The Food Temptress, Rekaya Gibson

The Food Temptress picked some of her favorite recipes to share with you for Valentine’s Day, without breaking the bank. Her costs are based on items found mostly at discount and dollar stores. You still get the same great quality and taste without all the added markups. The menu includes Spicy-Cinnamon Dip, Shrimp Cheesy Potato, and Chocolate Graham Cracker Toffee. Find more great recipes on The Food Temptress site. Enjoy!

 

Appetizer: Spicy-Cinnamon Dip

Estimated cost = $5

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp. light brown sugar

1/4 tsp. chives (chopped)

 

Directions

1. Add sour cream into a small bowl.

2. Add the remaining ingredients.

3. Stir until blended and serve.

 

Serve with strawberries

  

Main Dish: Shrimp Cheesy Potato

Estimated cost = $8

 

Ingredients

2 medium potatoes (fresh and cleaned)

2 tsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. butter

2 (small bag) salad shrimp

1/2 c. yellow onions (chopped)

2 tsp. garlic (minced)

4 slices of American cheese

Salt& pepper

 

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400˚F. Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork and rub with olive oil.

2. Wrap in foil and bake for 45-60 minutes. Set aside when done.

3. Melt butter in a nonstick pan then add shrimp, onions, and garlic. Cook and stir until shrimp turns pink, about four minutes.

4. Add cheese and stir until melted.

5. Cut potatoes down the middle, opening them up wide. I cross-cut them so that they lay almost flat.

6. Season to taste.

7. Pour shrimp mix on top of potatoes.

 

Top with chives and sour cream.

  Dessert: Chocolate Graham Cracker Toffee

Estimated cost: $10

 

Ingredients

16 chocolate graham cracker sheets

½ c. brown sugar

1 c. butter

1/2 c. chopped pecans

8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 ˚F.

2. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

3. Place graham crackers on cookie sheet.

4. In saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a boil over medium heat. Boil for four minutes stirring constantly.

5. Pour mixture over graham crackers and bake for 8 minutes.

6. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of graham cracker and let sit for about two minutes.

8. Spread chocolate with a knife.

9. Sprinkle nuts on top of crackers.

10. Let sit for about two hours and them cut and serve.

 

Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container.

Biography

Rekaya Gibson, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer of 

The Food Temptress, has been cooking since the age of eight. She is the author of three fiction novels and two children’s books. Her latest cookbook, Cooking on a Dollar Store Budget, reflects her love of food. She has written for several publications including Writer’s Digest, Cabo Living Magazine, and Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Magazine. Currently, she reviews cookbooks for Cuisine Noir Magazine and writes travel articles for Amtrak’s microsite. In her spare time, she enjoys making homemade Madagascar Vanilla Extract.