Daily Thrifty Tips December 18, 2004

Hello,

If you have any last minute Christmas tips, feel free to send them in. Also if you have any cool Christmas or Holiday decorations that you would like to show off feel free to send in some images. You can send them as attachments to images@thriftyfun.com

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Today's newsletter contains:

Today's Tips:

• Lois Ann's Christmas Memory
• Tofu Corn Bread
• Apple Quick Bread
• Beans Cubano
• Cure for Cheap Earrings That Irritate Your Skin
• Toasting Nuts and Oatmeal For Cookies
• Roasted Breakfast Potatoes
• Cream Whipping Tip
• Egg for Meringue Tip
• Quick Holiday Treats
• Making Lots of Cookies Tips
• Remembering Which Ingredients Have Been Added
• Southern-Fried Tofu
• Phone Message to Self
• Decorating Plant and Flower Pots With Wallpaper
• Cupboard and Closet Tip
• Party Egg Nog
• Fudge Cake
• Layered Applesauce Cake
• Creme De Menthe Cake
• Hershey Bar Cake
• Uses for Dryer Sheets

New Requests:

• 3 Kids and Need Help so Santa Can Come
• Musty Odor
• Fur on Winter Coat No Longer Fluffy

More Reading:

• Me Time
• Keepsake Quilting
• Six Steps to Raising Financially Responsible Teens

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Today's Tips

Today's Family Tradition...

Lois Ann's Christmas Memory

It had been a particularly warm winter that year in the 1980s, no snow at all. The temps were extremely high for the Buffalo, New York region. EVERYONE was depressed because of the lack of snow.

At church choir, we would be singing "The Snow Lay on the Ground" in practice, but it just didn't seem to fit the season. But this year, December seemed like May or early June. The weather forecasters were uncertain about a white Christmas. Playing "White Christmas" and hoping for the best was all we could do at that point. (except for those Grinches who didn't like snow!)

At our church at that time, the choir would sing for the Christmas program at 11 PM, then sing the entire Midnight Mass and then occasionally there would be the Mass of the Angels at 1 AM. So, dutifully, we went upstairs to our places and sang our hearts out. JOY to the WORLD, SILENT NIGHT, O Come all Ye Faithful... the glorious songs of times past and times present.

We sang from 11 PM until we went to downstairs for Holy Communion. I looked out the church window and coming down in HUGE fluffy snowflakes, was the season's first snowfall.

Silly as it sounds, we all rejoiced at seeing the wonderful snow in our own Winter Wonderland of Joy, a winter gift of nature to a group of warm-weary snow angels!

By Lois Ann from New York

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Tofu Corn Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon Sucanat (Organic Natural Cane Sugar)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoon soy margarine, cut into small fine pieces
• 12 oz. Mori Nu silken tofu soft, do not use low fat, do not drain
• 1/3 cup soy milk

Directions:

Grease a 8" x 8" square pan with oil and preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using a glass pan lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees (Fahrenheit).

Sift together the dry ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly. Cut the soy margarine pieces into the dry ingredients until the pieces of margarine are the size of small peas.

Put the tofu in the blender and blend until very smooth. Add the tofu and soy milk all at once to the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.

Pour into greased 8" x 8" square pan and Bake at 400 degrees for 20- 25 minutes.

By Anna

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Apple Quick Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 cup raisins
• sprinkling of soy protein powder (optional)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon molasses vegan
• 1 apple, chopped into fine bits
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

Coat bottom and sides of a 9x9 baking pan with oil. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of the wheat germ, and spread evenly over the oil.

Combine 1 cup of the wheat germ, the flour, the cinnamon and the baking soda. Stir thoroughly. Add raisins and chopped apple.

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients mixture. Combine orange juice and vinegar, and pour into dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly, but no more than necessary to combine ingredients. Add 1 tablespoon of molasses

Turn batter into the baking pan. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.

By Anna

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Beans Cubano

Ingredients:

• 1 large green pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cans (16 oz) undrained black beans
• 1 jar (4 oz) sliced pimientos
• 3 tablespoon wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano

Directions:

Saute pepper and garlic in liquid of your choice 3-5 mins, until tender-crisp. Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to boil, simmer 5-7 mins., till tender. Serve with rice.

By Anna

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Cure for Cheap Earrings That Irritate Your Skin

If wearing "cheap" holiday earrings irritates your pierced ears, put a dab of antibiotic ointment on your ear, front and back, before inserting earrings.

By Linda

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Toasting Nuts and Oatmeal For Cookies

Toasting nuts or oatmeal before adding them to cookies enhances the flavor. Put them in a shallow pan and toast in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes. Stir them every 5 min so they don't burn.

By Linda

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Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

Ingredients:

• Baker Potatoes
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Paprika
• Dried Parsley
• Black Pepper
• White Pepper
• Oil (Flavored Works Great!)

Directions:

The amounts for this recipe vary with taste and serving size, feel free to add more or less.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Chop potatoes into small chunks, put in bowl. Add spices and oil and mix well. Spread on a baking sheet and throw in the oven.

It usually takes 20 minutes for them to brown, but check them often.

By Anna

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Cream Whipping Tip

Always whip cream in a cold bowl with cold beaters. Pop them into the freezer for 10 min before you whip the cream.

By Linda

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Egg for Meringue Tip

Eggs whites whip into meringue best if the eggs are slightly older and at room temp. before you beat them.

By Linda

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Quick Holiday Treats

If you really hate to bake, try dipping Oreos, pretzels, or dried apricots in melted chocolate to have some "homemade" holiday treats.

By Linda

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Making Lots of Cookies Tips

While one batch of cookies is baking I prepare the next batch on parchment paper or foil. As soon as a batch is removed from a cookie sheet, the next batch, on the paper, is slid onto the sheet and goes right in the oven. Speeds up things a lot!

I make several batches of cookie dough, different kinds, one right after the other, without washing the mixer or measuring utensils. Saves a lot of time. Then I can bake the cookies or refrigerate some of the dough and bake them at my leisure.

By Linda

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Remembering Which Ingredients Have Been Added

When baking, in order to remember which ingredients have been put into your bowl do this: Place all items to the left of your bowl. As you use them; move to the right of your bowl. You'll know what you've already placed in the bowl and everything on the right is ready to wipe down and put away.

By Marian

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Southern-Fried Tofu

Ingredients:

• 1 package of extra-firm tofu
• 1/2 cup corn flour
• 1/2 cup vegetarian "chicken" seasoning
• 1-2 cups of canola oil

Directions:

Begin heating about a cup of oil in a non-stick skillet.

Mix the corn flour and vegetarian chicken seasoning together. Lay the cake of tofu down. If it was frozen and you thawed it out, make sure most of the extra water is pressed out. Slice the cake of tofu into 8 slices about 1/2 inch thick. Dredge liberally in the corn flour/veggie seasoning mixture.

Lay the coated slices in the heated oil and fly until golden brown. Turn over, and fly the other side until golden brown. Drain, and season.

By Anna

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Phone Message to Self

I now work from home but when I had a job I made sure that I would not forget to make or bring something for our monthly pot lucks by calling my home and leaving a message FOR MYSELF on my answering machine. At first I got a lot of laughs, but pretty soon others in the office started doing the same thing for all sorts of things that needed to be remembered. I still occasionally leave myself a message. My husband travels a lot and also calls and leaves himself messages a lot. When he does, I just make sure I don't erase the message until he's done whatever it was that he needed to do.

By Margaret

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Decorating Plant and Flower Pots With Wallpaper

Paint stores usually have outdated wallpaper books that they are willing to give away. I have taken some home and, with the pre-pasted wallpapers, I have taken two patterns, wrong sides together, dipped them in water for a short time and then formed them around a plant pot, bowl, glass jar, or cup. Tie a string around the paper or use an elastic.

When the paper fully dries, it will then form a very pretty bowl that you can fill with goodies to bring to a friend or just to set on the table or vanity to hold trinkets. No cost containers, what could be better! I used to do this as a home school art project with my son who is now in college.

By Roberta

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Cupboard and Closet Tip

When things are buried deep in the back of your cupboards and closets they probably never get used. If you don't stack things too deep, make things easy and convenient to get in and out of your cupboards and closets those items will be used more often.

By Carol

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Party Egg Nog

Ingredients:

• 6 cups milk
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 small pkg. vanilla pudding
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in blender; blend until smooth. Sprinkle with nutmeg, pour into punch bowl and serve.

By Chell

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Fudge Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 4 oz bars sweet baking chocolate (melted & cooled)
• 1 cup chocolate syrup
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels (mini)
• 4 oz. white chocolate (chopped)
• 2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. shortening (divided)
• Chocolate and white chocolate leaves

Directions:

Cream butter in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating well at medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time. Combine buttermilk and soda, stirring well. Add to creamed mixture alternately with flour, beginning and ending with flour. Add 2 bars melted chocolate, chocolate syrup and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in 1 cup mini morsels. Pour batter into heavily buttered and floured 10 inch bundt pan. Bake in 300 degree oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean. Invert cake onto a serving plate and cool completely. Combine 4 ounces white chocolate and 2 tablespoons shortening in top of a double boiler. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cook until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Drizzle over cooled cake. Melt remaining 1/2 cup mini morsels and 2 teaspoons shortening in small pan over low heat and let cool. Drizzle over white chocolate. Garnish with white and chocolate leaves.

By Robin

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Layered Applesauce Cake

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed firm)
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. almond
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 2 1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Combine dry ingredients; combine applesauce and milk. Add dry ingredients, beating well after each ingredient. gently fold in nuts and raisins. Divide batter evenly between 2 layer pans that have been well buttered and floured. Bake 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Frosting: Melt 1/2 cup butter in saucepan. Continue heating over medium heat until butter is light amber in color, stirring frequently. Cool butter slightly. Combine melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and cream in small mixer bowl. Beat until smooth and spreadable adding more sugar if needed. To serve, place 1 layer of cake on serving plate. Spread 1/2 icing over cake. Repeat with 2nd half. Garnish with fresh apple slices.

By Robin

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Creme De Menthe Cake

Prepare 1 box sour cream white cake mix according to directions on the box. Add: 2 tablespoons creme de menthe and 1/2 Hershey's candy bar (shaved).

Pour into a large baking pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until it tests done. Cool.

Spread with Hershey's fudge topping (not a frosting, but the syrup). Cover fudge topping with 1 large bowl of Cool Whip, to which has been added 1 tablespoon creme de menthe and the rest of the candy bar (shaved). Keep tightly covered.

By Robin

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Hershey Bar Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 2 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 Hershey's chocolate bar
• 15 oz can Hershey's chocolate syrup
• 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. almond

Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing after each addition. Melt candy in double boiler. Add syrup to melted candy. Add chocolate mix to butter, sugar and egg mixture. Sift flour. Dissolve soda in buttermilk. Add the flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture. Add extracts. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake 1 1/2 - 2 hours at 325 degrees.

To make icing: Melt 1 Hershey's bar, 1/2 stick butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat until smooth and to spreading consistency. Milk can be added if needed to reach desired consistency to drizzle over cake.

By Robin

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Uses for Dryer Sheets

Use dryer sheets for many things, insert in pillow cases for nice scented pillows, use to wipe tv screen dust, use in drawers to make socks et cup smell nice, use inside smelly shoes after removing them. and on and on.

By darleen

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New Requests:

3 Kids and Need Help so Santa Can Come

I have no money and I have 3 children 6yr 4yrs & 2yrs old. Can someone please help me out? My son asked me mom what do you think Santa is getting me. I had to tell him, mom don't have the money to give Santa so he might not be able to come this year. He looked so sad. Please help. I'm not asking for a lot, just something for them to wake up to. - STACEY from Yuba City CA

Editor's Note: We don't give direct charitable help but if someone among the ThriftyFunners that lives near Yuba City or has some suggestions, please post.

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Musty Odor

I have a wool skirt that smells musty it was stored in a plastic container along with some Christmas ornaments, magazines, stuffed animals, craft items. They all smell musty and the container also. Can these smell be removed and will it come back? I want to keep these items and not get rid of them.

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Musty Odor

I have a wool skirt that smells musty it was stored in a plastic container along with some Christmas ornaments, magazines, stuffed animals, craft items. They all smell musty and the container also. Can these smell be removed and will it come back? I want to keep these items and not get rid of them.

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More Reading:

Me Time
By Amy Allen Clark

During this busy holiday season, it is often hard to remember to take care of ourselves. This is not only because of all of our holiday obligations listed on our calendars, but also because of the financial strains that our budgets go under after buying all of those gifts.

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Keepsake Quilting
By Rachel Paxton

There's nothing quite like the feel of an old patchwork quilt that was lovingly crafted by hand and worn in gently by countless generations. Anyone can go to the store and buy a quilt, but not many people ever take the time to learn the ancient art of quilt making.

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Six Steps to Raising Financially Responsible Teens
By Mrs. Crystal Paine

In today's money-driven society, teens are constantly bombarded by magazines, television ads, and peer pressure which make them feel less than ideal if they do not wear the latest clothing style and drive a 'cool' car. Briefly visit your local mall and you will observe multitudes of young people who shop as if credit cards have no maximum spending limit. With all this push for extravagance, is it even possible to raise your teens with money sense and save them from making serious financial mistakes?

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