ThriftyFun Recipes - October 13, 2009

Vol. 8, Num. 200, October 13, 2009 (Read It Online) We have some great seasonal recipes and helpful tips for today's newsletter, thanks to Heidi, Bobbie G, Stephanie, Raymonde, melody_yesterday, mlina and Deeli. Please keep submitting your own family favorites or kitchen tricks. 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: Recipe Requests: Ideas for a Vegetarian Cooking for Meat Eaters Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Dark Fruit Cake Recipe Freezing Fish Cakes Today's Food Tips: Crack Egg In Cup Before Measuring Shortening Healthy Unsweetened Cocoa Powder Today's Contest Recipes: Black Raspberry Glazed Chicken Breasts with Wild Rice and Almond Stuffing Apple Zucchini Slaw Ojibwa Baked Pumpkin Frugal and Easy Sausage Rolls Garlic Chicken Lettuce Wraps Robins's Recipe Corner: Macaroni Salad Hamburger Noodle Casserole Chocolate Waffles Ham Loaf Banana Pudding Cake 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 Recipe Requests: Ideas for a Vegetarian Cooking for Meat Eaters I have been living for about 25 years as a vegetarian, while everyone else in my house wants MEAT! They believe with their whole mind and heart that if they do not get meat, and lot's of meat for meals, then they have not been fed. I am looking for ideas from others that might be in the same situation. I know I have adapted in different ways, but there still must be other ways of living with this better. One thing I do is to cook the meat separately and then let people add it to their meals (ie. spaghetti). The smell of cooking poultry makes me nauseous it has to be cooked outside. I usually bring something with me that contains protein to eat when I am out. Something that has a mixture of grains, legumes, and nuts. I also keep one granola bar in my purse or car. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes so I now have to consider that when meal planning. Does anyone have additional advice to help please everyone during mealtimes. Thanks. By Kas2 from Rockford, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64285882.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup I am looking for an easy, but tasty home made soup recipe. I'm roasting a chicken and would like to use the leftovers for soup. I also have a ton of carrots and celery from my garden, a big bag of egg noodles, and a few cans of chicken broth that are about to expire. I'd like to make a big batch that I can freeze in Ziploc bags for later use. Thanks for your time. By Sue from Golden Valley, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82504774.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Dark Fruit Cake Recipe I am looking for a recipe for a dark rich fruit cake, one that is nice and moist. I want it for a Christmas cake. By Shirley from Galiano, B.C. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44419121.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Freezing Fish Cakes Can I freeze fish cakes after using frozen fish to make them and using raw eggs? Or do they have to be cooked first? By Hotpot from Cornwall Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98999752.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | 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: Crack Egg In Cup Before Measuring Shortening Tired of trying to clean the margarine or shortening out of the measuring cup after you use it? I am! But I discovered a trick today. If your recipe calls for an egg(s), crack the egg into the measuring cup your going to use for measuring the margarine or shortening. Pour the egg into your mixing bowl, now using the same measuring cup that the egg was in, measure out the margarine or shortening. You will be surprised at how easily the margarine or shortening comes out leaving behind no greasy gobs of shortening or margarine. By Heidi from Brazil Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74970730.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Healthy Unsweetened Cocoa Powder I am trying to cut down on artificial sweeteners and like chocolate every day. I found that pure unsweetened cocoa is only 12 calories per tablespoon, and is one of the healthiest foods in the world. It contains antioxidants and 2 grams of fiber too! I try to stay away from added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or nutritionally void foods in general. That stuff doesn't need to be in my body, so I take a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder (unsweetened, of course) and some stevia and add it to other foods; such as oatmeal, unsweetened almond breeze, whipped cottage cheese or whipped Mori Nu Lite tofu. Oatmeal - gooey rich chocolaty indulgence, top with fresh fruit and yogurt yum! Almond Breeze - chocolate "milk" or hot chocolate if heated Whipped cottage cheese/mori nu tofu - makes a good chocolate mouse Again, try just adding a tablespoon or two of the unsweetened cocoa to these items and a little sweetener, stevia or Agave nectar are my favorites. Source: Me trying to find better ways to allow chocolate treats in my daily diet. 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/tf66008767.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Today's Contest Recipes: Black Raspberry Glazed Chicken Breasts with Wild Rice and Almond Stuffing This is a wonderful simple yet fancy recipe that is perfect for entertaining. I made it for a Valentine's dinner for my boyfriend back in High School and it's now my husband's favorite. Ingredients: 2 pkgs. Uncle Ben's Herb Seasoned Wild and Long Grain Rice. 4 1/2 cups Chicken broth 1 cup slivered almonds 8 chicken breasts 6 Tbsp. flour 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 cup melted butter 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup seedless black raspberry jam 2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate (undiluted) 1 tsp. finely grated orange peel Directions: Cook Uncle Ben's Wild Rice mix according to package directions, substituting chicken broth for the water. It will take about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread slivered almonds on cookie sheet and place in oven to toast. Place about a cup of rice in a bowl and mix with about 2 tablespoons of the slivered almonds. Put the rest of the wild rice mix aside. Place flour, paprika, garlic powder, and salt in a gallon size ziplock bag. Place chicken breasts in bag, 2 at a time, shake, then pound flat (I use a rolling pin). Place about 2 tablespoons of stuffing in the center of each chicken breast and roll up. Secure with a toothpick. Place in 9/13 inch baking pan and top with melted butter. Cook for 40 minutes. Mix jam, honey, orange juice concentrate, and orange peel in saucepan and heat until blended to make glaze. Baste chicken with glaze and continue baking and glazing until chicken is tender and highly glazed about 30 minutes - basting about every 10 minutes. Reheat the extra wild rice, mix with the rest of the toasted almonds and serve on the side with a vegetable Substitutions: I often substitute unstrained homemade blackberry jam for the seedless black raspberry jam and use Johnny's Seasoning rather than paprika, salt, and garlic powder. I often measure the honey and jam for the glaze in a glass measuring cup (using the side measures) then heat in microwave to save on dishes. You can leave out the orange peel if you don't have an orange handy. Servings: 8 Time: 40 Minutes Preparation Time 70 Minutes Cooking Time Source: My mother's Renny Darling "Entertaining! Fast and Fancy" cookbook By Stephanie from Hillsboro, OR Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf79734666.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Apple Zucchini Slaw For zucchini lovers; this is awesome and very, easy to make. Ingredients: Dressing: 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt 1/2 to 1 tsp. grated orange peel Salad: 2 small zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups) 1 1/2 cups chopped apples 1/4 cup raisins 2 Tbsp. unsalted sunflower seeds Directions: In small bowl, combine dressing ingredients; blend well. In large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Pour dressing over salad; stir gently to coat. Source: Judy By Raymonde G. from North Bay, Ontario, Canada Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75537824.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Ojibwa Baked Pumpkin Simple, few ingredients, sweet, and different! Pumpkins are in season, so it's perfect! Ingredients: 1 small pumpkin 1/4 cup apple cider 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup melted butter Directions: Place whole pumpkin in oven and bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Cut hole off top and scoop out the pulp and seeds. Set seeds aside for later eating. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour into pumpkin and bake for 35 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve. Source: http://www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/NAIFood/NAIrecipes3.htm By melody_yesterday Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36747151.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Frugal and Easy Sausage Rolls Easy and cheap to make, tastes good, gets compliments. Ingredients: Breakfast sausages, either pork, beef or mix of both Bread slices, either brown or white Prepared mustard or Dijon mustard (to your preference) Canola oil for frying Butter or margarine for basting Directions: Pan fry breakfast sausages and when done, remove from the pan and put aside on a plate. Remove crust from bread slices. You'll need as many slices as you have sausages. Using a cutting board and rolling pin, flatten out each crustless bread slice. Using a butter knife, spread mustard over each slice just as you would if you were to butter the bread. Roll a sausage into each flattened slice of bread and secure with a toothpick. Baste each sausage roll with butter or margarine. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees F. for a minute or so until top is golden brown, then turn the roll to brown the other side. Serve warm or at room temperature. Source: Home creation By mlina from Amherstburg, ON Contest Contender! This post is a contest contender! Read it and then Rate it: Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53248736.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Garlic Chicken Lettuce Wraps This sounds like a complicated recipe but it's really easy and it's just a matter of already having the ingredients ready and well worth the effort. The chicken refrigerates well if there are leftovers ;-) Ingredients: 3 Tbsp. soy sauce, plus 1 Tbsp. 4 tsp. cornstarch, plus 1 tsp. 3 tsp. minced garlic, plus 1 tsp. 3/4 tsp. sugar 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut in to bite size pieces 1/3 cup water 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus 1 Tbsp. 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup chopped almonds, if desired 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated Directions: Combine 3 Tbsp. of the soy sauce, 4 tsp.of the cornstarch, 3 teaspoons of the garlic and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in the chicken and let stand 15 minutes. Combine remaining cornstarch and soy sauce with water in a small bowl. After the 15 minutes, heat 1 Tbsp. of the oil in the wok or large skillet. Add chicken and stir-fry about 4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. Heat the remaining oil in same wok or skillet. Add remaining garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add green onions and stir-fry 1 minute longer. Add cornstarch/soy sauce mixture and the chicken. Cook while stirring until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the almonds. Fill each lettuce leaf with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture. Wrap lettuce around the mixture. Eat sandwich style ;-) 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/tf54146686.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Robin's Recipe Corner: Macaroni Salad Ingredients 2 cups cooked macaroni 2 med. tomatoes, diced 1 onion, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1 cucumber, sliced 1 cup sliced radishes 1 green pepper, diced 2 hard-boiled eggs 1 cup Miracle Whip 2 Tbsp. ketchup 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. prepared mustard Directions Cook 1 cup macaroni in salt water (makes 2 cups cooked). Drain. Add vegetables. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Combine 1 cup Miracle Whip, ketchup, sugar and mustard and pour over macaroni and vegetables. Mix well. Refrigerate. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78267949.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Hamburger Noodle Casserole Ingredients 1 1/2 lb. hamburger 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped salt and pepper, to taste 12 oz. egg noodles, cooked and drained 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1/4 cup milk 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 tsp. Lawry's seasoning 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 2 cans mushrooms, drained 4 slices bread 1/4 cup butter, melted Directions In a large skillet, brown the hamburger, onion and salt and pepper together and drain. Cook the noodles according to the package directions and drain. Add the soup, milk, cheese, Lawry's seasoning, garlic powder and mushrooms together and mix it in with the noodles. Stir the noodle mixture and hamburger together and pour it into a 9x13 inch pan. Melt the butter and tear the slices of bread into small pieces. Pour the melted butter over the bread and mix to coat all of the bread pieces. Put the bread mix on top of the casserole and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf140962.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Chocolate Waffles Ingredients 1 cup flour 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup cocoa 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. soda 1/4 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 tsp. vanilla Directions Combine first 6 ingredients in bowl. Add eggs and buttermilk, mixing until just blended. Add butter gradually, beating constantly. Stir in vanilla. Bake in waffle iron using appliance directions. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf458401.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Ham Loaf Ingredients 1 lb. ground beef 1 lb. ground ham 1/2 cup bread crumbs (or more) 1 Tbsp. chopped green pepper 1/2 cup milk 3 Tbsp. horseradish 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard 2 eggs 3/4 cup ketchup Glaze: 1 cup brown sugar 2 Tbsp. vinegar 1/4 cup pineapple juice 1 tsp. prepared mustard Directions Form all meat loaf ingredients into loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Pour glaze over loaf and bake 1 hour longer, basting. Makes 10 servings. By Robin from Washington, Ia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf991504.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Print | Rate It: | Banana Pudding Cake Ingredients 1 or 2 small ripe bananas 1 (2 layer) pkg. yellow cake mix 1 pkg. banana cream or vanilla instant pudding (4 serving size) 4 eggs 1 cup water 1/4 cup oil 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (opt.) Directions Slice bananas into large mixer bowl; beat until well mashed. Add remaining ingredients. Blend, then beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into well greased and floured 10 inch tube pan or Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 to 70 minutes. Cool in pan at least 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar "lightly." Note: Cake can be baked in 9x13 inch pan for 50-55 minutes. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70157212.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.