ThriftyFun Recipes - September 25, 2009

Vol. 8, Num. 188, September 25, 2009 (Read It Online) I hope everyone has a nice weekend planned. We are still looking for quick weeknight meals for our recipe contest as well as your best money and time saving tips. Thanks to Chiarelli, Bobbie g, kas2, Dorothy, Clynn A., Sandy P. and Deeli for today's tips and recipes. Be sure to give a "Thumbs up" for your favorites, they could win $25.00! Submit Your Favorite Recipe! Submit a Food tip! Looking for a recipe? Submit a request Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team Send to a Friend! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Food Tips: Buy Sale Potatoes, Mash, and Freeze Use Dry Milk For Cooking Use Parchment Paper For Easy Cooking Today's Contest Recipes: Green Beans Curry Pickled Eggs Eggplant Tomato Bake Almond Chocolate Cookies Citrus Flavored Sugar Robins's Recipe Corner: Zucchini Casserole Orange Salad Salmon Loaf Peanut Clusters Boiled Cookies Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners, 2 photo winners (1 photo and 1 pet photo) and 1 recipe winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Food Tips: Buy Sale Potatoes, Mash, and Freeze I buy potatoes when they are on sale. Then I boil them, mash them, and seal them in serving size containers and put them in the freezer. It's so nice to be able to just take out as much as I need and microwave it. Beats eating instant mashed potatoes! By Chiarelli Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21082503.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Dry Milk For Cooking For the past several months, I have been buying organic milk, which is more expensive then non organic milk. Since I use milk in many of my recipes, gravy, baking and sauces, I now buy the least expensive dry milk available and keep it on hand for everything else. There is no difference in texture or taste when used in baking, sauces and gravy. I keep the more expensive store-bought milk for drinking and to use on cereals only. The dry milk is good to have on hand. I find the container with the pour spout is less expensive then the packets and easier to measure exactly what I need. By Bobbie g from Rockwall, TX Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95314713.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Use Parchment Paper For Easy Cooking Parchment paper works really well with cooking just about anything, and it doesn't dirty your pots and pans! Take a chunk of parchment paper of the size of the food you want to cook (vegetables, meat, fruit desserts, fish, one in a bag meal, pretty much anything) and take the piece of parchment and crush it and crush it until it's more flexible. Put the food into the middle, and tie the top of it, with leaving some air space in it. I've used string to tie the tops, long enough to keep it where I can get to it. Then put the parchment bags into a pot of boiling water, cover, and turn down to simmer. Keep it cooking for as long as needed to cook the various things, usually what it takes most cooking times, some a little longer. Vegetables are great with nothing but a little pat of butter to cook them inside the parchment. With using meat, I do throw those away, because I'm concerned about using meat with this again, but, the other ones wash very well, and can be used many times over and over, if it looks like it's starting to rip, then toss it. You have a very nice clean pot that you don't have to wash! Source: I figured them out myself, just looking for creative ideas. By kas2 from Grand Rapids, MI Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29593750.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Today's Contest Recipes: Green Beans Curry A curry you can eat with rice. Healthy meal Ingredients: 1 kg (2.2 lb.) green beans, sliced or broken 1 medium tomato chopped 1 medium onion sliced 1/4 tsp. salt 2 tbs sunflower oil 1/2 tsp. mustard and jeera (Cumin) seeds 4 red chillies 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder 2 Tbsp. roasted and shelled peanuts Directions: Heat a shallow pan and add oil. When heated, fry the onion then add the mustard seeds and jeera. Add the the dry chillies and turmeric powder and the tomato, let it cook a little. Add the beans and salt and a little water to cook. When it's done add the peanuts. Garnish with coriander leaves. Remove from stove and serve hot with rice or roti. Servings: 6 Time: 20 Minutes Preparation Time 15-20 Minutes Cooking Time Source: We cook at home By Dorothy from SA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97387437.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Pickled Eggs This is a recipe I grew up with, and my son grew up with, and my granddaughter grew up with. This is requested as the dish I should bring every time there is a family get-together. Ingredients: 1 dozen eggs 1 large can sliced beets 1/2 cup more or less sugar 1/2 cup more or less apple cider vinegar Directions: Boil the eggs as usual, cool, and remove shells. Place the peeled eggs in a large jar. Put beets and juice in a saucepan and add vinegar and sugar to taste. It should be a sweet sour taste. Bring to a boil. Remove the beets and place them in a bowl or jar to be eaten hot or cold as sweet-sour beets. Pour liquid into the jar so it covers the eggs. Let them set at least until the eggs turn color. I put mine in the refrigerator overnight. My family likes them so well that we eat them any time. My mother made them for holidays or family get-togethers. Servings: 12 Time: 10-15 Minutes Preparation Time 15 Minutes Cooking Time Source: One of my mother's recipes which I believe came from her mother. By Clynn A. from Inglis, FL Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33572776.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Eggplant Tomato Bake This recipe is so easy and with all the fresh eggplant and tomatoes from the garden is very low cost. Even my 24-year old son loves it even if it is a meatless dish. Sometimes instead of the ricotta cheese and Parmesan, I will use finely shredded Italian cheese. Ingredients: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning 1 egg 1 Tbsp. water 1 small eggplant, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds 1-2 Tbsp. peanut oil 1 (14 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce 1 cup ricotta cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Roma tomatoes slices to cover eggplant 1 (8 oz.) package angel hair pasta Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a plastic bag, combine the flour, bread crumbs and Italian seasoning. Shake to mix. In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and water. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. There should be enough oil to thinly coat the bottom of the skillet. Dip the eggplant slices in egg, then place in the bag and shake to coat. Fry the slices in the skillet until golden brown on each side. Remove, and drain on paper towels. Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9 inch square baking dish. Cover with the eggplant slices, then top with more sauce. Mix together the ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese; spread over the eggplant. Spread sauce over the cheese, and top with tomato slices. Cover with more sauce, and spread remaining cheese over the top. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook for about 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain. Serve the eggplant tomato bake over pasta. Servings: 4 Time: 20 Minutes Preparation Time 30 Minutes Cooking Time Source: All Recipes.com By Sandy P. from Sioux Falls, SD Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72021795.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Almond Chocolate Cookies Cookies with melted chocolate. Good as a teatime treat Ingredients: 500 ml cake flour 100 g almonds blanch and peel 15 ml water 200 g butter 50 ml castor* sugar 100 g slab dark chocolate castor sugar for coating *Castor sugar is more commonly referred to as superfine or 10X sugar in the U.S. Directions: Cream the butter and sugar and add water, mix until smooth and creamy. Add flour and mix well and form into a soft dough. Cut the chocolate into pieces. Divide the dough into small balls, just to cover the almond and chocolate. After putting the almond and chocolate in the centre, roll into a ball and flatten slightly. Grease a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle castor sugar while hot. Thanks Source: Passed on from friends By Dorothy from SA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31736458.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Citrus Flavored Sugar Store the flavored sugar in an airtight container. If you refrigerate it will last for several months. The sky is the limit on how you would like to use the completed mixtures :-) Ingredients: Lemon/Lime 3 lemons or limes 2 cups sugar Orange: 1 1/4 cup grated orange peel 1 cup sugar Directions: Grate all of the zest from the fruit. Add 1 cup of the sugar and all the zest in a food processor and pulse until the zest has been finely ground. Add the rest of the sugar (except for Orange) and toss well. Spread the flavored sugar in a large pan or on a baking sheet and let sit until dry, about an hour. By Deeli from Richland, WA Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39777311.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Robin's Recipe Corner: Zucchini Casserole Ingredients 4 cups zucchini, peeled and cubed 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup evaporated milk 2 eggs 32 saltine crackers 1/2 tsp. ground sage 1/2 cup onion, diced 1 can mushrooms, diced and drained pepper (to taste) Directions Cook the zucchini and mash it after it is cooked. Mix the soup, evaporated milk, eggs, crackers, sage, onion, mushrooms and pepper together. Add the zucchini and bake, in a 2 qt. round casserole dish, at 350 degrees F for 1-1/2 hours. (You may substitute evaporated milk for 1/2 cup of regular milk and 2 T. of margarine, if desired.) By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf724660.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Orange Salad Ingredients: 2 pkgs. orange gelatin (3 oz. size) 1 small can frozen orange juice concentrate 2 cup boiling water 1 can mandarin oranges 3/4 cup grated carrot Directions: Dissolve gelatin in hot water. Add orange juice concentrate. Drain oranges and add 1/2 cup juice to gelatin mixture. When partly jelled, stir in drained oranges and carrot. Refrigerate. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf429847.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Salmon Loaf Ingredients: 2 cups canned salmon 2 cups soft bread crumbs 1 cup milk 2 eggs, beaten 2 lb. minced green or red peppers 1/2 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. butter Directions: Flake the fish. Combine all ingredients, including liquid from salmon. Shape in a loaf and bake in greased baking pan at 350 degrees F. for 40 minutes. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35899169.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Peanut Clusters Ingredients 6 oz. chocolate chips 6 oz. butterscotch chips 1 1/4 cups salted peanuts Directions Melt candies in double boiler. Add in peanuts. Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper; cool. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46795426.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Boiled Cookies Ingredients 2 cups white sugar 1/3 cup cocoa 1 stick margarine 1/2 cup milk 3 cups oats 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla Directions Mix sugar, cocoa, margarine and milk; bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Mix well. Drop by teaspoonful on wax paper and cool. Makes about 4 dozen. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf634263.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Today's Sponsor: Crafting for Fun and Money! If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml More Stuff: Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users.