Thrifty Fun Recipes - Aug. 4, 2009

Thanks to davidicdancer, Stephanie, Angela, k.lamers, scott E., mc9 for the tips and recipes today. Take a look at the food requests and see if you can offer any advice.

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Today's Food Tips:

• Use Playdoh Fun Factory for Pasta Maker
• Thrifty Chocolate Milk

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Angie's Chinese Salad
• Pepsi Pork Roast
• Freezer Pickled Veggies
• Strawberries and Ice Cream

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Sinfully Chocolate Torte
• Chicken Strata
• Pie Crust
• Reuben Casserole

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Use Playdoh Fun Factory for Pasta Maker

Oodles of Noodles. All you need: the Fun Factory (the one where you put playdoh in, press into a tube using the handle, and the playdoh comes out in the stencil shape) and semolina flour

It's a lot cheaper than buying a pasta press. Just be sure that your pasta dough is on the dry side, so that it won't rejoin to itself once through the stencil.

Have fun!

Source: My husband - need and ingenuity

By davidicdancer from Spokane, WA

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Thrifty Chocolate Milk

Make chocolate milk from powdered milk and generic brand chocolate syrup. Then, when kids want hot chocolate, heat it up. It's so easy, and so inexpensive. Marshmallows are optional.

By Stephanie from Anchorage, AK

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Angie's Chinese Salad

This is a good pot luck dish, very delicious and refreshing. I knew it must be special when men ask for the recipe.

Ingredients

• 8 chopped green onions
• 1 chopped garlic
• 1 medium head thinly sliced cabbage

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 2 ramen flavor packets (chicken and/or beef flavor)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 6 Tbsp. rice or white vinegar.
• 1 Tbsp dark sesame oil

• crushed Ramen noodles from 2 packages (not flavor packet now)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds,
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds. (or whatever you have)
• 2 Tbsp butter

Directions:

For Dressing: In a saucepan, heat all ingredients but sesame oil. When cool, add in sesame oil.

For Crunchies: Toast in dry skillet over low heat. Set aside to cool.

Toss vegetables together in a large bowl. Pour and mix dressing over cabbage mix about 1/2 hour before serving and add Crunchies just before serving.

Leftovers, if you have any, taste great, but the noodles may be a little softer.

Source: Culled from many Chinese Cabbage and Ramen recipes. I finally was satisfied with this combination.

By Angela from Glendale, CA

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Pepsi Pork Roast

I've had this recipe for many years and it is a family favorite. It is so good and so easy.

Ingredients:

• one 4 to 6 lb. pork roast
• 1/2 package dry onion soup mix
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can Pepsi cola

Directions:

Place roast in baking pan or crockpot. Add dry soup mix, Cream of Mushroom soup and cola. Bake in 250 - 300 degree F over for 3-4 hours. (Consult your crockpot cookbook for crockpot method). You may want to place a few peeled and quartered potatoes around the roast because there will be plenty of good gravy. This is so easy and so good.

Source: A former co-worker.

By k.lamers from Auxvasse, MO

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Freezer Pickled Veggies

Easy and made ahead of time.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds unpeeled or peeled, sliced cucumber
• 1/2 sliced medium red onion
• 1 medium bell pepper
• 1 chopped stalk of celery
• 3 carrots, quartered lengthwise into 3 inch pieces
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. of hot pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. of crushed garlic (optional) (I use a little more)

Directions:

Heat vinegar and sugar to dissolve, cool. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix well. Place in 1 gallon resealable food storage bag. Seal tightly, releasing excess air. Freeze at least 24 hours.

Remove from freezer. Thaw at room temperature. Refrigerate (flavors improve if thawed then allowed to stand a few days in refrigerator). May store up to 3 weeks in refrigerator or 1 year in freezer.

I have replaced some of the veggies with radishes, parsnips, baby carrots, pea pods, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and green beans. They all worked. Use your imagination.

If you want more pickle taste, heat the sugar and vinegar with some pickling spice or dill.

By scott E. from Chicago

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Strawberries and Ice Cream

Really fresh and suitable for hot days. Easy to make!

Ingredients:

• 6 strawberries chopped in small pieces
• 2 scoops of favorite ice cream

Directions:

In a bowl put the fruit and the ice cream together and eat quickly.

By mc9 from San Lawrenz Gozo

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Sinfully Chocolate Torte

Ingredients

• 1 brownie mix
• 2/3 cup strong black coffee
• 7 bars German sweet chocolate
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, softened with 3 Tbsp. cold water
• 4 egg whites
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 small carton Cool Whip

Directions

While still warm, cut into 2 1/2 inch bars and line the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Place coffee and chocolate bars (broken) in top of double boiler. Place over simmering water until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and stir in egg yolks. Add the softened gelatin and mix well. Cool 30 minutes.

Beat the egg whites until thickened. Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until stiff. Fold into chocolate mixture until well combined. Fold Cool Whip into "brownie ring" and chill at least 24 hours. Slice thin.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Chicken Strata

Ingredients

• 8 slices day old bread
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• dash pepper
• 2 slightly beaten eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup

Directions

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Pie Crust

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 3/4 cups shortening
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 Tbsp. vinegar
• 1/2 cup cold water

Directions

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Reuben Casserole

Ingredients

Directions

• 11 oz. pkg. sauerkraut, drained
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. Thousand Island dressing
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 8 oz. shredded corned beef
• 8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 can flaky buttermilk biscuits
• 2-3 rye crackers (crushed)
• 1/4 tsp. caraway seed

Directions

By Robin from Washington, IA

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