Lidl Dinners: Veggie Twist and Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Easy Baked Cheese and Vegetable Twist

Prep Time: 20 mins                    Cook Time: 40mins             Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

2 eggs                                                              4 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup shredded Italian 3 cheese blend          1/2 lb diced mushrooms

3 cups frozen broccoli cuts, thawed and drained well

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half               4 green onions, sliced

2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix eggs, cream cheese, and Italian cheese together in large bowl until well blended.

3. Stir in mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes, and onions.

4. Unroll dough and separate into 16 triangles. Arrange in 11 inch circle on foil-covered baking sheet, with short sides of triangles overlapping in center and points of triangles toward outside. (There should be a 5 inch diameter opening in center of circle.)

5. Spoon cheese mixture onto dough near center of circle. Bring outside points of triangles up over filling, then tuck under dough in center of ring to cover filling.

6. Bake 35 to 40 min. or until crust is golden brown and filling is heated through.

Special Extra: Top with additional 1/2 cup shredded cheese before baking.

Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Prep Time: 5 mins                    Total Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1 onion, sliced thinly

4 oz mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 TBS olive oil

Salt and Pepper

basil (fresh is best, but dried will work too)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients and serve on the side.


Haha- so we didn't realize that you have to unroll the dough backwards, so I can't say that this is the prettiest thing I've ever made, but it tasted good! There is enough left over for a couple packed breakfasts/lunches too.

This is part of my seven days of dinners with Lidl. We spent under $90.00 for seven meals for a family of four. All meals are toddler and mom approved, and we even bought several desserts! Click here for the rest of the list.

Lidl Dinners: Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna (serves 6)

Prep Time: 15 mins                    Cook Time: 15 mins             Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

1 TBS olive oil                                                            1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 onion, finely chopped                                              1 (14 oz) can black beans, drained

1 tsp minced garlic                                                      1 7 oz can yellow corn, drained

1/4 cup red or yellow pepper, finely chopped                       1 jar enchilada cooking sauce

1 pkg taco spice                                                          red pepper flakes (to taste)

1 pkg medium flour tortillas

12 oz Mexican cheese, shredded

(optional toppings: 6 oz can sliced olives, drained; 2 scallions, finely chopped; 2 tbs chopped cilantro)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet, over medium high heat. Add onion and peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, and chili spice, red pepper flakes, and 2 Tbs water and stir to combine. Allow to cook while you prepare the baking pan.

4. Smooth about 1/3 of the enchilada sauce over the bottom of a baking pan (9 x 13). Lay tortillas on the bottom of the pan, slightly overlapping until pan is covered (about 2-3 tortillas).

5. Spoon half of the corn and bean mixture over top of the tortillas, spreading evenly. Layer tortillas on top. Smooth about 1/3 of the enchilada sauce over the tortillas.  Sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese on top. Add the remaining corn and bean mixture, spreading evenly. Layer tortillas on top and spoon remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas. Sprinkle remaining cheese.

6. Bake for 10-15 minutes (longer if everything is cold and needs to be reheated.)  Cheese should be melted.

7. Garnish with optional toppings if desired.

Serve with bag salad (on sale for $.99!) and chips and salsa.

Shopping List: 

1. Bag of onions (you'll use lots for other recipes!): $1.79
2. Bag of bell peppers (you'll rest for other recipes): $1.87 
3. Bag of Mexican cheese: $1.99 
4. 1 pkg taco seasoning: $.35 
5. Jar of Enchilada sauce: $2.49 
6. Medium Flour tortillas (only use part): $.99 
7. Diced Tomatoes: $.99
8. Minced Garlic (part): $1.79
9. Olive Oil (part): $1.49
10. Can Yellow Corn: $.35
11. Can Black Beans: $.89
12. Bag of tortilla chips (half): $.99 
13. Jar Salsa (half): $.99 
14. Bag salad: $.99 

This meal is so easy to make and it makes enough that we had lunches for a couple of days. It's also a great dish to take for a pot luck. What's not to love? Mexican soft tacos in a casserole! This is part of my seven days of dinners with Lidl. We spent under $90.00 for seven meals for a family of four. All meals are toddler and mom approved, and we even bought several desserts! Click here for the rest of the list.

7 meals under $90 with Lidl

I love a challenge, and when Lidl offered me the challenge of cooking 7 dinners with only $100, I jumped at the chance. The challenge included purchasing all necessary items at one time and the food had to feed four people. I chose to feed my family of 3, including me, my husband, my two year old son, and my mother, who lives very close and takes care of my son during the day. Of the four of us, two are vegetarians, one is a solid meat-eater, and Bubbie will go either way. Bubs won't eat any seafood. 

First step was to closely examine the weekly sales magazine. Lidl makes it easy because this magazine is always available in the store a week early. (Look at the rack on your way out of the store when you shop.) This gave me an entire week to search through my recipes and find the ones that would best fit my requirements and Lidl's sales. Also, be on the lookout, there is often a coupon on the front. The week we went there was a $10.00 off $100.00, but we didn't spend enough to use it! We went back and got dessert, and still only spent $88.00. (Including the drink and snack R got to pick out for his store snack.) Another tip- download the Lidl app which has digital coupons. 

The afternoons are a whirlwind for me. By the time I pick up R, get home, and feed the dogs, it's time for us to eat too. I looked for recipes that were quick and easy. Although I was focused on vegetarian dinners, I left enough in the budget to include meats and desserts. Be sure to bring your own bags, and grab a cart for your toddler. 

Here's the schedule:

Monday:

• Mexican Lasagna (see recipe) 
• Bagged Salad (Caesar salad is on sale. NOTE: The dressing included with this kit has anchovies in it. If you are a Vegetarian, you may want to purchase a different salad dressing. We did include this in the shopping list.)
• Chips and Salsa
• optional meat - 1/2 bag meatballs on the side
  

Tuesday:

• Easy baked Cheese and veggie twist (see recipe) 
• Mozzarella and Tomato Salad
• optional meat - Balsamic Chicken Thighs 
• Dessert - Grapes

Wednesday:

• Frittata (see recipe) 
• Frozen potatoes (We used hash browns but any potatoes will work.)
• Steamed Asparagus
• Dessert - Donut

Thursday:

• Frozen Vegetable Lasagna, 28 oz. (follow directions on box)
• Caesar Salad Kit - add extra veggies of choice  
• Frozen Brussels sprouts
• Naan bread Toasted with oil and shredded cheese
• optional meat - Balsamic Chicken Thighs 
• Dessert - ice cream

Friday:

• Quesadilla (see recipe) 
• Sweet Potato Boats (see recipe)  
• Chips and Salsa
• optional meat - 1/2 bag chicken wyngz on the side

Saturday:

• Fried Rice with tofu
• Spring rolls
• egg rolls (with meat)
• optional - 1/2 bag chicken wyngz on the side
• Dessert - cookies

Sunday:

• Pasta Primavera (see recipe)
• Naan bread Toasted with oil and shredded cheese - on sale for .75
• Caesar Salad Kit
• optional - 1/2 bag meatballs on the side
• Dessert - cookies

I'll be posting the recipes all this week, so keep checking back! This has been a fun and tasty challenge. 

Far Away Friday: Raleigh part 2

After leaving the Children's Museum, we headed to Pullen Park. This is the coolest park I've ever been to. It was built in 1887 and covers roughly 65 acres of land. It's got a community center, carousel, kiddie boats, paddle boats, and the most popular with R... a train! We parked, walked in, bought our tickets, got on the train, and it immediately started down pouring. We were already on the train, and soaked. The kind of soaked that makes your shoes squish and your pants stick to your legs. It was a major let down. We ended up having to go back the next day though because we saw that the park was so awesome.

The play areas are separated by age. There are areas specifically for preschool age, sand diggers, things to climb on, slides, and it looks like during the summer there is some water play. The train was obviously a huge hit, but the carousel was cool too. There was also a stationary train car to climb in. We didn't do the boats, but lots of kids were on them. The day that we were there they were having a scarecrow decorating contest up on the hill. I'd love to come back on a warmer day and rent some of the paddle boats.

We had lunch at Trophy Brewing. They are a brew pub with lots of fancy pizzas. We got a few different small pizzas to share and a greek salad. To our surprise, R ate all of the tomatoes, cucumbers, and even a few onions out of the salad on top of pizza. If it hadn't been raining, we could have sat outside but the inside was nice too, with a noise level that was appropriate to bring a toddler. The boys tried a few beers, one of which Neil has been talking about since!

This is a three part Far Away Friday about Raleigh. Check part one here!
If you're interested in writing a far away Friday, please contact me!