ThriftyFun Recipes - June 12, 2009

Thank you Irene, djxn, Robin, chef4u, Robyn Fed, Trudy and JohnLuse for today's tips and recipes!

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Today's Food Tips:

• Use Cookie Scoops for Meatballs
• Blow on Saran Wrap To Keep it From Sticking to Itself

Today's Contest Recipes:

• Better-Than-Sex Cake
• Guacamole Deviled Eggs
• Curried Rice Salad
• Recipe for Elephant Ears

Robins's Recipe Corner:

• Chicken Enchiladas
• Scalloped Corn
• Special Casserole
• Easy Fruit Salad
• Chocolate Cake

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Use Cookie Scoops for Meatballs

When making meatballs, it can be time consuming to roll them by hand. Instead, I use my cookie scoop. It's similar to an ice cream scoop only smaller. It makes nice even size meatballs every time and is much quicker and keeps my hands clean. I lay each one on a sheet of a waxed paper jelly-roll pan and they can be frozen in the pan then put into freezer bags or you can drop them into your sauce to cook them. You can also lay them on Parchment paper lined jelly roll pan or a foil lined pan and bake them. Quick, simple and very little clean up by lining the pan.

By chef4u from Sylvania, OH

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Blow on Saran Wrap To Keep it From Sticking to Itself

I noticed yesterday that Saran Wrap or any other kind of plastic wrap does better if you blow it gently right as you are handling it. It keeps it from getting stuck together.

By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN

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Better-Than-Sex Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/2 oz.) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 (6 oz.) package vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup whipping cream, whipped and sweetened

Directions

Prepare cake in 13x9 inch baking pan and bake according to package directions. Combine pineapple and sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil. Cool slightly. When cake is done, remove from oven. Poke holes in it with a fork. Pour pineapple syrup into holes. Set aside to cool. Prepare pudding mix according to package directions. Cool. Spread prepared pudding over top. Chill.

By Trudy from Illinois

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Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

• 6 whole eggs in the shell
• 2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
• 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 1 Tbsp. minced green onion
• 2 tsp. minced seeded jalapeno pepper
• 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
• tsp. salt, or to taste
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco), or to taste
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
• 1 tsp. Dijon-style prepared mustard
• 1 pinch paprika

Directions

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, and peel. Slice eggs in half, and remove yolks to a mixing bowl.

In the bowl with the yolks, combine the avocado, cilantro, green onion, and jalapeno. Stir in the lime juice, and season with salt, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Mix well and fill empty egg white halves. Chill until serving. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.

Source: My Kitchen

By JohnLuse from Columbus, GA

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Curried Rice Salad

Good salad to take for a potluck.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pkg. MJB chicken flavored rice
• 2 jars artichoke hearts
• 3 small green onions
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 tsp. curry
• 1 small jar sliced pimentos

Directions:

Cook rice but omit the butter. Let rice cool. Drain the liquid from the artichoke heats into a bowl with the mayo and curry. Drain liquid from pimentos and slice the artichoke hearts and green onion. Mix mayo, curry and liquid from the artichoke hearts. Combine all ingredients. Chill top with slivered almonds.

By djxn from Colfax, CA

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Recipe for Elephant Ears

Fresh hot donuts.

Ingredients:

• Refrigerator biscuits - 1 roll
• 1 cup cooking oil
• 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar
• Paper lunch bag

Directions:

Place cinnamon sugar in paper lunch bag. Heat cooking oil in large frying pan. Test for hot enough: Drop of water will sizzle.

Separate dough into individual biscuits-"ear". Stretch each biscuit until they just about have holes in them. They do not have to be perfect. Gently drop each "ear" into the hot oil. As soon as one side becomes golden, flip them and let second side get golden. DO NOT WALK AWAY. They burn quickly.

Place "ears" on paper towel to soak up excess oil. Shake "ears" in paper bag of cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with ice cream or just plain. Make lots, they will go quickly.

Source: Now closed restaurant where I cooked.

By Irene W. from Lancaster, PA

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Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 2-3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 can mushroom soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 or more cans chopped green chilies
• 1 cooked chicken
• 1 pkg. corn tortillas
• 1 lb. longhorn cheese, grated

Directions

Brown onion in butter, combine with soup, broth and green chilies. Add pieces of chicken and beat well. In large baking dish place a layer of corn tortillas, then layer of chicken sauce and then a layer of cheese. Repeat the layers until casserole is filled. Bake in a greased pan at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Scalloped Corn

Another one of my husband's favorites.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 1 pt. cream style corn
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 3/4 cup cracker crumbs
• 3 Tbsp. butter, melted

Directions:

Beat eggs, add milk, corn, crumbs, salt, pepper, butter and sugar. Beat and pour into a greased baking dish. Bake in 325 degree F oven for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, Ia

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Special Casserole

This is a kid friendly casserole. My kids always preferred that I leave out onion.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 med. onion, chopped
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2-3/4 soup can of milk
• 1 box macaroni and cheese

Directions:

Brown hamburger and onion in butter in a skillet, breaking up meat with a fork. Add soup and milk; simmer 5 minutes. Prepare macaroni according to package directions. Place meat and macaroni in alternate layers in a buttered casserole. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Easy Fruit Salad

One of my favorite salads.

Ingredients:

• 1 can fruit cocktail, drained
• miniature marshmallows
• 2 bananas, diced
• 1 can peach pie filling

Directions:

Mix and keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Chocolate Cake

A favorite of many!

Ingredients:

• 1 stick margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 can chocolate syrup, Hershey's (reg. size)
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Beat margarine, sugar and eggs well. Add chocolate syrup, flour, vanilla and baking powder; mix well. Pour into a greased brownie pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Topping: Boil butter, milk and sugar for 30 seconds and add chocolate chips and mix until melted.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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