I am looking for a southern style recipe for mashed potatoes. i live in minnesota and can’t make them like a relative in virginia did. Is it the potatoes?
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe that I am looking for is a light cake like cookie with chocolate chips, banana, walnuts and cinnamon in it. Before baking my mother dropped the rolled cookie dough in a combination of crushed corn flakes, cinnamon and sugar and then baked them. It is like the sugar sealed the cookies and they would stay in the earthen cookie jar for several weeks, if they lasted that long. I have been searching for this recipe for years. If anyone has this type of drop cookie, I am hoping you will share it. Thank you.
Christmas Season
Good Evening,
I hope everyone is celebrating a wonderful Christmas season! For our family, it just started! The traditional Christmas season is between Christmas Eve and the Epiphany, January 7th. We use the “12 Days of Christmas” to celebrate – putting our tree up on Christmas Eve, listening to holiday music, watching the recorded Christmas specials, etc. We buy all the things we need to celebrate on clearance because most everyone else is finished! We find gingerbread house kits, cookie sprinkles, holiday CDs and DVDs, etc. for more than 1/2 off the original prices!
So just wait a little longer than our American culture tells us to wait! Our children love it because they don’t have to wait very long between decorating the tree and opening gifts! And, they have a clear idea of when the holiday starts and ends!
Merry Christmas!
Take care,
Cynthia
Barbecue Sloppy Joes
- 1 pound ground turkey thawed if frozen
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup onions chopped
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 hamburger buns or onion buns, split and toasted
This recipe makes 4 servings.
Crumble turkey into a medium skillet. Sprinkle with pepper. Add onion. Over medium-high heat, cook and stir for 5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and onion is almost tender. Reduce heat to low.
Stir in tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and water. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
Place each hamburger bun bottom on an individual plate. Spoon about 3/4 cup of the turkey mixture onto each; replace tops. Serve immediately.
Cheesy Baked Ziti
- 3 3/4 cups ziti mostaccioli (about 12 oz.)
- 1 48-ounce jar spaghetti sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning dried crushed
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about 2 cups)
- 1 egg
- 1 16-ounce container ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon parsley dried, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Lightly grease a 3-quart oblong baking dish. Cook ziti or mostaccioli in salted water according to package directions, cooking for the minimum suggested time; drain.
In a medium bowl or in the jar, stir together spaghetti sauce and herb seasoning. Remove 2 cups and set aside. Stir remaining mixture into pasta. Place half of the pasta mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese on top.
In a medium bowl, beat egg. Stir in ricotta. Parmesan, parsley and salt until blended. Spread in dish over mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining pasta. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spread remaining spaghetti sauce evenly to edges of dish, coating all pasta. Cover loosely and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
Bake casserole, uncovered, in a preheated 350° oven for 55 minutes or until very hot in center and edges are bubbly. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts. Serve with a large spoon.
Beefy Baked Ziti
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup onions chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning dried crushed
- 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces ziti (1 cup)
- 2 ounces mozzarella cheese low-moisture part-skim, shredded (1/2 cup)
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated
This recipe makes 4 servings
Preheat oven to 350°. In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, brown beef with onion and garlic, breaking up meat as it browns.
Stir in water, tomato paste, herb seasoning and pepper. Stirring occasionally, simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.
Meanwhile, cook ziti according to package directions; drain. Stir ziti into beef mixture. Spoon into a 1-quart casserole. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is hot and bubbly.
Savory Creamy Chicken Breasts – Crockpot
- 5 chicken breasts, halves, boned and skinned
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 10 3/4 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup celery
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon tarragon or rosemary leaves
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic
- Salt to taste
- 1 8-ounce can mushrooms, drained
This recipe makes 5 servings.
Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry; place in Crock-Pot. In a saucepan, combine remaining ingredients and heat until smooth and hot. Pour over chicken breasts. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.
Baked Chicken and Rice
- 1 1/3 cups white rice uncooked converted-style
- 6 chicken breasts skinned and boned if desired
- 1 cup celery sliced
- 2 cups water
- 1 10 1/2-ounce can cream of chicken soup condensed
- 1 10 1/2-ounce can cream of celery soup condensed
- 3/4 cup sherry
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- Paprika
- 1/4 cup almonds sliced
- Celery leaves
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Preheat oven to 300°. Grease a 3-quart oblong baking dish. In baking dish, layer half of the rice, chicken, celery and remaining rice.
In a medium bowl, mix water, soups and sherry until smooth. Pour over rice. Sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and bake for 2 hours or until chicken and rice are tender.
Lift chicken to surface of rice mixture. With a fork, stir rice and sauce lightly around edges to blend. Sprinkle chicken with paprika and almonds. Garnish with celery leaves.
Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
- 1 loaf (1 pound) unsliced French bread
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped (1/2 cup)
- 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce (any variety)
- 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped (1 cup)
- 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups finely shredded pizza cheese blend pizza cheese blend (mozzarella and Cheddar cheeses) (8 ounces)
This recipe makes 8 servings.
Heat oven to 400�.
Cut bread loaf horizontally in half. Cut bread halves crosswise in half to make 4 pieces (to fit on cookie sheet). Arrange on large ungreased cookie sheet.
Cook beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in pizza sauce. Spread beef mixture over bread. Sprinkle with tomato, bacon and cheese.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until pizza is hot and cheese is melted.
Bacon Cheddar Chicken Patties
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 8 strips bacon
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
This recipe makes 4 servings.
Place 1 chicken breast half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Working from center, gently pound chicken with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4-inch thick; remove wrap. Repeat with remaining chicken breast halves.
In large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet; drain on paper towels. Reserve 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.
Add onion to drippings; cook and stir 2 to 4 minutes or until tender. Remove onion from skillet. Add chicken to skillet; cook 6 to 8 minutes on each side or until chicken is fork-tender and juices run clear.
Place chicken on cookie sheet and drape with bacon and cover with onion and cheese. Broil for 4 to 6 minutes until cheese is melted.
Apple Glazed Pork Roast
- 4 pounds pork rolled loin roast, trimmed
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 6 apples, quartered
- 1 teaspoon ginger, ground
This recipe makes 8 servings.
Rub roast with salt and pepper.
Brown pork roast under broiler to remove excess fat; drain well.
Place apple quarters in bottom of crockpot. Place roast on top of Apples.
Combine apple juice, brown sugar, and ginger. Spoon over top surface of roast, moistening well.
Cover and cook on Low setting for 10-12 hours or until done.
Elk Tamales
I made these with ground elk due to having an over abundance of the ground elk – you could use any type of meat you have available.
- Corn Husks – soak in cool water for at least an hour.
- Masa – I like the instant corn masa, just add water and mix until you have a paste consistancy that is easy to spread in the corn husks.
Meat Mixture
- 2 lbs ground elk
- 1 pk dried red chili’s
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion chopped
- 4 Tbsp Cumin
- 2 Tbsp chili powder (more/less depending how hot you want them)
- 2 chipotles in adobo – minced
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 1 1/5 cups water
- Salt/Pepper
In a pan brown meat. Add onion, garlic and cook until tender. Add remaining ingredients for meat mixture and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer until all the water has evaporated. Remove large chili pieces (from the dried chilis).
Take softened corn husk and spread inside with masa. Spoon 2 tbsp’s of meat mixture into masa and wrap corn husk around mixture. Place seam side down in a steamer basket and repeat until basket is full.
Place basket over boiing water and steam tamales 1-1 1/2 hours or until masa is cooked through.
Serve with salsa and sour cream.
DHA-Enhanced Baby Muffins
- 1/3 cup of softened butter
- 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup of granulated cane sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 2 DHA-enhanced stage 2 containers of baby food (fruit is sweeter, but veggies work too!)
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 cup DHA-enhanced rice cereal (I prefer Gerbers DHA Rice Cereal)
- 1/4 cup of multi-grain baby cereal
Combine the brown sugar, cane sugar, cinnamon, & baking soda in a mixing bowl. Add the butter & mix until all big lumps are gone. Add baby food and egg. Mix until smooth. Slowly mix in flour, & then slowly mix in cereals. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop the batter into a 12-hole cupcake pan (lightly oiled – I used canola oil, but olive oil or PAM would work too). Sprinkle a little cinnamon & sugar on top of each muffin. Bake for 15-17 minute. Let sit for 10min & carefully remove from cupcake pan. Optional ingredient: mix in dried fruit or trail mix to add variety. Let your little ones enjoy warm or refrigerated. Perfect for ages 9m-36m.
editor’s note: from Beech-Nut, information regarding DHA
http://www.beechnut.com/AllAboutDHA.asp
Make Your Own Kitty Litter
I found this recipe on another site, sorry can’t remember where!
This ‘recipe’ is a clone for ‘Yesterday’s News’ cat litter. I first tried it because I got tired of lugging 20 lb bags of Feline Pine home and paying $$ for something that was going to be thrown away. I like to be as self sufficient as I can and this is eco friendly and uses just a few cents worth of baking soda.
Shred or tear up a bunch of newspaper (no slicks). Soak in a bucket of water that has a bit of dish soap. I found that soaking for several hours produces a better end result. I just use my hand to goosh it all up to make sure the fibers are all breaking down. Then I drain it using an old colander. Back into the bucket with clean water to rinse. Drain again, pressing out as much water as you can. Mix in some baking soda, then crumble it over an old window screen to dry.
Newspapers use soy based inks now, but you will NOT be able to get the bucket or colander clean again, so use old ones. Do not drain this into your sink. The cellulose in the paper could potentially clog up your pipes.
Every day I pick out the poops from the litter boxes. This seems to control urine odors as well as any purchased kitty litter. I live in the country, so I just scatter it around where I have had moles and voles in the past.
Freezing Pie Filling and Dark Brown Cake Decorating Color
Can the pie filling you buy in a lg. plastic container be canned or frozen? Also how do you get a dark brown color when decorating a cake?
Cheaper Tomato Paste And Sauce
Love the money saving tips here! In my area, a huge can (institutional size) of tomato paste or tomato sauce is a lot cheaper per ounce than buying small cans. I usually make several batches of spaghetti sauce (with and without meat) on the days that I open those huge cans. Then I fill small containers with the remainder, label and pop all of it in the freezer. I use a cool, low tech labeling system: masking tape and a permanent marker.
Small Size Cake Recipes
Looking for cake recipes that make a 9×5 loaf pan or a 8×8 square cake. Most cakes are way too big for just the 3 of us.
Any help would be great.
Thank you,
CharlieAnn
Chicken and Cornbread Salad
- 6 C. coarse cornbread
- 2 C. pinto beans
- 1 can corn, drained
- 1 bottle Ranch dressing
- 2 C. shredded cooked chicken
- 1 C. diced bell pepper
- 1 C. diced tomato
- 1/2 C. diced onion
- 1 C. shredded cheese
Put half of cornbread in large bowl. Add beans and corn and half the Ranch dressing. Add chicken, bell pepper, tomato and onion. Add rest of cornbread and top with the rest of the Ranch dressing and the cheese. Cover and chill for about 4 hours. Makes quite a bit.
Chili Casserole
I made this up years ago when I had not-enough of a bunch of things. It’s basically an extrapolated tamale pie. I’m sorry this is so long. I promise it’s not difficult.
- 1 15-ounce can chili (2 cups homemade/leftover)
- 1 pound ground meat, browned and drained (beef, turkey, whatever)
- 1 15-ounce can beans, any kind, rinsed and drained (2 cups homemade/leftover)
- 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained a little (2 cups fresh, seeded and chopped)
- 1 15-ounce can kernel corn or hominy, drained (2 cups fresh or frozen)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- your favorite recipe of cornbread batter, or 1 package mix (I prefer unsweetened)
- jalapeños to taste (I use 2-3 pickled slices, squeezed through a garlic press)
- cheese, if you wish
Alternative: Rice, cooked
**You can substitute cooked rice (or any other grain, really) for some or all of the ground meat. One pound ground meat made two generous cups of crumbled meat after browning, so substitute accordingly.
Notes:
1) This is a very forgiving recipe and you can make lots of substitutions. Also, if you don’t have the proportions called for here, it doesn’t matter. It’s basically stew in casserole form: You can’t really go wrong.
2) No chili? Add extra tomatoes and beans, and season with chili powder to taste.
3) No meat? Add more beans (and/or cooked rice/grain).
Directions
Prepare cornbread mix according to directions on package, or make up a batch of batter.
Combine all the other ingredients except for the cheese. Mix thoroughly and spread into a 9 x 13-inch pan. Top with cheese, if you like, and then cornbread batter. Bake according to cornbread directions (everything else is already cooked, so you only have to heat up the filling and bake the topping).
Freezing
This can be frozen. It works best if you freeze the filling only and add the cornbread batter before baking. You can freeze it with the batter but the cornbread won’t rise and you’ll get a flat crust. It still tastes fine but the texture is less appealing.
Take it out of the freezer the night before (i.e. if you need it for Wednesday dinner, take it out to thaw on Tuesday night). I thaw on the counter instead of in the fridge since it’s made of pre-cooked ingredients.
Recipe For Homemade Baby Wipes
I am looking for a recipe or procedure for making homemade baby wipes.
Thank you.
Recipe For Pawnhaw – Cornmeal And Pork Dish
I am looking for a recipe for my inlaws and dont really know what it is called but something like pawnhaw or pawnhhull. if you can be of help let me know. I know it is made with I think cornmeal and pork.
True Gifts For Christmas and Crockpot Cajun Pecan Snack – HBHW Newsletter
December 22nd, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
The voting on our Holiday Recipe contest has come to a close. Thanks for all who joined in the fun. To take a look at how the votes are stacking up, click on the link below:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/favorite-holiday-recipes-poll.htm
If you submitted a holiday recipe, be sure you send your email to us at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com so we can notify you if you’ve won a prize, and to send your gifts to you. Be sure also to scroll down and see what we have in store for our participants and prize winners.
Our featured article this week is a special treat I hope you’ll enjoy. If you are gathering around the piano during your Christmas festivities or just humming tunes as you cook, you may appreciate having the words that accompany the tunes. I hope you’ll scroll down and click on the link to read our featured article.
This week’s quote and story are both about Christmas - true gifts and Christmas in the air. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on today’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.
~ W. T. Ellis ~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Creating Cherished Christmas Memories
That magical time of the year is in just a few days. Have you gotten all your shopping done? Isn’t that the question for the day? What would happen if we didn’t put so much emphasis on shopping for gifts and put more on enjoying the season? Wouldn’t that be a relief?
The joy of the season can sometimes get buried in the commercialization of Christmas – it’s all about the gifts.
Well, how about a gift of memories!
The holidays don’t have to be about spending more and more money on more and more toys and gadgets. You don’t need to max out your credit card to prove that you love your family.
What used to make the holidays so special was time spent with the people you love. How do we get back to that MAGIC?
What you need to return to those good old days is ideas – good old fashioned ideas for enjoying the season with your family, playing, laughing, cooking, singing, and all those things that we used to do years ago.
My friend Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com has set out to recreate memories with her family this year instead of piling up gifts… and debt. She has decided to stop shopping and start celebrating and has created a resource so you can do it, too – Creating Cherished Christmas Memories.
This ebook is filled with great tips and ideas to get your holiday out of the rut of frustration and debt. Take a look at just some of the things you’ll find to help you restore the magic to your Christmas:
- Grow closer as a family while instilling strong values about things like giving, empathy, and thoughtfulness.
- Yummy recipes for holiday treats that the family can make together.
- Rein in the season while having fun the whole time.
- Handle sticky situations you’d rather ignore, but can’t.
- Make the holidays last much longer than just one day.
- Give gifts that don’t cost an arm and leg, and are much more appreciated.
- Make visits with the neighbors, relatives, and extended family enjoyable again.
- Reduce your stress with these tips.
- Explore traditions old and new, and make memories that last.
Tracy also includes two bonuses that I know you’ll enjoy. Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today and you’ll receive The Big Book of Classic Christmas Tales as well as Tracy’s Wacky Party Ideas absolutely FREE. Both resources are perfect for this time of year… and for years to come!
Stuck for a last minute gift? Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today… it may be the best Christmas gift you’ll ever give to someone who’s tired of Christmas stress. Click on the link below and download instantly for a thoughtful last-minute gift:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/christmas-memories
Holiday Recipe Contest
Our voting has come to a close and soon we will be announcing our winners. This contest has been a lot of fun and has provided many delicious recipes to try. Along with the prizes we will be awarding to the winners, we’ll also be giving everyone who submitted a recipe their very own copy of the ebook we prepared with YOUR recipes in it. We still need email addresses from some of you, so be sure to send your email address to me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com Thank you!
Along with your own recipe ebook with all the submitted recipes, you’ll also be receiving a collection of over 80 recipes for all sorts of sweet treats collected by my friend Patti Winker at RemarkableWrinklies.com The recipes have been collected for many years, so some of them may seen a bit old fashioned, but we love that! Patti and I are giving you this ebook as a Thank You gift for sharing your recipes with us at HBHW.
So, be sure to send us your email address so we can:
1) find you if you win a prize,
2) send your free eCookbook from Patti, and
3) send your own copy of all the holiday recipes submitted.
If you submitted a recipe for the Holiday Recipe Contest, email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com and let me know what email address we can us to send your goodies. Thank you very much!
As a reminder, here are the valuable prizes we are giving away:
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From SavingDinner.com
3 month subscription (Value $15)
12 month subscription (Value $47)
Christmas for the Freezer menu (Value $10)
Thank you again for entering our Holiday Recipe Contest.
Featured Article
Christmas carols are a big part of the holiday season in our house. We like both the cute little songs and the pretty stirring hymns, but we stumble over the words sometimes; especially in the second or third verse! In this week’s article you’ll find a song book with 39 songs for the season for you and your family to enjoy. It’s my gift to you. I hope you’ll print it off , gather your family, and sing to your heart’s content. Just click the link below:
Recipe Sharing
Need just one more idea for snacks for your holiday gathering? I think you’ll like these:
Crockpot Cajun Style Pecan Snacks
- 1 pound pecan halves
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mix all your spices together well in a small bowl. Pour the melted butter into your crockpot, then add pecans, stirring to coat evenly with butter. Then sprinkle your spice mixture evenly over the pecans, stirring as you sprinkle.
Cover the crockpot and turn on to the HIGH heat. Let the pecans cook on HIGH for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once.
Remove the cover from the crockpot and turn the heat down to LOW. Cook uncovered for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally to make sure the pecans stay coated and evenly cook.
Cool the pecans on a rack covered with paper towels or a paper grocery bag. They’re ready to serve as soon as they cool completely.
Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Christmas Gifts
~ Oren Arnold ~
To your enemy,
forgiveness.
To an opponent,
tolerance.
To a friend,
your heart.
To a customer,
service.
To all,
charity.
To every child,
a good example.
To yourself,
respect.
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 Macaroni and Cheese
- 1 egg
- 16 oz. macaroni noodles
- 8 oz. Velveeta cheese crumbles
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar
- 8 oz. mild cheddar
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 stick margarine or butter
Boil noodles. While cooking, beat milk and eggs together. Then stir in cheese. Cut margarine/butter into chunks and put on top of cheese mixture. After draining noodles, add noodles to cheese mixture and stir until the margarine/butter is thoroughly melted. Salt and pepper if desired. Spread into a lightly sprayed 9×13 pan and cook at 350 until heated all the way through and bubbly (you can see it through a glass pan), about 30-45 minutes.
My husband is a picky eater, so I am usually making this mac and cheese to take so he will have something that he loves to eat at family gatherings. The things we do for our men!
Kelly Davis
Gluten Free Sweet Rice Flour Bread
I’m looking for a gluten-free bread made from sweet white rice flour… not regular rice but glutinous rice. Any idea where I can find a recipe for this?
Sea Foam Fudge
This is an old recipe that I first heard of from my mother’s ex-boyfriend. He loved the candy. My mother and I had never heard of it, so we asked his mother. It turns out she got it from her great grandmother, and it’s even turned up in the White House Cookbook. It doesn’t sound like a holiday treat, but that’s when these tasty fudge drops get made. Here’s my version of Sea Foam Fudge.
- 3 C Sugar
- 1 C Water
- 1 T Vinegar
Mix in a Saucepan and boil to 238 degrees (or whatever temp soft ball is on your candy thermometer), make sure it boils at this temperature for a little bit
2 Egg Whites stiffly beaten *note, I use grade A large
Add syrup to egg whites, beating continuously until mixture stiffens. Add 1 tsp Vanilla and 1/2 C to 1 C Chopped Nuts (I prefer cashews, but any will do…use Salt Free)on a lower speed on mixer. Continue beating until mix turns creamy and stiff. Turn into buttered (do not use oil or grease, it kills the stuff) or onto waxed paper in spoonfuls. The Waxed paper method is MUCH MUCH easier. This will make enough to fit into a medium sized cookie tin.
Thank You For Your Time,
Almond Sherry Cake Recipe
Either Family Circle or Woman’s Day magazine had a great recipe for Almond Sherry cake (back in early 1970′s – I think it was in a holiday pull-out section of recipes.) My copy has disappeared and I can’t remember things as well as I used to, so I need something to follow! If you have that recipe, or a favorite cake with sherry and sliced almonds, I’d love to hear from you! Thanks
Beef and Noodles Skillet Recipe
- 2 small Cube Steaks
- 1 pkg. Extra-wide egg noodles
- 2 cubes Beef Bouillon
- 2 C. Water
- flour
- season salt
- pepper
- veg oil
- salt
Cut cube steak into small bites and coat with flour, season salt, and pepper.
Brown cube steak in small amount of veg oil in med frying pan.(does not need to cook all the way)
Stir bouillon cubes in boiling water until disolved.
Add to frying pan and cover.
Simmer 30 -40 min. Stir occasionally.
Mix with cooked egg noodles and salt to taste.
My family loves this recipe and I often alternate it with rice and it’s just as good!
Potato and Black-Eyed Pea Soup
- 2 quarts chicken, turkey, or vegetable stock (I used the stuff I made by boiling down our Thanksgiving turkey carcass.)
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes in 3/4-inch cubes (5 small – 3 large. I scrub but don’t peel them)
- 1 1/2 cups dry black-eyed peas (3-4 cups soaked, or 2 cans)
- 1/2 pound of firm sausage (I like andouille. Polish is fine, too.)
- 1/2 pound collard greens, after washing, de-stemming, and tearing into pieces (Or 1/2 a bag of frozen chopped collards)
- 1 onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
Halve or quarter sausage lengthwise and slice 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick, as you prefer. Brown it and drain it thoroughly.
Cook onion a little in a bit of the leftover sausage grease.
In a large pot, add coarsely-chopped onions and soaked beans to stock and boil, then simmer for an hour or so.
Add the potatoes and cook until they are partly done.
Add collards and cook until they are wilted.
Squash the potatoes against the side of the pot and stir them in to thicken the soup.
You can also leave the lid off and let it cook down awhile until it reaches desired thickness (I like thick soup).
Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins
Our family used to enjoy Auntie Ethel’s Oatmeal Cookies, but Auntie Ethel is gone now and we’ve lost the recipe. I remember that we soaked the raisins in boiling water, and then used the raisin water as the liquid in the recipe. They were very crispy and buttery. Any ideas?
Broiled Coconut Treats
I am looking for a recipe. It had saltines as the base and my mom would put a shredded coconut mixture on top of each saltine and then broil it. I think there was an egg in it and table sugar. I am not sure.
Caramel Popcorn
I need a good and easy caramel popcorn recipe if anyone out there has one I’d really appreciate it.
Be Blessed Not Stressed This Holiday Season and Crockpot Wassail Recipe – HBHW Newsletter
December 15th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
The poll to vote on your favorite Holiday Recipe contest submission is up and it’s your time to vote. Please take a moment right now and go to
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/favorite-holiday-recipes-poll.htm
Also, if you submitted a holiday recipe, be sure you send your email to us at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com so we can notify you if you’ve won a prize, and to send your gifts to you. Be sure also to scroll down and check out the prizes and gifts we have in store for you.
Our featured article this week is about trying to avoid the stress that seems to surround the holidays, especially in the last few weeks before Christmas. I hope you’ll scroll down and click on the link to read our featured article.
This week’s quote and story are both about leaving your troubles behind. As much joy and wonder this holiday season can bring us, this time of year can also be difficult for many people, for a variety of reasons. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on today’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
Drag your thoughts away from your troubles, by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it.
~Mark Twain~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Creating Cherished Christmas Memories
That magical time of the year is almost here – Christmas. However, many families are wondering where the magic has gone.
The joy of the season can sometimes get stiffled by the stress and frustration you feel trying to make everything just right for your family.
When every commercial screams at you “Have you done your holiday shopping yet!?” it feels like that’s all that Christmas has come down to… buying more, buying bigger, and buying more expensive gifts.
Are the holidays only about spending money? Is it your duty to run up impossibly high charges on your credit cards? Are you supposed to spend your precious time shopping for yet another gift?
In short, have you lost that sense of family togetherness that used to make the holidays so special?
You CAN bring back the magic of Christmas for your family.
What does it take? It takes good old fashioned creativity!
That’s just what Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com has set out to do. Tracy has made a commitment to stop shopping and start celebrating. And now she has put together her favorite memory-making ideas into one book – Creating Cherished Christmas Memories.
This ebook is filled with great tips and ideas to get your holiday back on track and out of the rut of frustration and debt. Take a look at just some of the things you’ll find to help you restore the magic to your Christmas:
- Grow closer as a family while instilling strong values about things like giving, empathy, and thoughtfulness.
- Yummy recipes for holiday treats that the family can make together.
- Rein in the season while having fun the whole time.
- Handle sticky situations you’d rather ignore, but can’t.
- Make the holidays last much longer than just one day.
- Give gifts that don’t cost an arm and leg, and are much more appreciated.
- Make visits with the neighbors, relatives, and extended family enjoyable again.
- Reduce your stress with these tips.
- Explore traditions old and new, and make memories that last.
Doesn’t that sound more like a holiday season you long for?
Tracy also includes two bonuses that I know you’ll enjoy. Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today and you’ll receive The Big Book of Classic Christmas Tales as well as Tracy’s Wacky Party Ideas absolutely FREE. Both resources are perfect for this time of year… and for years to come!
It’s never too late to get off the commercialized merry-go-round and get back to creating memories for your family. Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today… it may be the best Christmas gift you’ll ever get your family.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/christmas-memories
Holiday Recipe Contest
We are almost ready to start voting for our favorite recipes. And, the fun news is you’ll be doing the voting! Watch for an email from me soon about how you can participate in choosing the best of the best holiday recipes submitted by you, our readers. Along with the prizes awarded to some lucky people, everyone who submitted a recipe will receive their very own copy of the ebook we prepared with YOUR recipes in it. We still need email addresses from some of you, so be sure to send your email address to me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com Thank you!
My friend Patti Winker at RemarkableWrinklies.com has also offered to give each person who submitted a recipe a copy of her new ebook called, Memory Lane Meals. Patti has put together a nice collection of over 80 recipes for all sorts of sweet treats. These are recipes that have been collected for many years, so some of them may seen a bit old fashioned, but we love that! Patti and I are giving you this ebook as a Thank You gift for sharing your recipes with us at HBHW.
Then, of course, we have the prizes. If you are voted a winner for one of these prizes, we’ll need to send your prize to you by email. So, please send me your email address as soon as possible.
When we get your email address, we’ll be able to do three things:
1) find you if you win a prize,
2) send your free eCookbook from Patti, and
3) send your own copy of all the holiday recipes submitted.
If you submitted a recipe for the Holiday Recipe Contest, won’t you please take a moment right now to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com and let me know what email address I can use to send your goodies to? Thank you very much!
As a reminder, here are the valuable prizes we are giving away:
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From SavingDinner.com
3 month subscription (Value $15)
12 month subscription (Value $47)
Christmas for the Freezer menu (Value $10)
Thank you again for entering our Holiday Recipe Contest.
Featured Article
When it gets down to the last few weeks and days before Christmas, I can sense the stress all around me. Many people are speeding up to wrap up the last few gifts and meals. This creates just the opposite feelings that we want to have over the holidays. If you’re starting to feel stressed instead of blessed, won’t you click the link below and read our featured article:
Coping With Holiday Stress – Tips To Enjoy This Special Season
Recipe Sharing
This is an aromatic and soothing hot beverage perfect for any holiday celebration. I think you’ll enjoy it.
- 2 quarts apple juice or cider
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 2 cups orange juice
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 18 oz pineapple juice
Heat on HIGH in crockpot until hot. Remove cloves and cinnamon stick. Simmer in pot to keep warm. 25-30 servings.
Submitted by HBHW reader Susan S. and here is her orange spiced cider recipe. Don’t forget to take a look at these other easy crockpot recipes as well.
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.
Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Trouble Tree
~author unknown~
The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had caused him to miss an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pick-up truck refused to start.
As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked to the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed by the tree and my curiosity got the better of me.
I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.
“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure, they don’t belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the evening and then I just pick them up again in the morning.”
“Funny thing, though,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick ‘em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remembered hanging there the night before.”
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
Help – Need To Make Cornmeal From Scratch
I have a gluten allergy. I am presently in a country for a month that has corn everywhere but I can’t buy cornmeal anywhere…and I only brought one bag of cornmeal. I need to make it from scratch…does anyone know how to do that? Every single web site has recipes saying use a measurement of cornmeal…but I can’t get any here. Can you send me a recipe to make my own…
Deep Dish Biscuit Pie Recipe
My mom used to make this 30+ years ago. It was a family favorite. She says that it was a Pillsbury biscuit recipe, but the Pillsbury website doesn’t have this recipe. Ever heard of it? Thanks! 
Sweet And Sour Dessert Dumplings aka Vinegar Dumplings
Sauce:
- 1 stick (1/2 c.) butter or margerine
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 c. water
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
Dumplings:
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 1/2 c. milk
Melt butter and mix all ingredients in a pot with a tight fitting lid. Stir regularly. Bring to a simmer.
Mix flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in milk to make a ball of soft dough.
Drop teaspoons on the dumpling dough into the simmering vinegar sauce. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. Serve hot and enjoy this true hillbilly dessert!
Cranberry Pudding Cake With Butter Sauce
This is a family favorite, my grandmother made it every year. I’ve never had anything like it, and Christmas is not the same without it.
For the Cake:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 3 Tbsp melted butter
- 2 cups raw cranberries
Mix all ingredients together, pour into greased 9X13 pan, and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
For the Sauce:
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/3 tsp salt
- 1Tbsp cornstarch
- 2-4 Tbsp butter
Mix all ingredients except butter. Boil until thick, then add butter. Serve warm over cake.
My-Great-Recipes Card For Melting Moments
I’ve lost my card from My Great Recipes collection for Melting Moments in the Cookies Packet. Made with flour, corn starch, powdered sugar…kind of like a thumbprint with separate recipe for icing (red and green on the picture). I made these for Christmas and cannot find the card anywhere!
Frugal Taco Salad
This is inexpensive to make and it can feed 3-4 people to save money. I use ground turkey but you can use ground beef I suppose. I buy generic everything so this usually cost about $4 to make and it is a quick dinner for when you do not feel like cooking.
- 1 lb ground turkey(or beef)
- 1 pkg of taco season
- 1 bag of shredded lettuce or a small head of lettuce diced well
- 1/2 bottle of french dressing
- 1/2 bag of shredded cheddar cheese.
- 1 bag of cheap tortilla chips crushed up
Cook turkey in a skillet with the taco season according to directions.
In a large bowl add lettuce, cheese, crushed chips and dressing and mix well, then add the meat and stir again until the meat is incorporated into the salad and serve.
I know French dressing sounds weird but it is yummy and filling.
No Knead Bread In 2 To 3 hours
I saw a no knead bread method once, and using it myself, decided to share it here. It is so simple and so easy and the best part is that there is absolutely no kneading what so ever.
you’ll need:
- 1 large bowl
- 2 loaf pans ( coat them well with either butter, oil or cooking spray)
- 1 tablespoon each of yeast (active dry yeast or instant both work okay), sugar, salt, oil and vinegar
- 3 cups of warm water (you can test it on your wrist to make sure you don’t kill the yeast-which I have done often enough to know better but still manage to do on occasion)
- 6 cups flour ( you can mix 3 cups white to 3 cups wheat which is what I do)
You’ll want to set your oven for around 150-200 degree to warm it up for the proofing unless you have a warm place in your kitchen which you can use instead.
Mix the yeast with sugar and warm water in the large bowl. Let the yeast sit for around 15 minutes or until you notice it has activated and bubbled up.
Once the yeast has bubbled up add the oil and the vinegar and slowly add in the flour, after you have added in around 1/2 of the flour mixture add in the salt (if you put the salt in too early you can kill your yeast).
Once you have added all the flour carefully divide the dough evenly into the two loaf pans and put them in the oven or your proofing spot and cover with a moist towel – let them sit for around 30-40 minutes. you don’t need to handle the dough or touch the dough again.
Once the dough has risen and doubled in volume (make sure you have taken them out of the oven if that was where you proofed them) turn the oven to 375 degrees, at this point you can put decorative cuts on the top of your breads or sprinkle with sesame seeds or any other topping you might like.
Bake for 50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom of the bread should sound hollow when tapped. you’ll want to check the bread around 40 minutes.
Take out of the oven let cool (no we’ve never let it cool- cut it, put butter on it and try not to burn your mouth and hands as you eat it straight out of the oven- trust me you’ll survive to eat another slice or loaf.)
This is a very easy simple bread to make which is great with sauces and of course butter.
Also, depending on your oven, you’ll want to start checking your bread after around 35-40 minutes. I find that in my oven at home, it takes the full 50 minutes to make this bread but at my sisters house it take less time to make in her newer oven. So you may have to test it to figure out your oven’s time. also I’ve made it in a little toaster type oven. I put in it at 350 degree for 55 minutes and it came out pretty good too.
The great thing about this recipe is that if you want you can cut it in half. Instead of using 6 cups flour, you can use 3 cups ( 1 1/2 white and 1 1/2 wheat) and 1/2 tablespoon of the yeast, sugar, salt, oil and vinegar with 1 1/2 cups of warm water and 1 loaf pan- but the rest all stays the same.
I’ve gotten some chickpea flour and plan on substituting that for the wheat flour this weekend. I’ve seen “the spice goddess” show and she uses it like regular white flour would be used, so I thought I’d give it a try too.
Cheap Bamboo Knitting Needles
Some years ago, I saw a pattern on TV on how to make a sock. At that time, I didn’t have double pointed knitting needles and didn’t have the funds to purchase a set of them (when I looked, few stores carried them and they were all way toO much for a set of 4).
Well, while visiting my sister’s house I’d seen a small stack of chop sticks that she kept on hand for my niece who preferred using them (and still does). She let me borrow 3 pairs (6 sticks plus she was nice enough to let me have some sanding paper). I went home and got to work. Smoothed down the tips and smoothed out any roughness and made myself 6 double pointed needles out of bamboo chopsticks.
I still have 4 of them, 2 got eaten by my dog. Did not hurt my feelings at all, I got another set of chopsticks and replaced it soon enough. The great thing about them is just that – if I lose one or break one or just need another, I make it. Since then, whenever we’d go to an Asian restaurant or order Asian food, we’d make sure to get chopsticks.
Now I have too many.
I measured the chopsticks (many many chopsticks later) and they tend to run around a size u.s.8 which is around 5 m.m.
I’ve found I like the wooden ones because they weight less and unlike steel they don’t get cold in my hands. I’ve also heard that wooden needles are easier for artheritic hands.
I’ve used furniture polish to make them shiny and slicker, which does not hurt the yarn at all, just make sure to take a cloth and wipe any extra off. Though they do tend bow a little I’ve noticed but I think that happened after I’ve used them so often or that was the way they came, I just think it gives them character.
Also I have several sets, some I sanded a point at both ends and others I’ve left the end flat. They work fine.
Right now I’m making a steering wheel cover for my sister and myself and though the yarn calls for a size u.s.9 or 5.5 m.m. , I like the weave the chopsticks have made – I don’t think it’s too tight or too loose. I’ve just got to do the ties and attach them to the covers and they will be done.
You want to make sure to get the rounded chopsticks not the ones that you have to break apart (the ones that are joined all the way down the chopsticks and are square)-they are too much work to sand.
Ialso have come across some that only about 1 inch at the flat end was together. They are fine as long as the main body of the chopstick is round.
My niece brought me a 3 set that has a little ring engraving-like cut out at the non-pointed end and they worked just fine and the little ring gives them a sort of decorative look.
Someone once asked me how I stop the yarn from falling off the flat end of the needle and I’ve never had a problem with it. But it got me to thinking – most of the projects I’ve used them with have been small things: hats, gloves and socks. but if I wanted to make a blanket it might pose a problem.
While watching a knitting show, the hostess wanted to decorate her knitting needles and she used modeling clay to make decorative stoppers for her knitting needles and glued them in place. I have not tried it but I’m pretty sure that beads or anything with a hole large enough that the needle can pass through could be glued to the end as well as modeling clay.
I’ve expanded my search of wooden knitting needles. The little shish kabob skewers or sticks are a size u.s. 3 which is 3.25 m.m.
They don’t require sanding to a point – they require sanding the point to a dull tip and then smoothing out the rest of the stick/skewer. They work well with lacy weight yarns and at around $1 for a bag of them, not too bad.
And, I’m looking at dowels. because they come in more sizes and I have an electric sander to make it easier.
Non-Dairy Pumpkin Pie
This is a recipe I came up with because our son loves pumpkin pie and has a total milk allergy. Everyone in the family eats it and really likes it. It taste like regular pumpkin pie.
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 heaping tsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/4 tsp.cloves
- 2 eggs + 1 egg white
- 1 can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 11 oz. of soy milk
- 1 unbaked pie crust
MIX sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl.
Beat eggs and egg white in large bowl with whip or fork. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually add soy milk and stir until mixed in.
BAKE in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees;bake for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate left overs.
Cover edge of crust with foil half way through baking to keep crust edge from getting to brown
Haymarket Chocolate Chip Cookies
From My Great Recipe Cards – I’ve been trying to find the recipe card for chocolate chip cookies. I think they’re called Haymarket Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are pale and flat with crispy edges and soft, chewy center. Very rich! Anybody have it?
Sinus Relief – Tomato Shots
I have suffered from sinus trouble often until I ran across what my daughter named Tomato Shots. At the first sign that my sinuses are beginning to bother me I use the following recipe for 3 days, before breakfast. So far, it has worked every time.
TOMATO SHOTS
- 1/8 cup tomato juice (2 tablespoons)
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Mix together and drink once a day for three days before eating breakfast.
Helps with respiratory problems, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infection, etc.
*Note: I advise having a glass of water ready to drink before taking a tomato shot. I personally do not like the taste of the shots and drink water immediately after a shot to dilute the strong pepper taste.
Jose Ole Southwest Chicken Skillet Dinner Recipe
I would like to find a recipe to copy the Jose Ole Southwest Chicken skillet dinner.
Broccolli Cornbread
- 1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix
- 1 cup of cottage cheese
- 2 sticks of butter (softened)
- 4 eggs
- 10 ounce package of frozen Broccoli set out and let thaw a little
Chop broccoli into fine pieces.
Mix cornbread mix, butter, and cottage cheese together in separate bowl.
Mix in eggs and broccoli to cornbread mixture.
Put mixture in baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until knife comes out clean in the middle.
This was great at Thanksgiving. I doubled it and baked it in a throw away metal pan for easy clean up.
Mock Shepards Pie
This is not exactly homemade but this is super simple and cheap to make. I make it for when I do not want to cook cause it does not take long at all to make.
- 1 can of beef stew
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water
- 1/2 box of mashed potatoes or left over mashed potatoes(even cheaper!)
- 1/2 can peas ( optional)
- salt, pepper, and butter to taste
Take the can of beef stew and water and add to pan and heat through with the optional peas.
Make the potatoes according to directions (remember it is half a box worth so read the directions) or heat the homemade potatoes and mix with salt, pepper, and butter.
Put in a casserole dish or a 9×9 pan.
Pour the heated soup on top and you are done!
You can EASILY double up this recipe and it will still be cheap.
This recipe makes 4-6 servings and it is hearty and good on a cold day.
Christmas Soup
My children named this Christmas Soup because of the colors…it was just “thrown” together and they all loved it!
- 1 can cream of celery soup
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can Rotel green chili/tomatoes
- 8 carrots sliced or diced
- 6 stalks chopped celery
- 1 soup can of milk
- 1 soup can of water (you can add more if desired)
- 1/4 cup pioneer gravy mix
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion
- 2 cups leftover cooked chicken, ham, or turkey
Place everything in large pot, bring to a simmer for 30-40 minutes till veggy’s are soft but not mushy.
Add water to your personal thick/thin preference.
Serve hot with a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top and a side of crusty bread, cornbread, or crackers…Mmmmm!
Making Your Own Cheese
I have been researching how to make your own cheese and have found and tried at least one recipe that is quite easy. It gives a farmers or crumbly type of cheese.
The recipe calls for:
- 4 cups of milk (I used store bought regular milk)
- 1 teaspoon of vinegar
- salt to taste
You will also need:
- a fine mesh tea towel ( cheese cloth if you have it but something about the consistency of a coffee filter or the cheese clumps will fall through)
- a strainer
- a larger bowl to catch the whey
Put milk in pot, bring it almost to boil.
Put in vinegar – turn off heat and stir. The cheese will start to clump.
Stir for about 3-5 minutes. Strain.
At this point you can add salt and mix.
You want to close the cloth over cheese and press out any extra liquid. You can either put a weight on top to compress the cheese even more or cool it as is and eat it once it’s chilled.
You don’t throw the *whey out. *(editor’s note: whey is the liquid that strains from the solids)
Various uses for the whey are: feeding it animals, feeding to plants, using it in soups or other recipes (I used it to make polenta and it was good).
Note: with regular grocery milk, 4 cups will only make 1 cup of the cheese and 3 cups of whey.
I’ve read on one website that it is because of the way grocery milk tends to be processed. He recommended using powdered milk which I’m going to try next.
Also plan on tryng it with half-and-half and seeing what happens there as well. If you like I will keep you posted.
Some websites call for using *Rennet to make harder cheeses and I just found it in my grocery store in the pudding secton for making ice cream so that is also on my list ( after the half’n'half and the powdered milk test).
*(editor’s note: Rennet is a natural enzyme produced by mammals to digest the mother’s milk, and is often used in the production of cheese.)
Love your website and the emails are great.
Bless,
Maria
Anne’s Chicken Nuggets
- 2 lbs boneless chicken
- 1 egg
- bread crumbs
- oil
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 pkg. Mozzarella cheese
Scramble egg in a bowl and set aside. Put breadcrumbs in a dish and set aside. Cut chicken in bite size pieces and dip chicken in egg and then in crumbs.
Heat oil in pan and brown chicken. Place chicken in a baking dish and add broth. Bake for 25 min. at 375. Take out and spread cheese over all and bake another 5 min more.
Creating Cherished Christmas Memories and Overnight Breakfast Strata – HBHW Newsletter
December 8th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Our Holiday Recipe Contest has come to a close; thank you to all who entered their favorite holiday recipe. It’s very important at this time to make sure we have all the emails for participants in the contest. We have more than 130 participants and only a little over 30 responses to our email request. Be sure you send your email to us at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com so we can notify you if you’ve won a prize, and to send your gifts to you. Be sure also to scroll down and check out the prizes and gifts we have in store for you.
I’m also in the process of setting up a way for you to vote on your favorite recipe. Look for an email from me about this later this week.
Our featured article this week is about fun, and frugal, ideas to entertain the family this Christmas. The article is a good look at creating memories without spending a lot of money. Written by a fun-loving woman who lives with her family outside of London, the article gives a fresh perspective for those of us who live elsewhere. It’s well worth a read, so I hope you’ll scroll down and click on the link to enjoy our featured article.
This week’s quote is about the blessing of memories. The story this week is a particularly moving one, especially for this time of year, about our wishes and God’s plan for us. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on today’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
~J.M. Barrie~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Creating Cherished Christmas Memories
Christmas is almost here. It should be a magical time of year, right? But many people are wondering where the magic has gone.
Thinking back to special holiday seasons of your childhood, do the memories get trampled by the stress and frustration you feel?
All the commercials are screaming at you to buy bigger and more expensive gifts — “Have you done your holiday shopping yet?” Are the holidays only about spending money? Is it your duty to run up impossibly high charges on your credit cards? Are you supposed to spend your precious time shopping for yet another gift?
In short, have you lost that sense of family togetherness that used to make the holidays so special?
You CAN bring back the magic of Christmas for your family.
What does it take? It takes good old fashioned creativity!
That’s just what Tracy Roberts of MomsInABlog.com has set out to do; Creating Cherished Christmas Memories for her family.
Tracy has made a commitment to stop shopping and start celebrating. And now she has put together her favorite memory-making ideas into one book – Creating Cherished Christmas Memories.
This ebook is filled with great tips and ideas to get your holiday back on track and out of the rut of frustration and debt. Take a look at just some of the things you’ll find to help you find the joy in Christmas again:
- Grow closer as a family while instilling strong values about things like giving, empathy, and thoughtfulness.
- Yummy recipes for holiday treats that the family can make together.
- Rein in the season while having fun the whole time.
- Handle sticky situations you’d rather ignore, but can’t.
- Make the holidays last much longer than just one day.
- Give gifts that don’t cost an arm and leg, and are much more appreciated.
- Make visits with the neighbors, relatives, and extended family enjoyable again.
- Reduce your stress with these tips.
- Explore traditions old and new, and make memories that last.
Doesn’t that sound more like a holiday season you long for?
Tracy also includes two bonuses that I know you’ll enjoy. Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today and you’ll receive The Big Book of Classic Christmas Tales as well as Tracy’s Wacky Party Ideas absolutely FREE. Both resources are perfect for this time of year… and for years to come!
Please click on the link and take a look at Tracy’s Creating Cherished Christmas Memories. It’s never too late to get off the commercialized merry-go-round and get back to creating memories for your family. Buy Creating Cherished Christmas Memories today… it may be the best Christmas gift you’ll ever get your family.
http://momsinablog.com/creating-cherished-christmas-memories/?hop=kinderinfo
Holiday Recipe Contest
We are happy to report that your recipes have been gathered into a pretty little cookbook ready to email out to each and every participant in our contest. However, there’s a little glitch. Out of the 130+ recipes, we have only received 30 or so responses to our request for email addresses. We are looking forward to getting your cookbook out to you so be sure to send your email address to me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com Thank you!
Along with your own recipes, we are also giving another great collection of recipes. My friend Patti Winker at www.RemarkableWrinklies.com has created a fun eCookbook called, Memory Lane Meals. Patti has put together a nice collection of over 80 recipes for cakes, pies, cobblers, bars, candies, snacks, and more. Because these recipes have been collected for many years, you’ll find some of them a tad old fashioned, but don’t we love that! Patti and I are giving you this eCookbook as a thank you gift for sharing your recipes with us at HBHW.
Then, of course, we have the prizes. We are busy looking at all the recipes and hope to narrow down our prize winners very soon. But, without your email address, we won’t be able to find you.
So, we need your email address in order to do three things:
1) find you if you win a prize,
2) send your free eCookbook from Patti, and
3) send your own copy of all the holiday recipes submitted.
Please, if you submitted a recipe for the Holiday Recipe Contest, won’t you please take a moment right now to email me at susanne@hillbillyhousewife.com and let me know what email address I can use to send your goodies to? Thank you very much!
As a reminder, here are the valuable prizes we are giving away:
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From SavingDinner.com
3 month subscription (Value $15)
12 month subscription (Value $47)
Christmas for the Freezer menu (Value $10)
Thank you again for entering our Holiday Recipe Contest.
Featured Article
In these last few weeks before Christmas, I’m concentrating on creating memories for our family. Shopping and gift-giving often causes stress, and is just as often unnecessary to have a good holiday season. That’s why I’m sharing an article written by Pippa Wright, a great gal with great ideas for enjoying the Christmas season by creating lasting memories. I hope you’ll spend a few minutes to see how her family finds the joy in the holiday without spending a lot of money. Just click the link below:
Frugal Christmas Entertainment Ideas
Recipe Sharing
Perhaps coming up with meals during the Christmas holiday season is one of the things that stresses you out. That’s why an all-in-one-pan meal for anytime of the day is a great idea. This is an easy, and tasty, Christmas morning casserole I think you’ll enjoy.
- 4 slices hearty white bread, crusts cut off, and coarsely torn into pieces
- 4 eggs, beaten with a fork slightly
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
Lightly grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
Arrange pieces of bread in pan.
In separate bowl, put eggs, milk, mustard, and onion and mix together well, then pour over bread.
Top with cooked bacon, cover the pan with foil, and put in refrigerator overnight.
In the morning, remove the casserole from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake casserole, covered, for 25 to 30 minutes.
Uncover and arrange shredded cheese on top.
Put back in oven, uncovered, and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and starts to brown.
Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.
This casserole serves 4 people, and can be doubled using a 9×13 pan instead.
Add whatever other ingredients you might want in this, included chopped green pepper, diced tomatoes, sausage, or chilis for more flavor.
Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Trees That Wood
~author unknown~
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.”
Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”
Finally the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter” … and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree so I’ll take this one”, and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said “Peace” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don’t always know what God’s plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways.
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
Worlds Most Frugal Soup
1 shredded Cabbage
Package of frozen spinach
4 carrots
head of garlic smashed
2 tomatoes
1 cup of water
Cracked Black Pepper
Place all ingredients in slow cooker (crockpot) for 8 hours on LOW.
Cheese Spread
Looking for a easy to make basic cheese spread recipe. That can be used on crackers, bread or vegetables.
Thank you.
Apple Cider Mix
I am looking for a recipe for instant apple cider mix to use in heated water. My husband loves hot apple cider and he does not like the store bought apple cider warmed up in a cup. He loves the Alpine apple cider mix but it is $2 per box of 8 envelopes at Walmart and I was hoping for a recipe to make the mix myself. Thank you.
Ruby Slipper Cake
Growing up we had a cake called “Ruby Slipper” at Christmas. It was made with red Jell-o (in powder form), sour cream and a regular cake mix. I believe it was a recipe found on the box of Jell-o but I could be wrong. Does anyone remember this and have the recipe? I would really love to make this for Christmas dessert.
How To Clarify Turkey Broth
Hi all. I made two batches of broth from two turkeys – one broth turned out fine but the other one got pretty cloudy. I think the difference was on one I took my time and let it simmer slowly, and the other one I boiled too hard for too long.
Now I’m blessed with one batch of beautiful broth sitting in my freezer and another batch in my refrigerator waiting for some way to ‘fix’ it.
What is the best way to clarify broth? I’ve heard about using egg whites. Has anyone tried that and has it worked?
Overnight Breakfast Strata
- 4 slices hearty white bread, crusts cut off, and coarsely torn into pieces
- 4 eggs, beaten with a fork slightly
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
Lightly grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
Arrange pieces of bread in pan.
In separate bowl, put eggs, milk, mustard, and onion and mix together well, then pour over bread.
Top with cooked bacon, cover the pan with foil, and put in refrigerator overnight.
In the morning, remove the casserole from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake casserole, covered, for 25 to 30 minutes.
Uncover and arrange shredded cheese on top.
Put back in oven, uncovered, and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and starts to brown.
Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.
This casserole serves 4 people, and can be doubled using a 9×13 pan instead.
Add whatever other ingredients you might want in this, included chopped green pepper, diced tomatoes, sausage, or chilis for more flavor.
This is a great Christmas morning casserole.
Steamed Chocolate Pudding
My mother used to make a delicious dessert called “Steamed Chocolate Pudding”. It was like a really moist chocolate cake – and was steamed in a double boiler. It was my favorite! I have searched the Internet, and her recipe box – but can’t find a recipe. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!
Best Gingerbread House Frosting
We tried several recipes for gingerbread house frosting but this one is by far the best. It dries quickly and holds the pieces together very well, that way the candy doesn’t “slide” down the sides & roof of the house as you’re decorating.
Gingerbread House Frosting:
- 2 egg whites
- 3 1/2 c. powdered/confectioners sugar
- 2 T. lemon juice
Mix egg whites & powdered sugar to form a thick icing: thin with a little lemon juice if necessary. Use icing to glue the house together. Put remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a fine tip, and decorate accordingly.
Holiday Candied Yams
Bake 4-6 garnet yams or sweet potatoes.
Remove pulp from the skins.
Mash with:
- 1 can crushed pineapple (drained),
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or to taste,
- 2 TBSP brown sugar,
- cinnamon, and nutmeg to taste.
Thin with fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice (about 2 TBSP each).
Heat in oven in covered baking dish for half hour at 350 F.
This recipe came from the Anne Collins weight loss forum as one of the Holiday Recipes last year.
Microwave Popcorn in Paper Bags
I posted a hint last year about making ordinary popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag, closing the bag, and microwaving it for about three minutes. It works very well but I’ve since read that the paper bag could catch fire, so it’s not recommended. Just a hint. I bought a popcorn microwaveable bowl with lid at Walmart last year and it works very well for popcorn and also frozen vegetables. It’s a big plastic bowl with a vent in the lid and cost $10 at Walmart. About 1/3 cup of ordinary popcorn and it makes 12 cups of popped treats. It may be sprayed with oil and then lightly salted if you wish after it is done. Enjoy!
Frozen veg require a bit of water in the bottom and then put the lid on. It works very well.
Mock Swedish Meatballs – Crockpot
- 1 lb of ground turkey (if you have an aldi in your area ground turkey is cheap like 1.39 a pound.)
- 1 sleeve of saltine crackers crushed
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 half on an onion diced fine
- pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to taste
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 a soup cans worth of milk.
combine turkey, egg, onion, crackers and seasons in a bowl and form into small meatballs.
in a pan fry until they have browned a bit and if you have a crock pot transfer to a crockpot, if not transfer to a baking dish with lid. take the cream of mushroom soup and mix it with the milk and pour over meatballs.
if using a crockpot cook on low 4-5 hours,
if using an oven preheat to 350 degrees and bake one hour.
( i personally like the crockpot better cause the meatballs turn out better that way.
this is super yummy with some mashed potatoes and biscuits.
Vinegar Pie Recipe
My Grandmother made this pie one year and never again. I thought the tangy sweet filling with a light crispy sugary coating on the top of the filling was wonderful. Grandma doesnt have the recipe anymore, as that was about 25 years ago. Please help me if you can. Thanks.
Turkey Salad Sandwiches
- 3 cups of leftover cooked turkey
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1 can of black olives, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup of chopped pecan or walnut pieces
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise or salad dressing
- Salt and Pepper
Chop turkey into chunks. Be sure to remove any bones, gristle and skin. Add to a large mixing bowl.
Chop celery into small pieces and add to the bowl.
Drain and chop black olives, and add to the bowl.
Add 1/2 cups of nut pieces.
Add 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to the bowl.
Add salt and pepper to taste. (I prefer to use sea salt if I have it.)
Mix salad thoroughly.
Make sandwiches with toasted bread, the turkey salad, and lettuce.
Serve with Barbeque Potato chips.
I prefer to use thin sliced bread.
The turkey salad can also be served with small “party bread,” or crackers.
I like to make this for pot lucks.
I love this turkey salad so much that I will buy a turkey on sale and make it throughout the year.
Baked Apple Roll
- 6 0z butter or substitute
- 1½ cups self-raising flour
- Milk to mix
- 3 Apples, peeled and grated
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 3 Tablespoons sultanas (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon extra butter
- ½ cup extra sugar
- 1½ cups boiling water
Rub butter into flour, and then add enough milk to mix to make scone dough consistency. Roll out into an oblong shape.
Spread grated apple evenly over dough, and sprinkle over sugar and sultanas, and then roll up as for Swiss roll.
Place into a greased high-sided ovenproof dish. Put extra butter and sugar into a jug with boiling water, stir and then pour over roll. Cook in a moderate oven for 1 hour. Serve. We usually have it with cream, custard or ice cream.
VARIATION: Instead of apple filling, mix ¾ cup sugar with grated rind and juice of 1 lemon and spread over dough, roll up and pour over 1½ cups boiling water.
Mom’s Holiday Cranberry Salad
- 1 pkg fresh cranberries
- 3 or 4 stalks of celery
- 1 largish orange – quarter to remove seeds
- 1 c nuts – walnuts or pecans
- 1 pkg raspberry or cherry jello, dissolved in 1 c boiling water
- 1/2 sugar – more if you like it sweeter
put 1st 4 ingredients through food grinder – peel and all [except seeds] of orange – stir sugar in well, add jello and chill. This makes a rather tart salad but it goes very well with a rich meal – we always had it every holiday growing up, and I still do!
French Vanilla Or Key Lime Dessert
I’m trying to find either a french vanilla dessert or a key lime dessert….but not pies.
Leftover Turkey Curry
- 1 cup leftover turkey(cut into bite size pieces)
- broccoli (steamed or boiled)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (your favorite)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 2 tbsp curry
- bread crumbs (I use chicken favored)
Prepare rice of your choice for later.
In a bowl, mix sour cream, cream of chicken soup and curry. Set aside.
In a casserole dish, begin layering, start with broccoli (make sure it’s well drained) cheese, then turkey.
Pour the cream mixture over the top and sprinkle bread crumbs over the top.
Place in a 350 degree oven and cook for about 30 minutes.
Serve over rice.
Egg Plant Casserole
This recipe came from my mother-in-law who got it from Morrison’s cafeteria who is no longer in business. We adapted it a little bit to make it even better. It is a family favorite!
- 1 qt. water
- 3 c. crushed club crackers
- 3 lb. eggplant
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 lb. bacon
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 small onion
- 1 egg
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1/2 c. evaporated milk
Peel and dice eggplant and cook in boilingwater until soft, about 15 minutes.
While eggplant is cooking, chop bacon into small pieces and cook with onion or cook and crumble bacon and cook onions in butter while the bacon is cooking.
Drain most of the water off and mash the eggplant.
Add 2 cups of the crackers, salt, sugar, egg, milk, and 2/3 of the bacon.
Mix together well.
Pour into a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
Top with the cup of crackers and sprinkle with bacon.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Candles
I love scented candles, but even the more expensive, like Yankee Candle, do not have the same scent after being lit.
Or some candles will smell wonderful -if you are standing within a couple of feet of them, but do not scent the whole room. Any suggestions?
Apple Butter Bread
I’ve adapted my recipe from the following inspiration: Rose Manor
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter (local if you can)
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 egg (local if you can)
- 1 cup apple butter (local if you can)
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2/3 cup evaporated milk (one 5 oz. can)
Combine ingredients and bake in two greased loaf pans at 350 for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
(You will note that I pared the original recipe down to one mixing bowl, and I have no negative effects from this time-saving move.)
Turkey Salad
dressing:
- 2 cups splenda
- 2 cups canola oil
- 3/4 cup chopped onion
- 8 oz. cranberry sauce
- 1 T salt
- 1 T dijon mustard
- 2 t. poppy seeds
salad:
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- turkey breast, cooked and cut into strips
- 2 cups fat free or low fat shredded or diced cheese
- 1 cup candied pecans
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 large cucumber, sliced
In a blender combine splenda, oil, onion, cranberry sauce, salt, and mustard until blended.
Add poppy seeds, cover and pulse for 5-10 seconds. Store in fridge, drizzle over salad.
Two cups salad is 275 calories, 320 calories with dressing.
Herbal Cold Relief
I am a long term sufferer of asthma and bronchitis and so have had to take a lot of cold medicine in my day. I hate all of it!
I stumbled on to this remedy and while it is not the tastiest stuff you will ever drink it is a lot better than the commercial stuff and costs approximately 3 cents for a cup full of it. you can’t beat that!
Take 2 cups of water and 2 round teaspoons of ground cloves and about 4 teaspoons of sugar or honey and bring it to a boil.
Let boil at least 2 minutes then cover and let stand until cool enough to drink.
Pour it through a coffee filter to strain out the chunky bits, then drink.
It is strong and bitter but will make your throat instantly feel better and the clove is also an expectorant and an anti-spasmadic so it will quiet the cough and help loosen up the mucus in your chest and sinuses.
For me it worked better than the commercial medicine and with a lot less side effects. It also helped relax the broncial tubes which made my asthma much better and the medicine stays in your system longer than the commercial stuff so you need a lot less of it and a lot less often. Clove is a strong medicinal herb though so don’t over do it and if you have any other health concerns other than the common cold you may need to talk to your doctor before you use it.
White Chocolate Pie
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 tub cool whip (thawed)
- 8 oz. white chocolate (melted)
- 1 Graham cracker crust
Beat cream cheese and cool whip together until smooth, pour in melted chocolate and mix well. Pour into pie crust and chill until ready to serve.
Note: The chocolate needs to be melted but cooled to some extent
Sarah’s Stuffing Casserole
I adapted this recipe from one I found in a Taste of Home cookbook a few years ago to better suit my family’s taste for Christmas dinner. Now I make it any time and it is a great way to make leftovers stretch into a full meal.
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 packages (6 ounces each) chicken or turkey stuffing mix
- 20 ounces frozen broccoli spears, cooked and drained
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
- 1-1/3 cups milk
- 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- Leftover chicken or turkey (optional)
Prepare stuffing according to package directions and spoon around edges of greased 9X13 baking dish. Place broccoli and chicken or turkey (if using) down the middle.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt remaining butter. Stir in the flour and bouillon until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Add cream cheese; stir until melted. Add onions; mix well. Pour over broccoli (and meat). Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Top with cheese and paprika.
Just Like Pumpkin Pie
This is most amazing
- 2 C almonds, soaked
- 1 C walnuts or pecans, soaked
- 1 C unsweetened shredded coconut
- 20 dates, soaked overnight
- 2 C cashews, soaked overnight, and drained
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced.
- 3 t pumpkin pie spice
- drizzle agave nectar
CRUST
• Combine almonds, walnuts (or pecans), and coconut in food processor or Vitamix, and process until ground fine and dough-like
• Pat the dough into two pie plates
FILLING
• Drain dates; reserve soak water.
• In food processor, puree dates, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie spice
• Remove mixture from food processor and set aside in a bowl.
• Process cashews, agave nectar, vanilla, and date soak water as needed, until smooth and creamy.
• Combine cashew mixture and sweet potato mix puree
• Spread filling in pie shells
• Dehydrate for 6 hours, if you’d like. I often don’t. Then refrigerate. The longer it sits, the more the seasonings blend.
Nana’s Ricotta Pie
Crust:
- 1 Tbl softened butter
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbl sugar
- 1 cup flour
Blend butter, sugar, and egg. Add flour and roll out. Put crust in greased 10 inch pie plate
Filling:
- 2 lb ricotta
- 8 eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1-2 tsp vanilla (I like 2 tsp)
Beat eggs in bowl. Add sugar, vanilla to eggs and to the ricotta. Pour in pie pan.
Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour or until set (it will cook like a custard pie).
*This recipe can be simplified by using a pre-made crust. The pie is great warm or cold, plain or topped with fruit topping. I personally love it chilled with blueberry topping, but Nana served it plain.
Easy and Cheap Holiday Kisses
- Small twist pretzels
- Hershey kisses
- M&M’s
Lay pretzels on a cookie sheet.
Top each one with an unwrapped Hershey kiss.
Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for approximately 3-5 minutes or until kiss softens.
Top each kiss with a M&M.
Allow each to cool completely.
These keep well in a covered container and also freeze great!!
Turkey Roll-ups
- 2 pkg. Crescent rolls
- 1 1/2 to 2 C fine diced cooked turkey*
- 1 1/2 to 2 C fine cubed or shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 soup can of white wine or milk
Combine soups with wine OR milk and mix until smooth. Pour about half into an oblong baking dish.
Combine turkey and cheese and set aside.
Separate crescent rolls into triangles and very carefully stretch the wide end slightly, being careful to not tear the dough.
Place 3-4 T of cheese and turkey mix on the wide end and roll up each one, beginning at the wide end.
Place roll ups on the soup in the casserole, seam side down, single layer.
Pour remaining soup mix between and around the roll ups.
Bake in a pre heated 375 F oven 30 -45 minutes. Garnish with grated cheese for the last 10 minutes of baking time.
This has been a favorite in my family for 30 years. I once prepared this for a group of 40 and there was not one roll up left. It is really good with buttered broccoli and carrots and an apple/celery salad for that touch of sweet. My family always enjoys a nice turkey dinner, but also makes certain that turkey roll ups are expected in short order.
*At other times of the year, I use cooked chicken breasts.
Red and White Cranberry Freeze
My grandmother made this every Christmas. She had a formal dining room with a very large table on which she put a beautiful white tablecloth and used her cranberry glass dishes. Red & White Freeze is not only beautiful, it is very delicious.
- 2 cans jellied cranberry sauce
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 3oz pkg. cream cheese-whipped
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream- whipped
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Crush the cranberry sauce with a fork and mix in the lemon juice. Put this into a jello mold and put in freezer.
Whip the cream cheese, mayonnaise and powdered sugar together, then stir in the nuts and fold in the whipped cream.
Spread this over the cranberry sauce and put back in freezer for 2 hours.
When ready to serve, set the jello mold in hot water for a few seconds, then turn out onto plate and slice.
Christmas Danish
This has been a family ‘traditional’ Christmas morning breakfast item for more years than I can remember. It takes 3 days of ‘steps’ to get it done but it is SO Worth it! Actually the first day is the most time consuming. And the nice thing is it could be used any time of the year, I just always did it for a special Christmas brunch item. It can be just glazed and put pretty sprinkles on or you can put various flavored jams on it before you bake it for flavored danishes. Then glazed afterward with just a little glaze!
- 3 1/2 to 4 C unsifted flour
- 1/2 C sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tblsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel (have also used orange peel instead)
- 2 pkg Active Dry Yeast
- 3/4 C milk 1/2 C water
- 1/4 cup stick margarine or butter
- 2 eggs (room temperature) separated
- 1 1/2 C butter
- 1 Tblsp water
In a large bowl thoroughly mix 1 1/4 C flour, sugar, salt, cornstarch, peel, and dry yeast.
Combine milk, water, and 1/4 C margarine or butter in a saucepan. Heat over low heat until liquids are warm. Butter does not need to totally melt.
Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
Add 2 egg yolks, 1 egg white (retain 2nd egg white for later) and 3/4 C flour, or enough flour to make a thick batter. Beat at high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
Add enough additional flour to make a stiff batter; stir just until blended.
Cover tightly with foil and chill for 1 hour.
On wax paper, spread 1 1/2 C margarine or butter into a 10 x 12 inch rectangle. Chill 1 hour.
On a lightly floured board, roll chilled dough into a 12 x 12 inch rectangle. Place margarine slab on 2/3 of the dough. Fold uncovered third dough over middle section; cover with remaining third of dough. Give dough a quarter turn; roll into a 12 x16 inch rectangle (approximate is OK) fold as above . Turn, roll and fold once more; chill for one hour. Repeat this procedure of 2 rollings, foldings, turnings and chillings two more times. Then refrigerate overnight.
2nd day: On a lightly floured board, divide dough in half. Roll 1/2 the dough into a 15 x 6 inch rectangle; Cut 12 strips, about 15 x 1/2 inch. Twist each strip and form into a circle sealing the ends well underneath the danish. Place on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining piece of dough. Cover lightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
3rd day: Combine reserved egg white with 1 Tbl water. Brush rolls with egg white mixture. (Fill with jelly if desired)
Bake in moderate oven (375 deg F/180 deg C) about 15-20 minutes or until puffed up, flaky and done. Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks or towels. Frost with powdered sugar glaze and decorate as desired.
Cinnamon Apple Jello Salad
This is a family favorite since sometime in the 1970′s. We always had it at home for Thanksgiving and Christmas since my mom got it from a former neighbor and coworker who shared it with her. It’s not especially healthy or frugal, but it is definitely a holiday favorite and it’s not too ‘over-the-top’ with $ or time. I hope you enjoy it!
- 1/4 cup Cinnamon imperials (RedHots candies)
- 1 cup water
- 1 small box Cherry gelatin (reg or s/f)
- 1 cup grated apple mixed with 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Boil the candies in the water, stirring to melt completely. Pour the boiling water over jello, stirring to dissolve completely. Cool to consistency of egg whites. (If you don’t catch it before it completely gels, which I usually don’t, you can zap it in the microwave for 20 seconds or so.)
Using an electric mixer, whip the gelatin to a froth. Add apples with lemon juice, marshmallows and topping, mixing to blend well. Refrigerate until serving time.
(You can add 1 cup of chopped pecans according to my original recipe, but we never do…keeps it cheaper, the texture more uniform, and avoids an allergy problem with some folks… try it if you like them though!)
Easy Spinach Pie
- 2 pounds spinach, rinsed and chopped (or can use 2 boxes of frozen spinach thawed and drained)
- 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (or can use cubed white cheese such as Monterey Jack or Brick to substitute for Feta)
- 1 (8 ounce) container cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons dill
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
In a large bowl, combine the spinach, feta cheese (or other white cheese alternative cubed), cottage cheese, onion, dill, pepper and salt (optional). Mix well and pour into prepared dish.
Mix together the breadcrumbs and butter. Sprinkle over spinach mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until set.
SugarFree Lowfat Butterscotch Fudge Banana Pie
- 1 lowfat graham cracker crust
- 2 small bananas
- 1 box sugar-free butterscotch instant pudding
- 1 box sugar-free chocolate instant pudding
- 2 cups milk
- 12 oz. fat free whipped topping
- Sugarfree Butterscotch or Caramel ice cream topping
Cut bananas up and layer on bottom of crust.
Mix (I use a jar to mix) 1 cup of milk with chocolate pudding with mixer-just until blended. Spread on banana layer.
Mix 1 cup of milk with butterscotch pudding-just until blended.
Fold 6 oz. of whipped topping into butterscotch pudding. Spread butterscotch mixture over chocolate pudding.
Top with remaining whipped topping.
Drizzle the top of pie with ice cream topping.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Thanksgiving Cranberry Salad
- 1 bag (1 lb.) fresh or frozen cranberries, finely ground in food processor
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 large orange, cut into fourths and ground in food processor
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Stir all the ingredients together and serve. This keeps for several days, if no one eats it all up!
HBHW Black Friday And Beyond Sale
Happy Black Friday and Cyber Monday!
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Cockroach Hell
I live in an apartment building that’s overrun with cockroaches. Does anyone have any ideas, preferable natural, as I have a cat, for eliminating or discouraging these awful pests? They’re driving me nuts.
Thank you all very much,
Carol
Sweet Potato Crisp
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 40 ounces canned sweet potatoes, drained
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped apples
- 2/3 cup chopped cranberries or can use craisins
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats, uncooked
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup margarine, melted if preferred
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Beat cream cheese, sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup brown sugar and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended.
Spoon into 1 1/2 quart casserole or 10″ x 6″ baking dish. Top with apples and cranberries.
Stir together flour, oats and 1/2 cup brown sugar in medium bowl. Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over fruit.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until throughly heated. Can be frozen.
Makes 8 servings
AJ’s recipe from the Marietta Times. I love it!!It’s more like a dessert than vegetable.
Chicken Salad Supreme
- 3 cooked/diced chicken breasts
- 5 cups cooked macaroni
- 1 Large diced tomato
- 1 Large diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup sliced green olives
- 1 bottle Italian dressing*
Mix together and chill. Great to have on hand for unexpected dinner guest.
*Add more or less dressing depending on taste.
Light Waldorf Salad
- 3 cups chopped apple with peel
- 2 cups grapes, halved
- 1 can pineapple chunks
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
- 1 or 2 small Weight Watchers vanilla yogurt cups
In a serving dish, mix all ingredients together EXCEPT the pecans. Refrigerate at least 1 and 1/2 hours.
Add pecans just before serving. You can add about a cup of thawed low-fat Cool Whip but the salad is delicious without it.
Broccoli Stuffing Casserole
- 2 pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli
- 2 Tbs. grated onion
- 4 oz. herb stuffing mix (Pepperidge Farm)
- 1/2 c. melted butter
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
Cook broccoli according to directions on box. Combine cooked, drained broccoli, onion and stuffing mix.
Place in 2 qt. greased casserole.
Pour melted butter on top.
Combine soups and spoon over casserole mixture (do not mix in).
Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350.
Remove lid and continue baking for 15 minutes.
Girls Scout Chili
I am submitting this because although it may not sound “holiday”, it sure helped ours.
One year I was crazy busy making our usual traditional Thanksgiving feast. In our new little mobile home kitchen, that requires 3-4 days of juggling what gets cooked when since. In our hectic dance of preps, cooking and cleaning only to repeat several times, we ate whatever we could sample, pop in the mic, or spread on bread.
On one of these manic days, my daughter and hubby were complaining they would like something hot on such a damp cold day. I looked around, feeling overwhelmed told them..look..if you can do it in one pot, in 15 minutes, go ahead or make another sandwich. My daughter’s face lit up. “Ok Ma..I’ll make Girls Scout Chili!” She did and every year now..Girl Scout Chili is part of our holiday preps.
- 1 jar any flavor spaghetti sauce
- 1 lb. meat..ground or diced..turkey, beef, sausage, chicken etc
- 3 cans of “Pork and Beans” or baked beans.
Cook meat, add sauce and beans. Eat.
Eclair Cake
- 1 (16 ounce) package graham crackers
- 2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
- 4 cups milk
- 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting
Line the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan with graham crackers.
In a large bowl, combine the milk and vanilla pudding according to directions on box.
Fold in the whipped topping.
Spread a layer of the pudding mixture over the graham crackers.
Alternate the graham cracker and pudding layers up to the top of the pan.
Cook the container of prepared frosting, uncovered in the microwave for 1 minute on half power.
Pour over the top of the cake.
Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before serving.
2 Mom’s Joined Tuna Casserole Dish
This is a collaboration of my ex mother in law’s tuna casserole and my mother’s (who isn’t with us anymore)
- 3 cans of tuna..2 drained 1 not(drain over your pets food)
- 3 cans cream of mushroom soup(undiluted)
- 1/2 bag wide egg noodles
- Lay’s plain potato chips
PREHEAT OVEN to 350
Real easy to make..cook the egg noodles drain them, then add everything else except the chips and mix all together in a casserole dish (sometimes I put little crumble’s of chips mixed up too).
After mixing it all up put the chips all over the top and pop into oven..when chips get golden it’s ready to eat!!!
Cranberry Jello Salad
Grind in blender or food processor:
- 1 lb. ripe raw cranberries
- 4 medium apples, cored
- 1/2 navel orange, peel and all
Pour fruit into a large bowl. Add:
- 2 c. sugar
Set aside.
In another large bowl, dissolve:
- 2 small pkg. Cherry Jello in 3 cups boiling water.
Cool until mixture starts to gel.
Add fruit mixture and chill until set.
Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Cookies:
- 1 box Spice Cake Mix
- 1 15oz can Pumpkin
- 1/2 C. raisins
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
- 2 – 3 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two cookie sheets. Mix together cake mix and pumpkin. Add raisins and stir. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared pans. Bake 11-13 minutes. Cool and top with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Apple Cheddar Cheese Casserole
A friend of mine use to make this wonderful casserole and it had apples and cheddar cheese…I would have multiple servings when we would have get-togethers. I never got the recipe and wish I did. Does anyone have a recipe that might have these things in it?
Thanks
Deborah
Cream Cuts
Cream Cuts:
- 2 sticks of margarine
- 2 c. flour
- 1/2 c. ice water
With pastry blender cut in margarine and flour. When margarine is the size of peas add water and stir just enough to form a ball. Cover and refrigerate over night.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut dough in half. Roll each portion out on a cookie sheet, trying to keep each approx. the same size bake until bubbly and brown.
Filling:
- 4 c. milk
- 6 egg yolks
- 1/4 c. cornstarch
- 2/3 c. sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Combine ingredients and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Let cool. Spread on one sheet of pastry. Take the second sheet of pastry and place on top of filling. Mix powdered sugar, water and almond extract to a smooth consistency having it a little thin. Decorate top sheet of pastry by letting it pour from the bowl in a thin thread like stream.
Keep in refrigerator.
My first memory of this is when Dick’s mom, Marilyn Kittleson, made this warm right after we came in from snowmobiling. She’s my hero!
Bob’s Christmas Cranberry Sauce
- 1½ cups Sugar
- 1 cup Red wine (see notes)
- 12 oz Fresh Cranberries
- ½ cup Orange Marmalade
- ½ cup Orange Juice
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 teas. Allspice, ground
- 2 1-inch pieces of peeled ginger
- Zest of 1 orange
In a medium size saucepan, bring the sugar, wine, orange marmalade, and orange juice to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Add the cranberries (which has been rinsed), cinnamon sticks, allspice, ginger and the orange zest and bring back to a boil.
Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until all the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens slightly.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and ginger. Remove the cranberry sauce from the heat, place in a bowl and allow to cool thoroughly. Then refrigerate, covered until ready to serve with your Christmas turkey or Bob’s French toast.
Notes:
I prefer a good Shiraz in my cranberry sauce. I have found the Aussie wines to be excellent and reasonably priced as well.
If you would prefer not to use wine for this dish, you can substitute Welch’s Grape juice in equal amounts.
Graham Cracker Pie Crusts
I was given a very tall stack of graham cracker pie crusts and so I’m looking for recipes that I can use these with and not spend more than I save by using free crusts.
Soft Molasses Ginger Cookies
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup molasses
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp ginger
- 4 cups flour
In large mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter; blend in molasses, salt, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and ginger.
Stir in flour, mixing well.
Roll dough into balls and press slightly with fingers.
Arrange on cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick coating.
Bake at 350 degrees, just until cookies are done. Do not over bake.
If cooled cookies are placed in a sealed container with white bread or sliced apples they continue to soften and taste most delicious.
Cranberry Salad
- 1 bag of fresh Cranberries
- 2 Apples (tart but a hint of sweetness)
- (Granny Smith or Fuji is what I use or one of each)
- 2 Oranges
- 1 Cup of Splenda
Wash all your fruit.
Core your apples, peel your oranges and remove seeds.
One fruit at a time, chop in food processor or use a hand chopper – this way you don’t over process your fruit.
Place all chopped fruit in a medium size bowl and add the splenda (can use less than a cup of splenda depends on your taste).
Stir and place covered bowl in fridge overnight.
I have never tried but I have seen other recipes with bananas and strawberries added.
The recipe freezes nicely if you would have leftovers.
Brown Bag Apple Pie
Preheat the oven to 350F
Crust:
- 1 1/2 c Flour
- 1/2 c Vegetable Oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tsp Cold Milk
- 1 1/2 tsp Sugar
Dump everything in the pie pan, mix it up with your fingers, and press into place. A perfect job for the kids.
Filling:
- 4-5 Pink Lady apples, cored, peeled, and cut into chunks
- 1/2 c Sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 – 2 Tbsp Flour (Optional to thicken juices)
Mix dry ingredients, then add apples and toss together. Dump into crust.
Topping:
- 3/4 c Flour
- 1/2 c Butter, softened
- 1/2 c Sugar
Cut together to make crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the pie and gently press into place. Chase away the kids who keep trying to sneak nibbles of crumbs.
Lay a brown paper grocery bag on its side on a cookie sheet. Carefully slide the pie into the bag (so the opening is to the side, not at the top). Close the bag, fold over the end once, and staple closed. Bake 1hr 45min. Let the pie cool until warm and serve. Enjoy!
This recipe is so easy and so much fun to make. The kids love to help and dig their fingers into the crust dough! Afterward, any drippings were contained in the paper bag, so the cookie sheet doesn’t need to be cleaned. The dough didn’t need rolling out, so there is no flour-covered counter to clean. You can use other apple varieties, of course, but I prefer Pink Lady. They stay firm when baked and have a slight cinnamon flavor. I ran across this recipe on a slip of paper many, many years ago when Pink Lady apples were first available at our store, but have since adapted it to our tastes. This year, my grandmother asked my mother, “Do we really need an apple pie at Thanksgiving dinner this year?” and my mother replied, “You’re only saying that because you haven’t had Nancy’s pie before.” I love my mom!
Baked Spinach Casserole
We have been making this recipe for years and it’s one that my husband always requests for holiday meals. It’s easy and can be made ahead of time.
- 2 boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a strainer in the sink and add thawed spinach, pressing into the strainer with the back of a spoon to release all of the excess water.
In a skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until softened a little. Add the flour and stir until well blended. Add half the milk, stirring until blended. Add the rest of the milk and stir until a smooth sauce forms.
Add the pepper, celery salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the cheese and stir until it is completely melted. Add the spinach and combine. Pour into a small casserole dish or baking pan.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and add the bread crumbs. Sprinkle the spinach with the bread crumb/butter mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 for 40 minutes or until the cheese bubbles and the bread crumbs are a golden brown.
*This recipe can easily be doubled.
Gramie Mitchell’s Stand-by Squares
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 cups butterscotch chips
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup coconut
- 2 ½ cup baby mallows
In double boiler or a heavy pot mix the 1st 3 items. Stir until melted and then let cool until lukewarm.
Stir in the rest of the stuff and mix well.
Press into a well buttered 9 X 13” pan.
Cool completely before cutting into bars.
NOTES: May be frozen and they thaw in only a few minutes for drop-in guests.
Not too sweet or rich
I got this recipe in 1972 from my new husband’s grandmother.
Christmas Nut Roll
Dough:
- 7 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 c shortening 4 egg yolks
- 4 T sugar 1 can evap milk
- 1 tsp salt 1 pkg dry yeast – (dissolve in 1/2 c warm water )
Mix together - refrigerate dough overnight
Filling:
- 2 1/2 Lbs ground walnuts
- 2 C sugar
- 4 egg whites –beaten till stiff
- 1/4 C scalded milk –cooled
Mix together:add more milk if needed for spreading consistency.
( I separate dough into 32 pieces and use about 1/4 C filling for each roll. )
Sprinkle pastry board with sugar and roll dough out.
Spread on filling,roll up and pinch and tuck ends into roll.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Tops should be golden brown. Watch that bottoms don’t get too brown. I use parchment paper to bake rolls on.
I sometimes save some dough to put poppyseed filling on. ( I just use a prepared filling )
Enjoy !
Chicken Noodles and Mixed Veggies Skillet
- Bag of pasta noodles (any kind)
- Can of Mushroom soup
- Frozen veggies (any kind – I use mixed veggies)
- 1 pound of ground chicken or beef
- onion
- 1/2 cup milk
- salt and pepper to taste
In a frying pan cook onion until tender, add ground chicken or beef and cook through. Meanwhile, cook pasta to package directions. Drain. Add pasta to meat and onion. In a separate small pot put mushroom soup and milk and whisk together until warm, add salt and pepper. Add to meat and pasta mixture, heat until warm. Serve.
Crockpot Chicken and Herb Dressing
- 4-5 chicken breasts
- 1 8 inch pan cornbread, crumbled
- 8 slices white bread, crumbled
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 eggs
- 2 cans cream of chicken soup
- 48 oz chicken broth (canned or from cooking chicken)
- 8 oz can sliced mushrooms
- 2 TBS butter
Boil, debone, and cut up chicken. Set aside.
In large bowl mix cornbread, bread, onion, seasonings, eggs, soup, broth, mushrooms, and butter. Stir in chicken.
Cook in crockpot for 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low (or until dressing is desired thickness.)
Russian Tea
- 2 1/2 cups pineapple Juice
- juice of 6 oranges & 3 lemons
- 8 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 quarts water, divided
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 teabags
Simmer 1 quart of water, sugar, cinnamon & cloves for 5 minutes. In a separate pan, simmer 1 quart of water with the teabags- do not boil. Then mix together with all the juices. Simmer & serve hot.
To me, this is what Christmas ‘smells’ like. My mom & my husband’s mom made this when we were growing up..so it brings back a lot of great memories when we make it together now for our children to share with us.
Yams and Pineapple
I am not sure where this recipe originated, but I can’t remember my mom making yams in any other form. It has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. Especially if you don’t care for normal candied yams made with marshmallows.
- 2 cans of yams
- 2 cans of cubed pineapple
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/2 a cup to 1 cup brown sugar (depending on how sweet you you want it)
On stove melt butter in a pan
While butter is melting in pan drain yams and pineapple and place in a casserole dish.
Once butter is melted pour in sugar and stir until it’s completely blended.
Then pour over yams and pineapple. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about an hour.
Venison Sicilian
- 1 1/2 lbs. venison steak
- flour sprinkled with salt, pepper, paprika, and oregano
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 Tbsp frying oil
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 lb. mushroom pieces
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1 cup hot water
Cut the venison into serving size chunks. Toss in the flour and seasoning mixture until coated well.
Pound with mallet or small cast iron pan until venison is tenderized and thin.
Heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium high heat; add venison pieces a few at a time and very quickly brown first one side, then flip and brown the other, then remove and lay in a large casserole dish. Repeat until all venison is browned.
Put onion in same skillet and quickly fry until translucent, then add to casserole.
In separate bowl combine the remaining ingredients, then pour into casserole.
Cover casserole and bake in 300 degree oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until venison is tender.
Serve over extra-wide egg noodles.
Grandma’s Toffee
I’ve always looked forward to when Grandma (and later Mom) would make this candy. The only other candy that comes close is Heath bars, which I cannot always find. This is so yummy.
GRANDMA’S TOFFEE
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)
Coat the inside of a 10×15 jelly roll pan with butter or margarine.
Melt sugar, butter and water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir constantly for 20 minutes until bubbly, thick and amber in color. Add vanilla.
Pour in a thin layer in prepared pan (add 1/2 cup nuts if desired).
Sprinkle chocolate chips on top; spread when melted. Sprinkle more nuts on top if desired.
Place in refrigerator or freezer to cool (or outdoors on a clear, cold winter day). Break and enjoy.
Baking Pan Turkey Cabbage Pie
- 2 containers (8 oz sizes) refrigerator crescent rolls
- 4 cups diced cooked turkey (use up your leftovers)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
- 1 clove garlic, minced fine
- 1 bag shredded coleslaw cabbage (use the tri-color blend)
- 1 can (10 oz size) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Take one crescent roll container, open it, and roll out the dough into a rectangle; pinch the seams closed.
Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray and press the dough rectangle into it to form a bottom crust.
Bake at 425° for 6 to 9 minutes or until golden brown, remove when done and turn oven down to 375 degrees.
In a large skillet over medium heat, saute onion, celery, and carrots until just crisp-tender, then add garlic and cabbage and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to combine flavors as it cooks.
In a large bowl, mix together the turkey, the onion/celery/garlic/cabbage mixture, the soup, and thyme.
Spread this mixture over cooked bottom crust and evenly distribute cheese over the top.
Take the second crescent roll dough and roll out into another rectangle, being sure to pinch together the seams.
Place this dough rectangle over the casserole, stretching to go to the edges.
Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes or until crust on top is golden brown.
Let sit for about 4 or 5 minutes before cutting.
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
- 4 cups broccoli – cooked crisp tender
- 4-6 bacon slices – cooked and crumbled
- 1 lb Velveeta – diced
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 4 oz can mushrooms – drained and chopped
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk
- salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste
Combine all ingredients and spoon into 9×13 casserole dish.
Bake 350* for 30 minutes.
PTA Special Cookies
- 1 3/4 c. flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. margarine
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 (9oz box) None Such Mincemeat
- 1 egg white, slightly beaten
- 1/4 c. sugar
Mix flour, baking powder and salt in mixing bowl.
In separate bowl, cream margarine, 3/4 c. sugar, 1 egg, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
Break mincemeat into pieces (about like chocolate chips); add to creamed mixture with dry ingredients. Blend until just combined.
Chill in refrigerator 2 hours.
Shape into 1″ balls. Dip each into egg white, then into remaining sugar. Place sugar side up on greased cookie sheet.
Bake in 400 degree oven 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 3 dozen 2″ cookies.
My mother-in-love has made these for years, and they are a must have for Christmas in our family. The cookies are chewy, rich, and you would never guess they have mincemeat in them!
Take Everywhere Cool and Creamy Pies
- 2 Frozen pie crusts – thawed
- 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 8 to 12 oz Cool Whip
- 1/2 box confectioners sugar
- Toppings of your choice; I have used chocolate pudding, butterscotch pudding, cherry pie filling, blueberry pie filling, strawberry pie filling, whatever your bunch likes.
Spread and press chopped nuts into bottom and sides of pie crusts and bake as for one crust pie. (This will ensure that crust stays crisp as long as the pies last, and tastes great, too.)
Bring cream cheese and Cool Whip to room temperature and mix well with confectioners sugar. Spoon into cooled pie crusts, spread evenly in crusts. Top with your choice of toppings. Thaw for a couple of hours before serving.
I never get to bring any home. The recipe makes two pies. These pies freeze well and will keep for a month or so.
Strawberry Butter
This is one of our favorite items which we only serve at Thanksgiving, and sometimes at Christmas. This simple to prepare recipe tastes wonderful spread on Pumpkin Bread, Nut Breads, Muffins, or even just plain white bread! It is important the ingredients are at room temperature before preparing, or the butter will not be smooth. (Still will taste good!)
- 1 10 oz pkg frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed (sometimes I microwave to thaw fast)
- 1 C (two sticks) butter, room temperature (no substitutions)
- 1 C powdered sugar
In a blender, add the strawberries with syrup, then the two sticks of butter and blend. Gradually add the powdered sugar, using a spatula and start and stop method to blend the entire mixture. When completely smooth, place in serving containers and refrigerate. This mixture will become solid when cold, so you may want to let it soften a bit before serving. Spread on breads, rolls, or anything!
3 or 4 Bean And Sausage Casserole
I am looking for a recipe my mother in law made for the holidays it was a 3 or 4 bean casserole with sausage in it that was sorta sweet and sour. You cook 1 pound sausage and used canned beans, brown sugar, vinegar and ketchup and some other ingredients. Bake for 45 min. to an hour I think. She made it for me because I loved it. I had the recipe but can’t find it. Does anyone have a recipe like this. It really brings back memories. Thanks a bunch, Leslie
Italian Christmas Fig Cookies
Cuccidati or Bucci – Italian Fig Cookies
Filling:
- 1 cup packed soft dried Mission figs (8 oz), hard tips discarded
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup mild honey
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
- 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
- 1 tbsp. Ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 3/4 cup whole almonds (4 oz) toasted and coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup walnuts (3 oz) toasted and coarsely chopped
Pastry Dough:
- use refrigerated pie dough
- 1 egg mixed with water for egg wash
Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp fresh orange juice (optional)
To make filling: Pulse figs and raisins in a food processor until finely chopped, and then stir together with remaining filling ingredients in a bowl. Chill covered, at least 8 hours.
On a floured work surface, roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut out large (3-inch long) circle shaped pieces from the dough. Transfer the pieces to a sheet pan; then chill.
To form the cookies: Have ready the filling, the chilled dough pieces, the egg wash with a pastry brush, and a sharp knife. Paint the edges of the dough pieces with egg wash and place 1 teaspoon of filling shaped into an oval in the center of the pieces. Fold over dough around filling to form almost and almond shaped form and carefully pinch the edges together to seal.
Re-chill the cookies.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush the cookies with the egg wash.
Bake the cookies until lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile make the Icing: In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.
Ice the cookies once they have cooled. My kids enjoy putting sprinkles on them, but that part is optional.
Makes about 5 dozen cookies
This recipe has been in my family for generations. We make them at Christmas, and for BIG family get-togethers. One side of my family called them Buccis, the other side Cuccidatis, but no matter what you call them they taste like the holidays.
Easiest Green Bean Casserole
My favorite recipe is green bean casserole.
I just mix 2 cans of green beans with a can of cream of soup and half the fried onions.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes remove add the rest of the onions to the top and bake for another 5 minutes.
Ta da… an easy side dish all ready to eat!
Easiest Use-It-Up Turkey Pot Pie
Here’s a simple way to use up a lot of leftovers after a big holiday turkey dinner.
- 2 cups diced cooked turkey
- 2 cups any mixed cooked vegetables
- 1 cup gravy (a bit more or less as you like)
- 2 pie crusts
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
In large bowl mix together the turkey, vegetables, and gravy.
Put one crust into a pie pan.
Fill the pie with turkey mixture (it should be heaping).
Put second crust on top and crimp edges; cut slits in top crust.
Put on cookie sheet (to catch drips) and bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.
If you don’t have enough leftover vegetables, cut up an assortment of vegetables you like and saute in oil until soft before adding to mixture. One of the best sources for leftovers is often the veggie tray appetizer. I often cut up what’s left on the tray and use it all up in this pot pie. You can even mix in some of the leftover mashed potatoes.
This is a very versatile recipe. You’ll want to play with the ingredients until you find out what you prefer.
Sweet Potato Sticks
This is so easy I almost hesitate to call it a “recipe”. But it is very easy, delicious, healthy and kid friendly.
- It’s easiest if you pick out smaller, more uniformly sized sweet potato, the ones that are long as opposed to fat.
- Wash the outsides and slice them lengthwise into sticks/ wedges.
- Place on a cookie sheet and spray liberally with cooking oil. They are good seasoned savory (garlic, salt, pepper, paprika) or sweet ( cinnamon and brown sugar).
- Place in oven on 450 and bake till the edges are starting to brown.
Perfect finger food!!
Lazy Logs
- 1/2 C Butter
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 2 C flour
- 3/4 C sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp salt
Melt butter and chocolate in saucepan. Cool. Add remaining ingredients; mix well.
Shape dough into rolls 3/4 inch in diameter. Wrap in wax paper. Chill several hours or overnight.
Cut into 2 inch logs; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
When cool, frost adding sprinkles, coconut, finely chopped nuts, etc.
These freeze well before frosting, so can be made ahead of time.
Two variations:
In place of chocolate add: 1) 1 C peanut butter (my dad’s favorite) or 2) 2 tsp almond extract (my husband’s favorite!) You may have to adjust flour slightly. Or if like me–chocolate always wins!! Whichever you choose–enjoy.
A family favorite for many years and usually the first cookie to disappear.
Texas Hash
I swear I saw a recipe on your website a couple of weeks ago and now I can’t find it. I believe it was called Texas Hash and it called for ground meat and rice and a can of tomato soup and a can of cream of mushroom soup (among other things). I thought it was on one of your blogs, but I can’t find it anywhere. I would love to try it!
Provolone Cheese Torta
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced Provolone cheese (round slices)
- 2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- Pinch of white pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 cup marinated artichokes, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
Line a 7 inch round spring form pan with plastic wrap leaving an overhang (or any other 7” container).
Reserve two whole circles of cheese, cut remaining Provolone cheese slices in half and line the bottom and sides of pan (I use a large circle first on bottom, then the 1/2 slices overlapping around the sides)
In the bowl of the food processor mix cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, pepper and adjust seasoning with salt.
Using a spatula, fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of cream cheese mixture (1/3 of the amount or less). Then spread the chopped artichokes. Add another layer of cream cheese mixture and top with sun dried tomatoes. Finally, add one last layer of cream cheese.
Then fold over the ends of the side pieces of cheese, and cover with remaining whole circle of Provolone. Fold plastic wrap over the bottom of the mold and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Fold back plastic and invert the terrine on a tray, peel the plastic off and serve either with crackers of baguette slices of French bread.
My-Great-Recipes Turkey Pastel
I’m looking for the recipe for the Turkey Pastel. It has a great crust recipe using flour, cornmeal, butter and cottage cheese. I use it in my meat pies, but lost the recipe card. I would appreciate someone sharing the crust recipe part of that card, please.
The Best Sweet Potato Casserole
- 2 lbs. sweet potatoes (3c. mashed)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 c. butter
- 1/2 c. Savannah Gold with molasses
- 1 c. buttermilk
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Cook sweet potatoes by boiling. Drain, peel, and mash. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix well. Mixture will be very soupy. Optional: add topping (see recipe below). Bake in 13x9x2-inch baking dish for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Makes 10 servings.
Topping:
- 1 c. Savannah Gold with molasses
- 1/3 c. fresh ground flour
- 1/2 c. chopped nuts
- 1/4 c. butter, softened
Mix all ingredients together–will be crumbly. Sprinkle on top of potato mixture and bake.
Dorothy Nell’s Cranberry Punch
Dorothy Nell’s Cranberry Punch
Salem, KY
- 1 – 2 liter bottle of Canada Dry Ginger Ale, chilled
- 1 – Quart Cranberry Juice Cocktail, chilled
- 2 small or one large – Lemonade frozen
- 2 small or one large – Limeade, frozen
- 1 – 1 liter of Club Soda, chilled
- Sugar to taste
- Optional – cherries and oranges for ice ring
Mix Cranberry Juice Cocktail, lemonade, limeade and sugar in a pitcher, chill
In punch bowl, add ice ring and half of the ingredients, enjoy!
Makes about 2 punch bowls.
Ice Ring:
In an old Jell-o mold or bundt pan, add a little water and start to freeze. When it starts to set up, add cherries and orange slices, top with more water and freeze solid.
HINT:
I mix a second batch of the juice mix in a resealable container and add the fiz one glass at a time when nobody is looking…that way I get a big glass to keep with me as I’m prepping the food.
This was a stable at my Grandmother’s and has been a family favorite since before I was born and served at all holiday get-to-gethers
Mint Chocolate Cake
These little guys are so easy to make and yet are sooooo delicious. I always like to experiment in the kitchen, so one Christmas, I came up with this:
Here is what you will need:
- 1 Box Chocolate cake mix, prepared
- 1 box of Chocolate mint candies (such as Andes)
- One tub of any flavor frosting (vanilla or chocolate is usually best)
- 1 crushed candy cane.
You prepare the cake mix as per the directions on the box. Pour half of the prepared mix into a 13 x 9″ pan. Top the bottom layer with the chocolate mint candies, then pour in the rest of the mix. Bake according to cake mix directions. When cooked, and cooled, top with frosting and the crushed candy canes.
*You can also use other candies instead of the mints, if you would prefer. Any type of chocolate, melting candy works great!
Holiday Peppermint Candy
- 4 ozs. cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon margarine
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract or few drops peppermint oil
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Green and red food coloring
- Sifted powdered sugar
- Green, red and white decorating icing (optional)
Beat cream cheese, margarine, corn syrup and extract.
In large mixing bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar; mix well. Divide mixture into 1/3′s.
Knead few drops green food coloring into one third. Repeat with red food coloring and second third. Wrap each third in plastic wrap.
Working with one color mixture at a time, shape into 3/4-inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Flatten each ball with bottom of glass that has been lightly dipped in sugar. Repeat with remaining mixtures.
Decorate with icing. Chill.
Makes 5 dozen
Apple Pie with Homemade Crust
Apple Pie (9/10 inches)
Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 lard or shortening
- 6-9 tablespoons of cold water
- (For top of crust): milk and white sugar
Filling:
- 3-4 cups of sliced apples (Granny Smith or other baking apple)
- 3 Tablespoons of flour
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A few teaspoons of butter or hard margarine
- (you can add other spices if wanted; eg nutmeg/ pie spice.. etc)
Pre-heat oven 400*F (200 *C)
Make the Filling first. (So your crust doesn’t dry out.):
Take a large bowl and put in the apples.
Add all ingredients, except butter/ margarine.
Mix well until apples are all coated. Set aside.
To make crust:
In a large bowl put in flour, salt and stir.
Add lard/ shortening, and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry blender. It will look crumbly with no big pieces of fat.
Add water slowly and gently mix with a fork until it starts to form a ball and sticks together. Make two balls.
Roll out one ball on a floured surface. Take crust and fold it in half. Then into a quarter. (Try not to roll it out too many times. That will make a tough crust).
Placed in a pie pan in one quarter of it. Open the dough back up. (lightly sprayed with oil will help it come out cleaner when baked). Don’t trim excess yet.
Put filling in the crust.
Place bits of butter/ margarine over the apples all spread out.
Roll out top crust.
Place on pie using the same method as the bottom.
Trim excess but not too close. Close the edge by fluting with hands or a fork. Cut slits in the top with a sharp knife. (Lets the steam and heat escape). Brush crust with milk and sprinkle on the sugar.
Baking:
Put pie on a large cookie sheet lined with tin foil. (Helps with any mess). Cover pie with tin foil.
Bake for 15 minutes at 400*F (200*C).
Remove tin foil. Reduce heat to 350 *F (180*C). Bake approximately 35 – 60 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serve warm.
Refrigerate after 24 hrs or sooner.
Grannys Eggplant Casserole
- 1 med. Eggplant
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 c. cracker crumbs (24 saltines)
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can cream- style corn
- 1 can whole tomatoes, cut into pieces
- 1 c. grated cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
Pare eggplant and cut into 1-in. cubes. Cook in boiling water for 10 minutes; drain.
Add next 8 ingredients and mix well.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour into greased baking dish and sprinkle with sharp cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350o degrees for 1 hour.
My Grandmother always brought a new dish to Thanksgiving every year, but wouldn’t tell us what the ingredients were until we all tasted it first! We loved this casserole, and requested that she bring it every Thanksgiving, despite the fact that we didn’t like eggplant in anything else.
Rebecca
Searching For Nestle Quick Recipe
Hi All,
I love drinking chocolate milk and I love Nestle Quick, but it’s expensive. So… I’m trying to find a recipe to make a chocolate milk mix like Nestle Quick to try and save money.
There are only two considerations I need for this recipe:
*It must be in powdered form (so I can make a large batch at a time).
*It must be for cold milk – not a hot beverage, and not to be mixed with water.
Thanks a bunch for your help!
Stretch Liquid Fabric Softener
I like a brand of fabric softener that is a bit more expensive so to make it go farther. I dilute it by half with white vinegar. It still smells great and I get two bottles for the price of one.
Rodents and Insects
Any suggestions (preferably natural) to keep rat, squirrels, and insects out of my house?
Removal of Urine Odors
I have several elderly relatives. We cannot get the urine odor out of their clothing. Any surefire methods?
Pumpkin Pie Dip
- 1 ounce of cream cheese
- 2 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 16-ounce can of pure pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
Cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve with ginger snap cookies and green apple slices.
Thanksgiving Cornbread Dressing
- 2 cakes of cornbread,crumbled
- 15 canned biscuits, crumbled
- 1 package bread stuffing
- 2 cups chopped onion
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 6 boiled eggs,chopped
- 1 lb. Neeses sausage with sage
- broken into small pieces
- 4 cans chicken broth + water
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 teas. poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teas. sage
- salt & pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients,needs to be moist.
Place in 12 X 8 aluminum pans
Bake until golden brown.
Makes about 3 pans..
I have worked on this recipe for the last 4 years to get it to taste like my mother use to make. My family loves it, and it is a big hit at family dinners..
Real Homemade Green Bean Casserole
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, diced
- 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 bag (16 ounces) frozen French-style green beans, thawed, drained
- 1 small can French-fried onions
In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, saute the onion and mushrooms in oil until softened, then stir in the water chestnuts and continue cooking for 1 minute or until heated through. Then scoop out mixture into a bowl and set aside.
Return skillet to burner over medium heat, add butter and stir until melted, then whisk in flour until blended. Whisk in the milk, broth, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. While whisking constantly, bring mixture to a boil and allow to boil gently for 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce thickens.
Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the mushroom mixture. Add the beans and stir to combine. Turn into casserole dish.
Bake, uncovered at 350° for 45 to 55 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle the French-fried onions over the top and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until you see a little browning on top.
When I was looking for ways to make favorite recipes into real honest-to-goodness homemade recipes, the classic Green Bean Casserole recipe kept coming to mind. Rather than use cream of mushroom soup, I just stuck in a pretty basic white sauce instead. The mushrooms were added in the first step along with onions for more flavor and water chestnuts for crunch. It’s your basic Green Bean Casserole but dressed up a bit. I hope you’ll try it.
You can easily double this recipe, just be sure you’re using a big enough skillet.
Holley Buttermilk Pie
Holley Pie aka Buttermilk Pie
- 2 1/4 c. sugar
- 1 1/2 sticks butter
- 4 eggs
- 3 Tbsp. Flour
- 3/4 c. buttermilk
- 1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. Coconut extract
- 2 9” pie shells
Preheat oven to 400 (cooking temp is 350, *see note below).
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly.
Add flour and eggs, mix well.
Add vanilla, buttermilk, and coconut extract, mix well.
Pour into pie shells.
Set oven to 350. Bake 1 hour, until pie doesn’t shake.
NOTES:
Depending on your oven, altitude, etc. you may wish to cover the edges with a pie shield (or aluminum foil) until the last few minutes to prevent them getting too dark.
Other extracts may be used in place of coconut. But it doesn’t taste like coconut anyway, and everyone seems to like it best.
*Heating the over to 400 allows it to stay at an even 350, even with the heat loss when you open the door to put the pies in!
Cranberry Relish
My family loves this alternative to plain cranberry sauce on both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! Very easy to double or triple for crowds!
- 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1 small container sliced, sweetened strawberries, thawed (do not drain)
- 1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
Combine ingredients and mix gently. Chill for at least an hour to allow flavors to blend. Serve . . . very good by itself with a dollop of whipped cream too!
Broccoli Cheese Stuffing Casserole
- Stuffing (dressing), cooked
- Broccoli, cooked
- Cheese, your choice
Make a pan of stuffing of your choice.
Steam/cook broccoli on stove. Drain.
Put broccoli on top of stuffing, Top with your favorite cheese, I use longhorn.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Until cheese melts.
Note: make sure you cook your stuffing first before adding other ingredients.
Hope you enjoy.
Welsh Cookies
- 6 Cups Flour
- 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
- 4 Rounded tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Nutmeg (I usually add a little more)
- 2 Cups Crisco
- 3 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp. Milk
- 1 Cup Raisins
Pour hot water over raisins. Soak for a few minutes, then drain and dry them.
Beat together eggs and milk. Add raisins and set aside.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Cut in Crisco.
Add raisin mixture and mix with spoon or fork.
Roll out dough (not all at once) on floured surface till 1/4 inch thick. Cut with round cookie cutter or glass.
Preheat electric griddle or frying pan to 300 to 325 degrees. Fry 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown on each side. Cool on wire rack and sprinkle both sides with powdered (10X) sugar.
We love these because it is a family recipe passed down from generation to generation on my husband’s side of the family since they are Welsh. My kids plan on continuing to pass down the recipe as well.
Ice Box Fruit Cake
- 1 1b. marshmallows
- 2/3 c. canned milk
- 1 1b. graham crackers, crushed
- 2 c. pecans or walnuts
- 2 – 3 c. raisins
First, place crackers in a gallon size ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin. Empty into a large bowl.
Add nuts and raisins. Mix well.
Next, melt marshmallows in milk in a large pan on low heat, stirring carefully. (May melt in a microwave.)
Add marshmallow mixture to graham cracker mixture. Stir well. Will be sticky.
Prepare a square pan, lined with long strips of Saran wrap, enough to cover the mixture after packed in.
Empty batter mixture in the prepared pan. Cover with the extra long pieces of wrap and press down, packing it in to the shape of the pan.
Refrigerate or freeze. When chilled, slice and enjoy!
Festive Hot Punch
This is simmered and served from a slow cooker, freeing up a burner on the stove.
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail
- 2 cups orange juice
- 6 sticks cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cups water
Boil sugar and water until clear. Add remaining ingredients, transfer to slow cooker to keep warm. Float lemon slices on top.
White Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
- 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate
- 4 oz. light cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups icing sugar
- 4-6 candy canes, crushed finely but not to powder (bashed in ziplock bag with hammer)
Place chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave 1 minute, until almost melted. Stir to melt remaining chocolate bits and set aside to cool slightly.
Beat cream cheese until smooth, and add melted chocolate and beat again until smooth.
Add 1 cup icing sugar and stir until well blended. Add the remaining icing sugar and stir until you have a soft dough.
Pour crushed candy canes into shallow bowl.
Shape the chocolate mixture into 1″ balls and roll in the crushed candy canes to coat. Place on a sheet of waxed paper and refrigerate until firm.
Makes approximately 2 dozen truffles
Holiday Fruit Salad
My mother-in-law has been making this fruit salad for as long as I have been in their family (24 years). Each holiday, after dinner, we would all sit down and play board games or cards and munch on fruit salad. My new brother-in-law from Panama is even in love with it, and he does not have much of a sweet tooth.
The recipe is a variation of one she found years ago. She is diabetic and had to revise the dish to fit her dietary needs. Even though it is “sugar free”, carbs must be counted if you are diabetic. It is a fruit salad after all! Hope you enjoy. It is TRULY a great recipe.
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced (I prefer red delicious)
- 1 large banana, split in half length wise and then sliced
- 1 pound of red seedless grapes, each cut in half
- 1 medium can of mandarin oranges
- 1 medium can of crushed pineapple
- 1 cup of golden raisins
- 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 small container of whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons Equal or Splenda
Empty the can of oranges and pineapple and dump into a colander. Let it sit and drain for at least 30 minutes so that all the liquid is removed. The reserved juice can be used to baste your Christmas ham (delicious).
Whip the cream until very light. Add the diet sugar and continue whipping until firm peaks form.
Combine the drained fruit in a large serving bowl (I use a stainless steel or glass bowl that has been refrigerated) along with the cut fruit. Add raisins and nuts. Gently fold in the whipping cream. You may not use all the cream. It should be enough to just “coat” the fruit. Refrigerate until serving time.
Deviled Ham Dip
I’m looking for a recipe that my MIL used to make each year around the holidays. The dip or spread contained Deviled Ham, cream cheese, and possibly mustard.
Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup
- 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
- 1 butternut squash (2 pounds), peeled, seeded and cubed
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
- 4 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
Melt margarine in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook onion in margarine, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.
Mix onion and remaining ingredients, except cream cheese, in 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker, Cover and cook on low heat setting 6 to 8 hours or until squash is tender.
Place one-third to one-half of the mixture at a time in blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high speed until smooth. Return mixture to slow cooker; stir in cream cheese. Cover and cook on low heat setting about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted, stirring until smooth.
Red Cinnamon Apples
Fill an 11×13 casserole dish with enough peeled and sliced apples to make a mound of them.
Note: I like to use some Granny Smith to cut the sweetness.
Sprinkle a package of red cinnamon candies (like Red Hots) over the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Pickles Recipe
I am looking for a recipe for homemade pickles made from dill pickles…thank you
Buttermilk Fennel Facial Cleanse – Oily Skin
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 Tbsp crushed fennel seeds
Put the buttermilk and fennel seeds in a double boiler and cook gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and let sit for 2 to 3 hours.
Pour liquid through a fine sieve or a colander or strainer covered with cheesecloth.
Allow to cool completely then fill a glass or plastic container and seal tightly.
Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
p.s. After you’ve tried this homemade recipe, be sure to stop back and comment about how it worked for you, as well as any tweaks you would suggest to make the recipe better. I always appreciate your input!
p.p.s. For more homemade bath and body items like this, visit our entire category here:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bath-and-body or just click on this link to enjoy all the recipes.
You’ll find even more information about how to use ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator to create lovely bath and body products when you visit MyBeautyRecipes.com
Just click on the link and turn your kitchen into your own personal spa!
Cranberry Almond Lip Balm
- 10 fresh cranberries
- 1 Tbsp sweet almond oil
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 drop of Vitamin E oil*
Put all the ingredients in a glass bowl inside a saucepan of water.
Put saucepan over a medium low burner.
Bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat, stir, and crush berries with a fork.
Let cool for five minutes, then pour through a fine sieve over a clean bowl to strain. You may also use cheesecloth if you have it. Lay the cheesecloth in a strainer or colander.
You want to be sure all the fruit pieces are removed and only the thick liquid is in the clean bowl.
Cool completely then put in small plastic containers with lid.
* Note: If you don’t want to buy a whole bottle of Vitamin E oil, you can use a Vitamin E capsule and just poke a whole in it with a clean needle and squeeze out a drop.
p.s. After you’ve tried this homemade recipe, be sure to stop back and comment about how it worked for you, as well as any tweaks you would suggest to make the recipe better. I always appreciate your opinion!
p.p.s. For more homemade bath and body items like this, visit our entire category here:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bath-and-body or just click on this link to enjoy all the recipes.
You’ll find even more information about how to use ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator to create lovely bath and body products when you visit MyBeautyRecipes.com
Just click on the link and turn your kitchen into your own personal spa!
Cleansing Soothing Baby Wipes
- 1/2 cup light olive oil
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup gentle baby shampoo
- 1 roll paper towels cut in half
- 2 empty baby wipes containers, plastic coffee cans, or other containers that fit the halved paper towels
Mix olive oil, water, and baby shampoo.
Remove the cardboard center from both halves of paper towels.
Place halves of paper towels in 2 separate containers.
Pour 1/2 of mixture into each container, cover shake gently.
Pull sheet from the center of the paper towel roll and poke through the hole in top of baby wipe container; or cut hole in lid of plastic coffee can. Use just like regular store-bought wipes.
I don’t recommend a metal coffee can just to avoid any corrosion that might occur.
p.s. After you’ve tried this homemade recipe, be sure to stop back and comment about how it worked for you, as well as any tweaks you would suggest to make the recipe better. I always appreciate your opinion!
p.p.s. For more homemade bath and body items like this, visit our entire category here:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bath-and-body or just click on this link to enjoy all the recipes.
You’ll find even more information about how to use ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator to create lovely bath and body products when you visit MyBeautyRecipes.com
Just click on the link and turn your kitchen into your own personal spa!
Little Love Diaper Rash Cream
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp zinc oxide ointment
- 2 tsp antibiotic ointment
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and cornstarch until it becomes a paste.
Stir in the zinc oxide and antibiotic ointment, blending well with whisk or fork.
Store in tightly sealed container and apply as needed.
p.s. After you’ve tried this homemade recipe, be sure to stop back and comment about how it worked for you, as well as any tweaks you would suggest to make the recipe better. I always appreciate your opinion!
p.p.s. For more homemade bath and body items like this, visit our entire category here:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bath-and-body or just click on this link to enjoy all the recipes.
You’ll find even more information about how to use ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator to create lovely bath and body products when you visit MyBeautyRecipes.com
Just click on the link and turn your kitchen into your own personal spa!
Oatmeal Kiddy Bath
- 1 cup plain oatmeal
- bath water
Put oatmeal in food processor and grind until oatmeal turns into a fine powder texture.
To use simply sprinkle into the running bath water and swish vigorously to mix well. This powder will dissolve fairly well in the bath water and leaves baby’s skin silky smooth and soothed.
Use to relieve diaper rash, heat rash, or any irritation. Also good for older children and adults to relieve poison ivy, chicken pox, or even simple dry skin.
p.s. After you’ve tried this homemade recipe, be sure to stop back and comment about how it worked for you, as well as any tweaks you would suggest to make the recipe better. I always appreciate your opinion!
p.p.s. For more homemade bath and body items like this, visit our entire category here:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bath-and-body or just click on this link to enjoy all the recipes.
You’ll find even more information about how to use ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator to create lovely bath and body products when you visit MyBeautyRecipes.com
Just click on the link and turn your kitchen into your own personal spa!
Cranberry Cookies
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 Tbls milk
- 1 egg
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 teas salt
- 1/4 teas soda
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 2 1/2 cups chopped frozen cranberries
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter, sugars. Stir in milk, orange and egg. Mix in other ingredients.
Drop by teaspoon onto a baking sheet. Bake 10 to 15 minutes.
Better Than Ham Dip
This has been a family recipe passed down from my grandmother, to my mother, and now me. We serve it at EVERY holiday event and there is never any leftovers (except for when I make an extra batch and hide it from everyone else). Because this has been handed down, measurements are approximate. You may need to add more pineapple or mustard according to taste.
- 1 can of Deviled Ham
- 1 package of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup canned pineapple
- 2 Tbs Spicy Brown mustard
- 1 tsp ground clove
Combine all ingredients using a food processor until smooth.
Serve with plain ruffled potato chips.
Christmas Eve Stew Soup
- 1 can stew
- 1 can stewed tomatoes (run a sharp knife through the tomatoes in the can to cut quickly)
- 1 can chili (any variety – beans,no beans, hot, etc)
- 1 can mixed vegetables
- 1/3 envelope stew seasoning
Mix all ingredients in a crockpot and heat on High 4-6 hrs or Low 6-8 hrs.
Change it up by adding a can of corn or more cans of vegetables of your choice.
Wrap dinner rolls in foil and place on top of lid and cover with a towel. You’ll have a complete meal with next to no effort.
My family has always had this meal on Christmas Eve – it’s quick and easy so we have time to enjoy family and filling enough, but we don’t overstuff ourselves – so we can leave the stuffing for Christmas dinner the next day! And leftovers are great too.
2 Ingredient Fudge
- 1 bag flavored chips (choco, white chocolate, cherry, etc)
- 1 can cake frosting to compliment chips ( peanut butter chips and chocolate frosting for example)
Melt chips in microwave safe bowl until stirable; stir in can of frosting and place in a dish that has been buttered.
Let set until firm, cut and enjoy.
Sometimes I add chopped nuts for variety
Waffle Cookies
When I was little my Mom used to make cookies in the waffle maker. I’ve looked through her things and haven’t found the recipe. I was kind of a soft (liquid) dough and they came out thin, crispy and sweet.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Wheat Germ Pie Crust
- 2 C. Unbleached Flour
- 1/4 C. Wheat Germ
- 1 tsp. Salt if wanted
- 2/3 C. Olive Oil (original recipe calls for vegetable oil,but olive is healthier)
- 1/3 C. Boiling Water
Mix Salt, Flour, and Wheat Germ.
Pour Boiling Water and Olive Oil in all at once and stir with fork.
Separate dough into 2 equal balls(keep covered to prevent drying out)
Roll dough(1 ball) between 2 pieces of Wax Paper.
Remove top paper,lay crust side down on pie pan,remove top paper,flute edges.
Makes one 10 inch pie crust(I get 2 crusts,(hence 2 balls)bottom and top, out of it, unless you want really thick crust)
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn down to 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Note: If you need to bake the crust without filling, poke holes in crust and bake for about ten minutes or until golden brown.
This recipe was given to me by a very dear friend over 30 years ago. This crust is very delicious and better for you! ENJOY!!!
Healthy Crockpot Meals
My friend Angie from Sizzlin’ Circuits shared some of her favorite crockpot recipes with us here recently. Today I asked her to share her thoughts on crockpot cooking in general and why it works so well for her family. I also asked her to give us some tips on healthy crockpot meals and lat but not least a little more information on her new home workout program.
Here’s Angie:
Why Do I like crockpot recipes?
1) We’re a busy family, and to be able to put the ingredients into a crockpot and have the freedom to leave the house and go about our day while it’s cooking is ideal for us. Most recipes cook for 6-8 hours so kind of like, “set it and forget it.” It’s not like cooking in the oven or on the stove, where you need to be close by to keep on eye on it and be ready when the timer goes off. This is great because you don’t have to be standing in the kitchen all day over a hot stove.
2) Prep time is really quick. We usually just add the frozen whole chicken, roast, or fish and add in some veggies and spices.
3) It’s great to know that you don’t have to cook dinner at the end of a long day.
4) Clean up is quick too!
5) We love how the meats, such as chicken and roast soak in the flavor of the seasonings and the veggies… especially sweet potatoes, when they are blended together all day long.
6) The variety and possibilities are endless. You can almost throw in anything that you want.
How do we make sure they are healthy?
1) When cooking with chicken we only add water or chicken broth. We stay clear from the creamy soups the majority of the time. We find that the chicken absorbs the flavors from the spices and veggies better this way too.
2) Same with Roast… we only add water or beef broth.
3) We make lots of soups that do not need cream. For soups and chili’s we usually just add water or a tomato base.
4) Typical ingredients that we add to our crockpot recipes are chicken, fish, roast, sweet potatoes, carrots, kidney beans, corn, broccoli, lentils, and tomatoes.
About Sizzlin’ Circuits
Our latest program is called Sizzlin’ Circuits. It’s designed for women and targets specific problem areas, such as the butt and thighs. It’s a home based workout that can be done in a small amount of space and only requires a stability ball and some dumbbells. The workouts are time efficient, burning loads of calories and boosting your metabolism all day long.
Sizzlin’ Circuits includes follow along workout videos (digital), a workout journal to record your progress, 3 motivational audios, a 7 day meal plan with behind the scenes videos of the meals that we eat (much like the crockpot videos in this post), our Fat Loss Quickie Mindset Bootcamp book, and the Fat Loss Quickie Support Community.
Easy Shepherd Pie Recipe
My friend Angie from Sizzlin’ Circuits invented this easy shepherd pie recipe during the summer when it was too hot to bake it as usual in the oven. Instead she put everything in her crockpot and it turned out great – you’ll enjoy watching the whole family at dinner.
Easy Shepherd Pie Recipe For The Crockpot
Angie has a great workout program called Sizzlin’ Circuits that I think you’re going to love. It’s only $10 and well worth every penny.
No need to join a gym or buy a bunch of equipment. All the workouts can be done right at home. I’m going through these workouts myself and am using an exercise ball, and some canned goods as weight.
Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe For The Crockpot
This recipe is super simple but boy is it delicious. Angie takes some frozen chicken, seasons it with black pepper and sage and adds it to her crockpot. She adds some carrots and some peeled sweet potatoes that have been sliced. She sprinkled a little ground rosemary on top of the veggies and cooks everything on low for about 8 hours in her crockpot. Looks absolutely delicious. This is a great one pot healthy dinner for any busy family.
Chicken and Sweet Potatoes in The Crockpot
Angie has a great workout program called Sizzlin’ Circuits that I think you’re going to love. It’s only $10 and well worth every penny.
No need to join a gym or buy a bunch of equipment. All the workouts can be done right at home. I’m going through these workouts myself and am using an exercise ball, and some canned goods as weight.
Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Recipe
My friend Angie from Fatloss Quickies and Sizzlin’ Circuits makes some of the best stuffed peppers. They are delicious, frugal and easy to make. And they make a wonderful healthy meal for the whole family. Here’s Angie in her kitchen showing us how to make this delicious slowcooker dish.
I recommend you take a look at Angie’s Sizzlin’ Circuits workout. It’s only $10 and well worth every penny. I’m going through these workouts myself and am using an exercise ball, and some canned goods as weight.
Breadmaker Recipe for Whole Wheat Bread
I’m looking for (1 1/2 lb) recipes for my breadmaker (I lost the manual).
Thanks,
Jim
All In One Skillet Breakfast
Pour a little Mazola or crisco in frying pan.
Tear in small pieces your favorite brand of 1 lb. sausage, let sausage fry a bit.
You can put in onions, (fresh or dried) green pepper,and cubed potatoes, mix all together,cook till potatoes are done, remove.
Cook a soft egg,or what ever egg is your liking, and place on top of mixture!
VERY VERY GOOD, and there will be no left overs!!
Apple Pie Recipe
I have lost my son-in-law’s favorite apple pie recipe. I don’t remember where I got the recipe and hope someone here has one like it. The recipe calls for fresh or canned apples with applesauce added to the filling along with the cinnamon, nutmeg etc. Please someone say that you have that recipe. He loves apple pies and he thinks that this one is the best. No matter what recipe I make, he says it not as good as the one I lost. He will be here Christmas and I want to surprise him with this pie.
Thank you!
Plastic Wrap Untangling Tip
We all know how frustrating it can be when the plastic wrap or Saran wrap always clings together when you tear it off the roll. It is hard to straighten it out. Keep the plastic wrap in the freezer and it will not cling to itself when you tear it from the roll.
Rigatoni Italian Style Recipe
I am looking for a recipe for something that another student made in my home-ec class almost 30 years ago. It was rigatoni noodles, black olives, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. I think it had Italian dressing on it and is was sort of warm so the cheese was almost melted
Banana Bread with Agave
I have tweaked a banana bread recipe for my husbands friend at work who is diabetic. He enjoys the recipe and it does not cause his blood sugar to spike plus it is very moist!!!
Makes 1 loaf
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
- 1/2 cup Date sugar
- 1/2 cup Organic Blue Agave Sweetener
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Baby food Bananas or mashed.( I find that baby food mixes so well)
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside.
In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, Agave Sweetner and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
In a separate medium size bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, Plain yogurt, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, and pour into prepared pan.
Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.
Christmas Cranberry Sauce
- 1 can whole cranberry sauce
- 1 can apple pie filling
- 1/4 cup orange marmalade
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Mix together in large bowl and serve.
Smoky Salmon Cream Cheese Spread
- 1 can of salmon, drained
- 1 pkg cream cheese
- 2 tsp dried onion flakes
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Mix everything together, put in a mold or just put it in a bowl of your choice. Chill and serve with crackers.
Have served this dip for over 30 yrs. If I don’t make it at the holidays, my family asks me to make it.
Saltine Cracker Stuffing
- 1 box saltine crackers
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 large chopped onion
- 1 stalk of celery, chopped
- 1/4 lb mushrooms, sliced or a 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 egg, beaten
Pour saltine crackers into a very large bowl. Cover with hot water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Squeeze out as much water as possible. Saute the onion, celery and mushrooms (if fresh) in oil until onion is translucent. Add to cracker mixture. Season with poultry seasoning. Add egg and blend together well.
Stuff turkey or put in a separate dish and bake for about 1/2 hour. If desired, can moisten a bit with turkey drippings.
Serves 8
Juanita’s Sweet Potatoes – Crockpot
My grandma grew up in a poor sharecroppers family in rural Georgia in the 30′s and 40′s. Her family raised their own hogs and crops, including sweet potatoes. While I don’t have her original recipe (if there ever was one) I did come close. I adapted it to use a crock pot, since for the holidays it is easier. My Grandma died of brain cancer on Thanksgiving Day last year so this holiday now has a more special meaning for me and my family.
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 t cinnamon
- 1 cup fruit juice (I use Cider)
- 1 t salt
Peel and slice potatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices. Mix dry ingredients and layer with potatoes in a 3-4 qt crockpot. Pour juice on top. Cook for 4-6 hours on high.
I hope that this recipe spreads cheer to everyone and reminds you of someone you love.
Peanut Hash Candy Recipe
When I was younger at Christmas time use to get a candy we referred to as hash. Was like a peanut brittle but with large flakes of coconut in it. Does anyone know what I am referring to? Anyone have a recipe for something like this?
Looking For Lost ‘My Great Recipes’ Recipes
I used to get the My Great Recipes recipe cards. I have lost several of them. The two I am looking for are “Apple Pie or “All American Apple Pie” not sure which. It is the pie crust recipe on there that I need. Also in the same series is the recipe for Chocolate Pie. It has chocolate chips, cream cheese, and chocolate pudding made with whipping cream. Does anyone have these recipes? I need them soon. Thanks, Julie
Snowball Cookies
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- 2 Cups butter (4 sticks)
- 1 cup confectionery sugar (powdered)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups(6oz) chopped walnuts
Combine butter and sugar until fluffy.
(I use this alone at times with flavorings for a spread.)
Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Roll into balls. (about 2 teaspoons)
Place onto a cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake 12 min.
Transfer cookies to pan with a light coating of confectionery sugar and let cool completely.
When cooled, sift confectionery sugar over tops. (Use a sifter or small wire strainer.)
These cookies are very delicate, with a buttery, short bread flavor. They look beautiful, white and snowy! I usually have to make 4 batches to have enough!!!
Lime Deodorant
I have just started using lime juice for deodorant and I am stunned at it’s effectiveness.
Cut in half and put in a container to last no more than 3-4 days and refridgerate other half for next session.
2-3 limes per week. Tiny limes are just fine if less expensive. I have used the salt crystal all my adult years but a detox changed the efectivness, so I was on a MISSION to stay natural and smell good. No lime smell just no smell and you can delay shower for 3 days and still the same no odor.
Gluten Free Banana Bread
- 1/2 cup oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup mashed banana
- 3 eggs, well-beaten
- 1 3/4 cup rice flour
- 1 tsp soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Grease the bottom of a loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees 40 min.
Cream the oil & sugar. Stir in the mashed bananas,
Add eggs & blend thoroughly. Mix in the rice flour, soda & salt.
Blend well. Spread batter into the loaf pan evenly & bake.
Remove from pan & cool on a rack.
Ezekiel Bread
I have tried several recipes but too packy, I would like a light bread with the fiber of the beans added.
Date Roll
- 1 lb dates
- 1 lb walnuts
- 1 lb graham crackers
- l lb marshmallows
- 1 cup milk or cream
Soak marshmallow in milk, while cutting the dates and nuts into small pieces.
Roll crackers fine and keep out 1/2 cup.
Mix all together thoroughly then shape into loaf, roll in 1/2 cup crackers.
Refrigerate until firm.
Slice thinly, as it is rich, and top with whipped cream.
Newsletter Subscriber Appreciation Offer and Crockpot Tangy Apple Sausages – HBHW Newsletter
November 10th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Our Holiday Recipe Contest is starting to really gain momentum! We’ve been receiving piles of recipes from our readers and I am impressed by the variety of dishes, and how good they look. One thing you want to be sure to do is include your email address in the submission form so I can find you if you are selected to receive one of our great prizes. Scroll down and learn more about the excitement we have in store for you during this contest.
Our featured article is about something I especially enjoy during the holidays – snacks! During the rest of the year, I rarely make fancy appetizers or snacks, but when the holidays roll around, it’s no holds barred. Out comes the crockpot, or maybe two or three. Over the years, I have found that the best loved classic recipes with a few special twists are the most successful. Please be sure to check this week’s article out so you can see how tweaking a classic appetizer can really make it special.
This week’s quote and story are about compassion and charity. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on today’s quote and story.
My friend Christine Steendahl – “The Menu Mom” has set a goal for herself. She started Oct. 23rd with 1200 Facebook Fans and is hoping to hit 10K by Thanksgiving! Would you mind helping her out? All you need to do is visit www.facebook.com/themenumom and click the “like” button on her page. For every 500 new friends she has a little drawing and if she reaches 10K by Thanksgiving, she plans to give away $10,000 in Lifetime Memberships to her Menu Planning Central Meal Plans. Anyone who is a fan at the time of the drawing will be entered. Lots of fun! Go check it out at www.facebook.com/themenumom and help her achieve her goal!
Those are my thoughts 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
If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.
~Bob Hope~
Sponsor
I thought now would be a good time to say Thank You to all my newsletter subscribers. Without you, HBHW just wouldn’t be the same. And what better way to say thank you than by offering you a chance to save money!
From now through November 16th, I am offering you my Crockpot Cooking Collection for HALF PRICE! Also, included with this incredible crockpot cooking guide and recipe collection for 50% off, I’ll throw in 4 bonuses absolutely free.
That’s the Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook, the Crockpot Recipe Collection, normally selling for $29.95 PLUS 4 bonuses worth $44.80… that’s a $74.75 value for ONLY $14.50!
Here are the bonuses I’ve chosen to include in this offer absolutely free:
- Bonus 1: Homemade Breads and Rolls
- Bonus 2: Pantry Cooking Guide
- Bonus 3: Cut Your Grocery Budget in Half
- Bonus 4: My Favorite Recipes
For only $14.50 you can have this fabulous collection of crockpot cooking tips and tricks, recipes, and all these bonuses. Please take advantage of this great savings before November 16th by clicking on the link below. And, again, Thank you subscribers for your loyalty and the tremendous support I get from you every day.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/tycrockpot.htm
Holiday Recipe Contest
Many of you have already submitted your favorite recipes and I thank you. This has been a lot of fun already. If you haven’t yet checked out our contest for the holiday seasons, be sure to click on here and see the details, as well as the recipe submission form.
If your family is like mine, you probably have meals that have become holiday classics. But a few surprises would be nice, right? Our Holiday Recipe Contest is a great way to share your favorite recipe and to gather a few new ones for your family holiday meals.
Once you share your favorite recipe, not only will it be posted here on HBHW, but you’ll also be entered to win one of the great prizes we have. In addition to that, we’ll be including your recipe in a pretty little document for each participant. Be sure to click on the following link and fill in the submission form with your very favorite holiday recipe and a chance to win.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/favorite-holiday-recipes-contest.htm
Here’s a peek at the prizes we’re offering so far for various categories:
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From SavingDinner.com
3 month subscription (Value $15)
12 month subscription (Value $47)
Christmas for the Freezer menu (Value $10)
I’ll keep you updated as we find more prizes. So, get your very favorite holiday recipe out and submit it to us here at HBHW. Just click on the link here and look for the submission form. It’s easy and fun… and you might just win a valuable prize!
Featured Article
Cooking during the holidays means cooking special dishes. In our house we go overboard a bit on the appetizers when we get into the holiday seasons. Because the rest of the year we try to eat sensibly, serving a fancy appetizer feels very festive. Although we love our classic appetizers, I have perked them up a bit from time to time. Click on the link below and find out just how easy it is to take simple, classic appetizers and make them special for the holidays:
Crockpot Appetizer Recipes – Give Your Old Favorites A New Twist
Recipe Sharing
This is one of the recipes I’ve recreated to perk up an old favorite. I hope you’ll give it a try:
Crockpot Tangy Apple Sausage Appetizers
- 2 lbs apple smoked/flavored sausage links (or your favorite smoked sausage links), cut into bite size.
- 2 Granny Smith apples, or similar crisp, tart apple, cut into bite size chunks
- 1 medium sweet onion, cut into bite size chunks
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons spicy mustard, like Dijon or Cajun style
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons honey
Put sausage, onion, and apple in your crock pot and toss together a little bit. In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until combined well, then pour over the mixture in the crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for about 2 to 3 hours, or until the apples and onions are tender, but not mushy.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Are You God’s Wife?
~author unknown~
New York City: It’s a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, “My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?”
“I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy’s reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.
By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, “No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?”
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: “Are you God’s wife?”
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
Cherries In The Snow Dessert
- 1 can Cherry Pie Filling
- 1 container Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1/2 Cup Pecans (or nuts of your choice)
- 1/2 bag of mini marshmallows
Combine all ingredients in large bowl and chill for at least 1/2 hour prior to serving.
Easy Cooked Egg Nog
6 servings
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 c sugar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 4 3/4 c milk (divided in half)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 dashes nutmeg
Blend ingredients together (using only 1/2 milk) in a saucepan and cook until hot. Add remaining 1/2 milk after cooking, stirring in. Refrigerate until cold.
Then pour into tall glasses and enjoy!! This recipe is great so you don’t have to worry about the raw eggs and it taste wonderful!!
Holiday Sparkle Salad
- 1 bag of baby spinach, washed, dried, and chilled
- 1 large cucumber, chilled and unpeeled with fork tines drawn vertically through peel, thinly sliced
- 1 medium red onion, chilled, thinly sliced and separated into rings
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 2 cups pomegranate seeds, chilled (This is usually 2 pomegranates)
- 1 small can mandarin oranges, chilled and drained well
Layer ingredients in order given, and when ready to serve, toss lightly, making sure a bit of the fruit and vegetables are peeking up through the spinach.
A light vinaigrette is the best salad dressing, especially raspberry.
Autumn Butternut Casserole
I found this recipe in a really neat booklet put out by Benson & Hedges (go figure)! The book contains a collection of recipes from Great American Inns. Our family loves this recipe because it uses up the bountiful harvest of butternut squash from our garden and it is so deliciously sweet you can’t believe it’s squash.
- 3 cups mashed, cooked butternut squash
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 TB brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- dash white pepper
- 1 1/2 TB butter
- 6 cups unpared Jonathan apples
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 TB melted butter
Season squash with 1/4 cup butter, 1 TB brown sugar, 1/4 tsp salt & pepper. Heat 1 1/2 TB butter in skillet and add apples. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar and cover. Simmer over low heat until barely tender (about 5 minutes). Spread in a 3 quart casserole.
Spoon mashed squash over apples. Mix cornflakes with pecans, 1/2 cup brown sugar and melted butter. Sprinkle over casserole and bake in 350 oven for 15 minutes.
Makes 8 servings.
Apple Pie Recipe with Applesauce
I have lost an apple pie recipe that called for either fresh sliced apples or canned apple pie filling. It also called for applesauce to be added to the filling with some spices. I would be eternally grateful if anyone has this recipe. My late husband loved this recipe and so does my son-in-law who says that this is the best of the best apple pies he has ever eaten. Apple pie is his favorite, so I guess he knows his apple pies. I have tried other apple filling recipes and he says “not as good as the one with applesauce”
Thanks for any and all help
Glenda
Cheeseburger Side Shots
- 1 loaf frozen bread, thawed and risen once
Filling ingredients:
- onion powder to taste
- mustard to taste
- 1 Tblsp. buttermilk powder
- 1 pkg of shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 lb cooked ,crumbled, cooled ground beef
Mix filling ingredients together; should taste like a cheeseburger.
Punch down bread and divide dough in half, roll thin, in a rect. shape. 15×10.
Cut six squares. Put about 1/4 cup filling in middle of each square, fold up edges, eggwash edges and pinch edges as needed. Eggwash tops and sides, place on greased baking sheet.
Bake 350 degrees 15 min.
They taste just like the ones at the store without all the preservatives. My grandsons live with us and they really like them. I quit buying the pre-made ones in the freezer department after reading they were full of nasty stuff. And I get 12 good sized side-shots out of this recipe. Now I make them with sausage, eggs, and cheese. You can freeze these too. Hope everyone who makes these like them. I try to mimick a lot of store-bought foods.
Stack Cake with Apple Butter
Does anyone have a recipe for what my mom believes is called stack cake? She said it sometimes had apple butter and sometimes jelly. please help. Thanks
Sugar Free International Coffee Cafe Vienna
I’m looking for a sugar free recipe for International Coffee, “Cafe Vienna” as the company has discontinued the sugar free version. Can you help me?? Pat
Chicago Hotdog Kraut-Onion Relish
I’m looking for a recipe for the kraut-onion relish used on Chicago style hot dogs – a friend who used to live in Chicago told me about this – apparently they are carmelized together, but are spices used also? thanks a lot -
Whole Pumpkin Baked with Custard
- 1 small pumpkin, preferably a ‘sugar’ pumpkin or a ‘pie pumpkin’ or anything other than a pumpkin whose destiny is a jack o’lantern
Custard: (makes about 2 cups liquid)
- 3 eggs, whisked well
- 1 cup cream (sorry, half & half doesn’t thicken well)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon dry sherry (optional but nice)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1 tablespoon butter, in tiny cubes
Preheat the oven to 350F or 400F. Wash the outside of the pumpkin very well. Carefully insert a knife into the flesh to cut off the ‘top’. Remove and discard the seeds (or save them for Spicy Sweet Pumpkin Seeds) and the pumpkin ‘gunk’ inside.
Whisk together the custard ingredients, then pour into the pumpkin. Sprinkle the butter cubes over top. Place the stem-top back onto the pumpkin and transfer to a baking dish. Bake for about 90 minutes or until the custard is firm. (Check after 60 minutes but both pumpkins I cooked took a full 90 minutes.)
To serve, use long-stemmed spoons (such as iced tea spoons) to share, scooping up bits of the cooked pumpkin along with custard.
Triple Chocolate Mess – Crockpot
- 4 eggs
- 1 package chocolate cake mix
- 1 sm. pkg instant chocolate pudding mix
- 3/4 c vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sour cream
- 12 oz pkg chocolate chips
Spray crock pot with non-stick cooking spray. Mix all ingredients until smooth and pour into crock. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. This makes a wonderfully rich and moist brownie dessert. Serve warm with ice cream.
Note: In the newer oval-shaped crock pots, I have had some trouble with this burning a bit on the ends. It is best suited to the round 5- or 6-quart pot.
Jambalya
My husbands parents have taught me to cook a little southern. Not hard at all!
- 2tbsp. margarine or butter
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. smoked Sausage link sliced
- 1 cup rice uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 tbsp. green or red sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes drained
- Cajun seasoning to your liking
- salt and pepper
1. melt butter/margarine in dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. add onion, bell pepper, garlic and sausage.
3. cook until veggies are tender about 5 minutes.
4. stir in rice, chicken broth, tomatoes and pepper sauce. mix well bring to boil.
5. reduce heat cover and simmer 25 minutes or until rice is tender.
We have garlic bread and a salad with it. It is so yummy!
Cream of Asparagus Soup
1/3 cup cream soup concentrate mix (see convenience foods on the HBHW site)
1 cup water
1 can asparagus
1/4 cup chicken broth or water
Mix cream soup mix and water on a saucepan;whisk. While it’s thickening, puree the asparagus w/broth in blender. Pour into soup mix and whisk to combine. Serve hot.
Inexpensive Body Butter – Old Fashioned Homemade Luxury
I have extremely sensitive skin and one of the things my dermatologist recommended was to use Crisco for a moisturizer. My initial reaction was NO WAY!
In the past year we’ve hit hard times, so I decided to see just how crazy it was.
I put a big dollop into a plastic container and whipped it with some lavender essential oils. I LOVE THIS STUFF! If I didn’t know better I’d think it was a pricey good smelling body butter. Try it! It’s a little greasy, but hey, it’s grease. It moisturizes so well.
7 Layer Banana Split Dessert
Layer 1:
- 3 cups crushed graham crackers
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- Mix together and press into bottom of 9×13 pan.
Layer 2:
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- Beat with mixer for 20 minutes at high speed and carefully spread over crumbs.
Layer 3:
- 2 cups crushed pineapple, drained
Layer 4:
- 7 bananas, sliced
Layer 5:
- 1 large Cool Whip, thawed
Layer 6:
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Layer 7:
- 24 Marachino cherries
Prepare, cover and refrigerate overnight
Apple Fluff
I dreamed this up when my son was little to get him to eat apples. He was not a fruit person, but for that matter, neither was I.
When I was growing up my family didn’t have many fruits in their diet for some reason and I never learned to like them. Never too late though! I do now.
- 1 jar applesauce
- 1 cup Cool Whip
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- crushed Nilla wafers or graham cracker crumbs or even plain bread crumbs
- butter
- sprinkle of sugar
- very very slight sprinkle of salt
Chill applesauce and Cool Whip.
Combine these with the cinnamon and blend well.
Melt butter in cast iron skillet.
Heat graham cracker or Nilla Wafer crumbs or plain bread crumbs in the butter until golden brown.
Sprinkle sugar and very minute trace of salt into the toasted crumbs and blend well. Be careful not to let the mixture burn.
Sprinkle this topping on the Apple Fluff just before serving. Yummm!
Egg Noodle Beef Casserole
- 1 bag of Egg Noddles
- 1 lb of ground beef
- 1 can of cream of corn
- 1 can of medium olives including juice
- 2 8oz cans of Tomato sauce
- 1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese
Boil noodles and cook brown beef. Mix all ingredients into a casserole dish. Cover and bake for about 30 minutes on 350.
Raisin Overnight Cookies
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp.cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. allspice
- 1 1/2 cups bacon drippings (warm & strained)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 TBSP. sour milk
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup nuts(optional)
Mix flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice together; set aside
Mix bacon drippings, sugars, milk, and eggs together. Add raisins nuts. Then add the flour mixture and stir until mixed well.
Refrigerate overnite.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Roll in balls & flatten with hand.
Bake 10 min. (or until brown)
Gluten-Free Overnight Coffee Cake
Perfect for Thanksgiving morning.
When you have company it isn’t always easy to get up early and bake for the group when you are focused on getting the turkey in the oven. This recipe you make the night before and bake in the morning! I love to have this ready to pop in the oven on Thanksgiving morning.
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon GF baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cup gluten-free flour blend (like Bob’s Mill, Pamela’s or Jules)
- 1 cup yogurt
Beat butter, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together. Add vanilla; add eggs one at a time.
Mix in the flour and yogurt alternating as you mix.
Spread into a greased 9”x 13” pan.
Sprinkle Topping over the pan.
Cover and refrigerate over night.
In the morning bake at 350 for 40 – 45 minutes. Cool and serve.
Topping
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts – walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Optional, 1 cup chocolate chips
Mix together and sprinkle over the coffee cake.
Texas Shrimp Dip
This dip may be a little pricey, but Christmas Eve is a time to splurge! I try to get ingredients on sale and store in the freezer.
- 1 lb. of shrimp cooked, peeled, and chopped.
- 1 8oz pkg of cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup of real mayo
- 1 lb. of shredded cheddar cheese
- small can of pickled jalapenos, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients. Add more or less jalapeno to your liking.
Serve with Fritos. Delicious!
Toll House Pie
We love the taste of toll house cookies around the holidays so much that we include the same delicious, unique taste in this pie, too! Can never have too much toll house!
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Flour, unsifted
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup White Sugar
- 1 cup Butter, melted and cooled
- 1 cup Chocolate Bits
- 1 cup Walnuts (opt.)
- 9 ” Pie Shell, unbaked
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl, beat eggs til foamy. Add sugars, flour, and beat til well blended. Add butter. Stir in chocolate bits and walnuts. Pour into pie shell. Bake 1 hour. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Green Bean Bacon Bundles
- 2 cans whole green beans
- 1 (120z) pkg bacon
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- seasonings to taste
Cut bacon in half, and wrap each piece around small bundles of green beans. Combine the other ingredients in microwave bowl and melt till liquid. This should be as thick as syrup. Pour mixture over green beans and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. drain any extra liquid.
Grandma Maxey’s Peanut Brittle
This is the ONLY thing I make for the holidays. But I make over 100 pounds for family and friends.
Heat on med heat:
- 1/3 C water
- Add 2 C. sugar
- 1 C. Karo White syrup
Heat to 240 degrees, stirring every once in a while.
- Add 2 C. raw peanuts and 1 tsp salt
Stir and heat to 295 degrees.
- Take off heat and add 1 Tablespoon butter
- And 2 tsp baking soda
Pour onto buttered cookie sheet
Cool and bag.
DO NOT make on a humid day.
I use a heavy bottomed pan – I have 4 pressure cooker pans that you would use for meals – not canning
Also use FRESH soda and raw peanuts.
Marinated Ham Biscuits
- 2 packages Pepperidge Farm party rolls
- 3/4 pound ham (boiled or country)
- 1/2 pound Swiss cheese
Layer 2 pieces of ham and cheese on each roll and put on a cookie sheet with a rim.
- 2 sticks butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Melt together and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Pour over biscuits. Sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds if desired. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Stuffed Cookies
These cookies were passed down from my grandmother and I make them every year (or else risk being disowned by my family).
Dough
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 Tbs milk
Cream shortening; blend in sugar, add eggs and beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Roll out 1/8″ thick.
Filling
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tbs flour
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup dates, chopped
- 2 Tbs lemon juice
- pinch salt
- 3/4 cup water
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thick. Cool.
Cut out 2 cookies (use Christmas shapes, but nothing too narrow). Place about 1 tsp of filling between cookies (sandwich fashion) and press edges to seal. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes, or until they just start to brown around the edges.
Makes approx. 60 cookies
New Years Bacon Cheeseburger Potato Cakes
This is my ‘I’m tired of holiday leftovers, but don’t want to throw them away’ recipe.
Great for New Year’s eve, fills you up and gets rid of leftover potatoes.
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 med. onion, sliced
- 1 1/2 cup bbq sauce
- leftover mashed potatoes
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- grated cheddar cheese (as much as you like)
- 4-5 slices of bacon,cooked and crumble
- 3-4 pickles, chopped
Brown ground beef and onions together. Once done add bbq sauce and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Take mashed potatoes and form them into patties.
Put oil in skillet and heat. Add patties and fry until crisp on both sides.
When both sides are crispy put on plate. Layer with meat mix, cheese, bacon, and pickles. Then dig in.
Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Candy Bars
Bottom layer:
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
- 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Top layer:
- 1 cup chocolate chips (milk, dark or semi-sweet
- 2 tablespoons butter
In a glass bowl, microwave butter and peanut butter until melted. Stir in powdered sugar (mixture will be stiff and you may need to mix it with clean hands). Pat mixture into an 11 x 7-inch glass dish.
Melt chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons of butter in microwave safe bowl. Do this in short cycles, 10 seconds, stir, 10 seconds, stir, 10 seconds, stir, until melted.
Spread chocolate mixture over peanut butter layer. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30-60 minutes to allow chocolate to set. Bring to room temperature and cut into small pieces.
Don’t try to cut the candy when it’s cold. The chocolate layer on top will crumble.
Pumpkin Cheese Cake
Crust
- 2 cups crushed ginger snap cookies
- 6 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Filling
- 3 8 ounce blocks of Cream Cheese (I have used also low fat)
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tesp vanilla
- 1 small can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
Topping:
- Brown sugar (enough to sprinkle on top)
Prepare a 10 inch cheese cake spring form pan by lining with waxed paper or parchment.
In medium bowl mix together all crust ingredients.
Press into the bottom and up with sides of the spring form pan.
Bake in oven for 10 minutes.
Take out to cool while preparing filling.
In large bowl mix cream cheese and sugar to cream.
Add eggs one at a time and beat 1 minute between each egg.
Add pumpkin pie filling and beat until well mixed.
Add pumpkin pie spice and vanilla until incorporated.
Place pan on a baking sheet.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 55-60 minutes or until center is almost set.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight.
Serve with whipped cream.
Creamy Cranberry Dip
I love this recipe because it is so simple and delicious!
- 1 package of cream cheese
- 1 can of cranberry sauce
Mix the two in a bowl, until smooth.
Put in a serving bowl and place graham crackers, fruit, or what you would like to dip.
Delicious, fast, and an easy holiday appetizer to feed those waiting for the big dinner!
Five Layer Dessert
This recipe is originally from my mother, and is currently popular with my entire extended family and church family.
- 1 stick of butter, soft
- 1 cup of plain flour
- 1 cup of chopped pecans,(plus extra)
- 1 large 8 oz. cream cheese, soft
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 small containers cool whip
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 large instant chocolate pudding
- 1 large instant vanilla pudding
- 5 cups milk
1st layer: 1 stick of butter, soft: 1 cup of plain flour; 1 cup finely chopped pecans. Mix until crumbly. Press into 9×13 in. pan. Bake at 350degrees until light brown. Cool.
2nd layer: Large 8oz container cream cheese, soft; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 small container cool whip; 1 tsp. vanilla. Blend. Spread across 1st layer.
3rd layer: Mix 1 large instant chocolate pudding mix with 2 and one half cup milk. Spread across 2nd layer.
4th layer: Same as 3rd, but use vanilla pudding. Spread across 3rd layer.
5th layer: 1 small container cool whip, soft. Spread across top. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top, if desired.
Keep refrigerated until ready to eat.
White Christmas Punch
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1/3 c water
- 1/2 t almond extract
- 1/3 c evaporated milk
- 1 qt vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
- 2 liter clear soda pop-7up, slice
Cook water and sugar until sugar has dissolved.
Add almond extract and evaporated milk. Refrigerate.
At serving time mix softened ice cream, and spoon into sugar mixture.
Pour soda over top.
Pumpkin Dinner
We have this anytime from Halloween through Thanksgiving. I received it from a friend in 2001 and have been using ever since. Its a fun fall tradition for our family.
- 1 med. pumpkin (6-8 lbs)
- 1 1/2-2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 2 T brown sugar
- 3 T soy sauce
- 8 oz fresh mushrooms or 4 oz can (we love mushrooms so we use lots of fresh)
- 1 1/2 c cooked rice
- 1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts
- 1 chopped potato
- 2 sliced carrots
Clean pumpkin.
Brown hamburger and onion.
Combine beef, soup, sugar, soy sauce, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots. simmer 10 minutes.
Add rice and chestnuts.
Spoon into pumpkin.
Spoon into pumpkin.
Replace top and put on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 1 1/2-2 hours or until pumpkin meat is tender and potatoes and carrots are cooked.
Sweet Sour Brussels Sprouts
- 8 oz bacon, diced
- 2 lb fresh Brussels sprouts or 3 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen–thawed
- 1 med. onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
In large heavy skillet over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp, then remove with slotted spoon and put on paper towels to drain.
Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings from skillet.
Heat 2 tablespoons bacon drippings over medium high heat.
Add Brussels sprouts and diced onions and fry until tender and slightly browned.
Add both sugars and fry for an additional minute or two, until the sugars are dissolved and vegetables are lightly caramelized.
Add cider vinegar, chili sauce, mustard, salt and pepper and fry for an additional 2 minutes.
Top with crumbled bacon and serve immediately.
Turkey Surprise Ramekin Bundles
- leftover mashed sweet potatoes
- leftover sliced turkey
- leftover gravy
- whole cranberry sauce
Take leftover mashed sweet potatoes and place on individual baking ramekins.
Place leftover sliced turkey on potatoes, then spoon leftover gravy over turkey.
Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons whole cranberry sauce on each bundle.
Heat to warm and serve.
Easy Pumpkin Muffins
- 1 15oz. can of pumpkin
- 1 box spice cake mix
Mix together well and spoon into 18 cupcake wrappers.
Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.
These are 1 point muffins for those Weight Watchers!
Pumpkin Brownies
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
In a separate bowl, stir the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract together, beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir the batter until it’s evenly moistened.
Divide the batter in half and put in two separate bowls.
Take one bowl of batter and blend the cocoa powder and chocolate chips in.
Take the second bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter.
Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer. Take a small knife and gently drag through the batter gently in a swirling motion to create a marbling look.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. If you insert a toothpick in the center it should come out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool. Cut into squares.
These are a wonderful, healthier, “not too sweet” alternative to straight brownies!
Baked Beans with Wieners
This is my families tried and true holiday bean recipe, although each of us has their own twist on it. I like mine with a little more bite and my sisters like theirs sweeter. Mama likes fewer wieners and more onion. It is very versatile and is just as good cold as hot.
This recipe can be doubled or halved, whatever you need to feed your bunch. Feel free to adjust the amounts of ingredients to your taste or make substitutions like ketchup for tomato sauce.
- 1-#10 can of pork and beans ( we have Showboat brand in our area)
- 12-15 wieners, chopped into 1/2″ pieces
- 1-onion, chopped
- 1-15oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 or 3 T yellow mustard
- 2 or 3 T pancake syrup (Blackburns brand is great cause it is really thick, dark Karo will also work, or whatever you have, experiment)
- 1 or 2 T garlic, powder or fresh minced
Mix all ingredients into a casserole and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes or until bubbly and thickened.
Thanks
Can also be cooked in the crockpot. Start on high for 3-4 hours and then on low for several more until ready to serve.
Can be made without wieners.
3 Classic Dry Spice Mixes
Instructions for all three of these mixes are the same. Put the ingredients in a big bowl and mix together well with a fork or whisk. You’ll want to store the mixes in some kind of a jar with a tight sealing lid. I like to use a canning jar and lid because I know it will be a tight seal. However, a zipped freezer bag will work.
Barbecue Style Dry Spice Mix
- 4 TBSP smoky paprika
- 1 TBSP brown sugar
- 1 TBSP dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Louisiana Style Dry Spice Mix
- 4 TBSP powdered mustard
- 4 TBSP ground cumin
- 4 tsp cayenne
- 4 tsp celery salt
- 4 tsp brown sugar
- 4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
Mediterranean Style Dry Spice Mix
- 4 TBSP dried basil
- 4 tsp dried thyme
- 4 tsp dried rubbed sage
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Shake-It Bake-It Mix
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 Tbsp. paprika
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 4 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. ground oregano
- 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Mix all ingredients well and store in sealed container in the refrigerator or pantry. About 2/3 cup mixture will coat one whole cut-up chicken. To cook one chicken, cut up, shake in mixture in plastic bag, then arrange on shallow baking sheet and cook in 400 degree oven of 50 to 60 minutes or until the juices from chicken run clear when pierced with a knife.
You can switch up the seasonings to suit your own tastes. I like the paprika and red pepper for the color and spiciness.
Holiday Chicken and Cornbread Stuffing – Crockpot
- 1 rotisserie chicken (about 3 lbs), meat removed and chopped up (about 4 cups)
- 8 corn muffins broken into pieces (about 7 cups)
- 8 slices of white bread broken into pieces
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cups celery chopped
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) cream of chicken soup (concentrate only)
- 15 oz. chicken broth
- 4 eggs beaten
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup chopped bacon (cooked)
- 2 c pecans chopped coarsely
Mix all ingredients together and put into 5 qt or larger crock pot.
Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for about 7 hours until set.
Serves 10
This is great for a crowd. Your house will smell like its thanksgiving! Serve with cranberry sauce on the side. I love to take this to pot lucks.
Apple Pear Crumb Pie
This is one of our favorite dessert recipes for the holidays. I saw it in a Food Now! article a couple of years ago and since then it has been out go-to pie recipe. The pears add a nice flavor, and it’s great to be able to mix things up a little bit!
Topping:
- ¼ cup oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter, chilled and cubed
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
Filling:
- 2 ½ cups granny smith apples, peeled and sliced
- 2 cups pears, peeled and sliced
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 Tbs. flour
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 2 Tbs. lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 (9”) deep dish pie shell, unbaked
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. With the mixer on low, combine the topping ingredients until the butter is the size of peas. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients until the apples and pears are completely coated. Pour into the pie shell. The filling should mount above the top of the shell.
Evenly distribute the topping over the filling.
Bake the pie at 375 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes or until the filling is completely cooked. Depending on how your oven bakes, you might need to cover the crust edges with foil to prevent overbrowning.
Cooked Wheat Meatloaf Recipe
You gave a recipe for cooked wheat in the crockpot and said you could include it in meatloaf. Do you have a recipe for meatloaf with cooked wheat?
Pear Cake
This cake is really moist and a great way to use up ripe pears!
- 175g/6oz unsalted butter, softened
- 175g/6oz caster sugar
- 3 eggs
- 175g/6oz self-raising flour
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large ripe pears, peeled, cored and chopped
- 50g/2oz plain chocolate
Icing sugar to decorate (optional)
If you want a chocolatey sponge swap 1tbsp flour for 1tbsp cocoa powder
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 160C, 325F, Gas 3.
Grease and line a standard loaf tin.
Cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
Gradually beat in the eggs.
Stir in the vanilla extract and chopped pears until well combined.
Sieve in the flour and carefully fold into the mixture.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface.
Bake in the preheated oven for about an hour until firm to the touch.
Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack.
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Drizzle the chocolate over the cooled cake.
When the chocolate is set sieve a little icing sugar over the top (optional).
Store in an airtight container.
Crockpot Cinnamon Vanilla Apples
- 15 apples, peeled and cut up
- 1 box (4 serving size) instant vanilla pudding
- 1/3 cup white sugar or Sugar substitute
- 1 T ground cinnamon
- butter spray or 2 T melted butter
- cooking spray
1. Spray crock pot with cooking spray.
2. Mix dry pudding mix, sugar and cinnamon.
3. Lightly spray apples with butter spray or drizzle with melted butter.
4. Toss apples with pudding-cinnamon mix.
5. Put in crock pot. Cook on low four hours OR on high two hours.
VARIATIONS: Add cranberries, fresh or frozen blueberries, raisins or nuts.
Broccoli And Apple Salad
Best made 1 day ahead of time and allowed to meld together in a covered bowl in fridge overnight.
- 1 head broccoli cut into floweretts
- 6 red delicious apples
- 1 to 2 carrots sliced
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries
- (optional) ½ cup seedless grapes (I use them with the cranberries)
- ¼ t nutmeg + ½ t cinnamon or 1 t pumpkin pie spice
Mix ingredients and sprinkle with seasonings
Dressing:
- ¼ to ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ to ½ cup cool whip
Mix mayo and cool whip to taste and equal to ¾ cup. Toss with salad ingredients.
Recipe For Face Mask
Looking for a homemade recipe for a face mask..peel or wash off…Please let me know if you have any ideas. Thank you for your response to my request. DS
Crockpot Dessert Recipes – Save Your Valuable Oven Space For The Main Course
Does shuffling around your dishes in and out of the oven get complicated during a big holiday meal? We like to have several desserts, so that usually means something’s got to come out of the oven so the desserts can start going in.
Why not put your crockpot to work for you this year? Transform your old favorite dessert recipes into crockpot dessert recipes and free up your oven for what it was meant for… the Turkey and Green Bean Casserole!
So, how am I going to turn my old favorite dessert recipes into crockpot dessert recipes? I chose three of my family’s favorite desserts to make this year in my crockpot in order to free up my oven space and stove top for other dishes. Let’s see how we can put my crockpot to work.
If you make this dessert in the oven, you have to time it just right so that you’re pulling it out only a few minutes before serving. That’s because it’s better served hot with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top. You can basically use all the ingredients you normally do, but I add a little more butter. You’re going to cook it on low for a couple hours so that’s all the timing required. No last minute switching casseroles around so you can get this dessert done at the perfect time.
My recipe is sort of a variation of both apple crisp and bread pudding, so a crunchy topping is optional. If you like, you can mix together the ingredients for the topping in a saucepan, then top the apple dessert either in the bowls or in the slow cooker just before serving.
Brownies are always yummy, but this brownie dessert tops them all with the added peanut butter! You begin with a regular brownie mix, but the dessert isn’t cut into squares like normal brownies. You spoon the dessert into bowls instead of cutting them into traditional brownie squares. Serve while hot so that the added ice cream or whipped topping melts a little. Very yummy!
Top this brownie dessert with some sprinkles of Reese’s Pieces or other candy topping that you like. Cut a peanut butter cup in quarters and garnish with one quarter for each serving. You want to time the cooking and serving of this so that you are ready to scoop up your dessert just minutes after you shut off the heat.
One of my favorite desserts is cheesecake. It’s fun using what can be considered a mini oven. Basically, you use the same recipe you normally would. The important thing to keep in mind is you’ll be using a 7″ springform pan so you need to make sure it will fit . A 5 or 6 quart size is usually big enough, but measure to be sure. Then, make a simple graham cracker crust with some finely chopped pecans added, form the crust in the bottom and up the sides a little in your pan. Make the filling according to the recipe you normally use, then fill your pan.
You’ll need to put a small rack in the bottom to hold the springform pan off the bottom. If you don’t have a rack that fits, just pull a good length of aluminum foil off the roll and form a donut shape out of it to support the pan. Put that on the bottom and put your pan in. Just be sure the pan is at least an inch off the bottom. Use enough foil to get a good support. You want to cook your cheesecake on high for several hours, then shut off the heat and let it sit in there for another hour or until it’s cool enough to handle. Then you’ll let it cool completely on a rack on the counter before you remove the pan from the cheesecake.
You shouldn’t have to spend your holiday shuffling food all over your kitchen. Leave your main dishes alone to cook in peace and quiet and turn to your trusty crockpot for the answer to your food-juggling dilemma.
Learn how to re-create your favorite recipes into new crockpot recipes with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Click here and buy this guide now to save time and stress in the kitchen and get everything on the table as planned… hot, bubbly, and delicious!
Super Cheesy Baked Mac ‘N Cheese
- 8 ounce box of noodles (my fave, the small shells)
- 8 ounces cottage cheese
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese
Boil noodles under done. Preheat oven for 350. Pour in shallow oven safe dish. Add cottage cheese and sour cream, stir until mixed well. Add cheddar cheese and stir (recipe calls for 8 ounces, but I always add more). Also sprinkle a thin layer of cheddar cheese on top. Bake on 350 for about 30 minutes, until cheese on top is bubbly.
Spinach Casserole
- 2 pkg frozen spinach,cooked according to package directions and drained
- 2 c onion chopped (I just use one big onion)
- 1 c mayonnaise
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
Mix all together and place in a 9×12 inch casserole dish. Toast 4 slices of whole wheat bread and make into crumbs. Sprinkle these on top of mixture and dot with butter. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes. Serves 8-10 and reheats well.
You can use broccoli in this recipe if you like and use any kind of crumbs.
This is a recipe that was served at a family funeral many years ago and has become a family favorite for special meals.
Vanilla Mashed Sweet Potatoes
If you enjoy mashed sweet potatoes you’ll love these Vanilla Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Not being the typical, overly sweet, heavily buttered recipe, they’re sure to be a topic of conversation and you’ll be asked for the recipe without fail. This base recipe has a subtle, comforting vanilla aroma and can be adapted for pies, soups and even a mousse! I’ve been making it for four years and it’s my most requested holiday recipe.
- 1 1/2 pounds Sweet Potatoes; washed. (leave wet)
- 1/3 to 1/2 Vanilla Bean; split lengthwise, seeds removed
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons Evaporated Milk or Heavy Cream
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Grated Orange Zest (optional but lovely)
- Sea Salt (or regular salt)
- White Pepper (black will do)
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Prick the potatoes, place on baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until fork tender. Let them cool until you can handle and peel them. Cut the potatoes and put them in a food processor.
Meanwhile, add the evaporated milk, vanilla bean and orange zest to a pot and slowly bring to a simmer. (No higher than a medium heat.) Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard the vanilla bean. Pour the mixture into the food processor and add the softened butter.
Puree the potato mixture until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I highly recommend sea salt and white pepper but regular salt and pepper do very nicely.
Serves four.
Wild Game Dinner
This may not be the proper place to post this, but I’ll submit it anyway. One winter, we lived mostly off a road-killed moose, and desperate for yet another way to cook it, I came up with this recipe. It works with any type of game, as well as with tough cuts of beef. My neighbor even used it for ribs! This will feed 6 – 8.
- 2 lbs boneless meat, cut in serving size pieces
- 1 can condensed tomato soup
- 1/2 soup can water
- 3 Tbs brown sugar
- 1 cup salsa -as hot or mild as you like
Put the meat in a casserole. Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat. Cook at 325 for 2 1/2 hours, or till meat is tender. No other seasoning is required. It can also be placed in a crockpot and cooked for 8 – 9 hours on low.
be well,
Carol
Grandma Selma’s Ginger Cream Cookies
- 1/4 cup Crisco
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup dark molasses
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. cloves
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup hot water with 1 tsp. baking soda in it
Cream Crisco and sugar together in glass bowl, either with a hand mixer or just with a big fork.
Add egg and mix.
Add molasses and spices and mix.
Mix in flour.
Add hot water/soda and mix.
Put dough in refrigerator and chill for 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet and drop dough on in golf ball size.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes on metal cookie sheet, 12 minutes on baking stone.
Remove to rack until cool, then frost.
FROSTING:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. corn syrup
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 to 3 Tbsp. milk (adjust for desired thickness)
Spoon frosting over cookies and let harden.
The cookies have an intense flavor which is very appealing, especially with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.
* These are my husband Neale’s Grandma’s cookies. He remembers her making them for him whenever he asked her to… which was quite often from what he tells me! He’s been making them almost every week lately, and sharing them now with our grandchildren who are gobbling them up just as fast as he did when he was a kid.
Christmas Colors Layer Cake
- 1 c. butter, softened
- 1 3/4 c. sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 3/4 c. flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1 1/4 c. buttermilk
- Green food coloring
Grease and flour three 9″ round cake pans; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each; beat in vanilla.
Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir into butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of buttermilk.
With food coloring, tint batter green. Scrape into each one of the prepared pans, smoothing top. Bake in center of 350ºF oven for 30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pans on rack for 15 minutes. Run knife around edges; turn out onto rack. Turn right side up; let cool on rack.
MAKE BUTTER ICING – Recipe below
Place one cake layer on a flat serving plate; spread top icing. Top with another layer; spread top with icing. Top with last layer; spread top with icing. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until icing is firm.
MAKE FLUFFY ICING – Recipe below
Cover top and sides of cake with FLUFFY ICING. Makes 12 servings.
BUTTER ICING:
1 c. butter, softened
1/3 c. milk
5 c. icing sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
In a bowl, beat butter until fluffy; beat in sugar alternately with milk, making three additions of sugar and two of milk. Beat in vanilla. Makes 4 cups.
With food coloring, tint frosting red.
FLUFFY ICING:
1 c. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla
In a saucepan, bring corn syrup to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, in a bowl set over simmering water, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until frothy. Beat in corn syrup in a thin, steady stream; beat for about 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Remove from heat; beat in vanilla. Makes about 4 cups.
Half Acre Homestead Cranberry Scones
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 pound CHILLED butter
- 1 cup whole frozen cranberries
- 1TBS zest from an orange
- 1 Cup Butter milk ( or you can sour milk with a TBS of lemon juice)
- One egg beaten with 1/4 cup water for an egg wash and 1/4 course sugar
Mix your flour, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl..add zest and toss.
Then with a cheese grater, grate the butter into the flour mixture..rolling the butter brick in the flour to coat and tossing the grated butter in the flour as well.
When all the butter is grated and the flour looks like course meal..throw in the cranberries and toss until coated.
Make a well in the mixture and carefully pour all the butter milk into the centre.
Carefully turn the bowl and slowly scrape the flour into the milk from the outer edges…lightly tossing until you have a loose ball..it is IMPERATIVE that you do NOT over-mix!! No KNEADING or rolling!
When the dough is somewhat holding together..turn it out onto a floured cloth..and gently press until you have a uniform circle about 3/4 to an inch thick…
At this point you can cut traditionally or use a floured glass to cut out your scones…
Place on a tray in the freezer for about an hour…
Preheat your oven to 350 F
Place somewhat frozen scones on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet…brush a light coating of egg wash on a scone and sprinkle with course sugar..and continue on to the next.
Bake at 350 F until golden. ( about 30-40 minute depending on your oven)
Creamy Fudge
In a large heat resistant bowl:
- 12 oz. Bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- ½ Cup of Butter or Margarine Cut up into smaller pieces
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
- 1 Cup of Chopped Walnuts (if desired)
In a medium to large pot:
- 10 Large or 44 Small Marshmallows
- 2 Cups Sugar
- 3/4 Cups Milnot (Condensed Milk) (you can get two batches from the 15 oz. can)
In a metal or glass bowl (something that can take high heat) put chocolate chips, margarine (or butter), vanilla and nuts (if desired). Set aside.
On a cookie sheet/or baking pan spray with pam and then put wax paper on the baking sheet.
In a medium sauce pan put marshmallows, sugar and Milnot and cook at low to low-medium heat until marshmallow are completely melted. Then, YOU MUST COOK THIS FOR AT LEAST 6 MORE MINUTES, stirring constantly. If you do not cook this for 6 minutes after the marshmallows melt, the fudge will not set. Keep the heat at low during this 6 minutes.
After the 6 minutes, pour the hot mixture over the other ingredients and stir until the chocolate and butter are melted.
Pour the entire mixture onto the wax paper in the cookie sheet/baking pan, spreading to desired thickness. Put in a cool place or refrigerator. It should set in a few hours or over night.
Cut to desired size.
Cranberry Delight Spread
- 1 – 8 oz pkg Cream Cheese
- 2 Tbsp frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, thawed
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp grated orange peel
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries (Craisins)
- 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans
- Crackers
In a small bowl beat cream cheese, orange juice, sugar, orange peel and cinnamon on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy.
Stir in chopped cranberries and 1/2 of the pecans. Shape into a ball and roll in the other 1/2 of the pecans. Place on a plate and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve with crackers like Keebler town house or butter crackers.
Creamy Pumpkin Cupcakes
- 1 pkg Spice Cake mix
- 1 Pkg (3.4 oz) INSTANT Vanilla Pudding mix
- 1 Cup(1/2 of 15 oz can)Canned Pumpkin
- 1 – 8oz Pkg Cream Cheese,softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
Make cake as directed on package but adding the dry Vanilla Pudding and pumpkin. Mix well. Pour into 24 lined muffin cups. Beat cream cheese, sugar and the egg until well blended. Drop a spoonful of cream cheese mixture into the middle of the cupcake, gently covering the cream cheese mixture with some of the cake mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 18 – 21 minutes. Cool on baking racks.
Cranberry Salad
- 2 large packages of cherry jello ( can be sugar free )
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 16 oz. container sour cream ( can be light or fat free )
- 1 12 oz- 16 oz. package of cranberries
- 1 8 oz. container of cool whip ( optional )
Mix the 2 packages of jello with 2 cups of boiling water. Mix until well disolved. Put in refrigerator to chill for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
As the jello is chilling, use cranberries to make cranberry sauce according to the package directions. Set aside to cool while the jello is “setting”.
After the jello is set, mix the cranberry sauce and jello together. Place the mixture in the refrigerator to gel. When the mixture has completely set, take the sour cream and blend with the jello mixture. ( You can blend by hand, or with an electric mixer on low speed. ) After well blended, fold in chopped pecans and cool whip if desired. Enjoy !
This is my grandmother’s that we just absolutely love! We’ve been making it for years and it’s delicious! It’s just not Thanksgiving without it!
Creamy Old Fashion Egg Nog
- 6 eggs
- 3/4 C. Sugar
- 2-12 oz cans of Milnot or evaporated milk
- Dash of salt
- 2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 C. whipped cream (Cool whip will work, but not as tasty as making your own with whipping cream. )
- Ground nutmeg
In a bowl, lightly beat eggs and sugar. Heat milk into egg mixture. Pour into large saucepan and cook over medium/low heat, simmering constantly till it reaches 160 degrees. Strain into a bowl and stir in vanilla. Chill till cold. Beat whipped cream until stiff and fold into egg mixture. Garnish with nutmeg. Yields 1 1/2 quarts.
For a lighter version, substitute splenda in, but I add it after it has chilled, and use cool whip light whipped topping.
This never last long at our house and is a wonderful treat on Thanksgiving night especially with a late night piece of pumpkin pie or Christmas Eve.
Christmas Chocolate Nut Bark Candy
- 1 lb. butter (real butter only)
- 1 lb. chocolate, shaved or chopped fine
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups chopped walnuts
- 1 T. vanilla
Put parchment or wax paper on bottom of jelly roll pan. Spread 1 c. chopped walnuts, then 1/2 of chocolate. Set aside.
Put butter and sugar in a HEAVY pan on stove at medium heat. Stir constantly until it reaches hard crack stage (use candy thermometer, or when a drop in cold water “cracks”). It will take 20-30 minutes. Will be a carmel brown and very smooth and shiny when ready.
Remove from heat and very carefully stir in vanilla until evenly mixed. Pour over chocolate. Top with remaining chocolate and then nuts. Press lightly (I put another sheet of wax paper over and very gently roll a rolling pin over so nuts get “imbedded” Let cool completely and then break into pieces.
Notes:
- Do not use unsalted butter. I don’t know the chemistry involved, but if you use unsalted butter the butter and sugar separate as it heats.
- You can use milk or dark chocolate, or even “white” chocolate.
- You can make it with pecans or almonds if you prefer. You can also make without nuts if you have someone on your Christmas list who is allergic.
- If you mix layers of dark, white, and milk chocolate in a glass container it makes a very pretty (and delicious) gift.
Delicious Brown Rice Pudding
- 2 eggs
- 2 c milk – or powdered milk + water
- 1/3 c honey – or good pancake syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla – or vanilla flavoring
- 2 cups instant brown rice cooked
- Nutmeg- pinch
- Cinnamon- pinch
- 1/2 c raisins
- 1/2 c peanut butter- crunchy
Rehydrate brown instant rice, all all other ingredients- put in crock pot on low for several hours or bake in oven 350 for 2 hours
Lunchables – Homemade Snacks In Fishing Lure Box
Recently one of the children in my daycare had a homemade lunchable in the most creative container, the container had separate small and medium sized slots in it of various sizes. The mother liked the fact that she could control what was put in the “lunchable” (healthier) as well as it was much cheaper as what you buy in the store. She would just wash the container after each use.
When I asked the mother where she ever got the container at she told me that its from the local department store from the fishing dept. (it was a plastic lure box). This was the perfect size and her kids loved everything she put in it and she saved lots of money!!!
Favorite Holiday Recipes Contest
I thought it would be fun to have a little contest here at HillbillyHousewife.com – One of my favorite parts of the site is that we all exchange our best recipes.
With the major “food” holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, a Holiday Recipe contest is in order.
What I would like you to do is to share your FAVORITE Holiday Recipe. Pick just one and make it your best one. Then use this Holiday Recipe Form to submit your entry.
There will be quite a few winners including best overall recipe as voted by HBHW readers, my favorite recipe pick, several random winners and some “best of category” wins.
I’m still putting together prize packages, but so far we have:
From HillbillyHousewife.com
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From SavingDinner.com
3 month subscription (Value $15)
12 month subscription (Value $47)
Christmas for the Freezer menu (Value $10)
More Prizes to come.
I’ll also compile all holiday recipes into a nice little ebook in pdf format and send it to everyone that submits a recipe.
Ready to get started? Submit your holiday recipe at
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/submit-a-holiday-recipe
Penny Pinching Mama and HBHW Holiday Recipe Contest – HBHW Newsletter
October 27th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
I know many of us are feeling the pinch of a slow economy. Our income is getting stretched thinner and thinner as we try to make ends meet. One of my friends, Jill Cooper, knows about getting the most mileage out of a dollar. And, this week Jill is offering her ebook on the subject for HALF PRICE! Be sure to check out this week’s sponsor to see just what a Penny Pinchin’ Mama can do with a limited income.
Since last week, we have been very busy putting together a little fun here at HBHW. With our thoughts turning to cooking up a storm for the upcoming holidays, we naturally have started thinking about our favorite holiday recipes. How would you like to join in the fun? Please be sure to scroll down and see what we have in store for you during our Holiday Recipe Contest.
Our featured article may be just what you need to get a head-start on holiday baking. If you’re making your favorite cookies ahead of time to freeze, you’ll find the featured article useful for tips about freezing your cookies or cookie dough. Please scroll down and check out the article for great tips as well as tasty recipes to get you started on your holiday baking.
Please also remember, this is the last week to check out this fun contest. Front Porch Ideas and More is hosting an Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest during the month of October. If you like decorating your porch this time of the year, you will enjoy all the ideas that Mary and Dave have for your porch. You could win a $100 or $50 gift certificate from Plow & Hearth. Learn more about their fun contest here: Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest.
This week’s quote and story are about being grateful and how sometimes we lose site of the wonderful gifts that gratefulness can bring. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on today’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
~Marcus Tullius Cicero~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Penny Pinching Mama
Are you overwhelmed with debt and don’t know what to do? There is hope!
My friend Jill Cooper knows a thing or two about living on a tight budget. She raised two teenagers on $500 per month. Since then, she has used her expertise to write some of the most highly regarded money-saving guides on the internet. Her e-book Penny Pinchin’ Mama is no exception.
In this informative guide, Jill shares 500 ways she raised a family on $500 a month. These are practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
And, because Jill understands what it’s like to be struggling and pinchin’ pennies, she is offering this fabulous ebook at HALF PRICE! Yes, you can get Penny Pinchin’ Mama for ONLY $6.48! This is a limited time offer, so order your copy today.
In this ebook you will learn:
- How to get out of debt – even with a low income!
- How to handle emergencies without using credit cards
- How to find great deals month after month
- How living with teenagers doesn’t have to break the budget
Are you ready to order your copy of Penny Pinchin’ Mama yet? There is no reason to wait because your order is totally risk free! And best of all, at only $6.48 this is an affordable ebook that will return your investment many times over.
This HALF PRICE offer is only good this week so don’t wait - click here to order this incredible e-book at absolutely no risk and start saving money and getting out of debt TODAY no matter how limited your income is!
Holiday Recipe Contest
We are quickly approaching some of our most festive holidays. And, these holidays usually mean lots of family recipes being pulled out of boxes, binders, and books. I’m sure you have many family favorites that you have made year after year for your own holiday meals.
How would you like to share those recipes and get them posted here at HBHW? What’s more, how would you like to win a great prize for your family’s recipe and get your recipe included in a nice little ebook for each participant?
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/favorite-holiday-recipes-contest.htm
That’s what we’ve been up to here at HBHW. Because one of my favorite parts of this site is the exchange of recipes, I felt that a Holiday Recipe Contest would be a lot of fun.
If you have a favorite holiday recipe you’d like to share, be sure to check out the contest details by clicking on this link. Here’s a peek at the prizes we’re offering so far for various categories:
- A copy of the Crockpot Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Freezer Cooking Guide
- A copy of the Meal Planning Guide
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
From DineWithoutWhine.com
- Lifetime Membership
- Six Month Membership
- Three Month Membership
I’ll keep you updated as we find more prizes. So, get your very favorite holiday recipe out and submit it to us here at HBHW. Just click on the link here and look for the submission form. It’s easy and fun… and you might just win a very valuable prize!
Featured Article
Last week we talked about freezer cooking and how stocking your freezer can save a lot of time and stress during busy dinner times in your home. The same can be said for holiday times. With a freezer stocked with cookies and cookie dough, holiday baking becomes more relaxed and fun. Click on the link below and get tips, tricks, and recipes for freezing cookies and cookie dough:
Freezer Cookie Recipes and Tips For Freezing Cookies and Cookie Dough
Recipe Sharing
This is a recipe I like this time of year because it’s pumpkin, but different. I hope you’ll give it a try:
Light and fluffy, this Pumpkin Mousse makes for a great dessert.
- 1 package (4-serving size) butterscotch instant pudding mix
- 1 cup milk (reconstituted powdered milk is fine)
- 1 can (15 oz) solid-pack pumpkin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping (or make your own whipped topping)
In a large bowl whisk the milk and pudding mix until thickened. Next add the cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pumpkin and continue to whisk until blended.
Save 1/4 cup of the whipped topping for garnish and fold the rest into the pudding mixture.
Refrigerate for an hour or until the mousse is set. Top with remaining whipped topping for garnish.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Paid in Full
~author unknown~
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said “with all your money, you give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, a sudden feeling of sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, “And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?”
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God’s blessings because we can’t see past our own desires?
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
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
I am looking for a simple chicken fried rice recipe that my son can make. I am tired of going to the local chinese restaurant to buy it. I can not eat it so I truly don’t know what is in it. If you can help, we would love it. Thank you
Homemade Cracker Spread
Crab And Cream Cheese Spread
- 1 (6 oz.) can crabmeat, drained
- 1 tsp. horseradish
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp. milk
- Garlic to taste
Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together. Transfer the spread to a small pot and cook on medium heat on the stove top until it is warmed through.
Serve the spread warm on crackers.
If you can make your own crackers, it is also very nice to serve both the crackers and spread warm.
Homemade Vegetable Soup
- 7 cups water
- 1-28oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped ham
- 1 cup cubed potatoes
- 1 cup cubed carrots (frozen)
- 1-10oz bag peas (frozen)
- 1-10oz bag lima beans (frozen)
- 1-10oz bag corn (frozen)
- 4 chicken or beef bouillon cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ tsp pepper
Place all of the ingredients into a large stock pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and continue to cook for 1 ½ hours or until all of the vegetables are fork tender.
*Tip : This soup is great with cornbread, corn muffins, cheese bread and even garlic bread.
For a vegetarian version leave out the ham and replace the chicken or beef bullion with vegetarian bullion cubes. You may want to add a little more for a stronger flavor.
Homemade Steak Seasoning
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- ½ tsp. Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp. Onion Powder
- ¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
- ¼ tsp. Cayenne Pepper
- Pinch of Coriander
- Pinch of Turmeric
Mix together and place on both each side of the steak. Grill.
This recipe only makes about 2 teaspoons. If you are cooking more than two steaks you should adjust the recipe accordingly.
You can make a big batch of this ahead of time and store it in an air-tight container.
*Tip #1: To get great flavor into your steaks you can coat them with the seasoning and place in the refrigerator overnight.
*Tip #2: Make sure to season the sides of your steak. Most people forget that part.
Home Hair Coloring
Any tips on home hair coloring? How do I do the back of my head?
Vanilla Syrup
I am looking for a recipe for Vanilla Syrup. That can be used for coffee or to make vanilla flavored cola type soda.
Thank you, CharlieAnn
Orange And Lemon Zest
When I eat or cook with oranges or lemons I use my vegetable peeler to first remove the zest. I dry it and run it through my spice grinder and bottle it. This is much cheaper than buying it in the store.
Soup Stock
Seafood Stock:
For great soup stocks when having shell on shrimp or lobster save the shells and simmer for 20 minutes and strain. The end results is awesome stock.
Vegetable Stock:
For veg. stock I keep a gallon ziplock bag in my freezer and all onion skins, celery scraps, carrot ends etc. go into the bag. When needed they are simmered for 1/2 hour and strained. This can be used now or bagged and frozen for later. The scraps left from straining go to the compost.
Save Those Empty Mustard Type Bottles
Even though there are just the two of us in the house I like to buy my shampoo and conditioner in the large “economy” size containers. As I have aged it has become more difficult to handle those large bottles in the shower. I also have never liked the fact that they are all opaque and I can never see to get the last bit out. Now those empty mustard bottles are just the right size and I can see through them to tell when they need refilling. They do not give too freely either so I can control the amount used better as well.
Sour Dough Bread For Bread Machine
I am looking for an easy recipe for sour dough bread for a bread machine. The only recipe in the book that came with my machine uses yogurt & I don’t think that is for me. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Double Up Pork Chops
Ingredients:
1 pkg pork chops
2 lb. frozen crinkle cut potatoes
2 cans whole green beans
2 cans cream soup (chicken, mushroom, etc)
2 cups sour cream
Line a 13 x 9 pan with aluminum foil. Turn oven to 400 degrees. Place in pan in the following order, potatoes, drained green beans, soups and sour cream mixed together, pork chops. Salt and pepper the tops of chops. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 2 hours.
This makes a very full casserole, enough for 6 people.
Bread Machine Recipes To Oven Baked
I have found several recipes for bread I would like to try that are written for use with a bread machine. Can someone please give me tips on how to use these recipes with a mixer and oven.
Freezer Cooking and Chicken Mini Muffins – HBHW Newsletter
October 20th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
If you’re like me, your calendar is quickly filling up for the fall and winter months. It’s amazing how our kids’ schedule gets first billing while we have to work in what we can – even dinnertime.
That’s why I have long relied on a full freezer for those days when there is no way I will have time to spend in the kitchen preparing a meal. Along with stocking frozen meats and vegetables, I try to keep a supply of casseroles, soups, and breads neatly tucked away in the freezer ready and waiting. This week I’m featuring my Freezer Cooking Made Simple ebook to give you a chance to explore the possibilities of freezer cooking in your home. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to see what freezer cooking has to offer you.
I’ve also featured an article about freezer cooking this week. To be fair, cooking a month’s worth of meals at one time isn’t for everybody. That’s why we need options. In both my ebook and the featured article, you will find lots of ways to tweak your freezer cooking schedule to suit your own individual preferences. I have friends who enjoy cooking for the freezer once a month and I have friends who only freeze prepared ingredients to throw together in a recipe when needed. Both systems work well. Please read the featured article and see how easy it is to design your own system.
This week’s quote and story were somewhat inspired by freezer cooking. Stocking the freezer feels like a very old fashioned notion; similar to stocking the root cellar and canning the fall harvest. Sometimes, old ideas are good ideas, and simple things are good things. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read this week’s quote and story.
Please also remember to check out this fun little contest. Front Porch Ideas and More is hosting an Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest during the month of October. If you like decorating your porch this time of the year, you will enjoy all the ideas that Mary and Dave have for your porch. You could win a $100 or $50 gift certificate from Plow & Hearth. Learn more about their fun contest here: Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest.
We are holding a little contest right here at HBHW as well. We are just now putting the finishing touches on a fun Holiday Recipe Contest. We’re busy collecting prizes and will let you know soon where to submit your own special holiday recipes. Be sure to watch for more details in the following weeks.
Those are my thoughts 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 select well among old things, is almost equal to inventing new ones.
~Nicholas Charles Trublet~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Freezer Cooking Made Simple
Freezer cooking is a term that many of you are familiar with. Although stocking up for the winter is an old fashioned idea, freezer cooking has been enjoying a resurgence among younger homemakers.
For many reasons, cooking frugal meals has become a number 1 concern for many of us. Whether due to the economy or just out of a general sense of providing stability and nutritious meals for our families, homemakers are anxious to learn how to stock their freezers. Just the feeling you get knowing the freezer is full can give you a nice secure feeling; not to mention all that extra time you’ll have not running around trying to figure out what’s for dinner each night.
You can just cook dishes and throw them in the freezer, but there is a better way. With a well thought out system and a well organized shopping list, your freezer cooking day can produce more dishes faster and with less effort. Here’s a glimpse at what Freezer Cooking Made Simple has to offer:
- How to make your first few freezer meals and what you need to get started.
- What foods will freeze well and what foods you should stay away from in your freezer cooking.
- It’s time to to stock your freezer with a week’s worth of dinners (complete with recipes and grocery list).
- Strategies for getting these meals prepared quickly and safely.
- How to keep your freezer stocked and make the most of these simple and delicious freezer meals.
Are you ready to order your copy of Freezer Cooking Made Simple yet? There is no reason to wait because your order is totally risk free! And best of all, at only $9.95 this is an affordable ebook that will return your investment many times over.
Click here to order this incredible e-book at absolutely no risk and start stocking your freezer and saving money TODAY!
Featured Article
Not everyone (me included) is cut out for once a month freezer cooking. Some people prefer to fill their freezers with a once a week cooking day, or even by freezing prepared ingredients rather than full meals. Please take a moment to read this week’s featured article written by Peg Baron to find out more about how you can design a freezer cooking schedule that fits your style:
Once A Month Freezer Cooking Alternatives
Recipe Sharing
Having a freezer full of meals is a great way to save time and to take advantage of sales when you find them. Your freezer is like a vault – the food in there only increases in value as grocery prices rise. I’d like to share a recipe that my family always enjoys. I hope you’ll give it a try:
- 3/4 C shredded Swiss cheese
- 1/4 C shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 3/4 C baking mix
- 1 C skim milk
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 C chicken breast meat, cooked and chopped fine
In a large mixing bowl mix together the two cheeses, the milk and the baking mix.
Be sure the baking mix is completely moistened.
Add the salt and chicken and mix well.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Spray the mini muffin tin cups with a non stick cooking spray.
Pour the batter into each muffin cup filling them 2/3 full.
Bake 10 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center come out clean.
These make a great appetizer for that special party. Kids even like them for lunch or as an evening snack.
Click on this link for even more recipes for mini freezer muffins. You’ll find recipes that are sure to become your family’s favorites, like these corn dog muffins. Learn How to Freeze Muffins and stock your freezer with great treats for the whole family, all ready and waiting.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
God’s Coffee
~Author Unknown~
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
“If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.
God brews the coffee, not the cups………. Enjoy your coffee!”
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
Chocolate Gravy
My grandma and mother used to make this for me when I was a kid, and granny lived in the hill country of the Ozarks. It was served over hot white rice. I thought for the longest time that it was pudding until I tried it, yuck. Anyone have an idea?
Frugal Gourmet Food Gifts
This is a guest post by Mel, the Gift Girl – Enjoy!
With the cost of food rising, even the old idea of giving food for Christmas has made some of us think twice! But there are still plenty of yummy treats that can be made inexpensively and still seem elegant for the holidays. Here are my favorite frugal foods to make and give:
Anything looks gourmet when it is dipped in chocolate! Look around for what you already have – pretzels, animal crackers, small wafer like cookies, marshmallows, coffee beans, nuts – and dip them in chocolate. One bag of chocolate chips (or leftover candy from Halloween) goes a long way.
Wait for the pumpkins to go on sale at the end of fall and then make Pumpkin Butter, a spicy and delicious treat. Once you peel the pumpkin, your work is nearly done. Just put everything in the crockpot and let it cook until done.
There are dozens of ways to flavor popcorn – sweet, salty, savory and more. We have tried Taco Popcorn, Caramel, Honey, Cinnamon Crunch, BBQ, Maple, Parmesan and many more and everyone loves the flavors. You can give
popcorn in paper bags, jars or even make popcorn balls on sticks.
Make homemade coffee or tea syrups like the ones you see in gourmet coffee shops. All you do is combine equal parts sugar and water and boil until it thickens a little. Then add whatever flavorings you want such as vanilla, almond, cherry, cinnamon, etc.
Biscotti is easy to make and there are many variations. This is another food gift that is easy to mix and match with whatever you have around – dried fruit, nuts, candy bits, melted chocolate, etc. It is great to make and freeze. You can decorate wax coated paper bags to give it in or put it in glass jars.
Mel, the Gift Girl shares many more homemade, store bought and experience gift ideas at her website – www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com
Inexpensive Home Furniture
We badly need some new living room couches. The old ones we’ve had since we were first married (and who have made it through several moves) are starting to fall apart. Because I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on new couches, I’ve been doing some research into inexpensive home furniture and came across the article below. It as some great tips and I figured you would enjoy it as well.
Buying Frugal Furniture
Buying furniture can take a big bite out of your wallet. Even with careful thought and wise shopping, it is a major expense. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more money to get a piece that will last for years, rather than a very inexpensive item that will fall apart or become hopelessly outdated in a short time. On the other hand, some people pay outrageous sums of money for their furniture. Most of us neither want to do that, or have the financial means to do so.
There are some basic rules you can follow to keep the cost of buying furniture down, while selecting items that will serve you best for years to come. There are also factors to take into consideration so that your furniture stays in good condition, is comfortable for you, and well used.
Here are some guidelines:
- Remember the design element of scale. Some sofas are oversized, and others are small and seem to hug the ground. IKEA is a discount store that sells a lot of very low furniture. If you have a big room, you will want larger pieces. Smaller sized furniture looks better in small rooms and apartments. IKEA manufactures their furniture in Scandinavia, where dwellings are typically smaller than American sized spaces. Another benefit of their furniture is that it is fire resistant. You can only find that at two retailers in the US.
- Another thing to consider when buying sofas is the height of your family members. You will not be comfortable sitting in a sofa when your feet do not reach the ground. On the other hand, if your knees are in your face, the sofa is too small for you. This is why couples should always shop together for furniture.
- Buy the best quality furniture that you can afford, preferable used. You can find bargains in the chipped and dented section of many department stores, as well as in the classifieds. If you have children, your furniture is not going to remain pristine anyway, and a few scratches are nothing to get concerned about if the quality is good.
- Keep your large upholstered pieces in a neutral color and in a classic style. Visit Goodwill to visualize what happens to trendy pieces. Very few people are comfortable with a lime green or burnt orange sofa in their living room. Colors return, but they are in different shades. The hottest bright green now is a kiwi color. I personally like that color, and have a futon cover in that shade. When it becomes hopelessly outdated, I hope to just replace the cover. When your furniture is in a solid color, it is very easy to drape an afghan, quilt, or blanket over it to hide worn spots. You can make it last a lot longer that way.
- When buying wood furniture, as a general rule, the darker the wood, the more formal it is. Again, if you shop at IKEA, you will notice all their furniture is casual, and almost all of it is stained in a light color, like pine or birch. Wood grain with a lot of red in it, like mahogany, is difficult to blend with lighter colors. For the most versatility, buy your wood stained in medium to light shades.
- When you look at the upholstery fabric on your furniture, remember that it is only as strong as its weakest fiber. When I was taking my Interior Design classes in college, we tested the fibers in fabric. We pulled them apart, and ran tests on them for several things, including strength and durability. Fabric that is made from several different kinds of fibers will probably not be as durable as a closely woven fabric made with one material. These are usually fabrics with a very smooth texture and tight weave. Pieces that can be used in several ways, and in different rooms of your home, will serve you for years. Buy real wood when possible, and you have many options to stain and paint over the years as needed.
- Buy furniture you know you will use. Think about the function of each piece. Be sure you are spending money on something you really need.
- Use multi-purpose pieces whenever possible. If you are short on space, placing a television on a bookcase is more practical than placing it on a stand. Use small bookcases for tables, trunks for coffee tables, and bed units with drawers in the frame for children. You can also hide a lot of stuff under fabric-covered tables. You can buy simple cardboard stands, meant to be covered, or make one yourself by cutting a circle out of plywood and putting it on a sturdy base.
- Finally, remember that mixing and matching is now in full fashion. You want your room to look like it has evolved over a period of time. This gives it the character and warmth you do not find in a furniture showroom.
Make good use of furniture that comes to you from all sources. Reupholstering chairs is not hard, and stripping wood and refinishing or painting it is a do-it-yourself project. Careful shopping, including buying interesting used pieces, will give character and personality to your home. It is also fun to be surrounded by items that have a history or story associated with them, rather than a trip to the local furniture store.
About the Author: Nikki Willhite has been writing and publishing articles on the Internet on the topic of Frugal Living for over a decade. Visit her at http://www.frugalhappyfamilies.com, where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money! Article first published at http://www.allthingsfrugal.com
Tips For Storing Baking Soda
Is there a reason NOT to store baking soda in an airtight container? I was just wondering because it always comes in a cardboard box that doesn’t really seal shut instead of a carton with a snap on plastic lid (like baking powder).
I’ve been having a problem with my baking soda going “bad” I do a lot of canning this time of year and as a result, my kitchen (in fact my whole house – small single story) gets quite humid at times. I know that baking soda absorbs moisture from the air and this reduces its potency. As a result, I keep having quick bread failure. I know now, after a lot of wasted ingredients, to always “test” my baking soda first. I know baking soda is cheap, but I hate to keep buying a new box every time I want to make a batch of cookies or quick bread. So, I thought I should start storing it in a ziplock bag or plastic container. BUT was wondering if there was a reason it shouldn’t be stored air tight. I mean why doesn’t Arm & Hammer package it in an air tight container?
Stretch Fabric Softener
I have used vinegar for the longest time, but my kids said they missed the awesome smell of clean clothes. SO…I found Suavitel (Walmart carries) fabric softener. The large bottle runs about 8 dollars but I pour half into another bottle and use half of what it calls for. Does the same job with static and makes clothes smell wonderful. So I can get 368 loads out of 8 bucks figures to be .02 cents a load. I like that!
Weight Watchers Food Diary
I’m looking for a copy of the weekly WW food journal from the 1980′s; the one with the daily exchanges and little check-boxes. Can you help me?
Vegetarian Goulash
would you please tell me how I may obtain vegetarian recipes and this one
in particular Vegetarian goulash.
Homemade Halloween Costumes – Ask Who, When, And How Much Before You Begin
What makes Halloween such a fun holiday? Is it creating the Jack O’Lanterns, the neighborhood raids for candy, the decorations, the parties, or is it something else? For many kids and grownups alike, the thing that makes Halloween the most fun is the costumes!
Many folks want to make their own costumes at home in order to create lasting memories with their children. However, this is not the only reason. More and more families are trying to watch their budget. Making their own fun costumes for Halloween is an easy and fun way to save money, as well as making memories.
When you decide to make Halloween costumes at home, you need to ask yourself a few questions, like, will the costume be suitable for my child’s age; will it work for the games planned at the party; how much time do I have to make the costume; and of course, how much money can I spend on a costume. Let’s attempt to answer some of these questions here:
Who? – The appropriateness of a costume for a 10 year old is totally different than for a 2 year old. Complicated closures and busy embellishments can pose some safety issues for a little one and cause frustration, too. If the costume is mainly used for Trick-or-Treat night you’ll want something that is warm enough for a cold climate and light colored for safety sake. Of course there should never be a mask worn by a child who is old enough to walk from door to door, as the child needs to have unrestricted vision to watch out for traffic.
Time? – Say you receive an invitation to a special party weeks in advance of Halloween. You can go to the fabric store and have fun buying just the right stuff to create great costumes for your family. That’s definitely family fun! But, if you find out about a party just days or hours beforehand, can you still have fun creating costumes? Of course you can. If you accept your time constraints and get creative, you can still laugh with your family and have a good time making those last-minute costumes.
Money? – Even if you have all the time in the world to create Halloween costumes for your family, it won’t do you any good if you ruin your budget in the process. Over-spending on costumes will certainly not create a very happy memory. Instead of robbing your grocery money for the week to pay for your little one’s lavish costume, look for fabulously bejeweled cast-offs either in your closet or at the local thrift store. That’s what all those old bridesmaids dresses are made for!
What Next? – Once you’ve answered those three questions, you’re ready for some basic costume construction ideas. You’ll need a few elements to help you create something that’s fun, frugal, and fast. With a little cardboard or posterboard, you can build a classic sandwich board style costume and create any number of costumes, like a playing card or box of cereal. Cut a couple wing shapes out, spray them with different paint colors, and you’ve got yourself a butterfly. With a cardboard box and some paint you can turn your child into a car or a Christmas present.
There’s also the costume creation method called “rummaging through Mom and Dad’s closet.” This is perfect for very short time notice and very limited funds. If possible, Grandma and Grandpa’s closet will yield even greater finds for your little ones. Grandma’s long flannel nightgown and some curlers in a hair-net will have your neighborhood laughing hysterically as your family goes out on Trick-or-Treating night. One of Dad’s shirts, a tie, hat, and a briefcase turns your little fresh-faced toddler into a busy executive. Keep an open mind and you are bound to find lots of stuff to create all sorts of fun!
Have you asked yourself those three questions:
- Who is this costume for?
- How much time do I have?
- What’s my budget?
If so, then you have the basics to start looking for ideas to create your own special Halloween costumes for your family. It’s time now to get ready for that all important question that we hear our children ask every year – “What should I be for Halloween?”
p.s. If these simple Halloween costumes appeal to you, perhaps you’d appreciate even more ideas! Click on to order your very own copy of Homemade Halloween Costumes Made Simple.
Save money and have fun creating one-of-a-kind costumes for your little ones.
You get everything you need in this comprehensive ebook, including Over 90 Homemade Costume Ideas and the Supplies list for each costume, along with a Description on how to make each costume. You’ll also find ideas for Fun accessories for most costumes, Ideas for siblings costumes, and Last Minute Costume Ideas.
Along with all that, you’ll get these bonuses absolutely free:
- Fun Halloween Foods For Kids valued at $9.95
- Face Painting for Halloween valued at $9.95
Order today and start having fun making your own Halloween costumes!
Chunky Apple Butter
I am looking for a recipe for apple butter that is somewhat chunky. My grandmother used to make this, but alas, she is gone and no one has the recipe.
Crockpot Appetizers – Give Your Old Favorites A New Twist
In the months and weeks before the holiday season, we all usually start dragging out our recipes, including favorite appetizer recipes. Everyone loves those tasty treats and you know your dinner guests like to grab a few bites as they mingle and catch up with each other.
Even when planning a big sit-down meal, your dinner guests will always make room for a few tasty bites before dinner. The trick to serving good appetizers is serving an attractive and delicious variety of dishes. This may be easier said than done when you have become so accustomed to making certain appetizers year-after-year.
It’s time to put your crockpot to work for you as you improve on your classic appetizers like cheese dips, cocktail wieners, and meatballs. Your holiday gathering is special. Shouldn’t your appetizers be special, too? Let’s take a look at how to make your old favorites a bit more special:
Cheese Dip – You can certainly make a simple little cheese dip that would be delicious, but, don’t you want to make a dip that your guests will remember, and talk about, and ask you for the recipe? How about an Artichoke and Cheese Dip? By adding some chopped artichoke hearts and a few spices to your favorite cheese dip you’ve perked this appetizer up enough to make it memorable.
Cocktail Sausages – Think way beyond those little wienies and serve up an easy, but fancy, batch of sweet and Tangy Apple Sausage Appetizers instead. Use any combination of ingredients such as brown sugar, honey, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard, then instead of adding Vienna Sausages, cut up some good apple smoked sausage, some tart apples like Granny Smith, and some sweet onion and add that to the crockpot. If your guests were expecting the standard cocktail wienie appetizer, they’ll be pleasantly surprised when they bite into this sweet and spicy treat.
Meatball Bites – Those little meatballs swimming around in barbecue sauce are tasty, but are they special enough for your holiday event? Go ahead and make your mini meatballs out of your favorite recipe, but when it comes to the sauce, it’s time to do something special. Beer is the ingredient that kicks this appetizer recipe up a couple pegs. This Tangy Meatball Appetizer will have your guests wondering what makes the sauce so yummy. You won’t find these meatballs on just any buffet!
Nutty Snacks – I always think pretty bowls of assorted nuts placed on tables around the room are a nice touch. But, instead of just dumping some mixed nuts in a bowl, why not cook up a batch to surprise your guests? And, because pecans are often associated with sweet snacks and desserts, you can surprise your guests even further by spicing the pecans up with your favorite hot and spicy flavors. When you serve Cajun Style Pecans you will have an appetizer that is the talk of the town!
We all have our favorite appetizers that have become a tradition over the years. We can still enjoy these same appetizers, but don’t they deserve a little updating? And don’t our guests deserve a little special treat this year? Surprise them by tweaking your old crockpot appetizers and maybe you’ll start some brand new traditions!
Want to learn more about how to use your crockpot to create tasty treats and meals, while saving money and time?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Click here and buy this guide now to start creating tasty treats today!
Crockpot Cooking For One Week – Planning Hearty Meals For Cold Weather
If getting from your car to your door seems like a march through the tundra during cold winter days, a trip to the grocery store may be excruciating to think about. You may be entertaining thoughts of staying in your nice warm car and driving through a fast food place for dinner instead. But, that sort of impulse can really defeat a grocery budget, even though the nice warm car is tempting.
How can you feed your family a nice hot meal without suffering those icy cold trips? By planning one shopping day with one goal in mind – creating enough crockpot meals for at least one whole week. Let’s see how this can be accomplished.
Start by gathering together your favorite crockpot recipes, picking a variety of dishes so your family doesn’t get tired of the same old food. Make a grocery list that includes everything you need for the week based on the recipes you’ve chosen. Check your pantry for the standard supplies, too. Now do all your shopping for the week.
When you get home, carefully wrap and freeze the meat for the meals later in the week, chop up all your veggies for each meal and seal in containers. You are well on your way to a week of cozy meals without having to venture out in the cold. Here we go.
Sunday – Begin the week with a wonderfully aromatic Rotisserie Chicken. Your crockpot will produce a nice, crispy and juicy chicken just like a deli rotisserie. Make it a Sunday dinner by including your garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.
Monday – A Crockpot French Dip Roast is an easy way to serve a hot and satisfying sandwich for dinner. It may be just a sandwich, but it sure seems more like a meal when you use a good, hearty hard roll and add mozzarella cheese on top.
Tuesday – Time to spice things up a bit with a hearty White Chicken Chili. You control the spice, so this meal will satisfy everyone’s tastes. Serve with a nice crusty bread and no one walks away hungry. You may have enough leftover chicken from Sunday for this dish.
Wednesday – This is your night to go meatless with a fabulously rich Minestrone Soup. You could replace the beef broth with chicken broth if you choose, but, as is, this is a frugal meal that will please even your staunchest meat eater.
Thursday – Time to surprise your family with Homemade Calico Beans for dinner. This dish is wonderfully satisfying and relatively inexpensive to make using dried cooked beans and ground beef. Save the leftovers for next week’s lunches.
Friday - It’s Smorgasbord time! One day of the week is always busier than the rest. You’ll be glad to have a refrigerator full of leftovers for that day. You can use your creative nature to re-invent some of the leftovers into new dishes or you can simply arrange your leftovers on the counter with plates, bowls, and silverware, and have your family dig in.
Saturday - The races are on TV and we’re not budging. So, when it comes time to eat, putting a platter of Pulled Pork Sandwiches on the table and having everyone help themselves, is a great way to enjoy the races and fill our tummies without missing a moment of the action.
Stocking up and preparing for a week’s worth of meals ensures that you have a house full of food for your family. But, equally as important, when your family finally gets home in out of the cold, they will walk into a house fragrant with the savory aromas of a delicious dinner ready to enjoy. Give this plan a try for one week and I guarantee you won’t miss those stops at the drive-thru for a moment!
Want to learn more about how to use your crockpot to feed your hungry family easily, while saving money and time?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Click here and buy it today to start saving money and time with your next meal!
Homemade Sugar-Free Angel Food Cake Recipe
I’m looking for a homemade sugar-free Angel Food Cake recipe. They sell them at Marsh, but they are pretty pricey. Also, I saw a Pumpkin Angel Food cake but it was not sugar-free. I have to watch my sugar (had gastric bypass) and my family has several diabetics. If I could find a good basic sugar-free recipe to start with, then I could make all sorts of flavors. Any one know of any recipes for a sugar-free Angel Food cake?
Frijoles Bandera Mejicana With Wolgamuth Sauce
This is one of the best recipes I have come across in awhile… FRIJOLES BANDERA MEJICANA – you can not only get the recipe at this link but you can see a photo of it too, taken by the guy who made the recipe!:
Editor’s note: click here for Frijoles Bandera Mejicana Recipe
Editor’s note: to order Wolgamuth (aged red pepper sauce) visit SavorWolgamuth.com
(Please note: HBHW is not affiliated with this company and receives no royalties from sales.)
Bread Machine Manual
I have a Breadman Trillium Mod # TR-500 with no manual and have never used a machine to make bread before. I have looked for the manual online but can only find the TR500a-b and this one doesn’t look like either of them. If anyone has one it would be fabulous if you could make me a copy of it or tell em where I can get one.
Thanks for your help,
Jerriann
Homemade Baking Mix To Replace Bisquick
I am looking for a homemade baking mix to take the place of buying Bisquick.
No Sew Draft Doggie – Another Take
We have a unheated porch that connects to the back of our home. The door has a gap at that lets cold air in so we took a 2×4 that we cut to the width of the door. I then covered it with an old beach towel that was starting to fall apart (rolling the board in towel) I then stapled it to the board. This stopped all the cold air and it did not matter if the towel got dirty. When snow starts to fly to keep it from getting wet I put a kitchen trash bag over it. Then in the spring I removed the staples hosed the towel clean and hung it out to dry. This gave me a use for all the old wore towels I had been saving for rags and the scrap 2×4′s from our projects around the house we are doing.
Crockpot Cooking and 4 Ingredient Crockpot Chicken Chili – HBHW Newsletter
October 13th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Most families share two things each fall: back to school and dinnertime chaos. One solution I have found for those busy days is to have dinner ready and waiting at home when we get there. For that reason, my crockpot gets a workout each fall. Want to learn more about how crockpot cooking saves you from dinnertime chaos? Be sure to scroll down and read this week’s featured article.
Once you’re convinced that crockpot cooking will save you time and money, you’ll want all the details about how to get started cooking in your crockpot. But, perhaps even more importantly, you’ll want the recipes! Please take a look at our crockpot cookbook featured this week.
My efforts to get a meal in the crockpot several mornings each week got me thinking about goals, especially meaningful goals. The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week reflect my thoughts about goal setting. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read this week’s quote and story.
As a little reminder, I want to tell you about a fun little contest. Front Porch Ideas and More is hosting an Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest during the month of October. If you like decorating your porch this time of the year, you will enjoy all the ideas that Mary and Dave have for your porch. You could win a $100 or $50 gift certificate from Plow & Hearth. Learn more about their fun contest here: Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest.
Those are my thoughts 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
The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business… or almost anywhere else for that matter.
~Lee Iacocca~
Sponsor
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The crockpot has become indispensable in many busy households. Why?
Picture coming home to a delicious and filling meal on one of those chaotic evenings after school and work.
Picture no more stopping at the grocery store in a rush after work to pick up something to cook for your hungry family.
Picture the money you’ll save by not ordering out pizza or driving through the fast food place on your way home after picking up the kids from soccer, piano lessons, theater, or whatever your busy days require.
Now we’ve got you thinking, “this crockpot cooking thing could be good.” Yes, crockpot cooking can be very very good, indeed. Now that you are thinking about dragging your crockpot down from the pantry shelf, or even buying a new crockpot, you need some information.
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Once you have all these basics down, you’ll be ready for the fun. Of course we mean the Recipes! In this resource, you’ll find almost 500 recipes plus tips to make your crockpot meals come out perfect every time.
Here are just a few of the recipes you’ll find in this incredible cookbook:
- Take It from the Pantry Soup
- Stew Meat Vegetable Soup
- Cheddar, Ham and Broccoli Soup
- Sautéed Curry Chicken Soup
- Kid Favorite Alphabet Soup
- Shepherds Crock Pot Casserole
- Shoestring Potato and Tuna Casserole
- Creamy Mushroom Beef Dinner
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Featured Article
If you haven’t been convinced yet that crockpot cooking is the way to go, this article is worth a read. You’ll find well researched and thought out reasons exactly how and why crockpot cooking works to save you time and money. Please take a moment to read this week’s featured article to find out more:
How Crockpot Cooking Saves Both Time And Money
Recipe Sharing
When you’re ready to fire up the crockpot, you’re going to want a couple family-pleasing recipes. Here is one recipe that my family particularly enjoys, and I like too because it’s super easy with only 4 ingredients:
4 Ingredient Chicken Chili In The Crockpot
- 2 lbs of chicken thighs, bones and skin removed, cut into cubes
- 1 small package Taco seasoning mix
- 2 cans Navy beans, drained
- 3 cans diced tomatoes, chilies and garlic flavor – do not drain
- 3 cans water (use diced tomato cans)
In your crockpot (about 5 quart size) put the ingredients in and stir gently just to combine. Put cover on crockpot and set heat to low. Cook covered for 6 to 8 hours. Stir again gently to combine before serving.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Meaningless Goals
~author unknown~
A farmer had a dog who used to sit by the roadside waiting for vehicles to come around. As soon as one came he would run down the road, barking and trying to overtake it.
One day a neighbor asked the farmer “Do you think your dog is ever going to catch a car?”
The farmer replied, “That is not what bothers me. What bothers me is what he would do if he ever caught one.”
Old joke with a meaningful moral:
Many people in life behave like that dog; they go about pursuing meaningless goals.
Set meaningful goals. Then the work you do to achieve your goals will be just as meaningful.
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
No Sew Festive Draft Dodgers
We live in a beautiful old house that has great architecture. High ceilings, big drop-weighted windows and an exposed brick wall. Sounds gorgeous until November hits and all the little drafts start cropping up!
So I decided to make some draft dodgers. I looked at patterns, then I remembered that I’m hopeless at sewing!
I wanted something that wouldn’t be embarrassing to have guests see, would be affordable and would be festive for any season- and cheap too!
So I came up with no-sew draft dodgers. You’ll need ziploc bags (2 for each dodger), a decorative towel (1 for each dodger) and some sort of filler (we use cheap kitty litter). You will also need pretty ribbon or yarn.
Take a ziploc baggie and fill with litter to a depth of about an inch or so. If you add too much it will be hard to roll later, so experiment. Fill a second baggie and then set them aside.
Take your decorative towel and lay it out, pretty side down with the long edge facing you. Lay the bags of litter flat (get out all the air you can) along the near seam of the towel’s long side. Create a small tab of fabric over the edge of the baggies and then roll up the edge of the towel and continue on until you have a little ‘draft log’.
Take a section of ribbon and tie a bow/knot tightly on the end- about an inch in so it looks like a piece of hard candy wrapped in paper. Repeat this on the other side of the ‘draft log’.
These are short, if using hand towels, for longer towels use more baggies for the ‘draft log’.
They are so cute around the house. I even put a few on the window sashes and they look perfect for the holiday season. The towels can be changed out if they get dirty or it’s time for a season/decoration change.
Making Homemade Butter
You would not believe how easy it is to make homemade butter! There is nothing to it and you get a great big payoff in the end. It’s also nice to be able to tell all your friends that you make your own butter.
All you need is:
- A food processor
- 2 cups pasteurized heavy cream
- ¼ tsp salt (optional)
Measure out your heavy cream and pour it into the food processor. Then add the salt. Close and process for about 10 minutes until you start to see soft balls forming.
Place some cheesecloth into a strainer and dump the butter onto the cheesecloth to drain. Pick up the corners of the cheesecloth to form a bag around the butter and give it a tight squeeze to get that last bit of moisture out.
Place in a butter dish.
Tip: I like to make different butter spreads. You can mix in chopped dill, sun dried tomatoes or if you would like a sweet spread you can mix in strawberry jam.
Homemade Chocolate Frosting
- 6 tbsp butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp milk
Sift together powdered sugar and cocoa. In a mixing bowl cream together softened butter and sugar/cocoa. Add milk a little at a time to control the consistency of the frosting. It may take a little more or a little less milk depending on how you like it.
Tip: If you would like a little extra rich chocolate flavor you can melt ½ cup of semi sweet chocolate chips in your microwave and stir into the frosting.You can also fold in your favorite nuts.Just make sure you don’t serve it to someone with a nut allergy.
Quinoa Chocolate Cake – Gluten Free
making a cake with quinoa may sound strange but it is really really moist, you would swear it’s a reg cake.
Ingredients
2/3 cup of white or golden quinoa (i buy ground)
1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup milk
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
pre-heat to 350
grease 2 8″ rounds
combine and bake 40-45 min or till fork comes out clean
(editor’s note: changed title for ease in searching; was “Quinoa Chocolate Cake – To Die For Gluten Free”)
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipes
Here are two of my favorite homemade cranberry sauce recipes. Enjoy!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 lb. fresh cranberries
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 tsp. grated orange rind
Place sugar in water and bring to a boil.Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.This usually takes about 5 minutes.
Wash cranberries well and place them into the boiling water. Then reduce the heat to a simmer and toss in orange rind.
Let simmer for 20 minutes then cool.
Low Sugar Cranberry Orange Sauce:
- 1/4 c. brown sugar
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp. salt; optional
- 1 c. unsweetened orange juice
- 1 c. cranberry juice
Heat brown sugar, orange juice, cranberry juice and salt until sugar has melted. Then add the cornstarch. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
Homemade Sloppy Joes
You can make Sloppy Joes about a million different ways. However, this is the most tasty recipe that I have found. It reheats well and also freezes well.
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped green pepper
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 stalk celery (sliced)
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup
Brown the ground beef, onion, pepper, garlic and celery in a skillet. Drain off the grease from the meat.
Place 1 tbsp of flour into 1 cup of water and stir it around. Then pour it over the meat. Next add the Worcestershire sauce and the ketchup and let it simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes.
This can be served on buns, in taco shells, on top of macaroni or over rice.
Apple Crisp Homemade
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 c. water
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 6 peeled and sliced large apples
- 3/4 c. flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 6 tbsp. butter
Mix together ½ cup of the sugar with lemon juice, cinnamon and water. Pour into the bottom of your casserole dish or baking pan. Slice the apples and place them into the dish. Place the remaining ½ cup sugar, flour, salt, and butter into a food processor and process until it is crumbly. Spread over apples.
Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.
Tip: If you like your apple crisp on the tart side then you should use Granny Smith apples. They also hold up better. If you like sweeter apples you should use Washington apples.
Chocolate Pumpkin Eater Treats
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 12
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz, about 40) regular marshmallows
- OR –
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal
6 pretzel rod sticks, broken in half
- OR –
12 wooden ice cream sticks
1 cup semi-sweetened chocolate morsels
1 tablespoon shortening
Cooking spray
Multi-colored sprinkles
Directions
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using 1/2- cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray, divide warm cereal mixture into 12 equal portions. Using buttered hand, shape each portion into a ball. Push one pretzel piece or wooden ice cream stick into each ball. Cool.
4. In small saucepan, combine chocolate morsels and shortening. Cook over low heat until melted, stirring constantly. Dip tops of balls into melted chocolate. Decorate with sprinkles. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm. Individually wrap in plastic wrap.
Best if served the same day.
Microwave Directions
In microwave-safe bowl, heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. In small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate morsels and shortening. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring every 15 seconds. Continue with recipe as directed above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
Note
For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in single layer on wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
F
or nutritional information, please visit www.RiceKrispies.com.
®, ™, © 2010 Kellogg NA Co. Kellogg Kitchens recipes are the property of the Kellogg Company.
Colossal Candy Corn
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz, about 40) regular marshmallows
- OR –
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal
Canned frosting or decorating gel
Candy corn
Directions
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 13x9x2-inc pan coated with cooking spray. Cool.
4. Cut into candy corn shape using a cookie cutter. Decorate with frosting and/or candy corn. Best if served the same day.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Continue with recipe as directed above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
Note
For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.
For nutritional information, please visit www.RiceKrispies.com
®, ™, © 2010 Kellogg NA Co. Kellogg Kitchens recipes are the property of the Kellogg Company.
Perfume Travel Tip
Since I can’t take my standard-size bottle of my favorite perfume in my carry on luggage (and I never check a bag anymore!), I just spritz my clothing while packing. For short trips, this works very well. I know perfume should be applied to the skin and I certainly would advise people not to spray perfume on some fabrics, but this is the next best thing for short business trips, et cetera, if you’re not going to invest in small bottles that don’t last very long.
Bean And Burger Bake
1 pound ground beef
1 can (15 or 16 oz) pork & beans
1 can tomato soup
Brown ground beef and drain. Add pork & beans and tomato soup. Stir well and simmer for about 30 minutes. My kids used to love this. You can also add 1 Tablespoon mustard to it to completely change the taste. My husband liked it with the mustard. You can also place the mixture in a casserole dish and place in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Halloween Costumes For Kids – Create Simple Frugal Costumes
I love Halloween, but I don’t love the expensive “designer” costumes that I see in all the stores. Even the discount stores have racks filled with expensive character costumes that kids know and want.
I’m appalled at the prices of these much sought after costumes and can’t bring myself to fork-over my hard earned money to purchase them. If I purchase even one of these costumes, it means I don’t put gas in my car this week, I can’t buy a present for a birthday party, we eat beans for two weeks, and the dog doesn’t get his vaccinations. Life will go on without a “designer” costume.
It’s time to get creative and skip the whole designer costume idea. Here are a few wonderfully fun ideas for simple Halloween costumes for all ages:
Pile of Leaves
Take a big, old, dark brown T-Shirt that hangs down to your little one’s knees. Then take fabric glue and a sack of fall color leaves (you can buy at a craft store), and just glue the leaves all over the shirt. Then, take an old bandana scarf or hat and glue more leaves all over it and tie it on her head. Dress your child in a turtleneck shirt and tights and you’ll have the cutest little pile of leaves you’ve ever raked!
Hello My Name Is
Take a big rectangular piece of poster board, poster paint, and an “Hello My Name Is” name tag, and proceed to copy the design of the name tag onto the poster board. Then write her name or even a favorite rock star’s name, or business tycoon’s name on the line. Punch two holes in the top of the name tag and use big safety pins to pin the tag on the shoulders of a big bright colored sweat shirt. Dress your child underneath in a dark turtleneck and black tights or pants and the look is complete. The name tag is certainly an icon that’s recognizable, and humorous.
Climbing Rose Trellis
When looking around the house and garden, you may discover a lot of stuff piling up just waiting to be used for costumes. An old wooden rose trellis that isn’t being used can be cleaned up and put to work. With a few bits of miscellaneous silk flowers left over from crafts, you can string together a bunch of flowers and attach them to the trellis as if they were climbing. Then take a paper bag, cut it in the shape of a clay pot, and staple it to the bottom of the trellis. Attach the trellis to your youngster’s body with a couple lengths of big elastic and tie each length over the top of the trellis, making a loop to slip the arms through. To complete the look, pin some of the flowers on the top of a baseball cap.
Telling children “No” isn’t easy. You want them to have everything their little hearts desire. But, part of the fun of Halloween is being creative. Buying designer costumes off a rack isn’t very creative, but putting your mind to work on these fun costumes is. Let your imagination run wild!
p.s. If these simple Halloween costumes appeal to you, perhaps you’d appreciate even more ideas! Click on to order your very own copy of Homemade Halloween Costumes Made Simple.
Save money and have fun creating one-of-a-kind costumes for your little ones.
You get everything you need in this comprehensive ebook, including Over 90 Homemade Costume Ideas and the Supplies list for each costume, along with a Description on how to make each costume. You’ll also find ideas for Fun accessories for most costumes, Ideas for siblings costumes, and Last Minute Costume Ideas.
Along with all that, you’ll get these bonuses absolutely free:
- Fun Halloween Foods For Kids valued at $9.95
- Face Painting for Halloween valued at $9.95
Order today and start having fun making your own Halloween costumes!
Homemade Bath Powder
I love a good cologne but buying matching bath powder is too pricey. I just put corn starch in a nice container and spritz with my cologne or sprinkle a few drops of cologne or perfume into the container and stir, cover and let set overnight.Presto…beautifully scented bath powder to match your cologne!
Special Mac n Cheese From A Box
my 25 yr old daughter loves the mac ‘n cheese from aldi. for 35 cents and a bit of milk and butter, she has a meal in a few minutes.
she’ll often add diced spam, hotdogs, crumbles from her last burger, etc.
i prefer to add different cheese. what i’ve found turns out fantastic is 1/4 cup of feta and/or 1/4 cup of cheddar grated into the prepared cheese sauce. it’s fantastic! makes it so special.
we also throw in leftover veggies, especially 1/2 cup frozen mixed veggies we’ve nuked a bit. so easy and inexpensive – a one dish meal made special with the addition of a few cents worth of ‘good’ cheese.
Ceci e Pasta – Chick Peas With Pasta
Here in southern Italy, many of our dishes are simple cooking, no bells or frills. It’s the poormans diet. So we tend to cook in a simple and tasty manner, and without measuring cups or spoons.
The following is easy, just keep it covered with water and stir occasionally so no sticking happens. Below I have added a few hints to use this recipe with Lentils or white beans
- 1 lb dried chick peas (softened up overnight in water, OR if in a hurry, add 1T baking soda to water and let sit a couple of hrs, rinse well when ready to cook)
- 1-2 cloves garlic cut in half
- 1-2 medium ripe tomatoes cut in quarters
- olive oil
- salt, pepper and 1/2 bouillon cube
- (editor’s ingredient note: any type small pasta)
Lightly saute’ the garlic and tomato, just a few minutes, add rinsed chick peas, cover with water, bring to boil.
Lower heat and add salt, pepper,& bouillon cube, simmer on low heat,stirring occasionally. As the water starts getting low add more but remember to adjust salt and pepper.
They are done when you taste and are soft and tender, mix with any type of small pasta.
**Hint – an additional idea is drain but set aside the liquid, use a hand mixer and start mixing, add a ladle full of the reserved liquid as you go along, keep it a slightly runny mashed potato consistency and toss with pasta quills and serve with grated cheese on top. If you have any liquid remaining, toss in ice cube trays and freeze. Next time you make any type of dish add in a cube or 2 and will add more flavor to what your making.Nothing goes to waste.
**Hint – same process but USE White beans (soak these as you did with the chick peas)
OR
**Hint – same recipe, same method,USE Lentils (without needing to soak) and add 1-2 bay leaves, No mashing here though.
Cheaters Scalloped Taters
- 4-6 medium potatoes.. peeled and cut small but not diced.
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk or water ( I use powdered milk a lot of time to cook with)
- 1 cup shredded cheese .. ( cheddar Colby jack, etc.. )
place cut potatoes in deep casserole dish.. mix remaining ingredients together and pour over top of potatoes.. stir a time or two to coat.. bake in 350 degree over 45 minutes to an hour .. or until potatoes are fork tender and done.. serve with bread and butter
( these measurements are based on my family.. feel free to tweak )
(editor’s note: I changed the title of this recipe which was originally “Cheaters Scalloped Taters And Ham” as there is no ham in the recipe and may be disappointing to someone trying to find a ham recipe. The recipe is left fully intact as submitted.)
Beans And Taters For Breakfast
This recipe sounds very weird and I am still trying to convince some of the more stubborn members of my family to try it but it is tasty, filling, nutritionally balanced, and best of all uses up little bits of leftovers!
- I start by boiling one or two potatoes with their skins on or if I have some boiled potatoes leftover from something else I use those.
- When the potatoes are done I add a can of my homemade baked beans. If you don’t can your own than a can of store bought works. Try to keep a 1 to 1 ratio of beans to taters. Drain the taters and pour the beans right in the pan with them and heat threw.
- While they are heating I usually boil an egg or 2 per person.
- When everything is done divide between bowls and peel the eggs. I eat my eggs squished up in the beans, some eat their eggs separate. It depends on preference.
I guarantee after you try this though you will be hooked!
Recipes Using Canned Potatoes
I just finished canning 14 quarts of white
potatoes. I have done this for several years now, but mostly use them for soup.
Just wondered if anyone had other recipes
or ideas for using them? I peeled them and
cut into medium size cubes.Any other ideas for potatoes would be helpful.I bought 2
bushels from a neighbor and have no basement or cellar.I cut 6 gallon bags
into french fry strips and froze them
for frying.
Toaster Oven Recipes
Do you have any recipes for toaster ovens. With the kids gone, I hate to turn on the big oven for just my husband and myself. Leftovers go in the freezer only to be discovered months later. Any recipes would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Pizza di Patate – Crustless Potato Pizza
This is a VERY SIMPLE recipe for a crustless potato pizza served here as one of our regional southern Italy (Apuglia)dishes. Served warm or cool. Add extras as you wish, ie: drained mushrooms and the flavors change.
5-6 medium potatoes (mashed)
1-2 handful grated Parmesan cheese
4-5 thin-sliced ham (shredded)
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
2 teas. dried parsley (or small bunch fresh-finely chopped)
breadcrumbs for topping
I microwave potatoes with skin on, when cooked thru peel under running cold water. Mash, cool down and add the rest of your ingredients,(except breadcrumbs) mix well, should feel like a smooth dough, if sticky add more grated cheese.
Spread about 1 inch thick in an lightly oiled baking dish, make sure sides are coated as well to prevent sticking. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top, Pop in the oven at 375° about 1hr until breadcrumbs are lightly toasted. let cool and serve. Can be eaten cold as well.
Dining On A Dime and Homemade Mac & Cheese – HBHW Newsletter
October 6th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. We’ve got another exciting offer from our good friends at LivingOnADime.com. This week Tawra and Jill are offering their popular Dining On A Dime ebook for more than half off. I hope you’ll take time to check this out if you haven’t already done so. I love it and am using quite a few of the recipes and frugal tips in there (there are over 1,000 of them in the book) and I think you and your family will enjoy them as well.
When you, as a homemaker, decide to cut expenses by limiting the number of snacks, meals out, and relying on non-meat meals more often, you may hear some moans and groans. That’s natural for kids get frustrated with the changes you’re making in their routine. Please be sure to scroll down to the featured article this month to see how you can get your entire family on board with your new food budget.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about making the most of, and even learning from, obstacles. It’s all about attitude. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Last but not least, I want to tell you about a fun little contest. Front Porch Ideas and More is hosting an Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest during the month of October. If you like decorating your porch this time of the year, you will enjoy all the ideas that Mary and Dave have for your porch. You could win a $100 or $50 gift certificate from Plow & Hearth. Learn more about their fun contest here: Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest.
Those are my thoughts 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
Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.
~Michael Jordan~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Dining On A Dime
This week we are fortunate again to share in a great money saving offer. Our friends Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam of LivingOnADime.com have come up with a fabulous offer you do not want to miss.
When you see the words 50% off don’t you just need to take a peek? I know the words “half off” bring out the shopper in me!
However, I don’t just want to save money, I want VALUE for my money – even if it is half price. That’s what Jill and Tawra have come up with in this special offer. Let’s take a look at what you get.
This ebook includes well over 1,000 frugal recipes and tips. Here’s a sneak peak of a few of them.
- Did you know that dirty dishes cause debt? See page 385 and read how to save money just by doing the dishes.
- Need fast snack ideas for hungry kids? Check out page 28.
- Want to clean your bathroom in a flash? Check out page 398 for a 7-step plan.
- Got leftovers in the fridge? Use them up!!! Dining on a Dime has a complete index of recipes using nothing but leftovers.
- Drive right by the pricey gift basket boutique– Go home and make your own for pennies. Check out page 339 for ideas!
- Need to cut down on meat? Tawra has pages of tips for eating better and spending less.
- Need a specific money saving idea? Dining on a Dime has a special index just for tips.
- Make three meals from one chicken? Yes, Dining on a Dime has this, too! (Page 176)
This huge ebook sells normally for $21.95 and I think that’s a great deal. But if you order by the end of this week, you can get all these frugal tips and recipes for HALF PRICE! That’s only $9.95! Remember, that’s for this week only so click here to order today!
Of course, there is never any risk to try the Dining On A Dime ebook because Jill and Tawra offer a 60-day 100% risk-free money back guarantee. Yes, you can give these recipes and tips a good 60 day spin around the block and if you don’t find that it offers you value for your money, you can return it, no questions asked.
There is no reason to pass this offer up! Click on the link here to order this incredible e-book at absolutely no risk. Be sure to order today as this offer is good for this week only.
Click on here and start saving money TODAY!
Featured Article
It’s pretty hard to save money on your grocery budget if the whole family is not on board. That’s why when you decide to crunch your budget numbers, you have to include the entire family in the process. Knowledge is power and when everyone feels they have a piece of the budget decision, you get more cooperation. Please take a moment to read this week’s featured article to find out more:
Frugal Living Is A Family Affair
Recipe Sharing
Saving on your food budget doesn’t have to mean giving up all your favorite “convenience foods.” But, you don’t have to buy those prepackaged mixes. Here’s one of the recipes we feature in our Convenience Foods section of our recipes. I hope you’ll find time to try this delicious dish soon:
- 1 lb box elbow macaroni
- 1 lb extra sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- 1/2 lb butter
- 1 qt milk
- salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Boil macaroni until it is fork tender and drain.
Grease a 2 quart baking dish. Place a layer of macaroni. Cut butter into small pieces and place some on top of macaroni followed by a layer of cheese.
Continue until your dish is full. Pour milk on top and bake for 1 hour.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Our Attitudes
~Charles Swindoll~
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.
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
Preserving Squash
I recently came into a lot of assorted winter squash and we love it. I have it sitting on my kitchen table and I was wondering if I can freeze it and how I would do it. If you can it, how can you use it in recipes as a side because it tends to take on a soupy texture when canned. Also, I would love any awesome squash recipes.
Fright Krispies Treats
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz, about 40) regular marshmallows
- OR –
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal
Flaked coconut
Canned frosting or decorating gel
36 M&Ms® Brand Chocolate Candies
Directions
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using 1/2 cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ghost shape. Cool. Decorate bottoms with coconut.
4. Use frosting to attach chocolate candies for ghost eyes and mouth. Best if served the same day.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 through 4 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
Note
For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.
For nutritional information, please visit www.RiceKrispies.com
®, ™, © 2010 Kellogg NA Co. Kellogg Kitchens recipes are the property of the Kellogg Company.
Pressed Powder Compacts
When your pressed powder compact is wearing thin, just crumble it up with a cotton swab or something. Then pour about 1/4 tsp. or less of rubbing alcohol in it and stir it up till it all comes together and close it up. The next morning it will be good as new, enough for about a weeks worth of uses.
Saltine Crackers Recipe
i need a recipe for saltine crackers. ladies home journal (think) published a number of cracker recipes for various crackers and i used them, but i lost them in a house fire. any help is appreciated
Salt For Low-Sodium Diets Or The Health Conscious
High sodium is an issue for a lot of people, even if we’ve not been advised to lower it. Processed and packaged foods have high amounts of sodium and high sodium diets can raise blood pressure and can increase chances of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Too much sodium can also reduce the amount of other nutrients we are able to absorb. Ideally, we shouldn’t really be having more than 2000 milligrams (or 2grams) of sodium per day. But people tend to have problems when they eat more than 4000 milligrams (4 grams) of sodium per day.
There are ‘diet’ salts available, generally salt (sodium chloride) combined with potassium chloride. They can be pretty pricey, and a high potassium intake is also risky to health, especially to those with kindey problems or on certain medications.
So, I’d like to share my recipe/tip, which enables you to still have a wise amount of salt, on the cheap, without sacrificing flavour.
½ cup Salt (whatever you use – sea salt, table salt, even ‘diet’ salt if you wish)
1 cup Sesame Seeds
In a frying pan/skillet, heat the sesame seeds gently, shaking the pan constantly, until they are golden. Pour into Mortar and Pestle and grind well, mixing in the salt as you grind until it is a slightly coarse powder and pour into a salt shaker with a sprinkle of rice (this helps to stop the salt from clumping).
Alternatively, you could put the toasted sesame seeds and rock/coarse salt into a grinder.
This does not alter the taste of foods, but gives everything a slighty more delicious taste. It tastes better than plain salt and kids and the stubborn eldery are none the wiser. It can be used in cooking or as table salt.
Sesame seeds are rich in fibre, calcium, protein and host of amino acids, so the extra nutrients will not go astray.
Note: the amounts can be adjusted, just have 1 part salt to 2 parts sesame seeds.
Homemade Yellow Or White Cake Mix
I am looking for a homemade yellow or white cake mix recipe that I can store on the pantry shelf for later use in recipes that call for a mix. Thanks.
Snow Tops
i’ve created a slight twist to the old peanut butter cookie recipe weve all enjoyed for years. my husband and kids love them, and the ingredients are all things most people normally have on hand.
1 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
marshmallow creme or “white fluff”
preheat oven to 350. mix together your peanut butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. roll into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. sprinkle sugar atop each ball, and make a criss – cross pattern with a fork across each, flattening each ball out. bake for 8 – 10 minutes.
cookies will be very soft when you pull them out of the oven. dont be alarmed, theyre done 
). grab a teaspoon and dollop a small amount of marshmallow creme onto each cookie, right after you pull them out of the oven. let it sit for a minute or two. use a toothpick to spread the creme evenly (or should i say as best you can) across the cookies. enjoy! ****this cookie is delicious! but also very messy! when i make them, my kids are not allowed to leave the kitchen, no questions asked!! ;o)
Sloppy Joe Meat Loaf
1/2 cup chopped sweet pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2lb 85% lean ground beef
1 tsp garlic pwdr
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg slightly beaten
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 envelope dry sloppy joe seasoning
1 can sloppy joe seasoning
salt and pepper to taste.
sautee onion and pepper till soft. Mix ground beef, egg,bread crumbs,garlic pwdr, cheese, onion and pepper and dry sloppy joe seasoning together with salt and pepper. form into a loaf pan and bake at 325 for 45 min. then pour can of sloppy joe mix over top of meat loaf and bake for another 15 minutes.
All my friends loved it and some times I do a variation where I also add 1/2 cup crumbled blu cheese.
Malted Pumpkin Pie
Since fall is here, can pumpkin pies (pp) be far behind? Honestly, unlike the fantastic turtle pp that I made last year, normal pps leave me cold. Back in the 70′s I had a pp recipe that I got off the back of the label of a jar of malted milk granules. It was the best pp I ever had. Unfortunately, I have lost the recipe and have been unable to find anything similar on the internet. Any ideas?
Crockpot Recipes For Working People
Looking for crockpot recipes for during the work week. I leave the house at 7 a.m. and return at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. So these delicious sounding recipes that require you to cook 4 hours and then do or add something else and cook another 4 hours don’t work for me. I want something I can throw in the crockpot in 10 min or less in the morning (or put together the night before and refridgerate) plug it in in the morning and have supper when I get home. The less meat the better. THANKS!!!
How To Freeze Avocados
My daughter is a strange child. One of her favorite foods is avocado. Never mind candy, just give her a piece of toast with sliced or mashed avocado and she’s happy. As a result I buy quite a few avocados, especially when they go on sale. If you are familiar with this unique little fruit (yes, it’s a fruit not a vegetable), I don’t have to tell you that they ripen quite quickly on the kitchen counter. Before I started freezing them, I had quite a few avocados go bad before we had a chance to eat them.
How To Freeze Avocados
Unfortunately you can’t freeze avocado whole or sliced. Well, I guess technically you could, but you won’t be happy with the results when you thaw them back out. You’ll end up with a yucky brown mess.
But you can freeze mashed avocado quite well. Cut your ripe avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and put it into a bowl. I like to do this with 4 or more avocados at a time. Now add a good splash of either lemon juice or white vinegar and mash everything together with a fork. Scoop it into freezer bags and freeze for up to 6 months.
You can thaw your avocado and use it in wraps, soups, sandwiches and of course to make guacamole.
I find it works best to let the avocados thaw in the fridge overnight. Just give them another good mash with the fork the next morning and you’re ready to use them.
And now I would like to invite you to keep taking advantage of that freezer and learn more about freezer cooking.
Ready to give Freezer Cooking a Try? Order my Freezer Cooking Made Simple ebook and put it to work right away.
Grocery Shopping On A Budget and Crockpot Red Beans And Rice – HBHW Newsletter
September 29th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. We’ve got another exciting offer, this time from our good friends at LivingOnADime.com. I hope you’ll check it out.
This week we are talking about grocery shopping on a budget. With that in mind, many of us think about buying in bulk and really stocking our pantry, freezer, and refrigerator. Some folks are not lucky enough to have large kitchens and freezers so stocking up may not be an option. Check out this week’s featured article to see how to save money on groceries even with a small pantry.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about being frugal. There are a lot of reasons to be frugal, and it’s not all about saving money. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Last but not least, I want to tell you about a fun little contest. Front Porch Ideas and More is hosting an Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest during the month of October. If you like decorating your porch this time of the year, you will enjoy all the ideas that Mary and Dave have for your porch. You could win a $100 or $50 gift certificate from Plow & Hearth. Learn more about their fun contest here: Autumn and Halloween Porch Decorating Contest.
Those are my thoughts 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
Be a thrifty steward of thy goods.
~Sophocles~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend GROCERY SHOPPING ON A BUDGET e-Course
This week we are fortunate again to share in a great money saving offer. Our friends Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam of LivingOnADime.com have come up with a fabulous offer you do not want to miss.
When you see the words 50% off don’t you just need to take a peek? I know the words “half off” bring out the shopper in me!
However, I don’t just want to save money, I want VALUE for my money – even if it is half price. That’s what Jill and Tawra have come up with in this special offer. Let’s take a look at what you get. First, you’ll get three informative ebooks filled with tips, ideas, and real strategies to save money.
- Grocery Shopping On A Budget
- Money Saving Meats
- Saving On Cleaning Supplies
Just the “Grocery Shopping On A Budget” 3 e-book series would be worth the price, but Jill and Tawra are throwing in 4 bonus downloads. Take a look at the bonuses:
- Eating Healthy On A Budget
- Is Eating Out Eating You Up?
- 224 Meals In A Hurry
- Grocery Savings
This entire package is valued at $57.75 and sells normally for only $19.95. But if you order by the end of this week, you can get the entire series, including the 4 bonuses for HALF PRICE! That’s only $9.98! Remember, that’s for this week only so click here to order today!
Of course, there is never any risk to try this Grocery Shopping On A Budget e-Course series because Jill and Tawra offer a 60-day 100% risk-free money back guarantee. Yes, you can give this series a good 60 day spin around the block and if you don’t find that it offers you value for your money, you can return it, no questions asked.
There is no reason to pass this offer up! Click on the link here to order this incredible e-Course at absolutely no risk. Be sure to order today as this offer is good for this week only.
Click on here and start saving money TODAY!
Featured Article
Saving money on groceries often includes buying in large quantities – but not always. Be sure to check out this week’s featured article to access a very informative report on how to plan, shop for, and execute frugal meals even when space is tight.
Frugal Living Without A Big Pantry
Recipe Sharing
Since we’re talking today about food and especially food on a budget, I thought I’d share one of the frugal recipes posted here at HBHW. I hope you’ll find time to try this delicious dish soon:
- 1 cup dried red beans
- 4 cups water, (or more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Tabasco pepper sauce
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion (or 1/4 cup onion flakes)
- 1 finely chopped green bell pepper
- 2 cloves chopped garlic (or a good dash of garlic powder)
- 1/2 pound spicy smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 cups diced ham
- salt and pepper to taste
Sort through your beans and add them to your crock pot along with the water. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or until the beans are tender. If you prefer, you can also cook the beans on low overnight. Just increase the water to 5 cups.
Add the seasonings, vegetables and meat. Cook on low for another 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. You may need to add a little more water if the mixture gets to thick.
Serve with cooked white rice.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
A Frugal Living Poem
~Lao Tzu~
I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize.
The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility,
which keeps me from putting myself before others.
Be gentle and you can be bold;
be frugal and you can be liberal;
avoid putting yourself before others and
you can become a leader among men.
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
Gumbo
Ingredients:
1/2c. Flour
1/2 oil
1c. chopped onion
1c. chopped bell pepper
1c. chopped celery
1/2c. parsley
1tsp. salt
1tsp. File
1/2tsp. minced garlic
2tsp. kitchen bouquet
2tsp. garlic powder
1tsp. crab boil
1 pound smoked sausage sliced in 1/4 in.
4 chicken thighs
6 chicken legs
2 bullion cubes
gizzards & Livers to liking
8 cups water
1 pound shrimp for last 30 minutes add
6 cups cooked rice (2 uncooked rice cups)
ROUX:
1. Slowly cook oil and flour on low heat (can take half hour depending) in large Dutch oven. Occasionally stirring until golden brown (Not burnt don’t cook fast will change flavor).
2. add veggies mix them really well in roux.add water and seasonings.
3. add sausage, chicken bring to a boil and simmer for an hour until chicken is cooked. pull out chicken and allow to cool.
4. when chicken is cool debone and put back in gumbo.
5. the last 30 hour before you choose to serve add in your shrimp or what other seafood crab etc. you choose.
Put cooked rice in bottom of bowl and ladle gumbo on top add more file if desired. We get oyster crackers or garlic bread. It is a great winter meal!
Boxed Bread Machine Mixes Too Expensive?
I work anywhere from 35 hours to 70 hours a week outside the home and my husband is out of state 10 days out of every 15. We have 4 sons at home and still manage to homeschool our 14 & 12 year olds (the other 2 are adult). My time is at a premium and cash is just about as dear. However, I don’t want to sacrifice homemade goodness but time-saving mixes are oh-so-expensive.
Here is one of my solutions:
My Homemade Automatic Bread Machine (ABM) Mixes
I make 10 at a time so all one of the boys has to do is heat the kefir (or buttermilk) and butter, dump it in the bread pan along with the baggie of mix and press start. Wallah! Homemade bread.
Directions
Prepare 10 quart zipper bags by labeling them (I use freezer type for durability since I reuse them over and over). I use a Sharpy pen & I write “add 1 1/2 c. warmed kefir and 2 Tbls. butter” — use the measurements for the wet ingredients for your favorite ABM recipe.
Now, open all the zipper bags (I cuff the top to hold them open) and line them up for your assembly line. Measure in all the dry ingredients starting with the smaller measurements, adding flour last. Don’t worry about the salt touching the yeast, in the 10 years I have been doing this, it has never made a difference.
Once all the dry ingredients have been measured into the bags, press out as much air as reasonable and seal the bags. Store. I flatten mine and stack in a large Tupperware and store in the pantry.
To use the bread kits
Add the warmed wet ingredients to your bread pan (if your ABM suggest wet first), dump in contents of zipper baggie and start your machine. Fold up and seal your baggie and return to your storage container so you can reuse it for your next set of bread kits.
Enjoy your own favorite recipe of hot bread with about 3 minutes hands-on time!
Milkshake Mix
i am looking for a recipe for milkshake mix like they use at bk or mc d’s…i need one for iced mocha cappachinos at home,,yummy yum
thanks
karin
Pumpkin Butter
Quadruple this recipe for storage in jars
- 2 cups cooked pumpkin (15 oz. can)
- 1 cup white granulated sugar or splenda
- 1 cup brown sugar or splenda blend
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/8 tsp. cloves
Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours, stirring every 10 minutes to keep from sticking to sides and burning. Put in jars and put in a water bath for 40 minutes. If you like pumpkin pie, you will love it. It is great on hot, fresh biscuits. We like it almost better than apple butter.
Huckleberry Pickled Red Eggs
Recipe by: Laurene Wells
- 4 dozen eggs
- boiled and peeled
- 5 beets, boiled
- 4 cups beet juice
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup WMB huckleberry vinegar
- 1 cup white vinegar4 small onions, sliced in rings
- 1 fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 10 pint jars
Boil eggs 15 minutes, and peel them. Set aside.Peel and slice beets, boil in a quart and a half of water for about 15 minutes. Reserve juice.
In a medium pan, combine 4 c. beet juice, 2 c. brown sugar, 1 c. huckleberry vinegar, 1 c. white vinegar and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. All sugar should be dissolved into the liquid.
Sterilize jars in boiling water.
Place onion slices and ginger in the bottom of each jar. Stuff eggs and beet slices into jars. Top with any remaining onion and ginger. Pour hot beet-vinegar brine over the eggs, leaving a little head space. Eggs should be totally covered in brine, not poking up.
Sterilize lids in boiling water. Tighten lids onto jars.
Heat process in a hot water bath (making sure water is about 1 inch over the lids) for 5 minutes. Remove from hot water bath and turn upside down onto counter. Allow jars to cool and seal before turning upright for labeling.
Original recipe this was adapted from suggested that all ingredients (ginger wasn’t on that ingredient list) could be mixed into a class bowl, covered, and left in the fridge for 2 days before serving. Didn’t mention canning, was a make-ahead type dish.
Huckleberry Vinegar available from ttp://www.wildmountainberries.com
(Note: old eggs will peel easier than really fresh eggs.)
Is Browning Meat Necessary
rather than a specific recipe, i’m wondering if browning meat before placing in a crock pot is really necessary. i never brown ground beef or chuck roast, but i wonder if the taste is different? we’re MOSTLY vegetarians so i’m not really experienced with cooking meat. but, my family does like certain things in the crockpot. browning is typically called for in recipes. is it really necessary for taste/appearance/quality??
Cotton Tampons
Pure cotton baby socks make great tampons I have read. The key is to wash the socks six times without detergent before using.
Save Cookie Crumbs
After you’ve made homemade cookies. Save the cookie crumbs and put them in a container with a lid and use them as a topping to your ice – cream or whatever you’d like to put them on as a treat.
Meal Planning System and Homemade Split Pea Soup – HBHW Newsletter
September 23rd, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. Thank you for your patience while I worked to pull this newsletter together. I know it will be worth the wait once you take a look at the special offer our sponsor has for you.
I am also featuring an article in which I interview our sponsor, Christine Steendahl of Menu Planning Center. I hope you’ll scroll down and click on the link to this article as I know you’ll find so many useful tips and ideas for your own family’s meals.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about meals, or more specifically, sharing meals. Since meals and meal planning are on my mind, I thought I’d find a story and quote that reflects my feelings about food. I hope you’ll take a moment or two out of your busy day to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.
~Buddha~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Meal Planning System
Today’s sponsor is one I definitely don’t want you to scroll by. Christine Steendahl of Menu Planning Central is making you an offer you simply should not refuse. Anytime you see a Half-off Sale you just have to stop and take a look, right? I know I do!
Christine’s Meal Planning System is something I’ve used for years and, believe me, it has saved me more money than I dreamed possible. And not just money, but that other valuable commodity – time.
Of course, the Meal Planning System alone is a steal at 50% off, but Christine is throwing in some more goodies! Free with your order today are these 8 bonus gifts worth over $178 if purchased separately:
- Family Brunch Recipes
- Family Routines
- Fun Foods For Kids
- Healthy Meals and Snacks
- More Energy For Mom
- Quick and Easy Breakfasts
- Easy Brown Bag Lunches
- Craft Ideas For Kids
Christine doesn’t stop there either. When you order your Meal Planning System today at 50% off, she’ll also give you instant access to even more bonuses! Christine wants you to know the pleasure of having meals on the table each and every day for less money and effort and is so committed to having you try this system that she offers you a full money back guarantee.
Try Christine’s Meal Planning System for 14 days risk free at this incredible Half-Off price of only $9.97 a month. Or, you may want to sign up for a lifetime membership to the Meal Planning System for a special one-time low price.
Not sure this Meal Planning System is for you? Maybe you’re not convinced yet that menu planning really saves money. If not, please take just a few minutes and click on to get a sneak peek of all the Meal Planning System has to offer. Be sure to scroll down and watch the video, too. Then click on to order and enjoy this risk free offer at half price. Don’t wait – this offer expires Friday!
Click on here and start saving time and money TODAY!
Featured Article
As I mentioned earlier, this week’s featured article is an interview that I did with Christine Steendahl, The Menu Mom. She shares some great tips and ideas, as well as her own favorite recipe! Be sure to click on the article link below and read how Christine figured out the ins-and-outs of saving money by planning her family’s meals.
Family Meal Planning – An Interview With Christine Steendahl
Recipe Sharing
Since we’re talking today about food and sharing meals, I thought I’d share one of the recipes posted here at HBHW. I hope you’ll find time to try this delicious dish soon:
- meaty ham bone
- 8 cups water
- 1 pkg split peas
- 1 cup carrots (grated)
- 1 cup onions (diced)
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
Place all ingredients into a large pot and cook on low heat for about 3 hours. Most of the meat will fall off the bone while cooking. You should remove the remaining meat from the bone to put back into the soup and dispose of the bone.
For a finer, smooth consistency place soup into a blender after cooking and “pulse” until you get your desired consistency.
You can also cook this soup in the crockpot. About 3 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low will do the trick.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
A Very Special Meal
~Mirabai Chrin~
Once there was a very poor and devoted woman who always prayed to the Glory of God, asking very little, if anything for herself. But one thought, one desire continued to recur and finally she asked: petitioning the Lord, that if it were possible she would love to prepare a special meal and have God share at her table. And God, in His Love for this goodly woman, said He would indeed come the next day and share a meal.
Filled with ecstasy, the woman went out the following morning with her meager purse and purchased such delicacies that she felt would please the Lord.
Returning home, she prepared a banquet and waited patiently for her most honored guest. Soon there was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood an old beggar asking for something to eat. Being a woman of God, she could not turn the beggar away, so she invited him in to partake of her table. The beggar felt as if he was in a dream – such a feast set before him. He finished all the food, thanked his hostess and left.
The woman was only slightly disheartened, she gathered up her purse, her coat, and hurried back to town to get more food for her special guest. Her funds were less now and so the food was not quite so elaborate. Nonetheless, she lovingly prepared another meal and sat to await the arrival of the Almighty.
A few hours went by and there was a loud knock on the door. This time it was an old gypsy woman with no teeth, who was deaf, who spoke quite loudly and was, rather rudely, insisting that any true believer in the Lord would not deny her something to eat.
Though the woman had no more money with which to buy more supplies, she invited the woman in and offered her a seat at the table. The gypsy ate everything, did not even thank the woman and left without closing the door.
By now it was beginning to get dark both inside and out. The woman’s faith was strong, so that, though somewhat distraught, she did not give up, but rather, looked around her humble house to see if there was anything she could sell in order to buy more food to set before the Lord.
She hurried to town with a little silver cup that had been in her family for several generations, but she was willing to part with it for the great honor that God was going to bestow on her – the sharing of a meal.
Late in the night she rushed home to prepare yet a third meal. She waited and waited until, once more, there was a knock on the door. Holding her breath, she slowly opened the door to find yet another poor man in the guise of a wandering monk, in search of a meal.
Again, she offered hospitality, with as much grace as she could muster in her disappointment. This man also ate all that was set on the table and left after blessing the woman for her kindness. So discouraged and dismayed was she that all she could do was nod slightly, in acknowledgment of the thanks.
Now it was too late, with no way to buy any more food and no more money with which to buy it. She got down on her knees, weeping such heart-broken tears. She asked God what she had done wrong. Why had God not come to share at the table as He had promised?
And God, in all His Divine Compassion and Mercy, lifted the woman off her knees, and holding her close to His Heart, said, “My child, I enjoyed your hospitality so much that I came three times!”
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
Buy Marked-Down Bell Peppers And Freeze Them
Take advantage of “marked down” bell peppers at grocery store. They may not look pretty or firm, but once you dice them, you can freeze them for handy use in recipes calling for chopped or diced peppers. Tip for freezing: lay the chopped peppers on a cookie sheet & freeze before putting them into your freezer bag/container. It keeps them from clumping together.
Pepper Allergy
I need help with substitutions for peppers (Green, red, yellow, etc.). My fiance is highly allergic to these. I’ve always made lots of recipes with peppers in them because I like the flavor it adds, but now am unable to do that. Can anyone suggest how to get a good flavor without the peppers? Thanks in advance.
Homemade Peanut Butter
15 ozs roasted skinless peanuts
1 tsp kosher salt
1 ½ tsp honey
1 ½ tbsp peanut oil
Open the peanuts and put them into a food processor. Sprinkle salt over the peanuts. Place the lid on top and pulse for just a minute to start breaking up the peanuts. Stop and remove the lid. Pour in the honey. Replace the lid and process until you get the consistency that you want.
Make sure to stop a few times to scrape down the sides.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
*Tip: If you like your peanut butter a little sweeter you can always add a little more honey.
Homemade Egg Noodles
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp butter
- pinch of salt
Place flour and salt into a large bowl. Beat eggs and milk together in a small bowl and pour into the large flour bowl. Add butter last and mix
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Knead dough until it smooths out (about 5 minutes) and place back into the bowl.
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
Add some more flour to your work surface and turn out the dough.Roll the dough out flat until it is only about 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into whatever length or width you need.
Let the strips air dry. Boil in salted water for about 3 minutes.
*Tip: A quick and easy way to cut neat lines in your dough is to use a pizza wheel.
Homemade Pancake Mix
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups dry buttermilk powder
- 8 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cups sugar
- 8 tsp baking powder
- 4 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp salt
Mix all ingredients together and pour into an airtight container. Store in a cool,dry place. Keeps for about 6 months.
Recipe:
- 1 ½ cup pancake mix
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 cup water
Mix all ingredients. Makes about 10-4”pancakes.
*Tip: You can add fresh blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, pecans, or just about anything you like to these
pancakes.
Homemade Spanish Rice
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp onion (chopped)
- 1 ½ cups white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chunky salsa
Get a large frying pan and heat the oil in it first. Next add the onion and
cook until they are fork tender.
Add rice to onions and stir it around
until the rice starts to brown. Pour chicken broth and salsa over the rice.
Cover the pan and let it simmer for about 20 minutes so that is can soak up all of the juices.
*Tip: This always goes well with any
Mexican dish but it also goes well with
grilled chicken, pork or steak!
Jewel Tea Fruitcake
I am looking for a recipe my great grandmother used out of a cook book she got from the jewel tea company. I am not sure of which book it was from. I think it had apple sauce, cherries, cocoa powder and cloves. It might have also had pineapple in it. It might have also been listed as applesauce spice cake. This is a very old recipe I and my mother would dearly love to have.
Ginger Carrot Pickles
I am looking for a recipe for a pickled carrot my mother used to make. It is a sweet pickle with lots of ginger and carrots. She got the recipe out of victoria magazine. We have been since unable to locate it. it is probably from late ’80s or early ’90s.
Baked Pear Honey
Looking for recipe for baked pear honey. My grandmothers written recipe says: grind pears, add sugar and pineapple, mix well and bake until thick and brown. Does anyone know what temp to bake it at? I have everything else. Thanks.
Cheap Tampons
I have often been outraged at the amount of money required to manage my menses every month! So I have been using rolled up baby socks for over a year and have not had any leakage, no infections, average amount of mess (like when applicatorless tampons are used) and have been very happy with the result. I am a college student and when I need to change one during the day and I am away from home I just put it in a leakproof plastic baggie, take home and wash. I soak them in 2 tablespoons of bleach to 1 pint water and wash when my cycle is over. I wash in hot water, regular detergent and bleach. I do not have a dryer so I line dry everything. To prevent embarassment I soak the socks in a non see thru bucket with a lid in the bathroom. To begin with I bought 6 dozen socks for newborns and have not worn out one yet. And I bought them used. Hope this saves someone money.
Hanukah Pot Roast
Around 1994-95 I received a recipe for a Hanukah pot roast from a Weight Watcher’s meeting. This pot roast was made with V8 juice, brown sugar and allspice. Does anyone out there have this recipe? It is by far the best pot roast I have ever eaten.
Thanks
Fajita Seasoning Homemade
3 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp powder chicken bouillon
or you can use a bouillon cubes
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cumin
Mix all of the ingredients together and place them into an airtight container.
This makes the equivalent of 3 pks premade seasoning. Store the seasoning in a cool, dry place.
This recipe can be easily modified to fit your taste. Example – If you don’t like very hot seasoning you can leave out the red pepper flakes.
Acid Reflux Friendly Recipes
It is hard finding acid reflux friendly recipes. Need something that is low acid, not hot spicy and low fat. No peppers (including black pepper), very little dairy, can have soy, and no tomatoes or citrus. Do not want to go back into the hospital and have to have blood transfusions again. Thanks!
Hotdog Buns Recipe Please
Hello,
I’ve started baking bread and my family is enjoying the results. Now, we’d like to include hotdog buns to our bread list.
I have not found any that are simple and was wondering if anyone had some ideas.
Thankyou
Potato Peelings – Don`t Discard
After scrubbing potatoes for cooking, save the peelings. Pat dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel. Use a heavy skillet with about 1/4 inch of oil. Heat oil to at least 350 degrees and fry up the peelings in batches. Great homemade potato chips plus extra fiber and vitamins from the skins, Add salt after removing from skillet.
Stir Fry Sauce
I’m looking for a good stir-fry sauce recipe. My husband loves stir-fry, and I buy the ones off the grocery shelf – but it’s TOO expensive. Any ideas?
Recipes For Leftover Cooked Oatmeal
I am looking for something to make with leftover cooked oatmeal. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Cholesterol Confusion and Focus – HBHW Newsletter
September 15th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Are you settling into your fall routine? We have a full calendar, as usual, and the days seem pretty tightly scheduled. But, we’ll get back into the swing of things, like we always do. We’re looking forward to some crisp fall days and nights and hopefully a lazy day or two thrown in to enjoy.
The article I’m sharing with you this week is about a subject I’ve been confused about for quite some time; good and bad cholesterol. Most people have heard those terms, but many people, myself included, don’t really understand the difference or what it means to our health. This article clears up the confusion quite nicely. Be sure to scroll down and click on the link for this informative article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about the rewards and success we have when we finally focus on one thing and one thing only. I hope you’ll take one of your moments today to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives.
~Anthony Robbins~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
Want to learn more about how to use your crockpot to feed your hungry family easily, while saving money and time?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook. I’ve included tips for buying and caring for your crockpot as well as some simple instructions that will allow you to convert regular recipes into slowcooker dishes.
You’ll also find over 500 recipes for anything from main dishes to soups and stews and even dessert and drink recipes for the crockpot.
Click on here and buy it today to start saving money and time with your next meal!
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing everything from eating well on a tight budget to knitting. Along with these discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes, too. Here is a recipe I posted at the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Overnight Strata For A Crowd
- 16 slices good white bread like potato bread or oat bread, crusts cut off and both sides buttered lightly
- 4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into thin circles
- 1 medium onion, sliced into thin circles
- 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies
- 12 oz shredded Cheddar cheese
- 7 eggs
- 3 1/2 cups or milk
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
Butter a large rectangular casserole dish. Lay 8 slices of bread in dish, top evenly with tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. Take about 2/3 of the Cheddar cheese and sprinkle on top. Cover with remaining 8 slices of bread.
In separate bowl, beat together with a fork the eggs, milk, and seasonings. Pour this mixture over the top of the bread in casserole. Be sure this liquid reaches the top of the bread. If it doesn’t, add more milk/egg mixture; make a batch using a 1 egg to 1/2 cup milk ratio (no need to add more seasonings).
Now distribute the remaining Cheddar cheese over the top and cover the dish with tin foil. Put in refrigerator overnight.
To cook: Take out of the refrigerator 1 hour before putting in oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake casserole for 1- 1/4 hour to 1- 1/2 hour or until eggs are completely set and knife inserted into the middle of dish comes out clean. Let stand at room temperature (uncovered) for 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Doubly Cheesy Chilies Casserole
- 4 Ingredient Flour Tortillas
- 4 Ingredient Popovers
- Southern Stewed Tomatoes & Okra
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
If cholesterol is as confusing to you as it is to me, you’ll appreciate this article written by an expert in the field, Deborah Land. You’ll quickly learn how to identify good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. More importantly, you’ll find out how to identify the foods that keep you healthy. Please click on the link below and give this week’s featured article a read:
How I Learned to Lower Cholesterol Through Diet
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Focus Your Thinking
~Brian Cavanaugh~
On a clear, bright sunny day take powerful magnifying glass and a stack of newspapers and go outside for an experiment. Hold the magnifying glass over a pile of crumpled pages. Even though you are magnifying the power of the sun’s rays through the glass lens, you will never start a fire – if you keep moving the glass.
But if you hold the magnifying glass still, allowing it to focus the rays in a concentrated beam of sun energy, you harness the power of the sun and multiply it through the lens – starting a fire.
Focusing also works with your power of thought! Try it and ignite your wandering ideas.
.
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
Easy Baked Corn Dogs
I came up with this one week when I had a surplus of hot dogs after a large cookout. I love corn dogs and so do my kids, but they are too darn greasy! I wanted to make a healthier and easy version, and this seemed to take the cake! It was a huge hit with all four kids and husband!
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup veg oil or melted butter/shortening
1 1/2 cups self-rising yellow corn meal mix
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 large ear of corn, cooked and kernels removed- or 1 can sweet whole kernel corn
(for a tex-mex version put in these other add ins: minced dried onions, can green chilies or minced jalapenos and diced red pepper)
8-10 hot dogs (we use turkey franks)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar, divided
Preheat oven to 450. Grease 9×12 glass dish. In large bowl, combine all ingredients except the hot dogs and 1/2 cup of cheese. Pour into greased dish and spread evenly. Place whole hot dogs gently on top of mix in rows, not letting them touch, leaving about 1/2 inch of space along edge and a little less of an inch between hot dogs. Do not submerge them.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup cheese and let sit until cheese has melted.
To serve, cut in rectangles around the hot dogs and top with ketchup and mustard if desired.
You can easily omit corn, cheese, and any other add ins to keep the recipe simple and more “picky” kid friendly.
Fix Sprayers In Bottles
I am looking for a way to fix the sprayers that come in the bottles of cleaner. Everytime I get half way thru a bottle the sprayer wants to stop working.
Homemade Cough Syrup
Boil 1 cup unsulphered molasses 5 min., add 1/4 cup cider vinegar, boil for 5 more minutes. Add 1/2 of a small RAW diced onion, Stir, remove from heat.
Pour mixture onto large greased cookie sheet or platter. The patient ( victim?) must consume all of this while it’s still warm, brush teeth, go to bed.
This was my grandfather’s cure and it works! I still got colds, but they never lasted more than a few days.
Southwestern Crockpot Chicken
serves 6
2 pounds chicken (boneless)
2 large cans diced tomatoe w/jalepno
1 small can diced green chilies
1 small can tomato paste
1 sliced onion
1 sliced green bellpepper
1 sliced red bell pepper
2 teaspoons chicken boullion
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in crockpot and mix. cook on low 6 to 9 hours or 4 hours on high. Serve over rice or noodles. This freezes well.
Beer Rocks
2 loaves frozen bread dough, white or wheat, thawed
1 lb. hamburger
1 med. onion, diced
1 head cabbage, shredded
Salt, pepper, garlic to taste
Cook hamburger and crumble. Drain off grease. Add seasonings. Add onions and cabbage and cook together until tender. Take enough dough to roll flat into about a 6-inch diameter circle. Put some cooked mixture down the center. Then fold dough around meat mixture.
Place on greased cookie sheet(s) and bake at 350 degrees until browned. Cool on rack. Serve hot with melted butter brushed on top. Wrap individually and freeze for use later.
Frugal Produce Saver
I recently went online to Rubbermaid and got a coupon to save $1.00 on the Produce Saver, I then went to local discount chain store and was able to get a box of 4 produce saver bowls and save a $1.00. I was skeptical but also curious because I wanted to make my fresh produce last longer. A couple weeks later my local grocery store offered a sale on lettuce, 88 cents a head compared to the usual $1.49 a head. So I purchased the lettuce went home cleaned off outer leaves, trim down the stalk and placed it in my large produce saver bowl. The lettuce lasted 4 weeks and was as crisp the final day we used it as it was the first day. I have also had great luck with fresh berries, and fresh onions after peeling them and using part of the onion. So even tho I spent approximately $8.00 for 4 produce saver bowls they have more than paid for themselves over the past couple of months. So far no wasted produce to throw out. I also wrap my celery in foil when I get home from grocery shopping and it makes the celery last twice as long.
Christmas Just Around The Corner
Hi, With Christmas just around the corner I am looking for some really creative ideas for gifts for family and friends. If I start now it wont be such a frenzy come December!
Diet Friendly Crockpot Cooking and Seize The Moment – HBHW Newsletter
September 8th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Labor Day here in the USA is often the last chance families can take a nice trip before really settling into their fall routine. It’s a three day weekend that often has us frantically trying to squeeze in an outdoor barbecue, picnic, boat ride, and anything that reminds us of the last few months of summer.
We ended up going camping in Huntington State Park with family and friends. Though it was hot and I’m still covered in mosquito bites, it was a fun trip and we made lots of great memories. By sharing a campsite with friends and cooking almost all meals at the campsite, it ended up being a very frugal trip with gas cost being our highest expense.
The article I’m sharing with you this week is about cooking delicious meals with your crockpot even if you are on a restricted diet. Be sure to scroll down and click on the link for this informative article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about seizing your moments and making the most of them. I hope you’ll take one of your moments today to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
Why always “not yet”? Do flowers in spring say “not yet”?
~Norman Douglas~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
Want to learn more about how to use your crockpot to feed your hungry family easily, while saving money and time?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook. I’ve included tips for buying and caring for your crockpot as well as some simple instructions that will allow you to convert regular recipes into slowcooker dishes.
You’ll also find over 500 recipes for anything from main dishes to soups and stews and even dessert and drink recipes for the crockpot.
Click on here and buy it today to start saving money and time with your next meal!
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing everything from gluten free recipes to homemade Christmas gifts. Along with the discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is a recipe I posted at the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Savory Slow-Roasted Chicken
- 1 whole large roasting chicken
- salt and pepper to taste
basting sauce:
- 1 stick butter
- 1 lemon, squeezed and zested
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp. vinegar
- dash Tabasco (or other hot sauce)
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
In sauce pan, combine all basting sauce ingredients, stir well, and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring often.
Wash chicken and pat dry. Rub inside and out with salt and black pepper. Place on rack in roasting pan. Take baster and squirt all basting sauce over entire chicken, inside and out. Cover chicken with roasting pan cover or foil.
Put in 275 degree oven for 30 minutes, removing cover and basting twice.
After 30 minute cooking time, remove cover or foil and cook uncovered for 2 1/2 to 3 hours (depending on size of bird) at 275 degrees, basting every 30 minutes during this cooking time.
Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before carving.
This is a meal that you need to be actively involved in. You can’t just set the oven and walk away. The basting is what makes the chicken taste so wonderful. Plan to cook this meal when you’re busy in the kitchen or house anyway.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Quick Skillet Chicken & Vegetable Meal
- Herbed Corn & Ground Beef Casserole
- Ham & Double Cheese Pie
- Classic Cheddar Ham Quiche
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
Oftentimes when people go on special diets they set aside their trusted friend the crockpot. The good news is you don’t usually have to. There are many recipes out there that use ingredients that will fit a low-glycemic diet, for instance. (Think South Beach). Please click on the link below and give this week’s featured article a read:
Crockpot Cooking on a Low Glycemic Diet
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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" start_item=""]
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 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
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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.
[RSSImport display="20" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/comments/feed?cat=recipe-requests&withcomments=1" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
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Inspirational Story
Finding Pennies – Losing Living
~author unknown~
There was a small boy who when walking down the street one day found a bright copper penny. He was so excited that he found money and it didn’t cost him anything. This experience led him to spend the rest of his days walking with his head down, eyes wide open, looking for treasure.
During his lifetime he found 296 pennies, 48 nickels, 19 dimes, 16 quarters, 2 half dollars and one crinkled dollar bill. For a total of $13.96.
He got money for nothing. Except that he missed the breathless beauty of 31,369 sunsets, the colorful splendor of 157 rainbows, the fiery beauty of hundreds of maples nipped by autumn’s frost. He never saw white clouds drifting across blue skies, shifting into various wondrous formations. Birds flying, sun shining, and the smiles of a thousand passing people are not a part of his memory.
Who do you know that is living like this; head is bent down burdened with trivial things afraid of pain and criticism and fear of things that never happen hoping to find that copper penny…for nothing.
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
Homemade Flavored Creamer
Does anyone have a recipe for making their own homemade creamer like the liquid flavored ones at the store? I’ve tried making a vanilla creamer using evaporated milk but I can’t seem to get the amount of sugar right. Thanks!
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies With Crushed Cereal Coating
My mother used to bake Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies with ground walnuts. Before baking she would roll the cookie dough in a mixture of crushed corn flakes, sugar and cinnamon. This would make sort of a glaze on the outside and the cookie would be sealed up to keep the freshness for quite a while (except they would disappear quickly). When she passed away I could not find the recipe anywhere. Does anyone out there have such a recipe?
Prima Automatic Breadmaker
I’ve kindly been given a Prima automatic breadmaker – great. But no manual – I need instructions on how to use it please – anyone?
These bread machine instructions should be all you need. – Susanne
Plum Jam, Jellie or Plum Butter Recipe
Hi all, I have some plum tree’s in my back yard that are flourishing in over abundance! Does anyone have a plum jam, jellie, or butter recipe they’d like to share? Or other treats that the plums are good for.
Integrity and Surprising Muffins – HBHW Newsletter
September 1st, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
It’s hard to believe it’s September already. The leaves will start changing in our area before we know it . We’ve settled into the school year routine already. How about you?
The article I’m sharing with you this week is about frugal living. Many people have all the right tricks for living on less money, but there’s one stumbling block that keeps getting in the way – the family. Be sure to scroll down and click on the link for this informative article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about integrity. I’m reminded of the importance of this lesson as we send kids off to school. Integrity is something we all must learn – and the earlier the better. I hope you’ll take a minute to read and reflect on this week’s quote and story.
Those are my thoughts 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
There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. It really matters very little whether they are behind the wheel of a truck or running a business or bringing up a family. They teach the truth by living it.
~James A. Garfield, 20th US President~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Penny Pinching Mama
My friend Jill Cooper has written many fascinating guides showing how you can spend less money and still do all the things you need to do to keep a house and support a family. As a matter of fact, Jill knows a thing or two about living on a tight budget. She raised two teenagers, alone, on $500 per month.
Jill’s books are some of the most highly regarded money-saving guides on the internet, and her new e-book is no exception. This guide is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Click on the link below to get your copy and start saving REAL money today!
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing everything from paying off credit card debt to getting outside to exercise. Along with the discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is a recipe I posted at the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Munich Muffins
- 4 cups Bisquick (or biscuit mix)
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 (12 oz) can or bottle beer
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin.
In large bowl, put the ingredients and mix with fork, being sure NOT to over-mix. There will still be some powder floating in batter.
Drop into muffin tin cups using a spoon. Cups should be about 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven on middle rack for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Simple, fun, and delicious!
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Beefy Mushroom Rice Soup
- Mixed Bean & Ham Bone Soup
- Sausage Link Morning Casserole
- Nutty Crescent Cookies
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
If you are like many frugal-minded homemakers, you already have a repertoire of money-saving ideas and tips. You put your plans into motion, things to do to save money at home, and for some reason the plan never seems to stick. Most likely the problem is that you haven’t gotten everyone on board yet. How do you get your family excited about your new frugal lifestyle? Please click on the link below and give this week’s featured article a read:
Frugal Living Is A Family Affair
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
[RSSImport display="5" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/feed" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
" start_item=""]
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 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
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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.
[RSSImport display="20" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/comments/feed?cat=recipe-requests&withcomments=1" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
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Inspirational Story
Maintain Your Integrity
~author unknown~
A while back, there was a story about Reuben Gonzolas, who was in the final match of his first professional racquetball tournament. He was playing the perennial champion for his first shot at a victory on the pro circuit.
At match point in the fifth and final game, Gonzolas made a super “kill shot” into the front corner to win the tournament. The referee called it good, and one of the linemen confirmed the shot was a winner.
But after a moment’s hesitation, Gonzolas turned and declared that his shot had skipped into the wall, hitting the floor first. As a result, the serve went to his opponent, who went on to win the match.
Reuben Gonzolas walked off the court; everyone was stunned.
The next issue of a leading racquetball magazine featured Gonzolas on its cover. The lead editorial searched and questioned for an explanation for the first ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit. Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? Here was a player with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his grasp, who disqualifies himself at match point and loses.
When asked why he did it, Gonzolas replied, “It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity.”
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
Crockpot Cooking And Low-Glycemic Diets – You Just Need The Right Recipes
If you are on a low-glycemic diet, you may already be getting tired of snacking on low-fat cheese, a handful of nuts, and celery sticks. Your family may be looking a little droopy as they sit down to yet another grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli dinner.
You may also be starting to miss your favorite crock pot meals and would really love to come home, once again, to the savory aromas of a home-cooked crockpot dinner.
Do you have to give up your crockpot when you’re eating a low-glycemic diet? No siree! Here are a few recipes that will help you stay on your diet and will fill your family’s hungry tummies at the same time:
Asian Inspired Beef and Snow Peas
- 2 1/2 pounds round steak
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 cups snow peas
Cut a round steak into 4 equal pieces. Place the steak in your crockpot. In a separate bowl, whisk together next 4 ingredients and pour this mixture over the meat. Cover the crockpot and cook on Low for about 6 hours or until the meat is nice and tender. In last 15 minutes of cooking, mix in the snow peas. Serve over cooked rice.
Split Pea Soup with Ham
- 1 pound bag split peas
- 2 pounds cooked ham, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 ribs celery, diced
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 7 cups fresh cold water
- 5 chicken bouillon cubes
Put all ingredients into your crockpot. Turn your crockpot on Low and cook for 6 to 7 hours. Lift the lid briefly through the cooking time several times and give a quick stir so the peas don’t just stay on the bottom of the crockpot.
Triple Bean and Beef Chili
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 medium yellow onions, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (16 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 2 (16 ounce) cans garbanzo beans
- 1 (16 ounce) can butter beans
- 1 (16 ounce) can black beans
- 1 (15 ounce) can chicken broth
- 3 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Brown ground beef, and drain any excess fat. Put all the ingredients into your crockpot and stir to combine. Cover the crockpot and let cook on Low for about 6 hours. I serve this in big bowls with a dollop of low fat yogurt and a sprinkle of chives. You can garnish with whatever your diet allows!
Trying to figure out what you can make in your crockpot that follows the rules of your diet can be a bit difficult. I know if I have just a few go-to recipes for my crockpot that I can put together fast and easy, I’m more likely to stick to my diet.
Cooking dinner in your crockpot typically means you are cooking for the whole family, right? These filling, nutritious, and delicious meals may be considered “diet dishes” but no one will be the wiser. These crockpot recipes may be just what you need to get on that diet and stick to it, without starving your poor family!
Want to learn more about how to use your crockpot to feed your hungry family easily, while saving money and time?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Click on here and buy it today to start saving money and time with your next meal!
Just Right Beans
I cook four medium potatoes .. clean and do not peal. As I take them out of the water after 15 minutes (3,800 Feet Idaho) .. I use the hot potato water to start my beans. Sometimes I throw an extra potato in and leave it in with the beans .. smashed up. I do 1/4 inch slices of these refrigerated potatoes fried in my “slant Griswold #7 cast iron skillet” .. always heat your skillet for seven minutes on low before adding food. Turn the heat up when you add the food .. the skillet will be Non Stick.
I use only Maya Coba or Yellow or Peruviano. They soak faster and cook faster and have much better taste than any bean I have ever eaten.
I have a Mexican Food Place .. I get dried Guajillo and Arbol Chili. I take two Guajillo and one Arbol and destem, and break up whole into the water, add one and one half tsp of Cumin, tsp salt and three hands full of beans and stir gently to mix flavors .. put a lid on and turn off the heat and let them coast down for four hours.
I’m usually up about 4 AM and turn the heat on and in two hours when I get up at 6 AM .. the house smells like little Mexico. Stir the beans gently. They are ready to eat .. I make fresh flour tortillas and butter and salt them to sop up the beans.
My next project is to cook a Cornish game hen in there with hominy added, no beans or very few. I think it will be a winner.
The Guajillo “Wa hee O” are not hot but very flavorful. If you don’t like heat .. don’t use the Arbols. They are heat. If you think you don’t like heat use an Arbol later and take the seeds and dividers out and work your way into chili. You will be making this stronger and stronger if you cook it every couple of weeks during the first year.
If you do not use Cumin .. throw all your chili peppers away .. they are absolutely no good without the magic of Cumin. If your beans don’t smell like old Mexico .. you are doing something wrong.
Egg Sandwiches
As a young girl, my mother always made these. I was disgusted at the thought of eggs on a sandwich, and always turned my nose up. once moved out on my own, money was tight, and i decided to try it. boy was i surprised! they are absolutely wonderful and now that ive got kids of my own, they ask for them on a regular basis. thoroughly enjoy ~ fix your sandwiches how you like ‘em. if you want a slice of cheese, add it. if you like a slice of tomato or lettuce or onion, add it.
scramble desired amount of eggs in a tbsp butter.
spread mayo or miracle whip onto bread,
add scrambled eggs.
devour.
Scraping Pots With A Poker Chip
I keep a poker chip on my sink to use for a pot scraper. My husband drilled a hole in the center so that it doesn’t obstruct the drain if it happens to fall in the sink. It works well, and I seldom purchase scrubbers, et cetera.
Shepards Pie
1-3 lbs.Hamburger (depending on size of your family)
1 onion
1 (16oz.) pkg. of peas or your preference. I try to use fresh out of the garden veggies but in a pinch use frozen.
potatoes (amount depending on your family size)
5-6 cups of Homemade brown gravy (RECIPE ADDED AT THE BOTTOM)
Cook,drain and mash potatoes (set aside)
Fry hamburger and onion together add salt and pepper to taste (set aside)
Make brown gravy in a pot 5-6 cups worth
Take one 9X13 pan
Layer hamburger,onion and vegetable at the bottom of pan.
Add a cup or two of gravy mix over the top, add potatoes then add another cup of gravy mix,repeat the process,add the remaining potatoes but scoop potatoes inward like large sunken holes in top of potatoes,then add remaining gravy mix,until holes are filled in and you start to see the gravy at the bottom edge of the last layer of potatoes,cover and cook 350 for twenty minutes.
Note you have to adjust how much gravy you and your family like.
DELICIOUS serve with a salad
Homemade Brown Gravy
1/4 to 1/3 Cup Cooking Oil
1/4 to 1/3 cup Self Rising Flour
Water ( about 1 quart or stock of choice)
Salt/Pepper to taste
*If you are going to serve this with Chicken, you may use fresh or canned Chicken Broth instead of water. If you are gonna use over meat, such as Hamburger Steak, you may use fresh beef broth, canned broth instead of plain water.
Pour cooking oil into the skillet and heat on medium heat.
Add self rising flour to hot oil (about 1/4 cup)
stirring this constantly, slowly together, add the salt and pepper to taste.
This mixture should be thick enough that when stirred it is not runny. Add extra flour 1 TBS at a time until thick enough.
* Got it too thick? Just add a little oil.
Brown mixture and add water or meat stock to thin it. If using meat stock, have it cold, room temperature or cooled down some if fresh, otherwise it will boil really fast and splatter. Thin to desired texture, using water or meat stock
Milk Gravy anyone?
Prepare as shown above. Just use milk instead of water or stock.
Greek Salad Dressing
Me and my family LOVE Salad Creations! They make all their salads and wraps right in front of you. Well, every time I go, I get a wrap with a special Greek dressing on it and I wish I knew how to recreate it! It would save so much money if I knew how to recreate it because I wouldn’t have to go there to have such great wraps. I can duplicate almost any salad recipe or wrap, but I can’t get that dressing! Please could somebody let me know how I can recreate that Greek Salad Dressing from Salad Creations? Thanks!
Easy Poppyseed Chicken Casserole
This is a kid friendly dish!
2-3 skinless, boneless chicken breast or 2 c leftover chicken,
shredded 1 can (generic) cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 stack snack crackers
poppyseeds
preheat oven to 350.
shred leftover chicken or boil 2 – 3 pieces boneless skinless chicken breast until done, remove from water. let cool, shred into bowl.
dump cream of chicken and sour cream over shredded chicken. mix.
spread in 8×8 pyrex. crush snack crackers and spread evenly over chicken mixture. drizzle melted butter over crackers. sprinkle desired amount poppyseeds over crackers.
bake at 350 for 25 – 30 minutes, or until sides are bubbly.
also: 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables can be added, 1 can cream of mushroom can be added, sliced almonds can be used as part of topping.
recipe is 4 serving. when doubling recipe, use 13×9-in pyrex.
enjoy!
Looking For Rust Stain Removal
Hi, I rent an apartment that has a beautiful cream colored plush carpet in the bedroom, however, there are several rust stains in the carpet from former tenants. Looks like flower pot rings. Any tips on bleaching them out, or at least fadding them to somewhat blend in with the color of the carpet? I’ve tried using clorox bleach, Borax powder, Arm and Hammer baking soda, but none have touched the stains.
Pasta Sauce From Garden Tomatoes
I am looking for a good pasta sauce to put up using my garden tomatoes. I want something different than what I’ve used for years.
WIC Cereal Recipes
I am looking for recipes to repurpose all of my WIC cereal. Especially dinner recipes. Kix, cherrios, cornflakes, grapenuts, grapenut flakes, multigrain cherrios, rice crispies, chex, special K.
Thanks
The Cost Of Clutter and Baked Reubens – HBHW Newsletter
August 25th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Now that summer vacation is officially over, it’s time to look around the house and see what sort of projects I need to do. I know it’s time to get back into a normal routine. Reorganizing and decluttering may be first on my agenda. What does your fall schedule look like?
The article I’ve chosen to feature this week was written by my friend Jill Cooper of LivingOnADime.com. It’s all about the real cost of clutter, in dollars and cents. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read this informative article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about optimism. Do you look at the events in your life with optimism or pessimism? Be sure to read this week’s story for a fresh and funny look at how people see things in very different ways.
Those are my thoughts 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
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~Winston Churchill~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Penny Pinching Mama
My friend Jill Cooper has written many fascinating guides showing how you can spend less money and still do all the things you need to do to keep a house and support a family. As a matter of fact, Jill knows a thing or two about living on a tight budget. She raised two teenagers, alone, on $500 per month.
Jill’s books are some of the most highly regarded money-saving guides on the internet, and her new e-book is no exception. This guide is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Click on the link below to get your copy and start saving REAL money today!
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing paying off debt, getting healthy, and cooking meals from scratch. Along with the discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is a recipe I posted at the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Baked Reuben Brunch Sandwiches
- 12 slices light rye bread (or whole wheat if you choose) toasted
- 2 cups finely shredded corned beef
- 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 to 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese for topping
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Toast bread and set aside.
In large bowl, toss together the corned beef, cheese, mustard, and mayonnaise.
Lay out 6 slices of toasted bread and divide the corned beef mixture evenly over each one, then top with the remaining 6 slices of bread. Cut each sandwich on the diagonal and place in large baking pan.
Whisk eggs and milk together until frothy, then pour evenly over the sandwiches in pan. Sprinkle the 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded Swiss cheese on top.
Bake at 325 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until eggs are thoroughly set and cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Use a spatula and remove sandwich along diagonal for each serving.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Creamy Almond Consomme Soup
- Round Steak Herb Stuffed Roulades
- Fruit Cocktail Cake
- 1950 Style Tuna Gelatin Salad
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
If you’ve been organizing your kitchen, closets, and office lately, you probably have experienced a few surprises. Perhaps you’ve already connected the dots between decluttering and saving money.
That’s what this week’s feature is all about – The Cost of Clutter. My friend Jill Cooper joined me on one of my blog posts to share her expertise in the area of decluttering and saving money. I hope you’ll take a minute to click on the link below to read Jill’s very interesting and enlightening look at how clutter costs you money.
The Cost of Clutter
by Jill Cooper of LivingOnADime.com
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Optimist
~author unknown~
There is a story of identical twins. One was a hope-filled optimist. “Everything is coming up roses!” he would say. The other twin was a sad and hopeless pessimist. He thought that Murphy, as in Murphy’s Law, was an optimist. The worried parents of the boys brought them to the local psychologist.
He suggested to the parents a plan to balance the twins” personalities. “On their next birthday, put them in separate rooms to open their gifts. Give the pessimist the best toys you can afford, and give the optimist a box of manure.” The parents followed these instructions and carefully observed the results.
When they peeked in on the pessimist, they heard him audibly complaining, “I don’t like the color of this computer . . I’ll bet this calculator will break . . . I don’t like the game . . . I know someone who’s got a bigger toy car than this . . .”
Tiptoeing across the corridor, the parents peeked in and saw their little optimist gleefully throwing the manure up in the air. He was giggling. “You can’t fool me! Where there’s this much manure, there’s gotta be a pony!”
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
Pickle Recipe Made From Store Bought Dill Pickles
I am looking for a recipe recently eaten that is for sweet pickles made from store bought dill pickles. One of the ingredients in the making of these pickles is ‘Worcestershire Sauce’. Any recipes like this?
Dish Washing Soap
I have seen information for laundry detergent and fabric softener. Anyone have a recipe for liquid dish soap. The kind you use in the sink not the machine. Thanks Jan
Horseradish
I’m looking for a recipe to do down a batch of horseradish. And I would also like to can a horseradish garlic condiment for Christmas gifts. Can you help? Thanks!
Gift Wrap
I was wanting to wrap a birthday present on a moment’s notice and didn’t have birthday wrap handy. I did have those helium balloons that had deflated. I cut a slit in it at the top, put the present inside, tied it with a fancy bow, and the present was ready to go.
Trade-Proof School Lunch Sandwich
- 4 slices bread
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 Tbsp orange juice or apple juice
- 1/4 cup apples, chopped fine
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, chopped walnuts, or crushed Cheerios
Put the peanut butter and juice in a bowl and whisk together until smooth, then add the apples, raisins, and whatever you choose for the ‘crunch’ element. Spoon mixture onto bread slices, spread out and top with second slice of bread to make sandwich.
The orange juice keeps the apples from getting too brown, but be sure to wrap tightly in plastic.
This is a favorite sandwich of ours because it’s so versatile. If we don’t have nuts in the house, we just crush up cereal like Cheerios. Peanut butter and apples go naturally together and this way you can turn them into a filling lunch. Use a good whole wheat bread for extra nutrition.
Buying Garlic In Bulk Without It Going To Waste – Homemade Crushed Garlic
I use Garlic in just about every savoury dish I cook and can be pretty pricey, when you think about it.
You can buy pre-crushed garlic, but this also works out expensive.
Dried garlic is not up to par, in my opinion.
So, what to do?
Go to your local Farmer’s Market or similar and buy a large amount of garlic when it is at it’s cheapest – generally all times of the year, but keep an eye out and check each stall.
I generally buy a kilogram (about 2.2 lbs) of Organic Garlic for $8 Australian. This is in comparison to $25-$30 a kg in supermarkets, which people never notice as it’s sold in such small bags.
Don’t worry if you get a few that are sprouting; you can plant these.
So, yes, that’s obviously cheaper, but how are you going to use a kilogram of garlic before it goes bad?
- Firstly, wash and air-dry a large jar.
- Peel all the cloves of garlic (this can be a bit tedious).
- Cut off any browned or bad bits and remove the woody base.
- Give them a rinse and drain well.
- Then put them into a food processer/blender and blend until it is a slighty coarse paste. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of the food processer/blender. Alternatively, you could use a hand garlic press – I did before I had a food processer and I’m telling you, it takes ages.
- Mix in a pinch of salt to the garlic paste.
- Transfer the garlic to the dried jar, smooth down so that it sits evenly in the jar. Wipe off the excess around the inner rim with a clean cloth.
- Top with enough oil (I use olive) so that it just covers the garlic, pop the lid on and put it in the fridge.
Voila! Home-made low-cost crushed garlic.
This keeps for ages – months and months, as long as you always use a clean, dry spoon to scoop the garlic out (this stops it from becoming contaminated). Top up with oil if there’s none covering it.
If you don’t use as much Garlic as I do, buy less or give half to a friend or family member.
The benefit of doing this with Organic Garlic is that it is not contaminated with pesticides – the onion family are very good at absorbing pesticides, making them one of the worst carriers for pesticide toxins in our food.
Over 100 School Lunch Suggestions and Apple Butter – HBHW Newsletter
August 18th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
Since I’ve dropped my sister and her fiance off at the airport, it appears that summer vacation is officially over. My focus now is on back-to-school with all the busy preparation that entails.
Last week’s article was filled with specifics about how to plan, pack, and keep a lunch hot or cold. This week’s article actually contains suggestions – a lot of suggestions! – about what exactly to pack for lunch. Take a look at this week’s featured article if your child, or you, are brown-bagging your lunch.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about living the life you dream about. It’s a good lesson to share with our children as they head off for school this year.
Those are my thoughts 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
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
~Henry David Thoreau~
Sponsor
I Highly Recommend Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper, one of the best money-saving Moms on the internet, raised two teenagers, alone, on $500 per month.
This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income. Some of the tips she shares will have you shaking your head and saying “Why didn’t I think of that!?”
Click on the link below to get your copy and start saving REAL money today!
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing getting ready for back to school time, getting ready for the final harvest of their garden and canning, saving money, getting out of debt, getting fit, and cooking healthy foods from scratch. Along with the discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is a recipe I posted at the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Canned Autumn Apple Butter
3 1/2 cups of apple cider
8 large sweet apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1/4 tsp pickling salt
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 (3 in.) cinnamon stick
Pour the apple cider into a 5 quart sauce pot, place on high heat and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the apple slices and simmer for 45 minutes.
Stir the apples every 10 minutes or so to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Add the remaining ingredient and reduce the heat to medium low.
Simmer the mixture, stirring intermittently, for 25 minutes or until the sauce thickens to the consistency of applesauce.
Remove the cinnamon stick and throw it away.
Prepare the canning jars and two piece lids according the manufacturer’s instructions keeping them hot.
Spoon the fruit into the jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release any air bubbles and add more fruit if necessary to retain the 1/4 inch head space.
Process the jars in a water bath for 15 minutes from the point of boiling.
Cool in a draft free area the check to be sure all the lids sealed correctly.
Any jars that did not seal correctly can be refrigerated and used within two months.
Makes 6 half pints.
For the very best apple butter, use REAL apple cider, not the processed and filtered stuff. The closer you get to natural cider, the more intense and flavorful the apple butter will be.
Go ahead and add a few tart apples in with your sweet apples for another layer of flavor to the apple butter.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Simple Farm-Style Apple Pie Filling
- Sensational Sweet Potatoes
- Canned Fresh Tart Apples
- Tender Canned Summer Squash
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
Many of us are in the back-to-school mode right now; buying school supplies, clothes, and planning lunches. Your child’s lunch box may be the most difficult part of getting back in gear for school; possibly because it’s something you have to plan every single day. This article has not only general tips for planning lunch, but real honest-to-goodness suggestions for what to put in a lunch box; so many, in fact, that your child will never get bored with lunch.
When your mind is whirling with everything you have to do each day, a simple list of foods to put in a lunch box can be a big help! Check out this fun article:
Suggestions For School Lunches
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
Chicken or Eagle?
~author unknown~
Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle’s nest rested. The eagle’s nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle’s egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.
One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. “Oh,” the eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.” The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.”
The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn’t be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.
The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken.
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
Puzzled About How Long To Cook A Whole Chicken In A Crockpot? Let’s Clear This Up
You may be a bit confused about how long to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot. Well, you are not alone. You’ll get ten different answers from ten different cooks. Then, when you actually gather recipes, it gets even more confusing.
The answer varies depending on a great many things. That’s the reason for the muddled answers. When you start looking at recipes, you may get even more baffled. So, let’s start with figuring out the variables you have to look at when choosing to cook a whole chicken in your slowcooker:
The Term Whole – This is not as strange as it seems. When one person refers to a whole chicken they could mean a chicken that is left whole, uncut. However, another person may mean an entire chicken – the “whole” chicken – even though it’s in half, or even in pieces. You might say you are cooking a whole chicken when you cut the chicken in quarters but cook the “whole” thing. Confusing, right? Determine what term a person is using before you figure cooking time.
The Chicken Recipe – If you choose a crispy rotisserie chicken style of recipe, you will time your crockpot differently than if you have a chicken recipe loaded with lots of vegetables. A big pile of carrots and potatoes sitting around your chicken will cause a chicken to cook differently than if it is cooking in dry heat, rotisserie style.
The Preparation – Some people like to brown their chicken before putting it in the crockpot to give it a little extra color and flavor. This process will also shorten the cooking time. Then there’s the question of stuffing. If you add stuffing the bird will need to cook longer because it’s just more dense.
The Bird Size – If you have a big six pound chicken, you’re going to cook it longer than if you have a little three pound chicken. That’s just common sense. However, you also have to consider how much room you have in your crockpot. If your six pound bird is squeezed inside a five quart crockpot, your cooking time will have to be increased. There isn’t enough room around the chicken to let air and heat circulate.
The Crockpot Design – Do you have a brand new crockpot with extra insulation wrapped around to keep the heat in the pot where it belongs? Or are you still using the old metal pot that sits on top of the burner plate. Can you start your meal on high, then turn it to low to finish cooking? Is your cover one of the new ones that fits tight and even locks in place?
You want to know how long to cook a whole chicken in a crockpot? It’s still confusing, isn’t it. Normally, if you find a recipe you like that calls for chicken breasts, add about an hour to your time if you’re using a whole, uncut chicken. This will vary, too, depending on all the other factors mentioned. But don’t fret. Just go ahead and experiment and soon you’ll have a nice collection of your own favorite crockpot recipes!
Are you ready to put your crockpot to good use?
Get all the information, recipes, and tips you need with my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Click on here and buy it today to start saving money and time with your next meal!
The Thrifty Versatility Of Pita
Pita or Pitta is Middle-Eastern bread flat bread, similar to a tortilla (a little thicker and airy) or naan (less dense).
You can buy it from Middle Eastern and Turkish stores, continental delis and some markets.
I am lucky enough to have a middle-eastern store close by that sells all the Pita really cheaply at the end of the day.
You can also make it; it’s very easy and inexpensive.
Here’s a recipe: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/breadsrice/r/pitabreadrecipe.htm
Just yeast, flour, sugar and water. Those are all ingredients that I always have a lot of.
If you like, you can use whole wheat, for the extra fibre and nutrients.
So what’s so great about Pita? Well, for starters, it can keep about a week in the pantry/bread bin. It freezes really well – up to a month, but I’ve had some longer than before and it’s been fine.
Here are some ways you can use pita.
- As a wrap instead of sandwiches (which can get boring) for school and work lunches or lunch.
- As a base for ‘Pita Pizzas’ – just add a little tomato puree, some chopped vegetables and cheese and pop in the oven until the cheese is melted and golden. Takes about 20 mins including prep and kids love them!
- Eating leftovers. As mentioned on this site, the bad thing about leftovers can be eating the same thing over and over – eating with Pita changes it completely. I eat leftover pasta sauce, leftover casseroles, leftover chilli, (the list is endless) with a pita that’s been in the oven for 5 mins. This is a good way of making sure those little bits and pieces of leftovers get eaten and that they are filling.
- Use in place of tortillas for all sorts of Mexican foods – burritos, quesadillas, fajitas etc
- Brush with a little olive oil, some salt (and finely chopped herbs, if you please) and bake in a moderate oven until crunchy. Cut into triangles and serve as is or with dips for a great snack for entertaining.
- For breakfast. A great alternative for toast, especially on the go. Spread with Jam (or whatever you like), roll up and eat.
As you can see, Pita can be used as an alternative for lots of things. Because of this, you might ask what’s the point?
They are so versatile! And stocking up on one thing – that’s cheap or cheap and easy to make – that can be used in so many ways is, in my opinion, one of the fundamentals of being thrifty.
Amish Butter Cheese
I am trying to find a recipe for homemade Amish Butter Cheese. I hope you can help. Thank you
To Make Homemade Ice Cream
Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
- 5 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 6 cups milk
- 4 cups half and half
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 small pkg. Instant chocolate pudding
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs until they are frothy. Add the sugar gradually while you are stirring until it thickens. Then add all of the additional ingredients and mix very well.
Place into your ice cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturers instruction.
If you would like to make vanilla ice cream just substitute vanilla pudding for the chocolate.
Homemade Pancakes Recipe
These pancakes are so easy to make, there’s no need to buy frozen ones or even the premade mix. Just try a batch of homemade pancakes made from scratch with this easy recipe.
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/3 cup oil
Combine all dry ingredients and sift them. Add in milk,egg and oil. Mix until most of the lumps are out. Drop spoonfulls into a hot, greased skillet. Makes 10 to 12 pancakes.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipes
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- 1 whole chicken boiled and deboned
- (save the liquid from the chicken)
- 1 lb sliced carrots
- 4 stalks celery (sliced)
- 2 cans small sweet peas
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 1 bag egg noodles
- 3 chicken bouillon cubes
- salt and pepper to taste
Combine the broth from your chicken, carrots,celery,peas and onion with the chicken bouillon cubes. Cook on high heat until vegetables are fork tender. Place chicken,noodles and seasoning in the pot. Cook until noodles are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Simple Chicken Noodle Soup
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 4 chicken bouillon cubes
- 1 bag egg noodles
- salt and pepper to taste
Boil the chicken breasts for about 45 minutes in a large pot in plenty of water. Remove from the liquid and pull chicken apart. Return the chicken to the cooking liquid and add bouillon cubes and egg noodles. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Fudge Recipes
Homemade Fudge:
- 4 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1-12oz can evaporated milk
- 1-12oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3-4oz packages German’s chocolate
- 2-7oz jars marshmallow creme
- 2 cups chopped nuts (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Place sugar,butter and milk into a large saucepan and brings them to a boil. Turn down heat to medium and cook for 6 minutes making sure to stir constantly. Remove from the stove and add all remaining ingredients. Place into a lightly greased 9×13 pan. Cool and then cut into squares.
Really Quick Homemade Fudge:
- 1-16oz bag cream drop candy
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
Place cream drops into a bowl and microwave them in 2 minute intervals until they are melted. Add peanut butter and mix well. Pour into lightly greased or sprayed dish. Cool and then cut into squares.
Homemade Fudge Candy:
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook on medium to high heat. Add vanilla. Fudge will be ready when you can drop a small amt into cold water and it forms a hard ball.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Red Velvet Cake Recipe
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tsp cocoa
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 2ozs red food coloring
- 1 tbsp vinegar
Combine all dry ingredients and sift.Using your mixer, add eggs and buttermilk and mix for 2 minutes. Then add oil and food coloring followed by the vinegar and mix well.Grease and flour cake pans and fill with cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Red Velvet Icing:
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp butter flavoring
Combine milk,flour and salt in a sauce pan and heat until it thickens (stir constantly) Remove from heat and cool.
Cream together shortening,sugar and flavoring. Place all ingredients together and mix well.
*If you prefer you can also buy ready make cream cheese icing from your local grocery store.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Chili Recipe
- 2 1/2lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 packet chili powder
- 1-46oz can tomato juice
- 2 cans pinto beans or kidney beans
Saute ground beef,onion and garlic until brown. Drain off any grease. Return to stove and add chili powder, tomato juice,beans and salt and pepper. Cook for 1 hour.
You can also brown the beef, onion and garlic, then add all ingredients to a crockpot and cook on low for several hours. This recipe makes a quick hardy dinner with a slice of homemade corn bread.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Caeser Salad Dressing
This dressing is one of my favorites when I serve leftover grilled or baked chicken and the likes over a salad. It’s also great over some homegrown tomatoes. I’ve tried and tweaked quite a few different versions of this and here’s my favorite homemade Caesar salad dressing. It’s a lot cheaper than the store bought stuff and takes a lot better.
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Dash of lemon
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 3 tbsp vinegar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/3 Parmesan cheese
Place all ingredients together in a food processor and pulse until all is well blended. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. (You can tweak the garlic,lemon and Parmesan cheese to suit your taste.)
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Split Pea Soup
My children don’t like peas so I made this soup and called it “Shrek” soup. They love it! Now they are eating their veggies and they don’t even know it!
Split Pea Soup Ingredients:
- Meaty ham bone
- 8 cups water
- 1 pkg split peas
- 1 cup carrots (grated)
- 1 cup onions (diced)
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
Place all ingredients into a large pot and cook on low heat for about 3 hours. Most of the meat will fall off the bone while cooking. You should remove the remaining meat from the bone to put back into the soup and dispose of the bone.
For a finer, smooth consistency place soup into a blender after cooking and “pulse” until you get your desired consistency.
You can also cook this soup in the crockpot. About 3 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low will do the trick.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Super Easy Pie Crust
Ingredients
1/2c. veg. oil
5 tbsp. cold skim milk (very cold)
1c. flour
1 tsp. salt
Directions:
Combine oil and milk, beat with a fork until thickened. Add to flour and salt. Mix with fork and press into smooth ball. Cut in half and roll out between 2 sheets of wax paper.
Make sure you measure carefully and don’t skip the sifting. If wax paper is moving while rolling out take a damp paper towel and wipe counter under wax paper.
Half is great for single crust pies or double. I’ve made every pie imaginable from meringue to fruit. And the best part of this recipe is that it is also low in cholesterol,
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Nectarines Recipes
my nectarine tree is ready to be harvested. Do you have any recipes for nectarines?
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
- 4 cups nonfat dry milk
- 2 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 2 cups unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Combine dry milk, sugar, cornstarch, cocoa and salt in a bowl and mix. Transfer to a medium size sauce pan. Pour in water and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Making sure to stir constantly. Then remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Place in refrigerator to chill.
My family loves chocolate pudding so I make it a lot. I like to substitute milk for the water. This makes the pudding extra rich and creamy.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Peach Cobbler Recipes
Homemade Peach Cobbler:
- 1 lg. can slice peaches (in heavy syrup)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 stick butter
Mix flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add milk and stir well to get all the lumps out.
Spray a large casserole dish with nonstick spray. Pour the peaches (in their juice) into the casserole dish.
Place the milk, flour and sugar mix on top of the peaches. Cut small cubes of butter and place on top. Cook at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Homemade Peach Cobbler With Equal
If you are trying to eat healthy or are diabetic this may be a better selection for you. It has 33 % less calories and less sugar than a traditional peach cobbler. Not to mention, it tastes really great!
- 3 cans (15 ounces each) canned sliced peaches in light syrup, drained
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Equal
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pastry for single crust 9-inch pie
1 tablespoon Equal
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Drain peaches well and put them in a saucepan. Coat the peaches with cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice. Let the peaches cook on medium heat until it starts to thicken. Turn off the heat and mix in Equal and vanilla and stir until it dissolves. Then pour into a baking pan.
Roll out a pie pastry onto a floured surface. Lay the pastry on top of the peaches and trim the edges. Cut a few slits in the pastry to let hot air to escape.
Combine 1 tbsp. Equal with 1/4 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle on top.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. Cool or serve slightly warm.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Chocolate Raspberry Butter
OMG! We were at a restaurant just the other night and were served the marvelous Chocolate Raspberry Butter with our hot rolls! It was amazing! Anyone know how to make this?
Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup chili sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 4 oz crumbled blue cheese
Combine all ingredients except blue cheese. Mix well and then fold in the blue cheese. If dressing is too thick, you can add milk or water to thin it.
This dressing can be stored safely in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Meatballs Recipe
- 4 slices bread
- 1/2 c. water
- 2 eggs
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp. snipped parsley
- 1 tsp. salt (optional, may substitute)
- 1/4 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 tbsp. salad oil
Place bread into a half cup of water and let it soak for a few minutes in your mixing bowl. Lightly beat the eggs and then stir them into the soaked bread.
Add beef, cheese, and all remaining spices. Mix well and roll into small balls. Heat 2 tbsp salad oil in a sauce pan and brown meatballs slowly so they can cook through. About 20 min.
These meatballs can be added to spaghetti sauce for a great entree. They can also be covered in BBQ sauce and heated in your crock pot for a great appetizer.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 tbsp butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Boil macaroni until it is fork tender and drain. Grate cheese while macaroni is boiling. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick spray. Put a layer of macaroni into the bottom of the dish. Add a few pats of butter on top of the macaroni. Then a layer of sharp cheese. Complete layers to the top of the dish with a layer of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top and salt and pepper to taste.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Everyone loves mac and cheese and this is the easiest and best recipe to try. You won’t be disappointed.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Tartar Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp grated onion
- 2 tsp mince dill pickles
- 1 tsp finely chopped dill
- 1 tbsp minced parsley
- 2 tsp minced pimentos
Grate or chop all ingredients and place them into a mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise and mix well. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
If you like a little more kick to your tartar sauce, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or a few capers.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Sweet Potato Pie
- 2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup cream
- 2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
- 1 unbaked pie crust
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Take a fork and prick small holes in the pie crust and bake empty pie shell for 10 minutes.
Place mashed sweet potatoes into a mixing bowl. Add melted butter, vanilla, eggs, and cream. Mix together and then add sugar, salt and brandy (optional). Mix well to get rid of any lumps.
Pour the sweet potato mixture into the cooked pie shell. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
You can serve this pie warm with whipped cream or ice cream. It is also great to have it cold from the fridge the next day.
Recommended – Crockpot Cooking Made Simple
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Preserving Mushrooms
I like mushrooms and always buy them at the store when they go on sale, but now that its just my husband and I at home, I find that I can not use them all up in time. I’m wondering if there is a way to freeze mushrooms, or some way to extend their freshness a little longer?
Wipe Warmer Refill?
Although my baby HATES cold wipes, I couldn’t justify the expense of a wipe warmer. However, this past weekend I was able to find one at a thrift store for $2 (insert happy dance)! I purchased a 2 pack of the refill sponges new from WalMart, but was surprised to see even these carry a $9 price tag. Does anyone have a cheaper alternative to buying these?
Freezing Corn
am looking for tnt ideas for freezing corn on the cob thanks
Preparing Okra For The Freezer
Please tell me how to pre-cook fresh okra for freezing.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Both my husband and my daughter LOVE ranch dressing. They eat it on anything from salads to sandwiches and chicken. One of my daughter’s favorite snacks is to dip raw veggies in it. I usually stock up on the bottled kind when they go on sale, but every once in a while I make up a batch of this homemade ranch dressing and they both love it.
Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Whisk until you get most if the lumps out. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. If you prefer your ranch to have a touch of acidity in it, you can add a splash of your favorite vinegar. For a low-fat dressing use low fat mayo and non-fat butter milk.
Consider the seasonings a suggestion. Just play around with the dried herbs and spices in your spice cabinet until you come up with your own favorite version.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Salad Dressing
- 1/4 cup biscuit mix
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 2 cups milk
- 2 beaten egg yolks
- 1/3 cup vinegar
- 1 tbsp butter
Combine all the ingredients together in a sauce pan and bring them to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat,cool,and refrigerate. Stir it before you serve. This should make about 2 cups of dressing.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Astounding Energy Savings
The original solar energy–line-drying your clothes! I would occasionally line dry clothes and always thought how great they smelled and wished I did it more often. Then our energy rates went way up and I found I was able to see our usage online every day for the previous day-very cool. I was astounded to find that the days I used the dryer, even once, the kilowatts went through the roof. Okay, I’m way to math challenged to figure it out to the penny, but I figure it this way: Our rates went up 10%, and this year my bills are staying the same as last year or are actually slightly lower, so I figure I’m saving at least 10% on my energy bill from (1) line drying my clothes and (2) raising the temperature setting by 1 degree during the day.
Leftover Biscuits
You can always save leftover biscuits for something a little sweeter like bread pudding or freeze for another dinner side.
Kingdom of Heaven Bread
Old Fashioned Overnight Bread
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
3 cups white flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oil
1-1/2 cup water… more or less
Mix all ingredients together, and allow to rise for 12-14 hours. (you may refrigerate it up to 12 hours before setting out to rise)
Punch down, and turn into a greased bread pan (or shape into a bagguette)
Allow to rise until it reaches the edge of the pan (or doubles in size, if making a baguette)
Bake at 450 for about 45-55 minutes, until done.
Keeping Apple Wedges From Turning Brown
My kids, especially the little ones, like their apples in wedges and they can’t eat a whole one anyway, but it gets brown by the time they can eat lunch in school (very unappetizing). I have tried the lemon juice thing to keep them from getting brown, but then the kids don’t like the taste. Does anyone know how to keep the cut surfaces from turning brown? Thanks so much. I don’t want to buy those expensive packages of apple wedges in the store!
Homemade Potato Salad
There are many, many ways to make homemade potato salad. This recipe is what my family likes the most.
Southern Style Homemade Potato Salad:
- 6 large baking potatoes
- 3 hard boiled eggs
- 1 medium Vidalia onion (these onions are sweeter than others)
- celery salt to your taste
- dill pickles to your taste
- Duke’s mayonnaise
Peel potatoes and cut into cubes. Boil until they are fork tender. Boil eggs. Drain potatoes and peel eggs. Let them cool. Mix in the other ingredients. I usually start with a few big spoons full of mayonnaise and then add more as needed. You can also use a little pickle juice to thin out the dressing.
Of course you can chance any of the seasonings and how much you use depending on your family’s taste.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Pimento Cheese
Pimento cheese is one of my husband’s favorite sandwich spreads. We like it on toasted bread. There’s a really good brand of local pimento cheese at the grocery store here, but it’s also quite pricey. Instead I started using this homemade pimento cheese recipe. It’s absolutely delicious. I make a batch anytime I can find sharp cheddar on sale.
By the way, you can save a bundle by grating your own instead of buying the expensive bagged cheese. Just look for large blocks on sale and use a box grater to grate your own at home.
Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe
- 1 large can evaporated milk
- 1 lb. grated sharp cheese
- 7 ozs pimentos (a small jar)
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- ½ tbsp dry mustard
- salt (to taste)
- cayenne pepper (to taste)
Place milk into a saucepan and heat. After milk is hot, add cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Add pimento and the other ingredients. Stir well then put in the refrigerator. Let stand in the fridge until it thickens.
This pimento cheese goes well on toasted bread. If you are looking for a healthy snack place the pimento cheese on celery stalks.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Lunch Box Basics, Do More Than Is Expected – HBHW Newsletter
August 11th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. I just got back from a short trip to the beach with my family. We were showing my sister and her fiance the beautiful Carolina shoreline. We’re all a bit exhausted but had a wonderful time swimming in the ocean and finding seashells and sand-dollars.
This week’s featured article is about Lunch Box Basics. Since many of us are sending kids back to school, I thought it would be a good time to share some very specific ideas for packing good lunches. If you are a brown-bagger yourself, you may want to click on and take a look at this week’s featured article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about doing more than is expected in order to achieve your goals. Learn more, work more, and don’t let your dreams disappear for lack of trying.
Those are my thoughts 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
Study while others are sleeping. Work while others are loafing. Prepare while others are playing. Dream while others are wishing.
~William Arthur Ward~
Sponsor
Save Money & The Planet – A Guide To Home Energy Savings
Would you like to save at least $100 a month on your energy bills? Then take a look at this new book that I contributed to along with a few other Energy Conscious authors. The book is titled Save Money and the Planet and is the latest book on saving more energy in the home.
Save Money and The Planet is a comprehensive solution that will give you a great deal of tips that will help you save a ton of money each and every month. This book cover tips on:
- How to Save More Energy
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- And over 100 tips on how to save money.
If you are looking for a solution to the overspending in energy bills and other utility bills in the home, be sure to check out Save Money and the Planet.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/savemoneyplanet
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing canning, replacing paper towels with rags for cleaning, getting out of debt, exercising, eating right, and all sorts of fun things. Along with the discussions, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is one of the recipes I posted on the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Ready-To-Use Canned Ground Beef
8 lbs. of lean ground beef
2 qts of beef broth
2 tsp canning salt
Crumble the beef into a large skillet and place the skillet over medium heat.
Stirring occasionally for even browning, cooking the meat for 20 minutes or until browned through.
Pour the beef broth into a saucepan and place over medium heat.
Bring the broth to a boil.
Spoon the ground beef into the prepared jars and add enough of the boiling broth to achieve a 1 inch headspace.
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt into each jar and release any air bubbles by sliding a long narrow knife down around the edges of the jar.
Add more liquid if necessary to maintain the 1 inch headspace.
Wipe the rims of the jars and tighten down the lids.
Process the filled jars in a pressure canner at 10 lbs of pressure for 1 hour 30 minutes.
Release the pressure and let it fall to 0.
Leave the jars in the closed canner after the pressure hits 0 for 10 minutes.
Remove the jars and let them cool in a draft free area.
Check the seals and jars that did not seal correctly refrigerate and use within 1 week.
Makes 4 quarts
With canned ground beef in your pantry, dinner is no more than a few minutes away. This is a great staple to keep on hand for anyone worried about power outages or a long cold winter with limited resources or trips to the market. Throw a jar of canned beef in a skillet with some of your homemade tomato sauce, canned veggies, and a handful of pasta, and you have a meal ready in a flash. No more Hamburger Helper!
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Ruby Red Pressure Canned Beets
- Perky Pickle Relish
- Whole Canned Tomatoes
- Pressure Canned Diced Carrots
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
With back to school comes the thought of lunches. Do you pack your kids’ lunches or do they eat the school provided meal? Will packing lunches for your kids save you money? What about nutrition? What about keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot? What sorts of foods are safe to pack in a lunch box? Check out this very informative article to get all the answers to these questions… and much, much more.
Lunch Box Basics
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
[RSSImport display="20" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/comments/feed?cat=recipe-requests&withcomments=1" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
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Inspirational Story
The Trench Digger
~author unknown~
An elderly couple retired to the countryside to a small isolated cottage overlooking some rugged and rocky heathland.
One early morning, the woman saw from her window a young man dressed in working clothes walking on the heath about a hundred yards away. He was carrying a spade and a small case and he disappeared from view behind a copse of trees.
The woman thought no more about it but around the same time the next day she saw the man again, carrying his spade and a small case, and again he disappeared behind the copse.
The woman mentioned this to her husband who said he was probably a farmer or gamekeeper setting traps, or performing some other country practice that would be perfectly normal, and so not to worry.
However, after several more sightings of the young man with the spade over the next two weeks, the woman persuaded her husband to take a stroll – early, before the man tended to arrive – to the copse of trees to investigate what he was doing.
There they found a surprisingly long and deep trench, rough and uneven at one end, becoming much neater and tidier towards the other end.
“How strange,” the old lady said, “Why dig a trench here…and in such difficult rocky ground?” and her husband agreed.
Just then the young man appeared earlier than his usual time.
“You’re early,” said the old woman, making light of their obvious curiosity, “We wondered what you were doing and we also wondered what was in the case.”
“I’m digging a trench,” said the man who continued, realizing a bigger explanation was appropriate. “I’m actually learning how to dig a good trench because the job I’m being interviewed for later today says that experience is essential, so I’m getting the experience. And the case…it’s got my lunch in it.”
He got the job.
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
Fried Rice Blend
The most important thing about this recipe is the rice blend. Because white rice isn’t very nutritious and brown rice can be a little chewy I use the best of both worlds.
Make a rice blend using 2 cups of white rice, 1 cup of brown rice, 1 cup of whole wheat and 1/4 cup of flax seed. Adujest amounts to your personal preference.
Cook the rice blend in a rice cooker set for the white rice time.
In a pan add about a tblspn of cooking oil. Add the rice to pan, stir to lightly coat. Add a bag of thawed frozen veggies like peas and carrots. Season with garilc pwder and salt. In another pan fry 3 to 4 eggs. Chop eggs into bite sized bits add to rice and veggies. Enjoy with soy sauce.
Use Water Twice
Whenever I take a bath, (if I’m not just terribly dirty) I leave the bath water in the tub. The next day when I do laundry, I use the water to fill my wash machine. It helps save on my water bill.
Repurposing Hotel Shower Caps for Bowl Covers
I routinely stash hotel soaps, shampoo, and shower caps in my luggage. While I have always found obvious uses for the soap and shampoo, it wasn’t until recently that I learned from one of my girlfriends that the shower caps make good bowl storage lids, very like the ones sold by a well-known company. This was news to me; they work well and can be wiped off with a damp cloth; and they now have a useful purpose in my kitchen!
Recipes Using Tomatillos
I have a lot of tomatillos in my garden and would like to find out how to cook some dishes using them, and can or freeze them if possible.
Western Family Reunion
I am having a potluck Family Reunion. I need frugal ideas for decorations for the tables, games, etc.
Thank you.
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese Recipes
Easy Macaroni And Cheese:
- 1 lb box elbow macaroni
- 1 lb extra sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- 1/2 lb butter
- 1 qt milk
- salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Boil macaroni until it is fork tender and drain.
Grease a 2 quart baking dish. Place a layer of macaroni. Cut butter into small pieces and place some on top of macaroni followed by a layer of cheese.
Continue until your dish is full. Pour milk on top and bake for 1 hour.
Macaroni Salad:
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 1/2cup Kraft Miracle Whip salad dressing
- 1 medium chopped tomato
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/3 cup finely diced onion
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Boil macaroni until fork tender and drain. Cool the macaroni and add salad dressing,tomato,celery,onion,salt and sugar. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Chocolate Candy Recipes
Chocolate Peanut Candy:
- 4 squares of almond bark
- 4 squares of chocolate
- 12 oz package Nestle’s chocolate chips
- 16 oz dry roasted peanuts
Chop up squares and place them into a bowl with remaining ingredients. Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir well and cook in 1 minute intervals until mix has melted. Drop spoon-fulls onto wax paper while mix is still warm. Cool and eat.
Chocolate Crispy Candies:
- 2-12oz bags semi sweet chocolate chops
- 1-12oz bag milk chocolate chips
- 1tbsp shortening
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Melt semi sweet chips and shortening in microwave. Add milk chocolate chips and stir until melted. Stir in rice cereal and spread out on wax paper. Place in refrigerator to cool. Serve.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Eggnog
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 quarts milk
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ground nutmeg
Beat eggs then place eggs, sugar and salt into a large saucepan. With stove temperature low, gradually stir in milk and keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken (it takes about 20 minutes). Remove from heat and cool in the refrigerator. Once mixture has been cooled, pour into punch bowl and stir in vanilla extract and 1 tsp ground nutmeg.
Topping:
Beat whipping cream with mixer until it forms soft peaks. Gently add to the top of the eggnog mixture. Dust with nutmeg.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Salsa Recipe
- 1 1/2 cups green pepper (diced)
- 8 cups tomatoes (diced)
- 3 lg onions (diced)
- 2 Jalapeno peppers
- 15 oz can tomato sauce (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic (crushed) or a good pinch of garlic powder
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp salt
Combine all the ingredients into a large stock pot. Cook for 15 minutes on a medium-low heat. Remove from heat and add 2 tbsp of cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Place back on stove and bring to a boil. Cool and serve.
The salsa will last a good week in the fridge in an air tight container.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Are you a sweet potato or pumpkin pie person? We tend to have more sweet potato pies around here, but if you like the more traditional pumpkin one, then this homemade pumpkin pie recipe is perfect for you. Serve it around the holidays with a little ice cream or whipped cream on top for a perfect dessert.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- 1 (16oz.) can pumpkin
- 1 (12oz.) can evaporated milk
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1 pie crust (half of this homemade pie crust recipe) or use a frozen shell
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients (except the pie crust) together. Pour into the frozen or homemade pie shell. Bake for 20 minutes. Then reduce the heat of your oven to 350 degrees and bake an additional 45 minutes.
If you notice that the crust of the pie is getting to dark, put some aluminum foil over it to prevent it from browning more.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Wild Wild West Cookout, Emergency Money, Take Rest – HBHW Newsletter
August 4th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. This edition is running a little late today because I had too much fun sitting at the kitchen table with my sister. She is visiting for a few days and we always have a good time catching up and reminiscing about back when we were little girls.
Before we get back to school, let’s have a last cookout, and let’s make it a good one. My friend Cheryl over at Celebrations.com has created a cookout with all the makings of the Wild Wild West. There are recipes for kids and grownups, as well as decoration and entertainment ideas. Be sure to click on this link to find everything you need for a Cowboy Themed Summer Cookout.
This week’s featured article is about where to find emergency money. Because of the simple fact of being in an “emergency” we often get befuddled and confused and forget all our basic budgeting skills. Take a minute to sit back and study this strategic look at finding money when you need it by reading this week’s featured article.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week I hope will give you a few moments to pause and think about how much you have to gain by taking time to rest and enjoy what’s around you. Also, appreciate the fact that you are enough… there’s nothing you can’t do.
Those are my thoughts 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
Take rest. A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
~Ovid~
Sponsor
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
Are you tired of spending huge amounts of money on laundry detergent and softeners? Me too. I’m literally throwing money down the drain!
And, when it comes to laundry, it isn’t only the money; it’s the time and effort it takes to get the laundry done, folded, and put away.
Finally, I have gotten a handle on my laundry woes. I found the answers in this great laundry guide from my friends at LivingOnADime.com
Won’t you take a minute and look at what this E-book has to offer? Just click on this link and learn how to start saving time and money today:
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing canning, interesting tips for used tea bags, and all sorts of fun things. Besides the discussions going on, we’ve been sharing recipes. Here is one of the recipes I posted on the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Young Zucchini Pickles
6 lbs. young zucchini, sliced thin
2 cups onions, sliced thin
1/2 cup of pickling salt
2 qts of ice water
2 cup of sugar
2 qts of distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup of whole mustard seed
1/4 cup of celery seed
1 tsp turmeric
Place the zucchini and onions into a 12 quart glass bowl and sprinkle evenly with the salt.
Pour the ice water over the vegetables and stir once.
Cover the bowl and let the veggies stand at room temperature for 3 hours.
Dump the veggies into a colander, rinse well and drain.
Roll the vegetables in a clean kitchen towel to dry them.
Prepare the jars and lids as directed by the manufacturer.
Combine the sugar, vinegar, mustard, celery seeds, and turmeric in a stainless steel or glass sauce pan.
Place the sauce pan over high heat and stirring constantly bring to a brisk boil.
Add the vegetables and return the mixture to a boil.
Pack the pickles into the jars and add enough of the hot cooking liquid to maintain a 1/2 inch head space.
Release the air bubbles and add more pickles and water to retain the correct head space.
Wipe the rims, seal the jars and place in a water bath canner.
Process the pickles from the point of boiling in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.
Remove carefully and cool in a draft free area, check the seals and refrigerate any jars that did not seal correctly for up to 2 months.
Makes 12 pints
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Chunky Canned Pears
- Thick Rich Tomato Sauce
- Tender Canned Chicken
- Canned Freshwater Fish
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
If you feel like you’re behind the eight-ball at times, scrambling, trying to find ways to get, earn, or find extra money, this article is for you.
One of the first things I notice is that when money needs to be found for an emergency, the brain seems to shut down. It’s the “emergency” aspect that has us panicked and unable to find the money we need.
This article gives you a clear and concise method for thinking your way through an emergency money situation. Just click on the link below to find out how to lay out a real strategy for finding emergency money:
Where Can I Get Emergency Money
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
[RSSImport display="5" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/feed" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
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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 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
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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.
[RSSImport display="20" feedurl="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/comments/feed?cat=recipe-requests&withcomments=1" displaydescriptions=true end_item="
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Inspirational Story
Nothing To Fear
~author unknown~
There’s nothing to fear – you’re as good as the best,
As strong as the mightiest, too.
You can win in every battle or test;
For there’s no one just like you.
There’s only one you in the world today;
So nobody else, you see,
Can do your work in as fine a way:
You’re the only you there’ll be !
So face the world, and all life is yours
To conquer and love and live:
And you’ll find the happiness that endures
In just the measure you give;
There’s nothing too good for you to possess,
Nor heights where you cannot go:
Your power is more than belief or guess
It is something you have to know.
There is nothing to fear – you can and you will.
For you are the invincible you.
Set your foot on the highest hill -
There’s nothing you cannot do.
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
Corn Cob Jelly
My mother made this and she is not with us any more. I just put four dozens of sweet corn in the freezer and would love to make the jelly.
Homemade Apple Pie Recipes
There’s a reason they call it “As American As Apple Pie”. We have certainly perfected this simple little treat over the years. Below you will find two of my favorite homemade apple pie recipes. The first is a little more involved (but certainly well worth the little extra effort), while the second recipe is easy enough even for a weekday treat.
Homemade Apple Pie
- 6 granny smith apples
- 1 nine inch pie crust
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Topping:
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup flour
- 6 tbsp very cold butter
Peel and core all of the granny smith apples. Slice apples thin and place them into the pie shell and set aside.
Combine sugar and flour. Cut butter into small pieces and add to dry mix until crumbley. Place on top of the pie and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
Super Easy Apple Pie:
- 6 tart apples (granny smiths work well)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ready made pie crust
Peel and core apples. Mix together sugar and cinnamon. Place apples into pie crust and sprinkle with sugar mixture and butter. Add top crust and cut a slit to ventilate. Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Chocolate Pie
Yum, is there anything better than a nice slice of homemade chocolate pie for dessert when you have a hankering for something chocolate? If you ask me there isn’t so it’s about time I shared one of my favorite pie recipes. Enjoy!
Homemade Chocolate Pie Recipe
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 5 eggs (separate yolks and whites)
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 12oz can of evaporated milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 cups water
- 2 baked pie crusts (recipe makes 2 pies)
I usually start this pie by making a recipe of my double pie crust and baking them. It helps to weigh the pie crusts down with another pie pan filled with beans. If baking pie shells is not your thing, you can of course use a prebaked one, or even a graham cracker crust.
While the pie shells cool, let’s make the filling. You will need a large pot and a metal bowl that fits into the pot. If you happen to have a double boiler, you can of course also use it. Put some water in the pot and bring it to a boil over medium to medium high heat. Add the metal bowl and while the water simmers away, add the sugar, egg yolks, flour, cocoa, milk and vanilla. Stir everything together really well and keep whisking away until the mixture begins to thicken. You are basically making a chocolate custard here. Pour the mixture into the pie crusts.
Now it’s time for the topping. Beat egg whites with 1/2 cup of sugar until light and frothy. Spread on top of pies and bake at 350 degrees until pies are light brown.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Baked Carrots
This is one of my daughter’s favorite ways to eat carrots. To be honest, I don’t make this dish very often since the butter and condensed milk make it very rich, but it is wonderful for holidays or special occasions.
Baked Carrots Recipe
- 2 lbs. carrots
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 stick butter (cut into small cubes)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup fine bread crumbs
Wash and peel the carrots, then cut them into thirds. Place carrots into boiling salted water and cover with a lid. Cook until carrots are fork tender.
Remove from heat and drain. Mash carrots and add all other ingredients. Cover with bread crumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Serve these baked carrots right away.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Cooked Mayo
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 teaspoons lemon juice
- 3 Tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup oil
1. In medium pan, whisk egg yolks and water until bubbly.
2. Place over medium-low heat and continue to whisk until mixture just begins to thicken, coating the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat. Continue to whisk, and add oil very slowly in a steady stream.
3. Allow mixture to cool, then whisk in lemon juice and salt.
Homemade Stuffing
There are as many stuffing or (as we call it down here in the south) dressing recipes out there as there are cooks. Here’s one I like that’s based on bread. Most of the time, I end up making cornbread dressing, but this particular homemade stuffing made with bread is very good as well. You can use any type of bread from homemade to store-bought and sliced.
Homemade Stuffing Recipe
- 2 loaves of bread
- 3 lbs. onions
- 2 celery stalks
- 3 eggs
- seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, sage etc.)
Cook onions and celery until they are translucent. Chop bread into small pieces and combine with onion and celery. Add seasoning to taste. Bake
at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
If stuffing seems too dry you can add small amounts of broth until you get the consistency you like.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Basic Yellow Mustard
- 1/2 cup yellow or black mustard seeds
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup water or flat beer
- 1-1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1. Soak seeds in vinegar and water or beer for 2 days.
2. Place mixture in blender along with sugar and salt and puree until almost smooth. Add water if needed for desired consistency.
Mustard will be very spicy, but will mellow after a day or two in the refrigerator.
NOTE: To make an herb mustard, add 1 teaspoon of herb of your choice with the sugar and salt.
For Honey Mustard: add honey to completed mustard at a 1:1 ratio.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Catsup (condiment)
Tomato Catsup
- 1 stick cinnamon, broken
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon mustard seed
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 cup vinegar
- 8 lbs tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon salt
Place cinnamon stick, cloves, mustard seed and celery seed in a spice bag; add to vinegar. Bring vinegar and spices to a boil; remove from heat and let stand. Peel, core and quarter tomatoes. Combine tomatoes, onion and cayenne pepper. Simmer until soft. Press through a sieve or food mill. Add sugar to tomato pulp. Bring to a boil; simmer until reduced by half. Remove spice bag from vinegar. Add vinegar and salt to tomato mixture. Simmer until desired consistency, about 30 minutes. Cool. Ladle catsup into can-or-freeze jars or plastic freezer boxes, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal, label and freeze. Yields about 5 half-pints.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Carrot, Raisin and Pineapple Salad
- 1 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup marshmallows
- 1/2 can diced pineapple (drained)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup salad dressing (Miracle Whip works well)
- 1/2 tub of cool whip
Mix all the ingredients together and place in refrigerator for at least 2 hrs. The longer it chills, the better it will taste. When I make this for company I make it a day or so ahead. Make sure you keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
If you take it to a cookout and the likes, bring two bowls, one with the salad in it and another larger one that you can fill with ice. Then set the salad bowl on top of the larger bowl. This will keep the salad nice and ice cold.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Chunky Applesauce Recipe For Canning
I am looking for an applesauce recipe for canning. I’m not too fond of the traditional texture, but would like to cube it . Does anyone have any suggestions that would help?
Pickled Carrots
If you are lucky enough to have a huge carrot harvest, give this pickled carrots recipe a try. They are wonderful all throughout the winder to brighten up salads or to have just by themselves as a side dish. It’s a nice change of pace from regular pickles or even pickled beets.
Pickled Carrot Recipe
- 3-1 lb. Bags of small carrots
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp pickling spices
- cheese cloth
Boil carrots until they are fork tender. Drain carrots and slice into sticks.
Combine sugar, vinegar, water and salt. Place cinnamon stick and pickling spices into a cheesecloth bag and add to the sugar/vinegar mixture. Add carrots and boil for 8 min. Cool slightly and place into sterilized jars.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Spelt Bread Recipes
Just wondering if anyone has any good spelt bread recipes? There is one bakery locally that makes it, but charges $7 a loaf. I think it would be cheaper to make my own (I am allergic to wheat, corn and cane sugar). If you want to share any other recipes free of the above ingredients, I would appreciate those too Thanks.
Biscuit Cutter On The Cheap
My wife wanted to buy a biscuit cutter that was like $2.90 something for the set. I said why waste the money when we already had one? When we got home I took an empty pineapple can (similar to tuna) that had a ring on the bottom like the top and cut the bottom off with those safety can openers. It’s the size for the biscuit she likes and works like a charm. Cost, about 78 or 90 cents. I also use it for doughnuts. I just use an old film canister to cut out the center hole. Hope someone can use this.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Clean Out The Fridge Soup
You can either brown some hamburger to start or what I do most often is boil up some chicken (I use thighs) in water with bouillon cubes and seasoning to taste. When the chicken is done I take it out to cool and debone. Then I throw in a can of cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom soup with beef). When that is heated up, I literally take all the leftover veggies in my fridge and put them in the pot. I live alone, so I always have leftovers. You can also add potatoes, noodles, canned tomatoes, etc. I take the boneless chicken and add it. All you have to do then is heat it through.
The wonderful things about this, it gets rid of leftovers and the flavor is always different depending what you put in it.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
All About You, $75 Menu, Cowboy Cookout – HBHW Newsletter
July 28th, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
It will be back-to-school before we know it so let’s get into some serious summertime fun. What does summertime fun mean to me? A cookout! My friend Cheryl over at Celebrations.com has created a cookout with all the makings of a day on the open range in the Wild Wild West. There are recipes for kids and grownups, as well as decoration and entertainment ideas. Be sure to click on this link to find everything you need for a Cowboy Themed Summer Cookout.
This week’s featured article brings back a very popular subject from the past; the $45 Emergency Menu. However, as we all know, the cost of food has risen somewhat since the time I posted that article. So, I have tweaked the menu to more closely reflect today’s grocery prices. Be sure to take a look at the featured article this week.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about you; more importantly what you do with your life. Are you hindering your growth and happiness?
Those are my thoughts 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
Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
Sponsor
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
Aside from groceries, another large expense in most households is laundry. We are literally throwing money down the drain!
Every time you buy laundry detergent and softener, do you cringe, like me?
And, when it comes to laundry, it isn’t only the money; it’s the time and effort it takes to get the laundry done, folded, and put away.
Finally, I can report that I have gotten a handle on my laundry woes. I found the answers in this great laundry guide from my friends at LivingOnADime.com
Won’t you take a minute and look at what this E-book has to offer? Just click on this link and learn how to start saving time and money today:
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Our friends at the Club have been discussing canning. We’ve received some great tips from a long-time canner, along with quite a few recipes. Here is one of the recipes I posted on the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Old Fashioned Canned Tomato Juice
If you like a salty tomato juice, you’ll want to salt it when you drink it, not before you can it. This tomato juice makes a wonderful marinade or tenderizer for meat. It’s especially good for any kind of crockpot stew or roast that you make with a less expensive cut of meat. For any recipe you use, just substitute this tomato juice for some or all of the diced tomatoes you might add.
25 lbs. of tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
14 Tbsp. lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
Prepare the quart size canning jars and two piece lids according the manufacturer’s instructions.
Place the tomatoes into a large cooking pot and bring to a slow simmer over medium heat.
Stirring often cook the tomatoes for 30 minutes or until very soft.
Press the tomato mixture through a sieve to separate the juice from the skins and seeds.
Place the juice back into the pot and bring to a slow simmer over medium heat.
Simmer the juice for 5 additional minutes.
Pour the juice into the prepared jars leaving a 1/2 inch head space.
Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to each jar.
Release the air bubbles and add more juice if necessary to achieve the 1/2 inch head space.
Wipe off the jar rims and seal down the caps by hand.
Process the jars in a water bath canner for 45 minutes from the point of boiling.
Remove the jars with a jar lifter and place on clean towels in a draft free area to cool.
Check the seals before storing and place any jars with tops that did not seal in the refrigerator.
Use any refrigerated juice within 2 weeks.
Makes 7 quarts
A metal colander works fine for the sieve.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Anytime Strawberry Jam
- Fresh Green Sweet Peas
- Handy Canned Onions
- Pressure Canned Greens
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
For many families on a tight budget, the most effective way to cut costs is in their grocery bill each month. This one expense is something we feel we have control over. Planning a menu in detail, with each item chosen for greatest cost savings, can help a family truly stick to a limited budget.
That’s why I developed a menu plan that is easy to follow, including specific dishes with recipes included. Most people I talk to want and need a plan to follow in order to save real money, and stick to a budget.
Won’t you take a few minutes to read the article and see how you can really save on your grocery bill? Just click on the link below:
$70 Menu for 4 to 6
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
You Are
~author unknown~
One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.”
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: “Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he’s no longer here!”
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.”
YOU are the only person who can revolutionize your life.
YOU are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.
YOU are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes.
Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that YOU ARE the only one responsible for your life.
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
Gluten Free Summer Treats
I don’t know about where you are but here in Pennsylvania it has been extremely hot the past few weeks. So I thought that I would share some of the cool treats that I like to make for my granddaughters.
They are not only refreshing, but are better for the girls than the store bought frozen treats. Besides with the Frozen Fruit Pops I control the amount of sugar.
Frozen Fruit Pops
- 1 1/2 Cups of fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapple, peaches*, or whatever your child likes)
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
In a blender, blend the fruit, sugar, honey and lemon juice with 1 cup of ice until mixture is semi chunky. Add another 1/2 cup of ice and blend until smooth.
Pour mixture into popcicle holders** and freeze until firm. About 5 hours, or over night.
*If using peaches or other fruit with a skin on it, remove skin before blending in the blender.
Frozen Pudding Pops
- 1 small package Jello brand pudding mix any flavor
- 2 Cups cold milk
Whisk ingredients until completely mixed about 2 minutes. Pour into popcicle holders.** Freeze about 5 hours or overnight.
**Run popcicle holders under warm water for a few seconds to unmold the frozen treats. If you don’t have popcicle holders you can always use bathroom size dixie cups and popcicle or craft sticks. Just freeze slightly before inserting the sticks into the center of the cups, and remember to peel the paper off first.
I use Jello brand pudding because that is the only brand I am certain is gluten free. But, as always, check ingredients before using.
I hope you and your children have fun making these and enjoy them as much as my granddaughters do.
Mary Blackburn has been gluten free since 1988 and is the owner of http://www.easyglutenfreeliving.com. She invites you to visit her site for more gluten free living tips and recipes. While you’re there, take a moment to sign up for The Gluten Free Gazette, her bi-weekly newsletter filled with articles and answers to your questions about gluten, gluten free living and celiac disease.
Pasta Salad Made With Sour Cream
I am looking for a recipe for pasta salad and potato salad that is made with sour cream or cream cheese instead of mayo or salad dressing. If any body has a recipe to share I would really like to try it.
Thank you,
CharlieAnn
Crockpot Cooking Is About More Than Convenience – It’s About Saving Both Time And Money
I bought a crockpot some time ago, thinking that I found the solution to my nightly dinner dilemma. Like so many other “crockpot fanatics,” the bloom was off the rose as soon as I found myself with a bit more time and money to spend. So, my crockpot found it’s way into the deep, dark recesses of my pantry, never to be heard from again. Or so I thought. My budget is tighter than ever and time is at a premium, as well. Dinnertime is again centered on a warm and wonderful crockpot meal, much to the delight of my family.
If you have forgotten exactly when you bought your crockpot, or it has a pattern or color that’s reminiscent of the 70′s, 80′s, or 90′s, it’s best to buy a new one. You’ll be doing yourself a favor spending the $30 to $50, what with all the new energy efficient models available. There are also some really great new features like additional temperature settings, warming cycles, and secure leak-proof lids. Although, the best feature of all is that a crockpot saves you both time and money. That’s great to know, but how exactly does that happen?
MONEY SAVING
Small Appliance Wattage vs Big Wattage Appliance
If you’ve got a pot roast in the oven, you’ve got your oven heating for a long time. Let’s just figure your pot roast is going to cook for 3 hours. That’s 3 hours in a roughly 2500 watt appliance, which calculates at about 10 kWh for your pot roast. Now, put that same pot roast in your crockpot, cook it for 6 hours, and you’ve used 1.2 kWh to cook the same meal. That’s because your crockpot uses about 200 watts instead of 2500. Why heat up a big oven, or have a burner on radiating heat for long hours when you’ve got a little personal-sized oven all ready – your crockpot. Look at the online energy consumption calculators and check out your own appliances to see if this doesn’t make sense.
Bring Home Those Budget Cuts Again
It’s time to try some of those budget cuts of meat again! This time, when you cook them in your crockpot instead of the oven, the meat will fall right off the bone and you can cut it with a fork. The sinew and tissue breaks down nicely when cooked with a low, slow method of the crockpot. Cooking the meat with some liquid added also adds to the tender results. An expensive, tender cut of meat won’t do in the least in your crockpot; they just don’t come out as well as your budget meats. So, if you’ve been avoiding the less expensive cuts of meat, now’s the time to try again. No more disasters, because they’re not going in the oven!
Stay Out Of That Drive Thru
Are you spending money on fast food? How many times have you rushed through the convenience store, spending money you didn’t have on bad food? Here’s where your crockpot can save you money with a little planning. Get your meal planned, shop, and prepare everything ahead of time. Now, when everybody gets home after school and work, and all that evening chaos begins, at least you know you have dinner bubbling away in the crockpot. No more quick, and expensive, stops for fast food.
Don’t Add Heat To An Already Stressed Air Conditioner
If your air conditioner is running, you really don’t want to start that oven, or even have a burner going on your stove top for any length of time. I know you’re thinking, well, it’s hot out so why not just eat salads and sandwiches? But, if you live in a part of the country where the summer heat lasts sometimes for seven or eight months out of the year, you and your family can really get hungry for a nice pot roast or hearty soup. And when it’s hot and steamy outside, and the air conditioner is just barely keeping you comfortable, you don’t want to stress it, or yourselves, out by adding more heat to your kitchen. Your little crockpot just won’t crank out that much additional heat.
TIME SAVING
Give Up The Watched Pot
If you are watching your pots boil, you are wasting time. Even stirring soups and sauces take time, especially if you’re making something that could stick to the bottom of the pot if left unattended. When you make a meal in one pot it truly does save time, but not if you have to watch it! Sure, you can put a pot roast in the oven and you won’t have to stand over it while it cooks, but now you’re not saving money. Don’t we want to save both money and time?
Get The Family Helping In The Kitchen
The whole family can help put a crockpot meal together, which frees up some of my time. I don’t worry about my kids getting burned on a hot stove, so they can wash vegetables and throw them right in the crockpot for me. You don’t start a crockpot cooking until everything is inside, so it’s safe for the kids to be in the kitchen helping. And because there are so many recipes for simple crockpot meals, recipes which require only a few main ingredients, anyone, even my non-cooking husband, can grab a recipe and throw together a meal to help out.
Eliminate Running To The Store
Nightly stops at the store to quick grab something to cook for dinner is a serious waste of time. Now I take one trip to the grocery store, and buy everything I need for at least three crockpot meals. I can plan several all-in-one-step meals, buy and even prep a lot of the ingredients ahead of time, and pop a meal in the crockpot in the morning. Now, we can go straight home from the soccer game… home to a hot meal!
MONEY AND TIME SAVING
Cook Once Eat Twice
I’m a big believer in cooking larger portions so that we’re cooking once and eating twice. My crockpot is a 6 quart size oval, which is big enough to have leftovers for lunches, so we don’t have to spend money buying lunches at work or school. We also will cook double and put half in the freezer. This way, I’m cooking only two or three times a week, and we’re eating from the freezer the other days. For us, that’s a real time and money saver.
Now that you’ve seen the time and money saving reasons to use your crockpot, I challenge you to give your crockpot a second chance. Get your crockpot out again, or treat yourself to one of the new models, and browse through some recipes. It’s time you started cooking, and saving time and money all at the same time!
Ready to get your crockpot fired up? Find almost 500 recipes plus tips to make your crockpot meals come out perfect every time in this valuable resource Crockpot Cooking Made Simple.
If you don’t have a crockpot yet, this guide will give you all the information you need to help you choose the crockpot that’s right for you.
Click on Crockpot Cooking Made Simple and start saving time and money today!
Lemonade Chicken
I love this simple chicken dish. The frozen lemonade gives it just the right amount of tang. I know it may sound a little weird, but please give it a try and see if you don’t love the simple sweet and sour flavor. It’s served over rice and has some veggies in it. Just add a little fruit salad for dessert and dinner is ready.
Lemonade Chicken Recipe
- 1 cup white rice
- 4 chicken breasts, or about 6 boneless chicken leg pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 6-fluid ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate thawed
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 1 green bell pepper small, cut in 1-inch strips
- 1 red bell pepper small, cut in 1-inch strips
- 1 yellow pepper small cut in 1-inch strips, or 1 small yellow summer squash, cut in 1/4 -inch slices
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Cook rice according to package directions; keep warm if necessary.
Remove skin from chicken breasts. Cut chicken into 2 x 1/2 x 1/2 -inch strips. In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, saute chicken and garlic in oil until chicken is opaque. Reduce heat to medium.
Add lemonade concentrate, water and bouillon granules. Cook for 10 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
Add peppers. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, stir water and cornstarch until smooth. Pour into skillet. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Serve over rice.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Fish Chowder
- 2 tablespoons margarine or oil
- 1 large onion, minced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 cups tap water
- 5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 pound frozen fish fillets
- 4 or 5 cups milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cold water
- 1/3 cup flour
- a jar with a tight fitting lid
This soup is very good, and an excellent way to make a pound of fish go a long way. First get out a good sized soup pot. Melt the margarine in it and saute the onion and celery until they are tender. Add 2 cups of water and the potatoes. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. While the vegetables are simmering, cut the fish into chunks about an inch square. Add the fish to the potatoes. Cover and continue simmering for about 10 minutes. If the fish is room temperature, it will only take about 5 minutes. The fish will be opaque and flake easily when it is done. Next add the milk, salt and pepper. Heat gently while you do the next part.
In a pint sized jar, combine 1-cup cold tap water and 1/3-cup flour. Screw on the lid. Shake and shake the jar until the flour is dissolved in the water. Pour this mixture into the pot of hot soup. Stir it up and bring the whole thing to a slow boil. Boil and stir for a full minute, or until everything is nicely thickened. Serve hot with crackers and Waldorf Salad.
This is very similar to clam chowder, except it uses less expensive frozen fish fillets. If you liked, you could replace the fish with two 10 ounce cans of clams (undrained). This will cost about a dollar more, but it will be the best Clam Chowder you have ever had.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Save On Water Bills
Since our water bill keeps going up and up and up, I keep finding ways to use less and less. When I empty the dehumidifier, I empty the water into a bucket and then I use the water to water my flowers or my garden outside. When I boil water to cook something, I save the water when I’m done, let it cool, and water plants with that too. – Laura
Great tips, Laura. Here are a few of the things my family and I do.
- Take quick showers instead of baths.
- Use bathwater to water plants (provided you didn’t add anything that could hurt them).
- Turn the water off while you brush your teeth, wash in the shower etc.
- Check for leaky faucets and toilets and fix them.
- Don’t run the washer or dish washer unless it’s full.
- Wash all dishes in one sink full of hot soapy water, starting with the cleanest and ending with the most greasy stuff (like pots and pans).
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Hot Night Suppers
If anyone has some suggestions for suppers to be served on nights when you just don’t want to turn on the stove or oven it would be appreciated. Sometimes its just too hot to heat up the house. Have the basic salads and fruit salads anything else?
Thanks in advance – Jan
Great question Jan and I can certainly relate right now. It’s super hot and I haven’t used my oven in weeks and the stove only when absolutely needed. Here are a couple of ideas for you:
Use your crockpot whenever you can. You can cook almost anything in there. Here are some crockpot recipes for you to try and take a look at my Crockpot Cooking Made Simple guide for lots more recipes and tips.
Grill – get hubby to grill some burgers, chicken, pork chops, steak, fish etc. on the grill. Make sure you have him cook plenty so you have leftovers for a few other meals.
Crumble up leftover hamburgers in your crockpot and turn them into chili or beef and vegetable soup.
Leftover chicken, pork and steak can be served cold the next day on sandwiches and salads.
When it come to baking, I just use my breadmaker for now.
For more summer cooking tips, take a look at this report about Simple Summer Cooking and I’m sure other readers have plenty of ideas to share.
Highly Recommended:
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Got a hot summer day recipe or tip to share? Please leave a comment below. Thanks – Susanne
Frugal Pressure Cleaner
For an easy and inexpensive way to pressure clean small areas, I use the hose attachment that comes with water balloons. It focuses the water into a small area and creates a lot of pressure. I cleaned my whole pack porch with one!
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Stretching Ground Beef
To stretch ground beef, shred a leftover baked potato or two and mix with the ground beef after you have browned it. Season and use for tacos or whatever. My family likes it like this better than just plain ground beef.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Carrot Muffins Recipe
Try this carrot muffins recipe. The end result tastes like little mini carrot cakes. Yum!
They are easy to make and fun to do with kids. You may even convince your picky eater that carrots aren’t so bad with this muffin recipe.
They taste delicious as is. You can also turn them into carrot cake cupcakes by adding a little of your favorite cream cheese frosting on top of each cooled muffin.
Carrot Muffins
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
- 4 eggs (beaten)
- 3 cups sifted flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Combine sugar, oil and eggs in a mixing bowl. Add in all dry ingredients (a little at a time).
Place in greased muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for 25 min.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Roasted Carrots Recipe
Roasting brings out the sweetness and flavor in this simple roasted carrots recipe. It’s quick and easy enough to do even for a weeknight dinner, and tastes so good that you’ll be making this dish over and over.
Roasted Carrots Recipe
- 1 lb carrots (washed and peeled)
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp butter or margarine
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2tsp salt
Slice carrots into 3 inch strips. Place carrots into a baking dish and cover with butter, juice, honey and salt. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
Roast for 25min. at 350 degrees. Then uncover and roast for an additional 20 min.
Cover with parsley and serve warm.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Almond Joy Cake
A delicious cake that tastes just like the popular candy bar? I have got to try this Almond Joy cake.
Almond Joy Cake Recipe
- 1 pkg. Chocolate cake mix with pudding
- 1 lg. can evaporated milk
- 2 ½ cups sugar (total-divided)
- 26 large marshmallows
- 1 -14 oz package coconut
- ½ cup (1 stick) margarine/butter
- 1 -12 oz. pkg chocolate chips
- 1 – 3 ½ oz. pkg silvered almonds (toasted)
Bake chocolate cake according to directions for 13 x 9″ pan.
While cake is baking, heat 1 cup evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar, marshmallows and coconut in a medium saucepan until melted. Pour over hot cake.
In a medium saucepan, melt margarine, then add remaining 1 ½ cups sugar, and ½ cup evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Pour mixture over the cake and top with almonds.
NOTE:
I substituted coconut milk for the evaporated milk.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Almost Frosty Paws – Dog Ice Cream Recipe
My dog LOVES these!
Almost Frosty Paws “Doggie Ice Cream”
- 32 oz. vanilla yogurt
- 1 large mashed banana (or a large jar of baby food banana)
- 2 Tablespoons of peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons of honey
Blend together and freeze in small Dixie Cups or plastic “take out” containers. If using Dixie Cups, just peel away the paper and put directly into their food bowl to serve. My dog prefers that they “warm up” for 10-15 min. before serving. My cat likes it unfrozen!
Carrot Ginger Soup Recipe
Don’t let the flavor combination put you off. This carrot ginger soup recipe is delicious and perfect for a hot summer day. It is best served chilled. I usually make a batch early in the morning (or even the night before) and then take it out of the fridge for lunch. It also makes a nice appetizer when you have company.
Carrot Ginger Soup
- 1 lb carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 1 cup onion (finely chopped)
- 1 cup celery (finely chopped)
- 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp ginger (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp butter
Place butter, carrots, onion, celery and ginger into a saucepan and saute for 10 minutes. Add in the broth and cook on low heat for 20 minutes. Place into a blender with lime juice and puree until smooth. Served chilled.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Candied Carrots Recipe
This simple candied carrots recipe turns into ordinary root vegetables into a delicious treat. These are wonderful with any type of pork or chicken dish. I’m planning on making them for the holidays as well.
Candied Carrots
- 12 medium sized carrots
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp allspice
Wash and peel carrots. Cut into julienne strips. Place carrots into a pot and boil them until fork tender. Drain well while carrots are still hot then add in butter, sugar and allspice. Coat carrots well. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 min.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Carrot Souffle Recipe
Ready to “dress up” your carrots. Instead of serving them just steamed for dinner, give this carrot souffle recipe a try. It’s surprisingly simple and frugal, but will surely impress your family or dinner guests.
Carrot Souffle Recipe
- 1 lb carrots (about 5 large carrots)
- 5 tbsp softened butter
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp milk
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Wash and peel carrots. Cut into small chunks.
Place carrot chunks into a pot and boil until they are fork tender. Drain and place into a blender or food processor with the butter, milk and salt and puree until smooth.
Beat eggs with a mixer until light and fluffy. Fold into carrot puree. Fold the Parmesan cheese in as well. Place in a greased casserole dish or individual ramekins. Bake for 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cover with some foil for about 20 minutes to allow the dish to set.
This simple carrot souffle can be served warm or cold.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: Secret Restaurant Recipes
Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
Get your copy today at:
Living Simply and All About Laundry – HBHW Newsletter
July 21st, 2010
Editorial
Hello again and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter.
We all want to save money on our family’s budget. There are a lot of little tips, tricks, and ideas to do that, but there’s one area that has probably the best return-on-investment you can get for your effort. We’re talking about laundry detergent and softener.
This week’s featured article will show you how to save money, REAL money, not just pennies a day, but perhaps dollars a day by making your own laundry products. Please take a look at these simple recipes and you, too, can start enjoying huge savings on your household budget.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week are about living simply. Please take a moment to read and reflect on both the quote and the lovely poem I’ve chosen for the story.
Those are my thoughts 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
Thrift is the best means of thriving.
~Charles J. Hare~
Sponsor
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
When you take a look at your family’s budget, is there one item that stands out as a big money and time drain? There was in my house – the laundry!
Every time I put one of those big boxes or jugs of laundry detergent on the checkout at the grocery store, I cringed. And, it wasn’t only the money, it was the struggle of getting the laundry done, folded, and put away.
But, all that changed when I started using this great laundry guide from my friends at LivingOnADime.com
This one ebook has saved me hundreds of dollars at the store just by eliminating those costly store-bought laundry products. With simple recipes, improved laundry techniques, and lots of helpful little tips, my laundry is no longer a nightmare of wasted time and money.
Won’t you take a minute and look at what this E-book has to offer? Just click on this link and learn how to start saving time and money today:
Keepin’ It Clean E-book Series
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
We’ve been discussing canning over at the Club. Even though I grew up in a home where my grandmother and mother canned, I have yet to try my hand at it, until now. This year I will be making an effort to can a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Here is one of the recipes I posted on the Club that I’d like to share with you:
Sunday Morning Raspberry Syrup
5 cups fresh raspberries, hulled and cut in half
3 cups water, divided
1 Tbsp lemon zest, grated
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups corn syrup
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Put the raspberries into a 5 quart pot and mash the raspberries with a potato masher.
Pour 1 1/2 cups of water over the berries and add the lemon zest.
Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer the berries for 5 minutes.
Strain the berries through a mesh strainer over a bowl.
Prepare the canning jars as directed by the manufacturer of the jars and keep them hot.
Stir the remaining water and the sugar together in a large saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
Cook the mixture until the temperature reaches 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Stir in the strained raspberry mixture and corn syrup and bring back to a boil.
Boil the syrup for 4 minutes, remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
Remove any foam that has formed off the top and discard.
Pour the hot syrup into the canning jars leaving a 1/4 inch head space.
Release the air bubbles by sticking a clean knife in mixture and add more syrup if necessary to maintain the head space.
Process the syrup in a water bath canner for 10 minutes from the point of boiling.
Remove and cool on towels in a dry draft free area then check the seals before storing.
Makes 6 half pints
Takes approximately 40 minutes from start to finish.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Sweet Canned Blueberries
- Tomato Jalapeno Salsa
- Easy Homemade Grilling Glazes
- Easy Homemade Grilling Rubs
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
For today’s featured article I’d like to share recipes for homemade laundry soap and softener. I know with just these two recipes I’ve saved hundreds of dollars on my laundry budget. Please click on the link below and give these frugal recipes a try:
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Cheap Fabric Softener
But, why stop with the laundry? Click on the link below to find even more cleaning products you can make at home:
Homemade Cleaning Products
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Simple Things
~Edgar A. Guest~
I would not be too wise-so very wise
That I must sneer at simple songs and creeds,
And let the glare of wisdom blind my eyes
To humble people and their humble needs.
I would not care to climb so high that I
Could never hear the children at their play,
Could only see the people passing by,
And never hear the cheering words they say.
I would not know too much-too much to smile
At trivial errors of the heart and hand,
Nor be too proud to play the friend the while
Nor cease to help and know and understand.
I would not care to sit upon a throne,
Or build my house upon a mountain-top,
Where I must dwell in glory all alone
And never friend come in or poor man stop.
God grant that I may live upon this earth
And face the tasks which every morning brings
And never lose the glory and the worth
Of humble service and the simple things.
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
Pulled Pork Crockpot Recipes – Learn What Makes This Southern Tradition Authentic
If you find yourself sitting in a cozy little diner somewhere in the South in your travels, don’t be alarmed when you hear voices start to rise in hot debate. Passionate debates are not uncommon here in the South, especially when it comes to those things we hold near and dear to our heart. So what is it that’s being so hotly debated? Politics? Religion? Sports? No, nothing as mundane as that. We’re talking about who’s got the best pulled pork recipes in the South.
Take a drive through the South and you will find any number of restaurants that will hotly debate that they, and they alone, have the original, authentic Southern-style pulled pork sandwich recipe. How can each state, region, and locality claim to have the one, true, original recipe? It’s hard to argue with Southern cooking aficionados, so let’s just take a look at what makes this sandwich unique, as well as debatable.
We have to consider a wide range of regions. Classics like Memphis style, Southern style, North Carolina style, and South Carolina style, are only the beginning. You’ll also hear from folks in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida about what makes their sandwich traditional. It seems most Southern folks claim to have the original, official, and the very best recipes for these sandwiches. What most everyone can agree on is that no one agrees which style of sandwich truly belongs to which region. For as many variations of sauce and seasonings you can find, there are that many and more variations of methods for cooking and serving pulled pork sandwiches.
I won’t attempt to figure out which ingredients for sauces and dry rubs definitely belong to which region. Nor will I try to firmly establish which cooking method belongs to which region. What I will do is lay out a few common methods for cooking and serving this popular sandwich, and suggest where these methods are most typically found. If a method sounds like your hometown original, it probably is; just like it might belong to someone else. In other words, the debate lives on. Let’s look at some of the cooking methods and ingredients that make a pulled pork sandwich what it is:
Cooking Methods
It’s not easy to pin down a cooking method to any one state or region. Grilling, smoking, roasting, and braising are common in many regions. Deep pits for smoking and slow roasting would have been the preferred method by many settlers in the South, and now their ancestors may still use those exact same methods. Your family’s cooking method depends on how you learned to cook pork. If you’re walking down Beale Street in Memphis, you’ll most likely see lots of smoky grills going, but you’ll see those same scenes in other regions, as well. Any one region would find it difficult to claim that a certain style of cooking is their own and no one else’s. Of course, using a crockpot wasn’t passed down through hundreds of years by our ancestors, so the origin of this method is obviously widespread.
Vinegar
You may use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or any of a wide variety of vinegars available. The idea in using vinegar, no matter what kind, is the same. Mixing sour vinegar with some sort of sweet ingredient is essential for any good barbecue sauce. Many recipes claim to be official Memphis style pulled pork specifically because they use vinegar in their sauce. However, several regions and states claim this ingredient as the quintessential ingredient that differentiates their pulled pork sandwich from any other.
Brown Sugar
Both barbecue sauces and dry rubs may contain brown sugar which gives the sweet flavor to the whole sweet-and-sour balance that a pulled pork sandwich should have. A simple concoction of brown sugar, vinegar, and a pinch of any hot sauce or spicy seasoning is often found in barbecue places in Florida and Alabama. Whether this simple recipe originated in those states is something we’ll never know. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a pulled pork sandwich seasoned like this in Memphis, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist there.
Dry Rubs
Even though dry rubs have been around forever, and used in all regions of the country, a dry rub used for pulled pork sandwiches contains certain standard ingredients. You’ll basically find cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and paprika in a dry rub for pulled pork. Anything added after that is an individual cook’s unique take on this basic recipe. Different regions of the country can lay claim to using only dry rubs, never liquid barbecue sauce, but this method is so widespread that it seems impossible to pin down the original creator. Then, of course, you can use both a dry rub and barbecue sauce together in the same recipe, so it just gets more confusing.
Condiments
Then there is the question of what to serve with the pulled pork sandwich. Barbecue sauce as a condiment is widely regarded as a standard in every region. Even when the pulled pork never gets a dose of barbecue sauce mixed in with it, there is usually a bottle on the table. You’ll also usually find pepper vinegar, mustard, and even a little Tabasco in most regions. What you’ll hopefully never find is ketchup on the table. That would not go over well in any region. Most folks believe adding coleslaw on top of a pulled pork sandwich is most decidedly a Memphis touch.
As I searched the vast array of pulled pork crockpot recipes on the Internet, in cookbooks, and with my Southern friends, I got more and more confused about which recipe belongs to which region. What I have decided is if your Grandpa and Grandma have been making the same recipe for pulled pork sandwiches since you can remember, then that recipe belongs to your family and to your region. Go ahead and stake your claim and enjoy this great Southern classic.
Can’t decide which style of pulled pork sandwich to try? Why not try a few different ones. Click here for our Memphis Brewed Pulled Pork crockpot recipe, or click here to try our Sweet Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich recipe.
When you’re ready to find out all the ways your crockpot can save you time and money, check out our informative guide Crockpot Cooking Made Simple. Get started today using your crockpot the way it was meant to be used – often!
Sweet Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Crockpot
1 (5 lb.) pork should roast or butt roast
dry rub:
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 small yellow onions cut into large wedges
sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, crushed or grated
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Put the onions in the crockpot first. Blend dry rub ingredients with fork and gently press and rub over the pork roast. The put the pork roast in the crockpot on top of the onions.
In a glass bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients until smooth. Pour 1/2 the sauce mixture over the pork roast in the crockpot, coating the meat well. (Store the remaining 1/2 of the sauce mixture in the refrigerator for later.)
Cover the crockpot and set on LOW temperature. Cook, undisturbed, for 8 to 9 hours.
Remove the meat from the crockpot to a platter and shred with a fork. Pick the onion out from the crockpot and discard. Return the shredded meat to the crockpot, add the sauce mixture you refrigerated earlier to the crockpot and stir to combine well. Put cover back on crockpot and let heat through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Keep warm and serve on hearty buns. You can make another small batch of the sauce to serve alongside the sandwiches if you wish. Just heat the sauce in a pan for about 15 minutes on low, then pour into a serving bowl with a ladle.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Leftover Steak Meat
I bought a alb sirloin from a local farmer for super cheap and was craving it so big time thought we’d eat it all. But by the time I cooked it i was kind of over it so there’s a ton left over. I can’t think of a thing to do with it! Any good ideas?
Vegetarian Dishes Without Soy Or Processed Foods
I’m looking for dishes that feature beans and/or vegetables but do not contain any processed ingredients (premade or convenience foods) or soy products (tofu, TVP, fake meat).
I am trying to show my daughters how to cook nutritious meals with ingredients we either grow or make ourselves.
Much Thanks,
Geeta
Homemade Carpet Cleaner
If you have kids and/or pets, carpet stains are nothing new for you. Over the years I’ve tried all sorts of different cleaning products. Here are my favorite homemade carpet cleaner recipes. One of the things I like best about these is that they do not contain a bunch of chemicals. We do a lot of playing and just hanging out on the living room floor, so this is the perfect solution. It keeps my carpet clean and me worry free.
Homemade Carpet Cleaner Recipe
This is a great spot cleaner. Mix one cup white vinegar and one cup warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture directly on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a damp cloth to rub out the stain and the vinegar.
If that doesn’t get the stain out, try this:
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/4 cup borax
- 1/4 cup vinegar
Mix everything to make a paste . Use your fingertips to rub it into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum over it several times to get everything up.
Homemade Steam Carpet Cleaner Solution
When you are ready to give your carpets a good steam cleaning, try this solution.
- 1/4 cup lemon-scented ammonia
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 3 teaspoons dish washing soap
- a little less than 1 gallon hot water
Mix everything in a large bucket. Pour it into your steam cleaner and then follow the regular directions of use.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Homemade Glass Cleaner
One of the things I like best about my kitchen is the big mirror backsplash behind my stove. It works great and is easy to clean, but I do use glass cleaner on a daily basis on it. It’s not very expensive when you get the store brand version, but I can not stand the smell of regular glass cleaner. It makes me nauseous and when I don’t walk away quickly enough, I get a headache.
I was excited when I came across this homemade glass cleaner recipe. It’s made from things I keep in my pantry anyway and just smells like vinegar (which doesn’t give me a headache – yippy!)
Homemade Glass Cleaner
- 1 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Mix everything together and pour it into a clean spray bottle. Use like you would any regular glass cleaner.
The alcohol in the cleaner helps it evaporate quickly giving you that streak-free shine.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Homemade Drain Cleaner
Over the years we’ve spent a small fortune on drain cleaner products. I had no idea it was so easy to make homemade drain cleaner or that it worked so well.
Homemade Drain Cleaner Recipe
- 1 box of baking soda
- vinegar
Get a small box of baking soda and pour about half of it down the clogged drain. Top it off with just enough vinegar to really get it foaming.
Wait for the foam to settle, then repeat with the other half of the baking soda, followed again by vinegar.
Let the mixture sit in your drain for at least an hour, longer if you can, then rinse it with plenty of hot water.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Family-Favorite Taco Salad Recipe
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 envelope (about 1 1/4 ounces) taco seasoning mix
- 1 cup water
- 1 (12-ounce) package tortilla chips
- 1/2 head lettuce, shredded
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1 (2 1/4-ounce) can sliced ripe olives, drained
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (4 ounces)
- 2/3 cup dairy sour cream
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Cook and stir ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet until beef is brown; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (dry) and water.
Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon beef mixture onto chips. Top with remaining ingredients.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Hot Pepper Garlic Chicken
- 3 lbs chicken legs &/or thighs, skin and visible fat removed (leg quarters are fine for this recipe)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil OR vegetable oil
- 6 cloves minced garlic (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon dry hot pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 to 1 cup of water
Get out a nice big skillet, preferably one with a tight lid. Heat the oil in the skillet. Add the chicken and brown on both sides. Add the garlic, hot pepper flakes and salt. Stir the seasonings around in the pan for a moment or two. Add 1/2-cup of water. Cover the pan and simmer for 45 minutes. Add more water as necessary, to keep the chicken from scorching. The water should evaporate down to a glaze like consistency. Serve over boiled spaghetti or egg noodles, with a bit of the pan juices spooned overtop. This is a spicy dish. It tastes delicious when you need a change of pace, and is very cheap to make besides, especially with chicken leg-quarters. Cooked beets, and raw broccoli pieces make a very healthy, and tasty meal.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Chicken Tortilla Soup – Slow Cooker Recipe
1 lb. cooked chicken, shredded lightly with a fork
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 reg. size can diced tomatoes
1 reg. size can enchilada sauce
1 small can chopped green chilies
2 cloves garlic, grated
2 cups water
1 reg. size (14 oz) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn, thawed
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro – optional
6 large corn tortillas
vegetable oil
Place chicken, onion, diced tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chilies, garlic, water, and chicken broth in slow cooker and stir gently to combine. Add the cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf, and stir once more. Cover, and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours.
Stir in thawed corn and cilantro, recover slow cooker, and cook on LOW for 10 to 15 more minutes or until corn is heated through. Serve with tortilla crisps on top – (recipe below).
To make tortilla crisps:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat both sides of tortillas with a thin layer of vegetable oil. Cut the tortillas into strips and lay them on a baking or cookie sheet. Put sheet in preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until strips have gotten crispy. Remove to a paper towel to cool, then crumble these tortilla crisps over the soup to serve.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Mildew Cleaner
We all have to deal with mildew of some sort in the bathroom. Instead of using a commercial product that contains plenty of harsh chemicals that aren’t good for your lungs, they one of these two homemade mildew cleaners instead. As an added bonus they are also a lot less expensive than the stuff you buy at the store
Homemade Mildew Cleaner #1 – Vinegar Based
Mix equal parts of plain white vinegar and water and fill it into a clean spray bottle. Spray it on bathroom appliances, shower curtains, tiles etc.
Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe the counters etc. with a clean wet rag. In cases of really bad mold you may want to use a stronger vinegar solution.
Homemade Mildew Cleaner # 2 – Bleach Based
Mix 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gal of water. Put some of this mixture into a spray bottle and use like you would a normal bathroom cleaner. A little elbow grease and some soaking will help remove tough stains.
Remember this is bleach you are using and it will leave spots on your clothes. Wear an old t-shirt and shorts when using this bleach based mildew cleaner.
If mildew is an on-going problem in your home, it may be due to excess humidity. If this is the cause, you can regulate humidity with a home dehumidifier.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Meatloaf Expanders
When I was in high school way back in the mid 1950′s My home economics teacher taut us to use oatmeal as a meat loaf expander rather than bread or crackers. This cost very little and increases the nutritional value. I have always made meatloaf this way and it tastes just fine.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
I am a big fan of alfredo and would like to eat it a lot but the good sauce is horribly expensive and even the cheap, strange tasting stuff is almost $2 a jar. I would love to be able to make up my own sauce from scratch.
Classic Beef Stroganoff – Slow Cooker
2 pounds stew beef, cut into bite size cubes
3 Tbsp. flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 cup beef broth
1 garlic clove, minced or grated
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 Tbsp. flour
1 cup sour cream
hot cooked wide egg noodles
Mix together the flour and salt and coat beef well with mixture. Melt butter or margarine in large heavy skillet and add beef. Cook over medium high heat until beef is just browned, flipping so each side gets browned. (Don’t crowd the beef in the pan; cook only as much as will fit easily in the pan. Remove and add more. This will keep the skillet hot and prevent the beef from “steaming.”) Replace all browned beef to hot pan and add onions. Continue cooking on hot, stirring often, until onion becomes just transparent.
Into the slow cooker, add the beef broth, garlic, mushrooms, and 1 tablespoon flour. Add the cooked beef and onions from the skillet and stir gently to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours. Add sour cream, stirring to combine, and replace cover and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through. Serve over hot cooked wide egg noodles.
Serves 6.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Homemade Fabric Softener
There is no need to spend a bunch of money at the store on regular fabric softener. All you need is a bit of baking soda and vinegar. In fact, vinegar is the perfect homemade fabric softener.
Use plain white vinegar and add 1/4 cup to the final rinse of your laundry. By the time your clothes are dry the vinegar smell will be gone.
To make everything even softer, add about 2 tbsp of baking soda to your laundry when you first put it in the washer, then use the vinegar in the rinse as mentioned above.
If you are a little worried about the smell, use this simple recipe instead:
Homemade Fabric Softener
- 2 cups cheap hair conditioner
- 3 cups white vinegar
- 6 cups warm water
Pour everything into an old fabric softener bottle or other container and mix well. If you are using a bottle, just give it a few good shakes.
Homemade Silver Cleaner
Here’s a quick and easy way to clean any and all silver items (silverware, jewelry etc. )
Homemade Silver Cleaner
Get out a pan and line it with aluminum foil. I usually use my 9×13 cake pan for this. Make sure the shiny side of the foil is up. Now arrange your silver items on top of the foil
Pour plenty of boiling water over the silverware making sure everything is submerged.
Get your baking soda out and sprinkle it all over the pan. Then just walk away for 15 -20 minutes.
Use some tongs to remove the silver pieces and drop them in some soapy water. Give them a quick wash and then lay them out to dry. You can polish them a bit with a soft cloth.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Fruit Fly Trap – Homemade
One of the things I like best about summer is all the fresh fruit available. One of the things I like least is those pesky fruit flies that inevitably find their way into my kitchen.
Over the years I have tried quite a few fruit fly traps (homemade as well as store-bought) and here’s what’s been working best for me. As it turns out, this is also the most frugal version.
Fruit Fly Trap (Homemade)
You’ll Need:
- small, clean jar
baby food jars work really well for this - piece of plastic wrap
- small piece of fruit (banana or melon work well)
Here’s How To Make Your Homemade Fruit Fly Trap:
Make sure the jar is very clean. You don’t want any other odor to compete with the fruit you will put in there. Once the jar is clean and dry, put a small piece of fruit in it. A slice of banana or a small piece of melon seems to work well, but just about any fresh fruit will do.
Cover the jar opening with plastic wrap. Poke a few small holes in the wrap and then set the covered jar on the counter. The fruit flies will fly in and won’t be able to fly back out.
Empty the jar every few days, clean it well and then add another piece of fruit. You’ll quickly get rid of all those pesky little bugs with this homemade fruit fly trap.
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Homemade Window Cleaner
Making your own homemade window cleaner is very simple and in my option it works just as well as any commercial cleaner you can buy. Just save a spray bottle or buy a new one at the dollar store and then follow the recipe below. The cleaner works really well on windows, mirrors and fixtures.
Homemade Window Cleaner
- 2 cups water
- 3 TBS vinegar
- 1/2 tsp liquid dish soap
Mix everything together and then pour it into a clean spray bottle. Use it just like you would any window cleaner. Spray it on the surface and then rub it off. Rags made from old tshirts work really well for this as does newspaper.
Highly Recommended – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Homemade Dish Soap
Do you ever wonder if you can make homemade dish soap? Yes you can. It is actually quite simple. Here are two easy dish soap recipes for you. They will leave your dishes sparkling.
Homemade Dish Soap Recipe #1
- 2 cups of Castile soap
- 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
- 1/2 cup of warm water
Pour all ingredients into a cleaned out old dish soap bottle and shake until well combined. Give it another good shake before each use. The lemon juice or vinegar helps cut through the grease on your dishes.
Homemade Dish Soap Recipe #2
This version takes a little longer to make, but is even more frugal
- 1/4 cup soap flakes or soap shavings (any bar soap will do)
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Get out a sturdy sauce pan. Pour the water and soap fakes in and slowly heat it over medium heat. Stir the mixture and keep heating it until all the soap flakes melt into the water. DO NOT let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat if needed.
Allow the soap mixture to cool a bit, then stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Keep it sitting in the pot until it is completely cooled, then pour it into an old dish soap bottle.
With either of these two homemade dish soap recipes you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make them smell better. I find that if I use the lemon juice, I don’t need the essential oil. Bottled lemon juice works just fine.
Highly Recommended – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Tacos
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning mix
- 1 can refried beans
- 1 package hard or soft taco shells
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 can olives
- 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Brown Ground Beef, Drain and add Taco Seasoning following the directions on the package.
In the meantime heat the refried beans in a saucepan or the microwave.
Spoon meat and beans into Taco Shells and add toppings.
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Beef And Bean Burrito Recipe
- Taco Filling (from my taco recipe or your own)
- 15 oz can of refried beans or 2 cups of cooked mashed pinto beans (thick)
- 10 large flour tortillas
- Shredded cheese
First prepare the recipe for Taco Filling, in a large skillet. When it has simmered a few minutes, open up the can of refried beans, or mash enough cooked pinto beans with a fork or in a food processor to equal 2 cups. Add the beans to the skillet. Stir it up to combine all of the ingredients. It will have a very familiar texture, perfect for filling the tortillas.
To heat the tortillas, you can wrap the stack of them in tin foil and bake them in the oven at 400° for about 15 minutes, or you can use my method. Heat a clean dry skillet over medium-high heat. Then take a tortilla and lay it on the skillet for a few moments, until it is warm to the touch. Flip the tortilla and warm the other side the same way. Stack them on a plate and continue until all of them are done. It doesn’t take very long, and they seem to be easier to handle this way.
Spoon some burrito filling into the center of each warm tortilla. Top with cheese and any other things you like, salsa, sour cream or yogurt, lettuce, etc. Roll the tortilla around the filling, tucking in the ends like an envelope. Serve warm with a tossed salad, tangy dressing and cornmeal muffins. Add a nice fruit cobbler for dessert. This recipe serves 5 or 6 people.
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The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
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Banana Date Tofu Pudding
- 12 to 14 oz box of soft tofu
- 1/4 cup corn oil
- 1/4 cup water or soy milk
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 10 whole, pitted dates
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Open up the tofu, and drain off the water. Peel the bananas and cut them into chunks. Cut the tofu into small cubes and place it in a blender. Add the corn oil, water or soy milk, banana chunks, dates, vanilla and salt. Process for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth with small date flecks blended throughout. You may have to stop the blender, and scrape down the sides a few times during blending. Pour the pudding into small 1/2-cup-sized, resealable plastic containers, or a big bowl. Keep in the fridge for hungry children to snack on, or put in healthy lunchboxes for a protein rich desert. This is a great recipe for people who don’t like tofu. They can get friendly with it in a nonthreatening atmosphere. This pudding uses fruit as it’s only sweetener. You will be surprised at just how sweet and delicious the combination of bananas and dates can be.
Baked Tuna Supreme
- 1 can tuna in water (unsalted)
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon unsalted mayonnaise (optional)
- 1 cup GRAINFIELDS Wheat Flakes or cornflakes (crushed finely)
This recipe makes 2 servings.
In large bowl combine tuna, celery, onion, parsley, Grainfield’s Wheat Flakes and /or Corn Flakes (crushed), egg, and mayonnaise. Shape into loaf and bake 1/2 hour at 350.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
How To Make White Sauce
- 2 tablespoons margarine
- 2 tablespoons flour (white or whole wheat)
- 3/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup milk
Get out a quart-sized saucepan. Melt the margarine in it over medium heat. When the margarine is completely melted, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the flour. It will lump up a little bit, so keep stirring it until it is smooth. I use a whisk to do this, but a fork will work in a pinch. Add the salt and pepper and return the pan to the heat. Cook and stir until the flour/margarine mixture bubbles up and sort of sizzles for a moment or two. This step keeps the sauce from having a “raw” flavor, and also permeates the sauce with the seasonings. Gradually stir in the milk. Do it slowly, so it doesn’t lump up. Lumpy sauce is not the most aesthetically pleasing, although it still tastes pretty good. So after you stir in the milk, cook the sauce over medium heat until it boils. Stir it quite often, to prevent it from lumping or burning. When it boils, cook and stir it for a full minute, and then remove it from the heat. It is now done.
This sauce tastes really good poured over hot toast and eaten for breakfast. It is also used in many casseroles and a ton of other places. Once you’ve mastered this sauce, you officially know how to cook. Whole wheat flour makes a slightly ruddier sauce, while white flour gives you the traditional smooth, bright white sauce. Both give good results so use which ever flour you prefer.
Cheese Sauce: Add 1/2 to 1-cup of shredded or cubed cheese to the sauce after it boils for a minute. I usually take it off the burner, add the cheese, and cover the pan. Then I let it sit in the middle of the stove for a minute or two, to soften up the cheese. Stir it up until the cheese melts. Serve anywhere you like.
Bacon Sauce: When the sauce is cooked, add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of vegetarian bacon bits. This is really good on baked potatoes and over toast.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Yogurt Ranch Dressing Recipe
- 2 cups plain yogurt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, celery leaves, & salt
- 1/4 teaspoon EACH: pepper, paprika, & dill weed
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley, OR 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
In a medium sized bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Mix it all very well, and allow it to marinate for several hours or overnight. If desired, add a dash of cayenne pepper. Serve as a dip or dressing for salads. This is a spicy and delicious dressing, one I have used for many years.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: Secret Restaurant Recipes
Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
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Baked Oregano Chicken
- 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 3/4)
This recipe makes 4 servings.
1. Heat oven to 425°. Spray jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch, with cooking spray.
2. Mix bread crumbs, cheese, oregano, garlic salt and pepper. Spread mustard on all sides of 4 chicken breasts. Cover mustard-coated chicken breasts with bread crumb mixture. Place all 6 chicken breasts in pan.
3. Bake uncovered about 25 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Cover and refrigerate the 2 uncoated chicken breasts.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Baked Mostaccioli
- 1 cup onions chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons parsley dried flakes, crushed*
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 28-ounce can tomatoes undrained
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried leaves, crushed*
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon basil leaves dried, crushed*
- 1 cup petite peas thawed
- 1 8-ounce package mostaccioli (about 2 1/4 cups)
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart oblong baking dish.
In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, saute onion in oil until almost tender. Add parsley and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, place tomatoes with juice in a blender container. Cover and blend until tomatoes are chopped. Add to sauted vegetables along with oregano, sugar and basil. Cook and stir for 12 minutes.
Stir in peas. Cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until mixture is reduced and thickened.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a second skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain off fat. Sprinkle with salt.
In a large bowl, stir together pasta, meat and one-half of the sauce. In a medium bowl, mix ricotta and Parmesan cheese.
To assemble, place half of the pasta mixture in baking dish. Spread with ricotta mixture. Add remaining pasta mixture and top with remaining sauce.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until very bubbly.
Sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until mozzarella melts.
*If using fresh, use three times the amount of dried herb or to taste. Fresh herbs should be chopped or minced.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: Secret Restaurant Recipes
Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
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Baked Custard Recipe
- 2-1/2 cups tap water
- 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk
- 3 medium eggs
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons melted margarine
This is a delicious old-fashioned dessert that you don’t see very often any more. That’s a shame too because baked custard is one of those yummy comfort foods that is inexpensive, easy and nutritious.
Start off with your favorite mixing bowl. Pour the water into it and add the dry milk. Stir until the milk is dissolved. Add the eggs. Whisk or beat well. Add the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and melted margarine. Mix again, for about 2 minutes by hand, or until the sugar is dissolved, the eggs are well incorporated and the margarine isn’t trying to rise to the top.
Oil a 1-1/2 to 2 quart sized casserole dish. Pour the custard into the casserole. Now you have to find another pan that is bigger than your casserole so you can make a “water bath” for your custard. I usually use a standard 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Place the casserole inside the pan. Now add tap water to the outer pan, a little at a time, until it is half-way up the side of the casserole. Place the whole contraption into the oven. Set the temperature for 350F. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. When you insert a knife into the baked custard it should come out clean. If your casserole is deep it make take longer than 45 minutes. If your casserole is shallow it may take less time.
When the custard is done remove it from the oven and the hot water bath. Allow it to cool for 1 or 2 hours. It may now be chilled until serving time, or served warm. Warm custard is good, but cold custard is better. If desired you may top your custard with a small spoonful of molasses or a sprinkle of cinnamon. This baked custard recipe makes 4 hearty servings, or 6 healthy servings.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
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Baked Chicken in Honey Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard prepared
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 broiler-fryer chicken (3 to 4 lb.), cut up
- 1 tablespoon water cold
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
This recipe makes 6 servings.
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Melt butter or margarine in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Add honey, orange juice, lemon juice, mustard, salt and curry powder. Mix well. Coat both sides of chicken pieces with honey mixture and place, skin-side down, in baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Turn chicken over and bake 30 minutes longer or until chicken tests done. Transfer chicken to a warm platter; cover and keep warm.
Transfer honey mixture to a small saucepan. In a small bowl or cup, mix cold water and cornstarch until smooth. Pour into honey mixture. Stirring over medium heat, bring to a boil and boil for 1 to 2 minutes.
Drizzle honey sauce over chicken and serve with fluffy hot rice.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Bacon Gravy
- 2 to 4 ounces bacon, cut into small pieces OR 1/4 cup bacon grease (see note below)
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 cups milk (1 cup dry milk powder dissolved in 3 cups water)
This recipe is pretty easy and it is good too. Great over biscuits for breakfast or lunch. First cut the bacon into small pieces. Put it into a large skillet and fry it over medium heat. The bacon will release it’s fat. When the bits of bacon are well browned stir in the flour. Continue stirring until the flour absorbs all of the fat. Add the salt, sugar and black pepper. Start out with the smaller amount of pepper and add more later if desired. Slowly stir in the milk. Use a whisk or a fork to prevent lumps. Continue stirring until the gravy boils. Allow it to boil gently for about 5 minutes. It will thicken nicely. Serve over toast or biscuits or mashed potatoes.
NOTE: If you don’t have bacon, but you do have bacon grease, then use 1/4 cup of bacon grease instead of the bacon. Heat it in the skillet until it is bubbly. Stir in the flour and proceed as directed.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
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Bacon Cheeseburger Quiche
- 16 ounces lean ground beef (2 cups)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped in bits
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, to taste
- 1 teaspoon white peppers
This recipe makes 9 servings.
Brown ground beef in skillet with onion. Remove and mix in bowl with bacon pieces, breaking up any larger clumps with a fork or pastry mixer until you have a fine mix. Drain well of any excess grease and press into bottom of a deep-dish pie pan. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine remaining ingredients in mixer bowl and whip well. Pour mixture over the beef “crust” and back 40 – 45 minutes until top is browned and “set”. Cool 15 – 20 minutes before slicing.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
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B-52 Steak Sauce
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons onion powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dry orange peel, or 2 tablespoons fresh orange peel
Carefully measure all of the ingredients into a 2-quart saucepan. Whisk until smooth. Simmer gently over medium heat for about 20 minutes for the flavors to blend. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool. Transfer the sauce to a quart-sized canning jar and store in the refrigerator. Use anywhere you would Heinz 57 or A-1. It’s great with burgers, meatloaf, grilled chicken and even on a steak. It costs a fraction of the brand name versions and the fresh flavor really wakes up your taste buds. Guests will flip for it and beg you for the recipe.
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Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
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Avocado Papaya Salad
- 4 ripe papayas
- 2 small avocados, diced
- 1/3 c cashews, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 c cilantro, chopped
- Juice of one lime
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1 c arugula, chopped
Halve 2 of the papayas and discard seeds. Set aside.
Peel the other 2 papayas and discard seeds. Cut into small chunks and place in a medium bowl.
Add avocados, cashews, cilantro, lime juice and shallot to diced papayas and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with arugula.
Fill the 4 scooped out papayas with salad and serve.
Thanks go Carrie for this wonderful recipe. Click here for more whole foods recipes.
Aunt Cora’s Orange Chicken Recipe
- 1 10 1/2-ounce can chicken broth condensed
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons orange rinds grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 broiler-fryer chicken (3 1/2 lb.), cut up and skinned
- 2 zucchini small (7 inches each), thinly sliced
- 2 carrots medium, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons parsley minced
This recipe makes 4 servings.
1. In a heavy 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, bring broth, tomato paste, orange rind and garlic to a boil. Add chicken; reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add zucchini and carrots, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables and chicken are tender. Remove chicken to a heated platter, surround with vegetables; cover and keep warm while making sauce.
2. In a small bowl, combine orange juice and cornstarch. Stir into hot mixture in skillet. Stirring, bring to a boil and boil until thickened. Stir in parsley.
3. To serve, spoon sauce over chicken and vegetables.
Apple Potato Curry Soup
- 3 tart apples (such as Gala or Mcintosh), cored
- 2 large russet potatoes
- 2 T olive oil or butter
- 1 T curry powder
- 2 t onion powder
Cook potatoes in a 350 oven for 30 minutes. Add apples to oven and cook another 30 minutes or until all are very soft. Cool until you can handle them, then scoop out flesh from apples and potatoes into a bowl and mash.
Heat oil or butter in a saucepan and brown curry and onion powders for a few seconds until fragrant. Stir in apple potato mash and 4 cups water. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Excellent when served with a bit of fresh cream as a garnish.
Thanks go Carrie for this wonderful recipe. Click here for more whole foods recipes.
Pork Roasted with Spiced Apples
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 boneless pork loin roast (4-5 pounds)
SPICED APPLES:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced
Combine salt, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon; rub over roast. Place roast, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until thermometer registers 160°. Cover and let stand 15 minutes before slicing. In a medium skillet, combine the first six spiced apples ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened. Add apples; simmer, uncovered, until apples are just tender, stirring gently. Serve with sliced pork roast, potatoes or crusty bread
Both the pork roast and apples will freeze well (separately). Store individual portions in airtight containers.
Aloha Pork Chops
* 4 boneless pork chops approx. 3/4″ thick
* 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
* 1 teaspoon olive oil
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 cup sweet and sour sauce
* 1 20-ounce can pineapple chunks drained
* 1/2 medium green pepper julienned
* 1/2 cup red onions chopped
* 6 cups cold cooked rice
* 1/2 cup stir fry sauce
This recipe makes 4 servings.
1. Sprinkle pork chops with lemon-pepper. In a large skillet, brown chops on both sides in 1 t. oil over medium-high heat; remove and set aside.
2. Drain skillet; add sweet and sour sauce and pineapple chunks. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; return chops to skillet. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until juices run clear.
3. Meanwhile, in another skillet, sauté the green pepper and onion in 2 T. oil for 2 minutes. Add rice and stir-fry sauce; cook and stir for 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a serving platter; top with pork mixture and serve.
Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 24 Splenda packets or 1 cup splenda
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cups shredded carrots
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup light whipped cream cheese
- 1tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 Splenda packets
Sift flour, baking soda, Splenda and cinnamon to remove any lumps. Beat eggs in a separate bowl and add in honey, applesauce and carrots. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until batter is just moistened. Place into a lightly sprayed 13×9 baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Frosting: Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and Splenda and spread on cooled cake.
Glazed Carrot Recipe
Tired of regular steamed carrots? Try this glazed carrot recipe instead. It won’t take you hardly any longer to make, but all that brown sugar will turn the carrots extra sweet and make a wonderful (and a bit indulgent) side dish. This goes perfect with any type of ham dish. We also like it with meatloaf.
Glazed Carrot Recipe
- carrots
- 4 Tbsp butter
- light brown sugar
- water
Wash carrots then peel and cut them into small chunks or slices. Place into a pot of water and boil them until they are tender. Drain well.
Melt butter in a hot skillet and add the carrots. Add as much brown sugar as you need to coat the carrots completely. Saute for 5 min to melt the sugar.
I like to serve these glazed carrots right away while they are still hot. If you are making these for a potluck or are having a lot of family over, scoop the finished product, glaze and all and put it in a small crockpot.
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Pineapple Carrot Cake
This pineapple carrot cake is a nice twist on the more traditional recipe. With the pudding and pineapple it stays nice and moist and you don’t need any frosting on it. A light dusting of powdered sugar is all it takes to make this cake look pretty and taste delicious. That also makes it perfect for lunch boxes.
Pineapple Carrot Cake Recipe
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 small box Jello vanilla instant pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 cups shredded carrots
- 1-8oz can crushed pineapple
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, vegetable oil, carrots, drained pineapple,nuts, cinnamon and salt.
Blend the batter with electric mixer until it is nice and smooth.
Pour into a greased 10 inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 min. Cool and dust with powdered sugar.
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The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Carrot Raisin Salad Recipe
Your kids will love this simple carrot raising salad recipe. It’s the perfect mixture between savory and sweet. It goes well with just about any dinner and will have your children gobble up their veggies without complaining.
Carrot Raisin Salad Recipe
- 4 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup mayo or Miracle Whip
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp light cream
- 1/2 cup chopped walnut
- lettuce
In a small bowl mix together mayo, lemon juice, light cream, carrots, raisins and walnuts. Serve on a bed of shredded lettuce or lettuce cups.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Stretching Ground Beef
Here is an easy way for your readers to get more for their money when purchasing ground beef.
This is for 4lbs. of ground beef.
Add 1 Cup of Seasoned or plain bread crumb to the ground beef
add 2-3 dashes of hot sauce,
2 raw eggs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
and if you like a south western flavor you can also add 1 teaspoon of cumin powder.
Mix all ingredients well.
Weigh out burger patties 5oz each wrap in plastic wrap, I find that press and seal are the best for freezing any meats because this product is air tight when properly sealed.
Put patties into freezer and thaw the amount that you want to cool for that day.
This is a great recipe for meatloaf as well just add a finely diced and green pepper to the mix. This is such a fantastic way to stretch your ground beef and and it saves you a lot of money.
B. Hicks
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Squash Casserole
3 medium yellow squash
12 crushed crackers (6 for inside and 6 on top)
1/2 cup milk
1 beaten egg
1 small chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 tsp. Sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Boil the squash until tender. Drain and mash up. Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish. Top with crumbled crackers and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Carrot Soup Recipe
This simple carrot soup recipe has long been a family favorite. I like it especially when I’m feeling a little under the weather. It also makes for a delicious light lunch when served with a plain muffin or some fresh baked bread.
Carrot Soup Recipe
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 can of beef broth
- 2 cans of sliced carrots
- 1 envelope Lipton Vegetable Soup mix
- 1 1/2 cups light cream
- salt and pepper to taste
Saute celery and onion in a pan until softened. Transfer to a pot and add broth, soup mix and carrots. Cook on low heat for 25min. Cool and puree. Add in cream and chill. Can be served hot or cold.
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The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Easy Carrot Cake Recipe
Using a box mix (or my own simple yellow cake recipe) makes this a very easy carrot cake recipe. The 2 cups of carrots are just enough to give this cake that special texture and sweet flavor. The salad dressing ensures that the cake stays moist and of course the frosting tops it all off.
This is a fun and easy cake to make with the kids and one that will hopefully get them interested in carrots as a regular vegetable or in a salad as well.
Easy Carrot Cake
- 1 box yellow cake mix (or homemade yellow cake)
- 1 1/4cup Miracle Whip salad dressing
- 4 eggs
- 1/4cup water
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)
- vanilla frosting or cream cheese icing
Mix together cake mix, Miracle Whip, eggs, water and cinnamon until the batter is smooth. Fold in carrots and walnuts. Transfer to a 9×13 greased pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35min. Cool and cover with icing.
Tin Foil Dinners
I have heard a lot lately about tin-foil dinners/ pocket meals cooked in the oven to save on clean-up.
I am interested in creative recipes (not just the old hamburger onions potato and carrots) for tin-foil dinners, how long to cook them etc.
Those who use them, I would love to hear the pros and cons of doing so.
Treasures Gained Through Obstacles, Household Control Journal- HBHW Newsletter
July 14th, 2010
Editorial
Hi there and welcome to another edition of the Hillbilly Housewife Newsletter. We’ve been busy adding a bunch of new recipes to the HBHW website. You’ll find plenty of new summer veggie dishes in the recipe section. I’ve also continued to add more smoothie recipes to Healthy Hillbilly Housewife. I’m sure you and your family will enjoy these cool tasty treats as much as we do. There are perfect when you are in a rush as well.
In our family’s rush to get outside and play, I make shortcuts in our day-to-day household tasks. And, because I do, there are times when I let the ball drop on something – paperwork being my least favorite thing to do, that’s what usually gets ignored. Read this weeks article if, like me, you need to get control once again in the midst of your summer fun.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen this week is about obstacles; not overcoming them so much as benefiting from them. Take a look if you will and see if there have been obstacles in your life that, once tackled, presented you with some sort of unforeseen treasure.
Those are my thoughts 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
Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.
~William Butler Yeats~
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week by a Club member:
Bleu Cheese Stuffed Burgers
- 2 lbs. ground chuck
- 2 TBSP fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt (more or less to taste)
- 2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
- 4 TBSP crumbled Bleu Cheese
In a large bowl, put everything except the Bleu Cheese. Combine gently with your hands. Divide meat into 8 even portions and form 8 thin patties. Put 1 TBSP of Bleu Cheese in the middle of 4 patties, then put the other 4 patties on top and squeeze edges closed.
Grill on medium hot grill for about 5 minutes, flip and grill for about 5 minutes more or until the ground beef is cooked as you like it. Serve on buns with condiments of your liking.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Basil & Tomato Stuffed Grilled Chicken Breasts
- Spicy Yogurt Marinaded Chicken Kabobs
- Grilled Stuffed Green Peppers
- Thyme Citrus Pork Kabobs
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article
If you’re like me, summer is a very busy time. We want to cram in just as much fun as we possibly can before it’s back to school. When I’m rushing out the door, I often make shortcuts. These quick choices between organizing something and ignoring it can cause some real paperwork pile-ups.
When appointments are forgotten and bills are left unpaid, I know the time has come to organize these simple household tasks in a way I can gain control once again. Household journals are simple and effective ways to control the whirlwind of day-to-day responsibilities. Be sure to check out this week’s featured article to help you get your household back in order. Just click the link below to read:
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Obstacle In Our Path
~author unknown~
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 stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon 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.
After 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 of us never understand.
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our 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
Fried Yellow Squash Recipe
I think I already mentioned that my husband is not a big squash fan. But whenever I make a batch of this fried yellow squash recipe he can’t get enough. I guess the breading and frying take out a lot of the “squash” taste that he doesn’t enjoy too much. Either way this is a dish that’s as yummy as it is frugal.
Fried Yellow Squash
- 2 medium squash
- 1/4 cup cold milk
- 1/2 cup self rising flour
- vegetable oil
Wash squash well. Cut into 1/4 slices. Place flour into a zipper bag and milk into a small dish. Dip squash in to milk first and then place in the bag of flour. Continue until you have all squash slices in the bag and seal. Shake well. Remove slices from bag and fry in 1/2 inch deep hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.
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Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Spaghetti squash is a great alternative to regular pasta. I first came across it when I eliminated carbs to lose some weight. This spaghetti squash recipe is one of the few dishes I still make regularly from that time. Very yummy, easy to make and kid-friendly.
Spaghetti Squash Recipe
- 2 small spaghetti squash
- spaghetti sauce (use your favorite or give this homemade tomato sauce recipe a try)
- Parmesan cheese
Wash and poke holes all over the squash. Place into boiling water and cook on low for 45 minutes. Squash should be fork tender. Drain squash, cut in half and scoop out the seeds. Rake a fork over the squash to remove the strands. Top with pasta sauce and Parmesan cheese.
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The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Zucchini Jelly
Did you know that you can make a delicious zucchini jelly with all that fresh squash in your garden? The strawberry and pineapple flavors in this recipe balance nicely with the zucchini for a yummy jelly even your kids will like.
Zucchini Jelly Recipe
- 6 cups shredded zucchini
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 6 oz (small box) strawberry jello
- 6 cups sugar
- 1 cup crushed pineapple
Place zucchini and a little bit of water in a saucepan and boil until the zucchini has softened. Add sugar, lemon juice and pineapple. Remove from heat and mix in jello. Transfer to clean jelly jars. Place jars in a water bath to seal the jars.
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The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Zucchini Fritter Recipe
I’ve been making this zucchini fritter recipe during the summer for as long as I can remember. They are delicious and make a yummy snack. Add a cup of homemade soup and you have a light summer lunch.
Zucchini Fritters
- 3 cups shredded zucchini
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Mix shredded zucchini,flour,cheese, salt and pepper together. Add in eggs.
Heat olive oil in a big frying pan and drop large spoonfuls of batter in. Fry for 5 minutes on each side.
Drain on paper towels and serve warm topped with Parmesan cheese or sour cream.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Bisquick Zucchini Quiche
This bisquick zucchini quiche recipe is as simple as it is delicious. You can make it with fresh grated zucchini, or use frozen. If you use the zucchini frozen, allow it to thaw and then squeeze as much of the moisture out as you can so your quiche doesn’t turn soggy.
Bisquick Zucchini Quiche
- 2 cups grated zucchini
- 2 cups grated cheese
- 1 cup bisquick or homemade biscuit mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 small grated onion
- salt, pepper, garlic powder and basil to taste
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and then transfer to a greased quiche dish or pie plate. Top with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
I love stuffed zucchini. My mom used to make them with sausage or with ground beef and they always turned out yummy. You can also make these with very large zucchini. They tend to get a bit tough during the baking process though because you need to increase the time a bit.
If you are making this with large zucchini, use a casserole dish and add a little bit of broth or even water to the bottom to help soften them up. Either way this is delicious and you can use just about any melting cheese in this stuffed zucchini recipe. I’ve made it with cheddar, american , swiss, provolone, mozzarella and even blue cheese crumbles. In a pinch even a few shakes of parmesan will do.
Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1/2 pound sausage
- 1/4 cup onion (chopped)
- 1/4 tsp. Basil
- 1 cup grated cheese
Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle with a spoon.(save the inside) Brown onion and sausage and drain. Mix in the zucchini that you saved along with the basil and place the mixture back into the zucchini.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with your favorite cheese. Place back into the oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Zucchini Pie
Start by making a pie crust or buying a store bought one that’s ready to be baked.
Filling:
- 3 cups zucchini (peeled and sliced)
- 1tsp. cinnamon
- 3 tbsp. lemon juice
Topping:
- 1cup flour
- 1cup sugar
- 1tsp. cinnamon
- 1tsp.nutmeg
- 1 stick of butter
Combine zucchini,lemon juice and cinnamon. Pour into the pie crust.
Mix all topping ingredients and place on pie. Cook on 350 degrees for 1 hour. Allow it to cool before serving. This is great with a little whipped topping or even a scoop of ice cream on top.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Zucchini Cake Mix Recipe
This zucchini cake is similar to carrot cake. We like to make it a lot with frozen zucchini throughout the year. You can also grate big zucchinis that are too tough to cook as vegetables for this cake.
Zucchini Cake Recipe
- 3 cups peeled and shredded zucchini
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 eggs (beaten)
- 1 1/2 cups oil
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2tsp. salt
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
- 1 cup raisins
Make the batter by mixing all ingredients in a large bowl.
Grease a cake pan or bundt cake and sprinkle with flour. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
To turn this into a mix, combine all dry ingredients (including the nuts and raisins) and put them in a labeled ziplock bag. When you are ready to bake just add the zucchini, egg and oil. Mix until combined and bake as directed.
You can easily use frozen grated zucchini in this recipe. There is no need to thaw it. Just add the frozen zucchini to the batter and bake.
Zucchini Pineapple Cake
I hide vegetables anywhere I can to make sure my family gets plenty of them. This zucchini pineapple cake is one of those cases. If you don’t know that there’s zucchini in there you would never guess it.
Zucchini Pineapple Cake Recipe
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tbsp. Vanilla
- 1 cup oil
- 2 cups grated zucchini
- 1 cup crushed pineapple (drained)
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp.salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
Place eggs in a mixing bowl and beat until they are frothy. Add in sugar,vanilla,oil and zucchini. Follow with all of the dry ingredients. Fold pineapple and walnuts in last.
Transfer into a cake or loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Allow it to cool completely. I don’t think it needs a frosting at all, but if you’re so inclined, frost with vanilla frosting or even better, this homemade cream cheese frosting.
Recipe For Zucchini Casserole
I’ve been cooking with zucchini for as long as I can remember. My dad always grows a bunch of them in his garden as does my father-in-law. Needless to say we always have quite a few of these delicious to work with all summer. A few weeks ago I was experimenting with a new recipe for zucchini casserole. Here’s what I came up with. I had a box of seasoned croutons sitting in my pantry (don’t quite remember what I bought it for originally). In the future I plan on using croutons made form stale homemade bread, seasoned with a bit of garlic salt.
Recipe For Zucchini Casserole
- 4 cups zucchini (peeled,seeded and cubed)
- 1 medium onion
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 stick of butter or margarine
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade cream of anything soup flavored with a bit of chicken bullion)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 box seasoned croutons
Place prepared zucchini into a pot and boil until the zucchini is tender.Remove from heat and drain.
Melt butter in a frying pan and saute carrots and onions until tender. Remove from heat and add soup,sour cream,zucchini and half of the croutons.
Place in a buttered baking dish and cover the top with the remaining croutons. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe
This sweet bread makes for a wonderful breakfast or even a quick snack in the afternoon. I hope you give this moist zucchini bread recipe a try this summer. The finished product also makes a nice hostess gift, or make it for a bake sale. You can even freeze the baked bread and then thaw and reheat later in the year.
Moist Zucchini Bread Recipe
- 2 cups shredded zucchini
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 cups self-rising flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2tsp. cinnamon
- 1 1/2tsp. cloves
Combine all wet ingredients in a large bowl followed by all dry ingredients. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until bread bounces back when you touch it. Allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Cream Cheese And Cucumber Sandwiches
Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches aren’t just for fancy tea parties. They make for a wonderful light lunch in the summer time. The flavor is so light even kids enjoy them (though I usually leave the chives off for them).
For a fun lunch with your daughter or granddaughter, make a batch of these along with a pot of herbal tea and invite her and her favorite dolls for a tea party
Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwiches
- 2 medium cucumbers (seeded and chopped
- 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 1 tsp. chives (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 loaf of bread
Peel cucumbers,remove seeds and chop. Mix in cream cheese,chives and salt. Spread a thin layer of butter on each slice of bread. Then spread cucumber mixture on top of buttered bread and top with another piece of bread. Cut the crust off the sandwich and cut diagonally. Chill for at least 2 hours. before serving.
If you are making these for a fancy tea party for little girls take some large cookie cutters (flowers, stars and hearts work well) and use them to cut the finished sandwiches into fun shakes. Do not cut the crust off or cut the sandwich diagonally. Just press the cookie cutters into the finished whole sandwiches.
You’ll have quite a bit of leftover sandwich. They make a quick lunch for you.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Sweet Cucumber Pickle Relish
Summer is the perfect time to make this sweet cucumber pickle relish. What a wonderful way to preserve all of our favorite summer vegetables like cucumbers and sweet peppers. You can then use them throughout the year on sandwiches and salad.
Sweet Cucumber Pickle Relish Recipe
- 8 cups cucumber (peeled and chopped)
- 4 cups sweet peppers (chopped)
- 2 cups onion (chopped)
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups vinegar
- 2 tsp. celery seed
- 2 tsp. turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Place all ingredients into a large pot and cook on medium heat for about 30min.
Cool mixture and place into clean jars.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Simple Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
My kids and husband love Lo Mein. I know there has to be something simpler than the complicated recipes I am finding. Anyone out there got one for the domestically challenged?
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Dairy Free
I am looking for dairy free recipes as I have a little one who’s allergic to the protein in milk, so we can’t do cheese, or goat & sheep’s milk as alternatives, anything with whey (another sneaky way of saying milk) etc., it would help greatly! Thanks!!
Protection From Okra And Bean Irritation
To protect my arms from the itchiness and irritation of picking okra and beans, I cut part of the toe of my husband’s old tube socks. Cut one wide width for your fingers and a small one for your thumb, leaving the small strip between. Then I put on a pair of garden gloves and I can pick okra and beans or cucumbers with no rash.I’ve done this for 2 years. Either wash them or throw them away,using old socks is a cheap alternative to the pricey garden gloves.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Container For Homemade Wipes
What kind of containers are best for homemade wipes for baby or any homemade wipes for that matter (bathroom, window, bug wipes)?
Eliminate Rotting Chicken Odor from the Trash Can
Often if you bbq chicken on the weekend and you dispose of any of the raw organs in the trash outside, by trash pick up day you have a terrible stench from the rotting meat sitting in the heat.
You can eliminate this buy wrapping the pieces in a plastic grocery bag and freezing them until trash day.
Just put them in the trash frozen the morning of your trash pick up and you wont have a smelly trash can.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Storing Cucumbers
Does anyone know how to store cucumbers so that they don’t go bad so quickly?
Icebox Pie
I don’t have a lot of information on this dessert. It was one my MIL used to make circa 1965. My husband recalls it contained bananas (the riper the better), whipped cream and pulverized Nilla wafers that she would then freeze solid. Knowing my hubby, he’s probably missing ingredients and or steps to the process. Can anyone help me reconstruct this recipe? Thanks
Clock and Compass, Time and Choices, Calm and Quiet – HBHW Newsletter
July 7th, 2010
Editorial
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration surrounded by family and friends. Also, a belated Happy Canada Day to our friends up north. Sorry I missed it. I hope your festivities were fun filled, as well.
My friend Ellen C. Brown of CreatingHours.com put the whole matter of feeling pulled apart by demands of family, work, and just life, into perspective in her heart tugging article “Time and Choices.” Please be sure to take time to read this week’s featured article.
I chose today’s inspirational quote and story so we could reflect a bit on time and goals. When we’re focused on hanging onto our goals and pushing hard to achieve them, we can lose focus. All our time may be spent pursuing goals and managing the time to achieve those goals. But, sometimes we need to step back, refocus, and maybe even let go. See what you think about taking all your time to pursue your goals when you may be heading in the wrong direction to begin with.
I’ve chosen Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons again as this week’s sponsor because after a long, fun weekend we need some quiet crafting time to cool down and relax. Summer fun is great, but all those hours outside playing in the sun can wear down kids and grownups alike. Some time indoors spent doing a few crafts might be just what you need right now.
Those are my thoughts 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
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
~Henry Ellis~
Sponsor
Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons – Kid Tested Crafts That Parents Love Too!
The busy 4th of July weekend is over and many of us are trying to return to a normal schedule. That’s not easy to do when kids are home and trying to get your attention. You need lots of projects to keep everyone busy and happy. But, in the midst of all this fun in the sun, everybody is going to get tired out. That’s why we need inside activities to get out of the sun, cool down, and relax.
This ebook has over 200 pages of kid-created and kid-tested ideas to help keep your little ones quietly busy all summer long.
In addition, when you order Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons you’ll receive hundreds of fresh ideas, along with this great bonus, Little Kid Paper Plate Crafts. That’s almost 400 pages of crafts for kids as young as 2 years old.
Be sure to check out this valuable book and take advantage of the bonus offer today! For only $19.95 you’ll receive two great sources with almost 400 pages of kid-tested crafting projects. Take a break and enjoy some calm, quiet fun with your kids. Order your ebook today.
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
My friend Ellen Braun from RaisingSmallSouls.com has been helping us figure out some quiet, cool fun to do at home and elsewhere with her informative resource FRUGAL SUMMER FUN. Many parents welcome a little calm retreat from all the fun in the sun, and this resource is packed with ideas for places to go and things to do to cool off and relax with the kids.
If you’d like to have access to this resource, and many more like it, just click on the link and take advantage of our special offer to join the HBHW club. http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
This is just one of our many informative resources at the HBHW Club. Our topics include subjects like making money working at home, meal planning, gardening, saving on utilities, creating a family budget, and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Cooking Whole Chickens has our Club members talking. When was the last time you compared the price of chicken breasts versus a whole chicken? Well, it seems that has caught the attention of several of our friends at the Club. They each have decided they’ll figure out how to adapt any recipes they have and also learn how to cut up a whole chicken rather than buy the parts. Even those boneless, skinless chicken breasts are right there for the taking! Good frugal thinking!
The Walking Challenge has truly become a challenge. Our friends at the Club have been trying to stick to their exercise plan, but many of us (me included) have found it difficult. Whether it’s the heat or the lack of motivation, we have fallen off. Well, accountability is step one to sticking with a program. So, I’ve challenged our Club members to exercise every day for one week solid and then report back to say how they feel. I guarantee they will notice a difference. You can’t help but feel better when you got in your exercise that day!
A Rummage Sale Find may have gone into the trash if we hadn’t been able to solve this problem. One of our friends found a great blanket for very little money. But, when she put it in the wash machine, the cigarette smoke odor was absolutely offensive. With a few suggestions from our Club members, she got that smell out and now has a lovely new blanket, all fresh as a daisy. Sometimes it just takes a little brainstorming to come up with just the right strategy.
As you can see, our topics have a wide range – anywhere from homesteading, to pet care, to frugal gardening, to health and fitness, to fun projects to keep kids busy at home. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Craft Blog For Fun And Profit
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week by a Club member:
Pine Nut & Parmesan Burgers
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup dry fine bread crumbs
- 2/3 cup pine nuts
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (not the dry kind in the canister)
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 eggs, beaten with fork
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well, using your hands. Form into 4 patties and cook covered on a medium hot grill.
Put on direct heat for 2 minutes, flip cook on direct for another 2 minutes, flip and move to indirect heat and cook for another 2 minutes, flip and cook for 2 minutes more. You want this cooked well so all the flavors blend.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Fancy Condiments
- Grilled Oregano & Basil Tuna Steaks
- Whole Grilled Chicken
- White BBQ Grilling Sauce
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Article – Time and Choices
We, especially parents, are often called upon to make hard choices. Choices about our kids, ourselves, work, health, food, and, of course, time.
How much time are you spending on things that don’t matter to your goals, your family, your health, or your life? Are you acquiescing to demands that have no value in your overall life plan? How are outside forces determining what you do each day? Where do you and your life fit in the scheme of things?
Please click on and read this powerful article written by my friend Ellen Brown of CreatingHours.com and see if you don’t feel a few heart strings pulled.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Compass or The Clock
~author unknown~
What comes first, the compass or the clock?
Before one can truly manage time (the clock), it is important to know where you are going (the compass).
What your priorities and goals are, in which direction you are headed is more important than how fast you are going.
Rather than always focusing on what’s urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.
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
How To Preserve Sweet Peppers
I am looking for a recipe for preserving sweet and hot peppers.
Braised Cucumbers
Cucumbers are usually served cold, in a salad of some sort. Did you know that they are also delicious as a hot side dish? Give these braised cucumbers a try.
Braised Cucumber Recipe
- 4 large cucumbers
- 1 small can chicken broth
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 2 TBSP. diced pimentos
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp. dried chervil
Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Then cut into chunks. Place them into a saucepan with all other ingredients and bring to a boil and them simmer for about 5 minutes. Drain and serve.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Greek Cucumber Salad
Mixing sour cream and yogurt for this dressing turns out really well and of course it wouldn’t be Greek without plenty of garlic. Yum! What a perfect summer salad to go with just about anything cooked on the grill.
Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe
- 2 medium cucumbers
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
First peel the cucumbers and slice them very thinly. Mix together the remaining ingredients and cover the cucumbers. Chill in the fridge and serve cold.
Cucumber And Onions In Vinegar
This is such a simple dish, but these cucumber and onions in vinegar are so delicious during the hottest weeks of the summer.
- 4 medium size cucumbers
- 2 small videlia onions
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
Slice cucumbers and onions thinly. Combine vinegar,sugar and salt in a small bowl and pour over cucumbers and onions. Chill in the fridge and drain the juice before you eat them.
Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup
- 6 tomatoes (cut into quarters)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 3 cloves of garlic (peeled)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cans black beans (15 oz)
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Combine tomatoes,onions,garlic,oil,salt and pepper. Place on a baking pan and roast in the oven until the onion has browned and garlic is soft. This usually takes about 45min.Then place into a large pot and add beans,broth,chili powder,and salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil then turn down heat and simmer for about 20min.
Serve hot with a spoonful of sour cream.
Roasted Tomatoes
Roasting tomatoes brings out the sweetness in them. You get an entirely different flavor combination that from just garden ripe tomatoes. Give roasted tomatoes a try. They make a wonderful side dish when you are grilling, or for just about any chicken or pasta main course.
Roasted Tomato Recipe
- 4lbs. fresh garden tomatoes
- 5 gloves of garlic (minced)
- 5tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Spray a large baking pan with non-stick spray.
Wash and core tomatoes. Slice the tomatoes lengthwise and place cut side up on baking pan. Mix garlic and oil and spread onto tomatoes.Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 6-8hrs.
Tomato Soup From Scratch
To me, there’s nothing more comforting than a nice hot bowl of tomato soup served with a slice of crusty homemade bread. For most of the year I make my tomato soup with canned tomatoes, but in the summer, when garden tomatoes are ripening on the vine, there’s nothing better than a big pot of tomato soup from scratch. It’s a lot easier than you may think and the fresh flavor is unbelievable. Give it a try.
Tomato Soup From Scratch
- 3lbs of fresh,ripe tomatoes
- 8 oz chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2cup finely chopped celery
- 1/2cup finely chopped onion
- 2tbsp flour
- 2tbsp basil
Place tomatoes and broth into a large stock pot.Cook on low heat for 30 min. Remove tomatoes from the stock pot and strain to remove seeds and skins. Transfer back into the stock pot. Add flour,celery,onion and basil and cook on low heat for an additional 20min.
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
The buttermilk in the dressing makes this cucumber salad extra creamy. I also really like cucumbers and dill mixed together. It’s a great summer salad and looks pretty enough for company.
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
- 2 cups of peeled and sliced cucumbers
- 1/4 cup Vidalia onion (finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup cold buttermilk
- 3tbsp mayonnaise
- 1tbsp fresh dill (finely chopped)
- 1/8tsp salt
- 1/8tsp pepper
Place buttermilk,mayo,salt,pepper and dill into a small bowl and stir until creamy and smooth. Line a shallow dish with lettuce followed by the cucumbers and onion. Top with buttermilk mixture and serve immediately.
Let me know how you like this recipe and of course if you have your own creamy cucumber salad recipe be sure to share it as a comment below.
Cherry Tomato And Mozzarella Salad
4 cups ripe cherry tomatoes
6-8ozs. fresh mozzarella cheese balls (smaller ones are good for this recipe)
1/4cup torn or chopped basil leaves
2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Lemon juice (to your own taste)
Sea salt (to your taste)
Cut tomatoes and mozzarella balls into halves. Mix in basil an olive oil.
Season with lemon juice and sea salt.
This salad is great as an appetizer or for a light brunch.
How To Make Stewed Tomatoes
Here is another delicious and super simple tomato recipe. If you’ve been wondering how to make stewed tomatoes, you will love this simple crockpot recipe. It’s as easy as peeling the fresh ripe tomatoes and cooking them with a few veggies and spices in your slowcooker. Couldn’t be simpler, but it really makes the sweetness of the tomatoes come out. What a great summer side-dish.
Stewed Tomatoes
- 7 large ripe tomatoes
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 3/4 cup celery (chopped)
- 1/2 cup green pepper (chopped)
- 2 tbsp butter or margarine
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 2 small bay leaves
Blanch tomatoes first. To do this, score an “X” on the bottom of each tomato and place them into boiling water for 20 seconds. Then remove tomatoes from boiling water and place into a bowl of ice water. This process makes it very easy to peel the tomatoes quickly.
After peeling you can core the tomatoes and remove the seeds. Place all ingredients together in a crock pot and cook on low heat for 8 hours.
Fourth Of July Holiday Safety Tips
With Independence day weekend just around the corner, it’s important to keep a few simple things in mind to make sure you and your family stay safe.
Be Careful Around Fireworks
Quite a few serious holiday related accidents happen each year around fireworks. Your safest option is to enjoy the display from a distance. Most cities and townships put on a professional display. Find out where yours is, get there early and find a comfy spot. We like to bring out blankets, chairs along with some drinks and snacks and then just sit back and enjoy the show.
If you do want to shoot your own fireworks start by making sure it is allowed in your area. A quick call to the fire marshal will clear things up. He can also give you some additional tips for staying safe. After that, use common sense. Don’t drink and shoot fireworks and always keep kids at a safe distance. You should also have some water and/or fire extinguisher close buy just in case. It is also important to buy your fireworks at a reputable dealer and never try to make and shoot your own.
If your child will go to a fireworks display for the first time, try to explain what will be going on, especially the noise. Choose a spot that’s a little ways away from the display (to muffle the noise), but which will still give you a good view of the fireworks in the sky. For a few years my daughter was afraid of the loud noise. I started bringing her some ear plugs and she had a ball.
Water Safety Tips
Beaches, Lakes and Rivers are always a popular 4th of July destination as are pools and can get pretty crowded. This makes even more important to use caution. Keep a close eye on kids in and around the water. Put life jackets on kids in the water as well as on boats. Of course it goes without saying that being in, around or on the water while drinking is never a good idea.
Don’t rely on lifeguards to keep your kids safe. You always want to keep an eye on them yourself as well and be ready to jump in and get them.
Don’t Forget The Sun Screen
While we are on the topic of water… it’s easy to get sun burned around the water or even if you are just hanging out at a local park or in your own back yard. Apply sun screen and make sure you reapply throughout the day as water and sweat wear off the protection from the rays.
Just as important is staying well hydrated (bring plenty of water to drink) and to avoid over heating. Find some shade or head inside for a bit with the kids to allow everyone to cool down.
Simple Food Safety
Last but not least, let’s talk about food. After all, we tend to celebrate this holiday with lots of yummy dishes. Here are a few tips to keep the food from going bad.
Skip the Mayo or Serve it Right Away
Salads with mayonnaise based dressings (think pasta and potato salad) are always popular, but can go bad rather quickly. Your simplest option is to skip them. If you do want to serve something with mayonnaise, keep it cold (at home in the fridge, outside in a well iced cooler), then serve it right away. Toss any leftovers.
Careful With The Meat
Meat outside is also often a concern. Start by being very careful not to cross contaminate anything with raw meat. Use separate cutting boards, plates, containers, knives etc. and be diligent about cleaning everything that has come in contact with raw meat right away.
Cook the meat to at least 165 F before serving. Make sure it stays hot until your guests are ready to eat. Keeping hot foods at above 140F is usually a good idea. (Cold foods by the way should be kept below 40F). Cover finished items with aluminum foil to keep up the heat. Your best option is often to cook meats on the grill to order.
Above all, just toss anything that has been left out for a while. It’s not worth the risk of salmonella or food poisoning.
Stay safe and have a wonderful Fourth Of July!
4th Of July Dessert Recipes
Flag Cake
• 1 package cake mix (white or yellow) *
• 8 oz whipped topping (thawed)
• 1 pint blueberries rinsed and drained
• 2 pints strawberries rinsed and sliced
Prepare cake according to package directions and bake in a 9×13 inch pan. Cool completely.
Frost cake with whipped topping. Place blueberries in a square in the top left corner, and arrange sliced strawberries as stripes to make an American flag. Chill until serving.
* using a store bought cake mix is a great time saver, but when I can, I just make up a batch of this yellow cake recipe. It doesn’t take much longer to make and tastes better.
A fun healthy snack or dessert is these simple fruit kabobs. They look very pretty as well.
4th of July Fruit Kabobs
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Large Fresh Blueberries
• Kabob Skewers
Slice bananas into large chunks. Alternate fruit on skewers. Serve immediately.
Last but not least here is a fun dessert that also doubles as a simple activity for the kids. I recommend you either do this outside and have the kids work with the sprinkles over paper plates for easy cleanup.
Pretzel Sparklers
• Long rod pretzels
• White chocolate, melted or white chocolate frosting if you have younger kids doing this.
• Sprinkles (red, white and blue) or star cake decorations
Melt the white chocolate. Dip the pretzel rod halfway into the melted chocolate then sprinkle the sprinkles over the wet chocolate. Lay on waxed paper or place in a cup to dry.
Good Luck Bad Luck and Hot Dog Ramblings – HBHW Newsletter
June 30th, 2010
Editorial
Here in the United States we’ll be celebrating the 4th of July this weekend with picnics, parades, fireworks, and just plain old fun in the sun. We usually cook (and eat!) way too much food, spend as much time outside as we can, and generally exhaust ourselves. I hope you have a wonderful weekend surrounded by family and friends.
In keeping with this big “cookout” weekend, I decided to feature an article that’s an old favorite of many of us here at Hillbilly Housewife, Hot Dog Ramblings. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to see what we’re rambling about!
The inspirational quote and story are about luck – some we make and some that we fall into, whether we like it or not. Luck is a funny thing. We don’t always know when we’re lucky, and sometimes when we think we’re truly the unluckiest person in the world, the opposite is true. Think of some of those times in your life when you felt that luck was just not on your side, and then something wonderful came of that seemingly unlucky situation. It’s just a fun thought this week.
I’ve chosen Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons again as this week’s sponsor because many of us are on vacation over the 4th of July holiday here in the USA and will need lots of ideas to keep the kids busy. And, if you have a house full of kids, you may even want to plan special crafting events for them. I hope you’ll take advantage of this great offer.
Those are my thoughts 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
Remember that not always getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
~Dalai Lama~
Sponsor
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News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
My friend Ellen Braun from RaisingSmallSouls.com has been helping our Club members keep their kids entertained with our latest resource, FRUGAL SUMMER FUN. In this resource, we explore all sorts of ideas to help keep your family entertained and happy all summer long. Many of us are not taking a big expensive family vacation this year, but we’re still keeping our kids happy and having a great time creating lasting memories.
If you’d like to have access to this resource, and many more like it, just click on the link and take advantage of our special offer to join the HBHW club. http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
This is just one of our many informative resources at the HBHW Club. Topics range from meal planning, gardening, making money working at home, saving on utilities, creating a family budget, and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Hot Weather Cooking has taken our friends at the Club from salads, to grilling, to the crockpot – anything to get out of the kitchen! One of our friends is even thinking of baking bread in her grill. Can’t wait to see what happens with that. Has anyone tried that before? The grill has a thermostat on the outside so conceivably it should work. This will be a challenge, for sure.
The Walking Challenge may have to be renamed “The Anything You Can Do To Exercise Challenge.” For various reasons, heat being a big concern, we’ve been having trouble figuring out how to fit exercise into our day. Our reluctant early riser is still rising early to get a bike ride in before it gets too hot. We have a friend who can’t convince her dog to walk in the heat but is lucky to have a pool, so she’s swimming. Unfortunately, the sun got the best of her even in the pool. I thought I’d take a spin on the treadmill the other day but the heat coming off of the machine was too much to handle in the already overheated house. This is truly a challenge!
Our Four Legged Family Members can cause some pretty difficult problems in the house at times. Yes, we love the little furry creatures, but that doesn’t mean they don’t frustrate us sometimes. One of our friends has a cat who has decided that he wants to mark the house as his. For whatever reason, he is making a stand. We have some rather knowledgeable friends at the Club (years of experience!) so I hope we can come up with a solution to this problem before too long.
As you can see, our topics have a wide range – anywhere from homesteading, to pet care, to frugal gardening, to health and fitness, to fun projects to keep kids busy at home. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try the HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Craft Blog For Fun And Profit
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week by a Club member:
Victoria’s Frozen Fruit Salad
- 1 can fruit cocktail
- 1 t. unflavored gelatin
- 2 T. lemon juice
- 1 (3 oz) pkg cream cheese
- 1/4 c. mayonnaise
- Dash of salt
- 1 c. whipping cream
- 1/2 c. sugar (I use 1/3 c. honey)
- 1/2 c. nuts, chopped (optional)
Drain fruit cocktail. Soften gelatin in lemon juice, then dissolve over hot water. (I just heat 30 sec. in microwave.) Blend cream cheese with mayo and salt. Stir in gelatin.
In separate bowl, whip cream stiff, gradually adding sugar (or honey). Fold in cheese mixture, fruit cocktail, and nuts, if desired. Pour into freezer tray lined with waxed paper (I use a glass bread pan.) Freeze until firm, 4-5 hrs. Turn out onto a platter, remove waxed paper, and cut into thick slices. Enjoy!
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Sauerkraut Salami Salad
- More Than Mac & Cheese Salad
- Apple Peanut Butter Snack in a Salad
- Grilled Maple Syrup Sweet Potatoes
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles – Hot Dog Ramblings
There’s more to a good old fashioned hot dog than meets the eye. If you’ve never explored different ways to cook and serve hot dogs, now is the time to do it!
It’s not just the way you cook them, it’s the variety of things you put on them. And, don’t stop there. How about the different buns you can use? What about wrapping them in a biscuit? Then there’s the old standby Pork and Beans. There are a lot of ways to serve this summertime treat. Do take a look at this featured article and see if you can get some new ideas for your next family cookout.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Chinese Farmer – Good Luck, Bad Luck
~author unknown~
There is a Chinese story of an old farmer who had an old horse for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and, when all the farmer’s neighbours sympathised with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, ‘Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?’
A week later the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills and this time the neighbours congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, ‘Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?’
Then, when the farmer’s son was attempted to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, ‘Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?’
Some weeks later the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg they let him off. Now was that good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?
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
Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
Tomatoes and basil just seem to go together really well. I love sliced tomatoes topped with a little of this chopped herb on top. The classic combination is reinvented in this simple tomato basil soup recipe. It makes the perfect lunch during tomato season.
Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
- 4 tomatoes (peeled and diced)
- 4 cups of tomato juice
- 14 Basil Leaves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Cook tomatoes and juice over medium heat in a large pot for about 30 minutes. Place the cooked mixture into a blender with the basil and blend together. Transfer back to pot and add the cream, butter and salt/pepper to taste.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Stuffed Tomato Recipe
Stuffed tomatoes are a bit of an acquired taste for me. For years, I didn’t even like the idea of them and it never would have occurred to me to try to make them. Then I had this simple stuffed tomato recipe at a friend’s house and it is now one of my favorite summer treats. I hope you and your family will enjoy it as much as we have.
Stuffed Tomato Recipe
- 4 medium size firm tomatoes
- 4oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup of fresh chopped basil
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- salt/pepper to taste
Cut the top off of the tomatoes and scoop out the centers. Discard the seeds but try to keep as much of the tomato pulp as you can. Mix the pulp, cheese,basil and garlic and place back into the tomato shell. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Buttermilk
I would love a recipe for buttermilk. If you have a good one, please share as a comment below.
Thanks.
Debbie
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Green Tomato Relish Recipe
Toward the end of tomato season, we usually end up with a lot of green tomatoes that just won’t finish ripening. It’s a shame to throw them all away. Instead, why not make this simple green tomato relish. It is great on sandwiches.
Green Tomato Relish Recipe
- 20 large green tomatoes,
- 3 red and 3 green bell peppers(seeded)
- 10 large onions
- 3tbsp mustard seed
- 3tbsp celery seed
- 5 cups white sugar
- 1tbsp salt
- 2 cups cider vinegar
Place tomatoes, onions and peppers in a food processor and coarsely grind. Drain mixture in a piece of cloth to get out any excess juice. Transfer to a large pot and add celery seed, mustard seed,sugar,salt and vinegar. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Then place the relish into sterilized jars.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Award Winning Chili – Crockpot
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb hot sausage (like Jimmy Dean)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 stalks of celery, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper , diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp cayenne
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp ground paprika
- 1/2 Tbsp salt
- 1/2 Tbsp black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 2 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cans (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Brown the ground beef and sausage in the oil in large skillet, then put in crockpot. In same skillet with meat drippings, lightly saute all the vegetables, then add to crockpot. Add all the spices to the ingredients in crockpot and stir. In separate bowl, mix together the next 5 ingredients (Worcestershire, vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes). Then pour into crockpot and stir to combine. Cover and set crockpot temperature on Low. Cook for 7 to 8 hours (or more is fine). During the last 30 minutes, stir in kidney beans and continue on Low.
Serve in bowls along with toppings like chopped green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, black olives, crushed corn chips, etc.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Most Expensive Is Sometimes Cheapest
A Quick Frugal Tip By HBHW Reader Joyful Joy:
I’m single, live alone. A container of milk lasts quite awhile at my house, and I always end up dumping sour milk. My relatives are food snobs, everything must be the most expensive organic brand. When I made ice cream for the family last month, I used milk and cream from Whole Foods Market, a very expensive, high-end, trendy supermarket. But I discovered that the leftover milk & cream stayed fresh MUCH longer than what I typically buy from Winco (TWO WEEKS longer!), so I didn’t have to dump any. So I’ve learned: buy milk & cream from Whole Foods, stick to Winco for other stuff.
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Folk’s Peach Muffins
I’ve searched online for a similar recipe for peach muffins from Folk’s restaurant. I love these, and have tried to make them at home, but it’s no where near what I’m looking for. They sell tubs of the pre-made batter, but not the recipe. Can any one help with me with this? Thanks
Jennifer in GA
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: Secret Restaurant Recipes
Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
Get your copy today at:
Mock Spiced Apple Rings Made With Cucumber Slices
My daughter’s ex-mother-in-law makes delicious home-canned mock spiced apple rings using cucumber slices. Sadly they don’t speak anymore and I’d love to find this recipe. I think it might be an Amish recipe, her ex-in-laws used to vacation with an Amish family every summer when they were able. The canning liquid tastes like cinnamon red hot candies and are bright red, also coloring the sliced cucumbers. Does anyone know of such a recipe?
Thanks, Jennifer in GA
Caramel Cake Recipe
I am looking for a recipe for a good caramel cake.
Thank you,
Debbie
Fried Green Tomato Recipe
This is a wonderful recipe for that was passed down from my grandmother. It makes a great appetizer when you have company. I also like to make it for lunch when we have quite a few green tomatoes on the vines.
Fried Green Tomato Recipe
- 3 firm green tomatoes
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2/3 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Wash tomatoes and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle with salt and set to the side for a few moments. Combine milk and eggs in a shallow dish. Place flour into another shallow dish followed by cornmeal in the last dish. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a skillet. Dip tomato slices into milk and egg mixture and then into flour. Dip slices back into the milk mixture and then into the cormeal and place into your hot pan. Fry for about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown, drain on paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
I hope you enjoy this fried green tomato recipe as much as me and my family have.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: Secret Restaurant Recipes
Don’t spend a fortune going out to eat. Instead enjoy some of your favorite restaurant fare at home for a fraction of the cost.
These recipes are also perfect for dinner parties or a fun and special family dinner.
Get your copy today at:
Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
Kikkoman makes a bottled “pour & stir” stir fry sauce that I really like. Does anybody have a stir fry sauce recipe that tastes like this? Would be really nice to find recipe that stores well in the fridge for a couple of weeks… Thanks bunches!
From The HBHW
Hi Joy, I have a recipe that I’ve been playing with for a while. My daughter loves Asian food and this sauce seems to do the trick, especially for chicken and broccoli or beef and broccoli. I start with a little less soy sauce and then add more at the end if needed.
Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
- 1/3 cup soy sauce (or more to taste)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup rice wine
- 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic*
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger*
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Whisk the soy sauce, chicken broth, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil and pepper together in a small bowl.
Next get out a coffee cup or any other small cup and dissolve the corn starch in a few tablespoons of water. Make sure you work out all the clumps and end up with a smooth milky liquid.
Heat the oil in a small sauce pan. Add the fresh ginger and garlic and cook it for a few seconds until you can start to smell them.
Next, pour the soy sauce mixture into the sauce pan and bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes. Add the corn starch slurry and turn the heat back up a bit. Stir the sauce continually until it starts to get bubbly and thickens up a bit.
It’s now ready to use in your favorite stir-fry. Allow any leftovers to cool and store them in a small container with a lid in the fridge (an old stir fry or salad dressing bottle works well). Use it up within a week.
* The sauce is best when it’s made with minced fresh garlic and ginger. You can however also make it by adding a little dash of garlic powder and ginger powder to make this recipe a bit more frugal.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Homemade Pizza Snacks
I love these low-calorie homemade pizza snacks. My kids appear out of the woodwork when they smell these baking. They are pretty frugal too. Of course you can easily switch out ingredients to customize this for your kids and your family.
Homemade Pizza Snacks
- 12-16 Saltine Crackers
- 1/4 C.finely chopped Portabella Mushrooms
- 1/2 C. Pizza or Spaghetti Sauce
- 1/2 C. Monterey Jack cheese is best!
- 2 Tbsp. Basil(fresh, if you have it)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
Lay crackers on a cookie sheet touching each other. Place 1/2 tsp. sauce on each cracker. Sprinkle cheese & mushrooms over all. Sprinkle with garlic powder & basil.Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.Enjoy!
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Hawaiian Chicken Recipe – Crockpot
This is the recipe that turned me into a crockpot fan. Before I tried this Hawaiian Chicken recipe, my crockpot was hanging out in the very back of one of my kitchen cabinets. I just didn’t know what to do with it until I happened to come across this recipe. I can’t remember if it was in a magazine, cookbook or online (probably not online since it’s been quite some time). I used to make it quite a bit and it was always a big hit with my husband but somehow I had forgotten about it until it just popped in my head today and I mentioned it in the newsletter. Shortly after someone asked me if I could share the recipe. I dug through files and cookbooks and finally found my handwritten note with “Hawaiian Chicken Recipe – Crockpot” scribbled across the top…. so here it is:
Hawaiian Chicken Recipe – Crockpot
- 2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
- 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Cut the chicken into large bite-sized chunks. Put everything into your crockpot and stir it around until everything is mixed up. Cover it and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours.
I like to serve this Hawaiian chicken over white rice. Fix a simple salad to add on the side and dinner is 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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Green Beans with Ham & New Potatoes – Crockpot
- 2 pounds fresh green beans, snapped in half, rinsed and drained
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 large ham knuckles (with some meat)
- 1 to 2 lbs. new red potatoes, cut in half
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Put beans, onion, and ham bones in crockpot with just enough water to cover the beans. Turn crockpot to low and let cook covered for 3 to 4 hours. Remove the ham bones and set aside.
Add potatoes and seasonings to crockpot, cover and continue cooking on low for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. In the meantime, remove good meat from ham bones and set meat aside, discarding the bones. When potatoes are tender, turn off crockpot and put good meat in, and stir together. Serve immediately.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
4 Ingredient Chicken Chili – Crockpot
Technically there are 5 ingredients if you count the water that has to be added. Never-the-less this is one of the easiest chicken chili crockpot recipes I’ve come across and of course very tasty.
Crockpot Chicken Chili
- 2 lbs of chicken thighs, bones and skin removed, cut into cubes
- 1 small package Taco seasoning mix
- 2 cans Navy beans, drained
- 3 cans diced tomatoes, chilies and garlic flavor – do not drain
- 3 cans water (use diced tomato cans)
In your crockpot (about 5 quart size) put the ingredients in and stir gently just to combine. Put cover on crockpot and set heat to low. Cook covered for 6 to 8 hours. Stir again gently to combine before serving.
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.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ebooks/crockpotcooking.htm
Lip Stick Stain Removal
Recently I discovered how to get lipstick out of fabric. Just spray with
hair spray and use a white cloth to clean. Eventually the stain will be gone!
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Control Journal – Keep Your Household Organized With One Of These
I’ve gotten quite a few questions about control journals or household organizers lately. I’ve kept one for years and couldn’t imagine living without it at this point. It’s the one piece of organization in a midst of chaos. Inside I have everything I need to remind me of what needs cleaned and changed when, emergency numbers, doctors appointments etc. I also keep my meal and cleaning plan in there.
This morning I came across an article about setting up a control journal. It has given me a few new ideas for my own journal and hope it will help you as well.
Getting Your Household Under Control
Several years ago I came across the idea of a household control journal on a website somewhere out there in cyber space. It could have been any number of websites as I have always been a nut for something that could help me stay organized and often did searches for such things.
The idea behind a household control journal is to have one place where you keep the important papers and lists that help you to run your home. This can be a wide-variety of things but typically includes a chores list, your grocery list, your menu planning list, emergency numbers, medical info, financial info, and your child(ren)’s school info.
These are the basic areas I cover in my control journal and though there are some areas, I use more than others they are all ones I would suggest doing. For me, having everything in one place is the best part of using the control journal.
I divided the different categories with a bright colored piece of card stock and labeled each area. The area I use the most or daily is the weekly chores list and the daily routines list. These keep me on track daily with my household tasks.
The other very useful section that I use on a weekly basis is the menu planning and grocery list section. I am a menu planner and therefore this section keeps all my meal ideas in one place. Many people make a master meals or menu list here to go by so that they do not have to think up new meals every week. I also keep my grocery list here to add things to as the week goes on and as I create my menu list on Wednesdays as I shop on Thursdays. Having this information all in one place is quite helpful.
I also use the finances area, but more on a monthly schedule. Each month I create a budget, a bill paying schedule and a savings schedule, because we do sinking funds and deposit the money in a money market account. This area helps me to keep track of all of these things and get the bills paid on time.
The other areas mentioned such as medical info and child(ren)’s school info are mostly used for reference at random times, but at least I know where to find the information when I need it rather than having to dig through piles of papers or search through files.
Using a household control journal has proved to be such a positive experience for me that I recently created a business control journal as well. Plus, it allows me to use one of my favorite organizing items, a binder.
When you create your household control journal, just remember there really is no wrong or right way to do them; the most important thing is that it works for you!
Alyssa Dees Avant is a Christian author, blogger, podcaster, speaker, and business owner, when she is not speaking to audiences of young girls and their mothers, she is writing as a freelance and ghostwriter. Whether she is sharing her passion with girls on the topics of beauty, modesty, and etiquette or with their moms on time management and organizing Alyssa has a true passion for helping others. Visit her on the web at http://beautybydesignonline.com or http://organizedlifebydesign.com
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends: 30 Days To An Organized Home
Something that’s made a huge difference for me is the “30 Days To An Organized Home” ebook by MomsinaBlog.com.
Work your way through organizing and decluttering every room in your house in 30 days. The daily tasks make it easy to follow along and kept me from getting overwhelmed with the task at hand.
You’ll also find some helpful printable checklists that will keep you on task and allow you to track your progress.
Get your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/organizedhome
Meat Spreads – Make At Home With Grinder
Trying to keep healthy lunch ideas at hand… I’ve been using any & all left over meat from supper & grinding in my “1 cup” grinder then add mayo & sweet relish (or dill) & a bit of celery seed & you’ve got a healthy lunch w/out any waste…sometimes I’ll boil a chicken breast to make it…my family loves it…You can also add onion & even a few ground up leftover veggies…works great & saves $$$$!
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Baby Poo Stain Remover
I’m a new mom…can anyone tell me how to get poo stains out of baby clothes?
Quick Pickle Recipe
I am looking for a quick (ie: refrigerator) pickle recipe. The one I am looking for in particular is a sour pickle, but I would love any kind of pickle recipe that does not require canning.
Homemade Molasses Cookies
My mother use to make big round cut out molasses cookies that crackled on top, we can’t seem to find the right recipe, can anyone send it?
Diabetic Recpes For Toddlers
I’m looking for healthy, but easy diabetic recipes that are “toddler friendly”.
My one year old was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes just before her first birthday (a little over a month ago).
I have struggled to find things that are healthy for her that she doesn’t get tired of because I make them over and over. I have very little time, but would like to prepare fresh things for her. She has 6 teeth and does very well chewing.
Does anyone have ideas that they can share with me?
Tomato Soup From Scratch
I was fortunate enough to get quite a few fresh tomatoes from a neighbor with a big garden. We ate quite a few of them fresh, then I used to rest to make some tomato soup from scratch. I thought I’d share my recipe with you. I like to serve this soup with some homemade bread fresh from the breadmaker. If you happen to have some cooked rice leftover, add a bit of that at the end for a more filling soup. Some cooked quinoa would be really good in this too.
Tomato Soup From Scratch
- 3 lbs ripe tomatoes
- 1 small cube of chicken bullion
- 1/2 c. chopped celery
- 2 tsp dry basil or Italian seasoning
- 1/2 c. chopped onion
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup of milk
Pour about a cup of water into a medium sized pot. Add the bullion cube and the tomatoes. If the tomatoes are very large, give them a rough chop, otherwise cut them in half. Heat the mixture and then simmer on low for about 30 minutes.
In the meantime chop your onion and celery and saute it in a bit of olive oil or butter until the veggies are tender.
Pour the tomato mixture through a strainer to remove the tomato skins and seeds. Return the broth to the pot.
Scoop a little of the broth into a cup and add the flour to make a slurry. When you’ve worked out all the lumps, pour it back into the soup. Add the vegetables and seasonings and cook over medium heat until the soup has thickened to your liking. Pour in the milk and if needed allow it to cook a few more minutes until it thickens back up.
Serve hot with a slice of homemade bread.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Know When To Relax And Enjoy, Busy Productive Kids At Home, More Frugal Fun Ideas – HBHW Newsletter
June 23rd, 2010
Editorial
Summertime is a delicate balancing act between rest, relaxation, and being industrious. I know when summer comes around in the colder regions of the country, it is often looked upon as a time to get things done around the house. But, there is a time to work and a time to play, and sometimes the two mix.
The article I chose to feature this week is about keeping kids busy with productive, useful things to create at home. Kids need projects to do that are not only fun, but also provide creative and useful things that they can be proud of. Please take time to check out this featured article.
The inspirational quote and story just made me laugh a little. I’ve been focusing quite a bit here (in the featured article, resource, and sponsor) on what to do to keep kids happy, entertained, and busy all summer. But, what parents often long to do is sit back, relax, and let go a little. I guess what I saw in both the quote and the story was an excuse for us adults to take it easy and not let our chores and tasks overwhelm us.
In order for us parents to relax, though, we have to find something to occupy our kids. If their little hands are busy, we can take a break! That’s why I’ve chosen Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons again as this week’s sponsor. You’ll find great projects that will keep your youngsters busy and happy during those long days of summer that are yet to come. Be sure to check it out.
Those are my thoughts 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
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.
~James Dent~
Sponsor
Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons – Kid Tested Crafts That Parents Love Too!
The weather is heating up and it’s getting harder to keep your kids focused on any one thing. If you’ve got a house full of kids, this can get frustrating for both you and the kids.
It’s time to refocus and try something new. How about some new crafts that are kid-created and kid-tested? You’ll have over 200 pages of fresh ideas to choose from to keep your little ones busy all summer long.
Plus, when you order Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons you’ll also receive as a bonus Little Kid Paper Plate Crafts. That’s almost 400 pages of crafts for kids as young as 2 years old. Imagine, keeping your house full of kids busy.
Be sure to check out this valuable book and take advantage of the bonus offer today! For only $19.95 you’ll receive two great sources with almost 400 pages of kid-tested crafting projects. This may be the summer you never hear the words “We’re bored!” again.
News From The HBHW Club
If you haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club, it’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
Keeping kids busy is one thing that my friend Ellen Braun from RaisingSmallSouls.com knows all about. With our latest resource, FRUGAL SUMMER FUN, we explore all sorts of ideas to help keep your family entertained and happy all summer long. Without having to take a big, expensive family vacation, you can fill your summer with great moments and great memories.
Frugal ideas which involve both day trips and projects to do right at home are discussed in this informative resource that’s free to our Club members. If you’d like to have access to this resource, and many more like it, just click on the link and take advantage of our special offer to join the HBHW club. http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
You don’t want to miss any of our informative and valuable resources including meal planning, gardening, making money working at home, saving on utilities, creating a family budget, and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Healthy diet and hot weather cooking is a topic that our friends at the Club have been pondering. We have been putting together salad recipes for dinner during the hot summer months, but one issue many of us have is trying to eat a healthy diet. Even though we’re eating salads, not all salads are healthy. We want to find ways to create healthy meals that are also on our diet plans. Salads are a good place to start, but one of our friends suggested crockpot meals as a way to “beat the heat” of cooking and still have a filling, and healthy meal.
The Walking Challenge experiencing a bit of a lull. I know the hot weather has something to do with that. However, our friends have become rather resolute in their exercising and are pushing forward with other exercise options, like swimming, floor ball exercises, and biking. When we can, we’ll get back out there and walk, but until then, we’ll keep up whatever we can to stay active.
The Daily Reflection was especially interesting to me with summer vacation upon us and a house full of kids. Is your home a place of peace or chaos? Can you walk in your door and relax? Creating a peaceful home is important for families because we all need a place of sanctuary from the hectic, sometimes disturbing and frightening world around us. I hope you’ll take a minute to look around your own home and see how you can make it more peaceful.
Along with these topics, we are discussing frugal ideas, homesteading, and gardening. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area. Click the following link and try The HBHW Club for only $1.
http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Craft Blog For Fun And Profit
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week.
Tuna Veggie Pasta Salad
dressing:
- 2 cups Italian salad dressing
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. salad oil (canola)
salad:
- 1 lb. spiral noodles, cooked and drained
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped radishes
- 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 4 hard cooked eggs, chopped
- 1 large can white tuna, drained
Mix the dressing ingredients in a bowl until blended well. In large salad bowl, toss all the salad ingredients together, then drizzle on the dressing and toss until coated well. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
I like using the spiral noodles because they “hold” the dressing very well. You can also use penne or shell noodles, or a mixture of a variety.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Easy 4 Bean Salad
- Marinated Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Cool Calico Rice
- Simple Summer Potato Salad
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles – Frugal Fun For Kids To Do At Home
Let’s face it – there are plenty of days this summer when you are not going to want to leave the house. But, you’ve got kids at home looking for something to do, and you WANT them to do something. “Busy hands are happy hands” and not just for kids, right? Busy kids are less likely to squabble and complain about “being bored.”
It’s in your best interest as a parent to find ways to keep your little ones occupied and happy, right? What kids need are projects that are productive, not just entertaining. Check out this weeks feature article to see what you can do to provide creative, and useful, fun things to do around the house this summer.
Frugal Fun For Kids To Do At Home
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Problem With Dandelions
~author unknown~
A man who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to get rid of them. Still they plagued him.
Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed his letter with the question: “What shall I do now?”
In due course, the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.”
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
Frugal Fun Activities For Kids To Do At Home
You knew it was coming. The kids are home all summer. You have your own work and chores to take care of and you can’t spend all your time running around from one activity to the other. You need ideas for quick and easy things to do around the house that won’t require a big investment in time and money, but will keep the kids happy and entertained. Let’s explore a few options here:
Cooking
Now is the time to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Why? Because summer cooking is usually so simple and easy. We are normally pretty happy to eat on the run and snack on easy to prepare treats. Take “Ants on a Log” for instance. With just some celery, peanut butter, and raisins your kids can create their very own feast.
How about something as simple as PB&J? To keep this favorite sandwich interesting, give your kids cookie cutters so they can create fancy hors d’ oerves. Pull out the pretty frilly dresses and have a whole dress-up luncheon on the patio.
In order to make putting a meal together easier for your kids, you may want to cook up a couple batches of fun pasta and rice and keep it in the refrigerator. Have on hand a variety of ingredients like cut up vegetables, fruit, cheese, nuts, or whatever your kids like so they can throw together their very own casserole with little effort. A cold pasta “casserole” with a little ranch style dressing, chunks of cheese, a handful of frozen peas, and maybe even some peanuts is a dish that’s guaranteed to be kid-friendly when your kids are the ones who put it together.
Depending on the age of your children, put them in charge of as much of the preparation as possible. When your kids make a meal, they not only learn about food preparation, but kids who help cook their own food often are more inclined to try new foods. Get out the ingredients and stand back and watch their creativity and curiosity grow.
Gardening
A great way to have your kids spend time outdoors at home in a busy, and productive way, is gardening. Start with a couple cherry or patio tomato plants. They’re easy to grow in containers and produce fun food pretty fast. If your kids don’t like tomatoes, try planting sweet peas or lettuce. Both are fast growing and will do just fine in a container. You can also have your kids plant easy flower gardens in containers or a small patch of earth near the house. When the flowers bloom, be sure to encourage your child to pick them for table arrangements, or as gifts. The more “activities” you can get out of your garden the better.
Start by choosing a sturdy outdoor-style planter. Make sure it’s washed clean, then have your child fill the pot with clean potting soil that’s suitable for what you’re planting. Be sure your child has gloves, watering cans, and any tools that would be handy to use. This not only is useful but it lets the child know their “hobby” is important.
With a little instruction your child will be able to plant a nice garden that will yield hours of enjoyment immediately and when it comes time to pick their produce or flowers. The first blossoms are a thrill, then watching those blossoms open and become the fruit, vegetable, or flower pictured on the packet of seeds very exciting.
You can teach your child about “organic gardening” by planting a naturally pest-free mini-garden. It’s quite entertaining and easy to do. Choose a larger container and plant a combination of plants that like each other and that fight bugs. For instance, one classic arrangement would be a tomato plant surrounded by green onions and marigolds. These three plants work well together fending off bugs while providing food and beauty.
With just a few reminders to weed and water their little garden, your child will enjoy an entire summer of surprises watching his or her garden grow.
Useful Creations
Kids like to sit down and paint, tape, draw, staple, and glue stuff together just for the fun of it. However, these projects take on more importance when they end up being something useful.
When children work on a craft item that they know will be displayed and cherished, they will pay more attention to detail and take pride in the completion of the project. For instance, do you have a box full of pictures waiting to get put into albums or frames? If your child knew that you would put a collection of pictures in a album they created, they would take special care to create one for you, especially if you were to pick a place on the bookcase to display it.
Start simply by handing your child a picture you’d like framed. Then, with your child, measure the picture and set out to help your child find a frame to decorate. Garage sales and thrift shops are great places to find discarded frames cheaply. Help your child to envision what he or she could do to decorate the frame. Talk about painting it a different color or gluing on interesting items to make the frame more personal and fun. Look for fun embellishments like buttons, old puzzle pieces, yarn, ribbon, pictures out of magazines, playing cards, or anything that you can think of that is fun.
Once you have a variety of frames and all your fun embellishments, get your crafting items together. Be sure to have glue, scissors, paint brushes, and anything your child may need to complete the project. Then sit back and let your child show off his or her creative genius! This is a great project for picture albums, too. You can purchase inexpensive photo albums and have your child embellish them, or you can build your own out of cardboard.
What other items can you think of that would be useful around the house? How about a bulletin board, a box for your reading glasses, placemats, napkins, remote control corral, or coasters for the coffee table? These are just a few ideas for things that could be useful; things that your child would take pride in creating and in seeing you use. When your child is making something that will be used, he or she has a special interest in making sure it turns out well. Kids will spend more time making an object that will be on display than on an object that will wind up in a keepsake box.
You don’t have to go much beyond your own backyard to find ideas to keep your kids busy this summer. Just in your day-to-day life you can find things to do with your kids, things you may do anyway, to keep your kids entertained and happy. Create lasting memories with simple homespun activities you can do with your kids all summer long.
p.s. If your kids really got interested in crafting this summer, you may want to check out this fabulous book, Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons – Kid Tested Crafts That Parents Love Too!
This crafting ebook for kids is jam packed with kid-created and kid-tested activities. Over 200 pages of fresh ideas to keep your little ones busy all summer long – and throughout the rest of the year, too!
Plus, when you order Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons you’ll also receive as a bonus Little Kid Paper Plate Crafts. That’s almost 400 pages of crafts for kids as young as 2 years old. Imagine, keeping your whole family happy and busy!
Be sure to check out this valuable book and take advantage of the bonus offer today! For only $19.95 you’ll receive two great sources with almost 400 pages of kid-tested crafting projects. This may be the summer you never hear the words “We’re bored!” again.
Grinding My Own Meats
My husband has ordered a meat grinder, saying we can save money like nobody’s business. Only I don’t know how. I know I can make regular ground beefs, chicken, porks, and with recipes I can make sausages BUT… does anyone have some tips for me? Any tried and true recipes? Any other ideas besides ground meat or sausages? I want to make this purchase pay for itself as soon as possible!
Greasy Stains on Clothing
A friend of mine made a suggestion for getting out greasy stains from clothing. Her daughter works in a pizza shop and these types of stains are common. Anyway, I have tried it, and it works-Dawn dish liquid! Maybe I’m the only one who didn’t know this, but I tried it on one of my husband’s shirts and it took the grease/oily stain right out! I hope this tip helps some others.
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Bread Of Some Sort – Or Dough (Recipe)
I use to have a friend years ago that would make this dough rolled out and then she would put some olive oil on that then olives cheese and some sort of meat then rolled it up like a cinnimon roll then baked it after it was rolled she would put a light layer of egg for browning then put it in the oven and cut it served it hot.
Im not sure of how much and what to add to the dough and how long to keep this whole concoction in the oven at what temp but when it was done it was sure yummy. Reminds me of a bakes sandwich or something. Does anyone have any sort of recipe like this?
Vinegar For Laundry
Vinegar is something we all have sitting in the pantry. Did you know that it is also a great all purpose cleaner and does wonders for your laundry? Here are a couple of uses of vinegar for laundry.
- Use it as a fabric softener. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your wash instead of using fabric softener.
- Keep your whites whiter. That same vinegar will also keep your whites whiter and even colors brighter.
- Use it as a spot remover. Spray full strength vinegar on stains, then wash as usual. I keep vinegar in an old cleaned out spray bottle for this.
- Get your white and light colored dish cloths looking like new. Get out a large pot and fill it with water. Add a cup of vinegar and your dish cloths. Bring the water to a boil, then turn off the heat, cover the pot and let it sit overnight.
- Adding vinegar to the wash also removes a lot of the static from your laundry. You can skip the dryer sheets.
Recommended Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Duggar Laundry Soap
Does anyone have a recipe for the duggar laundry soap? I heard them mention it on TV a while back, but never got around to jotting down the recipe. We are trying to cut back on what we spent and I figured I’d give this homemade laundry soap a try.
Thanks in advance.
Julia
Further Reading – Keeping It Clean
This is a 3 ebook series that will help you spend less time and money on your laundry. Tawra and Jill from Living On A Dime share their best frugal laundry, cleaning and home organization tips.
Grab your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/laundry
Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
My mom used to make these stuffed zucchinis at least once a week during the summer months. It’s the perfect recipe for zucchini that has grown just a little to big to be super tender and it makes a filling, healthy meal. I serve it with some homemade bread or biscuits on the side.
Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
- 4 medium or 2 very large zucchini
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1small jar or can roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1/2 green pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon oregano
- salt and pepper
- 3/4 lb ground beef or turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 to 2 cups shredded cheese
Wash the zucchini, but do not cut it. Get out a large stockpot, fill it with water and add the whole zucchini. Bring the water to a boil and cook the vegetables for 15 to 20 minutes, until they start to get a bit tender. The larger your zucchini are, the longer you want to cook them. Carefully remove them from the water and let them cool for a bit.
Get out a large pan and add the olive oil. Saute the garlic and onions. Add the green onion after a few minutes, then the spices. Next, add the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the grease and set the pan aside.
Cut the slightly cooled zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out some of the soft vegetable “flesh” in the center. Chop it and add it to the ground beef mixture in the pan. Add the chopped roasted peppers and the egg as well and mix everything until it is well combined.
Once all your zucchini halves have been scooped out, put them on a foil lined cookie sheet or even better a large casserole dish. Scoop the meat filling into each prepared zucchini half and top with a little shredded cheese.
Bake the zucchini in a preheated 375 F. oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starts to brown a bit.
If you are using a casserole dish, pour a little water or broth in the bottom to keep the zucchini moist and tender.
You can also make this with canned tuna instead of meat. For some different flavor, substitute the red peppers for a little tomato sauce and add a bit of Parmesan cheese to the mixture before filling.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Frugal and Healthy Ice Cream
We freeze all kinds of fruits during the summer and also freeze bananas when they reach the over ripe stage. The bananas can be used for banana bread or for this healthy frugal ice cream substitute.
Take a couple of frozen bananas put in blender with just a little milk. Blend. You may need to add just a little milk but you want the consistency to be very thick.
You can add frozen strawberries, frozen cherries (pitted – yes they make a tool for that).
You should not need sugar if bananas were over ripe. You can even add chocolate chips at the very end for a chunky chocolate banana ice cream. Yummy!
Highly Recommended – Penny Pinching Mama
Find out how Jill Cooper lived on $500 per month. This e-book is filled with over 500 practical, everyday ideas to help anyone stretch a small income.
Get your copy today at:
www.HillbillyHousewife.com/penny
Happy Father’s Day, Summer Fun Ideas, Hot Weather Recipes – HBHW Newsletter
June 16th, 2010
Editorial
Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 20th, and I’ve featured several articles on this topic, as well as included a Father-inspired quote and story.
Our featured articles today are about the origin of Father’s Day, some easy Father’s Day gift ideas, and a whole day of delicious recipes to treat your Dad from sunup to sundown. Take time today to gather your kids and plan a Father’s Day celebration to remember.
The inspirational quote and story is, to me, a description of “Father.” As kids, we often think of him as a “man of the world,” going out to conquer and do great things. But, at the end of the day, Father comes home and, as we learn later in life, becomes the true hero. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read and reflect on this topic today and spend time on Father’s Day this Sunday to celebrate the man or men in your life that have given so much of themselves.
Of course, summer is upon us and the first couple weeks of summer are usually pretty lazy. We just enjoy having a little extra time to putter around the house and relax. But, it doesn’t last for ever and before we know it we’re all starting to look around for something to do, something to focus on.
Even though we have a few little excursions planned for the family this summer, that still leaves a lot of time at home. And as the old song goes “busy hands are happy hands” and when those busy hands belong to our little ones, Moms and Dads are happy, too!
That’s why I’ve chosen Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons again as this week’s sponsor. You’ll find great projects that will keep your youngsters busy and happy during those long days of summer that are yet to come. Be sure to check it out.
Those are my thoughts 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
A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.
~George Moore~
Sponsor
Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons – Kid Tested Crafts That Parents Love Too!
Yes, summer is here and you’ve got a house full of kids. Maybe even the neighbor kids, too. What are you going to do to keep them busy and having fun?
As the months go by, and the weather heats up, your kids’ attention span is going to wane, and with that, your frustration will grow. You need ideas… and a lot of them!
This crafting ebook for kids is jam packed with kid-created and kid-tested activities. Over 200 pages of fresh ideas to keep your little ones busy all summer long – and throughout the rest of the year, too!
Plus, when you order Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons you’ll also receive as a bonus Little Kid Paper Plate Crafts. That’s almost 400 pages of crafts for kids as young as 2 years old. Imagine, keeping your whole family happy and busy!
Be sure to check out this valuable book and take advantage of the bonus offer today! For only $19.95 you’ll receive two great sources with almost 400 pages of kid-tested crafting projects. This may be the summer you never hear the words “We’re bored!” again.
News From The HBHW Club
What? You haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club? It’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
Our newest resource at the Club is all about creating FRUGAL SUMMER FUN for your family. Along with my friend, Ellen Braun from RaisingSmallSouls.com I’ve put together an informative and fun resource that’s packed full of frugal fun ideas for you and your family to enjoy this summer.
We all know that summer can start to drag on, and eventually you’ll hear the dreaded “I’m bored” remark from your youngsters. Don’t we all want to avoid that! You can when you use this resource. Just click on the link and take advantage of our special offer to join the HBHW club. http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
You don’t want to miss any of our informative and valuable resources including meal planning, gardening, making money working at home, saving on utilities, creating a family budget and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
- For just$1 you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
- For just $1 you’ll have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Hot weather cooking, or should I say not cooking, is the main focus of our recipes this month. Our friends at the Club have requested dishes that don’t heat up the kitchen any more than it already is during these hot months of summer. I’ve tried to include salads that are not just green and fresh, but hearty, too. We’ll also be posting grilling recipes as the weeks go by and hope to get our Club members to submit a few of their own.
Our Walking Challenge has many of us having to get creative and make adjustments in this heat. Some of our friends have taken to swimming rather than walking, and others have had to readjust their schedules to walk in the early morning before the heat gets too oppressive. This isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but we’re willing to do what we have to in order to stay healthy and fit.
Our Daily Reflection had a bit of a twist especially since we’ve been focusing on our exercise and diet programs lately. Can we embrace our bodies… extra weight and all? Perhaps our image of the “perfect figure” needs to change, especially as we age. And, shouldn’t women be curvy and soft? All these thoughts have us wondering if maybe our fitness program should focus on the way we feel and not so much on the way we look. It’s something to think about.
Along with healthy and well fed families, we are discussing topics that include frugal tips for cleaning and cooking, as well as homesteading and gardening. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area.
Click the following link and try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you come join us! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Craft Blog For Fun And Profit
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week.
Chicken & Rice Asian Style
Salad:
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cut up bite size
- 1 small can sliced mushrooms, drained
- 1 small can sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 1 (16 oz) bag frozen Asian style mixed vegetables, lightly cooked and drained
- 2 eggs, hard boiled, and chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped, including tops
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 small green pepper, diced
- salt and black pepper to taste
Dressing:
- 1 (8 oz) bottle Creamy Italian salad dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tblsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. curry powder
Combine all salad ingredients in large glass or plastic bowl, tossing well. Cover and chill for two to three hours.
Before serving, in separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well blended. Pour a little dressing over salad ingredients in bowl and toss together, taste, and add more dressing if desired. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
This is more like a cold casserole than a salad. It’s certainly hearty enough for a hungry family on a hot summer evening.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Luau Chicken Salad
- Chilly Chicken Chinese Salad
- Favorite 7 Layer Salad
- Salami Summer Salad
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles – Father’s Day Gifts & Recipes
Since Father’s Day is this Sunday, I thought I’d gather a few special Father’s Day articles together. One is on the origin of Father’s Day. Although there are several ideas of where Father’s Day got its start, this one is widely believed to be true.
Then I’ve compiled a few easy gift ideas for kids both young and old. Many are simple craft ideas just to get you thinking; others are purchased gifts that are also meant to be things that a youngster can easily buy.
Then, what would Father’s Day be without food? Dads are all the same when it comes to their tummies – give them a hearty meal and they’re happy. I’ve grouped together recipes for the whole day, from a filling breakfast to an ice cream treat after dinner.
Click on the links below and start planning your Father’s Day:
Simple Father’s Day Gift Ideas
A Whole Day of Father’s Day Meals
If you’re looking for even more Father’s Day recipes, you may want to check out this fabulous cookbook, Competition BBQ Secrets – A Barbecue Instruction Manual.
Even if your Dad has never actually entered a barbecue competition, these secrets will have him winning in his own backyard! Click on and help your Father in his quest to become the King of the BBQ.
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
What Is A Father?
~Author unknown~
A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death.
A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child’s eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him.)
A father is a person who goes to war sometimes … and would run the other way except that war is part of his only important job in his life, (which is making the world better for his child than it has been for him).
Fathers grow older faster than people, because they, in other wars, have to stand at the train station and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs on board. And, while mothers cry where it shows, fathers stand and beam — outside — and die inside.
Fathers are men who give daughters away to other men, who aren’t nearly good enough, so that they can have children that are smarter than anybody’s.
Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry away from the breakfast table, off to the arena which is sometimes called an office or a workshop. There, with callused hands, they tackle the dragon with three heads; Weariness, Works, and Monotony. And they never quite win the fight, but they never give up. Knights in shining armor; fathers in shiny trousers. There’s little difference as they march away each workday.
I don’t know where father goes when he dies, but I’ve an idea that, after a good rest, wherever it is, he won’t just sit on a cloud and wait for the girl he’s loved and the children she bore. He’ll be busy there too — repairing the stars, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way.
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
Yummy Gluten Free Zucchini Bread
This is my mom’s recipe for zucchini bread that I have modified and changed to gluten free. I hope you all enjoy it.
Mom’s Zucchini Bread, Gluten Free
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Gluten Free Vanilla
- 1 1/2 Cups freshly shredded Zucchini
- 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Gluten Free Flour mix*
- 1 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
- 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts or Pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat eggs, sugar, and oil in a large bowl with electric mixer. Add vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and xanthan gum.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir by hand to mix well. Add zucchinni and chopped nuts and stir to combine.
Pour into a greased 9×5 loaf pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 60 to 70 minutes. Until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Let me know what you think of it.
*You can use Bob’s Gluten Free All Purpose Flour or the following All Purpose Flour.
All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
- 1 Cup White Rice Flour
- 1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour
- 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
Sift all ingredients several times through a sifter to make sure that they are well blended. Use this flour mix as you would regular all purpose flour.
Mary Blackburn has been gluten free since 1988 and is the owner of http://www.easyglutenfreeliving.com. She invites you to visit her site for more gluten free living tips and recipes. While you’re there, take a moment to sign up for The Gluten Free Gazette, her bi-weekly newsletter filled with articles and answers to your questions about gluten, gluten free living and celiac disease.
Father’s Day Recipes For The Whole Day
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This is never truer than on Father’s Day. Cook up Dad’s favorite dishes, and you will have a happy fella at the table. Here are five dishes that are sure to please a hungry Father, from sunup to sundown.
Let’s start with a hungry-man breakfast.
Hearty Sausage Quiche
1 pkg. sausages
1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 lightly beaten eggs
½ c. sliced green onion
¼ c. milk
½ c. diced sweet red pepper
½ to 1 c. shredded cheese
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 tsp. salt
1 c. frozen hash browns
¼ tsp. black pepper
¼ c. Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350° F. Put foil into baking cups and set aside. Cook and drain sausages. Combine eggs, milk, cheese in a large bowl; add salt and pepper to taste. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the vegetables and sauté until tender. Combine egg mixture, sausages, and vegetables. Pour even amounts into the separate baking cups and place in the oven until eggs are set, approximately 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
After a busy morning at work or play, doesn’t Dad deserve more than a plain old bologna sandwich? Put this meal on the table and watch your Father’s eyes light up!
Broiled Citrus Salmon
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/8 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
4 (5-ounce) salmon fillets
2 tsp. molasses
1 orange, juiced
Preheat broiler. Stir together olive oil, lemon and lime juice, molasses, and seasonings in a small bowl. Place salmon, skin side down, into broiling pan. Brush with juice mixture and broil until skin is crisp and flesh is flaky, approximately 7 minutes for each inch of thickness. Remove and sprinkle immediately with orange juice. Best served hot.
Dinner time on Father’s Day means grilling time. Get the ribs ready, then step aside and let the Master Grilling Chef begin! Your job is to make it easy for him, and this recipe does just that. Easy AND tasty!
Beer Marinated Ribs
2 racks pork spare ribs, about 2 lb each
2 Tbsp. seasoning salt
6 bottles of beer
Coarse salt to taste
3 garlic cloves, minced
2-6 seeded and sliced jalapeno peppers
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 c. store-bought barbecue sauce
In a large saucepan, add all ingredients except ribs and barbecue sauce. Bring to a boil. Immerse ribs into liquid and bring back to boil. Lower heat and allow it to simmer for one hour. Turn off and cool. Let the ribs remain in the liquid for several hours. Refrigerate if necessary. Remove ribs and pat dry. Brush on barbecue sauce and place meat side down on the grill. Cook 5-6 minutes, basting, until golden brown and crispy. Turn over and cook until golden brown.
Since the grills hot, why not throw on another treat. These flavorful mushrooms are the perfect side to grilled ribs.
Grilled Mushrooms
3/4 c. sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tsp. chopped thyme
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 tsp. chopped rosemary
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
¼ tsp. salt
1/4 c. olive oil
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
Put the mushrooms and peppers on skewers. Mix together all other ingredients and brush onto the mushrooms. Grill for approximately 4-6 minutes, or until tender.
To to off the meal, treat Dad to a very simple dessert.
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches
8 chocolate chip cookies
ice cream
Take a chocolate chip cookie and spread ice cream on it. Then put another cookie on top and press gently. Wrap in plastic wrap and stick in the freezer for at least 30 minutes so the cookie is nice and cold. Makes 4 sandwiches so maybe Dad will share!
After a day enjoying these yummy dishes, your Dad will be grinning from ear to ear. Now, hand your Dad the remote and enjoy a special movie. You made this Father’s Day very special, indeed!
Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Kids
In a few days, Father’s Day will be here. Your kids are probably trying to come up with unique ideas this year. To help them, and you, here are some Father’s Day gift ideas for all ages.
* Make a Father’s Day card using construction paper, crayons, markers, and stickers. Draw Dad on the front with a few simple words written.
* Take teddy bears and dress them up with a hat, tie, and glasses and place a Happy Father’s Day card in the bear’s arms.
* Make a Father’s Day breakfast for Dad and present it to him either in bed or at a specially prepared table.
* Make gingerbread cookies and use piping to draw Dad. The cookie can then be glued to a piece of cardboard and decorated.
* Present Dad with a “gift certificate” containing a list of chores they will do for Dad.
* Make a story book using construction paper, to tell about their Dad and why he is so special.
* Help Mom bake Dad’s favorite cake and the kids can decorate it with Dad’s favorite things.
* Make Dad a handprint using clay and sign their names on the palms.
* Make a special tie using strips of fabric that you decorate with your own drawings using fabric paint. Don’t forget to sign your name.
* Pick out some of your Dad’s favorite TV shows or movies on DVD.
* Buy a subscription to Dad’s favorite magazine.
* Give a gift certificate to a favorite store.
* Cook dinner for Dad.
* Decorate a big comfortable t-shirt with fabric paint and sign your name. Dad will love wearing this around the house to lounge in.
* Buy a small gift to help Dad enjoy his favorite sport, like a box of golf balls, or tennis balls.
* Make a simple remote control corral by decorating a sturdy box with construction paper.
These are just a few gift ideas for kids to either make or purchase for their Dad this Father’s Day. Sometimes, the simplest gifts are the most cherished gifts. With a little thought and creativity, you can make this Father’s Day special for the man or men that have given so much of themselves. And don’t forget; the most important gift of all is the gift of love.
What Is The Origin Of Father’s Day?
While there are several renditions relating to the origin of Father’s Day, the most widely held version is this:
Father’s Day originated with a young girl named Sonora Louise Smart, who lived in Spokane, Washington. Apparently, after listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, she wondered why fathers weren’t celebrated as well. At 16, Sonora lost her mother and her dad, a civil war veteran, raised Sonora and her five siblings.
Determined to have Father’s Day recognized as a special day and working hard so that would happen, Sonora finally witnessed the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910. Subsequently, the idea gained popularity all over the US and thus Father’s Day became a national day of celebration.
In fact, President Woodrow Wilson, noticing the depth to which this day became so popular, approved the idea in 1916. Furthermore, it was President Calvin Coolidge who proclaimed Father’s Day as a national celebration in 1924. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation stating the third Sunday in June would be officially declared Father’s Day. Then in 1972 President Richard Nixon permanently established the observance of Father’s Day.
What happened to the young girl who started it all? Happily, Sonora Smart Dodd was honored at the World’s Fair in Spokane in 1974 for her contribution in making Father’s Day a national day of recognition.
Today, Father’s Day is celebrated around the world; however, not all countries celebrate it on the same day. Australia and New Zealand, for example, celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September.
Celebrating our fathers was a little idea that grew with the determination of one person, Sonora Louise Smart, a daughter who was proud of her father. Now we also take a day each year to recognize the man or men in our lives that have helped raise us and protect us. Make this Father’s Day a special day for someone you love.
Green Tomato Pickle Recipe
Toward the end of the season we always end up with quite a few green tomatoes. They don’t seem to ripen too well on the counter that late in the game, so last year I started turning them into green tomato pickles and they were absolutely delicious. I first came across this process on about.com and modified it to our taste. Here’s how to do it.
Green Tomato Pickle Recipe
- 4 quarts sliced green tomatoes, loosely packed
- 1 quart sliced onion, loosely packed
- 1 cup pickling salt, divided
- 1 lb light brown sugar
- 6 cups white vinegar
- 1/3 cup mustard seeds
- 1/4 cup celery seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp cloves
First we need to pull some of the water out of both the tomatoes and the onions. Put the sliced tomatoes in a bowl and pour 3/4 cup of the salt over the tomatoes. Repeat with the onion and remaining salt in a separate bowl. Put a plate over each bowl to cover and let them sit on the counter for a couple of hours. The salt will remove a lot of the water from both vegetables.
You’ll notice some liquid in both bowls. Pour it out, then put the vegetables in a clean kitchen towel. You can also use cheese cloth or even paper towels. Gently pat them to get the cloth to soak up more of the moisture.
Put the onions and green tomatoes into a big pot. Add the sugar, vinegar and spices. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer it for about 15 minutes or until the onions are tender.
Scoop the vegetable mixture into canning jars. Add enough liquid to each to cover the vegetables, being sure to leave 1/2 inch of space at the top. Clean the rims really well, or your lids won’t seal during the next step. Add the lids.
Put them in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars. Once they had a chance to cool down, make sure the lids are sealed tight. Store any jars with lids that aren’t sealed tight in the fridge and use up right away.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Cleaning Mini Blinds
I’m looking for a good way to clean mini blinds. My house came with a ton of them, and I need an easy quick way to clean them. I have 12 1/2″ plastic ones and 8 1″ wooden ones. I’ve heard you can just take them out and hose them off on your picnic table, but I don’t really want to get the gears wet in the top housing. The wooden ones take about an hour each to clean each slat by hand, but they’re nice and it’s not too bad. The plastic ones I can’t stand.
Help – I really don’t have the money to replace them.
Cucumber Vinegar Salad
This is a super simple salad with just a few ingredients that’s perfect for hot summer days. It goes great with a light dinner be it fish or something from the grill. I have a bowl of this simple cucumber vinegar salad sitting in the fridge most days throughout the summer. Not only is it cool and refreshing, the cucumbers also help us stay hydrated on a hot summer day. I hope you give it a try.
Cucumber Vinegar Salad
- 3 cucumbers
- 1 red onion
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Start by taking a look at your cucumbers. If the skin is very tender, don’t bother peeling it. If it seems a little tough, you can either peel the whole cucumber or just take some of it off… I like to create a little stripe design lengthwise.
Slice the onion and cucumber both thinly and add them to a salad bowl. Get out a small bowl and pour the vinegar, water and sugar in it. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Add the salt and pepper and pour the mixture over the onion and cucumber slices. Cover your bowl with a lid, a plate or some plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for at least 2 hours or until you are ready to serve your salad. The longer it sits, the better the cucumber vinegar salad gets. I usually make it the night before or first thing in the morning. By dinner time it is absolutely perfect.
The Hillbilly Housewife Recommends – Dining On A Dime
The Dining On A Dime Cookbook is packed with over 1,200 money saving recipes and tips, kids tips and snack ideas, gift baskets, menus, food storage directions, Cleaning Cents and Pretty for Pennies. The recipes are easy to cook with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. To make shopping easy and economical, it also includes a pantry list and a shopping list.
Order your copy today at http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/dime
Tatertot Casserole
Can anyone share a recipe for “Tatertot Casserole”?? Thank you
Zucchini Cookie Recipe
Getting kids to eat zucchini can be a bit tricky at times, but with this “sneaky” cookie recipe they’ll never know
- 2 cup brown sugar
- 2 cup grated zucchini
- 1 cup oil
- 4 cup flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup raisins or chocolate chips
Get out a large bowl and add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices to it. Stir it up to mix everything well. Add the zucchini, sugar and oil and mix until well combined. Stir in a cup of raisins or chocolate chips last. If you like you can also use 1/2 cup of each instead.
Preheat your oven to 350F. Get out a cookie sheet and drop the zucchini cookies on it using about 1/2 tbsp of dough per cookie. I use two tablespoons to scoop out the batter. Fill one spoon about half full with batter, then use the back of the second spoon to push the batter off the first spoon and onto the cookie sheet. These cookies will expand some so leave about 1/2 an inch of space between them.
Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Move them to a cooling rack and keep baking until you have used up all the dough.
Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
Here is another delicious tomato recipe for you. It combines the flavors of summer ripe tomatoes and roasted red peppers. The end result is a complex but balanced soup that will quickly become a family favorite. I like to serve this soup with some crusty homemade bread like this breadmaker french bread.
Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
- 5 red bell peppers
- 4 tomatoes
- 2 red onions
- 2 cloves of garlic (or a good dash of garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cups homemade chicken stock (or water and some chicken bullion)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Star by roasting your red peppers. Cut each pepper in half and remove the seeds. Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and put your pepper halves skin side up on the baking sheet. Broil them for a few minutes until the skin is charred. Take them out and scoop them into a bowl. Add a plate over the bowl and allow the peppers to cool down a bit.
While the peppers are cooling down, let’s prepare the tomatoes. We need to get the skin off and remove the seeds. Bring some water to a boil in a large pot. Prepare a bowl of ice water for the tomatoes. Add the tomatoes to the boiling water for 30 seconds, then scoop them out and plop them into the ice water. This will stop the cooking process and makes it easy to remove the skin. When the tomatoes are cool, take them out of the ice water bath and cut them into quarters. The skin will slip right off. Cut out the seeds and discard those. Chop the tomatoes.
By now the peppers should be cool enough to handle. Remove the skin and give the pepper “flesh” a rough chop as well. While you are at it, go ahead and chop your onion and garlic as well.
With all the prep work done, it’s time to start cooking. Get out a medium sauce pan and add the olive oil to it. Put it on medium heat and cook the onions and garlic in it until they are fragrant and start to turn translucent. Add the tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the roasted red peppers and the chicken broth. Cook it for a few more minutes or until everything is heated through.
Now it’s time to blend the soup together. You can either use an immersion blender, or add it to your regular blender in small batches. Reheat as needed and serve hot with some crusty bread.
Fresh Tomato Pie Recipe
Tomatoes are starting to ripen in the garden and this tomato pie recipe is one of the best ways to use them up (at least in my opinion). It makes for the perfect summer lunch, or serve it for dinner with a big salad.
- 1 pie crust
- 7 ripe tomatoes, sliced
- 1 yellow onion
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp dry oregano
Start by baking your pie crust for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 F. oven until it is golden brown. You may want to cover the edges with a little aluminum foil to keep them from burning.
While the crust bakes up, wash and slice your tomatoes. Peel and slice your onion.
When the crust comes out of the oven, layer the sliced onion in the bottom of the crust. Next, arrange the tomato slices over it. Sprinkle salt, pepper and oregano over the tomatoes.
In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the two cheeses. Spoon this mixture over the tomatoes and spread it out with the back of your spoon. If you like, you can sprinkle a little more oregano over the top.
Bake the tomato pie for 20 minutes at 350F. It will be golden brown and delicious.
Zucchini Pancake Recipe
It’s sometimes hard to get kids (and other picky eaters) to eat zucchini. My husband for example won’t touch this delicious vegetable unless it’s sliced, battered and fried. One think I tried recently was these zucchini pancakes and they were a big hit. They taste wonderful with this Greek cucumber sauce.
Zucchini Pancakes
- 3 eggs
- 2 zucchini
- 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
- nonstick spray
Grate your zucchini into a medium sized bowl. Add the eggs and stir it up. Pour in the flour and keep stirring until you get a batter. It should be about the consistency of pancake batter. You may need to add a little more flour or a splash of milk or water to get the right consistency.
Heat a skillet and spray with a bit of nonstick cooking spray. Fry them up like you would pancakes.
Zucchini Au Gratin
Zucchini is another one of those vegetables that is abundant during the summer months. You can stew it, fry it, steam it, fill it or make soup out of it. Another yummy option is to make a zucchini gratin. Au Gratin is a fancy word for slicing your vegetable, covering it in a sauce made from flour and milk and then topping it with cheese. YUM! It sounds a lot more complicated than it is and the end result is definitely worth the little extra work involved.
Zucchini Gratin
- 3 tbsp margarine (plus a little extra for the topping)
- 2 onions
- dash of garlic powder
- 4 zucchini
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup of whole milk
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 3/4 cup shredded cheese
Preheat your oven to 400 F.
Peel the onions and cut them in half. Then thinly slice them. Add the margarine to a pan and saute the onion in it until it is tender and translucent. While the onion is cooking, wash and slice the zucchini. I slice mine about 1/8th of an inch thin. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, then add the sliced zucchini. Cover the pan and cook everything for about 10 minutes stirring frequently. The zucchini should just start to get tender at this point.
Add your seasonings and move everything around in the pan to get them evenly distributed. Cook your veggies about 5 more minutes uncovered, then sprinkle in the flour. Stir until it is combined in the vegetable mixture. Heat your milk and add it to the pan as well. Cook and stir on low for a few more minutes until a sauce starts to form.
Pour everything into a casserole dish. Combine the cheese and bread crumbs and sprinkle this on top of the casserole. Dot with little pieces of butter or margarine and bake for 20 minutes in your preheated oven.
Where Can I Get Emergency Money?
We’ve all been in tough financial spots throughout the years and sometimes we need to raise some emergency money really fast to make sure we can make our house payment, pay rent or even just get food on the table. If you are asking yourself “Where can I get emergency money fast?” this article is for you. It won’t be easy, it won’t be fun, but the aggressive strategies outlines below will help you “find” the extra cash until you can get back on your feet.
Big Money Problems
By Terry Rigg
Are you scared, worried, unsure of what to do, frustrated, embarrassed and humiliated because you can’t pay your bills and put food on the table?
What happened? Did you lose your job? Maybe you are sick or hurt and can’t work. Did an unexpected expense rip your finances to shreds? Maybe you just used those credit cards too much or bought a house that was more than you could really afford.
Whatever the reason you are experiencing Big Money Problems you have to know that for each and every problem there is a solution. Notice I didn’t say an Easy Solution.
If you have hit on hard times you are going to work very hard to find and implement that solution. You are going to do things that you don’t want to do and give up things you want to keep. Your pride is going to suffer in the process.
But you have to do something to solve the problem. And, quite frankly, most people never think it can happen to them so they aren’t prepared. When Big Money Problems hit they don’t have a clue where to start.
There are many actions that you need to take if you find you can’t pay all of your bills. Below is a list of the most important:
Sit down and evaluate your current situation. Determine how much money you are going to have and what your bills and expenses are. If you have more bills than you have money coming in you need to take action fast.
Take a hard look at all of your expenses to see where you can cut back. You may have to be brutal and cut out things you would like to keep, but this is necessary to provide the basic needs of your family. The most obvious and the ones that can produce immediate savings are:
- Utilities
- Phone (cell and land line)
- Cable or satellite
- Groceries
- Canceling subscriptions to magazines
- Obtaining free or reduced lunches for your school age children
- Increase your insurance deductibles and remove any unnecessary coverage
- Internet charges
- Transportation
- Quit dining out
- Entertainment
Your next action would be to determine if there is anything that you could sell or cash in that may bring in some needed income. Here is a list of some of these actions:
- Borrow from your 401k
- Sell a second car or boat
- Cash in life insurance policies
- Collect unpaid debts owed to you by friends and family
- Cash in any CDs, investments, etc.
- Sell jewelry and other valuables
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Now that you have cut your expenses and sold or cashed in what you can it’s time to make a monthly payment plan. If you don’t have enough money to cover everything it is very important that you set your priorities to make sure the most important expenses are covered. Using the below priority list is mandatory if you want to make sure you financial problems don’t escalate:
Priority 1 – Food. Make sure you have enough food for your family. If you lost all of your income you will have to apply for Food Stamps or a similar program through your states Department of Social Services. This will include any necessary prescriptions and other health items. It may be necessary to apply for Food Stamps to make sure you have enough food to sustain your family.
Priority 2 – Shelter. After food, you need to make sure your family has a place to live. If you have only enough income to cover food and shelter, use it for that alone. If you lost all of your income, apply for government assistance to help or consider moving into less expensive housing. After you cover your house payment or rent, pay your utilities.
Priority 3 – Other Necessities. You may need your car to look for employment so consider making your car payment and put back money for gas. You may also need your phone so keep at least the basic service.
Priority 4 – Important Loans. If you have any money remaining after the items listed in the first three priorities, you should pay any other bills that may be necessary to allow you to accomplish what needs to be done to keep you going.
Distribute any money you may have after covering the above priorities between you other bills such as credit cards, phone bills, etc.
If you see that you are going to be late on any of your payments call the creditor immediately. Don’t wait for them to call you. Many companies have programs established that can help you by delaying payments or adding them to the end of your contract. Check to see if you have taken out the insurance that covers loss of income. Make sure to do exactly what you agreed to do with your creditors or let them know why you can’t.
Of course, the most important action is to start looking for a regular income. If you need a job then understand that you may have to take one that you really don’t like. If you can’t pay your bills then you can’t be picky.
When you are late on your payments you are going to start receiving phone calls from your creditors. Work with them but don’t let them take advantage of you or threaten you. Under federal law you have rights as a consumer. Please read my article “Your Consumer Rights” to learn your rights: http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/articles/consumerrights.html
It’s also important that you learn from this experience so that when you are back on your feet you know what you have to do to keep it from happening again.
If you find yourself experiencing Big Money Problems get organized, don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment, do what you say you are going to do and be willing to do what it takes to solve the problem. The odds are good that there will be better days ahead.
Terry Rigg is the editor of the Budget Stretcher web site. To Subscribe to The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter just visit his home page at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com or get the Budget Organizer full download version complete with calculating forms and more at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BBOdownloadSusanne.html
Sour Cream Cucumber Salad
There is an abundance of cucumber to be found at farmers markets, roadside produce stands and in the regular grocery stores right now. Cucumbers are also very easy to grow at home. Turn them into a delicious salad and serve it with dinner. One of our favorites is this creamy sour cream cucumber salad. It is very simple and comes together quickly.
Sour Cream Cucumber Salad
- 2 cucumbers
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp fresh chives (finely chopped)
- salt and pepper to taste
Peel the cucumbers and slices them as thin as possible. If you have a plane grater with a super thin setting use that, otherwise just slice it with a sharp knife as thin as you can.
Get out your salad bowl (medium size should work fine). Mix the sour cream, chives, salt and pepper. Add the cucumber slices and toss it gently. Chill before serving for at least 30 minutes.
Porkless Sausage Wanted
I don’t eat pork (for Biblical reasons) and I do miss sausage (dinner & breakfast). I found a “turkey breakfast” sausage at Walmart that I use for Sausage Gravy & Biscuits.
Greek Cucumber Sauce
Greek cucumber sauce (also know as tzatziki) is quick and easy to make. It’s a great dip for raw veggies or tasted pita slices. I also like it to make a batch anytime we are grilling outside. It goes well with steaks, grilled chicken or even on a burger. Here’s the recipe:
- 1 8 oz container of plain greek yogurt *
- 1 cucumber
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh or 1 tsp dry dill ( chop the dill if it’s fresh)
- 1 to 2 cloves of garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
Start by peeling and seeding your cucumber. Then get out a box grater and grate the cucumber. Squeeze the cucumber pieces to get a bit of the extra liquid out.
Get out a medium bowl and put the cucumber pieces in it. Add the yogurt and olive oil. Add the dill and then finely chop or press the garlic cloves and add them to the dip as well. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder to taste instead. Stir everything together and add salt and pepper to taste.
Cover the bowl and chill the Greek cucumber sauce for at least an hour or until you are ready to serve it.
* If you can’t find Greek yogurt you can use regular plain yogurt. Homemade is fine as well. Just make sure it isn’t too runny. If it is, line a colander with a clean tea towel or cheesecloth. Let the colander over a bowl and pour the yogurt in the cloth lined colander. Leave it sitting in the fridge overnight. You will notice that your yogurt will thicken up nicely and you will have some liquid left in the bowl. Use the yogurt for the dip.
How To Tell If A Watermelon Is Ripe
Summer is the time for cookouts, picnics, and watermelon. If you’re like me, you can’t wait to break open the first watermelon of the season.
Sometimes your rush ends up in disappointment because the watermelon you’ve chosen just isn’t tasty, which means it just isn’t ripe.
Let’s discuss how to tell if a watermelon is ripe so when you crack it open, it tastes like summer.
The trick to finding a ripe watermelon is to go beyond its appearance. Unlike some fruit, you can’t rely on your sense of sight to determine if you’re about to buy a nice, ripe, juicy watermelon. Take a banana, for instance. If the peel is yellow, chances are it’s ripe. With a watermelon you also have to call on your sense of sound and your sense of smell.
Watermelons, no matter what variety – small round or large football shaped – have a particular sound when you knock on them. A ripe watermelon will give you a “thud” sound when you knock on it with your knuckles. Hold the watermelon close to your ear by cradling it in one arm, then knock on it with your opposite hand; like you’re knocking on a door. You should hear a dull sound, not a high ringing sound. Do this to several watermelons until you get the sound that doesn’t resonate a lot; it sort of disappears into the watermelon. This may not make any sense until you actually thump a few!
The watermelon scent is very distinctive and is another clue to a ripe watermelon. Once you’ve chosen a watermelon with the right sound, you need to use your sense of smell to finalize the deal. Take your watermelon and walk away from the bin so your nose isn’t confused by too much watermelon scent. Get your nose close to the watermelon end and sniff. You should get a delicious watermelon scent.
If your nose is still confused by all the watermelon aromas, walk over to the coffee aisle and do the old wine tasting trick. Clear your nostrils with a whiff of coffee scent. Wait a minute, then sniff your watermelon.
Now that you know how to tell if a watermelon is ripe, dive right into that beautiful pile at your grocery store or farmers market. Bring home a ripe, juicy watermelon for your family today and enjoy the fruit that says “summer is here!”
Tomato Bisque Soup Recipe
A bisque recipe you say… isn’t that a bit fancy for a hillbilly website? Well, I am a big fan of any kind of tomato soup and bisque simply means a creamy, smooth soup. Fancy name, quick and easy to make and oh sooooo delicious.
Tomato Bisque
- 2 tbsp margarine (or butter)
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 can chicken broth (or a cup of water and a pinch of bullion cube)
- 2 large cans (28 oz) of crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup half and half
- salt and pepper to taste
Get out a large pot and add melt the margarine in it over medium high heat. Add the onions and sugar and saute for a few minutes until the onions start to turn translucent. Be sure to stir and scrape your pot really well during this part or the sugar will start to burn to the bottom of the pot (which would ruin your soup).
Add the flour and move the onion mixture around really well for a good minute. Again lots of stirring is important to keep things from burning. This process will cook the flour to make sure your soup later on doesn’t have that floury taste to it.
Slowly add the chicken broth (or water) and keep stirring to make a smooth gravy. Add the tomatoes to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer everything for a good 15 minutes. You will notice that the soup will start to thicken a bit at this point.
Next we need to puree everything. You can do that in one of two ways. You can either use an immersion blender and blend the soup right there in the pot, or you can use your blender. If you are using a blender, be sure to puree the soup in small batches. When you’re done, return the smooth soup to the pot and reheat as needed. Stir in the half and half and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Watermelon Sorbet Recipe
Here’s a simple summer dessert that’s perfect when you have some watermelon leftover. It’s a light and airy watermelon sorbet that you can make either in an ice cream maker or following the special directions below to make it using your freezer and a food processor. Either way it’s a delicious frozen treat that you don’t have to feel bad about indulging in.
Watermelon Sorbet
- about 6 cups of watermelon cut into small chunks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp lime or lemon juice
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
Start by adding the watermelon to your blender. You want to blend it into a smooth mixture. Depending on the size of your blender you may want to do this step in two or even three batches. Pour the watermelon puree (it’s very watery) into a large bowl.
Put about 1/4 of the watermelon mixture into a large sauce pan and heat it with the sugar, and lime juice over low heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Add the salt and the remaining watermelon puree. Last but not least stir in the corn syrup making sure it gets well incorported.
Allow this mixture to cool, then stick it in the fridge. Once the sorbet mixture is well chilled, get out your ice cream maker and freeze the sorbet in it according to the manufacturer instructions.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the sorbet mixture into a large casserole dish or baking pan and stick it in the freezer overnight. Cut it into large chunks the following day and throw those in your food processor. Pulse it lightly until you get a nice sorbet consistency.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a week.
How To Make A Watermelon Smoothie
Watermelon smoothies are a great healthy way to stay cool and refreshed this summer. They are very simple to make and you can very them up quite a bit. These smoothies are also the perfect way to use up all that extra watermelon that’s left when you buy a big one. Here’s how to make these simple smoothies.
Start by cutting some of the watermelon into bite sized chunks. Make sure the rind is off and you remove any seeds. Now you’re ready to work on your smoothie.
Watermelon Smoothie
- 3 cups watermelon chunks
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (option)
- 1 tsp lemon or lime juice
- sugar to taste if needed
Put everything into your blend and blend until smooth. If the watermelon is good and ripe you should not need any extra sugar. It should also provide enough moisture to turn this into a deliciously creamy smoothie. If the mixture seems a bit try, add a splash of milk or fruit juice to thin it out.
You can also leave out the yogurt if you prefer and just increase the watermelon chunks to 4 cups.
Cucumber Watermelon Soup
Two of my favorite summer flavors are watermelon and cucumber. They are both so refreshing. This simple cold soup combines the two for a perfect summer treat. It makes a great healthy snack when you need to cool down on a hot summer day. It’s also a perfect appetizer when you are entertaining outside in the summer.
- 3 cups of watermelon chunks (seeds and rind removed)
- a splash of lime or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro or flat leaf parsley
- 1 small cucumber (peeled and seeds removed)
- pinch of salt
Get out your blender and add the watermelon chunks, lime or lemon juice and cilantro. Blend everything until it is getting pretty smooth. Cut your cucumber into chunks and add it to the blender along with a little salt. Blend until there are still some small cucumber chunks in the soup. Taste and add more salt if needed. Chill the soup in the fridge before serving.
If you prefer a completely smooth soup, put everything in the blender at once and process until smooth.
Be A Part Of Something This Summer, Vacation Planning, Activities For Kids – HBHW Newsletter
June 9th, 2010
Editorial
With kids out of school, summer has officially arrived. A house full of kids calls for some serious strategic planning. From taking summer trips to finding activities to do around the house, today’s newsletter is dedicated to helping you have a happy, as well as productive, summer.
We’ll start with the Sponsor for this week’s newsletter. Summertime means summer fun! Keeping your kids occupied during their time off from school can be challenging. How would you like some fresh new ideas? That’s what Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons is all about. Check out our sponsor today and see what you can find to keep your kids entertained all summer long.
The featured article today is about planning a family vacation. Traditionally, summertime is the right time to take the kids, pack the car, and head out for an adventure. However, there is planning and budgeting to consider. You may need to explore some vacationing options if your budget is tight. Be sure to check out the article this week and see if you can find a way to have fun and save money at the same time.
The inspirational quote and story I’ve chosen today have a somewhat common theme, even if it may not be obvious at first glance. I know that when summer comes along, we all like to sit back and relax. But, our tasks at hand have to come first. Yes, you should lay back in your lounge chair and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s what industrious people do – we create a world to enjoy. Even our “Little Wave” in the inspirational story is a part of something bigger. I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on the world you’re a part of.
Those are my thoughts 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
Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
~Warren Buffett~
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News From The HBHW Club
What? You haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club? It’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
You don’t want to miss any of our informative and valuable resources including meal planning, gardening, making money working at home, saving on utilities, creating a family budget and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
- For just$1 you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
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Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Hot weather meals are the focus of our recipe section this month. We’re looking for salads, grilling dishes, and super quick meals that get you in and out of the kitchen in minutes. No stirring a hot pot for hours and no oven cranked up high heating up your kitchen – and you. Our friends at the Club have already started sharing some of their favorite summertime meals with us. I’m looking forward to even more recipes as the summer rolls on.
Dieting isn’t just about watching calories. Sometimes we need help from not only our friends, but a power even higher. When we find our eating habits have taken over our health, and life, there can be answers found in places we might not think about at first. One of our friends at the Club has found her faith in God has helped her create better eating habits. This has been an interesting direction to take; one I am happy to say has helped her lose over 40 pounds, and keep it off. Congratulations!
I’m also happy to say that dieting sabotage is no longer an issue with another of our friends at the Club. Her family (or at least some members of her family) have announced that they are on a diet! This will make things much easier for our friend to stick to her healthy eating habits.
Putting the past behind us and grabbing all the “buffet of life” has to offer is the topic of a recent “daily reflection.” After all, the buffet line doesn’t discriminate between people who have made mistakes in their past and people who have not. It’s all right there for the taking – sinners and saints alike! This was a very fun image that hit home with many of our Club members.
Along with healthy and well fed families, we are discussing topics that include frugal tips for cleaning and cooking, as well as homesteading and gardening. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area.
Click the following link and try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you come join us! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Craft Blog For Fun And Profit
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week.
Cool Layered Taco Dip
- 1 can bean dip
- 1 or 2 avocados, mashed
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 pkg. Ortega taco seasoning
- 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 can ripe black olives
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped (include tops)
- 1 small green pepper, chopped fine
- large sturdy tortilla chips
Get out a large (at least 9 x 13) pan. Spread bean dip on the bottom, then avocado on top of that. In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream, mayo, and the taco seasoning until blended well. Spread evenly over the avocado. Evenly sprinkle in layers the next ingredients in order; cheese, olives, tomatoes, onion, green pepper.
Put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until nice and cold. Serve with big tortilla chips. This is more filling than you might think and tastes great on a hot summer afternoon.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Garden Style Red Beans & Rice
- Quick Skillet Hoppin’ John
- Super Speedy 3 Bean Pasta Salad
- Apricot Pineapple Preserves
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles
With kids finally out of school, many parents take the opportunity to plan a family summer vacation. However, if you don’t create a structured plan, you could run into some budgeting nightmares.
There are reasons you may want to plan vacations a little differently, especially if your budget doesn’t allow for a full-out stay in a beach house, mountain chalet, or trip to Disney.
Click the link below to explore some options that may fit your time-frame, and budget, a little better:
Are You Making Plans For Summer Vacation?
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Little Wave
~Mitch Albom~
The story is abut a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He’s enjoying the wind and the fresh air – until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore. “My God, this terrible”,the wave says. “Look what’s going to happen to me!”
Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him: “Why do you look so sad?” The first wave says: “You don’t understand! We’re all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn’t it terrible?”
The second wave says: “No, you don’t understand. You’re not a wave, you’re part of the ocean.”
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
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad Recipe
When it’s too hot to cook outside, this salad makes a great lunch. It’s also perfect for potlucks and such. This broccoli and cauliflower salad will always be a big hit.
- 1 bunch raw broccoli
- 1 small head of cauliflower
- 1 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
- 1 lb. bacon
- 1/2 sweet onion
- 1 c. grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 c. Miracle Whip salad dressing
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 2 tbsp. vinegar
Start by cooking the bacon until it is crispy. Allow it to drain and cool on paper towels.
Next chop up your broccoli and cauliflower using mostly the flowerets. Give all of them a good wash. I do this in a strainer / colander. Once the water has dripped off, pour the veggies into a large salad bowl. Cut your onion into thin strips. If you are taking this salad somewhere, you may want to use some red onion instead. It adds some nice color to your salad. You could also use some drained pimento pieces (it’s a southern thing) or some chopped up bell pepper (yellow or red). Add the onion and the sunflower seeds (if you are using them).
Crumble up your bacon now that it had some time to cool. Put half the bacon crumbles into the salad bowl with the veggies and such. Give everything a good toss to make sure it’s well combined. Add the shredded cheese and give it another toss.
In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, sugar and vinegar. Pour this mixture over the vegetables in your salad bowl and stir everything until all the veggie pieces are coated with the dressing. Top the salad with the rest of the bacon crumbles and cover your salad bowl. Put it in the fridge for at least an hour so all the flavors can blend together. Serve cold and refrigerate any leftovers right away.
Tomato and Corn Salad
Here’s a super quick summer salad full of corn and tomatos. Using canned goods makes it quick and easy to put together. It is a delicious summer sidedish and perfect for summer potlucks and picnics too.
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) corn
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
Open both cans and drain the liquid from each. Dump the tomato chunks and corn into a small bowl. Pour the oil and vinegar in a small cup and wisk them together with a fork. Drizzle this simple dressing over the tomatoes and corn.
Variation:
You can add half a chopped onion to the salad and season it with a bit of salt and lots of pepper for a tomato and corn salad with stronger flavors.
This salad tastes good at room temperature. You can also put it in the fridge for at least an hour and serve it cold. Cover any leftovers and store them in the fridge.
Cauliflower Carrot Soup
Here’s a very simple but delicious soup made from cauliflower and carrots.
- 1 potato diced
- 4 carrots diced
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut up
- 2 cups water
- 4 tsp chicken bouillon powder
- 1 tsp. beef bouillon powder
- 1 tsp. prepared mustard
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese
Add the water to a large pot, then add all your chopped vegetables. Bring it to a boil and cook until all the vegetables are nice and tender.
Stir the remaining ingredients in, then remove the pot from the heat. Get out your blender or food processor and start blending the soup in small batches. If you have an Immersion Blender
Return the blended soup to the pot and reheat as needed. Serve hot with some crusty homemade bread.
Baked Cauliflower Recipe
Cauliflower is a wonderful vegetable. It’s mild in flavor, making it a perfect choice for kids. It’s also quite versatile. You can boil it, mash it, put it in soups and casseroles etc. Today I would like to share one of my favorite cauliflower recipes with you. It’s a baked cauliflower dish that’s absolutely delicious and very easy to put together.
Baked Cauliflower
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 1 can cream of anything soup (use this cream of anything soup mix)
- 1/4 c. milk
- 1/2 c. Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 c. baking mix (Bisquick or homemade biscuit mix)
- 1/4 c. butter or margarine
Preheat your oven to 400F.
Cut the cauliflower into flowerets. Wash them, then boil them for about 10 minutes in lightly salted water or until they are almost tender. Drain them, then move the cauliflower pieces to a casserole dish.
Mix the cream soup (or the prepared version of the mix) with the milk in a medium sized bowl. You can use a fork, but I find it works best with a whisk. Just whisk it together until you have a smooth liquid. Pour it over the cauliflower. Next, sprinkle the cheese over everything.
In a small bowl, combine the baking mix and butter. I like to work it with my fingers. You want to make a crumbly topping. Sprinkle this over the top of the casserole, then bake it for about 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown.
You can also use 2 (10 oz) packages of frozen cauliflower instead of fresh. Just pour them frozen into boiling water and cook them until they are almost done.
Cream of Anything Soup Mix
Lots of recipes call for “cream of…” type canned soups. This could be cream of mushroom, cream of celery, cream of chicken, cream of potato etc.
Instead of continually buying the cans, why not make this frugal cream of anything soup mix and use it anytime a recipe calls for the soup. It’s quick and easy to put together and quite a bit cheaper than buying canned soup. It also takes up less room and lasts for up to a year.
Cream of Anything Soup Mix
- 4 c. powdered milk
- 1 1/2 c. cornstarch
- 1/2 c. instant chicken bouillon granules *
- 4 tsp. dried onion flakes
- 2 tsp. dried thyme
- 2 tsp basil – crushed dried
- 1 tsp. pepper
* For a vegetarian version of this soup, use vegetable broth bullion instead.
Measure all ingredients and pour them into a container with an airtight seal. I like to use a tupperware type container, but a larger freezer bag will work as well. Be sure to label your container.
To Use The Mix:
Combine 1/3 cup of the mix with 1 cup of water and heat it over medium low heat in a small saucepan until it starts to thicken. This is the equivalent of one can of soup.
Sweet Pickled Cauliflower Recipe
Cauliflower is coming into season and a simple way to preserve it is to pickle it. We like sweet pickled cauliflower as a quick side to go with sandwiches as lunch or to add some extra flavor to almost any main entree. It goes especially well will any type of grilled meat dish.
I also like to just snack on these throughout the day… yep, they are that good
- 2 med. heads cauliflower
- 2 red peppers, cut in strips
- 2 green peppers, cut in strips
- 3 lg. onions, cut in wedges
- 1 qt. white vinegar
- 2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. light corn syrup
- 1 tbsp. mustard
- 1 tbsp. celery seed
- 1/4 tsp. turmeric
- 1 tsp. whole cloves
- 2 tbsp. salt
Remove what’s left of the outer leaves of the cauliflower and cut it into large bitesized chunks. You can cut off and discard most of the thicker stems, but keep the smaller ones in there. Throw the pieces in a large bowl of water (or just fill up your sink) and give them a good washing. Scoop them into a strainer and allow the water to drip off.
Get out a large stock pot and fill it it about half full of water. Put a lid on and bring the water to a boil over high heat. When the water comes to a full boil, gently add the cauliflower. Boil it for a good 5 minutes, then remove the cauliflower and discard the water.
Pour the vinegar, and spices in the pot and give it a good stir. Add the peppers and onion as well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Add the cauliflower back in once it is boiling and simmer the mixture on low for 5 minutes.
Carefully pack everything into pint jars that are clean and hot. To heat them up, I set them in some very hot water while the cauliflower cooks. I put some of the vegetable mixture into each jar first (using a slotted spoon), then top each jar off with enough of the vinegar mixture to make sure the vegetables are covered.
Seal the jars and process them in boiling water for 5 minutes. Allow them to cool, then check the lids to make sure they are tight and store them in your pantry.
Any jars that don’t seal properly should go in the fridge (after they are cooled) and eating within a week or two (the pickled caulifower, not the jar should be eaten 
).
Cut cauliflower in florets. There should be 2 quarts. Cook in a small amount of water 5 minutes; drain. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to boil. Add cauliflower and simmer 5 minutes. Pack in clean, hot, pint jars and seal. Process in boiling water bath 5 minutes.
Making Sausage Go Farther
I am looking for breakfast type recipes like scrapple that will make my sausage go farther. I’m feeding 8 kids and four of them are teenagers!
Help With Mosquitos
hi wondering if anyone knows of something i can burn in my outside fireplace that will keep mosquitos away, yet is not toxic to breath.
Summer Vacation Time Is Here – Are You Making Plans?
Kids are out of school in most areas by now and parents are looking at each other wondering “now what?” If you haven’t already made vacation plans for the family, you may be wondering what you can do to make a vacation possible.
There are several ideas about budgeting and scheduling a family vacation that our friends at OurFamilyBudget.com have come up with that I’d like to share with you here. After reading this article, you may change your mind about planning a typical summer vacation. Read on if you will and see what you think.
The yearly vacation is a special event that the entire family should enjoy. Get the most out of it by developing a family vacation budget. It will help give you the means to enjoy this special family time each year.
After working for months the idea of a family vacation can seem like the ideal reward. A week or two in a sunny climate in the middle of a cold and snowy winter is the icing on their yearly cake. Vacations are usually costly though and if your job is set a family budget, you’ll want to get the most out of each dollar you’ve allocated to the vacation fund.
There are many important factors to consider if you’ve decided to set up a financial plan that includes money for vacations. It isn’t enough to just take a percentage of each paycheck and put it in a separate bank account that you’ll turn to at the end of the year. With the proper planning techniques in place when you set a family budget you’ll be able to execute a trip that will be unforgettable.
One important consideration is timing. Most people want to venture out on a holiday at the same time each year. The travel industry refers to these times as peak periods and they generally fall in December, March and again during the summer months. The reason for this is because more people are tempted to take off on a trip when their children aren’t in school. The travel industry knows this and prices are considerably higher during these times.
Although school work is most important, planning a trip during a non-peak time and preparing beforehand might be the most economical answer. Research is fundamental when planning any trip. There is an abundance of information on the internet that can give you an idea of the total cost you will be facing for your trip.
If you do decide to travel during a non-peak time and you have children enrolled in school, there are steps you can take to assist them with their studies. Talk to their teachers and have them assign homework for the trip. This is a wonderful method of not only keeping the children up to par in class but it gives them something to focus on during the car or airplane ride. Children can become agitated easily when expected to sit still for prolonged periods of time, but if they are engrossed in studies, the time moves along much more quickly.
Another consideration when you set a family budget that includes a vacation fund is to consider traveling to a destination that offers all-inclusive vacation packages. This includes not only your airfare and accommodations but can also include meals and beverages. The savings with this type of vacation plan can be considerable. It also offers up the benefit of pre-planning all related costs. You’ll know how much you need to save each month to reach your vacation goal.
One of the things that people often overlook when considering vacation expenses as they set a family budget is the benefit of visiting relatives. A destination that involves family members can result in a considerable savings in accommodation costs. Most people welcome the company of relatives for a few days and if you buy them dinner or surprise them with a thank-you gift they’ll invite you back time and time again.
p.s. Still looking for more ideas for family fun this summer? This ebook is jam packed with kid-tested craft projects that will keep your kids entertained and occupied for hours on end. Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons along with the bonus Little Kid Paper Plate Crafts give you almost 400 pages of activities for kids as young as 2 years old. Check this ebook out today and make this summer a memorable one for your kids – and for you, too!
Canned Diced Tomatoes
Somehow I ended up with several cans of diced tomatoes. First I have to say I do not like tomatoes in my chili, so let’s not go there. But I would love to use these cans before they expire and I would really like a spagetti sauce recipe. Any ideas would be a help.
Thanks, Karen
Cold Broccoli Salad Recipe
Broccoli is one of the few green vegetables both my husband and my daughter actually like, so I’m always on the lookout for new recipes. I recently came across this cold broccoli salad recipe and it’s perfect for the summer time. My family and I have enjoyed especially when we are grilling outside (hamburgers and such). I’ve also taken it to a church supper and it was gone before you could blink. Definitely a keeper
Cold Broccoli Salad Recipe
- 1 lg. bunch broccoli
- 1 sm. onion, chopped
- 1 c. shredded cheddar
- 1/2 lb. bacon, cooked & crumbled
- 1 c. Miracle Whip
- 1/4 – 1/2 c. sugar
- 2 tbsp. vinegar
Start by cutting up the broccoli into bite sized pieces. I also include a good bit of the stems. If you do, be sure to cut those extra small since they can be a little tough sometimes. If your family doesn’t like to eat them like that, save the stalks/ stems and either use them with other scraps to make a big pot of vegetable stock later, or save them, then grate them into coleslaw later (a sturdy box grater works well for this).
Get out your favorite coverable salad bowl. I use one with a tight fitting lid. Add the broccoli, chopped onion, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon to the bowl.
In a small bowl mix the salad dressing with the sugar and vinegar. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss it well. Let it sit covered in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. You can easily make this cold broccoli salad recipe several hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
Poppy Seed Dressing
I’d love to find a good recipe for poppy seed dressing, the white, creamy kind, that does not include mayonnaise.
Velveeta Broccoli Casserole
This is a great simple broccoli dish the kids will love. It’s very cheese, but also quite economical. Great for potlucks or as a side dish with baked or grilled chicken. It goes together pretty quickly and is a rather frugal recipe. I hope you will give it try.
Velveeta Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- 2 packs of frozen broccoli
- 1 med. onion
- a little oil or margarine to saute the onion in (optional)
- 1 can cream of anything soup (homemade is fine)
- 1 c. milk
- 1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese
- 3 c. rice, cooked
Start by dicing your onion and sauteing it in the oil or margarine just until it is soft and starts to get translucent. Cook your broccoli for a few minutes in boiling water until it is tender. Drain the broccoli well.
Mix all ingredients (including the cooked broccoli and onion) together. I usually do this right in the greased casserole dish. If you prefer you could also mix everything in a large bowl and then pour it into your casserole dish. I cut the cheese into small cubes before I add it to the mix.
Bake everything at 350 F for 45 minutes.
If you’d like you can pour a few crushed crackers or some breadcrumbs on top of the casserole before baking. It will give it a nice golden crust. Serve your Velveeta broccoli casserole hot. Refrigerate any leftovers and reheat them the next day.
Easy Chicken Fingers Recipes
I love making chicken fingers for dinner or even for a special weekend lunch. My daughter loves them and it is easy to make extra to use in sandwiches or to serve with some different sides for dinner another day. If I have extras, I refrigerate them for up to 2 days and reheat them in a toaster oven.
You can use chicken breast that’s cut into strips, or you can use chicken tenderloins. Those can often be found less expensively at the grocery store (unless chicken breast is on sale).
Traditional Chicken Fingers
- 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves-cut into 1/2 inch strips
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup buttermilk *
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- oil for frying
Mix your egg, butter milk and garlic in sealable container big enough to add your chicken strips (I use an square plastic container with lid). Add your chicken strips and refrigerate for at least an hour. The chicken fingers will be better if you leave it in for 3 to 4 hours. If you are in a big hurry you can also just dip the chicken in there and move on to the next step. It will still be good, your chicken fingers just won’t be quite as tender.
Get out your fry-daddy or a large sturdy pot and fill it with oil. Heat the oil to about 375F.
Next, pour your flour, bread crumbs, salt, and baking powder in a large resealable bag. Take the chicken strips out of the buttermilk mixture (letting excess drip off) and move them to the flour bag. Close the bag and shake the chicken around to coat every little strip well with flour.
Carefully dip a few chicken fingers at a time into the hot oil and fry them until they are golden brown. Cut one open to check if it is all the way done. There should be no pink and juices coming out of the meat should run clear. Otherwise return to the fryer and fry a little longer. Keep frying the chicken fingers up until they are all done.
As you take them out of the deep fryer, put them on a plate covered with an old (but clean) kitchen towel or a layer of paper towels to get some of the excess oil off.
If you like spicy chicken fingers, add some hotsauce to the buttermilk mixture and some cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
* If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, take 1 cup milk with 1 tbsp of lemon and let sit for 10 minutes
Healthy Chicken Fingers
If you want to cut some of the fat and calories, give this healthy baked version a try.
- 12 ounces chicken strips
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 2 cups cornflakes, finely crushed
- Dash of black pepper
Start by preheating your oven to 450 F. Combine the egg, honey and mustard together. Pour the cornflakes into a shallow bowl or container and mix in the pepper.
Dip the chicken strips into the egg mixture, then roll it in the cornflakes to coat. Transfer the chicken strips to a baking sheet. I like to use some parchment paper on it for easy cleanup when I’m done.
Bake your chicken strips for about 12 minutes until they are golden brown. Again, cut one open and make sure the chicken is no longer pink. If it is, just return all chicken strips to the oven for a few more minutes.
Savory Turkey Pot Pie
A good way to use up the leftovers and tastes just like the expensive Marie Calendar frozen ones…only better.
1 turkey carcass
6 carrots
2 onions
6 stalks of celery
4 potatoes
5 or 6 apple peels and cores
5 bay leaves
1 t thyme
2 to 3 t garlic
1 t o2 t sage
Salt and pepper
Water
This is a good dish to make when pies are being made such as September when apples are in season.
Clean all the good meat off the carcass. Throw it, half the vegetables, all the peelings and cores, and the seasoning in a pot. Cover with water until only enough room left to put on the lid. Simmer on medium low for at least 3 hours.
When the veggies are squishy and the bones are clean or you are ready to make supper strain the whole mess threw a colander.
Put half the broth back in the pot unless you used a very big pot in which case put about 1/2 a dutch oven of broth back in the pot. Pick out the veggies and throw them back in the broth. Pick out the bones and discard. Pick out the good meat and put in the pot. Pick out the cores and peels and bay leaves and throw away. Feed the rest to the dogs. Put the other 3 carrots, celery, and onion into the pot. Add 4 potatoes peeled and diced and some more turkey meat if you have it. Cook until veggies tender. Thicken using about 1/2 a cup of flour and enough cold water to make it pourable. Cover with pie crust. bake on 350 for about an hour or until crust is golden.
Warning: use a deeper pan than what looks right or put foil under it. The filling gets very bubbly in the oven and tends to make a mess.
Chili From Scratch
this makes about 4 servings but more if you like yours soupier. I make mine htick enough to stand a spoon in so mine yields a little less. this one is also easily doubled or tripled.
1 lb of dry pinto beans
1 lb ground turkey, beef, or pork
1 medium onion
1 bag of frozen corn or 2 cans of corn
2 cans of tomato paste
salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne, and chili powder
chipotle flavored tabasco sauce
liquid smoke
the night before put your beans and dry seasonings into your crock pot with plenty of water. you need about 3 times the amount of water as you do beans. if you don’t feel all that technical about precisely measuring your water you can also do like me and “eyeball” it. stir it yup so you don’t get seasoning balls and put it on low. Go to bed. When you get up in the morning taste a bean. It is probably still not done so turn it up on high. Test the beans every half hour or so until they are tender but not mushy. drain off most of the water and return the beans to low. now add the 2 cans of tomato paste and 4 cans of water. brown or microwave your ground turkey and throw it in too. I grilled my onion but it works fine saute’d. In to the pot it goes too. throw the corn in frozen. it will thaw quickly. Then when everything chunky is in add salt, pepper, tabasco and liquid smoke to taste. Also if it is too thick add some more water. Let it simmer until thick and delicious. Serve hot with corn bread, over rice, on a hot dog, or wrapped in a tortillia. This is also good without meat. at under a dollar a serving it is also a nice filling meal on a tight budget.
Texas FireCrackers
4 sleeves of saltine crackers
1 Cup EVOO
4 Tbsp Dried Red Chili Peppers
4 tsp Garlic Salt
In a large plastic container lay down one sleeve of crackers, pour 1/4 cup of Olive oil evenly over them and dump 1 Tsp of Garlic Salt and 1 Tbsp of Dried Red Chili Peppers. Repeat until all ingredients are added to container. Seal the container and gently spin/shake it to coat crackers and then set it upside down on the counter. Flip ever 15 – 20 minutes. for about an hour to coat crackers evenly.
Beauty Within & Freezing Seasonal Fruit- HBHW Newsletter
June 2nd, 2010
Editorial
In the United States, we take the last Monday of May to honor our service men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom. I’ll take this opportunity to say Thank You to all the fine military personnel and their families who visit with us here at The Hillbilly Housewife.
Memorial Day weekend also marks the “beginning of summer” for most families. It’s the first opportunity to have a few days together during (hopefully!) warm weather. Kids are just now getting out of school in some areas; in other areas it’s right around the corner. We’re happily filling our tummies with fresh fruits and vegetables and we’re firing up the grill. Some of us are even getting the kiddie pools ready!
I’ve featured two articles in today’s newsletter. Blueberries and apricots are quite abundant in many areas and I know several homemakers who are anxious to gather as many as possible during this short season. I say, go ahead and stock up! You’ll be happy when you are craving the taste of fruit in the middle of the winter and your freezer is filled with blueberries and apricots ready to enjoy. Please be sure to read the articles and stock your freezer before the season is over.
I hope our inspirational quote and story this week will put the beauty of a summer day into perspective. Don’t get me wrong – I love waking up to a gorgeous sunny day with a soft breeze and birds singing. But, I also know that the glare of a bright summer day doesn’t always prove to be the prettiest day. Sometimes the beauty of a day, or person, is just beyond those dark skies.
Those are my thoughts 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
All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within.
~Horace Friess~
News From The HBHW Club
What? You haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club? It’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
You don’t want to miss this or any of our informative and valuable resources including meal planning, gardening, working from home, saving on utilities, creating a family budget and a step-by-step plan for getting out of debt. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer?
For just one dollar you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day.
For just one dollar you’ll have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
Because We Have An Abundance Of Blueberries And Apricots, I made sure I got some resources together for our Club members. I put together a couple of articles about how to preserve these bumper crops by freezing them. I decided the articles should be shared with you as well, so they are featured here in the newsletter. Our friends at the Club didn’t waste any time chiming in on this topic. It seems everyone wants a freezer full of fruit when winter comes around!
Replacing Expensive Body Washes With Shampoo was suggested by one of our Club members. This was one of those “ah ha” moments for many of our friends. You know how expensive body washes and gels are – well shampoos work just fine and at a fraction of the cost. And, with teenagers in the house who love to take long showers and use lots and lots of bubbly stuff, shampoo is the perfect frugal answer. Save your fancy body wash bottles and just pour the shampoo right in there. No one will be the wiser and they’ll still feel and smell all pretty!
Safety While Out Walking was brought up by one of our friends at the Club. It’s important to keep in mind not only getting out there and walking as often as possible, but being aware of our surroundings and being prepared, as well. It was suggested that we be sure to bring a cell phone when we’re out walking; not to talk but for emergencies. After all, we need some time in silence or listening to music – unplugged from others. But the safety factor does make it preferable to have your cell phone on you. Another friend at the Club walks with her dog so she will be made aware of any changes around her.
Exercise and Dieting Sabotage is another topic that was brought up at the Club. When someone in your house is NOT exercising or watching their diet, how does that affect you? Some of our friends at the Club were anxious about trying to keep on track with their healthy fitness program while watching those around them sit and snack. Fortunately, one of our friends was pleasantly surprised by a visit from a family member who announced she’s now on a strict diet! No matter what others are doing around you, please stay focused on your own health. Nobody’s health is more important than yours because you can’t be a help to anyone if you are sick.
Healthy Eating In The Summer was brought up by one of our Club members who would prefer not to stand over a hot stove all day. She’s looking for suggestions for ways to cook big meals for a hungry family without heating up the kitchen and without the standard “meat on the grill” meal. You might say just throw together salads, but with a growing teenage son at home, she needs FOOD! We’re going to put our heads together and come up with hot-weather meals that are filling but that won’t heat up the kitchen.
A Newbie Gardener Takes Her First Steps and plants tomatoes and jalapenos! Even though her husband says she could “kill dirt” we know that she’ll be a success because she has her friends here at the Club to cheer her on. And, hey, we’ve all killed our share of plants… live and learn is what it’s all about! We sure hope she gets to slice a few tomatoes and jalapenos this year.
Along with healthy and well fed families, we are discussing topics that include frugal tips for cleaning and cooking, as well as homesteading and gardening. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area.
Click the following link and try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you come join us! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week.
Eggplant & Cheese Patty Cakes
- 1 medium eggplant, washed and diced
- 1 1/4 cup cracker or fine bread crumbs
- 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded fine
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. celery salt
- 2 Tblsp. olive oil
Put the eggplant in a sauce pan, pour enough water in to come up half way, bring water up to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook until fork tender. Drain through a colander. Take a potato masher and mash the eggplant in the colander, pressing all the water out.
Put the cooked and mashed eggplant in a big bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Mix together well. Then form into small patties. Don’t make them too big.
Heat oil in a large skillet (the oil should only be about 1/8 inch deep) to medium hot. Put patties in hot oil and cook until brown on both sides. Remove to drain on a paper towel on a cooling rack.
Salt again to taste and serve alongside a mixed green salad.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Strawberry Glazed Chicken
- Whole Wheat Maple Syrup Bread
- Ready-Set-Go Rolled Cookies
- Creamy Vinaigrette
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles
Summer weather brings summer fruit. Whether you are fortunate enough to have fruit trees or farms where you can pick your own, or you have markets where you can now buy fruit, you’ll want to buy as many as you can and preserve them for future use.
Even if you’ve never preserved fruit before (and the thought has you a bit nervous) you’ll be an expert once you read these articles. The simplest method of preserving fruit is freezing it. But, there are a few things you’ll want to know before you just throw them in your freezer.
Click the links below to learn the proper way to freeze your bumper crop of blueberries and apricots:
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Beautiful Flower In The Broken Pot
~Author Unknown~
Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic.
One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. “Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight-year-old,” I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw.
Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening. I’ve come to see if you’ve a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there’s no bus ’til morning.”
He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. “I guess it’s my face… I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments…”
For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.”
I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. “No thank you. I have plenty.” And he held up a brown paper bag.
When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn’t take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury.
He didn’t tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.
At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch.
He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favor, he said, Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won’t put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again.
And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning.
As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they’d be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden.
Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly preciou s.
When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbor made after he left that first morning.
“Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!”
Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear.
I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.
Recently I was visiting a friend, who has a greenhouse, as she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, “If this were my plant, I’d put it in the loveliest container I had!”
My friend changed my mind. “I ran short of pots,” she explained, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting out in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden.”
She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. “He won’t mind starting in this small body.”
All this happened long ago – and now, in God’s garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand.
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
Uses For Powdered Coffee Creamer
I’m looking for recipes to use up a large container of powdered coffee creamer. We bought one for a party we had and hardly any was used. We don’t drink coffee and hate to see it wasted!
Apricot Coffee Cake Recipe
I made this apricot coffee cake yesterday and just had to share It is very yummy and certainly pretty enough for company. I used fresh apricots that I peeled, seeded and chopped. You could also use copped dried apricots that have been soaked in a little water.
- 3/4 c. softened margarine
- 1 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 1/4 c. flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. each of baking soda, salt & cinnamon
- 1 c. sour cream
- 1 c. chopped apricots
Topping
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Get out a small but sturdy bowl and add the margarine and brown sugar. I usually set the margarine out first so it has a chance to soften up on the counter before I start baking. Then I go about gathering the rest of my stuff and preheating the oven. For this cake you want to go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 F.
While you’re at it, go ahead and spray a bunt cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set it aside and let’s get back to making the cake.
Get out a hand mixer and cream your margarine and brown sugar until you end up with a light yellow and fluffy mixture. Add your eggs and vanilla and beat again until everything is well incorporated and fluffy. Stir in the sour cream and set the mixture aside.
In a large bowl, combine your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Give everything a good stir with your favorite wodden spoon.
Pour the egg, butter and sugar mixture into your large flour bowl. Grab the hand mixer and set it on the lowest setting. Once most of the flour is incorporated into the wet mixture, change it to medium and beat the batter until it is nice and smooth.
Get your wooden spoon back out and gently fold in 1 cup of chopped apricots. I like to use fresh ones for this cake, but you could substitute dry apricots soaked in a bit of water to soften them up.
Pour the batter into your bunt pan and top with 1/3 chopped peacans, 2 tbsp bown sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon.
Bake in a 350 F oven for 50 minutes.
I was planning on taking a picture of the finished cake for you, but we ended up devouring it before I remembered 
Southern Style Coleslaw
I am looking for a good southern style coleslaw. Please post if you have one.
Thick Mac And Cheese
This makes a good casserole, just add a veggie and you’re set! I discovered this when I wanted macaroni in cheese but did not have anything in the way of protein like hot dogs, ham, bologna to put in it. I did have eggs however. And the thickness of the eggs allows it to taste richer with a lot less cheese making it both cheaper and healthier.
First cook up a pot of macaroni for as many people as you are serving. When it is done drain off all the water and return to the stove on medium.
Now add 2 eggs for each serving of pasta you made, salt and pepper, about a 1/2 inch slice of Velveeta and a small handful of shredded cheese per serving. Stir it all up and continue stirring and folding as the eggs cook.
When they are done spoon out into dishes to cool. This is also a great way to sneak protein into a meal if you have kids who do not like much meat.
How To Freeze Apricots
I love apricot and right now you can find them in produce sections of grocery stores, fruit stands and even farmers markets across the country.
Unfortunately these delicious little fruits don’t last very long on the counter. If you end up with more than you can consume in just a few days, I suggest you freezer your apricots and use them throughout the rest of the year. Here’s how to freeze them.
Start by cleaning them thoroughly. Set aside any apricots that are damaged, overripe or have bruises. Be sure to eat those right away or turn them into apricot preserves. Pat the apricots completely dry. Cut them in half, remove the pit and then slice them like you would peaches.
Bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil. Dip the peach slices in the boiling water for about 30 second. This will keep the skins from getting too tough during the freezing and thawing process. Put the apricot slices in a strainer and run cold water on them to keep them from cooking any further.
There are several different ways to freeze them. I’ll list each method below. The most important part is to be sure to include ascorbic acid to keep the apricots from turning brown.
Apricots Frozen in Syrup
Start by making a simple syrup. Add one cup of water and one cup of sugar to a sturdy pot. Heat and stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool completely.You can easily multiply this recipe as needed. You will need about 1/2 cup of syrup for each pint container you are planning on filling with frozen apricots. Add 1/8 tsp ascorbic acid per cup of syrup.
Pour 1/2 cup of the cooled syrup in a pint sized freezable container. Layer in the apricot slices being sure to leave half an inch of space at the top since the liquid will expand during the freezing process. Close the lid on the container, label it and freeze.
Sugared Frozen Apricots
In a large bowl combine 1 quart of apricot slices with 2/3 cups of sugar and mix until combined. Next, dissolve 1/4 tsp of ascorbic acid in 1/4 cup of cool water and pour it over your fruit and sugar mixture. Stir to combine well, then pour the fruit mix into freezer bags being sure to leave some space to allow for expansion. Label and freeze.
Apricots Frozen in Water
Start by combining 1 quart of cold water with 1 tsp of ascorbic acid. Pour your sliced apricots into freezer bags or containers, then pour enough of the water mixture in to cover the fruit. Be sure to leave some air space for expansion. Close your container, label and freeze.
Frozen Apricots will keep for 18 months in the freezer.
By the way … if you would like to learn more about freezer cooking, I invite you to order my Freezer Cooking Made Simple ebook.
How To Freeze Blueberries
One of the members of the Hillbilly Housewife Club mentioned on the forum in the club that she was given a huge box of blueberries…much more than she and her family would be able to eat at one time. She was asking about how to freeze those blueberries.
Since my in-laws have several huge blueberry bushes in their yard, we’ve had the same problem almost every year. And it is a good problem to have. The easiest way to preserve all those juicy berries is indeed to freeze them and it is very simple.
Start by sorting your blueberries. Discard any berries that have gone bad and put any overripe ones in a separate bowl to be eaten right away. Wash the remaining blueberries and then gently pat them dry. I use paper towels for this since the juice from the berries will stain any cloth permanently.
Pour the berries on a baking sheet and stick them in the freezer. After about an hour or so, they should be pretty frozen and you can pour them into a freezer bag. Be sure to label the bag with the name of the fruit and a date so you know how old your berries are down the road.
Patting the berries dry and freezing them on a cookie sheet first keeps them from clumping and freezing together. This will make using them throughout the year much easier.
By the way … if you would like to learn more about freezer cooking, I invite you to order my Freezer Cooking Made Simple ebook.
Now that you have a few bags of yummy frozen blueberries, what do you do with them? You can thaw them in the fridge overnight and use in any of your favorite blueberry recipes. You can also add the frozen blueberries to your favorite muffin, pancake and waffle recipe. By the time they are done baking, the blueberries will be completely thawed.
My personal favorite is to use them in yogurt smoothies. Just add a handful of the frozen berries to your blender along with some yogurt and a splash of milk. You can also add some other fruit along with the blueberries. Try half a banana in there, some other berries or even some frozen sliced peaches or frozen mango…yum!
What’s your favorite blueberry recipe? Share your favorites as a comment below.
Present Moment Happiness, Be Proactive, Baked Onions – HBHW Newsletter
May 26th, 2010
Editorial
It seems like last week just went zipping by! I was happily busy with new projects as well as enjoying my family. I’m taking my own advice and trying to enjoy each and every moment we spend together. Time is fleeting, as we all know.
The rhubarb has gone to seed, which is fine. We’ve certainly had our fill. When we get hungry for rhubarb pie again, I’ll just reach in the freezer. It’s like anything we eat – when we have a bumper crop, we enjoy it for a while, then we have to freeze it and walk away. But, we’ll be happy to get a taste of rhubarb once again, a few months down the road. We’re on to blueberries now!
Our inspirational quote and story are about appreciation for the present. Each moment we live should be our happiest moment. Please take a moment to read and reflect on both the quote and the story and see if you can gain perspective about the most important times in your life.
The featured article this week is somewhat on the same topic as our inspirational quote and story. It’s hard to live each moment happily enjoying our family and friends when we keep having to bob-and-weave while life throws us punches. Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to “react” to every stress thrown our way? What if we were in charge of our situation because we were “proactive” instead? Please take a few minutes to read the article and see if this makes sense in your life.
Those are my thoughts 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
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
~Buddha~
Sponsor
First Virtual Parenting Retreat
Yesterday I had a chance to talk at Ellen Braun’s First Virtual Parenting Retreat. I talked for about an hour about time savers in the kitchen. It was a fun and exciting call with lots of great questions and feedback.
You can still register to listen in to some of the other presenters today and tomorrow free of charge. If you would like access to all recordings and bonuses you can do so as well… if you decide to upgrade your free membership to a VIP one that gives you recordings etc, use coupon code savetendollars to save $10.
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/parenting-retreat
Just by registering for the free account, you also get the chance to win some fun door prizes.
To learn more about the Parenting Retreat and to find out how you can listen to the remaining sessions and get access to all recordings and bonuses, please visit:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/parenting-retreat
News From The HBHW Club
What? You haven’t heard about the Hillbilly Housewife Club? It’s a members only forum packed full of great information, resources, and friendly chit chat about the things we are all interested in – fun, frugal living. Come Join Us And See What All The Chatter Is About!
FREE RESOURCE – STARTING A CRAFT BLOG FOR FUN AND PROFIT.
As I mentioned last week, one of our Club members has successfully started her own crafting blog. In less than one week’s time, she created a beautiful little blog and has already been seeing results!
Victoria has been crafting adorable soft-sculpted baby dolls for many years and selling her creations on Etsy. Now, with the input from many of our friends at the Club, Victoria has been encouraged to create a whole line of clothes to go with her dolls (think Barbie), as well as quilts and doll furniture (courtesy of her handy husband).
If you want to take a look at Victoria’s new blog and check out her adorable baby dolls, click on the link to her site here: OoooohBabyDolls
Can you picture yourself working from home, making money doing something you like to do – like crafting?
If so, you’ll want to join us at the HBHW Club and check out this valuable resource, STARTING A CRAFT BLOG FOR FUN AND PROFIT.
Written by successful stay-at-home entrepreneur and author, Nicole Dean, this informative resource sells as an ebook for around $15, but as a Club member, you get it FREE with your membership. That’s right! Your membership in the Club has already paid for itself when you open this FREE resource and put it to work for you! Talk about a return-on-investment!
Even if you don’t know the first thing about a blog, this resource will give you the information and tools you need to get your Crafting Blog up and running – and making money!
At the Club, you’ll not only get this FREE resource valued at around $15, you’ll also have a sounding board to help you brainstorm ideas about your new Crafting Blog.
Along with this valuable resource, STARTING A CRAFT BLOG FOR FUN AND PROFIT, Club members also receive two audios plus a bonus resource from Nicole about time management, which will be very valuable when you start your Craft Blog!
This resource is available to all my readers as an ebook by clicking on the link here. For around $15 you can get the information and tools you need to start your own Craft Blog For Fun And Profit.
Or… Join the HBHW Club now and the resource is FREE with your membership! This valuable resource will be yours, PLUS the benefits of having a forum for sharing ideas about everything from making money at home to getting out of debt to frugal tips, and much, much more.
This is a tremendous opportunity to finally start making money at home doing something you like… crafting and talking about crafting! Join the Club, get the resource for FREE, and start making money at home.
Not sure about joining the Club right now? You can still take advantage of Nicole Dean’s expertise in the field of money making at home. If you have a love for crafting, and talking about crafting, you’ll want to explore creating your own Craft Blog For Fun And Profit .
You don’t want to miss this or any of our informative and valuable resources. Join the HBHW Club and grab your FREE resource today!
As a special to you, the HBHW newsletter subscriber, you can join for only $10 per month. Click on this link for all the details: http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Still not sure about joining the HBHW Club? How about if I make it real easy. I’ll let you try it out for just a dollar for the first 7 days.
How will you benefit from joining the HBHW Club with this offer? As an example, for just that one dollar you’ll have 7 days of access to over 400 great frugal recipes that are tried and true, with a new recipe every day. You’ll also have 7 days to ask your most puzzling frugal homemaking questions – and even get answers!
Join us now and enjoy 7 days of frugal fun. Click on the link here and come aboard! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
Now, let’s just take a peek at what’s been going on at the HBHW Club Forum.
A Bumper Crop Of Blueberries And Apricots had one of our friends at the Club jumping for joy, but scrambling for ideas! We chimed in with methods for freezing the fruit as well as some ideas for tasty treats. When you’ve got around 50 pounds of fruit to deal with, it’s nice to have a few suggestions of how to use it all up. There’s nothing worse than wasting such a bounty!
Medicinal Uses For Herbs came up in our discussion about planting an herb garden. One of our friends at the Club listed 15 herbs and their uses in healing what ails us. Did you know that you can brew tea using catnip? Yes, catnip is not just for those silly kitty toys! Make a tea using catnip to relieve colds or fevers, and to help relieve headaches and upset stomachs. It also has a mild sedative effect which can be used to soothe stress before bedtime. Who knew? Grow a little pot of catnip and see if your kitty will be willing to share it with you.
My Walking Challenge has gotten more challenging. We’ve been sick in our house and it seems many of our friends at the Club have had their share of reasons (excuses?) to not go out on their walk. Well, hot weather and rain really are reasons not to walk. But, we all know we have to get back in the habit of walking every day, right? Although, we are doing other things for exercise when we can’t walk – like floor exercises – so we’re not totally ignoring our challenge. With the gentle nudge of our friends, we get back on track, eventually!
Healthy Diets Often Involve Adding Foods as well as eliminating food. Many of our friends at the Club have found that adding certain foods, like oatmeal and nuts, can actually help you lose weight. Good nutrition isn’t all about cutting out the bad food, it’s about a well balanced diet. We can eliminate the cookies, cake, chips and soft drinks, but until we add the healthy foods into our diet, we aren’t really eating a healthy diet.
Along with healthy and well fed families, we are discussing topics that include frugal tips for cleaning and cooking. Homesteading and gardening are popular topics, as well. If something has to do with keeping our homes and families happy, we’ll discuss it!
How would you like to join the conversation? As a Club member, you’ll be able to share your opinions, frugal tips, and ideas on topics most important to your life.
Why don’t you join us so you can get in on the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you in the member area.
Click the following link and try The HBHW Club for only $1. We’d love to have you come join us! http://www.hillbillyhousewifeclub.com/special.html
When you join us at the HBHW Club, you’ll want to be sure to take a stroll through the resources available free to Club members only. Popular resources include:
- Frugal Gardening
- Simple Summer Cooking
- Frugal Family Summer Fun
- Pantry Cooking
- Freezer/Pantry Challenge & Meal Planning
- Cleaning With Vinegar And Baking Soda
- Setting Up A Family Budget
- Getting Out Of Debt For Good
- Utility Bill Savings
- Meal Planning Guide – Simple Step-by-Step Method
Let me know what you think of the resources and if there are any topics we should explore further. As a Club member, your opinion is highly valued because it’s YOUR Club!
Join The Hillbilly Housewife Club for Just a Dollar
I’d like to share one of the recipes that was posted on the HBHW Club this past week.
Stuffed Baked Onions
- 4 large Vidalia onions (or other sweet variety)
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cup stuffing style bread crumbs
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese for topping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a shallow baking dish with cooking spray.
Take skins off onions and place in large pot. Cover onions with water and add 1 teaspoon salt to water. Put pot over medium high heat until water just reaches boiling, then turn down and simmer slowly for 20 minutes.
Remove onions to cutting board and carefully scoop out the middle of the onion, (retaining onion you remove), being sure you leave a good solid outer layer. The onion should stand on its own and be solid, like a bowl. Set these onion “bowls” into a shallow baking dish.
In a large skillet, melt the butter and add the cut out portions of the onion, chopping into small pieces. Saute until onion is tender. Add the bread crumbs, Worcestershire, and Parmesan, cooking over low heat until bread crumbs are moistened and Parmesan cheese melts.
Spoon this mixture into onion “bowls” and top evenly with the 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and put in preheated 350 degree oven, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until filling starts to brown.
Listed here is a sampling of recent recipes added, making a total of more than 400 recipes currently available to our Club members.
- Busy Day Rice Onion Bake
- Tallerini
- Deluxe Broccoli Onion Bake
- Curried Rice Onion Skillet
We welcome recipe submissions from our friends at the Club and are always happy to see what’s cooking in your kitchen. Our aim is to have six recipes posted each week. That’s a lot of recipes!
Featured Articles
We all have days, weeks, even months where we just keep spinning our wheels trying to catch up with all the things that are thrown at us during each busy day. We feel as if we just keep reacting by ducking and dodging out of the way.
What would happen if we quit “reacting” and started being “proactive” instead?
Click the link below to see if you can change how you deal with all the stresses of everyday life:
Healthy Hillbilly Housewife
Here’s what’s new on the healthy hillbilly housewife section. You can also go straight to http://www.healthy.hillbillyhousewife.com
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Frugal Tips
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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!
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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 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
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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.
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Inspirational Story
The Best Time Of My Life
~Author Unknown~
It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’s age, so I asked him, “What was the best time of your life?”
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, “Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:
“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.
“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
“The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.
“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
“And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”
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