ThriftyFun Recipes - November 18, 2008

Lani, Derbra, Raymonde, Robin, Jamie, Clara, Diane and Terri for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Keeping Buns Warm in a Crockpot
• Looking for Inexpensive Reduced Fat Cheese
• Roasting Meat Overnight in the Oven
• West Bend Bread Maker: White Bread Recipe
• Cooking With "Jack-o-lantern" Type Pumpkins

Today's Food Tips:

• Freeze Leftover Sauce in an Ice Cube Tray
• Product Review: Freschetta Amore Frozen Pizza
• Keep Spare Clean Ketchup Lid

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Sauce
• Blueberry Delight
• Jamie's Chili
• Creamy Mango Loaf Cake
• Grapes and Onions

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Diet Cookies
• Baked Pork Chops
• Chocolate Pie
• Meat Balls
• Spinach Salad
• Russian Tea Cakes

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.

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Keeping Buns Warm in a Crockpot

How do you keep buns warm in a crockpot? Do you have to warm them first? Or do they warm well in the crockpot? And how long should you give them to heat up? Should you line the crockpot with a towel and dampen it? This is for a potluck where I need to heat them first at home and keep them warm, hopefully.

wondernana

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Looking for Inexpensive Reduced Fat Cheese

My family is trying to eat healthy. We use a lot of shredded cheese, and I always buy the reduced fat versions. They are rarely on sale and very expensive. Bulk stores like Costco don't carry them. Anyone know where to get reduced fat cheese at more reasonable prices?

Lisa from Lombard, IL

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Roasting Meat Overnight in the Oven

I have lost a recipe that I found in the local News Journal about 6 or so months ago. I remember that you bought a cheap roast (even bottom round roast), seasoned it and roasted the meat on an extremely low oven overnight. I forget if it was braised. It was very tender and the middle section was rare if you decreased cooking by 20 minutes.

Nancy from Wilmington, DE

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West Bend Bread Maker: White Bread Recipe

I have a West Bend automatic bread and dough maker. The number is 41063. I loaned my manual out but need a recipe from it. Does anyone have the manual with the basic white bread recipe in the very front where the instructions for use are? It calls for warmed milk, flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and butter. I think that is all, but I am not sure of the amounts.

Beth from Lebanon, MO

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Cooking With "Jack-o-lantern" Type Pumpkins

I was given three BIG pumpkins (aka jack-a-lanterns) that were on sale after Halloween. I would really like to use them to make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving but have been told that they are NOT the right type. There has to be a way to use them, maybe not as pies but as other food type things. I am really trying NOT to waste food at all, as we have gone hungry in the past.

Dahart from CO

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• Tip Contest
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Freeze Leftover Sauce in an Ice Cube Tray

If you have left over tomato sauce from an 8 ounce can, don't throw it away or stash it in the fridge where it could be forgotten. Instead, I pour the rest into an ice cube tray. After they're frozen, pop them into a ziplock bag. Whenever you need just a little tomato sauce, you have them right in the freezer. No need to open another can and no waste!

By Clara from North Andover, MA

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Product Review: Freschetta Amore Frozen Pizza

We like carry out pizzas but usually can't afford those prices. When we're in the mood for pizza. We go for those "Freschetta Amore" pizzas, in the grocery store freezer section. They're the next best thing to carry out pizza. I've never had a frozen pizza taste like a carry out pizza before purchasing this brand. The pepperoni is good, but we prefer the supreme. So the next time you're wanting pizza, try this kind, you'll be surprised that it's not your basic frozen pizza!

By Terri from NV

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Keep Spare Clean Ketchup Lid

I keep a spare ketchup lid in my kitchen drawer. When it gets sloppy, I just swap lids and put the dirty one in the dishwasher. I do the same for the ranch dressing. It's so easy, my kids will even swap it out. If you don't have a dishwasher you could drop it in a dirty glass with some water, and wash it up when you do the dishes.

By Diane from Rochester, Mi

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Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup All-Bran
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb. lean ground turkey
• 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 cup fat free plain yogurt
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 small carrot, shredded
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 4 cups hot cooked noodles

Directions

In a large bowl, combine egg, bran, Worcestershire sauce and lemon peel. Crumble turkey over mixture; mix well. Shape into 25 meatballs.

In a large skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown meatballs. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink. Remove meatballs and keep warm.

Combine the cornstarch, yogurt and lemon juice until smooth; gradually stir into cooking juices. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in carrot and onion; heat through. Serve over meatballs and noodles.

Very good

Source: A friend, Jean

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Blueberry Delight

Ingredients

• 1 stick of margarine
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
• 1/2 carton cool whip
• 3 cups blueberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water

Directions

Mix together first 3 ingredients, press into large baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until light brown. Mix together second 3 ingredients, spread onto cooled crust. Bring to a boil, blueberries, sugar and water, cook 1 minute. Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup water. Add to blueberries, sugar and cook until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Spread on top of cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining whipped topping when ready to serve. Very good.

Source: I got this recipe from the Newspaper.

By Debra from Smyrna, GA

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Jamie's Chili

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
• 1 can (29 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (14-1/2 oz) crushed or stewed tomatoes (I use crushed)
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste (I did not use)
• 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained but not rinsed
• 1 (16 oz) can black beans, drained but not rinsed
• 1 (28 oz I think was the size!) can Bushs (or your favorite) pork and beans with bacon and brown sugar
• About 6 dashes of Tabasco sauce, maybe 2-3 Tbsp.
• 1/2 to 1 onion chopped, optional*
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped (large), optional*

Directions

Brown ground beef, garlic, salt and pepper. Drain grease and add meat to the slow cooker. Brown sausage, drain and add to slow cooker. Using the same pan, saute the onion and green pepper (add butter if needed, my sausage didn't really leave any grease) for 3-5 minutes (still crunchy) and then add to the crockpot. Add rest of ingredients.

Cooking Time: Low 7-8 hours or High 3 hours

Stir occasionally. It filled up my large crockpot. Could, I'm sure, be made in large stew pot on the stove, too!

Source: This is my recipe. I "put it together", you could say! :)

By Jamie from Minneapolis, MN

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Creamy Mango Loaf Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups cold fat free half and half
• 1 package (1 ounce) sugar free instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 medium mango, peeled and diced
• 1 loaf (10 1/2 ounces) angel food cake
• 1 medium kiwifruit, peeled and sliced

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk half and half and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in mango. Slice cake horizontally into three layers; spread pudding mixture between layers and over the top of the cake. Top with kiwi. Refrigerate for a least 5 hours before serving.

Delicious...

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Grapes and Onions

This recipe is easy fun and TASTY. First you get 2 cups of green grapes and 2 cups of red grapes. Slice them in half, put them into a bowl and chop up some green onions, only about a handful of green onions. If your grapes are big, chop them up again. HAPPY EATING!

Source: I got this from a relative.

By Lani from Albuquerque, NM

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Diet Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Bisquick
• 2 packages instant pudding (any flavor)
• 1/2 cup salad oil
• 2 eggs

Directions

Mix dry ingredients. Add oil; mix well. Add beaten eggs; mix well. Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Baked Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 6 pork chops, thick (fat removed)
• 1/2 cup orange juice, diluted
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 4 Tbsp. brown sugar

Directions

Place chops in shallow baking dish (not necessary to brown). Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chops. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour depending on thickness of chops. Baste occasionally during baking.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Chocolate Pie

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 3 Tbsp. cocoa
• 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell
• 3 egg whites
• 6-7 Tbsp. sugar

Directions

In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of sugar, the flour and cocoa. Add the beaten egg yolks, vanilla and milk. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Bake in 425 degrees F oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake for 25-30 minutes. Beat the egg whites with 6-7 tablespoons of sugar until stiff. Spread onto the cooked pie, and brown under a broiler for 2-3 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Meat Balls

Ingredients

• 3 lbs. hamburger
• 1 1/2 cups oatmeal (regular or quick)
• 2 cups milk
• 5 Tbsp. minced onion
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

• 4 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 6 Tbsp. tarragon vinegar
• 3 cups ketchup
• 1 medium onion, minced

Directions

Mix meat ball ingredients well and form into balls the size you want. Brown meat balls and pour off grease. Cover with sauce and bake 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees F.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Spinach Salad

Ingredients

• 1 bag fresh spinach
• 1 lb. bacon, fried and crumbled
• 4-5 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• 1 medium red onion, sliced
• fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 can water chestnuts, sliced
• 1 cup oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Directions

In a bowl, combine the spinach, bacon, eggs, onion, mushrooms and water chestnuts. Place in the refrigerator. Dressing: Mix the oil, sugar, ketchup, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce together and refrigerate. Pour the dressing on the salad and toss an hour before serving.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup margarine
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions

Cream margarine, sugar and vanilla together. Add flour, salt & nuts. Roll into small balls. bake on cookie sheet at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until delicate brown. Watch closely! Cool slightly and shake in a bag of powdered sugar. When cool, shake in powdered sugar again.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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