ThriftyFun Recipes - April 20, 2009

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Thank you Great Granny Vi, LovingLynden, Dacular, Raymonde, Robin, Pergammano, Goatlayd and Crunchberry for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Substituting Parchment Paper for Wax Paper
• Recipes Using Frog Legs
• Storing Capsicums in Oil
• Looking for Ground Beef Recipes
• Frozen Snickers Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Today's Food Tips:

• Grate Orange Rind Before Eating
• Freeze Berries on a Baking Pan

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Butterscotch Confetti Squares
• Easy Enchilada Casserole
• Ranch Pepper Cheese Ball
• Curry in a Hurry
• Haddock and Cheese Mousse

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Pizza Rounds
• Roast Chicken
• Chocolate Caramel Bars
• Cheesy Carrot Casserole
• Stuffed Mushrooms

Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Substituting Parchment Paper for Wax Paper

Can I substitute parchment paper for wax paper in a baking recipe?

By ljhogheaven

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Recipes Using Frog Legs

I bought a case of Frog Legs in Nebraska. I would like recipes to try and cook them differently. For example, grilled, sauteed in garlic and butter, fried, etc. Please share your recipes. Thank you.

By SweetCali40 from NV

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Storing Capsicums in Oil

How do I freeze Capsicums without them going soggy after defrosting? I just bought Capsicums in bulk. I bought carrots in oil and they were crisp. Will this work for my Capsicums if I put them in oil. What is the most frugal way to keep them?

By MelanieRocky from Warners Bay, NSW

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Looking for Ground Beef Recipes

My dad loves hamburger, anything hamburger. We're getting a bit tired of hamburgers, chili, stuffed peppers, etc. Anymore suggestions?

By ivorylov from Ocala, FL

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Frozen Snickers Ice Cream Cake Recipe

I would like the recipe for Snickers Ice Cream Cake. I have found lots of ideas for Snickers, but no recipe for this. I had it at a luncheon and it was great. Thanks.

By cybergrannie from FL

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Grate Orange Rind Before Eating

Before I eat an orange, or use the juice of a lemon, I always grate the rind off, and keep frozen in a container. Then when a recipe calls for either, I always have some zest on hand. Handy to have to whip up a special salad dressing, too!

By Pergammano from Galiano, B.C.

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Freeze Berries on a Baking Pan

We are blessed to have a raspberry and blackberry patch. I love to freeze the berries, that I do not sell to our local co-op, and have them for use all winter long. I have found that the berries keep better and do not stick together in a big lump by first spraying a baking pan with cooking spray, then place the berries single layer on the pan, and freeze until firm. Then I carefully scoop them off and put in plastic freezer bags.

Source: This idea is my own and comes simply by years of trying other methods.

By Goatlady from Vermont

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Butterscotch Confetti Squares

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 8 oz. (1 bag) small colored marshmallows

Directions

Melt butter and peanut butter in large saucepan. Stir in chips until melted. Cool mixture until you can hold your hand on the bottom of pot. Add marshmallows and stir until coated.

Pack into greased 9 X 9 pan. Refrigerate. Cut into squares.

Variations: Add 1 cup walnuts and/or 1/2 cup coconut. You can use chocolate chips instead of butterscotch chips.

They freeze well.

Source: A friend Julie

By Raymonde G. from North Bay, Ontario

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Easy Enchilada Casserole

Easy and Mild and good left over the next day.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 4 oz. can diced green chilies
• 1 can (14-16 oz) beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup black olives cut in halves
• 1 large can red sauce (not enchilada sauce )
• 1 can tomato sauce (two if you want it milder )
• shredded cheddar cheese
• corn tortillas
• butter for warming
• corn chips, optional

Directions:

Brown, crumble and drain the ground beef and set aside.

Put the red sauce and tomato sauce in a pot and heat. Stir to mix.

Put a little butter in a skillet and warm several corn tortillas, both sides.

Drip each tortilla in the warm sauce and layer in a casserole dish, then meat, onions, beans (I use bean and bacon soup, no water added or kidney beans) cheese, olives, chilies, another layer of sauce dipped tortillas. Layer meat, cheese, etc, ending with top layer of tortillas, spread some warm sauce on top then, add cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30-40 minutes or until heated and cheese is melted.

Optional: crush corn chips and sprinkle on each serving.

Source: My own trial and error

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

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Ranch Pepper Cheese Ball

For me to make something often, it must be really good and really easy. This recipe is both and gets rave reviews every time.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix
• freshly ground mixed peppercorns
• wheat thins or similar crackers

Directions:

Soften cream cheese in microwave (30-60 seconds.) Stir in dry ranch dressing mix. Using plastic wrap, form into ball or other shape. If very soft, refrigerate until easier to mold. Coat with freshly ground peppercorns and chill until firm. Regular black pepper can be substituted for the fresh ground peppercorns.

Serve with crackers.

As time passes, the cheese absorbs more of the pepper flavor and becomes hotter.

By Dacula from Dacula, GA

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Curry in a Hurry

Uses ingredients easily on hand and the end result doesn't taste like tuna!

Ingredients:

• 1 can tuna
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1-3 tsp. curry to taste
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/3 cup milk

Directions:

Drain the tuna. Stir fry the celery, onion and mushrooms until tender. Blend in the curry, soup and milk, then add the drained tuna. Heat thoroughly. Serve over rice.

By LovingLynden from Lynden, WA

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Haddock and Cheese Mousse

This is quick to prepare and tastes delicious. It is ideal for quick snacks and picnics.

Ingredients

• 8 oz. fresh haddock fillet
• 3 oz. cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• finely grated rind of 1/2 lemon
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Lemon slices
• Parsley sprigs

Directions

Poach haddock fillet for 8-10 minutes. Drain, remove skin and flake fish. Beat cream cheese with lemon juice and rind. Season with freshly ground black pepper and add flaked fish. Beat well together and spoon into a serving dish. Garnish with lemon twists and parsley sprigs.

Serve with toast or crackers.

By Raymonde G. from North Bay, Ontario

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Pizza Rounds

Great appetizer or snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 lb. sausage
• 1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• 2 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 loaf party rye bread

Directions:

Preheat broiler. Brown ground beef and sausage in skillet, stirring frequently; drain. Add cheese and seasonings. Cook over low heat until cheese melts, stirring constantly. Spread on party rye. Place on baking sheet. Broil until brown.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Roast Chicken

Yummy main dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 fryers (3lb. size)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 5 Tbsp. melted butter
• 6 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into wedges
• 2 medium onions, peeled, cut into wedges
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Rub chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic. Place breast-side up in large roasting pan. Brush with 3 Tbsp. butter. Coat potatoes with remaining 2 T. butter. Arrange with onions over chicken. Roast for 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F. Roast for 45-50 minutes or until tender. Pour lemon juice over chicken. Remove chicken, potatoes and onion to warm serving platter. Slice chicken. Serve with gravy.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Chocolate Caramel Bars

Love this because I love chocolate and caramel. They are my favorite and this makes a great combo!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 pkg. (2 layer) German chocolate cake mix
• 3/4 cup melted margarine
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 pkg. caramels (14oz.)
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix first 3 ingredients in bowl. Press half mixture into greased and floured 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Melt caramels in 1/3 cup evaporated milk in saucepan. Pour over chips. Crumble remaining cake mixture on top. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool before cutting.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Cheesy Carrot Casserole

Yummy!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. carrots, peeled, sliced
• 1 cup shredded Velveeta cheese
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 1/2 cups buttered croutons

Directions:

Cook carrots in a small amount of water until tender; drain. Place in 2 qt. casserole. Cover with cheese and butter. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Stir in croutons. Bake for 10 minutes more.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 1 lb. mushrooms
• 1 lb. pork sausage
• 1/2 pkg.onion soup mix
• 2 Tbsp. salad oil
• 2 Tbsp. parsley flakes
• 1/2 tsp. sage

Directions

Wash mushrooms. Break stems. Chop stems. Mix well with other ingredients. Stuff caps, place in cake pan, cover bottom of pan with water, just enough so it won't stick. Cover top with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an extra 20 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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