September 30th 2009

Editorial

Our Tuesdays have gotten pretty busy this year for some reason. I’m going to try to get the newsletter out on Wednesdays instead for a while and so far it’s working pretty well.

I had a great time at the blogging conference in Asheville last weekend. Learned quite a bit and made some great new friends, some of whom will be contributing to the HBHW website in the near future.

I came home to a a sick husband and child, but with a little TLC and some homemade chicken soup, both are much better and I got away with nothing more than a little cold.

I’m slowly catching up on emails, approving comments and such. Aside from that it’s been a pretty quiet week so far. Morning are chilly and feel like fall which is kind of nice. I can’t wait for it to get cool enough that I can cook some more stews. They just never taste right when it’s hot outside.

That’s it for this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com

Warm Regards,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Inspirational Quote

“To have begun is to be half done; dare to be wise; begin!” - Horace

Ready to make a Halloween costume with your child? Homemade Halloween Costumes - no sewing required.

Reader Question

I’ve been trying to make fried chicken, but the breading doesn’t seem to want to stick. I’m using seasoned flour for the breading. It also doesn’t turn out crispy at all. How do I fix good, crispy fried chicken?

Amy

Hi Amy, excellent question. It took me quite a few tries to come up with a way to make really good fried chicken.

Start by patting your chicken dry. Then dip it in some flour. I like to use seasoned flour here. Next, briefly dip your chicken in egg wash. Allow most of the egg to drip off, then coat the chicken either in more seasoned flour or other breading of your choice (I’ve used anything from cracker crumbs to corn flakes).

Move the chicken straight into hot oil. Don’t overcrowd your pot and handle your chicken very gently.

Another option is oven fried chicken.

News From The HBHW Club

This is a new section of the newsletter. Each week I’m going to share some tidbits of what’s going on at the HBHW Club with you. I hope you enjoy these extra tips, recipes and ideas and of course would love to have you join the club.

As a HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month here: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

And to make it even easier, I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.

Here’s one of the recipes that were submitted this past week.

Triple Chocolate Fudge

* 1/2 cup butter
* 3 1/2 cups white sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 can evaporated milk

* 32 large marshmallows

* 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
* 13 oz. Hershey’s Chocolate Bar
* 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 2 cups chopped nuts

In very large saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, both sugars, and can of milk, stirring until the sugars are dissolved.  Bring the mixture to a soft boil, cover the pan and boil for 5 minutes.

Take the pan off the heat and stir in the marshmallows until they are dissolved.

Take the first chocolate and add it to the saucepan, stirring until melted.
Take the second chocolate and add it to the saucepan, and stir again until that chocolate is melted.
Then, add the last chocolate and do the same, stir until melted completely.

Now, add the vanilla and nuts and stir.
Pour mixture into a 9×13 or equivalent pan that’s been lightly coated with butter.  Chill until firm.

And here are some of the other recipes that have been added in the past few days.

• Inside-Out Beef and Spinach Ravioli
• Green Fluff
• Taste of the Islands Chicken Skillet
• Angel Food Jell-o Confetti
• Simple Chicken Divan

All in all, we have over 200 new recipes in the member area already.

What else has been going on at the HBHW Club? We’ve been talking about using pressure cookers and other kitchen gadgets, being a “supermom” and of course we’re starting to think about Christmas and various frugal gift ideas. I’m sure you have a lot to contribute to the conversation. Ready to join us? Try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

Featured Article

This week’s featured article is about using your own homemade cleaners for your home. Most of what you need to make these frugal cleaners is already sitting in your pantry.

Frugal Cleaning Tips - Being Frugal With Your Cleaning Supplies

Frugal Tips

Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations
Since Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite frugal Thanksgiving decorating tips. Anything from pumpkins to fall flowers can be used to make a prett …

Grocery List
I make a grocery list with the following heading: Meats, Produce, Dairy, Can Goods, Frozen, & Misc: No Eat. In doing this I can get in and out of the grocery store without back tracking through t …

Frugal Vegetable Soup Mix
I keep leftover vegetables in a gallon bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, it’s simple to add hamburger or other meat and make a great soup or stew since the vegetables are already seasone …

Do you have a tip to share? Fill out the submit a frugal tip form and I’ll be glad to add it to the site and share your tip in an upcoming edition of the newsletter.

Recipes

Here are some of the most recent recipes that have been added to the HBHW site. Enjoy!

Pork & Kraut with Dumpling’s
3-4pd. pork roast, add 1 medium sliced onion,1qt.jar of homemade sauerkraut (or 2cans of sauerkraut),caraway seed, pepper&salt,1/2 stick butter or margarine,add water to the roast alittle less tha …

A Different Green Bean Casserole
1 lb frozen french cut green beans 1 can cream of celery soup or 10 oz of the homemade equivelant. 1 cup slivered toasted almonds Mix green beans with 1/2 cup almonds and the cream of celery soup and …

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Suggested ingredients and amounts (all are adjustable to your taste) 3-4 cups cooked rice 1 cup broccoli florets or peas 2-3 scrambled eggs 1-2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts (optional) 1 bottle swe …

Cranberry Chutney
4 small oranges 2 cups sugar (or sugar substitute) 4 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup chopped unpeeled apple 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 Tablespoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginge …

Delicious Beans and Potatoes
Make mashed potatoes. While they are cooking take cooked pinto beans, drained, cooked kidney beans, drained, or a mix, or leftover bean soup or leftover beans that kidney or pinto beans are in them, …

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Click here to send it to me and I’ll be happy to add it to the website.

I’m Looking For:

This section is going to be all about you. If you are looking for a particular recipe or a tip on how to do something, submit it here and I will post it in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll give you my input and other readers of the newsletter will have the opportunity to share their recipes and tips as well. So take a moment to post your questions and of course if you have a tip or idea for any question posted in this section feel free to leave a comment under the appropriate post.

I’m Looking For Requests

Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
looking for a from scratch recipe for cornbread that tastes like the Jiffy brand. I’ve tried adding sugar to some recipes, but they still don’t taste similar. My son prefers this to sout …

In search of gluten-free lemon bars
Lemon bars are an economical sweet and have always been my favourite but now I must cook gluten-free meals (no wheat or wheat byproducts, read flour, etc., etc., - everything, especially prepared food …

Closet Damp Absorber
Hi Just wondering in any readers have any ideas on how to make your own closet damp absorber, you know the sort that collects the humid water in linen closets etc. Gayle This post was submitted by gay …

Egg Nog Recipes
I am looking for a variety of egg nog recipes out there. If you have a great traditional recipe, or one with a different twist or flavor to it, I’d love to hear about it. This post was submitted …

Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray
I have boys with thick hair that needs quick taming in the morning. Plain water isn’t controlling it. I sometimes use No More Bedhead or No More Tangles, but it’s too costly anymore. I won …

Cooking Turkey
Last year there was a post on how to use your oven as a slow cooker and cook a turkey overnight. My turkey turned out fantastic!! But, I lost my directions. Please help! This post was submitted by …

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade
looking for homemade chicken and dumplings made the old- fashioned way.thank you. From Susanne - Here’s my chicken and dumplings recipe. My biggest trick is to start the day before by cooking th …

Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
I am looking for a sweat potatoe cassarole that has the marshmellowes on top and has a thick like syrup and fruit cocktail in it. my aunt used to make it but she passed away and no one remembered to b …

Pie Shell Cake
I’m looking for a recipe for a cake that was baked in a pie shell. It may have had chocolate syrup on the bottom. It was great and my kids loved it. Now I would like to make it for the grandk …

Removing Rocks in Beans
Does anyone have a method for removing all the pebbles from pinto & other dried beans? This post was submitted by Nancy.

I’m Looking For Responses
Below you will find some of the recent responses to the “I’m Looking For” Requests. You may also want to go directly to this section and browse through all the recent submissions and replies. To do so, click on “I’m Looking for” here, and start looking through them.

Comment on Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray by Ellen
If you just want to tame it and not remove tangles, try a little salt water in a spray bottle.

Comment on Reconstituting Powdered Milk by Debie
I don’t know much about powdered milk. Does it not cost more to use than purchasing regular milk? If it is cheaper, how do you get your family to switch over?

Comment on Apron Evangelism by Debie
Just wanted to say thanks for reminding me why I wear my apron!! Actually my daughter thought I wasn’t feeling well the other day when I didn’t put it on in the morning. Amazing how one gets in a ha …

Comment on Low Cal recipes by Nancy R.
If you search Diabetic recipes, and weight watchers recipes they are all low calorie. I did weight watchers for 2 years now, 1 year in meetings and 1 year on my own and am 10 lbs from my goal weight. …

Comment on Crockpot Cranberry Pork by ridgerunner
Comment for Joni… your recipe is so darn good!!! Fried Potato’s and onion’s on the side and hope to eat it all for yourself. I love to cook with pork, for that matter. The aroma this time of year is …

Comment on Indian Pudding Recipe by DE
Nadine - notice this site is titled “hillbillyhousewife”…probably not a place to spread enlightenment.

Comment on Closet Damp Absorber by brande
baking soda

Comment on Quick Sugar Cookies by Angela
These cookies are so good and easy to make. I did use real unsalted butter instead of margarine and increased the milk by 1/2 to 1 tsp. They turned out perfect. I will make these again, (as the fir …

Comment on Haitian Spaghetti Sauce by Nick
Try this recipe. It’s worked for me. http://i-jat.blogspot.com/2008/10/haitian-spaghetti.html

Comment on Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade by kitty wilson
I have always made mine by boiling the fryer with onion, celery and poltery seasoning as well as salt and pepper. I also completely cover the chicken and save some of the broth to freeze to use for …

Inspirational Story

THAT I A BETTER PERSON MAY BE

Author Unknown

Light that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy majesty
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I a better person may be

Darkness that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy mystery
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I a better person may be

Love that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy unity
Let me be thy gaze
Let me teach thy ways
That I a better person may be

Final Thought

That’s it for this edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I had creating it for you. I also hope that you have found the information helpful and useful. And by all means feel free to forward the newsletter to family and friends or even better, encourage them to subscribe to it.

Do you have a question, a tip, a recipe or a story you’d like to share with us? Email it to me and I’ll include it in a future issue. Can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Warm Wishes,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

my mother in law has a very limited diet, she eats next to nothing that isnt meat. I love to have my mother in law over for my meatloaf because I sneak in a can of mashed kidney or black beans and she never knows! The kidney beans add needed fiber to the meatloaf and I stretch the amount farther by this addition.
PS I also cook my meatloaf in muffin pans because it reduces the amount of time to cook and they are already pre-portioned!

This post was submitted by Jodi.

I am looking for a recipe for a green and red salsa Tequila lime flavored.

This post was submitted by Dana.

I am looking for a recipe for a yeast bread recipe that had shredded wheat and honey in it. I had it in the middle to late 1980s. I have searched everywhere I can think of. I sure hope one of you still has it.

Sharon

This post was submitted by Sharon.

My Daughter had a cookbook in high school with wonderful waffles. She is 46 now so you see our problem. It had buttermilk, eggs and when I made a big batch I used a dozen eggs and a quart of butter milk. It had oil and baking powder and flour(I used part fresh whole wheat) and these were very good. It may have been Betty Crocker or other popular book of the time. She lost it in a fire. There were yeast waffles that were in the fridge over night, too. Does anyone know these recipes?

This post was submitted by Carolyn Page.

My grandma always made this strong smelling “mustard pack” for us grandkids when we had a chest cold. She would make this mustardy mix, place it between to cotton hankies and then make us where it on our chest.
It stunk and got warm while wearing it, but it sure worked!

Anyone have this recipe? (not edible)

This post was submitted by Stephanie.

For a family of 6:
2 LG cans of baked beans
1# of any meat (I’ve used hamburger and sausage, not together though)
4-5 potatoes
1/4 cp brown sugar
1/4 cp ketchup
diced onions and green peppers (if on hand)
****
Boil potatoes until they are just soft but not falling apart. Drain water from potatoes. Add baked beans,cooked meat, brown sugar, ketchup, onions and peppers. Let it simmer together, about 20-30 minutes.

This post was submitted by Stephanie.

When i peel raw potatoes and slice them into french fries. How do i freeze them without them turning black?

This post was submitted by barbara sue douglas.

I have never like the flat taste of ground turkey. But the price was just to tempting.
Tip-when cooking ground turkey I add about 1 teaspoon of beef bouillon, 1/2 Tablespoon dry onions, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon GRANULATED garlic to uncooked ground turkey, then cook as normal.
I have also added spices for breakfast sausage to ground turkey with really good results too.

This post was submitted by Nina.

I have recently been advised by my doctor to severely limit my sugar and carbohydrate intake. So many of my most frugal recipes call for rice or noodles. I know I can substitute whole grain pasta or brown rice to make it a little healthier, but I am looking for frugal recipes that are low or no carb and sugar free. Thank you in advance for all your wonderful ideas.

This post was submitted by Michelle.

I am looking for a recipe to a cake my mom used to make when I was a kid. I remember she called it “Egg-less Chocolate Cake”. She would mix it up and cook it in a 13×9 pyrex.

We wouldn’t even ice it, just eat it warm when it came out of the oven. It was very moist and it was my favorite.

Nowadays, about 30 years later, my mom doesn’t even remember it. Funny how our memories work, I guess it wasn’t that big a deal to her at the time, but to me as a kid it was. A google search has not revealed the recipe.

Thanks for any help!
Blessings,
Mary

This post was submitted by Mary.

i am looking for a recipe for the kind of potato wedges they have in a lot of restaurants,. i guess they are baked and seasoned somehow.

thank you for the help

al

This post was submitted by al.

Hi - my sons love to drink Instant Breakfast by Carnation. There is Chocolate and Vanilla. Does anyone have a “Mock” Recipe for Instant Breakfast? The one from Carnation has vitamins, calcium, anti-oxidants and protein - so I don’t know if there is a recipe for it, but would love to know!

Thanks for everyone’s help!

This post was submitted by Kristina .

A fun way to find new frugal recipes is to look at old cookbooks from World War II. Because of rationing, there are alot of recipes for dishes that stretch meat, and use less butter. Plus they are fun to read!! Old cookbooks or newer published compilations are available through the library!

This post was submitted by Susannah Carter.

I’m looking for a good restaurant-type ranch dressing. If anyone has a good recipe, could you please share it. Thanks!!!

This post was submitted by Betty.

I often see recipes that are based on a yellow cake mix. I’m not comfortable with all the chemicals listed in the mix and so I’m wondering if I can substitute just the dry ingredients from my moher’s 1920’s “basic yellow cake” recipe? It make enough for a 2-layer cake. Thanks for your help,
Laura

This post was submitted by Laura O'Brady.

I’m looking for a good meatload recipe.

This post was submitted by Denise.

Hi all… This is the time of year where our family starts to get things planned for the holidays. My husband & 2 kids LOVE egg nog and I’m trying to find a “simple” recipe we can make. Can anyone help? Thanks so much for any suggestions

This post was submitted by Trish.

You can spend a fortune on all types of specialized cleaners for your home, but there is no need. You already have almost everything you need in your home. Just use these frugal cleaning tips and start saving this week. My favorite frugal cleaners are vinegar and baking soda. Angie Meza has a few more ideas up her sleeve and shares them below.

Frugal Cleaning Tips Cut Time and Money

These days it is very “hip” to be frugal. Even though we have been through recessions before, this one is causing us all to stop and think and look to cut down as much as we possibly can. Long-term, this is probably going to be a significant change for us all and will not likely alter when the recession goes away. So many people are looking for frugal cleaning tips online to help them with not only their budget but their time as well.

You don’t need to rely on harsh chemical compounds and toxic solutions when you can tune into everyday natural products to help you on a daily basis. A shopping list full of frugal cleaning tips would include baking soda, lemon juice, Borax, white vinegar and cornstarch. All of these are easy to find and cost effective and you will not need to visit that chemical aisle again.

When you take a good look at your carpet you may realize that it is now a different shade as compared to the one that you installed! Sometimes you move an item of furniture and definitely notice this. Turn to your frugal cleaning tips article and this will tell you to use a natural soap product. Just mix the mild cleaner with water and you have an answer. Rinse with water and vinegar. If you needed to deodorize anytime you can use a simple sprinkling of baking soda.

If you find that the sink in your bathroom is stopped up, don’t automatically reach for those drain cleaners as they are very highly toxic. Your frugal cleaning tips advisor will tell you to go and get the baking soda instead. Pour down the drain, follow with vinegar and put the sink stopper in. After 15 minutes simply flush with boiling water. You will not have released chemicals into the drains and will have saved a lot of money.

On a weekly basis it is amazing to see how much laundry detergent you use, especially if you have a large family and how much this costs as part of your budget. Frugal cleaning tips suggest you change your buying habits and look for washing soda and baking soda. Either is inexpensive and when mixed appropriately can do the job adequately. You can also use borax.

Have you noticed how difficult it is to clean that food residue which seems to set like a rock within your microwave? A very handy frugal tip is to get a microwavable bowl and put a cup of vinegar within. Run this for one minute and you will then be able to wipe the residue out with a little bit of soapy water.

Don’t believe all those commercials on television about how effective window cleaning solutions are. You can turn to some great frugal cleaning tips instead. Mix half a cup of vinegar with a gallon of warm water and use an old newspaper to apply. You will be amazed at the results.

Right at the top of the list of frugal cleaning tips is the need to prevent rather than cure. There are so many places where stubborn stains could occur, causing you to use harsh chemicals to clean up, so you should be prepared. Put absorbent mats in place as these are highly effective and cost-efficient and will retain any potential oil or chemical spills.

Find detailed information about frugal cleaning tips. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.cleanupstuff.com and get our free report. A toll free number is available on our site to answer any questions.

How about you? What types of frugal cleaners do you use? What works best for you? Leave a comment and share your own favorite frugal cleaning tips.

Makes 4 servings

• 4 to 8 pork chops
• 1 (1 1/2-ounce) package onion soup mix
• 2 cups water
• 2 green peppers, sliced and divided
• 1 cup long-cooking rice, uncooked

Sauté pork chops in a 12″ skillet until browned on both sides; remove to a platter. Add soup mix and 2 cups water to same skillet; stir and heat until mix dissolves.

Layer half the green peppers in an ungreased 13″ x 9″ baking pan; sprinkle with rice. Arrange pork chops on top; pour soup mixture over the pork chops. Top with remaining peppers; cover and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour.

Makes 4 servings

• 4 red potatoes peeled and cut in eighths
• 5 carrots medium, peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces
• 2 ribs celery cut in 1/2 -inch pieces
• 1 onion small, sliced
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/2 teaspoon basil dried basil leaves, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme dried, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 broiler-fryer chicken (about 3 lb.), cut up
• 1/2 cup chicken bouillon, apple juice, vermouth or a combination
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup half and half or milk
• Additional chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place potatoes, carrots, celery and onion in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan or dish.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter or margarine. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon parsley, seasoned salt, basil, thyme and pepper. Pour half of the mixture over vegetables in baking pan, tossing to coat.

Rinse and pat chicken pieces dry. Arrange on top of vegetables. Pour remaining butter mixture over chicken. Pour bouillon, juice or vermouth around edges of pan. Cover tightly with foil.

Bake for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours or until chicken and vegetables are tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chicken and vegetables to a serving platter and keep warm. Pour juices into a small saucepan. In a small bowl, stir flour and half-and-half or milk until smooth. Stir into saucepan. Stirring over medium heat, bring to a boil and boil until thickened.

To serve, spoon some of the sauce over chicken and vegetables. Garnish with parsley. Pass remaining sauce separately.

Makes 4 servings

• 1 pound ground beef, browned
• 2 (10 1/2-ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (8-ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 1 (16-ounce) package pasteurized process cheese spread, cubed
• 1 cup salsa

Place beef in a 12″ skillet; add broth. Heat to boiling; stir in macaroni. Boil until macaroni is tender; reduce heat and mix in cheese and salsa. Heat through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 8 servings

• 1 package yeast
• 1 cup water warm (110° to 115°)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups flour
• 1 pound ricotta cheese or dry cottage cheese (about 2 cups)
• 14 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon basil dried basil leaves, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 32-ounce jar spaghetti sauce chunky style or 4 cups thick homemade spaghetti sauce
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.

Gradually add 3 cups flour to make a stiff dough. On a lightly floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn to coat surface. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Punch down dough, divide in half. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

While dough rests, in a medium bowl, stir ricotta or cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella, egg, 1 tablespoon flour, oregano, basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt until blended; set aside.

Preheat oven to 400°. Generously grease or spray with non-stick coating a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan.

On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough into a 15 x 10-inch rectangle. Transfer to jelly roll pan. Spread cheese mixture to within 1 inch of edges of dough. Roll remaining dough into a 15 x 10-inch rectangle. Carefully place on top of cheese mixture, folding over and pinching edges of dough to seal well. Cut slits in top crust to permit steam to escape during baking.

Bake for 20 minutes. Spread 3 cups of the spaghetti sauce over the top; sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until cheese melts and sauce is bubbly. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.

Warm remaining spaghetti sauce in a small pan.

To serve, cut Pizz-agna into squares. Pass remaining sauce.

* Rapid-rise yeast cuts total rising time by almost half. If regular yeast is used, increase rising time to 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Makes 4 servings

• 4 pork chops, well-trimmed
• 1 10-ounce can chicken broth
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1-pound can tomatoes chopped
• 2 1/2 cups noodles fine, broken in pieces
• Salt
• Black pepper

In skillet brown pork chops using shortening if necessary; drain off fat. Add chicken broth and water. Cover pan; simmer 15 minutes. Add tomatoes and noodles; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; cook 15 minutes longer or until noodles are tender, stirring often.

Makes 6 servings

• 2 chicken breasts whole, about 2 pounds
• 2 cups water
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 to 3 sprigs cilantro of fresh or parsley
• 1 1/3 cups chicken broth
• 2 10-ounce cans mild enchilada sauce
• 4 cups Monterey jack cheese coarsely grated
• 8 green onions thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped fresh leaves
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Few drops hot pepper sauce
• 12 corn tortillas
• Garnish with any or all of the following:
• Shredded iceberg lettuce
• Sour cream Dairy
• Guacamole or sliced avocado

Bring chicken breasts to boil in water with onion, garlic, and cilantro or parsley sprigs; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken from broth when cool and shred meat; strain broth. Add 1 1/3 cups broth to enchilada sauce; set aside.

For filling, combine chicken, 2 cups cheese, green onions, and cilantro leaves with salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce to taste. Add 1 cup enchilada sauce to moisten.

Warm tortillas on hot griddle or skillet until flexible, turning once; dip in enchilada sauce and lay flat. Fill with 2 to 3 tablespoons chicken filling; roll and place in 9 x 13-inch greased baking dish, seam side down. Spoon remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas and sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 cups cheese.

Cover baking dish with foil; place in preheated 350° F oven for about 20 minutes or until sauce bubbles and cheese melts.

Garnish with your choice of lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole or sliced avocado.

Makes 6 servings

• 1 pound lean ground beef (make sure to use lean or it will be really greasy)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 16-ounce bag frozen green beans
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 21-ounce bag tater tots

1.  Crumble raw ground beef in bottom of slow cooker.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2.  Layer remaining ingredients on beef in order listed.

3.  Cover.  Cook on high 1 hour, Reduce heat to low and cook for 3 hours.

Makes 4 servings

• 4 six ounces turkey burgers
• 4 hamburger buns

Prepare turkey burgers as directed on package.

Serve on buns.

Makes 4 servings

• 3 cups potatoes, boiled and mashed
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 (6-ounce) can French-fried onions, divided
• 1 1/2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine potatoes, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 can onions; mix well. Spread in a greased 2-quart casserole dish; set aside.

Mix chicken, vegetables, soup, milk and seasonings together; spread over potato mixture.

Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 30 minutes; top with remaining cheese and onions. Return to oven until cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes.

Makes 6 servings

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/3 cup onions chopped
• 1 15-ounce can kidney beans drained
• 1/2 cup French salad dressing (spicy variety)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin ground
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups lettuce shredded
• 1/2 cup green onions sliced
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 cup crumbled tortilla chips

Brown meat in a skillet; drain off excess fat. Add onion and cook until tender but not brown. Stir in beans, salad dressing, water and seasonings; simmer for 15 minutes.

Combine lettuce and green onions in a salad bowl. Just before serving, add meat mixture and 1 cup cheese; toss lightly. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and crisp tortilla chips.

Serve immediately.

Makes 8 servings

• 8 pork chops, 1-inch thick, loin pork chops may also be used
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 cup dried minced onion
• 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 1/4 cups water boiling
• 1 cup sour cream dairy

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Brown chops in oil in hot skillet. Remove chops to baking pan. Pour fat from skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon in pan. Add flour, dried onion, beef bouillon, and onion powder (if desired, commercial onion soup mix may be substituted for dried onion, bouillon, and onion powder). Blend in water. Pour over chops.

Cover with foil; bake in preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Remove from oven.

Place chops on serving plate. Garnish with celery leaves or parsley.

To make gravy, blend sour cream into pan liquid; heat.

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 can reduced fat cream of broccoli soup undiluted
• 1/4 cup fat free milk
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 lemon slices

1.  In a nonstick skillet, cook chicken in oil until browned on both sides.  (Approx. 10 minutes)  Drain.

2.  In a bowl combine soup, milk, lemon juice and pepper.  Pour over chicken.

3.  Top each chicken breast with a lemon slice.

4.  Reduce heat.  Cover and simmer until chicken juices run clear.  (Approx. 5 minutes)

Makes 4 servings

• 1 beef flank steak (1 1/2 lb.)
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 onion large, cut in 1/4 -inch thick rings (about 4)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce hickory smoke

Adjust oven rack 6 inches from heat source. Preheat broiler. Coat a broiler pan and rack with non-stick spray.

Slash fat on steak at 1-inch intervals to prevent curling. Place on broiler pan rack; set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Stir in onion until coated. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until limp. Uncover and cook 7 minutes longer or until golden brown, stirring frequently.

Brush steak with 1 tablespoon of the barbecue sauce and broil for 6 to 7 minutes. Turn over steak; brush with 1 tablespoon of the sauce and broil 6 to 7 minutes longer for medium rare or until desired doneness. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing.

Stir remaining barbecue sauce into onion. Diagonally slice meat very thinly across the grain. Place meat with juices on a warm platter and top with onion sauce.

Makes 4 servings

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cloves large garlic, lightly crushed
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• Salt
• 1 pound fine spaghetti (spaghettini), fine linguine, or vermicelli
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Pour the oil into a skillet large enough to hold the pasta. Add the garlic and cook over medium heat pressing the garlic occasionally with the back of a spoon until it turns deep gold, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the garlic from the pan. Stir in the walnuts and cook until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.

Bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tablespoons of salt, then the pasta. Stir well. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente, tender yet still firm to the bite. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water.

Toss the pasta with the nut sauce and just enough of the cooking water to keep it moist. Add the cheese and a generous grinding of black pepper. Toss well. Add the parsley and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 8 flour tortillas (8 inch)
• 4 large lettuce Leaves
• 2 medium tomatoes sliced
• 8 slices deli turkeys
• 8 slices deli ham
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 8 bacon strips cooked
• Salsa (optional)

1.  Spread mayonnaise on each tortilla.

2.  On four tortillas, layer lettuce, tomatoes, turkey, ham, cheese, and bacon; top with remaining tortillas.

3.  Cut into quarters and serve with salsa if desired.

Makes 6 servings

• 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 large sweet potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16-ounce) can cream style corn
• 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack-Colby cheese (4 ounces)
• Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Melt margarine in Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion, cumin and chicken in margarine 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center.

Stir in sweet potatoes and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese and cilantro; cook until hot. Gradually stir in cheese just until melted. Sprinkle each serving with cilantro.

Makes 6 servings

• Cornbread:
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg - slightly beaten
• 1 16-ounce can chili beans
• 1 pound ground beef - browned
• 1 cup cheddar cheese - shredded

Preheat the oven to 425°F.  Grease an 8 or 9-inch square pan or casserole dish.

Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.  Stir in the milk, oil, and egg just until moistened.  Pour half of the batter into the prepared dish.  Stir the browned hamburger into the chill beans.  Pour this mixture over the layer of cornbread.  Sprinkle with the shredded cheese to cover.  Pour the remaining batter over the cheese layer and spread to cover.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the sides are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.  Serve with remaining cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 2 (6-ounce) cans tuna, drained
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup Original Bisquick® baking mix
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced

1. Heat oven to 400°. Grease glass pie plate, 10 x 1 1/2 inches, or square baking dish, 8 x 8 x 2 inches, or six 10-ounce custard cups.

2. Cook onions in margarine in 10-inch skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are light brown. Sprinkle tuna, 1 cup of the cheese and the onions in pie plate.

3. Stir eggs, milk, baking mix and pepper with fork until blended. Pour into pie plate.

4. Bake pie plate or square dish, 25 to 30 minutes, custard cups, 20 to 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Top with tomato slices and remaining cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes.

Makes 4 servings

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 cups cut-up assorted vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli flowerets, shredded carrots)
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup stir fry sauce

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in 12-inch skillet or wok over high heat. Add chicken; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until no longer pink in center. Remove from skillet.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet. Add vegetables and garlic; stir-fry about 2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add chicken and stir-fry sauce. Cook and stir about 2 minutes or until hot.

Makes 8 servings

• 2 cups spiral pasta
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 26-ounce jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 4 1/2-ounce can sliced mushrooms drained
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 pound process American cheese cubed (such as Velveeta)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.

2.  Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.

3.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and mushrooms; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

4.  Place 1/2 C. meat sauce in a greased shallow 2 1/2 quart baking dish.

5.  Drain Pasta; place half over sauce.  Top with half the remaining meat sauce; spread with sour cream.  Top with the American cheese, remaining pasta and meat sauce.  Sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese.

6.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Uncover, bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.

Makes 8 servings

• 4 cups flour divided
• 4 1/2 teaspoons quick rise yeast
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkeys (or use boiled or canned chicken)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 3 tablespoons Dijon style mustard
• 1 egg beaten

1.  (You can skip this step and use thawed frozen bread dough if you prefer)  In a mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour, yeast, brown sugar and salt.  In a saucepan, heat the water and oil to 120-130 degrees.  Add to dry ingredients and beat until smooth.  Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic.  (about 4 minutes)  Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.

2.  Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the turkey, cheese and mustard.

3.  Divide dough into eight pieces.  On a floured surface, roll each piece into a 7″ circle.  Place filling on half of each circle.  Fold dough over filling; pinch seams to seal.  Place on greased baking sheets.  Brush with egg.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 servings

• 1 10-ounce package frozen broccoli spears cooked crisp-tender and drained
• 3 eggs hard-cooked, cut in wedges
• 1 10 1/2-ounce can cream of mushroom soup condensed
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 cup ham diced cooked
• 4 ounces American cheese diced
• 1/4 cup celery chopped
• 1/4 cup onions chopped
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs plain dry
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

At least 1 1/4 hours or up to 24 hours before serving:

Grease a 1 1/2 -quart shallow baking dish. Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces and place in baking dish. Arrange egg wedges over top.

In a large bowl, stir soup, milk and mayonnaise until blended. Stir in ham, cheese, celery and onion. Spoon over broccoli and eggs. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours, letting stand at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.

In a small bowl, mix crumbs and butter or margarine until blended. Spoon over ham mixture. Cover tightly and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake 25 to 30 minutes longer or until center is very hot and crumbs are browned. If not serving immediately, cover loosely with foil to retain heat. Garnish with a Tomato Rose if desired.

Makes 4 servings

• 2 to 3 slices bread torn in large pieces
• 4 chicken breasts large boneless, skin removed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 egg large
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 garlic large, crushed
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
• Lemon slices
• 1 tablespoon capers (optional), drained

Preheat oven to 250°. Place bread in a blender container, one slice at a time. Cover and blend at high speed to make soft bread crumbs; set aside. You will need about 1 1/2 cups.

Place one chicken breast half at a time, shiny-side down, between two pieces of waxed paper. With a wooden mallet or a rolling pin, flatten to 1/8 -inch thickness. Peel off waxed paper. Sprinkle one side of each with salt and pepper.

In a pie plate or shallow dish with a whisk or fork, beat egg and milk until blended. With tongs, dip both sides of chicken in egg mixture, then in bread crumbs to coat; set aside,
In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, sauté garlic in butter or margarine and oil until brown; discard garlic. Sauté chicken breasts, two at a time, for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until well browned. Transfer to an ovenproof platter in a single layer; place in oven to keep warm. Remove skillet from heat.

To skillet, add water, lemon juice and bouillon granules. Cook and stir over low heat to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Simmer for 2 minutes or until reduced slightly.

Garnish chicken with lemon slices. Stir capers into skillet and spoon liquid over chicken and serve.

Makes 4 servings

• 4 8 ounce ribeye steaks
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 pound fresh, sliced mushrooms
• 2 tbsp white wine

Season steaks in soy sauce, garlic, cumin and pepper. Set aside. Sauté mushrooms in 1/4 cup butter. Add wine and sprinkle with seasonings. Sauté seasoned steaks in 1/4 cup butter (or grill) to desired doneness. Top with mushroom sauce!

Please Note - August Angel Food Menus are delivered in September, so you will actually be using them throughout September.

The four weekly menus are based on the food items provided by Angel Food Ministries in September which include:

• 1.5 lb. Rib eye Steaks (3 x 8 oz.)
• 1.81 lb. (avg.) Perdue Tray Pack
• Split Chicken Breast
• (2 large breasts)
• 4 lb. Chicken Thighs
• 1.5 lb. Pork Chops (4 x 6 oz.)
• 1 lb. 80/20 Lean Ground Beef
• 1.5 lb. 100% White Meat Turkey
• Burgers (4 x 6 oz.)
• 12 oz. Deli Ham
• 1 lb. Frozen Sweet Potatoes
• 1 lb. Frozen Green Beans
• 15 oz. Pears (Product of U.S.A.)
• 12 oz. Orange Juice Concentrate (100% juice, no sugar added - makes over a quart of juice)
• 3 lb. bag Fresh Idaho Potatoes
• 2 lb. bag Fresh Onions
• 32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
• Dozen Eggs
• Dessert

Each weekly shopping list includes any additional items you need to prepare the dinner recipes suggested in the weekly menu. We’ve done our best to include low cost groceries to supplement what’s in the angel food box to come up with 4 x 7 dinner suggestions. I suggest you make sure to also have some of your family’s favorite side dishes on hand. I usually have rice, pasta and potatoes close by as well as fruits and vegetables that are on sale as well as canned items.

These menus are sponsored by our friends at Menu Planning Central. If you are looking for different types of weekly menus including kid-friendly, healthy and vegetarian options, take a look at www.menuplanningcentral.com

Week 1

Sunday
Ribeye Steaks

Monday
Chicken Piccata

Tuesday
Ham and Broccoli Dinner

Wednesday
Turkey and Swiss Calzone

Thursday
Cheesy Beef Spirals

Friday
Vegetable Chicken Stir-Fry

Saturday
Weekly Menu and Recipes Printable (PDF)

Weekly Shopping List (PDF)

These are PDF files. To save them to your computer, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As”. You will need a PDF Reader to view them. You can download the adobe reader free from adobe.com

Week 2

Sunday
Impossible Tuna and Cheddar Pie

Monday
Chili Cornbread Casserole

Tuesday
Chicken Cheese Chowder

Wednesday
Club Quesadillas

Thursday
Thin Spaghetti with Walnuts

Friday
Texas Style Smoky Flank Steak

Saturday
Weekly Menu and Recipes Printable (PDF)

Weekly Shopping List (PDF)

These are PDF files. To save them to your computer, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As”. You will need a PDF Reader to view them. You can download the adobe reader free from adobe.com

Week 3

Sunday
Chicken in Creamy Gravy

Monday
Oven Pork Chops

Tuesday
Nacho Taco Salad

Wednesday
Potato-Chicken Bake

Thursday
Pork Chop Dinner with Bacon and Cider Gravy

Friday
Turkey Burgers

Saturday
Weekly Menu and Recipes Printable (PDF)

Weekly Shopping List (PDF)

These are PDF files. To save them to your computer, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As”. You will need a PDF Reader to view them. You can download the adobe reader free from adobe.com

Week 4

Sunday
Bean Tater Tot Casserole

Monday
Chicken Cilantro Enchilada

Tuesday
Pork Chop Skillet

Wednesday
Pizz-agna

Thursday
Beef and Noodle Skillet

Friday
Chicken and Vegetable Bake

Saturday
Pork Chops and Rice

Weekly Menu and Recipes Printable (PDF)

Weekly Shopping List (PDF)

These are PDF files. To save them to your computer, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As”. You will need a PDF Reader to view them. You can download the adobe reader free from adobe.com

My family loves the warm delights desserts, but they are pricey. I usually find them around the $3.00 price range for 2.

Instead, make your own at home. All it takes is 1 box of cake mix which you can get for as low as 75 cents.

The recipe is simple, 4 Tbsp cake mix (any kind) and 2 Tbsp water. Mix in a microwavable cup and microwave for 30 seconds. I can get 10-12 of these desserts from 1 box.

This post was submitted by Krista.

September 23th 2009

Editorial

I’m so sorry I didn’t get this newsletter out to you yesterday as planned. I’ve been struggling a bit with insomnia the past few nights and just couldn’t quite get my thoughts together enough to finish it and get it sent out. Instead I ended up taking a much needed nap before getting ready for our girl scout meeting in the afternoon.

I’m glad you are enjoying FrugalLivingNews.com. It’s been a lot of fun putting that site together even though there are still a few little technical quirks to work out. It’s getting there and there are some very interesting blog posts, articles and even videos on the site already. I’ve enjoyed reading the various comments you’ve been making on the site as well.

Here’s the link in case you haven’t checked it out yet - http://www.frugallivingnews.com/

I better get back to laundry and packing. I’m leaving tomorrow to head to a 3 day blogging conference and am looking forward to meeting some amazing women and learning new things.

That’s it for this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com

Warm Regards,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Inspirational Quote

“Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions” - Albert Einstein

Ready to make a Halloween costume with your child? Homemade Halloween Costumes - no sewing required.

Reader Question

If I freeze spices, e.g. ground ancho pepper, I understand that it can
last indefinitely. However, can I take it right from the freezer and
use it, or will it’s potency be lost? Must I leave it out over night?
The problem with that, of course, is that I may not know that I will
need it until an hour or even less, before I do. But, perhaps, that
can’t be helped.

Thanks.

Abba

Hi Abba, excellent question. I freeze my spices and do two different things.

For my most commonly used spices, I buy them in bulk, then fill a small amount into a spice jar and freeze the rest. When the spice jar gets low, I add some more. This allows the spices to thaw.

For things I don’t use all the time, I simply take the ground spices out of the freezer and use right away. The particles are so small that they thaw almost immediately.

Susanne

Even though I have been homemaking for 32 years, I am using a flannel backed vinyl tablecloth for the first time.  Is there a way to get out the “wrinkles” that are in the vinyl when it comes out of the package.  I usually iron my cloth table wear on the table, but of course, in this case the vinyl would melt.

Thanks,
Paula

Hi Paula,

I usually wash mine in the washing machine in cold water in a gentle cycle, then put it in the dryer on cold. That gets the wrinkles out and washes off any lose vinyl / plastic particles that may have gotten stock on it during the manufacturing process.

Susanne

News From The HBHW Club

This is a new section of the newsletter. Each week I’m going to share some tidbits of what’s going on at the HBHW Club with you. I hope you enjoy these extra tips, recipes and ideas and of course would love to have you join the club.

As a HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month here: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

And to make it even easier, I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.

Here’s one of the recipes that were submitted this past week.

Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:

* 1 pkg yellow cake mix
* 1/2 cup butter, melted
* 1 egg

Filling:

* 2/3 cup reserved cake mix
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 1 1/2 cups dark corn syrup
* 3 eggs

Topping:

* 2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
Empty the package of cake mix into a large bowl and scoop out 2/3 cup and set it aside for later.  Add the butter and the 1 egg to the bowl with the cake mix and mix together until it gets nice and crumbly.  Press this into the bottom of your pan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

While the crust is baking, put the 2/3 cup cake mix, brown sugar, corn syrup, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with a mixer at medium speed for a minute or two.

When crust is finished baking, pour the filling in and cover with pecans.

Return to the oven and bake an additional 30 to 35 minutes.  Let cool, then cut into bars.

And here are some of the other recipes that have been added in the past few days.

• Layered Pizza Hot Dish
• Ginger-Snappy Cookies
• Chicken Stock
• Pineapple Cheese Ball
• German Bread Dumplings

All in all, we have over 200 new recipes in the member area already.

We’re still talking a lot about future issues of the monthly HBHW Club reports as well as doing laundry with homemade detergent.

Ready to join us? Try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

Featured Article

This week’s featured article is about what it meas to be frugal. Take a minute to read through my thoughts on the topic and then share your own as a comment.

Frugal Definition - What Does It Mean To Live Frugally

Frugal Tips

Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations
Since Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite frugal Thanksgiving decorating tips. Anything from pumpkins to fall flowers can be used to make a prett …

Grocery List
I make a grocery list with the following heading: Meats, Produce, Dairy, Can Goods, Frozen, & Misc: No Eat. In doing this I can get in and out of the grocery store without back tracking through t …

Frugal Vegetable Soup Mix
I keep leftover vegetables in a gallon bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, it’s simple to add hamburger or other meat and make a great soup or stew since the vegetables are already seasone …

Do you have a tip to share? Fill out the submit a frugal tip form and I’ll be glad to add it to the site and share your tip in an upcoming edition of the newsletter.

Recipes

Here are some of the most recent recipes that have been added to the HBHW site. Enjoy!

Pork & Kraut with Dumpling’s
3-4pd. pork roast, add 1 medium sliced onion,1qt.jar of homemade sauerkraut (or 2cans of sauerkraut),caraway seed, pepper&salt,1/2 stick butter or margarine,add water to the roast alittle less tha …

A Different Green Bean Casserole
1 lb frozen french cut green beans 1 can cream of celery soup or 10 oz of the homemade equivelant. 1 cup slivered toasted almonds Mix green beans with 1/2 cup almonds and the cream of celery soup and …

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Suggested ingredients and amounts (all are adjustable to your taste) 3-4 cups cooked rice 1 cup broccoli florets or peas 2-3 scrambled eggs 1-2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts (optional) 1 bottle swe …

Cranberry Chutney
4 small oranges 2 cups sugar (or sugar substitute) 4 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup chopped unpeeled apple 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 Tablespoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginge …

Delicious Beans and Potatoes
Make mashed potatoes. While they are cooking take cooked pinto beans, drained, cooked kidney beans, drained, or a mix, or leftover bean soup or leftover beans that kidney or pinto beans are in them, …

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Click here to send it to me and I’ll be happy to add it to the website.

I’m Looking For:

This section is going to be all about you. If you are looking for a particular recipe or a tip on how to do something, submit it here and I will post it in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll give you my input and other readers of the newsletter will have the opportunity to share their recipes and tips as well. So take a moment to post your questions and of course if you have a tip or idea for any question posted in this section feel free to leave a comment under the appropriate post.

I’m Looking For Requests

Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
looking for a from scratch recipe for cornbread that tastes like the Jiffy brand. I’ve tried adding sugar to some recipes, but they still don’t taste similar. My son prefers this to sout …

In search of gluten-free lemon bars
Lemon bars are an economical sweet and have always been my favourite but now I must cook gluten-free meals (no wheat or wheat byproducts, read flour, etc., etc., - everything, especially prepared food …

Closet Damp Absorber
Hi Just wondering in any readers have any ideas on how to make your own closet damp absorber, you know the sort that collects the humid water in linen closets etc. Gayle This post was submitted by gay …

Egg Nog Recipes
I am looking for a variety of egg nog recipes out there. If you have a great traditional recipe, or one with a different twist or flavor to it, I’d love to hear about it. This post was submitted …

Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray
I have boys with thick hair that needs quick taming in the morning. Plain water isn’t controlling it. I sometimes use No More Bedhead or No More Tangles, but it’s too costly anymore. I won …

Cooking Turkey
Last year there was a post on how to use your oven as a slow cooker and cook a turkey overnight. My turkey turned out fantastic!! But, I lost my directions. Please help! This post was submitted by …

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade
looking for homemade chicken and dumplings made the old- fashioned way.thank you. From Susanne - Here’s my chicken and dumplings recipe. My biggest trick is to start the day before by cooking th …

Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
I am looking for a sweat potatoe cassarole that has the marshmellowes on top and has a thick like syrup and fruit cocktail in it. my aunt used to make it but she passed away and no one remembered to b …

Pie Shell Cake
I’m looking for a recipe for a cake that was baked in a pie shell. It may have had chocolate syrup on the bottom. It was great and my kids loved it. Now I would like to make it for the grandk …

Removing Rocks in Beans
Does anyone have a method for removing all the pebbles from pinto & other dried beans? This post was submitted by Nancy.

I’m Looking For Responses
Below you will find some of the recent responses to the “I’m Looking For” Requests. You may also want to go directly to this section and browse through all the recent submissions and replies. To do so, click on “I’m Looking for” here, and start looking through them.

Comment on Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray by Ellen
If you just want to tame it and not remove tangles, try a little salt water in a spray bottle.

Comment on Reconstituting Powdered Milk by Debie
I don’t know much about powdered milk. Does it not cost more to use than purchasing regular milk? If it is cheaper, how do you get your family to switch over?

Comment on Apron Evangelism by Debie
Just wanted to say thanks for reminding me why I wear my apron!! Actually my daughter thought I wasn’t feeling well the other day when I didn’t put it on in the morning. Amazing how one gets in a ha …

Comment on Low Cal recipes by Nancy R.
If you search Diabetic recipes, and weight watchers recipes they are all low calorie. I did weight watchers for 2 years now, 1 year in meetings and 1 year on my own and am 10 lbs from my goal weight. …

Comment on Crockpot Cranberry Pork by ridgerunner
Comment for Joni… your recipe is so darn good!!! Fried Potato’s and onion’s on the side and hope to eat it all for yourself. I love to cook with pork, for that matter. The aroma this time of year is …

Comment on Indian Pudding Recipe by DE
Nadine - notice this site is titled “hillbillyhousewife”…probably not a place to spread enlightenment.

Comment on Closet Damp Absorber by brande
baking soda

Comment on Quick Sugar Cookies by Angela
These cookies are so good and easy to make. I did use real unsalted butter instead of margarine and increased the milk by 1/2 to 1 tsp. They turned out perfect. I will make these again, (as the fir …

Comment on Haitian Spaghetti Sauce by Nick
Try this recipe. It’s worked for me. http://i-jat.blogspot.com/2008/10/haitian-spaghetti.html

Comment on Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade by kitty wilson
I have always made mine by boiling the fryer with onion, celery and poltery seasoning as well as salt and pepper. I also completely cover the chicken and save some of the broth to freeze to use for …

Inspirational Story

ANGEL SMILING ON YOU

By Catherine Pulsifer

Tears streamed down my face as I sat at my grandmother’s funeral. My grandmother lived a very full life, and was full of energy, love, and wisdom. She always said the right thing for the situation. And, whenever we had a problem, we knew we could talk with Grandma.

As a teenager, I can remember many conversations where Grandmother would give us her worldly wisdom and she would always end up saying you have an angel smiling on you dear I know you will do the right thing. Now, here we were at her funeral, and I could almost hear her saying, the angels are smiling on us. Now, I really knew I had an angel smiling on me as I am sure Grandma was in heaven smiling down and watching out for us.

I offered to help my Mum sort through Grandma’s apartment. The next few days were filled with memories, and filled with laughter, and filled with tears. As we sorted through Grandma’s stuff, it brought back some wonderful memories. I was packing the last of the dishes when my mum called to me. I went into Grandma’s bedroom, and my mum handed me a package with my name written on it. I opened the box and read the poem:

May this little Angel shine upon your home
Filling your days with cheer
Know that She stands on guard for you
To help you smile all year.

And Grandma had handwritten, “hang this stained glass angel in your window to remind you of your angel Kate! Love Grandma”

To this day, I have the stained glass angel hanging in my bedroom window. And, every time I look at it I can hear Grandma saying:

“You have an angel smiling on you dear, I know you will do the right thing.”

Final Thought

That’s it for this edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I had creating it for you. I also hope that you have found the information helpful and useful. And by all means feel free to forward the newsletter to family and friends or even better, encourage them to subscribe to it.

Do you have a question, a tip, a recipe or a story you’d like to share with us? Email it to me and I’ll include it in a future issue. Can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Warm Wishes,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Orange Cleaning De-greaser

Ingredients:
7-8 Orange Peels
Note: Save the peels in a plastic bag till you have 7 or 8

2 cups of water

Directions:
Slice orange peels in strips and boil in the 2 cups of water in medium pot for 1-2 minutes or longer. Let cool and bottle it in a spray bottle. Works great in the kitchen.

This post was submitted by Donna.

Homemade Dry Bread Crumbs

When you run out of those good dry bread crumbs that you bought try this method of making your own and save $3.00 a batch

Ingredients:
Save your old stale bread slices or bread ends (4-6)
Pkg. Dry Italian Salad Dressing Mix or
Ranch Dressing Mix or use none.

Directions:

Save the ends of bread loaves in zip lock freezer bags then freeze. When you have enough for a batch, then follow the instructions below.

Heat oven to: 175*F-200*F
Place bread slices on a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until bread is very dry.

In your blender or food processor break up the already dry bread and process until crumbs are desired texture. You can also place the dry bread slices in a zip lock bag after they are baked and use a rolling pin to crush them.

Then add one package of Italian dressing mix or ranch dressing mix or simply leave plain. Mix this and store in an airtight container until needed.

This is very cheap and uses up bread and dry dressing mix. You may also use up dry spices for your very own flavor.

This post was submitted by Donna.

I would like to find a recipe for dill pickles that are made 1 jar at a time. This is good when your cucumbers are ripening a few at a time. Thank you, Mary

This post was submitted by Mary R. Schmidt.

Homemade noodles: I triple the ingredients and freeze two portions. Enjoy! These noodles are a standby in our house. They are hearty, filling and very versatile. I use them as a side dish, in soups and in casseroles. I hope you enjoy them as much we do.

2 to 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon cold water
1 tablespoon canola oil
Place 2 cups flour and salt on a pastry board or in a deep bowl. Make a well in a center of the flour; add eggs and water. Gradually mix with hands or a wooden spoon until well blended.
Gather into a ball and knead on a floured surface until smooth, about 10 minutes. If necessary, add remaining flour to keep dough from sticking to surface or hands. Divide the dough into thirds. On a lightly floured surface, roll each section into a paper-thin rectangle. Dust top of dough with flour to prevent sticking while rolling. Trim the edges and flour both sides of dough.
Roll dough, jelly-roll style. Using a sharp knife, cut 1/4-in. slices. Unroll noodles and allow to dry on paper towels before cooking.
To cook, bring salted water to a rapid boil. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the water; drop noodles into water and cook until tender but not soft. Yield: 10 servings. Freeze uncooked noodles in serving-size portions to enjoy months later. Defrost and cook according to directions above.

This post was submitted by Vicky Fox.

I don’t know how much more frugal you can get than this, and it’s one of my most favorite comfort foods.

Boil macaroni as directed on the package. Drain. Add a can of crushed tomatoes. That’s it for the basics.

I like to add salt, pepper and butter to mine when it’s done cooking.

I am poor, and this is a filling meal, but if I ever get rich, I’ll still eat this several times a month.

This post was submitted by Colleen.

My grandmother and grandfather make egg gravy. I have always loved it on a biscuit. I have asked my grandmother how to make it, but she can’t tell me because she doesn’t measure, she … just makes it. Does anyone have an actual recipe for this? I am a measuring girl, I need details.

This post was submitted by Malia Liermann.

1 lb. package stew meat, roll in flour, salt/pepper and brown. Turn down to simmer, add two cans of Mexican stewed tomatoes. Simmer for 1 hour. Serve over rice with parmesan cheese. Serves 4

This post was submitted by Karen B,.

This is a simple recipe and only takes one pan. Here is what you need:

1 lb hamburger
1 green bell pepper diced
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 small bag frozen corn
1 cup minute rice
chilli powder to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup water

In frying pan, Brown hamburger, bell pepper and onion. Drain off fat, add tomato sauce, corn, water and chilli powder. Bring to boil. Add minute rice and turn down to simmer. When excess liquid is reduced sprinkle cheese over top and turn off from heat. Serve when cheese is melted.

enjoy

This post was submitted by Mary Austin.

Keep this white sauce mix on hand for easy Macaroni and Cheese!

White Sauce Mix

2 cups instant nonfat dry milk
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup butter, margarine or shortening

In a large bowl mix well dry milk, flour and salt. With pastry blender or 2 knives cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Store in an airtight container. If using butter, store in the refrigerator. If using margarine or shortening, will keep on the shelf in dry weather for up to 6 months.

White Sauce
In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup White Sauce Mix, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Stir over low heat until smooth and hot. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Cheese Sauce
Add 3/4 cup shredded cheese after White Sauce thickens.

Curry Sauce
Add 1 teaspoon curry powder to thickened White Sauce.

Alfredo Sauce
Make White Sauce from White Sauce Mix. To every 1/2 cup White Sauce add 2 to 4 cloves garlic, pressed, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese and 1 cup light cream. To cooked and drained hot pasta, add Alfredo Sauce ingredients, one by one, mixing and tossing well after each addition. Serve immediately.

Mac and Cheese
Combine 1/2 cup White Sauce Mix, 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese and 1 cup milk. Pour over hot, drained, elbow macaroni. Toss well.

This post was submitted by Donna.

I live here in Benin and real butter here is shiped in from France. some time ago it became quite expensive so i decided to find another thing to use as butter but at the same time i like the taste of butter and the margerine here tastes like strawberry. so i took a block of butter here it is 250g and then added about the same amount of oil.. here it is soybean oil. and added some fine salt, i then beat it with my mixer until it was well mixed together and then stuck it in the fridge. it gets hard like butter. you need to use an oil that doesn’t have much taste and isn’t going rancid. if you want you can add onion or garlic or seasoning salt or if you want honey. just beat it up and keep in the fridge. if you need to spread it on bread and not toast then take it out about 15 min before you want to use it.

This post was submitted by Suz Baldwin.

I’m looking for a pasty recipe just like the ones I had when I was in Michigan. I’m living in the South now and have not been to Michigan in years. If I mention the word “pasty” here, people don’t know what I’m talking about.

Must…have…pasty….PLEASE! I think I’m homesick.

This post was submitted by Colleen.

I have found a way to make our electric dryer a bit more efficient and it doesn’t need to run as long to dry a load of clothes … when you are drying towels and after they are done, keep one dry hot one in the dryer and toss your next load of clothes in … since the towel is already dry and warm when you turn the next load on it helps “heat” up the next load that is currently drying … you can also do this with any load and just toss in a dry clean towel It works pretty great!

This post was submitted by Sandra Houtz.

To make fast Iced Tea or Sweet Tea.
Follow this tip.
Put 13 Tea Bags (For Four Quarts, 6 or 7 for two quarts) into the basket of your Coffee Maker.
Brew as for a pot of Coffee.
When finished Brewing Pour into a Four Quart Pitcher (Or two quart if using less bags) and Add Water to finish filling the pitcher. Add Sugar to taste and Refrigerate till Cold or pour over Ice Cubes.
This is fast easy and keeps the house cooler in the summer, no need to boil WATER.
Enjoy!

This post was submitted by Joy Clevelandd.

Looking for an easy recipe to make sliced jalapenos like to put on nachos.

Kathy

This post was submitted by Kathy Hardin.

I am in search of a pattern for a clothespin bag like my Grandma and later, my Mother had that looks like a little dress!!!
would love to recreate the memory!!!!

This post was submitted by Ann Kleven.

I am looking for quick, easy, and healthy breakfast dishes for a large family. We tho’t of egg casserole, but we’d like to have a variety. Thank you!

This post was submitted by Miranda.

What does it mean to be frugal?

Here’s a definition by Merriam Webster Online:

Frugal - characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources

(…from Latin frugalis virtuous…)

For me being frugal  and living frugally is all about the choices I make. It isn’t just saving as much as I can on every little item and never spending money on anything I want.

It’s spending smartly and saving where I can so I then have plenty of cash leftover for the things that are important to me.

Anyone can save money by not spending it.  Misers and scrooges pinch their pennies and have a perfectly miserable life to show for it.  The frugal life, however, is not just about saving money.  It is about making choices to enhance your life.

There are always ways to spend your money – no matter how much you have.  You can buy your lunch at work or you can buy groceries to make your lunch to take to work.  The frugal person will make her lunch and then save the rest of the money for something else (a vacation, paying off the mortgage early, a spa day as a treat, or a new pre-owned car).

Income tax checks are a great chance to be frugal.  You could use the money to put a down payment on a new car or to buy that surround sound system you always wanted.  A frugal person will save a portion, pay off any outstanding debts with a portion, and use the rest for a treat that they have desired for a while (maybe a professional hairstylist or a new outfit for business meetings).  The money will be used or spent, but it will go towards things that have lasting value.  Splurges are allowed, but they are controlled.

Being frugal is about spending money the best way it can be spent.  You learn to compare items and opportunities and decide which one is the best choice for you.  It requires a willingness to do some research, a boldness to ask questions, and the ability to walk away until another day (or for good).

It takes a special mindset to live a frugal life.  You have to understand the bigger picture and be willing to sacrifice a little now in order to gain a lot tomorrow.  The trick is that you may not be able to see the gain for some time.  It’s a walk of faith that in the end it will be better.

A great way to start on the frugal path is to meet some truly frugal people.  They will be the happy people who have no hefty bills weighing them down because they have paid them off.  Talk to them about their walk and see if they will help you along your own journey.

Learning to be frugal will help you to save money, but it is not just about the money.  A frugal person learns to make the best choice in financial situations so that he can enjoy his life to the fullest.

Not sure how any have apple trees. But here in the NW we have them everywhere it seems . Some years we get lots of little apples.Last year was that way.I had made applesauce apple butter apple crisp if it had apples I made it.And still had lots of little apples. Someone said just quarter them and put them in salted water drain and bag them no peeling:).

It worked like a charm.them didn’t turn brown or get too mushie when used. I tossed them with apple pie spice and sugar put in bottom of 9×13 pan and top with a boxed cake mix yellow or spiced .they turn out great. no frosting on cake needed

This post was submitted by robin.

After I take a stick of butter out of it’s wax paper covering, I fold the paper in half and pop it in a bag I keep in the freezer. The next time I need to butter a pan for a recipe, I simply remove a wrapper, open it up and butter the pan with the butter remnants that remained on the wrapper!

This post was submitted by Tricia Allen.

I use 1-2 cans of black beans, rinsed 1/2-3/4 cup of your favorite salsa
Cooked rice(I usually use 2 bags, boil in bag rice)

Mix beans and salsa together. Warm in microwave or saucepan until hot. Serve over cooked rice. You can add anything you like to this. Some of our add ins are: Sour cream, shredded cheese, jalapenos, a can of corn, crushed up corn chips.

For us, this serves 2 adults and 2 teenagers!

This post was submitted by Liz.

September 15th 2009

Editorial

I love fall… it’s finally starting to cool down and I can’t wait for all the brilliant colors of the leaves changing. Sure it’s a little bitter-sweet so see summer go and the seasons change again, but I’m ready for a change of pace. How about you?

It also means it’s time to start thinking about all our favorite holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas. Part of my plan for the coming weeks is to completely redo and update the holiday recipe section and I’ll be asking for you input in a few weeks as well.

The past few weeks I’ve spent some time thinking about Halloween. We enjoy dressing up and handing out treats at our house. If you are offended by Halloween (which I completely respect) skip on ahead to the rest of the newsletter…

…but if you (and your kids) enjoy dressing up, I have a treat for you I put together a downloadable ebook with over 90 Halloween costume ideas that are easy and inexpensive to make - no sewing required. And to celebrate the beginning of fall (and because I’m getting very annoyed with all the expensive costumes displayed all over stores around here), it’s your’s for $7.00 this week. To get your copy, click the link below.

Homemade Halloween Costumes Made Easy

I hope you’ll enjoy making these cute costumes as much as my daughter and I have. It’s so much more fun than picking something off the rack. As always, if you’re not happy with it, email me and I’ll refund your purchase.

By the way, these costume ideas are also great for school plays, or just playing dress up.

Ok, enough about Halloween and on to the rest of the newsletter. The Hillbilly Housewife Club is buzzing with excitement from new members joining in the past week or so. Take a look at what we’re talking about in the HBHW Club section.

We’ve also had lots of submissions for anything from Frugal Tips, Recipes and Looking For Requests and there are lots of comments on last week’s request. I am loving how interactive this newsletter has become. I’m learning something new with each issue.

A few people are still having an issue with the left side-bar covering up part of the newsletter. We’re still trying to figure out what’s causing it. If this is happening to you, would you mind taking a screenshot and emailing it to me? (if you’re not sure how to do that, email me and I’ll get you some step by step directions - it’s not hard). My web designer and I aren’t able to reproduce that error (the site looks fine to us no matter what we try), and it makes it hard to diagnose the problem without seeing exactly what’s going on.

That’s it for this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com

Warm Regards,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Inspirational Quote

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” - Charles R. Swindoll

Ready to make a Halloween costume with your child? Homemade Halloween Costumes - no sewing required.

Reader Question

I’m trying to make my own mayonnaise. It always stays kind of runny and doesn’t set up. Any suggestions?
Ellie M.

Hi Ellie. Great question. Making mayonnaise can be a bit tricky. I have two suggestions for you.

1) Make sure everything you’re using is very clean (the bowl, the spacular, whisk etc.) Even small amounts of contaminants can prevent the mayonnaise from forming an emulsion.

2) Whisk very fast and in the same direction while slowly adding the oil. It’s actually easier to make mayonnaise in the food processor.

Try this recipe for homemade mayonnaise and let me know if that’s working for you.

Susanne

News From The HBHW Club

This is a new section of the newsletter. Each week I’m going to share some tidbits of what’s going on at the HBHW Club with you. I hope you enjoy these extra tips, recipes and ideas and of course would love to have you join the club.

As a HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month here: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

And to make it even easier, I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.

Here’s one of the recipes that were submitted this past week.

Pizza Casserole For A Crowd

* 1 1/2 lb hamburger
* 1/2 cup onion, diced
* 1/4 cup green pepper, diced
* 4 oz. mushrooms (canned or fresh)
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. black pepper
* 1/8 tsp oregano
* 16 oz wide egg noodles
* 2 (10 oz.) cans pizza sauce
* 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup sliced pepperoni, cut into bite size pieces
* 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded

In large skillet, brown ground beef until just starting to lose the pink color, than add the onion, green pepper, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and oregano, and continue cooking until ground beef is brown and veggies are tender, but not too soft.

Meanwhile, cook the noodles as directed on the packaging, and drain.

In large bowl, combine the beef mixture and noodles with the pizza sauce, tomato sauce, milk, and pepperoni. Turn into a large casserole dish and top with the mozzarella cheese.  Cover and put in 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.  Uncover and cook 10 minutes more or until cheese starts to brown. This is a big dish that will serve about ten people.

And here are some of the other recipes that have been added in the past few days.

• Sunday Night Pork Roast with Island Glaze
• Cafeteria Hot Dish Chop Suey
• Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
• All-Purpose Spray Cleaner

All in all, we have over 190 new recipes in the member area already.

We’re still talking a lot about reusing things and repurposing them. Some of my favorites have been reusing old calendars and of all things foam meat trays. Meal planning has been another biggie and we’ve been sharing what kitchen gadget we use the most.

Ready to join us? Try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

Featured Article

This week we’re back to the regular article format. Thank you for all the wonderful comments and emails about the oatmeal report. I’m very glad you enjoyed it and I’ll put some more reports like it together and share with you down the road.

This week, I’m sharing various ways you can cook potatoes (the baked kind). Did you know you can make them in the oven (ok, that one was obvious), microwave, toaster oven, on the grill or in the fire pit?

Read How To Make A Baked Potato and leave a comment with your own tips and ways to make them. I look forward to reading what you have to say on the topic.

Frugal Tips

Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations
Since Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite frugal Thanksgiving decorating tips. Anything from pumpkins to fall flowers can be used to make a prett …

Grocery List
I make a grocery list with the following heading: Meats, Produce, Dairy, Can Goods, Frozen, & Misc: No Eat. In doing this I can get in and out of the grocery store without back tracking through t …

Frugal Vegetable Soup Mix
I keep leftover vegetables in a gallon bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, it’s simple to add hamburger or other meat and make a great soup or stew since the vegetables are already seasone …

Do you have a tip to share? Fill out the submit a frugal tip form and I’ll be glad to add it to the site and share your tip in an upcoming edition of the newsletter.

Recipes

Here are some of the most recent recipes that have been added to the HBHW site. Enjoy!

Pork & Kraut with Dumpling’s
3-4pd. pork roast, add 1 medium sliced onion,1qt.jar of homemade sauerkraut (or 2cans of sauerkraut),caraway seed, pepper&salt,1/2 stick butter or margarine,add water to the roast alittle less tha …

A Different Green Bean Casserole
1 lb frozen french cut green beans 1 can cream of celery soup or 10 oz of the homemade equivelant. 1 cup slivered toasted almonds Mix green beans with 1/2 cup almonds and the cream of celery soup and …

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Suggested ingredients and amounts (all are adjustable to your taste) 3-4 cups cooked rice 1 cup broccoli florets or peas 2-3 scrambled eggs 1-2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts (optional) 1 bottle swe …

Cranberry Chutney
4 small oranges 2 cups sugar (or sugar substitute) 4 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup chopped unpeeled apple 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 Tablespoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginge …

Delicious Beans and Potatoes
Make mashed potatoes. While they are cooking take cooked pinto beans, drained, cooked kidney beans, drained, or a mix, or leftover bean soup or leftover beans that kidney or pinto beans are in them, …

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Click here to send it to me and I’ll be happy to add it to the website.

I’m Looking For:

This section is going to be all about you. If you are looking for a particular recipe or a tip on how to do something, submit it here and I will post it in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll give you my input and other readers of the newsletter will have the opportunity to share their recipes and tips as well. So take a moment to post your questions and of course if you have a tip or idea for any question posted in this section feel free to leave a comment under the appropriate post.

I’m Looking For Requests

Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
looking for a from scratch recipe for cornbread that tastes like the Jiffy brand. I’ve tried adding sugar to some recipes, but they still don’t taste similar. My son prefers this to sout …

In search of gluten-free lemon bars
Lemon bars are an economical sweet and have always been my favourite but now I must cook gluten-free meals (no wheat or wheat byproducts, read flour, etc., etc., - everything, especially prepared food …

Closet Damp Absorber
Hi Just wondering in any readers have any ideas on how to make your own closet damp absorber, you know the sort that collects the humid water in linen closets etc. Gayle This post was submitted by gay …

Egg Nog Recipes
I am looking for a variety of egg nog recipes out there. If you have a great traditional recipe, or one with a different twist or flavor to it, I’d love to hear about it. This post was submitted …

Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray
I have boys with thick hair that needs quick taming in the morning. Plain water isn’t controlling it. I sometimes use No More Bedhead or No More Tangles, but it’s too costly anymore. I won …

Cooking Turkey
Last year there was a post on how to use your oven as a slow cooker and cook a turkey overnight. My turkey turned out fantastic!! But, I lost my directions. Please help! This post was submitted by …

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade
looking for homemade chicken and dumplings made the old- fashioned way.thank you. From Susanne - Here’s my chicken and dumplings recipe. My biggest trick is to start the day before by cooking th …

Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
I am looking for a sweat potatoe cassarole that has the marshmellowes on top and has a thick like syrup and fruit cocktail in it. my aunt used to make it but she passed away and no one remembered to b …

Pie Shell Cake
I’m looking for a recipe for a cake that was baked in a pie shell. It may have had chocolate syrup on the bottom. It was great and my kids loved it. Now I would like to make it for the grandk …

Removing Rocks in Beans
Does anyone have a method for removing all the pebbles from pinto & other dried beans? This post was submitted by Nancy.

I’m Looking For Responses
Below you will find some of the recent responses to the “I’m Looking For” Requests. You may also want to go directly to this section and browse through all the recent submissions and replies. To do so, click on “I’m Looking for” here, and start looking through them.

Comment on Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray by Ellen
If you just want to tame it and not remove tangles, try a little salt water in a spray bottle.

Comment on Reconstituting Powdered Milk by Debie
I don’t know much about powdered milk. Does it not cost more to use than purchasing regular milk? If it is cheaper, how do you get your family to switch over?

Comment on Apron Evangelism by Debie
Just wanted to say thanks for reminding me why I wear my apron!! Actually my daughter thought I wasn’t feeling well the other day when I didn’t put it on in the morning. Amazing how one gets in a ha …

Comment on Low Cal recipes by Nancy R.
If you search Diabetic recipes, and weight watchers recipes they are all low calorie. I did weight watchers for 2 years now, 1 year in meetings and 1 year on my own and am 10 lbs from my goal weight. …

Comment on Crockpot Cranberry Pork by ridgerunner
Comment for Joni… your recipe is so darn good!!! Fried Potato’s and onion’s on the side and hope to eat it all for yourself. I love to cook with pork, for that matter. The aroma this time of year is …

Comment on Indian Pudding Recipe by DE
Nadine - notice this site is titled “hillbillyhousewife”…probably not a place to spread enlightenment.

Comment on Closet Damp Absorber by brande
baking soda

Comment on Quick Sugar Cookies by Angela
These cookies are so good and easy to make. I did use real unsalted butter instead of margarine and increased the milk by 1/2 to 1 tsp. They turned out perfect. I will make these again, (as the fir …

Comment on Haitian Spaghetti Sauce by Nick
Try this recipe. It’s worked for me. http://i-jat.blogspot.com/2008/10/haitian-spaghetti.html

Comment on Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade by kitty wilson
I have always made mine by boiling the fryer with onion, celery and poltery seasoning as well as salt and pepper. I also completely cover the chicken and save some of the broth to freeze to use for …

Inspirational Story

THE OBSTACLE IN OUR PATH

Author Lee Ryan Miller

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road.

After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

Final Thought

That’s it for this edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I had creating it for you. I also hope that you have found the information helpful and useful. And by all means feel free to forward the newsletter to family and friends or even better, encourage them to subscribe to it.

Do you have a question, a tip, a recipe or a story you’d like to share with us? Email it to me and I’ll include it in a future issue. Can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Warm Wishes,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

My bff and I found this recipe in college…it used a cake mix, frozen strawberries, strawberry jello, and marshmellows…I know the marshmellows went in first and then they ended up on top in the finished cake…it was SOOOOO good….anyone know what I am talking about and have the recipe?
Thanks,
April Ann

This post was submitted by April Ann Wofford.

I have some dried sweet corn that I would like to prepare. I have had it that the Amish prepared and it was rather sweet and dark from perhaps either brown sugar added or molasses. Can someone tell me how to prepare it? Thanks Wanda

This post was submitted by Wanda Johnson.

Hello, My name is Penny. I am looking for a simple corn bread stuffing recipe that uses sausage, home made corn bread, etc. I have seen several, but, none that I really like.

Also, I would like for someone to tell me how to assemble it what type of seasonings, spices, herbs to use in it. If it needs a chicken stock, or a turkey stock.

My grand mother used to make a dressing patty recipe and it was out of this world. If you did not get to the table first, there was hardly any left. I want the stuffing to put in the bird. I sure would appreciate any help.

Thanks a bunch, Penny Brock.

This post was submitted by penny brock.

I have a can of salmon (like a can of mackerel) i have no idea what to do with it. any ideas? we are not much on fish, so any recipes like salads or casseroles, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

This post was submitted by Brenda.

I was able to buy a lot of bar soap for 10 cents a bar and I was wondering if I could turn that into liquid soap? Appreciate any ideas.

This post was submitted by Debbie.

any receipe will do for liquid dish soap for washing dishes in sink. Thanks

This post was submitted by Joycie.

I make my own bread and would like to more often than I already do. I can’t afford the “best” flour, so I buy mine from Save-a-Lot, usually, but my problem is that my bread is always so heavy and I’d like it to be lighter. Is there any way, other than using higher-proced flour, to get it lighter?

This post was submitted by Sylvia Robinson.

I am looking for a recipe for pickled leeks. I cannot find one that will keep for more than a few weeks. I hope someone can help me.
Thanks, Deb

This post was submitted by Deb.

I’m looking for some recipes for homemade brownies that my kids will enjoy. Thanks

This post was submitted by Joycie.

I’m always surprised to find how many people don’t know how to make a baked potato. It is such a basic skill and something that can be served with a variety of meals. In case you’re not sure how to do this, let me assure you it is simple and I’ll teach you a few different ways to cook your potato.

If you are one of the lucky ones who’s already mastered this skill, I encourage you to quickly read through this. You may pick up a few new ideas.

Let’s take a look at the different ways to make a baked potato. Baking them in the oven is the most common way to do it, but not the only one. Let’s go ahead and start with that one though.

Baking Potatoes In the Oven

Start by giving your potatoes a good scrubbing. Then use a fork to put a few holes in them all around. If you’d like you can rub them with a little oil at this point. I also like to roll them in a little coarse salt (after rubbing oil on them to help the salt stick), especially if I’m making baked potatoes for company.

Preheat your oven to 400F and put your potatoes on a baking sheet. Bake them for about 45 minutes (depending on the size of your potatoes), turning them a few times during the baking process.

I don’t wrap my potatoes in foil when I bake them in the oven. We like the skin kind of crisp. If you prefer baked potatoes with a soft skin, wrap them before you put them in the oven and proceed as before.

Baking Potatoes In The Microwave

If you’re short on time, you can also bake your potatoes right in the microwave. Scrub them as before and then use a fork to poke holes in it all around. This will allow the steam to escape while they are cooking (preventing a potato explosion which is a mess to clean up).

I microwave my potatoes on high on a large plate in 5 minute intervals. Actual cooking time will depend on the size of the potato and your particular microwave oven. Just check them every 5 minutes, turning them as you go. When they’re soft, they’re done.

Another thing I do is give potatoes a head start in the microwave and then stick them in the oven (or toaster oven) for 10 minutes at the end to give them more of that “oven” taste and texture.

Baking Potatoes in the Toaster Oven

I do this regularly when I don’t want to heat up the house to much in the summer time. It also comes in handy when you’re just cooking one or two potatoes to save power or when you’re oven is busy baking something else (like a yummy homemade cake for example).

Cut your potatoes in half length-wise and wrap them in foil. Turn the toaster oven to 350F and bake them for about 30 to 40 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, give your potatoes a head start in the microwave and then finish them off in the toaster oven.

I cut my potatoes in half so they don’t get too close to the heating elements in the top of my toaster oven (which tends to burn them).

Baking Potatoes on the Grill

Wash them and put some holes in them as with the other methods. Rub some oil on your potatoes and then wrap them in aluminum foil. We like to cook ours off to the side (away from the most intense heat) and with the grill cover closed.

Depending on how hot the grill is and how big the potatoes are, they will take about 45 to 60 minutes to cook all the way through. Turn them every 15 to 20 minutes and start checking for doneness about 40 minutes into the grilling process.

Baking Potatoes in the Fire

This works great for camping. Poke some holes into a clean potato and rub some oil or butter on it. Wrap it in a double layer of aluminum foil and then bury it in the hot coals of your fire. Check it regularly for doneness. The potato should be tender after 30 to 60 minutes.

I cannot recall where I got this tip and it works very well. We put about 1/3 cup of popcorn (loose bought in a plastic bag) in a brown paper bag, lunch size. We use masking tape, the kind painters use to close it. Simply fold over 1 or 2 times, place a 3 inch size piece of tape on it.
We use the popcorn feature on our micro, takes 2 to 3 min. Do not leave till finished popping for safety reasons. Very thrifty, works well. Linda

This post was submitted by Linda.

Ingredients:
Approx. 25 plain vanilla cookies, broken in tiny pieces (vanilla wafers, animal crackers, etc.)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients, except cookies, in a saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously. When begins to boil, stir until mixed. Remove from heat. Add cookie pieces, stir until mixed. Let cool slightly
Spoon mixture onto a sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil. Shape into log. When frozen (or almost), remove covering and slice into cookies!

This post was submitted by Doreen AbiRaad.

My family loves my homemade oatmeal. But, in the mornings I don’t have a lot of time to watch a pot of oatmeal so I cook it in my RICE COOKER. I’ve also done it in the slow cooker/crockpot but it’s much quicker in the rice cooker. Just follow the rice cooker directions for the ration of grains to liquid. It comes out fabulously and my cooker is non stick so it’s EASY CLEANUP, too!

I also spike it with a little vanilla extract to give it even more flavor without any extra calories.

This post was submitted by TLS.

When I make my spaghetti sauce which calls for 10 pounds of meat to make 12-14 qts of sauce, I do one of two things.
1: after browning the meat, I put in the food processer and mince it. Then add it to the rest of the ingredients. There are no big chunks of meat and it thickens the sauce nicely. If it too thick for your liking you can either cut back on the meat or add more tomatoes, sauce or water.
2: Cut the amount of meat in half and cook up one or two pounds of lentils. Add lentils to the sauce. As they cook more with the sauce they will break up and no one will know they are in there. This cuts the fat in half but keeps the protein.
For picky veggies eaters. You can cook up some zucchini, carrots or what every veggies you prefer, puree and add to sauce. No one will ever know. I once tried to add green peppers but the kids thought it made it taste like chili.
Since our family doesn’t eat pork, I add some fennel seeds to give it that Italian sausage flavor.

This post was submitted by Pene.

Ok this might sound weird but it is delicious. My father made it up about 20 years ago and all his children still make it!!!!

1doz eggs
1pkg Hillshire sausage
1can black eyed peas
2cups cooked rice

Cut up sausage in bite size pieces and cook in pan. Once it is done pour in your eggs and scramble, cooking the eggs in with the sausage. Heat up your beans in the microwave. Add the beans and rice into the mixture. Stir it all up and add some salt and walaa!!!! I love tabasco on mine. What I love about this recipe is it can be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Enjoy!!!

This post was submitted by Rachele Powell.

Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic but they will not get through wet newspapers.

This post was submitted by Darleena.

An easy way to save at the grocery store is to always use a grocery list.

A great online grocery list site is www.GroceryWiz.com or just simple pencil and paper will do if you don’t have a computer.

The bottom line is that a grocery list will prevent you from reaching for those items you don’t really need, and will save you money by preventing you from running out to the store to get forgotten items later. I hate when that happens.

However you choose to keep your list make sure you use it. When it comes to saving at the grocery store it’s a no brainer!

Hope this helps
Allen

This post was submitted by Allen Dalton.

• 4 cups shredded cabbage
• 2 cups shredded carrot
• 1 cup finely diced onion
• 1 pound gr chuck
• 1 package med egg noodles
• 1 teaspoon MSG
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Brown the beef until done and drain. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Add the veggies to the beef mix. Add the MSG and soy sauce. Add the cooked and drained noodles and serve with some crusty French bread.

Enjoy!

This post was submitted by Lynn Seegers.

To get rid of hiccups take a drink of water hold it in your mouth plug your ears and swallow the water. Works every time.

From The HBHW:

Great tip, thanks for sharing. My daughter brought home another one from school a few weeks ago. A friend at showed her when she had a bad case of the hiccups in class.

Stand on one leg while patting your head and rubbing your belly in a circular motion.

Works great as well… I think concentration on so much at any given time forces your body to forget about hiccuping.

This post was submitted by michelle sloan.

1 big plain yogurt
2 cream cheese (softened)
fine shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
2 taco packets

mix ingredients together and chill in fridge: serve with tortilla chips, fritos & dorittos very yummy!!

This post was submitted by Tracy Nelder.

A natural doctor gave me this recipe. I added a few things.

Raw Oat Smoothie

1/2 c. of raw oats
1 frozen banana
1 cup of milk
1/4 cup of yogurt
1/4-1/2 c. of frozen blueberries

Blend oats, milk, and yogurt for about 2-3 minutes, add banana and blueberries, blend till combined.

Variations- use 1 1/4 of kefir instead of milk and yogurt.

We us a Vita-mixer and this tastes like ice cream, a great breakfast.

This post was submitted by Marcy.

September 8th 2009

Editorial

How was your Labor Day weekend? (For those of you outside the US, Monday was Labor Day here in the United States. Schools and such are usually closed and everyone enjoys one last long summer weekend). We ended up just hanging out with family, grilling, relaxing and having a great time.

I did spent a little bit of time working this weekend (not too much though - family came first), and put a neat little report together for you. You’ll find it a little further down in the newsletter instead of the featured article. It’s a free report all about oatmeal with some of my favorite recipes (some are my one, some were shared by some good friends) and you are welcome to share the report with family and friends. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together for you.

I’ve also had a blast hanging out in the HBHW Club forum this past weekend getting to know all of you that joined the club recently. We have some great discussions going on and I can’t wait to pop back in and see what else is going on.

Other than that I’ve been working away on another little project. It has to do with Halloween, but that’s all I’m ready to reveal at this point. I should be able to reveal more later this week and will send you an email about it - look for it on Thursday.

I better wrap this up and get my kitchen cleaned and something put together for dinner that my husband can just shove in the stove at the appropriate time. We have our first girl scout meeting of the season and I’ll be gone most of the afternoon for that. My daughter and I are both excited to see the rest of our troop. We’ve been missing them all summer and are looking forward to another fun and educational year.

That’s it for this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com

Warm Regards,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Inspirational Quote

“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.” - Josh Billings

Reader Question

I have tried the magic milkshakes, and my husband kids and I love them. I seldom have ice cream in my house either but my kids love milkshakes, so this is a wonderful recipe for me to use.

I do have a question about them. Have you ever tried a strawberry one. I have tried a few different things to make one, and it never seems to taste right.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Denise K.

Hi Denise, I haven’t … you may want to post the question as a comment on that page. I’m sure someone has tried it and come up with a version that tastes well. My initial thought would be to use strawberry sirup, or to make a vanilla version and exchange some of the ice for frozen strawberries.

If someone has created a strawberry version, would you mind posting some directions for Denise as a comment on the Magic Milkshake Recipe page?

Susanne

News From The HBHW Club

This is a new section of the newsletter. Each week I’m going to share some tidbits of what’s going on at the HBHW Club with you. I hope you enjoy these extra tips, recipes and ideas and of course would love to have you join the club.

As a HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month here: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

And to make it even easier, I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.

Here’s one of the recipes that were submitted this past week.

After-School Taco Dip Snack

* 1 (8 oz) container sour cream
* 1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
* salt and pepper

Toppings:

* salsa or diced tomatoes
* green pepper
* black olives
* green onion
* shredded lettuce
* grated cheddar cheese

Mix together the sour cream and cream cheese, with a dash of salt and pepper to flavor.  Spread the mixture onto a big plate or platter.  Top with any ingredients that the kids like.  Put in refrigerator to get firm, at least 1 hour.

Serve with big tortilla chips, warmed in the oven just before the kids arrive home from school.

And here are some of the other recipes that have been added in the past few days.

• Chicken Chow Mein Noodle Casserole
• Shredded Barbecue Beef Burgers – Crock Pot
• Mother Hubbard Bars
• Anytime Beef Stroganoff
• Chili Cheese Biscuits

All in all, we have over 190 new recipes in the member area already.

This week we’ve been talking about what things you can use twice and which ones you can cut in half to save more. We’re also discussing how to stretch ground beef using oats, sewing, making your own microwave popcorn and more on the HBHW forums. I’m also implementing weekly email updates for Club members and of course we are still sharing daily frugal tips.

Ready to join us? Try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

Featured Article

Instead of an article I have a special free report for you this week. I called it “Ode to Oatmeal” and if you’ve been following my blog for a while you know that I love oatmeal for breakfast. I put together some information for you on why oatmeal is so healthy, what makes it the perfect frugal breakfast choice as well as some of my favorite oatmeal recipes. Enjoy!

Ode to Oatmeal (pdf)

You’re welcome to share this report with anyone you think may benefit from it.

Frugal Tips

Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations
Since Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite frugal Thanksgiving decorating tips. Anything from pumpkins to fall flowers can be used to make a prett …

Grocery List
I make a grocery list with the following heading: Meats, Produce, Dairy, Can Goods, Frozen, & Misc: No Eat. In doing this I can get in and out of the grocery store without back tracking through t …

Frugal Vegetable Soup Mix
I keep leftover vegetables in a gallon bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, it’s simple to add hamburger or other meat and make a great soup or stew since the vegetables are already seasone …

Recipes

Here are some of the most recent recipes that have been added to the HBHW site. Enjoy!

Pork & Kraut with Dumpling’s
3-4pd. pork roast, add 1 medium sliced onion,1qt.jar of homemade sauerkraut (or 2cans of sauerkraut),caraway seed, pepper&salt,1/2 stick butter or margarine,add water to the roast alittle less tha …

A Different Green Bean Casserole
1 lb frozen french cut green beans 1 can cream of celery soup or 10 oz of the homemade equivelant. 1 cup slivered toasted almonds Mix green beans with 1/2 cup almonds and the cream of celery soup and …

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Suggested ingredients and amounts (all are adjustable to your taste) 3-4 cups cooked rice 1 cup broccoli florets or peas 2-3 scrambled eggs 1-2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts (optional) 1 bottle swe …

Cranberry Chutney
4 small oranges 2 cups sugar (or sugar substitute) 4 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup chopped unpeeled apple 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 Tablespoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginge …

Delicious Beans and Potatoes
Make mashed potatoes. While they are cooking take cooked pinto beans, drained, cooked kidney beans, drained, or a mix, or leftover bean soup or leftover beans that kidney or pinto beans are in them, …

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Click here to send it to me and I’ll be happy to add it to the website.

I’m Looking For:

This section is going to be all about you. If you are looking for a particular recipe or a tip on how to do something, submit it here and I will post it in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll give you my input and other readers of the newsletter will have the opportunity to share their recipes and tips as well. So take a moment to post your questions and of course if you have a tip or idea for any question posted in this section feel free to leave a comment under the appropriate post.

I’m Looking For Requests

Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
looking for a from scratch recipe for cornbread that tastes like the Jiffy brand. I’ve tried adding sugar to some recipes, but they still don’t taste similar. My son prefers this to sout …

In search of gluten-free lemon bars
Lemon bars are an economical sweet and have always been my favourite but now I must cook gluten-free meals (no wheat or wheat byproducts, read flour, etc., etc., - everything, especially prepared food …

Closet Damp Absorber
Hi Just wondering in any readers have any ideas on how to make your own closet damp absorber, you know the sort that collects the humid water in linen closets etc. Gayle This post was submitted by gay …

Egg Nog Recipes
I am looking for a variety of egg nog recipes out there. If you have a great traditional recipe, or one with a different twist or flavor to it, I’d love to hear about it. This post was submitted …

Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray
I have boys with thick hair that needs quick taming in the morning. Plain water isn’t controlling it. I sometimes use No More Bedhead or No More Tangles, but it’s too costly anymore. I won …

Cooking Turkey
Last year there was a post on how to use your oven as a slow cooker and cook a turkey overnight. My turkey turned out fantastic!! But, I lost my directions. Please help! This post was submitted by …

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade
looking for homemade chicken and dumplings made the old- fashioned way.thank you. From Susanne - Here’s my chicken and dumplings recipe. My biggest trick is to start the day before by cooking th …

Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
I am looking for a sweat potatoe cassarole that has the marshmellowes on top and has a thick like syrup and fruit cocktail in it. my aunt used to make it but she passed away and no one remembered to b …

Pie Shell Cake
I’m looking for a recipe for a cake that was baked in a pie shell. It may have had chocolate syrup on the bottom. It was great and my kids loved it. Now I would like to make it for the grandk …

Removing Rocks in Beans
Does anyone have a method for removing all the pebbles from pinto & other dried beans? This post was submitted by Nancy.

I’m Looking For Responses
Below you will find some of the recent responses to the “I’m Looking For” Requests. You may also want to go directly to this section and browse through all the recent submissions and replies. To do so, click on “I’m Looking for” here, and start looking through them.

Comment on Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray by Ellen
If you just want to tame it and not remove tangles, try a little salt water in a spray bottle.

Comment on Reconstituting Powdered Milk by Debie
I don’t know much about powdered milk. Does it not cost more to use than purchasing regular milk? If it is cheaper, how do you get your family to switch over?

Comment on Apron Evangelism by Debie
Just wanted to say thanks for reminding me why I wear my apron!! Actually my daughter thought I wasn’t feeling well the other day when I didn’t put it on in the morning. Amazing how one gets in a ha …

Comment on Low Cal recipes by Nancy R.
If you search Diabetic recipes, and weight watchers recipes they are all low calorie. I did weight watchers for 2 years now, 1 year in meetings and 1 year on my own and am 10 lbs from my goal weight. …

Comment on Crockpot Cranberry Pork by ridgerunner
Comment for Joni… your recipe is so darn good!!! Fried Potato’s and onion’s on the side and hope to eat it all for yourself. I love to cook with pork, for that matter. The aroma this time of year is …

Comment on Indian Pudding Recipe by DE
Nadine - notice this site is titled “hillbillyhousewife”…probably not a place to spread enlightenment.

Comment on Closet Damp Absorber by brande
baking soda

Comment on Quick Sugar Cookies by Angela
These cookies are so good and easy to make. I did use real unsalted butter instead of margarine and increased the milk by 1/2 to 1 tsp. They turned out perfect. I will make these again, (as the fir …

Comment on Haitian Spaghetti Sauce by Nick
Try this recipe. It’s worked for me. http://i-jat.blogspot.com/2008/10/haitian-spaghetti.html

Comment on Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade by kitty wilson
I have always made mine by boiling the fryer with onion, celery and poltery seasoning as well as salt and pepper. I also completely cover the chicken and save some of the broth to freeze to use for …

Inspirational Story

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

Author Unknown

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule ‘braying’ - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened…and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back…a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back…HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

“Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought “panic” and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You’re right! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him…all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity…THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS–FAITH–PRAYER– PRAISE and HOPE…all are excellent ways to “SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP” out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

Final Thought

That’s it for this edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I had creating it for you. I also hope that you have found the information helpful and useful. And by all means feel free to forward the newsletter to family and friends or even better, encourage them to subscribe to it.

Do you have a question, a tip, a recipe or a story you’d like to share with us? Email it to me and I’ll include it in a future issue. Can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Warm Wishes,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Baked SPAGHETTI PIZZA

~kids love it!
Done like a casserole or lasgna/layered
Make it serve one or 10 with amounts!
A) speghetti boiled to El Dente~layer 1
B)Meats~pick your favorites/sausage, peppperoni and/or beef cooked~ layer 2
C)Veggies favoroites/onions garlic olive mushrooms peppers etc~ layer 3
D)Sauce favorite/Marina sauce or can tomatoes/favorite spices~layer 4
E)Cheese favorites/Mozrella parmesian cheddar provolone ricotta~layer 4
REPEAT LAYERS TO FILL BAKING DISH and BAKE 325* for 30 minutes or until top cheese bubbles and lightly browns.

THERE ARE NO SET AMOUNTS TO USE SO THAT YOU CAN PERSONALIZE OR GET AS FRUGAL AS YOU WANT OR FOLLOW YOUR DIET!
I have done some wild combos. Green: spinache zuchini articokes peppers onion bacon ham’/swiss Muester
MacYellow: velveeta and cheddar cheese with hot dogs/brats onions top with crunched up cheese crackers another kids favorite is the pepperoni with mozrella provolone parmesian ricotta chopped tomatoes and onions. Its a very hearty meal and you use your favorites. Make ahead and freeze!!No leftovers!
Get creative and share your ideals with this one!

This post was submitted by diana.

Our high school does not allow “refillable” containers, e.g., thermoses, tupperware containers, etc. because of a possibility of kids bringing alcohol to school. Thus, a cunundrum of what to pack for a healthy lunch - our usual is a sandwich or rollup - piece of fruit - chips of some sort - a sweet (cookie) and a bottle of water. Sandwiches and cookies are in plastic bags and the chips are usually prepackaged. Can you suggest some tips to make lunches more “exciting” and healthy within the realm of plastic bags?

This post was submitted by Sharon Tafunai.

• 1 pkg onion soup mix
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• Pepper to taste

Mix ketchup, onion soup mix, and pepper in small bowl until well blended.

Use on grilled chicken or pork chops

This post was submitted by Christina.

Years ago my mother made a no bake cookie from Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch cereal. I would love to make these but she cannot find the recipe. Any help greatly appreciated!

This post was submitted by Bonnie.

I LOVE homemade cabbage rolls, and don’t mind making them, except for getting the danged leaves off individually! Its a hot messy and sometimes dangerous job with all that boiling water splashing around. Anyone have a fool proof easy way to do it?

This post was submitted by Patrina McBride.

I work in a grocery store and an older gentelman gave me this very easy crock-pot recipe:

• 2# beef stew meat
• 1 can Cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of tomato soup
• 1 can french onion soup
• 1 bag(16oz) frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 bag(16oz) baby carrots
• 4-6 potatoes,cubed
• 2-3 turnips, cubed

Place all items into crock-pot and mix.
Heat on low for 8-9 hrs

This post was submitted by Jeannie.

I am looking for hedgeapples which have bug repelleble. They are unedible fruits and they keep bugs away without killing them or harming them. Safe for our pets. They are not anywhere and where do I find them?

This post was submitted by Justine.

Years ago in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio there was a restaurant called Shillito’s. They had a saucy ground beef sandwich called a Seven Hills. If anyone has a recipe for this it would be greatly appreciated!

This post was submitted by jeanie.

My mother-in-law is looking for a recipe for the dressing used in “Mrs. Jerrys Broccoli Salad” that she buys in Norway, MI. (UP) She said it tastes like it’s probably un-whipped whipping cream with just a touch of something for a little flavor, perhaps lemon juice.

This post was submitted by Mary.

Does anyone have a recipe for peach dumplings?

This post was submitted by Dawn Almquist.

I lost a terrific recipe from the internet and never could find it again. It was a lattace top caramel apple pie. While the pie was baking I would make the caramel from scratch with cream and butter and…??. Just before the pie was done baking the caramel was poured over and through the lattace top. The pie returned to the oven to finish. It was spectacular. Been searching for about 6 years for it.

This post was submitted by Austin.

I have a pack of frozen dumplings sitting in the freezer. My kids have burned-out on chichen-n-dumplings,so I was wondering if anyone has ever found another use for them. Maybe some type of apple dmpling, or cut up and baked for crackers? Ideas and recipes welcome!

This post was submitted by rose.

I’m looking to make my own version of Coffeemate’s Vanilla Chai Spice Coffee Creamer, preferably liquid. I actually want to make a sugar-free version, as they don’t have one, and sugar-free offerings in the coffee creamer area, whether liquid or powder, are extremely limited. I was thinking of using Truvia or Splenda (or their lower-cost alternatives) for the sweetener. I can’t figure out the spices, or the quantities. Thank you.

This post was submitted by Angela.

My daughter and I just came up with this recipe. It turned out great so I thought I’d share. I cooked up a bunch of lentils in just plain water yesterday to be used in recipes throughout the week.

• 1 cup cooked lentils
• 1/2 cup raw carrots sliced
• 1/3 cup of dry rice (white or brown)
• 1 chicken bullion cube

Fill a medium pot with water and add the carrots, rice and bullion cube. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook at medium high heat until the carrots and rice are tender. Depending on the type of rice you use and how thick or thin you slice your carrots this will take from 10 to 20 minutes. Mine took about 20 minutes.

Add the cooked lentils to the mix, heat through and check for seasoning. If the soup tastes a little week you may want to add another buillion cube. Otherwise just add salt and pepper to taste.

Note from the HBHW
Chook is apparently a slang term for chicken in Australia. When using this recipe make sure you use a type of bag that is microwave safe. You don’t want it to melt around your chicken. Be sure to turn your chicken regularly if your oven doesn’t have a turn table to make sure it cooks evenly all the way through.

wash chook and put into oven bag
sprinkle chook in bag with packet of french onion soup mix

secure bag and put small hole in bag on each side near wings

put bag of chook into microwave oven chest up
after first time turn bag over so that chook is back up and cook again for prescribed time.

TIME TO COOK - very important

if the chook weighs 1.5k it is size 15 and needs to be cooked for 15 minutes on each side.

if the bird weighs 1.7k it is size 17 so cook for 17 minutes each way

if a bird weighs 1.45k call it size 15

chooks cooked this way are beautiful and moist

when cooking is completed use gloves to pick up the bag and the fat will run to the bottom corner of the bag - snip and drain.

put the chook in the bag onto a plate and cut through the bag to remove the plastic - careful of the steam.

the perfectly cooked chook is cooked in record time and better than takeaway

regards peter

This post was submitted by peterseaford .

3/4 cup sugar
2 TBL butter
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Cream the sugar and butter, sift the flour w/ the baking powder and add alternately with the milk and vanilla. Pour batter into an 8 x 8 ungreased pan.

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 TBL cocoa
1 cup water

Mix the sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa. Sprinkle over the cake batter. Pour the water over top. DO NOT STIR. Bake 350* for 45 min.

The cake will rise to the top and will be floating on a thick rich fudge sauce. Serve warm topped with ice cream.

If you have any left over, when cool the fudge sauce turns to a pudding consistency.

You can double this recipe using a 9 x 13 pan.

This post was submitted by Terri Arbanas.

Whenever one of our local stores has chicken leg/thigh quarters, (10 lb. bags), on sale, I stock up.
I divide the chicken pieces,(from one 10 lb. bag), up into three freezer bags, for three different meals.

One of our favorite meals is “Baked BBQ Chicken”, and thankfully, it’s a super frugal meal!

You will need:
6-7 chicken quarters
1-2 bottles of BBQ sauce-homemade equivalent or store bought
salt and pepper-to taste

That’s all…see what I mean by super frugal…

Now, rinse the chicken well, then pat dry.

*Optional*~~Spread aluminum foil into a 9 x 13 baking dish.(For easy clean up) Spray with cooking spray.

Place chicken parts into baking dish.

Sprinkle with desired amount of salt and pepper.

Now simply pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken.

Cover with foil, and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours or until instant read thermometer reads 180 degrees.

I serve this meal with a large garden salad and a batch of HBHW’s bread sticks.

This post was submitted by Patricia S..

The goal of this recipe is to stretch the left over taco meat from 1-2 servings to 4. This is why the quantities are approximate, because you can use whatever is in your fridge.

(All quantities approximate)

2 cups easy Spanish rice (one batch of the recipe found here on HBHW)
1/2 cup taco meat
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup left over corn
2 Tbsp onions, chopped (optional)

Mix all ingredients and place in an 8×8 or 9×6 pan. Microwave until almost hot through (or bake).

Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top.

Heat in microwave or oven until cheese is melted.

Serve with
lettuce
tomato
sour cream
black olives

to be put on top of the bake.
(basically we just made a salad on top of the taco bake).

Serves 4.

This post was submitted by Dawn.

1 large can whole tomatoes
3 cups bisquick or homemade biscuit mix
salt and pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup sugar
For dumplings:
Mix 3 cups bisquick with enough HOT water for dumpling mixture. Let set for 10 minutes so the mixture will rise.
In a dutch oven, fill with 4 cups water and 1 lg. can whole tomatoes; let come to a slow boil.
Drop in dumplings. Sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar on simmering dumplings. (you can add more if you like) Salt and pepper (to taste) Simmer for about 25 minutes.

My mother made this dish when I was a child. Sometimes things were tight, but she always had something tasty to put on the table for me and my Dad.
I make this dish in remembrance of my mother and her dedication to her family, and because she created something that tastes good. My mother had a talent for making something special, from practically nothing at all. She was an amazing woman who taught me the meaning of “family”.
Loretta Craig

This post was submitted by Loretta Craig.

1 cup Washing soda
1 cup Borax
½ cup salt
½ cup citric acid

Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser for the best results.

This post was submitted by MamaMackey.

September 1st 2009

Editorial

Thanks so much for all the positive feedback on the new format of the HBHW newsletter. I’m glad you’re liking it as much as I am and a big HUGE THANK YOU goes out to everyone that submitted a recipe, a “I’m Looking For Request” and everyone that took the time to reply to one of those requests.

I’ve made some pretty big decisions about the HBHW Club this past week and would love to share those with you. Quite a few of you asked me if there was a way that they could try the club without spending too much up-front to make sure it was going to work for them. Hey, I can understand that… I don’t like to buy the Cat in the Bag either.

You an now join the HBHW Club for only a dollar for the first 7 days. After that it’ll still be $10 per month. You’re welcome to cancel anytime. Just sent me an email and I’ll take care of it for you. If you find the club isn’t for you, just cancel within those first 7 days and you’ll never be charged another dime.

Ready to give it a try? Go to http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

I’ve also been in touch with some of our current members and we’ve decided that I’ll be emailing all members on a weekly basis to keep everyone in touch with what’s going on in the Club. I’m sure the forum discussions and member interactions will get even better as a result of this.

Oh… I almost forgot! I wanted to show you our new deck. We started working on this right after I sent out last week’s newsletter (literally within 20 minutes or so). We did all the work ourselves, which was hard and my arms and legs were sore for days, but it was totally worth it and I’ve been enjoying sitting out there with a good book almost every day. Here’s a picture:

That’s it for this week. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com

Warm Regards,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

P.S. Take a look at this week’s sponsor offer. Kayla is a great friend and I’ve gotten her planner and took a look at it. My daughter is a little young for it (she’s in first grade), but I think it will come in very handy for us starting next year. If you have kids in 2 or 3rd grade or older, I can highly recommend this.

Sponsor

My name is Kayla Fay, and I’m the mother of four sons. Three of our boys have been diagnosed with ADHD, and one son has a learning disability. For years, homework was the source of incredible stress at our home. One of the biggest problems was that they didn’t get their homework copied down correctly, and often left books and materials in their desk or locker.

We bought planners, and tried using the planners the school provided, but they didn’t help. Our boys would write too big for the blocks in the planners, or they would write on the wrong page. Or they would write the page for the spelling under the word ‘math’. It was so confusing.

One year I went into the classroom after school every day to make sure our son had his assignments right, and had everything he needed to do them. But - while his homework was done - we weren’t developing any sense of responsibility or organization in our son.

Since I couldn’t find the perfect planner, I created one myself. Our first planner was handwritten in a marble composition book. But the results convinced me that we were on the right track! So I created another, improved version on the computer.

Our new calendar included:

~ Dated pages with one day per page format, giving lots of room for kids to write BIG.
~Space for our boys to write down homework and the books and supplies needed to complete it.
~Checklist blocks to ensure that each item is packed - and done.
~A place for notes to and from school.
~Color coded spaces for each subject.

Over the years our original planner has evolved and expanded to meet the changing needs of our boys in different grades. And a couple of years ago we made our planner available to the public. It’s called The PAC-kit, and it will help your child PLAN to SUCCEED. You can read more about the PAC-kit here.

Inspirational Quote

“If your everyday life seems poor, don’t blame it, blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator, there is no poverty and no indifferent place.” - Rainer Maria Rilke

Reader Question

I tried cooking hamburgers on the grill last week, but they kept braking and I lost most of them because they fell in the coals. What can I do to keep them from breaking apart while I grill them?

Bill

Great question Bill. I actually ended up chatting with my husband about this since he’s the one that does all the grilling. There are a couple of things you can do. Start off by buying at least 80/20 ground beef. If you go with anything leaner than that, the burgers will be more likely to break. The fat in the meat helps keep them together.

Pack the meat in tight when you form your burgers. It also helps to spray your grill with a little nonstick spray before you put the burgers on there. Once you stick them on there, leave the meat on for a while. Give it a chance to cook before you start to turn it. You shouldn’t have to turn the burgers more than twice during the cooking process.

Hope this helps,

Susanne

News From The HBHW Club

This is a new section of the newsletter. Each week I’m going to share some tidbits of what’s going on at the HBHW Club with you. I hope you enjoy these extra tips, recipes and ideas and of course would love to have you join the club.

As a HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month here: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

And to make it even easier, I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.

Here’s one of the recipes that were submitted this past week.

Walnut Gem Cookies

* 1/2 cup butter or margarine
* 2 Tbsp sugar
* 1/8 tsp salt
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
* powdered sugar

In mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until nice and fluffy.  Add in the salt and vanilla.  Then start to mix in the flour slowly.  Remove from mixer and stir in chopped walnuts with spoon.  Cover bowl loosely with plastic and chill in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Remove and begin shaping mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball, about a two bite size.  Arrange them on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for about 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Remove and let cool for just a few minutes until you can handle them.  Then, roll them in the powdered sugar and set aside on a cooling rack.  You can sprinkle more sugar on top if you’d like while they’re sitting on the rack.

And here are some of the other recipes that have been added in the past few days.

• Grand Spinach Salad
• Easy Beef ‘n’ Cabbage Casserole
• Creole Squash Bake
• Zucchini Harvest Soup
• Sweet Potato and Apple Scallop

All in all, we have over 170 new recipes in the member area already. This week we’ve been talking about what to do when you get overwhelmed with all the daily chores, strange places to come across great new recipes (you won’t believe where some members have found a new favorite), implementing weekly email updates for Club members and of course we are still sharing daily frugal tips.

Ready to join us? Try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html

Featured Article

This week’s featured article was inspired by some emails I receive quite frequently. The question boils down to how one can convince the rest of the family to live more frugally. Read my answer in this article about adapting a more frugal lifestyle.

Small Frugal Tips That Add Up

Frugal Tips

Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations
Since Thanksgiving in the US is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite frugal Thanksgiving decorating tips. Anything from pumpkins to fall flowers can be used to make a prett …

Grocery List
I make a grocery list with the following heading: Meats, Produce, Dairy, Can Goods, Frozen, & Misc: No Eat. In doing this I can get in and out of the grocery store without back tracking through t …

Frugal Vegetable Soup Mix
I keep leftover vegetables in a gallon bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, it’s simple to add hamburger or other meat and make a great soup or stew since the vegetables are already seasone …

Recipes

Here are some of the most recent recipes that have been added to the HBHW site. Enjoy!

Pork & Kraut with Dumpling’s
3-4pd. pork roast, add 1 medium sliced onion,1qt.jar of homemade sauerkraut (or 2cans of sauerkraut),caraway seed, pepper&salt,1/2 stick butter or margarine,add water to the roast alittle less tha …

A Different Green Bean Casserole
1 lb frozen french cut green beans 1 can cream of celery soup or 10 oz of the homemade equivelant. 1 cup slivered toasted almonds Mix green beans with 1/2 cup almonds and the cream of celery soup and …

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Rice
Suggested ingredients and amounts (all are adjustable to your taste) 3-4 cups cooked rice 1 cup broccoli florets or peas 2-3 scrambled eggs 1-2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts (optional) 1 bottle swe …

Cranberry Chutney
4 small oranges 2 cups sugar (or sugar substitute) 4 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup chopped unpeeled apple 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 Tablespoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginge …

Delicious Beans and Potatoes
Make mashed potatoes. While they are cooking take cooked pinto beans, drained, cooked kidney beans, drained, or a mix, or leftover bean soup or leftover beans that kidney or pinto beans are in them, …

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Click here to send it to me and I’ll be happy to add it to the website.

I’m Looking For:

This section is going to be all about you. If you are looking for a particular recipe or a tip on how to do something, submit it here and I will post it in an upcoming newsletter. I’ll give you my input and other readers of the newsletter will have the opportunity to share their recipes and tips as well. So take a moment to post your questions and of course if you have a tip or idea for any question posted in this section feel free to leave a comment under the appropriate post.

I’m Looking For Requests

Scratch Jiffy Cornbread Recipe
looking for a from scratch recipe for cornbread that tastes like the Jiffy brand. I’ve tried adding sugar to some recipes, but they still don’t taste similar. My son prefers this to sout …

In search of gluten-free lemon bars
Lemon bars are an economical sweet and have always been my favourite but now I must cook gluten-free meals (no wheat or wheat byproducts, read flour, etc., etc., - everything, especially prepared food …

Closet Damp Absorber
Hi Just wondering in any readers have any ideas on how to make your own closet damp absorber, you know the sort that collects the humid water in linen closets etc. Gayle This post was submitted by gay …

Egg Nog Recipes
I am looking for a variety of egg nog recipes out there. If you have a great traditional recipe, or one with a different twist or flavor to it, I’d love to hear about it. This post was submitted …

Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray
I have boys with thick hair that needs quick taming in the morning. Plain water isn’t controlling it. I sometimes use No More Bedhead or No More Tangles, but it’s too costly anymore. I won …

Cooking Turkey
Last year there was a post on how to use your oven as a slow cooker and cook a turkey overnight. My turkey turned out fantastic!! But, I lost my directions. Please help! This post was submitted by …

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade
looking for homemade chicken and dumplings made the old- fashioned way.thank you. From Susanne - Here’s my chicken and dumplings recipe. My biggest trick is to start the day before by cooking th …

Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
I am looking for a sweat potatoe cassarole that has the marshmellowes on top and has a thick like syrup and fruit cocktail in it. my aunt used to make it but she passed away and no one remembered to b …

Pie Shell Cake
I’m looking for a recipe for a cake that was baked in a pie shell. It may have had chocolate syrup on the bottom. It was great and my kids loved it. Now I would like to make it for the grandk …

Removing Rocks in Beans
Does anyone have a method for removing all the pebbles from pinto & other dried beans? This post was submitted by Nancy.

I’m Looking For Responses
Below you will find some of the recent responses to the “I’m Looking For” Requests. You may also want to go directly to this section and browse through all the recent submissions and replies. To do so, click on “I’m Looking for” here, and start looking through them.

Comment on Homemade Johnson’s No More Bedhead spray by Ellen
If you just want to tame it and not remove tangles, try a little salt water in a spray bottle.

Comment on Reconstituting Powdered Milk by Debie
I don’t know much about powdered milk. Does it not cost more to use than purchasing regular milk? If it is cheaper, how do you get your family to switch over?

Comment on Apron Evangelism by Debie
Just wanted to say thanks for reminding me why I wear my apron!! Actually my daughter thought I wasn’t feeling well the other day when I didn’t put it on in the morning. Amazing how one gets in a ha …

Comment on Low Cal recipes by Nancy R.
If you search Diabetic recipes, and weight watchers recipes they are all low calorie. I did weight watchers for 2 years now, 1 year in meetings and 1 year on my own and am 10 lbs from my goal weight. …

Comment on Crockpot Cranberry Pork by ridgerunner
Comment for Joni… your recipe is so darn good!!! Fried Potato’s and onion’s on the side and hope to eat it all for yourself. I love to cook with pork, for that matter. The aroma this time of year is …

Comment on Indian Pudding Recipe by DE
Nadine - notice this site is titled “hillbillyhousewife”…probably not a place to spread enlightenment.

Comment on Closet Damp Absorber by brande
baking soda

Comment on Quick Sugar Cookies by Angela
These cookies are so good and easy to make. I did use real unsalted butter instead of margarine and increased the milk by 1/2 to 1 tsp. They turned out perfect. I will make these again, (as the fir …

Comment on Haitian Spaghetti Sauce by Nick
Try this recipe. It’s worked for me. http://i-jat.blogspot.com/2008/10/haitian-spaghetti.html

Comment on Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Homemade by kitty wilson
I have always made mine by boiling the fryer with onion, celery and poltery seasoning as well as salt and pepper. I also completely cover the chicken and save some of the broth to freeze to use for …

Inspirational Story

THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM
Author Unknown

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied… “Things aren’t always what they seem”.

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest.
When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel “how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him,” he accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Final Thought

That’s it for this edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading it as I had creating it for you. I also hope that you have found the information helpful and useful. And by all means feel free to forward the newsletter to family and friends or even better, encourage them to subscribe to it.

Do you have a question, a tip, a recipe or a story you’d like to share with us? Email it to me and I’ll include it in a future issue. Can’t wait to see what you have to say.

Warm Wishes,

Susanne - The Hillbilly Housewife

Heat one can of green beans or equal amount in fresh green beans with one can cream of mushroom soup mixed as directed and 1 can or equal amount of cooked chicken. salt pepper to taste. Pour over those crunchy chinese noodle things. Very yummy. French style green beans used in this is my childs favorite.

This post was submitted by michele borach.

Does anyone have a recipe for liquid hand soap? Will the liquid laundry soap recipe work for normal hand washing?

This post was submitted by Deb .

I was wondering if anyone had ideas on how to use leftover beet juice. When I make pickled eggs and beets, I throw away alot of juice and it feels so wasteful. Thank you.

This post was submitted by Laurie S.

I am looking for a recipe that calls for wheat sprouts and eggs I can’t remember what else was added. Then the mixture was dropped onto a hot griddle and cooked like pancakes.

This post was submitted by Marilyn.

My mother used to make a cooked creme pineapple pie. This did not use instant pudding. Does anyone have a recipe for this?

This post was submitted by MaryAnn Thomas.

It is all according to your family size, as mine is large I will do this according to my family size.
6 cans or green beans, fresh is better
1 Package smoked sausage any brand will do
About 8 potatoes peeled and cut into small pieces.
You can add onion if you prefer, my house it is onion powder so the kids can’t see the onions.

Place on stove and cook over med heat until potatoes are fully cooked. Or stick it in the crockpot and cook until done.

Ready to learn more about crockpot cooking? Get my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook today and find out how you can work this into your meal plan, how to choose a good crockpot and most importantly how to convert your favorite recipes to work in a slow cooker.

This post was submitted by Lydia.

Hi, I am looking for a recipe that a friend of my mother’s had years ago. It was for a white fruitcake. I cannot find the same recipe on the internet. It had no dates or figs and I am not sure it even had raisin (if it did, there were very few of them). It was baked in a bundt pan. Also, after it was baked, it was wrapped in cheesecloth and foil, and soaked in apricot brandy for a few weeks in the fridge. Every so often, you would remove the foil and add more brandy if it had dried out.

This post was submitted by Carmel.

I had a great creamed chicken recipe from you that also had muliple recipes to use from it such at chicken divan, pot pie etc. It was ruined and I would love to have a replacement. Thanx

This post was submitted by Char Kramer.

I’m looking for a recipe for what I think is a Polish or Czech dish pronounced “Fleetch-key” (I have no idea how to spell it). It involved wide noodles and some sort of meat, maybe pork butt? My mom used to make it all the time and it was such a great winter meal. Thanks!

This post was submitted by Karen.

I remember making a breakfast recipe that used Bisquick, bacon and maple syrup. I think it was one of those “impossible pie” recipes, but I’m not sure, it’s been so long ago since I last made it. I do remember that taste of sweet and salty was what made the dish special. Thank you if you can help!

This post was submitted by nikki.

I am looking for a good homemade beef stew.

This post was submitted by Tammy.

I planted several different herbs this year and would like to dry or freeze them for storage. However, my garden does get dusty from a nearby dirt road. I would rather not pick the herbs and dry them without washing them first. Any tips on picking and storing herbs?

This post was submitted by Jackie.

Thank you for all of the good info on your website! I am looking for a recipe for a pimento cheese spread.
Thanks!

This post was submitted by Nicole Allen.

hello, I have a 1 year old who is feeding himself quite well and I am in need of new meal ideas, I would like vegetarian recipes that are friendly to him, any ideas??

This post was submitted by Meredith.

Preparation Time: 15 mins.
Cooking Time: 45 mins.
Serves 8

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil or Butter
2 Garlic Cloves
1 Medium Sweet Onion
1 Tablespoon Flour or Corn Starch
1 Large Can of Crushed Tomatoes
1 Cup of Water
3 Cups Milk (Reconstituted Powdered Milk works great)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
Finely chop onion and crushed garlic.
Saute in oil or butter, until translucent.
Add floor or cornstarch to make a roux.
Add crushed tomatoes and water.
Cook all together for 20 minutes.
Stir in milk. The soup will appear to curdle at first. But, do not be alarmed!
Continue to simmer until smooth and creamy in texture. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot and enjoy.

This post was submitted by Charlotte Park.

I always remember my mother-in-law (we always called her Granny Windham) making this recipe. She invented it during the depression when they did not have any meat to eat. She was the type of cook who never used measurements, just a little of this and a little of that.
She would take leftover black-eyed peas and mash them up. She would add 1 egg, a few spoonfuls of flour and enough sage to taste. She would form them into patties and fry them.
Just talking about them makes me want to make some.

This post was submitted by Judy Clements.

My father has been looking for a bread that he had when he was little and can’t seem to find it anywhere. It was bread that used salt to rise not yeast. I’m not all that accomplished in bread making and I’ve never heard of anything like that. Has anyone else and do you have a recipe?

This post was submitted by Jenny.

I love cooking with pearl barley but I am getting bored with the recipes I have Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks Gayle

This post was submitted by gayle.

I am looking for a recipe for Applesauce Cookies that my mother used to make when I was growing up. I just loved them! I know they were made with applesauce, and they had cinnamon, nutmeg, and walnuts in them. And the cookies were soft with almost a cake-like consistency. Beyond that, I can’t remember. Is anyone familiar with this recipe? Thanks!

Ruth

This post was submitted by Ruth Griffith.

buy old bananas dice and freeze to use in smoothies. freeze in air tight jars. this delets need for ice cubes. and cuts down on waste. we wont eat them after the first speck appears. we do now! feel free to rephrase so it will sound better ect-melissa

This post was submitted by melissa.

I don’t remember where I found this recipe, but it’s tasty, quick, nutritious, easy and vegetarian/vegan. Gluten, dairy, nut and egg free for those with allergies.

1 medium butternut squash, cubed.
1 large onion, diced.
2 vegatable bullion cubes.
1 tsp each of cumin, paprika, curry and chili.
2 litres of water.

Put all ingredients together into a pot, and simmer until squash and onions are tender. Enjoy!

This post was submitted by Jacquie from Calgary.

I make this when we have a lot of zucchini or other squash. It is a very moist cake. I have also used leftover spaghetti squash or other mild flavored squash. I grate and freeze 3 cup portions of squash to use later in breads and cakes.

Chocolate squash cake (lower fat version)
1/2 cup oil
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup lowfat yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk or sour milk
3 cups coarsely shredded squash
2 cups flour ( I use fine whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cyanne pepper powdered (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

blend dry ingredients except sugar in a large bowl, mix wet ingredients and sugar, add to dry and stir until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Oil a 9 x 13 inch pan (oil and flour if using a bunt pan) bake in a 350 deg oven for 45 min test cake for doneness, It may need more time if squash is very wet. Note if batter seems too thick add a little more milk or yogurt.

This post was submitted by Teresa Roth.

When I’m making a recipe that calls for ground beef (e.g. Sloppy Joes), I use half the amount called for and substitute cooked pinto beans, refried beans, and/or shredded potatoes for the other half.

This post was submitted by Summer Hirschi.

I need FAST, frugal meal ideas for 1 mom on weight watchers and 1 19 month old growing boy! (Isaac is NOT a picky eater, which helps!)

This post was submitted by Sarah Cassill.

I am tryin to make sure I know for certain how to cook shelly beans after they have been stored away in the freezer… I know I thaw them before i cook um. After they thaw I think I put a whole stick of butter in some water and cook it right??

This post was submitted by Bobbie.

Hi everyone
My daughters boyfriend is moving into our family home, with our blessing? Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I would much appreciate it if readers could help me with ideas for storage and organising his belongings into my families space eg. bathroom, wardrobes and any general ideas to make things more organized. It will be for about 4 months until they are in a position to move out. He is 22 years old.

This post was submitted by gayle.

You had recipe for the single cakes you can make using cakemix. I had th recipe and lost it could you e-mail it to me
Thank you
Beck

This post was submitted by Becky.

A lot of small frugal things we do around here don’t seem to make a lot of difference at first. I often hear (and read) people comment “So What… you saved 10 cents, big deal”. But you know what, when you implement all these various small frugal tips and make them habits that you stick to week in and week out, they really add up.

Let’s say you start cooking your own beans instead of buying canned ones. And let’s low ball it and say you save on average 20 cents per can that you don’t buy on sale and use your own cooked beans instead. Let’s also assume that you use 3 cans of beans a week. That’s a $0.60 saving a week or $31.20 per year. Still not a huge amount of money, right?

But then you start to implement some more frugal living tips (I’ll share some of my favorites below). Some will save you a dollar a week, others like changing the type of meat you cook or replacing some meat dishes with things like beans and rice will easily translate into savings of a dollar a day.

Here’s a little made up example, just to show you how quickly all these little savings can add up.

Frugal Habit 1 - Saves $0.10 per day

Frugal Habit 2 - Saves $1.00 per day

Frugal Habit 3 - Saves $0.50 per day

Frugal Habit 4 - Saves $0.05 per day

Frugal Habit 5 - Saves $0.25 per day

Frugal Habit 6 - Saves $0.10 per day

Total Savings Per Day = $2.00

Total Savings Per Year = $730
Now things are really starting to add up and these are just minor things. Let’s look at a few frugal tips you can start implementing right away.

Tip # 1 - Skip The Convenience Foods

This one made a huge difference in our food budget. Once I got it and started cooking more from scratch instead of relying on pre-made and frozen meals, mixes and such, our grocery budget shrank by about $60 per week. That’s a $2 per day saving right there.

Tip #2 - Pack Your Lunch

If you are working outside your home and usually go out for lunch, this can add up to some pretty big savings. I’m doing the math for you in that post. Take a look.

Tip # 3 - Reuse Water

Here’s one of those tips that won’t add up to a lot of savings, but it’s so simple to implement, I encourage you to do it anyway. Plus as a bonus you’ll find some more simple little common-sense tips at the beginning of that post. They are always a great reminder for me.

These tips were originally part of the Frugal Challenge Monday I post on my blog every week. I would like to encourage you to stop by the blog each week to read the challenge and start implementing as many of them as you can into your own frugal lifestyle.