ThriftyFun Recipes - February 20, 2009

Thank you Chavva, Ariela, Judy, Bobbie, Ryamonde, Kathleen, Lisa and Robin for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Homemade Cherry Coke
• Cheese Sauce for Broccoli
• Chocolate Cake Recipe Using Cocoa
• Recipe Ideas for Potato Crisps

Today's Food Tips:

• Keep Food Labels for Diabetic Food Exchange
• Stretching Shake 'n Bake
• Say "No" to Pizza Delivery

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Gingerbread
• Fruit Bon Bons
• Frugal Black Beans and Polenta
• Creamy Cauliflower Salad
• Creamy Crab Dip

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Fat Pancakes
• Ambrosia Salad
• Sugarless Hot Cocoa
• Tony's Potatoes
• Mostaccioi for a Crowd

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Homemade Cherry Coke

I really enjoy a cherry coke now and then. It is not always available and I don't want to buy a big 2 liter or a six pack. How can I get the cherry flavor?

Big Sis from Cocoa Beach, FL

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Cheese Sauce for Broccoli

How do you make a creamy cheese sauce to pour over broccoli? I like it very cheesy and I make it with real hard cheddar cheese but within minutes after Im done cooking it starts to harden.

Onesummer

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Chocolate Cake Recipe Using Cocoa

I wonder if anyone has an easy recipe for chocolate cake using cocoa instead of cooking chocolate? I would really appreciate this. I do love this site!

Bujubaby from Drysdale, Victoria, Australia

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Recipe Ideas for Potato Crisps

I recently bought some Potato Crisps at Costco. They are individually wrapped freeze dried potatoes, a low cal alternative to potato chips. I don't like them and can't get the kids to eat them so they are just sitting there.

I was thinking that the consistency is sort of like the boxed au gratin potatoes before you cook them. I thought I could try some scalloped potato dishes maybe. They aren't bad, just taste like raw potato. Does anyone else have any ideas

By the way, the Popchips (a puffed potato chip alternative) are pretty good. Ahh, potato chip, how I miss you!

Jess from Oregon

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Keep Food Labels for Diabetic Food Exchange

My grown daughter has type I Diabetes and has since she was 8 years old. So ever since she was younger, I save the labels from her favorite or certain foods like cereals, salad dressings, soups, etc. So that when she comes over for a meal, it is much easier for her to be able look at the labels I keep in order to calculate her food exchanges and be able to give her self the right amount of insulin to cover what we will eat.

I also collect certain food exchanges from restaurants that we may go to together and keep them in my car. You can locate them from those web sites and print out a sheet to keep handy. I print small sheets with the information on them and this came in so helpful to her while growing up and going on field trips to fast food restaurants with the school or when spending the night with school friends.And I do this same idea when we have cookouts or picnics and save the labels from sauces or the dishes I have made so she can have more choices and be accurate on her exchanges she will be allowed.

This is also a good habits to practice in case other diabetics are present at these meals or family gatherings/parties. Even if you do not know who are diabetics, just place these labels in a spot easy to be seen so they too can use them and benefit from the idea. Many people do Weight Watchers and this will help them as well should they want to try other foods or dishes.

Source: The idea came to me when she was young and saw she was limited to the things she could eat at parties/family reunions/etc.

By Julie from Tenn

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Stretching Shake 'n Bake

"Shake N Bake" for Chicken and Pork makes for a good meal yet is expensive! Instead of pouring the package of "Shake N Bake" seasonings into the shaking bag and putting the pieces of chicken or pork in afterward (as the instructions read) simply open up the bag flat and pour the "Shake N Bake" on the flat surface.

Then put pieces on top of the seasoning and proceed to turn the pieces over covering them completely. The seasoning goes a lot further this way.

By Chavva from Houston, TX

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Say "No" to Pizza Delivery

My husband is laid off work and his unemployment still isn't straightened out, so money is even shorter than it should be. I just went back to work after being laid off for 2 weeks. So basically we are living on 1/2 our normal income. We all know it's hard to make the necessary cut backs when, come Friday night, you still want to order Pizza Hut. We have done a good job of talking ourselves out of it and in the end are happier for it.

Tonight I said "Let's just order Pizza Hut for once." My husband said, "Hmm, I like those little frozen pizzas from Save-A-Lot!" lol So, we decided on making our own Pizza Hut night! We made those little frozen pizzas (one each) and cooked spaghetti and opened a can of Heinz spaghetti sauce and had bread sticks! ALL from Save-A-Lot! Our supper cost us $5.50 instead of $22! And it tasted better!

By Ariela from Jax, FL

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Gingerbread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions

Cream butter and sugar, add the molasses and egg and mix. Add flour, ginger, cinnamon and soda and mix well. Add boiling water, and bring to a boil in the micro wave, mix well.

Pour into a greased and floured square cake pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.

I have found the best place to buy molasses is at WalMart. I buy butter, flour, cinnamon, etc. when they are on sale. Butter freezes nicely, just take it out of the freezer the night before to thaw.

Source: I measured the ingredients out last night, then quickly mixed all this morning and baked. Gingerbread makes the house smell so good and is fairly inexpensive to make. This recipe has been a family favorite for many years passed down from my Great Aunt. It is a staple at our house. Enjoy!

By Bobbie Ann from Rockwall

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Fruit Bon Bons

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 (7 oz.) packages flaked coconut (5 1/2 cups)
• 1 (8-serving size) package fruit flavor gelatin, any flavor
• 1 cup ground blanched almonds
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• Food coloring, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, coconut, 1/3 cup gelatin, almonds, extract and enough food coloring to tint mixture. Chill 1 hour or until firm enough to handle. Using about 1/2 tablespoon mixture for each, shape into 1-inch balls. Sprinkle remaining gelatin onto wax paper; roll each ball in gelatin to coat. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheets; chill. Store covered at room temperature or in refrigerator.

Source: Eagle Brand Recipe

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Frugal Black Beans and Polenta

This is a recipe I found somewhere on the internet and adapted it. It's really filling and makes enough for 6 people and costs about 50 cents per person :) I made it tonight and it was very filling and tasty!

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 2 cups cornmeal
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 2 15oz cans of black beans (drained & rinse)
• 1 cup salsa

Directions

To make polenta, bring the water and salt to a boil. Then add the cornmeal very slowly so it doesn't clump. Keep stirring on low heat until it's really thick. Be careful because it will bubble and splash! This might take 20 minutes or so.

When it is thickened, and comes off the sides of the pot, spread onto a 9X13 greased pan. While polenta is sitting, combine black beans and salsa in sauce pan on medium heat.

When polenta is cooled a bit (10 minutes or so), cut into 12 even pieces. Place two pieces of polenta on a plate and scoop some black bean mixture on top. This is really filling and tasty! I used the zucchini salsa that I made at harvest time. Feel free to add other veggies if you like.

Source: Adapted from a recipe from vegweb.com

By Lisa from Halifax, NS

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Creamy Cauliflower Salad

Ingredients

• 1 med head cauliflower, in bite-sized bits
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp. Splenda
• 1 tsp. spicy mustard
• 2 Tbsp. onion, chopped
• 3 Tbsp. chopped yellow bell pepper
• 2 Tbsp. bacon bits
• 3 twists each of salt and pepper - or to taste

Directions

Cook cauliflower in boiling salted water 10 minutes or so, until softened. While it's boiling, I parboil the bell pepper and remove the skin; rinse and drain.

I microwave the onions to soften them up a bit. Mix onions, yellow bell and bacon bits with cauliflower. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over veggies. Mix well and refrigerate overnight or at least a couple of hours. We prefer this served warm.

Number of Servings: 6

By Kathleen from Dothan, AL

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Creamy Crab Dip

Very tasty with veggies or crackers.

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 Tbsp. white wine or chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp. grated onion
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 3 drops hot pepper sauce
• 6 oz. premium crabmeat, drained
• 4 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley, divided
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• Paprika
• Assorted veggies or crackers

Directions

Preparation:

In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the first nine ingredients. Cook and stir until cream cheese is melted and mixture is heated through. Stir in crab and 2 Tbsp. parsley; heat through.

Transfer to a serving bowl; sprinkle with almonds, paprika and remaining parsley. Serve warm with crackers. Refrigerate leftover.

Source: A friend Theresa

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Fat Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2-3 eggs
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 pt. and 1 tsp. milk
• 2 strips bacon

Directions

Fry bacon in skillet. Do not empty grease. Whip first two ingredients together. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour batter into skillet. Skillet should be large and ovenproof. Batter should be 1/2-3/4 inches deep. Bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes. Will puff up a lot. Serve with syrup.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Ambrosia Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup small marshmallows
• 1 cup Mandarin oranges
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained

Directions

Mix and let stand for a couple of hours.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Sugarless Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

• 1 cup powdered Sweet 'N Low
• 11 oz. jar creamer
• 1 box instant milk (14 qt.)
• 4 oz. Hershey's cocoa

Directions

Mix all ingredients. Use 2 tablespoons to 1 cup hot water.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Tony's Potatoes

Ingredients

• 8-10 potatoes, mashed
• 8 slices Velveeta cheese
• 1 stick margarine
• 8 oz. sour cream

Directions

Mash all together. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Mostaccioi for a Crowd

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 clove garlic
• 4 large carrots
• 1 lb. ground pork
• 2 small cans tomato puree + 5 cans water
• 1 small can sliced mushrooms
• 2 large onions
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 large can tomatoes
• 2 lb. mostaccioli noodles, cooked
• salt and pepper
• 4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Directions

Brown onions in shortening. Brown meats (separate skilets). Drain grease. Put all ingredients in large pot, except noodles. Simmer 4 hours, then add noodles. Can be made day before, except noodles. Note: May want to cut down on quantity of noodles. Serves 15.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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