There are recipes that are staples for your family. You know the ones. They are the recipes you don’t even look at anymore. You make the meals on autopilot. One of those meals for our family is this freezer pinto beans with ham recipe. In fact, I have been making this recipe for so many years that I didn’t even realize how long it took to make until making it for you. Don’t let that scare you away from making it, though. The hands-on time is minimal and it makes 2 whole meals you can freeze for later. Oh, and did I mention that it’s delicious?! Make it and find out for yourself.

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[bctt tweet=”There are recipes that are staples for your family. For ours it is this freezer pinto beans with ham recipe. #recipe” username=”diyadulation”]

Ingredients

Name: Low Calorie Whipped Pumpkin Pie
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: Crust Ingredients; 1 Sleeve of Graham Crackers (9 whole crackers); 1 Stick of Margarine (1/2 cup); Pie Filling Ingredients; 1 8oz Container of Lite Whipped Topping; ½ Cup Canned Pumpkin; 1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 32 oz Bag of Dry Pinto Beans
2 Sticks of Margarine (1 cup)
1 Leftover Ham Bone (With some meat still on it)
Water (12+ Cups)
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Step 1

Place your beans into a large pot and cover with water.

Step 2

Boil the beans for 1 hour. Add more water as needed to keep the beans covered the entire hour.

Step 3

Drain you beans in a strainer and pull out any bad ones (these are the ones that are still hard or discolored ones). Transfer your strained beans to a bowl and set off to the side.

Step 4

Put your ham bone into your pot and cover with water.

Step 5

Boil the ham bone in water for 30 minutes. Again, add water as needed to keep the bone covered during cooking.

Step 6

Next, move your ham bone to the strainer with tongs (don’t pour out your water).

Step 7

Add your beans to the ham bone water.

Step 8

Bring your beans to a boil again. Boil them for an additional 2 hours. Remember to add more water as needed and stir occasionally.

Tip:

I recommend setting a timer for every 20-30 minutes to remind you to check on them and give your pot a stir.

Step 9

While your beans are boiling, remove the remaining pieces of ham from the bone. Throw out your bone when done.

Step 10

Cut the ham into small pieces and toss into the bowl your beans rested in.

Step 11

Turn down the heat to low on the beans and add your ham, margarine, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to incorporate all of the ingredients.

Step 12

Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until everything has thickened.

This makes a large amount of beans. If you are serving to your family for dinner, divide the batch in two and freeze half for a later meal. To freeze both meals, allow the beans and ham to cool to room temperature and add each half to a separate gallon freezer bags. Freeze for up to 30 days (longer if using a vacuum seal system like a FoodSaver). Our family love to have sweet cornbread with our beans. Make this easy on yourself by mixing up a box of Jiffy Muffins according to instructions. Next, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar to the mix. Note: don’t add more than this because adding too much will result in hard, cornbread chips instead of moist deliciousness.

You can’t beat the price of this meal. Even adding the cornbread still brings it to $3 per meal! For our family that works out to 60¢ per person. Talk about a frugal meal to add to your monthly meal plan! Get more awesome meal ideas like healthy freezer-friendly chicken nuggets or easy bacon and broccoli alfredo on our recipes page.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:5]

See where I’m linking up!

Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving dinner staple. The calories that come along with it are less enticing. What if you could enjoy all of that spicy, pumpkin flavor without all of the unwanted calories? Don’t limit your options to blowing your health goals or skipping the pie. Instead, make this low calorie whipped pumpkin pie. A traditional pumpkin pie has about 2,414 calories. This lightened version only has 1,215 and you can make it ahead of your festivities and freeze it! It’s the epitome of light and easy.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here

Before we get to the recipe I have a confession to make. I don’t actually like traditional pumpkin pie. Don’t get me wrong, the flavors are amazing! It’s the texture that I can’t stand. The texture is not as stiff as flan but it’s not smooth like pudding. It is some weird hybrid that doesn’t feel right to my palate. Most years I choose to scrape the pumpkin part off of the pie and just eat the flavor-soaked pie crust alone. This year, I’m changing that by making my own delicious version of pumpkin pie with all of the flavor and none of the drawbacks.

Low-Calorie Whipped Pumpkin Pie

Crust Ingredients

1 Sleeve of Graham Crackers (9 whole crackers)
1 Stick of Margarine (1/2 cup)

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350º F.

Step 2

Melt your stick of butter in a small mixing bowl in 30 second increments in the microwave.

Step 3

While your butter is melting, put your graham crackers into a re-sealable bag and crush them into crumbs using your hand (or a meat tenderizer if you’re feeling frustrated).

Step 4

Add your graham cracker crumbs to the mixing bowl of melted butter. Stir until well-combined.

Step 5

Spray a glass pie plate with non-stick cooking spray and press your graham cracker mixture into it forming a pie crust.

Step 6

Bake for 10 minutes.

[bctt tweet=”Skip the guilt this Thanksgiving and make this low calorie whipped pumpkin pie! #recipe” username=”diyadulation”]

Pie Filling Ingredients

1 8oz Container of Lite Whipped Topping
½ Cup Canned Pumpkin
1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Step 1

Combine all of the ingredients above in a mixing bowl until well-incorporated.

Step 2

Cover the bowl and set it in the fridge until your crust has cooled to room temperature.

Step 3

Add the filling to your room temperature graham cracker crust and smooth into place with a rubber spatula.

To Freeze: Cover your glass pie plate with a lid (or foil if yours doesn’t have a lid) and place in the freezer. Pull out and defrost at least an hour prior to serving.

This pie is seriously yummy! My family has already gone nuts on this one so I guess I’ll be making a second one for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s more like a fluffy pumpkin mousse than that heavy traditional pie which I love but the kiddos loved the flavor even though they also love traditional pumpkin pie. No matter what your preference, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser this Thanksgiving. Now I want to know: What are you pie preferences for the holidays? Do you skip the desserts table at Thanksgiving or do you anxiously await getting your hands on all of those decadent treats? Let me know in the comments!

Yield: 1 Pie

Low Calorie Whipped Pumpkin Pie

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients
1 Sleeve of Graham Crackers (9 whole crackers)
1 Stick of Margarine (1/2 cup)
Pie Filling Ingredients
1 8oz Container of Lite Whipped Topping
½ Cup Canned Pumpkin
1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Instructions

Crust: Preheat oven to 350º F.
Melt your stick of butter in a small mixing bowl in 30 second increments in the microwave.
While your butter is melting, put your graham crackers into a re-sealable bag and crush them into crumbs using your hand or a meat tenderizer.
Add your graham cracker crumbs to the mixing bowl of melted butter. Stir until well-combined.
Spray a glass pie plate with non-stick cooking spray and press your graham cracker mixture into it forming a pie crust.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Filling: Combine all of the ingredients above in a mixing bowl until well-incorporated.
Cover the bowl and set it in the fridge until your crust has cooled to room temperature.
Add the filling to your room temperature graham cracker crust and smooth into place with a rubber spatula.

Notes

To Freeze: Cover your glass pie plate with a lid (or foil if yours doesn’t have a lid) and place in the freezer. Pull out and defrost at least an hour prior to serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8 Slices

Serving Size:

1 Slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 152

See where I’m linking up!

In case you didn’t know, I am an avid Black Friday shopper. Over the years I have utilized every way to save on that day from shopping online to camping out in the snow at Target. It is a fun and time-honored tradition for me. Just because I love a bargain doesn’t mean I overspend and put us in debt for this deal-mania, though. Instead, I have set rules in place that I follow every season. Now I want to share how to actually save money on Black Friday with you as well as hook you up with some free moolah to shop with!

Start Now

Don’t think that you are forced to spend Thanksgiving Day planning for a successful Black Friday haul. Many major stores “leak” their ads early on purpose. Take advantage of this. My favorite database for this is Brad’s Black Friday. He and his team have been doing this for years. They know how to verify leaked ads and can spot a fake from a mile away. If you are relying on Black Friday deals to stay on budget this year then start planning now.

Do Your Research

When you see a deal for an item on your Christmas list make sure that you know it is a good deal. Companies pay people a lot of money to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. Check out what items are going for in stores now and compare to the deals in the leaked ads. If you’re only saving a few dollars off of the regular price is it really worth the fight through the chaos?

[bctt tweet=”Find out how to actually save money on Black Friday and enter to win some shopping cash! #blackfriday” username=”diyadulation”]

Make a List and Stick to It

This is the number one best thing you can do to save on Black Friday. Make a list of the exact items you want to pick up. While you are shopping, do not deviate from that list. The chaos of Black Friday encourages you to buy now! This is made even worse with many deals being available online. Shopping online prevents you from seeing any of your money leaving. It also keeps you from seeing the items you purchase accumulate.

Brave the Store

I know that this turns a lot of people off of Black Friday. When you think about the points made above it makes sense that you will save the most money in store. However, in addition to those points, here are a few more reasons to visit the stores on Black Friday:

It forces you to prioritize. Many stores open at the same time and you have to decide which store has more of the items you are looking for.
A lot of deals on big items such as game consoles and televisions are only available in the store (although I recommend skipping these items in most cases… read more about that here).
You get tired. When you are on your feet for hours hauling items and waiting in line you will lose stamina. Being tired will send you home with more money in your pocket than shopping on the couch will.

Now are you ready to win some free cash?! Enter below and don’t forget to share with your friends!

[bctt tweet=”Want to win some free cash to shop with this Black Friday? Enter today! #giveaway” username=”diyadulation”]

WELCOME TO THE FALL BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Do you have a long holiday shopping list and need extra cash? Well, I’ve got good news for you. 24 bloggers have come together for the Fall Black Friday Giveaway! We don’t want you to stress over holiday shopping, so we’re giving away $335 in Paypal CASH! So what are you waiting for? Enter using the giveaway form below! This giveaway has ended. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Meet the Hostesses

Erlene • My Pinterventures Chelc • Inside The Fox Den Christene • Keys to Inspiration

Kim • Made In A Day Megan • C’mon Get Crafty Sherry • Olives-n-Okra

Leslie • Lambert’s Lately Emily • Our House Now A Home Amanda • The Kolb Corner

Brooke • Re-fabbed Shirley • Intelligent Domestications Brittany • Balanced Frugality

Lorelai • Life with Lorelai Emily • Two Purple Couches Alli • An Alli Event

Marie • DIY Adulation Dee • Meatloaf and Melodrama Holly • Pink Fortitude

Cindy • Little Miss Celebration Sara • Twelve on Main Vineta • The Handyman’s Daughter

Marilyn • Marilyn’s Treats Andrea • Waldorf Salad & Cottage Fries Paula • Holly Jolly Holidays

ONE WINNER WILL WIN $335 PAYPAL CASH!

Giveaway ends November 16 11:59pm PST, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. Winner is subject to eligibility verification and will be announced within 72 hours of giveaway close. Good luck!

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Disclaimer: The winner has 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, associated, or endorsed by Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook., or Facebook.