ThriftyFun Recipes - April 28, 2008

Thank you Robin, sbb1, Mary, Claire, Pattie, Gary, Bonnie, Barbara and Linda for today's recipes!

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Saving Money on Yogurt
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Saving Money on Onions
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Submit Your Favorite Recipe!

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Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Recipe Requests:

• What's your favorite crockpot recipe?
• How long do boiled eggs last?

Today's Food Tips:

• Healthy Menu Choices by Cuisine
• Make Extra Pancakes and Freeze
• Determine the Age of an Egg
• Keeping Cutting Boards from Sliding
• Remove Surface Fats with Wax Paper

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Quick and Easy Skillet Dinner
• Two Ingredient Cake
• One Fish Fishcakes

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Cheese-Scalloped Carrots
• Marshmallow-Cream Cheese Dip for Fruit
• Mom's Oyster Stuffing
• Chicken Rotel Casserole
• Lemon Cake with Lemon Icing
• Oven Fried Potatoes

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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What's your favorite crockpot recipe?

I know there are lots of past crock pot recipes posted on here, but does anyone have some favorites they would like to sharet?

Tammy

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How long do boiled eggs last?

How long can boiled eggs be stored in the refrigerator and safely eaten?

Thanks,
Lewis

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Healthy Menu Choices by Cuisine
By Claire Bush

Don't let restaurant meals throw a curveball into your diet and exercise plan. With a little advance planning, ordering a healthy meal is do-able, whether the cuisine is Chinese, Indian, Italian or American. Here's a rundown of what to choose and what to avoid.

• Chinese: Opt for broth based soups like wonton, egg drop and hot and sour to begin the meal. Steer clear of deep fried crab rolls, order steamed rice instead of fried and choose beef, chicken or seafood stir-fries with brown sauce instead of deep fried entrees like Kung Pao chicken or beef. Ask if MSG is used in seasoning. Don't add extra soy sauce at the table; it boosts the already-high sodium content.
• Thai: Select rice or vermicelli-based soups, adding your own fresh herbs and vegetables. Avoid sticky-sweet pudding desserts, fried spring rolls and deep fried fish and vegetables. Pad Thai (veggies and beef or poultry stir-fried in a peanut sauce) is fine, in reasonable portions.
• Barbecue: Order chicken on the bone, or beef or pork ribs without extra sauce. Skip the french fries, onion rings and potato salad and try coleslaw, baked beans or plain baked potato instead. Hold the honey butter on cornbread.
• Indian: Pass on the basket of naan bread and order tikka (clay oven) baked chicken or lamb instead of rich, fat-laden curries. Vegetables in Indian restaurants tend to be deep fried and served in sauce. Opt for fluffy rice as a side instead. Try a glass of tea or lassi, a refreshing yogurt drink, alongside.
• Italian: Order pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs instead of sausage. Avoid cheese-laden lasagna, deep fried eggplant parmigiana and deep dish pizza with the works. Try "white" pizza with olive oil and veggies instead of sausage, pepperoni and extra cheese. Order antipasto to share instead of a basket of garlic bread to begin the meal, and end with spumoni instead of cannelloni.
• Deli: Choose turkey or roast beef on rye, whole wheat or pumpernickel instead of mayo-laden tuna or chicken salad on onion or challah rolls, and have fresh fruit, slaw or a cup of chicken noodle or matzo ball soup instead of blintzes or potato salad. Avoid straw sandwiches (pastrami or corned beef with Thousand Island and Swiss cheese). Deli bagels are usually two to three times the size of a single serving, so order accordingly.

Here are some healthy choices at favorite restaurants:

• Chili's: Spicy garlic and lime grilled shrimp, guiltless grilled salmon, lettuce wraps (hold the peanut sauce)
• Gordon Biersch Brewery: Asian vegetables (side dish); Angus hamburger (without bun); skip the garlic fries
• Paradise Bakery and Café: Chicken caesar salad; ask for a light toss of dressing; fresh fruit salad
• Wendy's: Plain baked potato, small chili

Editor's Note: Do you have a tip for making healthy choices at specific restaurants or in general? Post them below.

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Make Extra Pancakes and Freeze

When I make a batch of pancakes or French toast, I double the recipe. I use the second batch to cook up, then cool them. I put the pancakes/French toast separately between squares I cut from wax paper, stack them, and store them in a covered tupperware container and put in the freezer. They can then be used a few or more at one time on a busy morning by putting them into the microwave to heat. Even Blueberry or Apple pancakes frozen taste wonderful. These can also be used for a snack or a quick dinner when schedules are tight. It is much less expensive than buying the ready-made in the frozen section of your supermarket!

By Pattie from Bridgton, Maine

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Determine the Age of an Egg

You can determine the age of an egg by placing it in the bottom of a bowl of cold water. If it lays on it's side, it is fresh. If it stands at an angle, it is at least three days old; and ten days old if it stands on end.

By Gary from NJ

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Keeping Cutting Boards from Sliding

Does your cutting board slide around on your kitchen counter? If so, cut some rubber backing from the kitchen liner roll, cut smaller than the cutting board, place it under the board and walla no more sliding. Hope this helps. I cook a lot so I have 3 cutting boards which work great without sliding.

By Bonnie B. from St. Pete, FL

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Remove Surface Fats with Wax Paper

To remove surface fats from soup and other liquids, I float pieces of wax paper on top and lift out. The fats adhere to the paper. Repeat until all fat is removed. You can do this when hot but it is best done when warm or at room temperature.

By Barbara C. from Park Ridge, IL

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Quick and Easy Skillet Dinner

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
• small onion, chopped
• 1 can Ranch Style Beans
• 1 small can whole kernel corn
• 1 tomato, diced
• lettuce
• corn chips
• shredded cheese

Directions

Brown beef in skillet, add onions halfway through. (Drain if you prefer) Add beans and corn till hot. Remove from heat, toss in tomato, lettuce and corn chips. Top with cheese and serve.

By Linda from Fort Smith, AR

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Two Ingredient Cake

Mix one chocolate cake mix, any brand and one can diet Pepsi. Stir as usual, bake as usual. Very moist and light.

If using a white cake mix, use Diet 7-UP.

Source: A friend told me this is the newest rage in her town, because it's low fat. I shared the cupcakes I made with a class of 12 year olds and they all agreed it was quite wonderful. But then, they'll eat anything!

By Mary from Vavenby, BC

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One Fish Fishcakes

Your crew will never notice you only used one piece of fish.

Yields about 8-9 medium sized fish cakes.

In a food processor/chopper, place 1 piece of fish, 1 loaf of mayonnaise bread* 1 Tbsp. of minced onion, 1 Tbsp. green pepper, 2 tsp. baking powder, a dollop of mayonnaise, 2 eggs, and your choice of seasonings and mix all well. Spoon mixture to desired size into a hot skillet of cooking oil and fry till brown on both sides and drain off excess grease. Done and it costs you pennies to make!

*Mayonnaise Bread: 1 cup of milk, 1 cup flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise. Mix all and bake till golden brown.

By sbb1 from Umm al Quain, UAE

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Cheese-Scalloped Carrots

Ingredients

• 12 sliced and pared medium carrots
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. dry mustard
• 2 cups milk
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 lb. processed cheddar cheese
• 3 cups buttered soft bread crumbs

Directions

Cook carrots, covered in one inch of water, until barely tender. Gently cook onion in butter 2-3 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, mustard and milk. Cook till smooth. Add pepper. Grease baking dish. Put layer of carrots, layer of cheese slices and layer of cream sauce. Repeat until all used up. Top with buttered crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Marshmallow-Cream Cheese Dip for Fruit

Ingredients

• 1 jar marshmallow cream (8 oz.)
• 1 pkg. cream cheese (8 oz.)
• 2 Tbsp. orange juice
• 2 tsp. grated orange rind

Directions

Mix ingredients thoroughly using electric mixer. Chill. Serve with fresh fruit. Especially good with strawberries.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Mom's Oyster Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. saltines (2 strips)
• 1 stick margarine (or butter)
• 1 small container oysters
• milk
• salt and pepper

Directions

In buttered casserole, crumble 1 strip crackers. Add 1/2 oysters and juice and 1/2 butter. Add second strip crackers and remaining oysters and juice. Pour 1/2 stick melted butter over top. Salt and pepper. Add milk 'till crackers float.' Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees F.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Chicken Rotel Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 chicken, boiled, deboned
• 1 onion
• 1 can Rotel chilies and tomatoes
• 3/4 cup chiekn broth
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 large bag taco-flavored Dorito chips

Directions

Boil and remove meat from bones of chicken. Brown onion in margarine. Mash Rotel tomatoes up well. Mix first 5 ingredients. Assemble casserole:

First layer: Doritos

Second layer: chicken mixture

Third layer: cheese

Repeat; put some crushed Doritos on top before baking. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Lemon Cake with Lemon Icing

Ingredients

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice (approx.)
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 pkg. lemon cake mix

Directions

Bake a ready-mix lemon cake according to box directions in a 9x13 inch pan. Puncture warm cake with long fork tines and pour powdered sugar, lemon juice, and oil, which has been combined, over top of cake.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Oven Fried Potatoes

Ingredients

• 5 lb. red or new potatoes
• 6-8 slices bacon
• 1-2 onions

Directions

Boil 5 pounds red or new potatoes with jackets on. Cool completely before slicing. Slice in a 3 qt. slightly greased casserole. Fry 6-8 slices bacon, cut in small pieces, lightly and then cut up 1 or 2 onions and fry lightly with the bacon grease. Pour all of this mixture over the top of the sliced potatoes and sprinkle parsley over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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