going out to buy that $10 zit cream just go to your bathroom and use a dab from your toothpaste before going to bed. You will wake up with barely a spot.

Outdoor Centerpieces for under $5

Here is Washington, rain is not an unusual thing. Therefore, outdoor centerpieces must be rain resistant. While potted plants are a traditional favorite, something a little different is always nice. Recently while setting up my patio sets I came across a great idea that has been a great conversational starter.

The pic below was taken right after I made the centerpiece. The Hens and chicks will grow and spread so eventually you wont see any stones or dirt. The ring will be filled with these little gems.

For this centerpiece you will need the following:

1) A medium size vase ( I bought this simple vase from Walmart for only $1, They have several great vases for under $5)

2) Bag of small rocks ( Again $1 form Walmart. They have several color and size choices available)

3) Small 1'' planter of Hens and Chicks ($3 from Walmart, this will make 4 separate centerpieces or you can use them in other planters)

4) Small planter drip tray, slightly bigger than the vase ( .79$ from any department store)

To make this centerpiece first place rocks in the bottom of the vase and fill with water. Place small rocks and a small amount of dirt around the vase. Place Hens and Chicks around the vase on top the dirt and rocks. Place the candle on the water and enjoy your new homemade centerpiece for under $5.

Cleaning Glass Stove Tops

Every now and again everyone has water or other food boil over on your glass top stove. The burned food is often times hard to get off, but before you panic or start to scrub for hours on end there are a few tips and tricks for you to get the gunk off without very much effort.

#1) Soak a washcloth or dish towel in vinegar and place over the burned spot for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pick up the wash cloth, wring out and just wipe away the burned spot.

#2) Use the above method but sprinkle baking soda first over the burner. It will sizzle and bubble. This is useful for even more stubborn stains.

#3) This method is my favorite- Use a magic eraser! These things are amazing. Just soak, wring out and scrub the stain clean. These only take a couple of mins to scrub clean. You can also get the store brand ones for even cheaper!


As with most stains, the sooner you address the problem, the easier for you to clean it up.

Happy Cleaning!

Welcome to my page

Thank you for stopping by my household tips and tricks website. I hope that you find some of my tips helpful to adding a little sparkle to your home without breaking the bank.

A little more about me... I am a housewife due to the failing economy. Due to the lack of employment opportunities out there for recent college graduates, I have been staying at home, loving my new position of well rounded housewife.

I am known throughout my circles of friends as the Martha Stuart on a budget. I love throwing cocktail parties with all homemade centerpieces and party favors. I bake or make all my gifts. Most recently, I have given out two dozen homemade almond biscotti with chocolate drizzle in Easter baskets. These types of gifts are well received and only cost a couple of dollars a person at very most.

In addition, I also love finding great deals and decorating on a budget. This past year I have decorated out living room for under 300 dollars including furniture. I would love to share my tips and tricks with you too so you can decorate with expensive taste for little money.

If you have any ideas, questions, or comments, I hope you share them so we can learn from each other.

Have a blessed day
                -Domesticated Diva