VERY Helpful Site!

I came across this site today:

Hillbilly Housewife ....awesome resources for those trying to save money!


She even has a worcestershire sauce recipe! I've searched high and low for a good, easy, worcestershire sauce recipe, because I haven't been able to find one without HFCS at any local stores.

Woo-Hoo! ;)

Freshly-Squozen Lemonade

I had lemons, and Anna asked why. I said, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" She said, "Or, if life gives you tomatoes, make V-8!" lol

ANYWAY...I made some lemonade; and it wasn't too tasty.

So I looked up a recipe online, and this one looks the best.

Perfect Lemonade Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
1 cup lemon juice
3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

Method
1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Serves 6.

Home Made Deodorant

I've never thought of actually *making* deodorant...the rock stuff works well for me...but this looks so interesting (and easy) I might try it sometime. ; )

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/07/homemade-deodor.html

Cream Soups Base

Yesterday I made some delicious Cream of Spinach Soup, with fresh, organic spinach from my garden. It was SO good!

I found this recipe today, good for whatever fresh veges you have in your garden...well...maybe not lettuce... ; )

Base Recipe for Cream Soup

You can use this recipe to make cream soup from most vegetables. Consider this for asparagus, fresh pea soup, carrot soup, celery soup, and more. Since tastes and veggies vary, be ready to tinker with amounts until you have it just right. You can make hot or cold soup with this recipe.
This is a great recipe for summer when the garden is overflowing with produce.

1 sweet onion, diced
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups vegetables of choice, diced
salt to taste
2/3 cup cream
Sauté the onion dices in the butter until they are tender and translucent but not browned.
Add the flour and stir and cook until a soft paste has formed but not browned.
While still cooking, pour in 1/2 cup of the broth while stirring with a whisk. Gradually add the rest of the broth, stirring to make the mixture smooth and not lumpy as if you were making gravy. Continue cooking until the mixture is bubbly and has thickened.
Add the vegetables and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are soft enough to mash easily.
Pour two to three cups of the liquid into your blender. Puree the mixture until it is smooth. Continue in batches until the entire soup is puréed.
Pour the soup through a strainer into a clean pan. Press any pieces through the sieve with the back of a spoon.
Salt the soup to taste. Add the cream. If the soup needs further thinning, add water. Reheat and serve.

This is basically the same recipe I used, with the exception of garlic. My recipe called for minced garlic, so if you wanted to add garlic to your onion, feel free. ; )

(To give credit where credit is due, recipe is here. )

I kept thinking homemade croutons would be good with my soup, but I didn't have any, and couldn't find the recipe, so I made toast to go with it.

Homemade Sauces/Mixes

This was posted on my local homeschool group today, so I can't give credit for where it's originally from, but it looks really good. These are almost all things I use regularly, so hopefully I'll be able to make my own and save money AND eat healthier! : )


Instead of commercial taco seasoning:
1-1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 small can (8 oz) tomato sauce
Add these ingredients to a pound of lean ground beef (which has been
browned for about 10 minutes with a medium chopped onion and two cloves of minced
or pressed garlic and then drained); stir and simmer for about 5 minutes
until thickened.

Instead of onion soup mix for dip:
2 tablespoons of toasted dried onion
2 envelopes beef bouillon
Stir into a half pint of sour cream or plain yogurt. ( put the onion on
foil in the toaster oven and watch it carefully as it browns quickly.)

Instead of canned enchilada sauce:
3 T flour
4 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 T garlic powder
2 T oil
2 cans tomato sauce (8 oz each)
2 cans water
Combine dry ingredients, mix, add oil and stir well. Add sauce and water,
mix, heat to boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Makes about 4 cups.

Instead of Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix:
2 T lemon juice
1 clove garlic (pressed if you are not using a blender)
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil
freshly ground pepper to taste
Put this in a blender with 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar and 1 cup olive oil and
blend until smooth. Makes about 1-1/2 cups. (This is tart, so some people
prefer 1/3 cup vinegar.)



Easy, Homemade Hamburger Helper® Alternative
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
16 oz pasta cooked according to package directions
Drain pasta and combine with ground beef, then add:
2 (10 3/4 oz) cans of condensed tomato soup
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. prepared mustard
Cook on low heat until heated through. As an option, add six to eight
strips of cooked, crumbled bacon.


Homemade Rice Side
1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
1 cup thin spaghetti, broken into 1/2" pieces
3 T. butter
2 3/4 cups water
1 T. beef, chicken, or vegetable bouillon powder or granules
1/4 t. onion powder
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 T. parsley
1/4 tsp. dried thyme or poultry seasoning
1/8 t. black pepper
Melt butter in medium saucepan or skillet, add uncooked rice and pasta
pieces, and stir about five minutes until pasta is lightly browned. Add
remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about
15 minutes. Do not lift lid. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, cover and
let steam an additional 5-10 minutes.

Instant Stuffing Mix
3-1/2 cups unseasoned bread cubes
3 tablespoons dried celery flakes
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon sage
1 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
To prepare stuffing, in a sauce pan over medium heat, bring water, butter
and seasonings to a boil. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat. Add bread cubes and mix gently. Cover and let stand for 5
minutes. Toss with a fork before serving. This equals one box.

Asparagus

I picked my first *ever* asparagus today! I am SO excited! (The link has recipes and growing information...indeed, all the asparagus information I was thinking of linking to.)

I read in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last year (and I wish I had the exact quote) about her forays to the asparagus patch in April, waiting for the asparagus to come up. I've kept that in the back of my mind, waiting to use the information. ; )

Last fall I noted where I've seen asparagus fronds...it's easy to spot, next to the second of a row of metal posts, beside a railroad....odd place for it, I must say.... Anyway, I remembered where it was, and started stopping there to check for new plants as soon as April began. I'd forgotten to check a time or two when I passed, but last night I remembered, and today as we were passing I yelled, STOP!!! lol I am thrilled!

I want to try getting some started in my own garden...asparagus and rhubarb both, but since we're not yet sure about the new house and how it will change the lay of the yard I'm guessing I'll need to hold off on it. I'm hoping to have raised beds over most, if not all, of the yard eventually (less mowing!), and I suppose I'll have to wait a year or so to get a bed made for it.....looking forward to it, though...and in the meantime, I'll be watching for more asparagus fronds in the fall and checking those spots in the spring!

Pickled Egg Experiment

My first attempt at pickled eggs. Aren't they lovely? : ) I'll let you know in a week or so how they taste. ; )

(Poomba was added to the picture for interest. DH bought him for me, and Anna named him.) lol

(Edited and new picture added 4-21-09)

The...brine? I guess.....came out a *wee* bit too ...bitey? pickley?...for my taste. The eggs were (are...I have one left) great, but the beets I dropped in (because, after all, I had to buy a can of beets to get the beet juice, and it seemed a shame to toss them after I used the juice...anyway) came out too sour to eat, but the eggs were good.

I thought I had added a link to pickled egg recipes, but apparently I forgot. Anyway, the one I used didn't call for enough sugar ~I think~ so if I go looking for another recipe I'll make sure it uses plenty of sugar.

Oats!

This site is SO cool...everything you ever wanted to know about oatmeal! Who knew it was so versitle?!?

If you scroll down a bit, it tells about how to make out flour from oatmeal...that might be handy information for the next time I run low on flour and I'm in the middle of a recipe! ; )

Pickled Eggs

I started thinking about pickled eggs today....my grandmother usually has some for Easter dinner...and wondered if it could be possible for *me* to make some.


It *IS* possible! According to this site, it's too soon to have them for Easter, although I did see another site which said they only needed to soak overnight. However, since I don't have any beets on hand anyway, I'll have to wait a bit for them.

I'm looking forward to them, though! : )

Dyeing Eggs Naturally

Dyeing eggs with natural dyes is SO cool!

We dyed some a couple years ago....the girls really enjoyed it, and I thought it was interesting. Plus, it's better for the environment than chemicals. : )

03-10-09

Just a quick post, so I don't feel I've abandoned this blog. ; )

I haven't been baking much....I made a sunflower seed crunch recipe, which I was going to share, but I burned it dreadfully, so I can't say much about it's taste or anything. ; )

I made lentil burritos again today...SO good! My DH made some taco salad with the ones which were left, and it was fairly good, too, except that he added a packet of taco seasoning, and, of course, I had already added one, so they were a bit on the salty side.

I guess I could share his way of making taco salad...his dad used to make this for supper sometimes, and I LOVED to eat with them when he did. It's simple, taco-seasoned meat (or lentils), a chopped tomato, a cup or so of chopped/shredded lettuce, a cup of salsa/picante sauce and broken corn chips. Mix it all together, top with shredded cheese and put in the oven for the cheese to melt (if the lentils/meat is cold you can heat it longer, until it's warm, although I've always liked it cold, too).

I mix it in a oven-safe bowl then pop the whole thing in the oven to warm...saves on dishes! lol

Lentils

I'm experimenting with Lentils today.

I've never cooked any before....my only experience with Lentils is that I remember my grandmother cooking them.

I soaked them overnight, like I do dry beans....I still don't know if that's necessary. : ) I might go read up on them, but I might not. lol

Basically, I've treated them just as regular beans, soaked overnight, plopped in the crockpot this morning with some fresh water and about a teaspoon of salt and a couple sprinkles of black pepper, then I dipped out about 1 1/2 cups and mixed with taco seasoning for refried beans for burritos...Delish! I added a can of black beans, a couple packets of chili seasoning and a can of diced tomatoes with garlic and onions to what was left in the crockpot for chili beans for supper. I haven't tried them yet....I hope they're good! The burritos certainly were!

I think I may like lentils, used in the place of regular dried beans......sometimes. ; )

Peanut Butter Balls

This is one snack my kids and husband scarf down!

Ingredients:
Peanut butter
Honey
Non-fat dry powdered milk

Mix peanut butter and honey until it's sweetened nicely. Then, add in the powdered milk to make a dough. Roll into balls and cool in the fridge.

I'd say how to store them, but I don't know! They don't last long enough. lol

GREAT Muffin Recipe

This was shared on one of my homeschooling groups a couple weeks ago, and I just got around to trying them this morning. SO good! I added raisins to the second pan (since I can't make a recipe without adding something! lol) and I think when I make them again I'll chop some apples and add to them.

Enjoy!

Grandmas Super Moist Oatmeal Muffins Recipe Ingredients:

1 C oatmeal
1 C buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 C brown sugar, packed
1/4 C canola oil
1 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Grandmas Super Moist Oatmeal Muffins Recipe Instructions:

Pour the buttermilk in a large mixing bowl.
Add the oats and stir to be sure all the oats are moistened.
Allow the oats to soak in the buttermilk for 20 minutes.
After the oats have soaked add the eggs, sugar and oil.
In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda
and salt.
Slowly add the dry mixture to the oats and stir just until moistened.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Grease a muffin tin with a non stick cooking spray.
Fill the cups 2/3 full of batter.
Bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Makes about 15 muffins

Roasted Peanuts

I found some raw peanuts last week at the grocery store. They're a small, local store, and they carry quite a bit of local produce (GREAT in winter when the farmer's market isn't going).

Anyway, they had raw peanuts for .50 lb, and I bought a pound because we've been tossing around the idea of growing some peanuts this summer. I was thinking of them as seed, but when I got them home I realized it's more than we will plant. So I decided to try roasting some.

I haven't tried it yet...it was kinda difficult to find information online about roasting them *out of the shell* which is what I wanted to do, but I finally found a "roast for 30 minutes at 350*" mention, so I'm going to try that.

I thought, though, if I do manage to do it, it will be cheaper to buy all the peanuts they had left at .50 lb. (I hope they still have some!) than to buy the already-roasted ones.

The Granola Bar recipe I've been using calls for 1 cup of crushed peanuts...that will get expensive if I have to buy them for $5 a can! (So far I haven't had to buy any...DH had a couple cans sitting around; he likes to buy them to snack on, then forgets they're here. lol) Hopefully this way will be cheaper. ; )

(Oh, yeah, as a side note...I've been using chopped, dried apricots in the Granola Bars. Talk about GOOD! They're GREAT!)

Garlic Lime Chicken

I meant to stick this in the crock pot today before DH's eye doctor appointment, but I forgot. : ( I was going to make us some, then blog about it..."I made the most delicious supper today, while I was at the eye doctor's!" lol

Since I *didn't* make supper while at the eye doctor's, though, I'm left with posting it as it is and saying this....."Even though *I* forgot to make this, *you* should try it!"

Honestly, we have had it several times, and it is Delicious!

It was shared on one of the online groups I'm on, when everyone was talking about Christmas presents, She Who Shared the recipe (and graciously allowed me to post it here) says she gives it for Christmas gifts....and I quote..."I give them a jar of the spice mix, plus a box of organic broth and sometimes lime juice in one of those little limes. You could also include a big of rice. (I also include the basic spice mix recipe)"...and I end quote.

GARLIC LIME CHICKEN
**SPICE MIX**
Combine for spice mix:(I usually at least double this)
3 tsp salt
3 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme

**GARLIC LIME CHICKEN**
1 box chicken broth
2 Tbsp butter
3 tbsp lime juice
Spice mix
Place chicken pieces (I use skinless breasts) in crock pot and sprinkle with the seasoning.
Add 1 box of chicken broth, 2 Tbsp butter, and 3tbsp lime juice.
Cook on low until done, serve over rice.
Very peppery, but very good andEASY

Popcorn Balls

Before there was rice-crispy treats, there were Popcorn Balls!

I like making this recipe, because my DH loves them SO much, and says, "They're just like the ones my grandmother used to make!" Believe me, in my husband's family there in no greater compliment! ; )

I made them today, and while I was making thought it would be a good recipe to share.

***Caution*** I would NOT make these with a small child around, because the syrup is SO hot. You pour it at 250 degrees....that's just too hot to take chances with.

Caution ended...on to the recipe!

Popcorn Balls (Like Grandma used to make!)

Ingredients:
4 quarts popped corn
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups brown sugar
4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup water
Butter for your hands

Equiptment:
Large Bowl
Medium-large saucepan
Candy thermometer
Spoon
Waxed paper

Put the popped corn in the large bowl, making sure it will be big enough for mixing, too.

Combine the molasses, brown sugar, butter, and water in saucepan.
Bring to a boil, and keep it boiling over low heat until it reaches 250 degrees (this will take about 20 minutes.)

**BE VERY CAREFUL! Make sure your bowl is on a steady surface...no trying to balance it on the edge of the sink, or on a crowded counter! You don't want this spilled down your leg!**

Carefully pour the hot syrup into the bowl of popcorn and mix well with a spoon.
Butter your hands well. When the popcorn is cool enough to handle, but still a bit warm so the syrup remains pliable, gather handfulls of popcorn and press into balls.
Work quickly to keep from burning your hands. Re-butter your hands if necessary to keep them from sticking to the syrup (I usually have to butter twice.)
Set the popcorn balls on waxed paper to harden, wrap and store when cool.

Simple Fruit Cobbler

This is the recipe my mom uses when she needs a quick dessert.

Fruit Cobbler

*Use canned, fresh or frozen fruit. If using fresh fruit, sprinkle with sugar.

Ingredients:
2 cups berries/fruit
1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 egg

Directions
Spread butter in the bottom of a pan, thickly. (I use an 8x8 pan.)
Spread berries/fruit on top of the butter.

Mix together the sugar, flour, milk and egg. Pour over the berries/fruit.

Bake at 400* for about 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

(My DH likes it served with cream poured over it.)

Cloth Family Wipes

Ever heard of cloth wipes...for the whole family? Yeah, I hadn't either...then I came across this blog which introduced me to the idea, and I did a bit more reading about it, and thought...EWWW! lol

BUT, the more I about it, the more I thought it my be beneficial. There are three girls in our family, and even though my DH said (and I quote), "Ain't NO way!" when I mentioned it to him, I thought if the girls and I used them *only for #1*, there should still be considerable savings on buying toilet paper (you wouldn't believe how much my kids use!).

While I was ruminating on all this my DH brought some old t-shirts to me and asked me to cut them into shop rags for him. Providential! lol I cut up a couple of Anna's shirts, too, that were stained. So we ended up with a pretty good-sized pile of cloth wipes as easy as pie!

I am LOVING them. A couple weeks ago I checked on the tissue paper, "We've got two packs left, use about a pack a week, so we'll be ok until the first of Feb." We STILL have one pack left! I'm thrilled! lol

(We are using them only for #1....I can't think of using them for #2 yet. lol)

Homemade Granola Bars

I made homemade Granola Bars today. They were SO good...well some were. I tried putting chocolate chips in half, and the chocolate melted all over them, so they were chocolate coated, more or less, and not as tasty.

The half I put raisins in were GREAT!


I used this recipe...delicious! *Plus* she has Great Pictures! : )

(I added flax seeds to mine, too.)

We're trying to avoid HFCS for health reasons, and I just happened to think today that as much as we love granola bars they would probably be an easy thing to make and healthier...not to mention saving money! I can't believe how much the price has gone up on granola bars lately!

(I've been using chopped, dried apricots, now...and they're SO good!)