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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!

Filed Under: Articles, Cooking Tagged With: , , , ,

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.

Filed Under: Beans, Peas & Lentils, Recipes

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.

Filed Under: Recipes, Sandwich

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.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

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.

Filed Under: Ground Beef and Ground Turkey, Recipes

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!

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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!

Filed Under: Chicken, Recipes

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.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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!

hbhwc_234x60

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

Filed Under: Newsletters

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?

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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!

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

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.

Filed Under: Recipes, Sandwich Tagged With: , , ,

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.

Filed Under: Convenience Foods, Frugal Tips, Recipes

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!

hbhwc_234x60

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
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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

Filed Under: Newsletters

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!

Filed Under: Articles, Cooking Tagged With: , , ,

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.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

Amish Butter Cheese

I am trying to find a recipe for homemade Amish Butter Cheese. I hope you can help. Thank you

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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.

Filed Under: Desserts & Sweets

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

Filed Under: Breakfast

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

Filed Under: Soup and Stew Recipes

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

Filed Under: Cookies, Candy and Bars

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

Filed Under: Cake and Frosting

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

Filed Under: Beans, Peas & Lentils, Ground Beef and Ground Turkey

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Soup and Stew Recipes

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

Filed Under: Pies, Cobblers and Crisps

Nectarines Recipes

my nectarine tree is ready to be harvested. Do you have any recipes for nectarines?

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: Pudding, Gelatin, Sweet Sauces and Spreads

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

Filed Under: Pies, Cobblers and Crisps

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?

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Ground Beef and Ground Turkey

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

Filed Under: Pasta and Pizza

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Pies, Cobblers and Crisps

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?

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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?

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

Freezing Corn

am looking for tnt ideas for freezing corn on the cob thanks

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

Preparing Okra For The Freezer

Please tell me how to pre-cook fresh okra for freezing.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

Leftover Biscuits

You can always save leftover biscuits for something a little sweeter like bread pudding or freeze for another dinner side.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

Kingdom of Heaven 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.

Filed Under: Breads

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!

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: Potato

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

Filed Under: Egg and Cheese Recipes Tagged With: ,

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

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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
  • How to Save Money on other Utilities
  • How to build a Solar Panel for your Home
  • How to Build A Solar Cell
  • How to save Energy in the Kitchen, in the Office, in the Outdoors, and more
  • 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!

hbhwc_234x60

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.
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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



Filed Under: Newsletters

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. :)

Filed Under: Rice

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.

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

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!

Filed Under: Frugal Tips

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.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

Western Family Reunion

I am having a potluck Family Reunion. I need frugal ideas for decorations for the tables, games, etc.
Thank you.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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

Filed Under: Pasta and Pizza

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

Filed Under: Cookies, Candy and Bars

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

Filed Under: Beverages, Holiday Recipes Tagged With: ,

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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments, Vegetables

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

Filed Under: Holiday Recipes, Pies, Cobblers and Crisps Tagged With: , , ,

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

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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!

hbhwc_234x60

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!

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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
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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

Filed Under: Newsletters

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.

Filed Under: I'm Looking For Requests

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.

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Filed Under: Pies, Cobblers and Crisps

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.

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Filed Under: Pies, Cobblers and Crisps

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.

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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

Filed Under: Holiday Recipes, Vegetables Tagged With: ,

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.

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Breads, Holiday Recipes

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.

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Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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.

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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

Filed Under: Savory Sauces, Gravy and Condiments

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

Filed Under: Salad, Vegetables