ThriftyFun Recipes - December 11, 2007

Thank you Deb, Connie, Robin, LRP, Momof1, Holly and Mary for today's recipes!

Submit Your Favorite Recipe!

Need a recipe? Submit a request

Thanks for reading,

Susan

• 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.

Recipe Requests:

• Recipe For Cherry Mash Candy
• Low Sugar Freezer Jam or Jelly
• Butter Cookies Not Spreading Out

Today's Recipes:

• Parmesan Cheese Pork Chops
• Wassail
• Pina Colada Salad
• Spanish Fruit Cake
• Lou's Meatloaf
• Traditional Christmas Celery and Almonds
• Combine Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie Recipes
• Craft: No Bake Gingerbread House
• Quick No-Mess Oatmeal
• Mrs. McMahon's Pralines

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

Recipe For Cherry Mash Candy

I would like a recipe for cherry mash candy using the canned cherry frosting.

jkv from Missouri

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55284743.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Low Sugar Freezer Jam or Jelly

I am hoping to find a recipe for freezer jam or jelly that doesn't contain lots of sugar. I do not want to use artificial sweeteners, either. Does anyone know of such a thing? Some sugar is fine, but I would like to use as little as possible, and again, no artificial sweeteners. I want to make something similar to the 'all fruit' spreads that do not have sugar listed in the ingredients. Is there such a thing as freezer preserves? Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Allison from Northeast TN

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37801722.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Butter Cookies Not Spreading Out

I've made butter cookies for years but in the last few years sometimes they don't bake right. I use an oven thermometer and test my baking powder/soda. They seem to retract instead of spread out. On the same cookie sheet I'll have some that are fine. Any suggestions? I thought maybe the flour is old?

Bester from Albany, NY

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88731370.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

• Tip Contest
  Submit a Tip or Recipe!

• Photo Contest
  Submit a tip with photo!

The above contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!

• My Frugal Life
  Submit a My Frugal Life Essay!

Parmesan Cheese Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Italian style bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 pork boneless butterfly loin chops, 1/2 inch thick (1 1/4 lb)
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice pork chops into strips. Mix bread crumbs and cheese. Dip pork in egg, then coat with crumb mixture. Place onto cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Have your favorite dip or dressing available, for dipping chops into

By LRP from LWL, MA.

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22180695.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Wassail

Ingredients

• 1/2 gal. apple cider
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 sticks cinnamon
• 5-6 cloves
• dash salt
• 1 orange sliced

Directions

Heat slowly; let steep for about 2 hours. DO NOT BOIL! This can be refrigerated and reheated.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf35489597.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Pina Colada Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups COLD milk
• 1 can frozen pina colada mix
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1 small package instant vanilla pudding
• 1 small package of instant coconut cream pudding
• 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups shredded coconut
• 8 oz. whipped topping

Directions

Combine milk, pina colada mix, and pineapple juice. Add puddings and beat for 5 minutes. Fold in pineapple, coconut and whipped topping. Chill for several hours.

Can garnish each serving with pineapple chunks and/or maraschino cherries

By Connie from Cotter, AR

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87279719.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Spanish Fruit Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cup sifted flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 3/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp. ginger
• 1 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup cooked or moist packed prunes, drained, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

• 2 packages. cream cheese (3oz. each)
• 1 tsp. grated lemon or orange rind
• 4 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1-2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Directions

Cream butter and sugar until light. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Stir in prunes, nuts and raisins. Turn into buttered bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool thoroughly. Spread on frosting.

For Frosting: Beat cream cheese with rind, lemon juice, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Add enough sugar to make right consistency to spread. Note: Canned apples or figs can be substituted for prunes in the cake.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67736479.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Lou's Meatloaf

This is another one of my late father's recipes. It's a different twist on meatloaf, as it's not the traditional tomato based one. The soup makes it really moist and flavorful.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 package onion soup mix
• 1 onion - chopped
• 12-16 crackers - crushed
• 1 egg
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 can cream of celery soup

Directions

Combine ground beef, soup mix, onion, crackers, egg, pepper, and half the can of celery soup together. Shape into a meatloaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes. Drain fat, then put the remaining 1/2 can of celery soup on the top, smoothing it around like frosting, to cover the entire top. Put back in oven and bake for another 15-30 minutes. The soup on the top should be a golden color, but be careful not to burn it.

By Deb from Mankato, MN

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf38311093.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Traditional Christmas Celery and Almonds

Ingredients

• 8 cups celery, scraped
• chicken broth
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 cup toasted, whole blanched almonds
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp. butter

Directions

Cut celery diagonally in 1 inch slices. Cook in boiling chicken broth to cover 5 minutes. Drain. Melt butter in saucepan; add flour and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and add chicken broth and cream, stirring constantly until thick. In 2 qt. baking dish, place mixed celery and almonds; pour sauce over mixture; sprinkle with bread crumbs and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes until sauce bubbles and topping browns. This is an excellent accompaniment for turkey and dressing.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14967756.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Combine Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie Recipes

If you somewhat like Gingerbread Cookies, but the taste is a little to sharp with spices, try making your favorite Sugar Cookie recipe and Gingerbread recipe and combine the two recipes. I tried this and the flavor is really good. I liked gingerbread cookies, but now I really enjoy them. The combining of the two recipes makes all the difference.

Source: I guess I invented this recipe, because the original recipe for "Gingerbread" is just a little too sharp in flavor, and "Sugar Cookies" needed a little umph added to them

By Mary from Atascadero, CA

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23323172.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Craft: No Bake Gingerbread House

Using an empty milk or juice carton, graham crackers and royal icing, create an adorable gingerbread house with your kids. This is so easy and so much fun. Making these has become a tradition at my house.

Approximate Time 1 to 1 1/2 hours

Supplies:

• Empty half gallon juice or milk carton
• scissors
• tape
• square piece of cardboard
• 3 egg whites at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 lb. box of powdered sugar
• assorted candies and cookies
• powdered sugar and sifter for snow

Instructions:

Wash and dry a half gallon size juice or milk carton. Open up the top all the way. Cut the entire top off the carton along the creases. Using scissors, cut a slit approximately 3 inches down each corner of the carton. Press two sides to the center and tape them together to form the roof. Cut along the roofline on the opposite sides to trim off the excess, then secure with tape.

Make Royal Icing by beating together 3 egg whites until foamy. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar. Add one whole box of powdered sugar and beat until stiff. Place icing in a pastry bag or a plastic baggie with the end cut off. Use the icing to "glue" the carton to a square of cardboard for the base. Glue graham crackers to the prepared carton. Continue placing crackers on all sides. Place a thick "bead" of icing where the roof tops meet.

Decorate house by pushing small candies, pretzels, cookies, etc. into wet icing. Spread icing all around the "yard" of the house and use gum drops for bushes, pretzels for fences and anything else you can think of. Just be creative and have fun. When finished, use a sifter to dust the entire house and yard with powered sugar to resemble snow. Let the houses dry until icing is hard. Enjoy!

By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23734145.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Quick No-Mess Oatmeal

Hot oatmeal - No pot - No microwave - Just boiling water, a bowl and a plate. And a spoon, of course! Been making it this way for years!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup QUICK oats (oatmeal)
• 1 cup water, boiling

Directions:

Mix both in a bowl, cover with a plate, come back in 5 minutes. Stir, add a little milk or sweetener if desired. Ready to eat.

Source: I figured it out years ago.

By Holly from Richardson, TX

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31975466.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

Mrs. McMahon's Pralines

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 4-6 Tbsp. margarine
• 3 cups chopped pecans
• pinch salt

Directions

Put all ingredients together in large saucepan. Bring to a boil stirring occasionally until a soft ball is formed in cold water or 238 degrees F on candy thermometer. Remove pan from heat and beat by hand for 1-2 minutes, then place pan in sink of cold water and continue stirring until creamy. If candy begins to thicken and seems to get sugary, add a few drops of milk and whip until smooth again. Drop from spoon onto waxed paper and let harden.

By Robin from Washington, IA

Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65332970.tip.html

Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print

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

Coupon Swap!
Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users.