Hotdogs and Cornbread

   Monday was my little man's fourth birthday. Like many people, we let our children pick what they want for dinner on their birthday. Now keep in mind, my now four year old is the pickiest eater out of all three kids. We asked him what he wanted and he said hotdogs in cornbread.

   I wasn't too excited since we had just had it for dinner and I'm not a hotdog fan. I wasn't able to talk him out of it, so that's what I made. At least it was quick and I knew we wouldn't have the fight we have many nights about him eating what is given to him.

   It's rather easy to make. All you need is some cornbread mix and hot dogs.

   Mix your cornbread according to the directions on the box. If you are making it from scratch, make it how you normally would.

   Slice up your hotdogs however you need to according to how old your kids are. Remember, hotdogs can be a choking hazard.

   Mix the hotdogs into your cornbread mix. You only need to mix it enough to get the hotdogs covered in the mix.

   Pour it into a prepared pan and cook according to the cornbread directions. You could also make it in a muffin pan for easier serving.

   You now have some cornbread with hotdogs in it. If your picky eater is anything like mine, they won't be going to bed hungry!

   This meal is super cheap. You can get the ingredients for about three dollars. The kids all love it, especially if you give them a little ketchup. It tastes pretty close to a corn dog but it's cheaper. It's ready in about half an hour and, if you are shopping on a budget, this is a great meal!

Easy Pizza Ideas

   My family loves to eat pizza. We probably eat it a lot more than we should. But really, can you blame us? Sometimes the craving of the gooey cheese and piles of vegetables and meat are just too much to pass up.

   Since we like pizza so much, we have a few different variations we make. Yes, there is the regular circle pizza on crust that everyone thinks of when you hear the word "pizza". We have other favorite ways to make this family favorite.

   First, we buy some French Bread. You can buy a loaf for a dollar at Walmart. Cut it in half and chop up any vegetables you would like to add.

   Spread as much sauce on it as you'd like. The bread will soak up the sauce so feel free to lather it on.

   Sprinkle on your cheese and whatever toppings you like. I forgot a few of the vegetables I wanted so we had pepperoni and green onion pizza.

   Next, we put them in the broiler. About five minutes will work. Just keep and eye on it. When the cheese is melted, it's ready. Using the broiler will make it melted and warm but leaves the inside soft.

   Another thing we like to do, is making pizza on tortillas. I found I like the corn ones better. This makes a great snack or meal. You can even throw another tortilla on top and make it quesadilla style. My mother in law makes them in a sandwich maker and calls them pizza pockets. Anyway you make it, my kids LOVE it and will gobble them up faster than you can make them.

   Booth ways are fast and cheap. Depending on how much you put on top of your pizza, it can be made for about $5. This is a great meal for those times when you need something fast or aren't really in the mood for cooking.

   Are there any other pizza variations you enjoy?