ThriftyFun Recipes - February 23, 2009

Thank you Robin, Becca25, Raymonde, Kathleen, Pattie, Becca and Laura for today's tips and recipes!

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Recipe Requests:

• Codes on Food Packaging
• Crock Pot Fish Stew
• My Husband Doesn't Like Vegetables
• Recipes Using Leftover Oatmeal
• Wheat Bread Recipe

Today's Food Tips:

• Make Your Own Pasta Sauce
• Using Bell Pepper
• Saving Money on Steak

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
• Texas Hot Chili
• Sausage and Greens Quiche
• Chocolate Pecan Critters
• Onion Bulgar Salad

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Dill Cabbage
• Hamburger-Cheese Bake
• Country Cornbread
• Cobbler Pie
• Old Fashioned Apple Butter

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.

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Codes on Food Packaging

How do I make sense of the codes on cans and food products? I'm fine if the product says "Use by..." or "Sell by..." but some of these products just have a string of numbers and letters on them. Please help.

Sandra from PA

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Crock Pot Fish Stew

I have lots of different fish fillets in my freezer. Anyone have a crock pot recipe for making a stew or soup? I've been steaming the fish in the microwave, but would like a soup/stew. I'm on a low-carb diet. Thanks so much in advance.

Joandogs from Norwell

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My Husband Doesn't Like Vegetables

What is a good and cost effective way to cook vegetables for my husband? He doesn't like vegetables and of course I love them, but I would like to be able to cook for two without wasting the vegetables. I know this is a lot to ask but if anyone has been through this I would like to know how you learned to handle it.

Terri

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Recipes Using Leftover Oatmeal

I was wondering if anyone has a any recipes using leftover oatmeal?

Cristy from Greensboro, NC

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Wheat Bread Recipe

Does anyone have a recipe for whole wheat bread that uses yeast in the recipe. Loaf bread or roll recipes would be great! Thanks and God Bless You!

Debra from Hampton, TN

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Make Your Own Pasta Sauce

Never buy prepared pasta sauce! They are expensive, very loaded with unhealthy items, and very bland. You always have to add extras to make it taste like "your own". So why pay $3-5 for a jar of tomato product? You can buy tomato paste/sauce/dices etc for less than $1 and throw in mushrooms and spices, all for around $2-3 total without all the additives. If you want alfredo, why pay the same $3-5 for gross tasting "alfredo"? You can buy a bag of shredded Italian cheese (mix cheese or fresh parmesan or asiago) and melt it in a pint of heavy cream. Again, it will run about $3 but VERY tasty.

I hate jarred pasta sauce!

By Becca from NY

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Using Bell Pepper

Also Known As:

Capsicum, Sweet pepper

Description:

Bell peppers come in a variety of colors, including, green, red, yellow, and orange. Also, yet rarely, they can be found purple, white and brown. Bell peppers are technically a fruit but usually referred to a vegetable, in the culinary sense. Originally from Mexico, Central and South America. Later brought to Spain and from there spread to the rest of Europe and into Asia. The bell pepper is mild in spiciness and can be enjoyed raw or cooked.

Uses:

Can be used in pasta, stir fries, fajitas and in vegetable platters.

Buying Fresh:

When buying fresh you want to look for peppers with the brightest and deepest color, that which is firm with no holes, bruises or wrinkled skin.

Recipes:

• Bell Pepper for Serving Dip
• Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
• Salsa Recipe with Bell Pepper
• More Recipes Containing Green Peppers

Preparation:

Cut around the green stem and take out then seeds. Wash thoroughly, then cut as you wish.

Storage:

Can be stored unwashed in the refrigerator for up to a week. Bell peppers can also be frozen whole, with out being blanched.

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Saving Money on Steak

Tips and advice for saving money on steak and cooking tips as suggested by the ThriftyFun community.

Shop Early in the Day

Go shopping the earliest you can when the store opens. The butcher always marks down meat to put more out. My mom always does this and gets steak at around $1 a pound or less. The meat is fine, just freeze it when you get home if you are worried the meat may be "on the edge".

By Becca25

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Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These are the easiest cookies to make, and go faster than any other cookie I have ever made. Two ingredients and they freeze well too!

Ingredients

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 roll of refrigerator cookie dough.

Directions

Slice peanut butter cookie dough into 3/4 inch slices. Divide each slice into quarters, and roll into balls. Place one peanut butter ball into mini muffin pans. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 8 minutes.

When they are done, take them out and immediately press one peanut butter cup into each cookie. Cool and remove from pans.

Source: My ex-sister-in-law.

By Laura from Auburndale, FL

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Texas Hot Chili

This was handed down to me by my mother-in-law. I just gave it a little extra kick.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Stew Meat
• 1/2 lb. hot sausage
• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and set aside
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large jalapeno pepper, chopped (with seeds left in)
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cans of chili beans
• 1 can of cheap beer
• chili powder, salt, pepper, and oregano to your liking

Directions

Using bacon drippings, cook all veggies until soft. Cut up 1 pound of stew meat and hot sausage, put in a large pot, and brown meat. Then add chili beans, the cooked veggies, and beer. Add chili powder, salt, pepper, and oregano as you like it.

Cook on low until meat is tender serve with saltine crackers.

By Pattie from Meridian, MS

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Sausage and Greens Quiche

Ingredients

• Pastry for single-crust pie (9 inches)
• 5 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach or Swiss chard
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
• 1 Tbsp. minced chives
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• Dash pepper
• 6 brown-and-serve sausage links
• 3 slices fresh tomato, halved

Directions

Bake for 8 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on wire rack.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Stir in spinach, cheese, onion, chives, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Carefully pour into crust.Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Cook sausage according to package directions. Arrange sausage in a spoke pattern in egg mixture; place tomato slices between links. Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.

By Kathleen from Dothan, AL

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Chocolate Pecan Critters

Ingredients:

• 1 (11 1/2-ounce) package milk chocolate chips
• 1 (6-oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1 (14-oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Pecan halves

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan, over medium heat, melt chips and margarine with sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; stir in nuts and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper-lined baking sheets. Top with pecan halves. Chill. Store tightly covered.

Source: Eagle Brand Recipe

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Onion Bulgar Salad

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup bulgar *
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
• 1 cup diced seeded cucumber
• 1 cup diced seeded tomato
• 1/2 cup minced fresh basil
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup minced fresh mint
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

* Look for bulgar in the cereal, rice or organic food isle of your grocery store.

Directions

Rinse and drain bulgar; place in a bowl. Stir in the boiling water. Cover and let stand for 1 hour or until liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the onion, salt and allspice; let stand 30 minutes. Drain bulgar and squeeze dry; add bulgar and remaining ingredients to onion mixture. Toss gently to combine. Serve or refrigerate.

Source: E. Lewis

By Raymonde from North Bay, Ontario

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Dill Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup sour cream
• few dill seeds
• 2 qt. chopped cabbage, not too fine
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. margarine

Directions

Melt margarine in heavy saucepan. Add onion, cabbage, salt and dill seeds. Cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Add sour cream and serve hot. Makes 6-8 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Hamburger-Cheese Bake

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cans tomato sauce (8oz. each)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
• 4 cups uncooked noodles
• 1 cup cream style cottage cheese
• 1 pkg. cream cheese, creamed (8oz.)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup green pepper
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook meat and onion. Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, salt, garlic salt and pepper. Remove from heat, Cook noodles, drain. Combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream and green pepper. Spread half noodles in baking pan. Top with 1/2 meat sauce. Cover with cheese mixture. Add remaining noodles and then remaining sauce. Sprinkle with all the Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Country Cornbread

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 2 cups flour
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 4 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup salad oil
• 1 pkg. frozen whole kernel corn, thawed (10oz.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. About 40 minutes before serving, or early in day, grease 13x9 inch baking pan. In large bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In medium bowl, with wire whisk or fork beat eggs, buttermilk and salad oil until blended. Stir buttermilk mixture and corn into cornmeal mixture just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 30 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted incenter comes out clean. Serve warm. 15 servings

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Cobbler Pie

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 2 cups any kind of fruit (peaches, cherries, blackberries, etc.)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup fruit juice or warm water

Directions

Cream butter, sugar and salt then add rest of crust ingredients. Put in a 13 inch glass pan. Cover with remaining ingredients. The crust rises to the top. Bake in 350 degree F oven until the crust is golden brown.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Old Fashioned Apple Butter

Ingredients

• 2 dozen medium apples, quartered
• 2 qt. sweet cider
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1 /2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. cloves

Directions

Cook apples in cider until tender. Press through a sieve or food mill; measure 3 quarts apple pulp. Cook pulp until thick enough to round up in a spoon. As pulp thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add sugar and spices. Cook slowly, stirring frequently, until thick, about 1 hour. Pour hot into jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath. Yield: about 5 pints.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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