ThriftyFun Recipes - September 19 2005

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Recipe Requests

Removing Seeds From Grapes

My dad just picked lots of grapes from a grape tree (with seeds) and I don't want to waste them. I want to make either jam, jelly or something else but I have no idea how I can easily remove the seeds from the grapes.

Thanks!
ELewis

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Cheap Recipes For Australians

I'm from Australia and over here we pay top dollar for everything, I am just wondering how you people over in America survive week to week especially people on welfare. I only get paid once a week and I only get say around $281.00 to pay the rent, utility bills, food etc.

I've noticed some of the staples you people use over there are WAY CHEAPER than what we pay over here. EXAMPLE: 420g of tuna in water costs us $4.20 to $5.00 depending on the store. Over in America you only pay 47 cents, unbelievable! Meat over here is $6.00 per kilogram for fatty hamburger mince ( think you Americans call it GROUND BEEF?) and $8.00 or more depending on your butcher/store per kilogram for premium mince with little fat. A 3 litre milk over here is about $3.20. Potatoes for 5 kilograms I pay $2.65 but I have to wash the dirt off them myself!). Mushrooms are $6.20 per kilogram and if you want any fancy ones such as shitaki it'll cost you more.

Of course our government brought in G.S.T or Goods and Services Tax which makes it even more harder to live week to week,sometimes I have almost nothing left over 2 days from the next payday with 2 young growing children to feed.

Bills over here are also high, it's normal to have a $220 (if your doing well) electricity bill which is billed every three months mind you and then there's the gas bill which if you are doing reasonably well is $120 which is also billed every three months. Land rates (if you own your own home in south australia in Adelaide in one of the rougher suburbs is $580 a year. Then there is an emergency levy that the council bills you every year $58. Also forget about owning a car over here, petrol is $1.30 per litre! (we are getting fleeced blind, over there in America I think you pay the same but per gallon (4 litres) not for one litre.

Then if you have a large family there are birthdays and such to account for. The list goes on and on and on. There are charity family stores where you can go to get cheap furniture and the like but now they are mostly run like a second hand store,.no cheap prices anymore. If you want a cheap veneered table your looking at paying around $80 or more for it. only if it is not so good condition. For a double bed I went to the Salvation Army and paid $120 for it (they wouldn't even budge on the price and I had my 2 children with me and I was not doing well at the time).

I need some good healthy recipes that can be made using items that can be found cheaply in Austrailia.

Katie

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Today's Recipes

Ice Cream Date Pie

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 pkg. date bar mix
1/2 cup hot water
1 pint vanilla ice cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix margarine and crumbly mix (from date bar mix) with a fork. Spread in 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes (do not overbake); remove from oven and stir to break in pieces. Reserving 1/2 cup for topping. Press remaining mixture in bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie pan. Cool.

In a mixing bowl, mix together date filling mix and hot water. Cool. Spoon ice cream into pie shell and spread date filling on ice cream. Sprinkle remaining crumbly mixture on top. Serve immediately or freeze for a later use.

By Terri

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Chicken Marinade

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. leaf basil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 1/2-3 lbs. chicken pieces

Directions

In a large measuring cup, combine all ingredients except chicken. Place chicken in a plastic bag. Pour marinade over chicken and chill for 30 minutes. Broil or grill 40 minutes or till chicken is done, basting frequently. Serves: 4

By Terri

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Peanut Butter Chicken (Taiwan Style)

Ingredients

1 - 1 1/2 lb. chicken
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup minced garlic

Directions

Cook approximately 1 or 1 1/2 lb. chicken (whole or in pieces) in a pot of boiling water till done, adding salt and pepper, bouillon and any other spice you choose. Drain. Place chicken in baking dish.

Heat 1/2 cup peanut butter, 2 tsp. pepper, 1/4 cup soy sauce and 1/4 cup minced garlic (what the recipe says) on top of stove. Stir constantly to keep peanut butter from scorching, if mixture seems too thick, add a little water. Cook until completely blended.

Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with green onions.

By Terri

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V Is for Veggie Bites

Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, melted
1 egg
2 tsp. water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cup fresh vegetables (of your choice)

Directions

Heat oven to 450 degrees F.

Brush bottom of 13x9x2 inch pan with about 1 Tbsp. of melted butter.

Beat egg and water with fork in a shallow dish. Mix flour and salt in another shallow dish.

Dip about 1/4 of vegetables into egg mixture. Remove 1 vegetable piece at a time with a slotted spoon, fork or hands. Roll in flour mixture to coat. Place in pan. Repeat with remaining vegetables. Pour remaining butter carefully over each vegetable piece and into pan.

Bake uncovered, turning once until vegetables are crisp-tender and coating is golden brown (10-12 minutes) drain sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese if desired.

Makes 2 cups of veggie bites.

By imaqt1962

Adapted From The Alpha Bakery Children's Cookbook. This is a cookbook for children with recipes from a-z published by General Mills/Betty Crocker in 1991.

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Cooking Sweet Corn

Now that sweet corn is in season, a frugal way to prepare it and save time and water is to make it in your microwave. Use a gallon size freezer bag and place the peeled and cleaned ears of corn inside. Six will fit easily. Add about a half cup of water. Seal the bag three fourths closed. Microwave on high 8-10 minutes.

It comes out perfect every time! You can wash out and reuse the bag also.

By Cindy S.

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W Is for Wonderful Waffles

Ingredients

1 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg, separated

Directions

Heat waffle iron.

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in medium bowl. Stir in milk, butter and egg yolk until blended.

Beat egg white in a small bowl on high speed until stiff peak forms. Fold in flour mixture into egg white.

Pour about 2/3 cup of batter onto center of waffle iron.

Bake until steaming stops. Carefully remove waffle from waffle iron. Makes 3 (8 inch) waffles.

By imaqt1962

Adapted From The Alpha Bakery Children's Cookbook. This is a cookbook for children with recipes from a-z published by General Mills/Betty Crocker in 1991.

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