ThriftyFun Recipes - January 21, 2009

Thank you Jenny, Lisa, Karen, Raymonde, Robin, Michele, Peggy and Mary for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Anthony's Fish Bar's Crab, Shrimp and Cheddar Melt
• Recipes for an All Women Super Bowl Party
• Pink and White Coconut Candy
• Which Artichokes Taste the Best?
• Fried Chicken Tips
• Chicken Manchurian Recipe

Today's Food Tips:

• Perfect Minced Onions
• Use a Well Organized List When Grocery Shopping
• Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Lima Bean Medley
• Fried Chicken Tenders
• Chicken Quiche
• Curried Lentil Soup
• Upside Down German Chocolate Cake

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Lemon Cookie Balls
• Speedyburger Skillet
• Rigatoni
• Mounds Candy Balls
• Different Pumpkin Bread
• Pork Chops and Dressing Bake

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Anthony's Fish Bar's Crab, Shrimp and Cheddar Melt

I had a crab, shrimp, and cheddar melt at Anthony's Fish Bar in the Seatac airport, it was wonderful. I'm trying to duplicate the recipe. Has anyone got any ideas? Has anyone eaten there, that knows what I'm requesting?

Laurie from Portland, OR

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Recipes for an All Women Super Bowl Party

I am going to a Super Bowl Party with all women. I am looking for an easy recipe that looks impressive that will appeal to gals. I really can't see us eating brats and beer!

Linda from Vista, CA

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Pink and White Coconut Candy

I am looking for a recipe my Grandma used to make. She called it "pink and white coconut candy". She made it with dessicated sweetened coconut, food coloring, and sweetened condensed milk. Anyone heard of this?

Catastrofy from Winnipeg, Canada

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Which Artichokes Taste the Best?

What kind of artichokes do they sell in grocery stores? Globe, Jerusalem, other? I would like to try to grow some, but don't know the best kind for eating. Thank you.

Ms. Carmen

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Fried Chicken Tips

I've always wanted to fry chicken with flour but it always comes out either burnt or undercooked. Any tips on how to do it just right?

Rosemarie from Lynn, Mass.

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Chicken Manchurian Recipe

I am looking for a recipe for Chicken Manchurian.

Breerah from Sukkur, Pakistan

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Perfect Minced Onions

To dice an onion quickly, peel skin from onion. Cut off ends. Turn onion on either flat end and make slices about 1/4 inch apart, but don't go through to the other end, stop about 1/2 inch from bottom. Then cut 1/4 inch slices in the other direction, again not going through to the other end. Turn onion on its side and slice across the criss-crossed slices; perfect minced onion, done in a snap. My mom was a great cook and this is the way she always minced her onions.

By Peggie from Sea Cliff, NY

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Use a Well Organized List When Grocery Shopping

When shopping for groceries and household supplies, having a well organized list is one of the best money savers (and time savers) that we've tried. I've developed my own shopping list and included prices of items, so that I know when a sale item found is REALLY a good deal. It's very surprising how great a difference in prices items are from month to month, too.

I've organized my own list for shopping at Walmart, so mine starts with pharmacy area items like vitamins that we buy on a monthly basis, then goes to canned and dry goods, then I make a sweep back to frozen and refrigerated goods so they'll be at their coldest for the trip home. We usually shop for our main groceries only once a month, then shop only for a few items weekly at other stores and mainly just stock up on their great weekly sale items.

Since my main list is mostly for items we cook a lot, it wouldn't be right for most people, but I found a web site called freeprintablegrocerylist.com that has several versions of a list most people could use and update to suit themselves. Just scroll down the page a little and you'll see the different versions and can print your own, or at least use it as an idea on how to make your own list to save and print out each month or each week. It's helped us so very much, and we've been able to save enough this way to stock up on various items to have when it's really needed.

For example, one month our water heater had to be replaced, and used up our whole monthly grocery budget plus some on buying a new one, but we had plenty of food to get us through that month so we could pay for the water heater front and not owe. If you've not tried it, try it for just two or three months and you'll probably never go back to big weekly shopping trips. It stopped us from losing so much money on impulse items, and now we actually have more money in the budget for when we need it.

Source: I thought up my own main list myself when I was in chemo and only felt like shopping maybe once a month, and really needed to watch out for prices...but the website I've given was suggested in a newsletter by S.C.Johnson, I think.

By Mary from Mtn. Pine, AR

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Homemade Instant Oatmeal

With my husband having experienced a recent lay-off and my kids liking instant oatmeal, I have discovered how to make it on my own.

Please note, this doesn't make a lot, I just put it together this morning and stored it in a mason jar.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of powdered milk
• 3-4 cups oatmeal, rolled kind
• 2 Tbsp. sugar

Directions

Grind up the oatmeal. Combine the oatmeal, sugar, powdered milk and mix well, and you are done. I add jelly, perserves, peanut butter, spices, etc to flavor it. Add hot water and mix. Be careful, it will look thin at first, but as you mix it gets thicker. Add milk or water to thin out to preferred consistency.

I figure it's about 1 Tbsp. for a package of the instant stuff.

Enjoy.

Source: This was my own discovery since we have to cut back in our spending. I keep the rolled oats and powder milk in my house for cooking.

By Michele from Landisville, PA

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Lima Bean Medley

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh baby carrots
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small yellow summer squash, thinly sliced
• 1 small sweet red pepper, julienned
• 1 1/2 cup fresh sugar snap peas
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. capers, drained
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, saute carrots in oil for 1 minute. Add squash; saute 1 minute longer. Stir in the red pepper, peas and garlic; saute 1 minute more.

Add water. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir until liquid is evaporated and vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in the tomatoes, capers, salt and pepper.

Source: Country Magazine

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Fried Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

• 1 package boneless skinless chicken tenders
• Ready Made Pancake Mix

Directions

Wash chicken thoroughly. Roll chicken in dry pancake batter, fry until golden brown. Very crispy, cheap, and super easy! I have never baked these, it might work just as well.

Source: My Mom

By Karen from Union, SC

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Chicken Quiche

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1 Unbaked 9 inch pie shell
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 tbsp. onion flakes
• 1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. celery flakes
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cup milk

Directions

Scatter the chicken in the pie shell. Mix next 6 ingredients in bowl. Sprinkle over chicken.

Beat eggs until frothy. Beat in flour. Add milk. Stir. Pour over top. Bake on bottom shelf in 350 degree F oven for about 40-50 minutes until set.

Source: A friend Brenda

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Curried Lentil Soup

This is something I invented while writing an article in my zine about cooking 5 meals for 4 for $10! This is one of the recipes that i made from this and my hubby LOVES it even though he doesn't like lentils normally. A definite hit with anyone who has had it.

Costs under $2 to make and serves 4 as a meal or 6 as an appetizer.

Ingredients

• 1 onion (diced)
• 1 medium carrot (peeled and chopped)
• 2 tsp. curry powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 cup green/brown lentils
• 1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes

Directions

Fry onion in a little oil, then add carrots, salt and curry. Stir for about a minute, then add lentils, tomatoes, then fill the empty can of tomatoes with water and add to pot. Bring to boil, then simmer for 30 minutes or until lentils are cooked. Blend the soup and serve with bread!

Source: This is my recipe :)

By Lisa from Halifax

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Upside Down German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box German chocolate cake mix
• 1 box powdered sugar
• 1 stick of margarine, melted
• 1 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 1-2 cups of coconut
• 1 1-2 cups chopped pecans

Directions

Spray and flour 9x13 inch pan. Spread nuts and coconut in pan. Mix cake mix as directed on box. Pour batter over nuts and coconut. Mix cream cheese, margarine and powdered sugar together. Spoon over batter. Stir with a knife. Bake on 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Check with a toothpick.

By Jenny from Gadsden, AL

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Lemon Cookie Balls

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions

Cream shortening and sugar well. Add egg, lemon juice and lemon rind. Mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Chill dough. Shape into balls the size of a walnut. Dip into sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Speedyburger Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 can spaghetti in tomato sauce

Directions

In skillet, brown ground beef and cook onion until tender. Stir to separate meat; pour off fat. Add soup and spaghetti. Heat, stirring occasionally. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Rigatoni

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. hamburger or round chuck
• 1/2 cup onion
• 3 cups water
• 1 can tomato paste (12oz.)
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 1/2 cups basil
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
• 15 slices pepperoni
• 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
• rigatoni noodles, cooked

Directions

Cook hamburger and onion; drain off fat. Add water, tomato paste, sugar, basil, salt, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, sliced mushrooms, green pepper and Parmesan cheese. Simmer together; add cooked noodles and pepperoni. Mix together and add Mozzarella cheese.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Mounds Candy Balls

Ingredients

• 1 lb coconut
• 1 cup nuts, chopped fine
• 1 1/2 lb. powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 stick margarine
• 1 can Eagle Brand milk

• 2 package chocolate chips (12 oz. each)
• 3 tsp. paraffin

Directions

Beat milk and butter until smooth. Pour over dry ingredients. Mix well. Cover bowl, and let chill overnight. Roll in small balls.

Melt chocolate coating in double boiler. Dip each ball into chocolate mix. Use toothpick or spoon. Cool on foil.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Different Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup hot water
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2/3 cup molasses
• 2 cups canned mashed pumpkin
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup chopped nuts (almonds or walnuts)
• 2/3 cup seedless raisins
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 3 1/2 cups unsifted flour
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. salt

Directions

Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Add hot water to raisins and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, with electric mixer, set a medium high speed, beat together shortening, sugar and molasses until light and fluffy. Set mixer on low speed and beat in eggs and pumpkin. Sift remaining dry ingredients together. Then toss chopped nuts in. Gradually beat flour-nut mixture into creamed mixture. Add raisins and water. Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 1-1 1/2 hours or until a pick inserted in center comes out dry. Allow to cool for 10 minutes; then turn out of pan and cool completely on rack before slicing.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Pork Chops and Dressing Bake

Ingredients

Pork Chops:

• 6-8 pork chops
• salt and pepper, to taste

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1 can mushrooms, drained
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 box Kelloggs croutons
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp. parsley flakes
• juice from the broiled pork chops

Directions

Broil the pork chops and save the juice. Place them in a 9x13 inch dish. Microwave the butter, celery, mushrooms and onion together for 3-4 minutes or until soft. Mix in the croutons, mushroom soup, milk, eggs and parsley. Pour the juice, from the pork chops, over the dressing and mix together. Put the dressing over the top of the pork chops and bake at 350 degrees F for 30-45 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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