8 Copycat Recipes that Keep Dining Out Cravings at Bay

Hey Folks!  I'm back to share more of my two cents!

One sure way to save money is to avoid going out to eat at all costs, but it can be difficult when you crave that restaurant style salsa or maybe some hibachi.  I have come across some great copycat recipes to help you stay in, as well as, some recipes that are better than the "convenience packaged" foods, so let's get started!

1.   Max and Erma's Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup:  

via food.com

This taste as close as you can get to the real deal.  I found the recipe here.  I followed the recipe almost exactly except in place of the green chilies and can of tomatoes, I used a can of Rotel since it has both ingredients and that is what I had at the time.  For the tortilla strips, I bought the fiesta seasoned Kroger or Meijer brand ( I've used both) tortilla strips and they worked very well in the soup.  This is a cheesy soup that hits the spot when the weather is getting colder.  It has a great taste that isn't too spicy for little ones, something the whole family will enjoy.


2.  Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper:

via countrysidecravings.com

The box of hamburger helper can be found on sale for pretty cheap most of the time, but why not make your own for just as cheap with ingredients you know are going into the recipe instead of leaving it up to General Mills.  This recipe taste better and doesn't need to be altered in anyway. It can be found here.

3.  Chick-Fil-A Nuggets, Waffle Fries, and Sauce:

via samsclub.com and buildyourbite.com

 

So this one I cheated a little, but Sam's Club has Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Bites that are basically the same as the nuggets from the restaurant.  They even have a hint of pickle just like the real thing.  These are great because they can be microwaved in just a couple of minutes for a quick snack and it doesn't hurt the taste or texture of the product.  The Member's Mark Southern Style Waffle Fries are also available for a limited time at Sam's Club.  They taste like the restaurants', but the only down fall is they can't be fried for a crispier texture.  We have tried both of these products and love them because they taste just like the real thing.  Our Sam's Club doesn't carry it, but some clubs also have a Member's Mark Southern Style Chicken Sandwich which comes frozen with a bun and is suppose to taste like the restaurants' also.  So after you purchase the copycat products, you have to have some Chick-Fil-A Sauce to go with the nuggets and fries.  I found a pretty close recipe here.  The only thing that I did was add just a touch more mustard for my family's liking.  It is super easy to make and adjust to your taste.

4.  McCormick's Chili Seasoning:

via meatandpotatoesrecipes.blogspot.com

I love to season my chili with this seasoning packet, but it's becoming more expensive especially when I have all the ingredients in my spice cabinet.  In my opinion, this recipe is more of the Hot version and I would cut the cayenne powder in half to make it closer to the original recipe. We like it SPICY, so I left the recipe as is for us.

5.  Japanese Hibachi Shrimp Fried Rice:

via averiecooks.com

I am so thankful I found this recipe!  My family absolutely loves to go to our local hibachi restaurant, but it gets expensive really quick and before we know it, we are close to $100 in the hole for just one dinner.  This is super easy to make and curbs those restaurant cravings.  You can also substitute any meat you would like.  We have tried chicken and it was just as delicious as the shrimp.  Get the recipe here.  I did make some adjustments to the recipe to use what I had.  I omitted green onions and chopped a small yellow onion and sauteed it instead.  I also used olive oil instead of any other oils that the recipe called for.  I used a short cut and had the Birdseye frozen veggie blend (corn, peas, carrots, and green beans) that I tossed in instead of the individual veggies.  I sometimes like to add mushrooms too depending on our mood.  Follow the recipe as is or follow my adjustments, either way I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

6.  Carnival or Candied Nuts (aka German Nuts):  

via dinnerthendessert.com

I have found two recipes for these amazing little snacks!  These are also a  great idea for Christmas gifts or a sweet snack to bring along to parties.  I have made both the pecan recipe (here) and the almond recipe (here).  They are both crock pot recipes and take a few hours to make but you pretty much dump, mix, and then stir every hour or so to make sure the nuts stay coated and don't stick together.  Both recipes turned out amazing and they were extremely hard to put down once you got that sweet cinnamon goodness on your tongue.  With these recipes it can be fair and carnival season all year long (and as an added bonus it makes your house smell awesome!).

7.  Better Than Manwich Sloppy Joes:

via heatherlikesfood.com

This isn't exactly a copycat recipe, but it's more along the lines of the Hamburger Helper recipe listed above.  Making your own from scratch has way more flavor and is a lot healthier than anything served in a can or box.  Honestly, I have never been much of a sloppy joe fan, but the rest of my family loves them and this recipe definitely made that love even greater.  It turned a myself into a fan and is worth trying since you more than likely have all the ingredients right in your pantry.  You can find the recipe here and it is just perfect the way it is.  I didn't have to make any substitutions or adjustments.

8.  Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa:

via aspiceyperspective.com

This recipe is great because you can adjust the "heat" to your liking.  It also it a great way to use those garden veggies and herbs.  The original recipe can be found here and is a great snack around our house.  We are also Mexican food junkies and crave the restaurant style salsa a lot.  Sometimes I feel like we just go to the restaurant specifically for the chips and salsa.  Well if your family is like ours then I have found the solution.  Again we like heat so we kept our seeds in the jalapenos and added a couple more than the recipe called for.  I also used a can of diced tomatoes instead of the brand of crushed tomatoes the recipe called for and it still tasted like our local restaurant's.  This recipe more than hit the spot on cravings.

Hopefully these recipes help save you some money, expand your dinner or snack options, and/or have given you more ideas of how to get lost in the amazing Pinterest world.  Hope you enjoy these recipes as much as my family has!

Cirkul Review Part 1

Hey Folks!!!  I was tired of seeing the online ads for this product and wondering if it could help me with my hatred of water, so I ordered a trial!

Shipping Box

I just received my trial pack, which includes two flavor cartridges and the bottle.  It is a 22 ounce bottle, but it does not have measurement marks along the side, which I do find disappointing, but not a deal breaker.

Opened Trial Pack

The flavor cartridges included were Fruit Punch, which is part of the Life Sips line and Mixed Berry, which is part of the Fit Sips line.  Life Sips have vitamins added, Fit Sips have added electrolytes, Go Sips are caffeinated, Brew Sips are coffee flavored, Tea Sips are flavored teas, and Pure Sips are infused with natural flavoring and no added sweeteners.  There are a couple of the lines that offer a Stevia option as well.  For more information please refer to the video below.  Thanks!!!

Water Bottle with Cartridge

Trial Contents

Flavor Cartridge

I will continue this review in two weeks, so that I have enough time to try it out and let you know exactly how many bottles the cartridges last for me and so on.  The website says each cartridge should last about six bottle refills or 132 ounces.  I am hoping this is the solution to staying hydrated and kicking the sugary soda habit.  Only time will tell.

I hope you are looking forward to the second part of the review as much as I                                         am in posting it!!

The video below shows the product as I opened it, how it works, my first review of how it tastes , along with my personal preference on how much flavor works for me.  Check it out!!!!!!

You can find all this information on my Facebook page, Two Cent Tips.  Don't forget to like and follow to stay up to date on all new blog posts and reviews!!!  

Don't want to wait around for my full review and want to try it out for yourself? Get your $5 trial here!

Ditch the Cable and Satellite TV

Tired of paying outrageous cable or satellite bills? Or maybe you don't get all the channels you would prefer to have? Don't want to upgrade your package just to get channels you DO want?  Well ditch those bills and come on over to the streaming side!

All you need is Internet service and an Android box to watch practically free TV! Here's my experience and methods.

First you must have Internet service. We live in a rural area so our options are extremely limited. We found out that satellite Internet was extremely expensive and spotty to say the least. We live literally in the woods and even though our satellite had a "clear view," it went out not only when it stormed but when the wind blew. It was awful! That's when our cell phone carrier came into play. We have a Mifi or mobile Hotspot that allows up to 10 devices to be connected at once with unlimited Internet access. After so many GB the services slows down from 4LTE to 3G, but we have not seen a difference and we stream all television, movies, and have a smart home system. My particular service is $55 a month, but check with your cell phone provider to see if this is an option that would work for you. It could end up splitting your monthly Internet bill in half or maybe even more. 

ZTE MiFi

Next, purchase an Android box. This little machine comes pre-loaded with some apps and has the capability to download other apps through the Google Play Store. It's like having your phone or tablet on your television. It is similar to a Firestick or Roku, but has many more capabilities, without worrying if you are breaking certain policies associated with those devices.  We have two boxes, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. There are several brands and models, usually around the $50 range. I encourage you to do research and find out which box would work best for your family's uses.  Pictured below is the box that we found and took a chance on through the Wish website.  These boxes can also be purchased through Amazon.  We have been using these boxes for approximately two years now and I can honestly say we have no regrets!

MxQ Pro Android Box

After you purchase your box and get it hooked up to your television, there are a couple apps that I would suggest you download from the Google Play Store in order to watch virtually free TV.  If you have Hulu or Netflix, the boxes are compatible with these apps as well.  We currently use Hulu only because the service comes free with our cell service plan.  

• Kodi- a free app that allows access to movies and television shows.  This app once appropriate add-ons have been installed even includes Nexflix and Hulu inventory.  My family just recently watched a movie that was still currently in the movie theater.  I can't tell you the last time we paid to go see a movie!

• Within Kodi you will need to download Exodus Redux as an add-on in order to access the shows and movies, this usually doesn't come pre-loaded on the app.  No worries, I have included a YouTube tutorial on how to set this up, just click here to view.  Also if you have any problems with your box, YouTube is an excellent learning tool.

•  Tubi TV- a free app that has pre-loaded television shows and movies.  This is usually older shows or not so popular movies, but there are still some good things on here in order to have an option for something out of the ordinary.

• Pluto TV- another free app that is similar to Tubi TV.

All of the above apps are completely free and if you wanted to stop there and have access to completely free television then you can, but there is one downfall.....no Superbowl or other sporting events!  So if you are like my family and need to be able to watch NFL or NCAA basketball, I have a cheap solution to that too!

On your box you have a Internet browser icon, open it and you can search the web just as you do on a phone or computer.  You will need to download an APK called Exodus Live to your box, which you can do here.  This is LIVE TV with thousands of stations all around the world.  It is $5.99 per month that automatically is charged to my Paypal account on the first of the month. You also have the option to pay monthly, but I think auto pay is much easier once you know it is something you will utilize. This charge is per device, so currently we only have access to it on the box in the living room, which honestly is where most of our sports watching occurs anyway so it isn't a hassle. I highly suggest liking their Facebook page Configurator Apps because they keep you up to date on any updates or issues with the APK, as well as offer help through Messenger or the community.  I have been using this service for a year and they have made great strides in accessibility and making it easier to use.

        Side Note:  Since this APK offers channels from all over the world, the United Kingdom has something called Sky Movie Channels.  I highly recommend looking these up and adding them to your favorite list.  Disney, Family, Action, Greats, Drama, Thriller, and many more categories that seem to be more interesting than HBO or other movie channels offered here in the United States (in my opinion).

Now you may ask well ok I have all these channels, now how do I know what is on television.  I have downloaded two television guide apps. One is for United States and you set it up according to where you live and a local cable or satellite provider. The other one is a United Kingdom version so I can see what are on the UK movie channels.

United States TV Guide App

Example of Guide Listing

United Kingdom TV Guide App

Example of Guide Listing

So there you have it folks!!  We spent a one time fee of $50 (per box) and $5.99 a month for LIVE TV, while having access to any television show or movie we could ever want access too!  I have given you the tools to save a ton of money on something you use daily and let's face it most of us can't live without!  Now it's time for you to do the research and see if these options work for you and your family.  My guess is you will be saving money in no time!!!

Pricey Prescriptions

Pricey prescriptions gotcha down? There are a few options to look into when filling your medications even if you have insurance. 

• Grab those prescription discount cards displayed at the doctor's office or pharmacy counter tops. 

Example cards

As you can see, I have several and I carry them with me all the time. Different pharmacies accept different types or you may get a better discount with one card over another. The key is to have options! These cards usually can be used in conjunction with insurance.  If not they sometimes give you a bigger discount than insurance and it may be worth while to use it instead of your insurance. 

• Research price differences at your local pharmacies. 

Some places offer free antibiotics or cheap generic medications. A little bit of time can save you a good chunk of change. These pharmacies that offer cheaper generic medications usually offer even more of a discount if you purchase your "long term" medication in larger quantities. For example I have to take thyroid medication daily for the rest of my life, Walmart charges $4 for a 30 day supply or $10 for a 90 day supply for my particular medication. A few phone calls or quick 5-10 minute internet search can usually help determine the price for your local pharmacies.

• Download the Good RX app. 

This app is the newest tool I have found to combat those pricey prescriptions.  It is easy to use and can help save you save hundreds depending on your prescriptions. I first decided to try this app, when my regular pharmacy didn't get my son's medication in on time and then proceeded to tell me it was on back-order. I decided to take the prescription to another pharmacy only to be told they don't accept my insurance and it was going to be $288 for a month supply of medication. I was at a loss, what do I do? So I went to the car to calm down and collect my thoughts when the Good RX advertisement (Thanks Hulu) came to mind.  

I downloaded the app, searched my son's prescription and I was presented with a list of pharmacies and prices they offered for the medication. 

Example of Medication Search

I finally had found a reasonable solution.  Not only did I have options since my regular pharmacy couldn't fill it, but now I found out that when the medication is in stock, I can get it for approximately $10 cheaper than through my insurance at my regular pharmacy. I now have made it a habit to check the app every time one of us has to have a prescription filled just to make sure we are always paying the lowest price possible.  Once you find the price and pharmacy you would like to use you can save the coupon and present it at the time of purchase.

Example Coupon to Present to Pharmacy 

The app has great money saving features, such as alerts to let you know if another pharmacy other than your selected favorite, has your medications for a lower price.  It also has a specific tool called "Find My Best Pharmacy."  This tool helps you find the pharmacy with the lowest total price for all your medications so that you don't have to use several pharmacies just to save money.

Example Savings Alert and Tool

Prescriptions and medications are a necessity for most of us to live happy, healthy, "normal" lives whether we want to admit it or not.  Whether you have an infection, virus, or need to take daily medication for a variety of reasons these methods are simple, free, and easy to do in order to save you money on the medications you need.  Don't go without when there are options that make medication affordable.  Remember, every little bit counts and can add up to a huge saving!!!