Frugal Food Thursday: Appetizers from the Cupboard

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Frugal Food Thursday: Appetizers from the Cupboard

Welcome to Frugal Food Thursday! If you have a great frugal recipe, please link up below!

Though the Clean Out the Cupboards Challenge officially started in January, I got a bit of a head start the last few days of December. For New Year's Eve, we decided to stay in for the evening, so I thought it would be good to make some appetizers to eat later in the evening.

Now, normally, I might run out to get some fancy ingredients to make appetizers, or just be lazy and buy some pre-made appetizers. But since I was taking part in the challenge, I thought to myself - what do I have in my pantry that I can use to make some yummy, delicious appetizers?

I came up with Garlic Cheesy Bread and Pantry Bruschetta. Each recipe uses one loaf of whole wheat French bread - luckily, the recipe makes two loaves. I made the bread in the afternoon, then assembled the appetizers just before serving. Both came out yummy and were devoured by my husband, my thirteen-year-old, and me (the younger two were fast asleep by then).

GARLIC CHEESY BREAD

1 loaf whole wheat French bread (see recipe here)
2 tbsp spreadable butter
2 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 oz shredded Parmesan cheese

Slice whole wheat French bread loaf, cutting on the diagonal, into eight thick slices. Place slices on a baking sheet. Spread butter on the top of each slice, and sprinkle on garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add cheddar and Parmesan cheese to the top of each slice. Broil for 5 minutes in the oven, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are crispy. Makes 8 slices.

PANTRY BRUSCHETTA

1 loaf whole wheat French bread (see recipe here)
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes, drained
2 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tsp dried basil

Slice whole wheat French bread loaf, cutting on the diagonal, into eight thick slices. Place slices on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the olive oil on the tops of the bread slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes to the bread, and top with shredded mozzarella and basil. Broil for 5 minutes in the oven, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are crispy. Makes 8 slices.

There are lots more cheap recipes posted here at Frugal Follies. Click here for the list!

Got a great frugal recipe? Link below to your actual post, not your main page. I'd appreciate it if you would link back to Frugal Food Thursday as well!

Check out more recipes at:

35 comments:

Margaret@MissAdventures of Susie Homemaker, January 6, 2011 at 9:27 AM: What great easy recipes! I'm going to remember these!
Renae @ How to Have it All, January 6, 2011 at 9:47 AM: Yum! I love bruschetta! I am on a mission to clean out the pantry/ freezer too! Thanks so much for hosting the linky!
Ms. F, January 6, 2011 at 10:22 AM: What a great idea to use diced tomatoes for the bruschetta! I hate buying tomatoes in the winter because we work so hard to eat local and winter tomatoes from far away don't taste that great. I plan on canning as many as I can this summer so I don't have to rely on the canned stuff from the store. Great idea!
Lisa@The Nourishing Homemaker, January 6, 2011 at 11:18 AM: Wow! Thanks for all the linky parties & the reminder that yours is on Thursday. I was thinking "Fridays." :)

The Nourishing Homemaker
http://nurturedfamilylife.blogspot.com
Lisa@The Nourishing Homemaker, January 6, 2011 at 11:21 AM: Today is Thursday, isn't it? Diregard previous comment. If anyone finds a brain lying around. It's mine & I'd love to have it back.
Allison {A Glimpse Inside}, January 6, 2011 at 12:05 PM: Oooo... those sound yummy! Especially the garlic cheesy bread! Thanks for sharing and linking up. :)
April J Harris, January 6, 2011 at 1:02 PM: Your appetizers sound great - it's lovely to have recipes you can whip up at the last minute with things you have on hand!
Sandra, January 6, 2011 at 9:40 PM: Oooh sounds so good :)
a moderate life, January 7, 2011 at 1:05 AM: Hi Laura! I wanted to wish you a happy new year and also just found your thursday blog carnival and wanted to link up a very frugal recipe! I had too much salad after this holiday and it started to get a bit "past it" so I cooked it and it tasted wonderful! thus hot salad was born and i will be making it again soon! All the best! Alex
Gizelle, January 7, 2011 at 1:34 AM: oh, looks delicious and easy to make!
warr_shee, January 7, 2011 at 4:59 AM: looks delicious and very tempting to eat.
Noobfoodie
Lisa, January 7, 2011 at 8:25 AM: Oooh, your app sounds so good! I can't believe you made that just from stuff in your house!
♥ Willa @ Postage Journal♥, January 7, 2011 at 9:48 AM: The Garlic cheesy bread sounds interesting!
Lori@Paisley Passions, January 7, 2011 at 11:04 AM: Those recipes look WONDERFUL!!!

I host a NEW linky party called Fun w/Food Friday. I would LOVE it if you came by and linked up some of your delicious posts! Have a great weekend :)

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
annies home, January 7, 2011 at 6:19 PM: sounds delicious love the fact that it is a clean out the fridge recipe and not something that every ingredient we have to go buy this helps me out alot
Donnie, January 7, 2011 at 6:31 PM: That made a really substantial appetizer. A lot of times we'll have brochette for a light dinner.
Miranda | Mangoes and Chutney, January 7, 2011 at 10:07 PM: Love cheesy garlic bread! Thanks for linking to Fat Camp Fridays!
Unknown, January 8, 2011 at 4:24 AM: I love apps - and these both look wonderful! Thanks for linking up to Friday Potluck!
Nancy, January 8, 2011 at 1:05 PM: You have a really cute blog! Lots of yummy recipes. I'm a new follower from Katie's blog hop. I'd love a follow back.
Thanks
Nancy
http://funwithnancy.blogspot.com
Krystal, January 9, 2011 at 6:02 PM: Those look awesome! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, and linking up to Saturday's Party!

-Krystal @ recipesofacheapskate.blogspot.com
Anonymous, January 9, 2011 at 8:09 PM: Seriously; garlic. cheese. bread. Can it get any better? And they look so delicious! I am always looking for appetizers to serve unnaounced guests. This is definitely going in that category.
Miz Helen, January 10, 2011 at 6:18 PM: I am so excited that you brought your wonderful appetizers over to Full Plate Thursday. We will all enjoy your recipe's. Thank you so much for coming and you have a great week!
Heather S-G, January 11, 2011 at 8:15 AM: Wow, you totally rocked the cupboard! Both of these sound delicious! Wonderful event, thanks so much for sharing it w/ the hearth and soul hop this week :D
MrsJenB, January 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM: Awesome - amazing how creative we are when we have to be! Great thinking, they sound delicious!

Visiting from Tasty Tuesdays
Nikki (Coupon Cookin), January 11, 2011 at 1:27 PM: Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Andrea (Andreas Kitchen), January 11, 2011 at 5:52 PM: Hi Laura! I just found your blog today. I am sharing my recipe for Shrimp Salsa. It tastes great and it is healthy too!
Happy New Year!
PERMANENT POSIES, January 11, 2011 at 9:23 PM: I saw this yesterday and copied your bread recipe. Glad you shared it so I can remember where I found it. You know what I mean? I see so many recipes and later I think....now where was that? I am trying your bread recipe tomorrow. I wonder if I could freeze the dough before I cook it? Have you done that? Thanks for always sharing.
Unknown, January 11, 2011 at 10:01 PM: @PP - I've never frozen the dough, so I couldn't vouch for that. I've frozen loaves of bread and as long as you wrap them well, they keep for at least a few weeks.
Shan, January 12, 2011 at 5:24 PM: Great recipe. We love bruschetta. Thanks for sharing it for What's Cooking Wednesday.
wacki04@TheKing'sCourt IV, January 12, 2011 at 7:34 PM: Looks great! Thanks for sharing :)
Jerri at Simply Sweet Home, January 13, 2011 at 2:21 PM: This looks great!

Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites!
Unknown, January 14, 2011 at 12:25 AM: i love that you are cleaning out your pantry...it is a well stocked one! thank you for sharing these wonderful appetizers with tuesday night supper club!
HaleyLeann, January 17, 2011 at 9:05 AM: Yummy! I love "pantry surprise" nights! Thanks for linking up on Recipes I Can't Wait to Try! =)
Sandra VanHoey, January 12, 2014 at 5:49 AM: The recipes sound great and something we all would love here. Thanks for sharing
jopb, January 31, 2014 at 7:51 PM: These are great recipes. Homemade bread always tastes better efen without the additions