ThriftyFun Recipes - June 26, 2009

Vol. 8, Num. 125, June 26, 2009 (Read It Online) Thank you Mother of 5, Doreen, JackZ, Notwrong, Tracy and CAKEDEC for today's tips and recipes. Be sure to give a "thumbs up" to tips and recipes that you like! Submit Your Favorite Recipe! Submit a Food tip! Looking for a recipe? Submit a request Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team Send to a Friend! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Recipe Requests: Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipes for Cool Desserts Homemade Evaporated Milk Alternatives to Sugar in Recipes Today's Food Tips: Use Kuzies To Keep Condensation Out Of Packed Lunches Make Yogurt at Home Today's Contest Recipes: Egg Dip Stir Fry Stay Thin Spaghetti Elephant Ears Robins's Recipe Corner: Carrot Casserole Touchdown Treat Frozen Pineapple Salad Oatmeal Coconut Cookies Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Recipe Requests: Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk What is the recipe for Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk? Thanks. By jamish Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf317891.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Recipes for Cool Desserts I would like some real easy recipes for cool pies or cool deserts to serve since it is so hot. Maybe something with cool whip that doesn't need to be cooked. Thanks. By jamish Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97770422.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Homemade Evaporated Milk What is the recipe for Eagle Brand Evaporated Milk? Thanks. By jamish Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50023116.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Alternatives to Sugar in Recipes I have a craving for something sweet but also am trying to watch what I eat. I know in the past I have seen recipes for baked goods that replace all or part of the sugar with something else, but I can't remember what it is. The hard part is that I don't want to use a sugar substitute. So the question is, what can I use in baked goods recipes (cookies, cakes, muffins) other than sugar? But not a sugar substitute. By Jakesbayba from Mililani, HI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76567886.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Food Tips: Use Kuzies To Keep Condensation Out Of Packed Lunches I pack a lunchbox for my husband and have been having an issue with condensations. To solve this problem I am using kuzies. I have been saving kuzies from different promotions around town that are giving them away free. I freeze 1/2 the drink in bottles that I am reusing. In the morning when I pack the lunch box I just slide one over each drink. My husband reports that his drinks are staying cooler longer and he is not having the moisture problem. His sandwiches are cooler also. By notwrong Editor's Note: Kuzies, or koozies are foam can covers, which are a common promotional giveaway item. Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50444247.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Make Yogurt at Home It is not hard to make your own yogurt. The most critical tool you need that you may not have would be either an instant read or a candy thermometer. The instant read is more versatile and available on the internet for about $10; the candy thermometer would be less expensive but more fragile. I first made yogurt about thirty-five years using a kit that consisted of a circular cardboard container (think oatmeal box) lined with reflective foil, a candy thermometer and a thick, round foam cap. I had to supply my own one quart mason jar. Heat about 3/4 quart milk to 180 degrees F. You can use high heat but you must keep a close eye on the pot. Glass is preferable but a metal pot will heat more quickly. When the milk has reached 180 degrees F, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to 130 degrees F. Then stir in 6-8 ounces of plain yogurt, blending it to uniformity as much as possible. At this point the mixture needs to be put in a temperature controlled environment overnight. A sufficiently large, wide mouth Thermos bottle will do nicely. If there is none, pour the mixture into a clean tempered glass quart jar, cover with the lid and wrap it in aluminum foil. Then put it in your microwave overnight. In either case, the yogurt is ready in the morning. You can use whole, 2% or 1% milk. My experience is that using 2% requires me to add about 4 ounces of evaporated milk; otherwise, there will be excess whey in the final product. You could instead add dried milk. If you do add evaporated or dried milk, you can do so while the milk is cooling; it would likely speed up the cooling cycle. Another thing I have noticed is that the resulting product will be more firm if the fresh product is placed in a clean, permanent coffee filter and allowed to drain. It can be done at room temperature. When the product reaches the consistency desired, place it in a clean container and store it in your refrigerator. You can use a small portion of the product you have made as a starter for you next batch. Costco offers milk at about $2.25/gallon which will give you yogurt at about $.75/quart. Enjoy. By Tracy from Kansas City Editor's Note: Be sure to use yogurt that is labeled "Contains Active Cultures" in this recipe Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf769542.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Today's Contest Recipes: Egg Dip I like this for both fruit and vegetable trays. Ingredients: 3 eggs 3 Tbsp. sugar 3 Tbsp. white vinegar 1 tub Philadelphia cream cheese Directions: Heat eggs, sugar, and vinegar to scrambled egg consistency. Mix in the tub of Philly and refrigerate. Serve with fruit and/or vegetable trays. By mother of 5 from Nova Scotia Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27555950.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Stir Fry It's cheap and easy. You use only the ingredients you have on hand. Ingredients: Leftover chicken or beef Vegetables (I used some leftover green beans) Honey Ginger Garlic Onion A little oil or cooking spray depending on your type of pan. Directions: Put a little oil in the pan and saute some chopped onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add your meat and veggies. Then add honey and ginger to taste. Stir and cook for a few minutes more. Done. I had some leftover white rice and made some fried rice to accompany the stir fry. It left my husband wanting more. Servings: 2 Time: 2 Minutes Preparation Time 10 Minutes Cooking Time By Doreen from Owasso, OK Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48069292.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Stay Thin Spaghetti Instead of pasta, I take cabbage or bok choy (chinese cabbage) and cook it tender and crisp along with onions, Swiss chard, spinach or any combination of those. Make your favorite spaghetti sauce, and pour over the drained cabbage and spinach. Stir well, and sprinkle with cheese. Source: I felt this recipe come up from prayer about better prepared dishes. By JackZ from Splendora, TX Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39353692.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Elephant Ears A week or so ago, someone was asking for a "elephant ear" recipe, I was just going through recipe books I could put in a garage sale and came across this one. Ingredients Fresh hot donuts. Refrigerator biscuits - 1 roll 1 cup cooking oil 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar Paper lunch bag Directions Place cinnamon sugar in paper lunch bag. Heat cooking oil in large frying pan. Test for hot enough: Drop of water will sizzle. Separate dough into individual biscuits "ear". Stretch each biscuit until they just about have holes in them. They do not have to be perfect. Gently drop each "ear" into the hot oil. As soon as one side becomes golden, flip them and let second side get golden. DO NOT WALK AWAY. They burn quickly. Place "ears" on paper towel to soak up excess oil. Shake "ears" in paper bag of cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with ice cream or just plain. Make lots, they will go quickly. Source: Now closed restaurant where I cooked. By CAKEDEC Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92577980.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Robin's Recipe Corner: Carrot Casserole My kids would eat almost any vegetable when they were growing up, as long as it had cheese on it! Ingredients: 2 cans sliced carrots, drained 1/2 small pkg. Velveeta cheese, sliced 1 can cream of celery soup Directions: Place 1 can carrots in a casserole dish; add half of the cheese. Add remaining carrots; top with rest of the cheese. Pour soup over the top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34952107.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Touchdown Treat This is a great recipe. Sounds like an appetizer, but it's not. Ingredients: 2 pkgs. smokie links 2 cans cream of chicken soup 15 oz. pkg. macaroni 1 cup milk 3 cups grated cheese 1/2 tsp. pepper 2 pkgs. frozen mixed vegetables Directions: Cook macaroni and vegetables until done; drain well. Cut up smokie links, saving some for garnish, if desired. Mix ingredients all together and put in 2 large greased casserole dishes. Bake at 375 degrees F about 45 minutes. This is a large recipe and can be cut in half. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf845612.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Frozen Pineapple Salad Great warm weather salad! Ingredients: 1/2 pt. whipping cream 1/2 pt. sour cream 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 3/4 cup sugar 1/8 tsp. pineapple flavoring 2 med. sized bananas, diced 1 can crushed pineapple, drained (9oz.) 1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries 1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions: Combine sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, pineapple, and bananas. Fold in nuts, cherries and whipping cream. Freeze in individual cups or muffin cups. Serves 10-12 By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27119069.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Oatmeal Coconut Cookies Good cookies! Ingredients: 1 cup shortening 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 1 cup flour 1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder pinch salt 2 cups oatmeal 1 cup crushed corn flakes 1 cup nuts 1 cup flaked coconut 1 pkg. chocolate or butterscotch chips (Also good with 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 butterscotch) Directions: Cream shortening; add sugar gradually. Add vanilla, add eggs, beating well after each egg. Add rest of ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12-15 minutes. This makes a large batch when dropped by teaspoon on cookie sheets. These cookies also freeze well. By Robin from Washington, Ia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77980689.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml More Stuff: Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users.