ThriftyFun Recipes - March 11, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 49, March 11, 2008 (Read It Online) Yesterday you may have noticed that you didn't receive the Recipes. I made an executive decision to have it be the Founder's Birthday (Observed) because my family and friends threw me a huge surprise birthday party on Sunday for my 60th birthday! It was wonderful! Because some of my family and friends are also staff members, they were all tuckered out from pulling off a fabulous party. We had family members that had come in from across the state and we're staying over until Monday afternoon. It just seemed like we all deserved a holiday! Special thanks to Jess, Lewis, Stella, Fletcher, Laurel, Mara, Sally and everyone who helped with this. Thank you Connie, Darlene, Robin, Jan and Carol for today's tips and recipes! Submit Your Favorite Recipe! Need a recipe? Submit a request Thanks for reading, Susan 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: Drying Figs in the Microwave Longhorn Steak House Style Wild West Shrimp Korean Birthday Cake Recipes Today's Food Tips: Keep Recipes in a Three Ring Binder Using Apricots Add Bran to Make Diet Ice Cream Today's Contest Recipes: Catfish Cakes Quick And Easy Green Bean "Bake" Asian-Flavored Chicken Drumettes Robins's Recipe Corner: Mexican Artichoke Dip Cranberry Pineapple Salad Chicken Cordon Bleu Apple Raspberry Crumb Cake Chicken Cheese Enchiladas 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: Drying Figs in the Microwave Each year I have about 70 kilos of figs from my tree. Fresh ripe figs don't have a long life, maybe a couple of days. I would be grateful if someone could tell me how to dry figs in a microwave. I don't have an oven and each time I have tried to sundry them, all the wildlife in the area think it's their birthday! I don't have the time to sit shotgun all day. Please help! Sue from Cadiz Province, Spain Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97958659.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Longhorn Steak House Style Wild West Shrimp I'm looking for the recipe used at Longhorn Steak House for their Wild West Shrimp. They are so great! Kathy from Sharon, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70884854.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Korean Birthday Cake Recipes I would like to make a Korean birthday cake. Can someone please convert the ingredients to measurements? Betty from Chesterfield, VA Editor's Note: I believe the recipe Betty is referring to is below in the feedback forum. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf615145.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 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 and 1 photo 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: Keep Recipes in a Three Ring Binder To keep individual recipes filed neatly, I used a 3 ring binder, and fill it with clear page protectors. You can slip any recipe into the sheet protectors, and the plastic keeps your recipe page from getting messy while you are cooking - just wipe clean! I also use divider pages to separate the different categories of foods such as meats, breads, vegetables, desserts, etc. I have used binders that have a clear pocket on the front into which you can slide a personalized page . These also make inexpensive and thoughtful gifts. I made one for a friend, and put her name on the front in her favorite color. I put a few of my best loved recipes inside, and added some empty page protectors for her to add her favorites. By Jan from West Blocton, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90339822.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Apricots Description: Apricots are a small light orange colored fruit, with a velvety skin. High in beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber. These fruits are in the same family as peaches. Apricots are not very juicy in nature yet they are sweet with a hint of tartness. Uses: Apricots often are eaten fresh, dried, canned, made into jams, or fillings for baked goods. Recipes: Easy Spiced Apricots Apricot-Nut Bread Ham and Apricots Apricot Buttons Buying Fresh: Choose a fruit with a vibrant orange color, a little soft to touch. Avoid yellowish, hard fruits. Tree ripened fruits are the most delicious. Preparation: Apricots have a pit in the middle. Cut down to the pit then around, separate the two halves and remove the pit. Storage: Apricots keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and if frozen for 8-12 months, in airtight containers. Interesting Facts: The origin of apricot trees is difficult to say because it has been cultivated in many countries since prehistoric times. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83889047.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Add Bran to Make Diet Ice Cream Try this. As I am dieting, I deserve I need a treat too, so I add Bran to my chocolate ice cream, it is like eating a crushed cone in your ice cream. You'll eat less of the cooool stuff. Enjoy! By Carol from Blairsville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96340490.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Contest Recipes: Catfish Cakes Ingredients 1/4 cup grated carrots 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions 2 Tbsp.butter or margarine 1/2 cup fish fry coating mix 1/2 cup cornbread mix 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. creole seasoning 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1/3 cup milk 1 egg, separated 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce 1 cup cooked rice 1/2 lb. farm-raised catfish fillets, cooked and flaked 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil Directions Cook carrots and onions in butter in small skillet over medium heat until tender crisp; set aside. Combine fish fry coating mix, cornbread mix, baking powder, creole seasoning, and black pepper in large bowl. Blend milk with egg yolk and hot pepper sauce; stir rice, fish, carrot mixture, and milk mixture into dry ingredients. Beat egg white until stiff but not dry. Fold in beaten egg white. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cup into skillet; flatten with back of spoon. Turn cakes when golden brown. Drain on paper towels. By Connie from Cotter, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86232401.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Quick And Easy Green Bean "Bake" I love the green bean bake,you know the one with the green beans and mushroom soup? Well I have found that I can have this recipe however many times I would like to have it and a lot less work. Ingredients 1 reg size green beans 1 can cream of mushroom soup French Fried Onions (optional) Directions Drain green beans, add to kettle, add mushroom soup and mix. You can use the whole can of soup or less depending on your taste. Mix together on med heat till hot. Spoon into bowl, You can then add the onions in the can (if you must have them) sprinkle over top of beans and you are done. That is it that is all you have to do you can prepare this in a jiffy, it still tastes good and you only dirty the kettle to make it. Just throw the cans away and you are done. I really love it this way to and is the only way I make it anymore. Hope you like it! It is something to make life just a little easier especially when pressed for time or reading a good book and need a veggie for dinner. LOL By Darlene from Fairview, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40179505.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Asian-Flavored Chicken Drumettes Ingredients 4 cloves garlic, minced 3 green onions, chopped 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 Tbsp. Chinese five-spice powder 2 Tbsp. fish sauce 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce salt to taste (optional) 16 chicken drumettes 2 limes, quartered Directions Whisk together the garlic, green onion, sugar, five-spice powder, fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, and salt in a bowl. Arrange the chicken pieces in a shallow, non-metallic dish. Spoon the sauce mixture over the chicken to evenly coat. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, Lightly grease a baking sheet. Arrange the marinated chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, about 45 minutes. Serve with lime wedges on the side. 4 servings By Connie from Cotter, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51750978.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Robin's Recipe Corner: Mexican Artichoke Dip Ingredients 2 cans artichoke hearts 1 cup chopped green chilies 4 oz. real mayonnaise 4 oz. grated Parmesan cheese Directions Chop artichoke hearts. Add chilies; mix. Combine with mayonnaise and cheese; mix well. Make ahead so flavor can develop. Serve with white corn chips. Serve hot, about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96419257.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cranberry Pineapple Salad Ingredients 1 can whole cranberry sauce (regular size can) 1 small box cherry gelatin 1 small can crushed pineapple and juice 1 regular can dark red sweet cherries, chopped (and juice) 1 cup chopped pecans Directions Cook cranberry sauce and gelatin to a slow boil. Remove from heat and add pineapple, cherries, and nuts. When cooled slightly, pour into medium size serving dish and refrigerate until set. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13813887.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Chicken Cordon Bleu Chicken Ingredients Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin wafer sliced Swiss cheese wafer sliced ham bacon slices ( slices per half chicken breast) Directions Take 1/2 chicken breast that has been pounded thin and put some of the ham and cheese on it and roll up. Place chicken roll on 2 bacon strips and roll again. Anchor with toothpicks. Repeat for every roll wanted. Place rolls on cookie sheet and place on wire rack in oven. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Serve with horseradish sauce. Horseradish Sauce Ingredients 2 Tbsp. margarine 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 1 cup skim milk 3 Tbsp. vinegar 1/2 tsp. black pepper 3 Tbsp. prepared horseradish 1 tsp. dry mustard 2 1/2 Tbsp. sugar 1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce 1/2 tsp. red pepper Directions Melt margarine in saucepan. Stir in cornstarch until dissolved. Stir in milk. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Sere warm on the side with chicken or beef. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26994665.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Apple Raspberry Crumb Cake Ingredients 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup oatmeal 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. salt (opt.) 1/2 cup margarine or butter, chilled 1/4 cup Ricotta cheese 3/4 cup nonfat or lowfat sour cream 2 egg whites, lightly beaten Filling: 2 cups chopped apple 1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam 2 tsp. flour powdered sugar Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9 inch springform or round cake pan. For cake and topping, combine dry ingredients; mix well. Cut in margarine and Ricotta cheese until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups oat mixture for topping; set aside. Combine sour cream and egg whites; add to remaining oat mix, mixing just until moistened. Spread batter over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. For filling, combine apples, jam, and flour; spoon over cake. Sprinkle reserved oat mixture over fruit. Bake 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24682822.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Chicken Cheese Enchiladas Ingredients 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 small can chopped green chilies 1 carton (8 oz.) sour cream 12 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese 12 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded 1 pkg. tortillas (10) Directions Mix chicken, 1/2 can undiluted soup, chilies, sour cream, and only 1/2 each of cheese. Roll a good portion in each tortilla and secure with a toothpick. Place in 9x13 inch pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Mix other 1/2 of soup with 1/2 can water and pour over rolled tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake in 350 degree F oven, uncovered, 25-30 minutes. Serve with red or green salsa. By Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48318730.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 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.