ThriftyFun Recipes - September 4, 2008

Thank you DEBRADJ, Dominique, Sandra, Robin, Bonnie, Darlene, Ellen and Jayme for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Canning Cherry Tomatoes

Today's Food Tips:

• Use Magnets To Keep Recipes Out Of The Way
• Try S'mores at Your Next Event
• Use Old Bread to Absorb Onion Smell

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Simple Mac and Cheese Dinner
• Healthy Ice Cream Cone Snacks
• Apple Cider Cheesecake
• Tomato Salsa
• Zucchini Bread

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Sock-It-To-Me Cake
• Baked Chicken Breast
• Farmer's Strata
• Frosty Strawberry Squares
• Fancy Rice Casserole

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Canning Cherry Tomatoes

Has anyone ever canned cherry tomatoes? Would love recipes!

Diana from Milford, Delaware

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Use Magnets To Keep Recipes Out Of The Way

This isn't a recipe, but it's a great idea for when you use one. I find that hauling out my cook books, which are all loose leaf and in binders, isn't practical in a small kitchen.

A friend who works at Boeing gave me some heavy duty magnets. You can probably find them in hardware stores. I found that if you pull out your recipe and put a magnet on the back and the front of your cupboard doors, it will most likely stick together and hang your sheet up out of the way. This keeps it at eye level, and away from splatters. If you have calendar art or kids art that you want to get off the fridge, this works, too.

By Sandra from Salem OR

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Try S'mores at Your Next Event

A "s'mores bar" is a fun and inexpensive way to spruce up a backyard wedding reception. A table filled with different sized glass jars containing the s'mores ingredients look great and welcome fun. And don't just stick with the classic chocolate bars and marshmallows, be sure to include flavored marshmallows (the coconut ones went great at our wedding!) and mini candy bars of all types!

If you do not like the idea of having a bonfire you can buy (Target often has them on clearance during the winter months) or rent a cast iron fire pit.

By Dominique from Kalamazoo, MI

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Use Old Bread to Absorb Onion Smell

If I have extra onion and I want to use it in a couple of days or whenever, I take and put it in a ziplock bag and I take some old bread or buns I was going to throw away and stick in with the onion. The bread absorbs the onion smell and doesn't stink up your refrigerator and freezer. I keep the old bread in a bread wrapper in the refrigerator in the back so it does not get confused with the good stuff. My husband thought I was nuts when he first saw me do this but it works. My refrigerator does not smell of onion and I use otherwise useless bread. If I find the smell coming back I just stick another piece of bread in the ziplock.

By DEBRADJ from ILLINOIS

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Simple Mac and Cheese Dinner

Ingredients

• 2 boxes macaroni and cheese
• 1 lb. ground sausage or hamburger
• 1 onion diced
• 1 Tbsp. garlic
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 slices of cheese
• 2 pieces of celery, diced (optional)

Directions

In skillet, brown sausage, onion and celery together. Drain off grease, add garlic and set aside. Cook macaroni according to box. Add meat mixture and slices of cheese, serve hot.

By Bonnie from Jacksonville, AR.

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Healthy Ice Cream Cone Snacks

Easy and healthy snacks for kids. You know when they come home from school they are starved, as if they had not had any food all day. This never ceases to amaze me. But this is nice for working moms who do not always get home at the same time the kids do or for moms who are home and can also have a snack while listening to the kid about their day at school. What is really nice about these snacks is that you use plain ice cream cones so there really is no mess to clean up. They look good, are delicious and have fruit, which is not always easy to get them to eat. And you control what you want to put in them.

To make it less messy, you can always use a pastry bag or sandwich bag with a end cut off to put these into the cup's without making a mess. Make sure the whole is big enough for the fruit to get through.

Orange Pudding Cones

Ingredients

• 1 package (3 1/2 oz.) vanilla pudding mix
• 1 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup frozen OJ concentrate, thawed and undiluted
• ice cream cones

Directions

Empty dry pudding mix into a medium saucepan. Stir in milk. Place over low heat; stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in undiluted OJ. Chill. Spoon into ice cream cones.

Now if you want to, you can add marshmallows or anything else that your kids would like. Store in your refrigerator.

This will serve for 6 people

Ambrosia Filling

My Favorite!

Ingredients

• 1 package (2 oz.) whipped topping mix
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup maraschino cherry syrup (saved from the maraschino cherries for in this recipe)
• 1/4 cup chilled orange sections, cut into thirds (or drained mandrin oranges)
• and one other fruit you might want to add.
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherries*
• ice cream cones

Directions

In small mixing bowl, blend together whipped topping mix, milk and cherry syrup. Beat at high speed on mixer 5 minutes or until stiff. Fold in remaining ingredients. Chill. Spoon into cones and keep chilled. Add a cherry on top.

If you want, add what the kid's like, making sure the fruit you have washed is dry. You can add nuts or coconut and sprinkles on the top for that "boy that look's good" look.

Notes:

*One thing I did. was to cut some cherries in half and leave some whole

I also would dry them on a paper towel so they would not cause the whipping cream to become runny.

I hope these are some help for you I think they are great and it gives them fruit which they need and something not filling like a lot of other things are. Enjoy!

By Darlene from Fairview, PA

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Apple Cider Cheesecake

This is a sure fire hit if you or anyone loves apples and cheesecake.

In large bowl, mix with mixer: 10 oz. can of apple pie filling, 10 oz. softened cream cheese, 4 Tbsp. sour cream, 4 packages of Apple Cider Drink Mix and 1 4 oz. tub of whipped topping.

Pour into graham cracker crust and chill 2 hours.

I garnish with some graham cracker crumbs, or crushed cinnamon candies.

Source: I got this off the back of the cardboard lid cover from a cool whip. Don't ever recycle those without looking! This has been a requirement for every holiday, wedding, birthday or any celebratory even since I first made it. In fact, I don't think they would let me in without it!

By Sandra from Salem OR

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Tomato Salsa

Instructions

• 8-10 ripe tomatoes, peeled (or 2 qts home canned)
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 3 green or red bell peppers
• 3 medium fresh hot chilies, seeded and chopped, (opt)
• 2 cans diced green chili peppers, mild or hot
• 4 oz. can jalapenos or 5 fresh, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1-6oz can tomato paste
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Chop tomatoes, onion and green pepper. Chop hot peppers with garlic cloves. Combine all ingredients in a large pan, bring to a boil, stir often. Turn heat down and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour into hot sterilized jars. Process in water bath for 15 minutes. Makes about 5 pints.

By Ellen from Taft, CA

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Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 beaten eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups finely grated unpeeled zucchini
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 3 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 cups flour
• 3 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Directions

Mix first three ingredients together. Then add remaining ingredients. Pour mixture unto 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour, or until done. If you use a glass dish, bake at 325 degrees F.

Source: This recipe came from my grandmother. It is our favorite!

By Jayme from Harrisonburg, VA

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Sock-It-To-Me Cake

Ingredients

• 1 package yellow butter recipe cake mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup oil
• sugar (1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp.)
• 4 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Directions

Combine first 3 ingredients with 1/2 cup sugar in bowl. Beat until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour half of batter into greased and floured bundt pan. Combine 3 Tbsp. sugar with cinnamon in small bowl, mixing well. Sprinkle half of mixture over batter in pan, cutting in with a knife. Add remaining batter and cinnamon mixture, cutting in as before. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until cake tests done.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Baked Chicken Breast

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 package dried beef
• 2 cans cream of celery soup

Directions

Rinse and dry chicken breasts; place in baking dish. Cover top of breasts with slices of dried beef. Secure with wooden toothpicks. Spoon celery soup over the chicken breasts. Cover, bake in 325 degrees F oven for 2 hours or until done.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Farmer's Strata

Ingredients

• 1 lb. bacon, cut slices in 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 cups fully cooked ham, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 10 slices white bread, cubed
• 1 cup cubed, cooked potatoes
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp; add ham and onion. Cook and stir until onion is tender; drain. In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half the bread cubes, potatoes and cheese. Top with all the bacon mixture. Repeat layers of bread, potatoes and cheese. In a bowl, beat the eggs, add milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Cover and chill overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees f for 65-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Frosty Strawberry Squares

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 2 egg whites
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 package frozen strawberries, partially thawed (10oz.)
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 cup whipped cream

Directions

Combine first 4 ingredients in bowl, mixing well. Spread in 9x12 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, stirring to crumble. Combine egg whites, sugar, strawberries and lemon juice in large mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer at high speed for 15 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Place 2/3 of the crumbs in bottom of large pan. Pour in strawberry mixture. Top with remaining crumbs. Freeze until firm.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Fancy Rice Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups Minute Rice
• 1 1/2 cups beef bouillon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup seedless raisins
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 2 Tbsp. parsley

Directions

Saute' onion in butter. Add rice. Saute' 3 minutes. Add bouillon, salt, and raisins. Boil; remove, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff and stir in almonds.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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