ThriftyFun Recipes - July 17, 2008

Thank you Jerry, U*u*U, Wanda, Artlady, Micki, Robin, Kandi and Bonnie for today's tips and recipes!

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Today's Food Tips:

• Puree and Freeze Bonus Summer Veggies
• Save Canned Fruit Syrup for Sweetening Iced Tea
• Use Bacon Drippings For Starting Campfires

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Homemade Pizza "Lunchables"
• Quick Donuts
• Quick Burger Casserole
• Garden Patch Pasta Salad
• Chicken Enchiladas

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Potato Casserole
• Pizza
• Grandpa's Hot Cakes
• Breakfast Souffle'
• A Good Basic Cake
• Easy Shrimp Dip

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Puree and Freeze Bonus Summer Veggies

Too many summer veggies? Puree them for use in colder months. I have been using my food processor and will puree or liquefy any veggies I do not use and freeze. No cooking. Just put in a freezer bag. I add these to pastas, casseroles and soups...or any dish I want to add a little flavor to. They can also be used as a vegetable drink.

By Wanda from Climax, NC

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Save Canned Fruit Syrup for Sweetening Iced Tea

If you enjoy canned fruit, buy it in heavy syrup. Save on sugar and use the syrup instead to sweeten and flavor your iced tea.

Source: Years of penny pinching.

By U*u*U from

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Use Bacon Drippings For Starting Campfires

Better Than Lighter Fluid: to start a campfire or charcoal grill, use old bacon drippings. You can use a paintbrush and spread the bacon grease on the charcoal or wood and also on a piece of paper or paper towel. Light the towel and the grease will get your fire going and give off the fragrance of fresh cooked bacon.

By Jerry from Centralia, MO

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Homemade Pizza "Lunchables"

My kids love those pizza lunchables, but they are mostly packaging with little food so I came up with this cheaper, tastier version so the kids can make their own little pizzas. So simple. Also makes a filling, quick little breakfast.

Ingredients

• English Muffins (original or wheat)
• A jar of Prego garlic flavored spaghetti sauce, or any spaghetti sauce with garlic flavor.
• Cheese of choice. I found Provolone tastes great on these mini pizzas.
• And let your kids pick their favorite toppings: pepperoni, olives, etc.

Directions

Start with the sauce on the muffin, then let the kids assemble them as they wish. For a real quick pizza, place in the microwave for 25 to 30 seconds depending on your microwave. For a crispy crust, throw the muffins in the toaster before hand, then microwave to melt cheese. Or assemble then put in the oven on a cookie sheet at 375 degrees F for about 12 minutes.

Source: The kitchen cabinets and tired of spending money on crappy lunchables.

By Kandi from North Augusta, SC

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Quick Donuts

Take a tube of any biscuits, 4 for a dollar, at your grocery store. Cut each biscuit in half. Heat oil in pan or fryer and fry in oil. Turn them as soon as they get brown on one side. Fry the other side and drain on paper towels. I set small bowls with granulated sugar, powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar in three separate bowls. Roll doughnuts in what you like and walla! The kids love these, quick and easy. ENJOY!

By Bonnie from Saint Petersburg, FL

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Quick Burger Casserole

Brown 1 or 2 pounds of hamburger meat with 1 small to medium onion, chopped. Drain off excess grease. Return meat to pan on low heat. Add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of corn (drained). Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover and let heat through and allow cheese to melt.

By Micki from Glasgow, KY

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Garden Patch Pasta Salad

This is a great salad. If you grow your own zucchini, you know you always end up with a lot at one time. This is a great way to use up those zucchini.

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
• 2 cups zucchini cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup red or green pepper strips, cut in 1 inch pieces
• Bacon bits
• 3 hard cooked eggs chopped
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 3/4 lb. Velveeta cheese spread, cubed
• 3/4 cup nayonaise
• 3 Tbsp. milk
• 2 tsp. nustard

Directions

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain. In a large bowl, combine macaroni, zucchini, peppers, bacon bits, eggs and seasonings. Mix lightly.

Meanwhile, in a med. saucepan, combine cheese, mayonaise, milk and mustard; stir over low heat until cheese spread is melted. Combine with macaroni; toss lightly. Chill 3 to 4 hours. (I also like this served warm.)

Source: I got this from Woman's Day Magazine many, many years ago.

By Artlady from Edmond, OK

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Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients

• 10 flour tortillas
• 3 or 4 chicken breasts
• 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup
• small can of chilies
• 1 (16 oz.) sour cream
• 2 cups of shredded cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook chicken breasts in water until they are done. Cut into bite size pieces. Mix soup, chilies, sour cream and 1 cup of cheese. Then add chicken

Break up flour tortillas into bite size pieces. Put a layer of flour tortillas in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Then put in a layer of chicken mixture then put in a layer of flour tortillas. Keep alternating the layers and then end with the flour tortillas. Then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on it. Then cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes or until cheese on top is melted.

By Sandra from North Las Vegas, NV

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Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 lb. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 1 carton sour cream (8 oz.)
• 1 carton onion dip (8 oz.)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 10 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 6 Tbsp. margarine, melted
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups crushed corn flakes

Directions

Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl, stirring well. Pour into greased casserole. Mix butter and corn flakes in bowl. Press onto top of potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours. 10 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 1/2-3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1 package dry yeast
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1 can tomato sauce (8oz.)
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbsp. minced onion
• 1 lb. hamburger, browned (or other meat to your desire)
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese

Directions

Combine 1 cup flour with sugar, 2 teaspoons salt and yeast in bowl, mixing well. Add oil and 1 cup hot water gradually, beating well. Beat for 1 minute. Stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and elastic. Let rise, covered, for 45 minutes. Punch down and divide into halves. Prepare 2 pizza pans by greasing lightly and sprinkling with cornmeal. Press dough into pans. Combine remaining ingredients except cheeses and meat in bowl, mixing well. Spread over crusts evenly. Top with meat and cheeses. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Grandpa's Hot Cakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs, separated
• 1 Tbsp. melted margarine
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar

Directions

Blend buttermilk, egg yolks and margarine in bowl. Sift dry ingredients except sugar slowly into milk mixture, mixing well. Beat egg whites, adding sugar slowly, until stiff. Fold gently into batter. Spoon by tablespoonfuls onto hot griddle, turning when bubbles appear. We love these on Sunday nights for supper. They are SO good!

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Breakfast Souffle'

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. pork sausage
• 9 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 slices bread, cut into 1/4 in. cubes
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Brown sausage over medium heat in skillet, stirring until crumbly. Drain well on paper towels. Combine with remaining ingredients in large bowl, mixing well. Pour into greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Chill, covered, in refrigerator overnight. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Makes 8 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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A Good Basic Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup dry milk

Directions

Cream first 3 ingredients together in mixing bowl. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Sift remaining ingredients together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with 1 cup water, beginning and ending with flour. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour.

Note: May be baked in 3 layer pans or cupcake pans at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Easy Shrimp Dip

Ingredients

• 2 pkg. cream cheese (3 oz. each)
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3 Tbsp. chili sauce
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 can chopped shrimp

Directions

Blend cream cheese with mayonnaise. Add chili sauce, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce. Blend until smooth. Add chopped shrimp; blend. Chill. Serve with chips, crackers, or veggies.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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