You can do so much more than soups and stews in your slow cooker. Now is the time to enjoy your favorite comfort foods without heating up the kitchen. You can also cook some of your favorite summery foods, while you’re away at the pool all day.

It’s also the perfect way to prepare the side dishes for your summer barbecue. Grill the entrees outside, and keep the heat out of the kitchen. And, did you know there are dessert crockpot recipes? That’s one thing I miss when I retire the oven for the summer — yummy baked treats.

So, as we approach a busy summer—not to mention a super hot week—here are 30 slow cooker recipes to keep your kitchen cool:

If you’re looking for a new slow cooker, I’ve been pleased with mine so far. I have the Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Slow Cooker. I like it because the lid latches on, making it perfect for transporting to potlucks without making a mess in your car!

Photo Credits: Kalyn’s Kitchen, Real Food Allergy Free, Real Mom Kitchen, American Family, This Chick Cooks, Elissa Braun

1. When It’s Too Hot to Cook
2. One Dish Dinner
3. Beat the Heat: Summer Cooking Without an Oven

As the holidays approach, our grocery budget usually gets stretched quite a bit. And sometimes, we even have a get-together to go to and would like to take something spectacular & delicious but don’t want to spend tons of time & more, importantly, tons of money.

This Easy Strawberry Pie is really good, easy to make, and a frugal dessert to share.

We made this dessert several times last Spring and Summer, and even my 12 year old was able to put it together on his own. We tried several different ways, using a chocolate graham cracker crust, a regular graham cracker crust and also in mini pies. If you have lots to feed, say a potluck, its goes a long way when you make it in muffin tins. Today, I made it in 3 different sizes to show you the versatility of the recipe. For a single recipe, I got 6 jumbo, 12 regular & 16 mini muffin tins full.

Ingredients for Crust:

• 1 sleeve + 4 Graham Crackers, crushed finely




• 1/4 cup Sugar




• 6 tablespoons Butter or Margarine, melted

Ingredients for Filling:

• 2/3 cup Boiling Water




• 1 pkg (4 oz. serving size) Strawberry Gelatin (I bought Walmart brand)
• 1/2 cup Cold Water + enough ice cubes to make 1 cup




• 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed




• 1 cup Strawberries, chopped




• Strawberries for decoration, if desired

Directions:

Stir boiling water into gelatin mix in large bowl; stir at least 2 minutes until gelatin is dissolved. Add ice cubes to cold water to make 1 cup, stir into gelatin mixture. Stir until thickened, remove any unmelted ice cubes.

Add whipped topping with a whisk until well blended. Stir in chopped strawberries. Refrigerate 20 to 30 minutes.

While the filling is chilling, make the crust. Melt butter in measuring cup, add crushed graham crackers & sugar. Mix well. Spoon into pie plate, or cupcake liners, pat down gently. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes; you will be able to smell the graham crackers (that’s how I know they are done).

Spoon filling into crust; chill for 6 hours or overnight. Decorate as desired.

I used a little whipped topping in a decorator bag, some sliced strawberries and strawberries that I had dipped in melted chocolate. For the minis, I added a pinch of pink sugar & a Robin’s Egg.

Note: If you are making the pie in cupcake liners, leave them in the tins until the filling is set. That way, they hold their shape.

Cost for this yummy dessert:

Crust ~ Store bought: Keebler brand $1.68, Walmart brand $1.56, Aldi brand $1.38

Make your own: Crackers $.35, Butter $.15, Sugar $.10
Total: $.60

Filling ~

Gelatin $.50
Strawberries $1.60 (on sale this week at Walmart)
Whipped Topping $.85 (Aldi’s)
Total: $2.95

Total for Dessert: $3.55

Store bought Strawberry Pie: at least $12.00, and as much as $20

I adapted this recipe from Kraft Food & Family, Spring 2008 issue.

Do you have a yummy frugal dessert that you love to make for the holidays?

We asked Liz for a frugal recipe guest post after seeing her gorgeous cupcakes at Blissdom! Liz is a SAHM of 3 teenage boys and happily married for 20+ years. She shares lots of homemaking tips, including her love for baking, cooking and decorating on Hoosier Homemade. She hosts Cupcake Tuesday blog carnival with lots of cupcake creations.

Original published on 4/1/2010

1. Beat the Heat: Grilled Desserts
2. Sunday Recipe Sampler
3. Planning Ahead for Easter Dinner Savings

I enjoyed a birthday lunch with the hubby, dinner with the family, and I have plans with friends to use a few more. I’m enjoying my birthday freebie crawl with free gifts and meals from some of my favorite places.

Here is my great, big list of birthday club offers:

• Abuelo’s eClub
• Applebee’s
• Arby’s Extras
• Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Perks
• Aveda email signup
• Baskin Robbins Birthday Club
• BD’s Mongolian Barbecue Club Mongo
• Buca di Beppo eClub
• Buffalo Wild Wings Circle (under Extras)
• Chili’s Email Club
• Culvers Club
• Houlihan’s Email Club
• Johnny Rockets eClub
• Maggiano’s email club
• McAllister’s Deli eClub
• Moe’s Southwest Grill e-World
• Red Robin Royalty Club
• Ruby Tuesday So Connected
• Sephora Beauty Insider
• Sonic Cruisers Club
• Steak ‘n Shake eClub
• Texas Roadhouse email club

Birthday freebies include free entrees, appetizers, desserts, samples, and dollar off coupons. Many will also send a coupon or gift for the anniversary of your signup. So, if possible, spread out your registrations a bit for freebies all year long!

1. FREE PROGRAM: Barnes & Noble Kids’ Club
2. 31 Day Budget (Day 22): Stretching Your Budget with Freebies
3. Inexpensive Birthday Party Ideas

The fact that it’s more frugal than dinner out is just a bonus at this point, but cooking from home is always a great way to save money on date night. However, there’s something to be said for getting away and enjoying an evening out.

Here are 3 great ways to go out for dinner for less:

Begin at the Beginning

You don’t have to order a whole meal, to enjoy a dining experience. The hubby and I actually go out often, just for an appetizer or two. We can share an appetizer spread for far less than the cost of two dinner entrees.

Daywalker

Who says you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day during, you know, the daytime? A lunch date can make for significant savings, especially if your children are in school. It eliminates the need for a babysitter. Plus, many restaurants offer lunch menus at a discount.

Just Desserts

I don’t think there’s anything more sexy than sharing a dessert with the hubby. Enjoy a meal at home, then linger over a special dessert or after dinner drinks. It’s an inexpensive way to snag a small part of the dining experience.

Related, on Babble.com: 14 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Without Spending a Dime

Photo Credit: Flickr

1. Budget Date Nights
2. 30 Ways to an Inexpensive But Romantic Date
3. Fine Dining on a Fast Food Budget

If you want to add a splash of flavor to your stir-fry, check out NAKANO’s Seasoned Rice Vinegars—a little goes a long way! NAKANO is currently collecting your favorite ways to use their vinegars through their Splash Madness Sweepstakes. Plus, you can check out some of their splash tips for more quick, easy dinner flavors.

To enter, simply “like” the NAKANO Facebook page, fill out the sweepstakes form and share your favorite “splash tip” for using NAKANO’s Seasoned Rice Vinegars. You’ll be entered for a chance to win one of several prizes—including a brand new, top of the line refrigerator, a fancy juicer or blender or one of several prizes featuring Nakano Vinegars and cooking accessories.

The sweepstakes ends 5/17/11 and is limited to one entry per person per day. Check out the official sweepstakes rules for more details, and be sure to share your splash tips with me too—I’m always looking for new meal ideas!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NAKANO’s Splash Madness sweepstakes, but all opinions are 100% mine.

1. Frugal Gift Idea: Baby Shower Essentials Kit
2. Planning Ahead for Easter Dinner Savings
3. What’s for Dinner?

But, I did feast on so much amazing food throughout the weekend. Then, my mom sent most of the leftovers back home with us! We have ham, Easter eggs and mashed potatoes. Some of it has already been packed into school lunches. I also have a variety of ways to use up the rest for breakfast, lunch and dinner this week. We can make ham & chicken salad, soup, sandwiches and casseroles.

Here a few recipes & ideas:

5 Ways to Use Leftover Easter Eggs
Leftover Ham for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ham & Potatoes, Take 2: The Soup & Sandwich Sequel
What to Do With Leftover Ham

How are you cooking your leftovers this week?

1. Planning Ahead for Easter Dinner Savings
2. 5 Ways to Use Leftover Easter Eggs
3. Leftover Ham for Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner

We’ll either have green beans or creamed peas. Corn or mac & cheese. The veggie tray will be filled based on what fresh foods I find in the days leading up to Easter. And, dessert? Well, I’ll have a hard time sticking to just one. Carrot cake or strawberry pie are the current front runners.

This year, it looks like we’re heading to my parents for Easter, since we’ll be celebrating my nephew’s birthday the same weekend. That makes my job a lot easier, because the extended family always has a pitch-in. I’ll be helping Mom with the ham, eggs & potatoes. Then, I’m just responsible for my own contribution so I can definitely go with the sales, or things I’ve already stockpiled, on a quick dish or two.

What’s on your plate for Easter this year?

Included recipes & searches are linked via Foodily. I was selected to be a Foodily Brand Ambassador by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. This is a compensated program, but all of the opinions I share are my own.

1. How To Use Easter Leftovers
2. Leftover Ham for Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner
3. 5 Ways to Use Leftover Easter Eggs