Category: Recipes

Summer Popsicle Recipe Ideas

May 20, 2025May 21, 2025 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

These summer popsicle recipe ideas are not only a fun and refreshing way to beat the heat, but also a great solution for keeping snack time simple and delicious. With endless combinations of fruity, creamy, and colorful flavors, these homemade frozen treats are easy to make and perfect for sunny afternoons.

At the same time, whether you’re hoping to save money, eat healthier, or simply enjoy a nostalgic treat, popsicles are a crowd-pleasing DIY snack for both kids and anyone craving a cool, satisfying bite. In this post, we take a closer look at the best summer popsicle recipe ideas—from quick fruit blends to creative, layered creamy creations your whole family will love.

Fun Summer Snacks: Fresh Fruity Popsicle Flavors Kids Love

Fruit-based popsicles are always a win. They’re naturally sweet, loaded with flavor, and hydrating—especially on hot afternoons. First, use fresh or frozen fruit like strawberries, mangoes, watermelon, or blueberries. Then, blend them with juice, coconut water, or even applesauce to add texture and natural sweetness.

Check out these fruit-forward recipes for inspiration:
Delish: 35+ Popsicle Recipes
Taste of Home: 26 Refreshing Ice Pops to Make This Summer
EatingWell: Healthy Popsicle Recipes
Allrecipes: Popsicle Recipes: Chill with recipes for yogurt pops, pudding pops, and all-fruit ice pops. Along the way, you’ll also find helpful tips for making them yourself.

Make blending easier with the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender, which is compact and kid-safe for supervised kitchen fun.

Creamy Popsicles That Taste Like Dessert

Creamy popsicles are a delicious choice for a richer, ice cream-like texture. To get started, use Greek yogurt, coconut milk, or mashed bananas as your base. Next, for extra flavor, mix in peanut butter, vanilla, honey, or cocoa powder. As a bonus, these ingredients also add protein and natural sweetness, making your popsicles both tasty and satisfying.

Try these crowd-pleasing creamy popsicle recipes:
Super Healthy Kids: Popsicle Collection
The Flavor Bender: Easy Creamy Vanilla Popsicles Plus 5 Awesome Flavors

Create perfect portions with Silicone Ice Pop Molds, and keep things tidy with Drip-Guard Popsicle Sleeves.

Fun Summer Snacks: Layered and Chunky Popsicle Combos

Want to make your popsicles more exciting? Try layering different flavors for striped pops or adding whole fruit slices, like kiwi, grapes, or berries. Not only does this add variety, but it also makes each bite a little surprise. To do this, freeze one flavor at a time before pouring in the next. In the end, kids love watching the colors stack up, and the results are just as fun to eat as they are to make.

Get creative ideas here:
The First Year: Rainbow Popsicle Recipe
Weelicious: Popsicle Collection
thekitchn: How to Make Healthier Pop-Ice Popsicles With a Vacuum Sealer

This freezer-safe Measuring Cup simplifies pouring. For extra fun, use food-safe wooden craft sticks to decorate or label your pops.

Quick Tips for DIY Popsicle Success

Believe it or not, making popsicles at home is much easier than you might think, and fortunately, you don’t need any fancy equipment—small paper cups and craft sticks work just fine. Even better, let kids join in by choosing ingredients, pouring mixtures, or layering fruit. In the end, it’s a simple kitchen activity that easily turns into a fun, frozen reward.

How do you make homemade popsicles that aren’t icy? Here’s a quick tip: cornstarch prevents ice crystal formation, and adding just a tablespoon to your mixture when blending can make a big difference. As a result, the texture stays creamy, even when you don’t use cream. This small step helps elevate homemade popsicles to a smoother, more satisfying treat.

Final Thoughts

From fruity favorites to creamy creations and colorful combos, summer popsicle recipe ideas bring cooling relief and family fun to any hot day. So, if you tried these homemade frozen treats, be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments.

Be sure to share this post with other parents for more budget-friendly food inspiration.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting Midwest Money Savers.

Money Saving Ideas, Recipes

Easy Keto Bread Rolls

May 13, 2025 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

In today’s post, I’d like to share an Easy Keto Bread Roll Recipe with you. Are you looking for low-carb bread that actually tastes like bread? Maria Emmerich’s Easy Keto Bread Rolls recipe, featured on DietDoctor.com, delivers on taste, texture, and simplicity. These rolls are soft, chewy, and completely grain-free—perfect for anyone on a keto or gluten-free diet.

Why These Rolls Work for Keto

These Easy Keto Bread Rolls use almond flour and psyllium husk as a low-carb alternative to wheat flour. Psyllium husk gives the rolls their classic bread-like structure without the carbs, while almond flour keeps the texture light and nutty. The rolls contain just 3 grams of net carbs each, making them ideal for meal prep or sandwich making on a ketogenic diet.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you need to make these keto-friendly rolls:

Almond Flour
Psyllium Husk Powder
Baking Powder
Sea Salt
Apple Cider Vinegar
Liquid Egg Whites
1 cup boiling water
Sesame Seeds (Optional)

You can find the full recipe instructions from Maria Emmerich at Diet Doctor’s official recipe page.

Simple Instructions, Fresh Results

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the egg whites and vinegar, then slowly mix in the boiling water using a hand mixer. Shape the dough into six rolls. Place them on a greased baking sheet and bake on the lower rack for 50–60 minutes. They’re done when the bottoms sound hollow when tapped.

Maria Emmerich’s Original Creation

Credit for this keto bread breakthrough goes to Maria Emmerich, a best-selling health and wellness author known for her low-carb recipes. You can explore more of her work at mariamindbodyhealth.com and try her version on DietDoctor.com, one of the most trusted low-carb sites online.

Where to Find More Keto Ideas

Want more keto-friendly meals and recipes? Check out DietDoctor.com for a wide variety of tested and trusted low-carb recipes, or explore Maria’s site for more daily inspiration.

Please share your results in the comments and let us know how your keto bread rolls turned out.
Check out the Midwest Money Savers Recipe Index for more budget-friendly and healthy recipes.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting Midwest Money Savers.

Recipes

Goat Cheese Cheddar Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

May 29, 2024May 29, 2024 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Today, we’re sharing a special treat—a brand-new recipe straight from my kitchen to yours! Prepare to delight your taste buds with our delicious potato side dish, goat cheese cheddar au gratin potatoes, a perfect blend of rich cheddar cheese and tangy goat cheese with potatoes. Whether planning a satisfying lunch or a delectable dinner accompaniment, this potato dish will become a favorite. Let’s dive in and make today delicious!”

Goat Cheese Cheddar Au Gratin Potatoes

This rich and creamy au gratin potato dish combines the tangy flavor of goat cheese with the sharpness of cheddar for a delicious twist on classic comfort food.

Ingredients:

Four large russet potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
One medium onion, thinly sliced
Two cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh thyme or parsley for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare the Potatoes:
- Peel and thinly slice the potatoes (about 1/8 inch thick). Place them in a large bowl of cold water to prevent browning while you prepare the other ingredients.
Cook the Onion and Garlic:
- In a medium saucepan, melt one tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook until softened about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
Make the Cheese Sauce:
- In a separate saucepan, melt the remaining one tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until it forms a paste (roux) and starts to turn a light golden color.
- Gradually whisk in the heavy cream and milk, ensuring no lumps form. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens (about 5-7 minutes).
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the goat and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth—season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using).
Assemble the Dish:
- Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel—layer half of the potato slices in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the cooked onions and garlic over the potatoes.
- Pour half the cheese sauce over the first layer of potatoes and onions. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, onions, and cheese sauce.
Top and Bake:
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Garnish and Serve:
- Let the dish rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired.

Enjoy your delicious Goat Cheese Cheddar Au Gratin Potatoes as a perfect side dish for any meal!

Enjoy!

Kelly

Recipes

Chef John’s Mushroom Veggie Burgers via Food Wishes Video Recipes

April 11, 2024April 11, 2024 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

You all know I’m all about saving money, but I’m also about flavor. This little gem magically appeared in my inbox today via The Allrecipes Daily Dish email newsletter. I must admit that I’ve struggled to find delicious and economical veggie burger options. I’m sorry, but $16.00 for a multipack of a name I will not mention veggie burgers is getting totally out of hand, not to mention all the added chemicals I could do without.

Mushrooms can be costly, so Chef John recommends buying them when they are priced at B1G1 free. I get them at Jerry’s Fruit & Garden in Niles or Sam’s Club.

At the time of this posting, a 24 oz container of white mushrooms was $4.12. Here is the direct link for Chef John’s Mushroom Veggie Burger. Please leave a comment and let me know if you enjoyed the recipe!

This post appeared first at Food Wishes Video Recipes with Chef John.

PS Scroll past the first video to view this recipe.

Enjoy!

Kelly

Recipes, Vegetarian

🍋 Lemon Basil Pasta Salad via Plantbasedrd on Instagram

April 9, 2024 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Occasionally, you come across a recipe that makes you get off the couch and see what ingredients you have in the cupboard to make it.
And I mean, make it right now! That is what Catherine Perez did when she created this yummy pasta salad and posted it on Instagram. I bet this would be delicious chilled, too.

🍋 Lemon Basil Pasta Salad

Here is the ingredient list:

1 large zucchini, cut into 3/4 inch half moons (try asparagus as an alternative cut on a bias)
8 oz of orecchiette pasta
2-3 cups spinach, roughly chopped
1, 6.5 oz jar of marinated artichoke hearts, diced
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1 medium lemon, fully zested and cut in half
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 cup fresh parsley, stems removed
1-2 cloves of garlic, grated (to taste)
3 tbsp pepitas or sunflower seeds
1/4 cup plain unsweetened plant based yogurt
1 tsp yellow miso paste
Kosher salt to taste

Be sure to visit her page to find complete instructions and many more recipes, too.

Enjoy,

~Kelly

Recipes, Vegetarian

Kelly’s Simple Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

January 21, 2024January 22, 2024 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Kelly’s Simple-Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

Ingredients:

16 large white mushrooms (you can also use portabello mushrooms)
1/2 pound (225g) ground sausage
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely diced bell pepper (any color)
Two cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for brushing

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Clean the mushrooms and remove the stems. Set the mushroom caps aside and finely chop the stalks.
In a skillet, cook the ground sausage over medium heat until it’s browned and cooked. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks.
Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease.
Add a little olive oil, if needed, in the same skillet, then add the chopped mushroom stems, onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender, which should take about 5 minutes.
Stir in the breadcrumbs and cook for another 2-3 minutes until they become lightly toasted.
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the cooked sausage, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well.
Place the mushroom caps on a baking sheet and brush them lightly with olive oil.
Stuff each mushroom cap with the sausage mixture, pressing it down slightly.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy your delicious sausage-stuffed mushrooms as a delightful appetizer or party snack! Are you looking for other recipes to enjoy with Kelly’s Simple Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms? You can visit allrecipes for over 113,000 original recipes and counting!

Have a beautiful day,

Kelly

Recipes

Easy Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms via Allrecipes

January 2, 2024January 4, 2024 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

We’ve all been there, right? That magical time between paychecks when your food budget resembles a tightrope walk over a pit of hungry alligators. But fear not, fellow budget warriors! Let me let you in on a little secret weapon in my pantry arsenal: the search for “orphan ingredients”! It’s like playing detective in your own fridge. You open the door, and there they are – those random ingredients that never quite made it into a full-fledged meal. That half-bunch of cilantro, a lonely can of chickpeas, and that single chicken breast just chillin’ like a culinary bachelor. Well, challenge accepted! With a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of resourcefulness, I’m turning these culinary orphans into mealtime heroes! Stay tuned because we’re about to whip up something really delicious.

Today is Thursday, and my check won’t arrive till tomorrow. My kiddos have been in and out of the refrigerator for the last hour, looking for something to snack on. What shall I do? So I peeked in the refrigerator to see what was left since last week’s shop. There were some Portabello mushrooms that were on their way out. I knew that I had parmesan cheese, garlic that I had preserved**, and Italian sausage in the freezer. So I put my little thinking cap on, and viola sausage sausage-stuffed mushrooms came to mind.

Usually, these are considered a treat in my house, but today, they will become a dollar stretcher. Best of all, my family will be none the wiser!

Easy Sausage-Stuffed Mushroom Recipe

Ingredient List:

24 large mushrooms, stems removed, or more as needed
1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage
1 onion, diced
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, divided
¼ cup Italian bread crumbs
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

Please visit the recipe page for the full ingredient list and recipe instructions. **Please check out my post, How to Preserve Garlic for Long-Term Storage, to learn how to eliminate food waste.

The post Easy Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms appeared first at Allrecipes. The user DRFHRLAW submitted this recipe.

If you have tried this recipe, please leave a comment.

Enjoy,

~Kelly

Recipes

Black Beans and Rice Recipe

May 23, 2023 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Good Tuesday morning my frugal friends. Today I would like to share my favorite recipe for Black Beans and Rice. This recipe is delicious by itself or as a side dish, and I especially love this recipe served with some broiled boneless chicken breasts. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Black Beans and Rice

One tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup uncooked white rice, long grain or jasmine rice
2 cups chicken broth (or stock)
One 14-ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1.5-2 tablespoons lime juice (adjust to your tastes)
Two tablespoons finely chopped coriander (or parsley) to garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the minced garlic and cumin to the pan, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from burning. Cook this for about 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant.
4. Next, add the uncooked rice to the saucepan. Stir well to ensure each grain of rice is coated with olive oil and mixed with the onion, garlic, and cumin. Toast the rice for a few minutes until it starts to become golden.
5. Pour the chicken broth into the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer. This will allow the rice to absorb the broth, which should take 15-20 minutes. Check the rice periodically to avoid it getting too dry or burnt. Add a little more broth or water if it looks too dry before it’s fully cooked.
6. After the rice is cooked, stir in the drained and rinsed black beans. Cover the pan again and cook for another 5 minutes until the beans are heated.
7. Remove the pan from heat and add lime juice to your taste. Stir well to combine.
8. Finally, garnish your dish with the finely chopped coriander (or parsley), and serve.

Enjoy!

~Kelly

Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Simply the Best Rib Rub Recipe

December 28, 2022 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Good Wednesday morning to you all. It looks like the sub-zero temperatures here in the Chicago area will be a thing of the past for now. Thank the good Lord for that because our furnace has been out since Christmas Eve. I ran to Walmart and picked up a couple of radiant heaters to get us by. They are so backed up on service calls that I don’t know when I’ll be able to get someone out here to repair it.

Enough chit-chat for the day. The money-saving recipe I’d like to share with you is what I call Simply the Best Rib Rub. I was checking out prices and can’t believe what they are charging now. A 5-ounce container is almost $9.00! Best of all, most of you probably have everything you need to make this recipe right in your pantry!
If you happen to try my recipe I would appreciate it if you let me know if you liked it.

Peace be with you,

~Kelly

Recipes

Vegan Recipe Roundup: Apple Pecan Chickpea Salad Sandwich via Create Mindfully

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 Kelly Gilbert No Comments

Good morning from the windy city! What is on everyone’s agenda today? I have been up since 4 AM this morning plotting out my projects for the day. When I get a burst of energy and am having a good morning I seize the day before my reserves are depleted. Having Fibromyalgia is soo much fun said no one.

The first item on my agenda is: Try a new vegan recipe I found over at Create Mindfully blog. Willow Moon’s recipe for Apple Pecan Chickpea Salad Sandwich looks totally yummy! Please be sure to check out her blog for healthy, gluten-free, vegan recipes.

And now for the rest of my projects for the day:

Change out the disgusting shower curtain liner in my master bathroom.
Put away the charcoal bags in my kitchen for the winter.
Fold laundry.
Clean the stove
Take out the garbage.

I am so blessed that I have this platform to share my thoughts and aspirations with you all. Please comment below if you tried the recipe.

Have a blessed day,

~Kelly

Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian