National Bagel Day - Recipes

 Time to get Schmeared on National Bagel Day!

I never had a Bagel when I lived in Louisiana and Texas as a youth, but now you can get them there in almost any coffee shop, fast food joint, and larger grocery stores. 

Bagels are boiled and then baked to create a crunchy surface and chewy interior. They go back to the 17 century in Jewish communities of Poland.

My wife, Linda, grew up a half-hour from New York City, the capital of Bagels. I got a crash course there when we visited her family. 

I never realized the different types of Bagels out there. Just look at the list from a NYC Bagel shop called Ess-a-Bagel. Can't say I really have a favorite, but I do lean toward an Onion Bagel.

A Bagel I had no idea about is the Everything Bagel, like, what makes it "Everything?" Well, I found "Everything" can come in a plastic shaker at the Dollar Tree for $1.25.

Reading the ingredients list, it comprises poppy and sesame seeds plus other dried seasonings like salt, garlic, and onion. I guess you can make anything "Everything" with this shaker, Hmmm...Everything Scrambled Eggs, Everything Pasta, and Everything Tacos?

Check out our breakfast video below at Ess-a-Bagel restaurant in NYC, where they are baked on the premises and serving a dozen varieties of amazing Bagel Sandwiches!

Ess-a-Bagel - Movie

I do love a toasted Bagel in the morning, usually as a sandwich with a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Also, you should try my simple breakfast recipe of Scrambled Eggs & Caramelized Onions served on a slice of toasted Bagel. A Bagel for breakfast gets the job done to get you out the door...or at least out of bed.

A classic Bagel preparation is slathering Cream Cheese on a toasted Bagel. Philadelphia Cream Cheese is the best, but I've tried cheaper Cream Cheese Blends to use in a pinch.

I prefer Bagel and Cream Cheese with a slice of onion and a fat slice of tomato. Nothing to it really as my video below will show.

In past film commercial shoots, the Non-kosher Cameraman /Chef was quick to line up for a catered breakfast, going past the multitude of sugary pastry confections and heading straight for Bagels, Cream Cheese, Lox (cured salmon), sliced red onion, and tomato to build a Jewish deli kosher classic. 

You should click here to see my Homemade Lox recipe. It's really easy to do, just coat a thick slice of raw salmon in equal parts of sugar and salt, wrap in plastic, or seal in a glass container, and let it cure in the refrigerator for a couple of days (unwrap and drain liquid during curing). Finally, rinse and pat dry, that's it.

Now, Lox (mildly brined, cold-cured raw salmon) is too expensive for this Chintzy Chef, but canned, or soft-packaged cooked salmon is a fine, inexpensive substitute for a Homemade Salmon Schmear (original blog post recipe is here.) 

Some Cream Cheese comes mixed with Salmon. They are carrying Vegan Cream Cheese these days.

Drain and fold it into room-temperature softened cream cheese, lightly mix with some lemon juice and you have a spreadable feast - a Cheap$kate Salmon Schmear.

Here's my cheap$kate Salmon Schmear video below. I use salmon from the can or soft pack. Drain and blend it with room-temperature cream cheese. It couldn't be easier or cheaper to do.

Bagels still turn up in the bread bargain bin of Ralphs Supermarket, and Dollar Tree has them from time to time.

A Salmon Schmear is also a delicious party dip, just set out your preferred cracker, pita, or toasted wedges of Bagel. This kosher morning starter is a Chef's favorite; right up there with McDonald's decidedly non-kosher sausage and egg, syrup-filled pancake sandwich "McGriddle".

Ingredients (serves 2 - 4)

• 8 oz. package of cream cheese (Philadelphia Cream Cheese is kosher)
• 3 oz. small package or can of cooked salmon (Pillar Rock salmon brand is kosher)
• Sliced tomato and onion (preferably red onion - for this recipe, I used a yellow onion.)
• 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice (optional).
• Bagels

Directions

Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature. Drain the salmon and mix it into the cream cheese. You can use less cream cheese for a fishier version.

Add a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice. Mix lightly for a chunky spread.

Toast a bagel, then add Salmon Schmear with tomato and sliced onion.

Blueberry Bagels are somewhat controversial. I like them, but Linda despises them - won't go near them.

Hey, we have to agree to disagree - I like anything with Blueberries. I like Blueberry Bagels toasted with a smear of butter.

Top 9 Recipes of 2025 - Video Recipes

As year-end recipe lists go, my Top 9 Recipes of 2024 is one you can really sink your incisors into. And all of my top picks are deliciously cheap to make. Just click on any recipe name to see the original 2024 blog post for tasty photos and my money-saving tips, and be sure to play any embedded videos below. The ranking order is random and not by delectability, so go ahead and dig in! 

1. Black-eyed Peas with Collard Greens, Cherry Tomatoes, and Okra.

My recipe is loaded - with veggies, that is. I used dried Black-eyed Peas, but you can use fresh. This is food for the soul.

2. Bagel, Cream Cheese, Onion & Tomato

I've learned there are many types of Bagels since I met my wife, Linda, as I've accompanied her many times to New York City, where there are Jewish Delis and Bagel shops in every neighborhood. Use any type for my simply delicious Bagel, Cream Cheese, Onion & Tomato recipe. 

3. Pizza with Anchovies & Capers

Nothing is fresh in this recipe. And I add Anchovies to a frozen Pizza, so this recipe may not be for everybody. If you can follow frozen Pizza directions, then my Pizza with Anchovies & Capers may be for you!

4. Chilaquiles & Eggs - Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Cheese, and Eggs

I like Tortilla Chips with Salsa. Now add this to your breakfast Fried Eggs with cheese, and you have a spicy start to your day. I use a small can of green Salsa Verde, but you can use any favorite Salsa, fresh or from the jar, for my Chilaquiles & Eggs recipe.

5. Bagel Spread - Cream Cheese & Chopped Boiled Egg 

It is a quick and easy recipe to make. All you do is set out a block or container of Cream Cheese on the kitchen counter to soften while you boil an Egg. Mix the chopped boiled egg into the Cream Cheese and spread it on a hot, toasted Bagel. I make this Bagel Spread more than any other.

6. Turkey Salad

I always have leftover Turkey after Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meals. I like to add chopped celery, onion, pickle relish, with mayo and mustard to my Turkey Salad. How about you?

7. Grilled Hatch Chile Sausages

When I see packages of Sausages on sale at my local grocery store, I'll give them a try, especially during the summer grilling season. Charred Grilled Hatch Chile Sausages only need a smear of mustard. 

8. Whole Roasted Chicken from Ralphs Grocers

If you have a grocer who sets out packages of Whole Roasted Chicken, then I have a slew of recipes for it. The hard part of cooking a Whole Chicken is taken care of. Check out my Panda Express ripoff recipe of Black Pepper Chicken below, and go right to the stir-frying part.

9. Grilled Eggplant

I like grilled veggies, and Eggplant is the latest tasty subject. I slice a whole Eggplant thickly as a steak and grill it until fork-tender. Grilled Eggplant is my latest favorite recipe. 

It has been a fruitfully abundant year of recipes here at the Cheap$kate Chateau. I did the heavy lifting for you, so now all you have to do is pick a recipe link and save yourself some hard-earned cash by trying out any of the above. And if you have a favorite recipe of mine, then leave a comment to share.

And make sure to keep checking in here from time to time. I create yummy-looking blog posts with a dollop of humor, and while my tastes are cheap, my recipe flavors are top-shelf !!

National Spaghetti Day - Recipes & Reviews

 Twirling spaghetti strands is such a satisfying way to eat. On National Spaghetti Day you can twirl away with my many tasty recipes. Be sure to click on any recipe name to be redirected to the original recipe blog post for all the budget ingredients of yore and yummy details.

I get most of my pasta ingredients from the local Dollar Tree, protein from the bargain bin of Ralphs Supermarket, and veggies from Superior Grocers. My big splurge is a wedge of Parmesan Cheese.

You know how cheap spaghetti is to buy and quick to boil. I like mine al dente, so I shave off a minute or two of the cooking time. My recipes go from creamy to filled with fresh veggies, and tins of seafood.

Start with a basic Tomato Sauce, which is easy to do. You can buy it straight out of the can or make my Easy Tomato Sauce version.

I have a garden with a few fresh herbs like sage, but dried herbs are cheap and tasty enough for me. Other pasta sauce ingredients are the right price, too.

In the second month of my blogging way back in 2007, one of my first cheap$kate meals was Baby Clams & Spaghetti. 

They still sell small packs of Clams at my local Dollar Tree.

I kick the pasta sauce up a notch with the addition of sauteed bacon and some veggies, then finish it off with white wine and the baby clams -- all inexpensive ingredients (you only need a splash of wine - I used to get bottles for 99 cents when I created this recipe over a decade ago!)

I like Canned Sardines, and they add an intense flavor to Spaghetti. Add Canned Sardines at the end to heat through. I like the Sardines in large pieces, so I don't stir the Spaghetti too much, so the fish stays chunky. The recipe is made with Sardines in Tomato Sauce. You can use any budget canned Sardines.

Next, I have to say Pasta all Carbonara is near the top of my Spaghetti recipe list. Swirling bacon, parmesan, and creamy egg yolk through al dente spaghetti is my favorite pasta pastime. 

And my version uses cooked Bacon Bits from a small bag. You can use fresh sauteed bacon or pancetta if you like. 

If you mix the egg yolk into hot pasta the yolk thickens and cooks, maybe not enough to satisfy egg salmonella purist, but so far I have not had a problem. I gotta roll the dice sometimes for this decadent entree.

Mushroom and pasta belong together and my next Spaghetti dish has it all. 

Made with inexpensive sour cream instead of heavy cream, it turned out fine, so give my Creamy Mushrooms and Spaghetti a go.

My Nephew Zak is one hell of a cook working in kitchen joints since high school.

Pine nuts, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti, and you have the makings of a heck of a pasta dish to show off. Cajun-style Tuscan Primavera Pasta is a mouthful worth seconds.

Look at the Salami I still find it for a dollar and twenty-five cents! So you know I'm gonna come up with some cheap$kate recipes, and Salami & Spaghetti is a winner.

Of course, the recipe is deliciously simple to make by heating a little onion, garlic, and salami, then mixing in the cooked spaghetti with a little pasta water.

 

Pasta with Kale and that's about it. I saute the kale with a little garlic in olive oil.

You can't get creamier than a plate of Fettuccini Alfredo. And this recipe is a ripoff of the Olive Garden. 

All it is is heavy cream, half and half, or whipping cream, anyway you pour it. It is made with fettuccini, but you know it's easy enough to replace with spaghetti.

On the Cheap$kate Dining Scale of 1 to 9, 9 being best...well, click here to read what a perfect 9 tastes like.

And I got it for a buck. You don't run across Cheap$kale Deals like this these days, so this is a flashback recipe review. Hey, if you have to pay full price, it's still a decent deal.

I used to hate Brussels Sprouts, but now I love them, even mixed into pasta.

Brussels Sprouts in Pasta holds up well when sauteed soft in butter, but you can keep it vegan using olive oil instead.

My next Flashback Deal of the Day gets a high rating, and it's Lean Cuisine again.

You can't get more basic than Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. And it's got the right stuff in it.

It's not a lot, but every bite is spot on...for a cheap frozen meal.

A most decadent Spaghetti entrée is my meaty Pasta all Genovese. It is a wild combination of French Onion Soup and hearty meat sauce. Just cook the heck out of a pile of sliced cheap onions and a budget cut of beef. 

I like beef shank as it braises beautifully. My original recipe finished with penne pasta, but you can use spaghetti, of course.