ThriftyFun Recipes - May 8, 2008

Thank you Joy, Jackie, Robin, Darlene, Louise, Kel, Mary and Debra for today's tips and recipes.

Here are the Saving Money On... topics for this week, do you have any tips to share?

Saving Money on Peanut Butter
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Saving Money on Oatmeal
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Saving Money on Ice Cream
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Recipe Requests:

• Ways to Freeze Cabbage

Today's Food Tips:

• Organizing Your Pantry With Recycled Containers
• Steaming Tortillas
• Link: Hillbilly Housewife

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Surprise Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Easy Salisbury Steak
• Easy Taco Bake
• Sugar Free Iced Coffee Drink

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Angel Salad
• Scalloped Chicken
• Hamburger Boats
• Honey Milk Balls
• Lemon Cheesecake
• Dried Beef Casserole

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Ways to Freeze Cabbage

Can I freeze cabbage?

Connie from Olivehill, TN

Editors Note: Here is a link to some information on ThirftyFun about freezing cabbage: Freezing Cabbage

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Organizing Your Pantry With Recycled Containers

I save my mayonnaise jars, coffee cans (Folgers), and my catsup bottles for re-use again. I keep uncooked rice, dried beans, macaroni and graham crackers in the clear mayonnaise jars. I use the large coffee cans for dried beans, peas and other items like spaghetti and noodles. The catsup bottles are used to put catsup back into. I buy at Smart and Final and the large cans fills up 5 of the catsup bottles for me. I place the rice into my freezer before putting it on the shelf because the rice sometimes has bugs and by freezing, it assures that the bugs will not hatch, if any are there.

By Louise from Cibola, AZ

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Steaming Tortillas

While making fajitas, soft tacos, or burritos, place flour tortillas on a wire cooling rack over the simmering skillet. The steam makes tortillas elastic longer than heating in the microwave, and the tortillas absorb some of the flavor of the simmering meat and veggies. Be sure to flip the tortillas at least once.

By Kel from Dallas, TX

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Link: Hillbilly Housewife

I wanted to share a site that was shared with me:

• http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/

By Mary from Havelock, NC

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Surprise Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

• leftover macaroni and cheese
• 1 tomato
• oil to coat frying pan

Directions

Heat skillet, dice tomato and mix with macaroni and cheese. Place in frying pan and cook until brown on both sides.

Economical because you used leftovers and the kids will love it as much as a cheese sandwich.

By Debra from Hampton

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Easy Salisbury Steak

This recipe is called Salisbury Steak, however it is not made with steak, it is made with Hamburger. It is so delicious and reasonable to make. The fact I just made it made me think I should be sharing this.

Ingredients

• 1 (10 3/4) can of Golden Mushroom soup.
• 1 1/2 lb. hamburger
• 1/2 cup cracker crumbs (saltines)
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 onion, finely chopped*
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/3 cup water (save for later)

Directions

In med bowl, combine hamburger and 1/4 of the mushroom soup. Add the 1/3 cup water to soup left in can, mix and save for later. Add cracker crumbs, pepper and egg. Mix well.

Shape mixture into 6 patties. Depending on how you make them, you may get more then that. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, 350 degrees F in a 13x9 inch baking dish or 12x8 inch baking dish. Skim off fat. Now add the rest of the soup and bake for 10 more minutes.

You may opt to fry on stove (I have only used the oven method). Brown Patties in 1 Tbsp. hot oil, drain. Add soup and water, simmer covered 10-15 minutes.

My husband and I have made extra gravy and used it over rice. We thought it was a really delicious, easy and affordable dinner. Enjoy!

By Darlene from Fairview, PA

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Easy Taco Bake

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed tomato soup
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup milk
• 6 flour or 8 corn tortillas, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

In skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to separate meat. Pour off fat. Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and half the cheese. Spoon into 2-quart shallow baking dish. Cover. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Serves 4.

By Jackie from Willits, CA

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Sugar Free Iced Coffee Drink

Start with a large glass (18 oz), add 1 tsp. of instant coffee powder, 1 tsp. sugar free chocolate pudding mix (dry powder), add 2 inches of hot water and stir vigorously. Add 5-6 ice cubes, and some milk or non dairy creamer. Fill up glass with more milk or water, stir well. The hot water will dissolve the pudding mix and make it creamy. If you want to use powdered creamer add it with the coffee powder.

This is every bit as good as iced coffee from you favorite coffee bar. Actually, it's better because it's sugar free and cheap to make. If you are not concerned about sugar you can use regular pudding mix. Experiment with the flavors, add cinnamon, vanilla or mint. Try butterscotch pudding mix, have fun!

By Joy from Visalia CA

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Angel Salad

Ingredients

• 6 apples or 3-4 oranges or combination
• 1 can chunk pineapple, drain and save juice
• 3 bananas
• marshmallows
• cherries
• nuts
• grapes, if desired

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 cup whipping cream

Directions

Melt butter, add sugar mixed with cornstarch and juice. Add beaten egg yolks and cook until mixture thickens. When cool, pour into cream which has been whipped, then add fruit.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Scalloped Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked chicken, cut in pieces
• 8-10 cups dry bread cubes
• 7 cups hot chicken broth (poured over cubes)
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• sage, poultry seasoning, opt.
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 can cream of chicken soup

Directions

Mix all ingredients and pour into shallow buttered casserole. Dot with butter and bake 1 1/12-2 hours at 350 degrees F.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Hamburger Boats

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• dash pepper
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tomato sauce (8 oz.)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 can mushrooms (4 oz.)
• 1 tsp. chopped parsley
• 1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese
• 6 large rolls*

Directions

Combine first 7 ingredients in bowl. Heat oil in skillet and lightly brown meat mixture. Add onions, tomato sauce and water. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms and parsley. Simmer 10 minutes more.

While meat is cooking, prepare rolls in the following manner: Cut a thin slice from the top of each roll and hollow out center with roll. Brown lightly in oven. Fill with meat mixture and top with cheese. Can heat for a few minutes to melt cheese, if desired, or cheese will melt inside warm rolls and with the warm meat. Just watch close as you don't want to get the rolls overly brown.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Honey Milk Balls

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. honey
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
• 1/4 cup crushed wheat flakes

Directions

Blend honey with peanut butter. Work in dry milk. Grease hands with butter and form in small balls. Roll in wheat flakes. Chill before serving.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Lemon Cheesecake

Directions

• 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 stick margarine, melted
• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar

Mix and let set until syrupy:

• 1 pkg. lemon gelatin
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

• 11 oz. cream cheese (1 large and 1 small)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1 can evaporated milk, chilled

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Dried Beef Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 cans mushroom soup
• 2 soup cans milk
• 1 jar dried beef, cut up
• 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 pkg. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cups uncooked macaroni

Directions

Mix all together and put into a 2 qt. casserole. Put in refrigerator overnight. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees F.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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