Make Frozen Lasagna Taste HomemadeThis is a tip I thought I would share since I did this over the week-end and my dinner guests loved the lasagna dinner. They all thought it was homemade! Little did they know, I purchased the Stoffers large frozen lasagna when it was on sale at my favorite store.
Reducing the Heat in Hot PeppersI bought a mislabeled plant. Instead of getting a sweet pepper, I got a hot one. Instead of giving them away, I learned that if I roasted them at 425 degrees F until they were soft and the edges were brown (20 minutes or so), it would remove a lot of the heat.
Extend and Enhance Ready-Made Bean SaladsAs sold, jars or cans of bean salad are always too sweet for me so I empty the entire contents into a large bowl, tangy seasoned liquid included, and then I drain the liquid from an assortment of other canned, unseasoned beans and add them to the seasoned ones, along with minced fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro - and stir gently but well.
Buy Cheese Pizza and Add ToppingsI sometimes buy cheese pizza when it's on sale. For a quick lunch, I'd customize my own toppings and you have yourself a quick meal.
Soften Brown Sugar with Less MessWe've all heard the maxim; to keep brown sugar soft, put (something or other) in the jar. And yes, it works. But what a mess. The sugar inevitably sticks to bread, or apple slices, and pretty much everything else one can think of to use.
Homemade Brown SugarIf you're out of brown sugar, or just want the fluffiest fresh brown sugar ever, you can make some in a pinch. Just add one tablespoon of molasses to one cup of white granulated sugar and whisk until fully combined. Want dark brown sugar? Add a tablespoon or more of molasses.
Softening Brown SugarIf your brown sugar has hardened, place a small piece of apple in with the sugar to soften it.
Revive Stale Tortilla Chips QuicklyMy family and I went on a food lover's road trip to pick up some of our favourite freshly-made snacks. After a couple days, the tortilla chips had gone stale. I was serving them with lunch and didn't have time to lay them out in the oven so I placed them in a single layer on a paper towel in the microwave and nuked them on high for 30 seconds.
Add Potato to Absorb Excess SaltI was cooking squash and after tasting it, I discovered that I had added way too much salt. I had heard that you could add a potato to soup when it's over salted so I tried it in the squash.
Homemade Brown SugarThe great thing about making your own brown sugar is that it's less expensive than buying store bought brown sugar and you have control over how dark the brown sugar will be.
Revive Leftover Christmas CookiesSimply place hardened leftover cookies in a large container with a lid and lay a fresh slice of bread on top. The cookies will become nice and soft again and the bread will be hard. You can do this several times to save all those good cookies.
Add Toppings to Cheese PizzaA pizza with fancy toppings can be quite expensive, it's much more fun and probably cheaper to design your own. If you don't fancy going to the trouble of making one from scratch, just buy a cheap plain ready to cook cheese and tomato pizza and add your own toppings.
Potatoes to Correct Salty or Spicy ChiliIf over-salted or over-spiced chile has you ready to dump out the whole thing, don't. There is a simple solution using potatoes!
Rinse Canned VegetablesI often find canned veggies too salty and canned baked beans too sweet, so I keep a medium-sized hand strainer near my sink and when I open them I pour them into the strainer and rinse them off thoroughly.
Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes to Frozen PizzaIf you have a basic ready made margherita (cheese and tomato) pizza from a supermarket, consider making it a bit special by adding sun-dried tomato, which really intensifies the tomato taste.
Ginger Snaps as Gravy ThickenerNext time you have extra ginger snaps, pulse them in the food processer and store in your freezer. If you find yourself out of flour while making gravy, a couple tablespoons of ginger snaps will thicken it right up!
Make Ground Turkey Taste Like BeefWe all know ground turkey or chicken is healthier then beef. But what if you miss that beef flavor? I have come up with a way to make turkey or chicken burgers, loaf, or pretty much any recipe taste like you DID use beef! It's easy!
Thai Ramen NoodleCook noodles then stir fry with fresh green beans and carrots. Add 1/2 flavor packet for low salt. Now add one large Tbsp. peanut butter and some hot sauce to taste.
Fixing Jelly That Set Too HardI know that this might not be a big help to some, but to those that do canning it might. I canned some grape jelly and could not get it to jell, so I put in 4 boxes of Sure Jel. That was a big mistake.
Additions To Kids Frozen DinnersI always add extra nutrition to the frozen food for the kids, the fun foods, as I like to call them. I will add a piece of frozen broccoli to the dinner if it only takes a few minutes or cook, just stick it under the plastic.
Stretching SaladIf you have leftover salad, but not enough to go around, look in your pantry. Any of these items can be added to the salad.
Uses for Runny JamI don't know about you, but I never have any luck with those no-cook and freezer jam recipes. For me they always turn out runny.
"Spicing up" Boring SandwichesAs a way to keep food costs down, I make sandwiches at home to take to work daily. As we all know, there are only so many 'choices' of sandwiches, which, in my case, became too routine and boring.
Potato Flakes to Thicken GravyTo make a thickener to go into gravies or other dishes that need thickening, add some instant potato flakes. I have done this for a year now and it does a great job thickening up homemade gravies.
Removing Salty or Scorched FlavorIf while cooking, you get too much salt in something or you scorch a recipe, take a potato, cut it into chunks, and cook it with the recipe. When ready to serve, remove the potato. You will be surprised at how much this will remove the salty or scorched taste.
Add Tuna to Mac and CheeseMix a defrosted package of Macaroni and Cheese with 1 can of tuna fish (preferably oil packed), drained. Top with crumbled Ritz Crackers. Microwave 3 minutes. Can double recipe.
Milk to Remove Burnt Smell from FoodTo remove the burnt smell from meat or vegetables, sprinkle with a tablespoon of milk and return to oven which has now been switched off. Keep in the oven for 2-3 minutes and the smell will disappear.
Dice Whole Canned Tomatoes For RecipesCans of whole tomatoes and whole plum tomatoes were on sale at a store I went to recently. Not diced, stewed, or crushed, just whole. Given the price, I bought quite a few. Wouldn't you know it, every recipe I wanted to try called for diced.
Add Cream Cheese to Spicy Cheese DipWe recently bought some white cheese dip from a Mexican restaurant. It was too hot and spicy for all of us, so I took a about 3 ounces of cream cheese, melted it, and added it to the dip. Perfect!
Rebuild Frozen PizzasTake a frozen pizza and let your imagination run wild as you "rebuild" your pizza to your liking. We just took a three cheese pizza, used thin sliced ham and chunk pineapple left from a salad, added Feta cheese for a distinct flavor and baked it for the first pizza, my personal fave.
Toast Shredded CoconutIf your shredded coconut dries out too much for certain recipes you normally would use it for, simply toast it on a baking sheet in a moderately heated oven, turning occasionally so it will brown evenly.
Use Larger Egg Shell To Remove Smaller PiecesI dropped a bit of egg shell into something I was cooking. Try as I might, I just couldn't remove it with my fingers, spoon, anything! Then someone told me to just use a larger piece of shell to scoop up the little broken piece.
Extra Vanilla Enhances Brownie MixI wanted to make some brownies yesterday for a couple of my neighbors but just made them from a packaged mix. I decided to add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mix and it was just enough to to give the brownies a nice, extra flavor.
Enhancing Store-bought RelishTo make store-bought relish more flavorful, mix in some raw sweet small-diced onions and/or finely chopped red bell peppers and/or small diced carrots. Dump the relish in a bigger jar to allow more room before adding the extras. Shake the jar to mix.
Hot Dog Bun for Garlic ToastI was clear out of garlic bread to go with my spaghetti, so I used split hot dog buns to make garlic toast. I slathered on the butter, sprinkled heavy with garlic powder and placed it under the broiler til toasted. Turned out very good.
Stir Fry With Hash BrownsI have never been able to get my husband to eat stir fries with rice, so in desperation I started using hash browns instead.
A Remedy for Salty SoupIf your soup is salty, you can steam some veggies like grated potatoes, carrots, celery or use evaporated milk.
Stretching Chicken SaladI happened on this when I had some chicken salad left, but not enough to serve 3 people since my son's return home to finish his degree at a local university.
Make Smoothies With Fruit WasteI make a lot of edible fruit bouquets which produces a lot of fruit waste. To minimize this, I began saving the "scraps" and tossing them in the freezer. To my surprise, the frozen fruit makes great smoothies and I even use them to flavor my water.
Use Freezer Burned Veggies for SoupEveryone has told me that once as bag of veggies is freezer-burned that it's no good, and you'll have to throw it out. This is not true! There is one thing you can do with freezer burned veggies and that's make homemade veggie soup.
Add to Bargain Frozen PizzaI save a lot of money on pizza by buying a plain cheese with nothing but cheese and tomato sauce on it add our favorite ingredients.
Try Something Different With Your Spaghetti SauceI made the mistake of deviating from my regular brand of spaghetti and was sorely disappointed. I was tired and wanted to spare myself an extra trip to another store so bought the pasta at a day old bread shop.
Fixing a Tough Cooked RoastI made a slow cooked brisket in the oven yesterday - still came out a bit too chewy. I put it into the crockpot overnight on low with the gravy and will run it longer if required, but that's one cut of meat that won't be wasted.
Add Greens To Your Ramen NoodlesDress up ramen noodle soup in a healthy, delicious way! Place ramen noodle soup in a bowl, just cover with water, and add your favorite greens (I especially love mustard greens).
Use Microwave To Refresh Stale ChipsRefresh stale potato chips by putting a plateful in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Let stand for 1 minute to crisp.
Add Powdered Milk To Skim For A Better FlavorYou don't like 1% or 2% milk? Add 1-2 Tbsp. of powdered milk. This will add the whole-milk flavor without the fat.
Make Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer from PowderedI make my own liquid non-dairy coffee creamer from powdered creamer. I buy the 16 oz. size store brand of powdered creamer for $1.00. I add one cup of hot water to one cup of dry creamer and shake.
Making Your Pasta Sauce RicherWhen making pasta sauce, from the jar or from scratch, add in a tablespoon of powdered cocoa. It makes the sauce richer. Yum.
Potato Flakes For Thick Potato SoupI use instant potato flakes to thicken my potato soup. What else would you use!
Add Sour Cream To Boxed StroganoffDo you want to add a little zing to your Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff? Well, prepare by following the directions and, right before you serve it, add 1/2 of regular or fat-free sour cream! It makes it oh-so yummy! Yea, I know that last sentence sounded a little cheesy but, what the heck, it's true!
Add Tomato Soup To ChiliI worked in a nursing home kitchen and they always added a can of tomato soup to their chili, as the older people usually can't handle as much acid. Since then I always make mine that way as we don't like the acid either.
Use Apples to Ripen AvocadosGuacamole and chips is a traditional Mexican snack. If your avocados need to ripen quickly, put them in a paper bag with an apple.
Add Vanilla Extract To Too Hot SalsaIf your salsa is a little too hot for your taste, add a few drops of vanilla extract. It will turn down the heat.
Brownie SundaesI tried to cut brownies before they had cooled, and ended up with a crumbled-up mess. Instead of throwing it away, I added a generous spoonful of crumbles to a bowl of vanilla ice cream, topped with chocolate syrup, and called it "Brownie Sundaes".
Fixing Runny Mashed PotatoesIf your mashed potatoes are too soupy, put them over medium/low heat with the top off and let them cook for about 10 minutes. Stir potatoes often so the bottom doesn't burn.
Softening Hard CookiesSoftening Hard Cookies. Here's an outstanding tip for hard cookies. If your cookies are hard and unbearable to eat, here's a smart solution to the problem.
Softening ButterYou can soften butter quickly but putting it in the microwave for 10 seconds. If the butter is frozen, you may have to repeat this, but be careful not to microwave it for too long, it will quickly become liquid.
Cloudy or Crystallized HoneyYou can restore cloudy or crystallized honey to its original state by placing it in a pan of hot tap water. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and it will be good as new.
New Life for Wilted LettuceYou can often recover wilted lettuce by soaking it in ice cold water with a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. Place it in the fridge for about an hour and it should be much more crisp.
Soup is Too Sweet?If you make soup and it comes out too sweet, just add a little salt or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to it.
Soften Brown SugarSoften a rock-hard box of brown sugar quickly by just putting it in the microwave for 15 second or so, then check it. If it isn't soft enough, increase by 10 second intervals. Don't overdo it or you will have syrup!
Burnt Sausage RemedyIf you have burned your sausage while frying, all you have to do is add some water to the skillet and the burnt pieces will absorb into the water along with the burnt taste!
Getting Rid of Lumps in SugarTo remove lumps from a bag of sugar, seal it in a plastic bag and refrigerate it for 24 hours.
Freshening Stale BreadFreshen stale bread by brushing the top with water, wrap in foil and bake 325 degrees F for 10 min.
Mixing Peanut ButterMy daughter received a jar of peanut butter that was not homogenized and had quite a bit of oil on top. After trying unsuccessfully to mix it in by hand (with the oil spilling out over the top of the jar), I thought about my mixer.
Cure for Soggy Mashed PotatoesDry powdered milk added to soggy mashed potatoes will restore them back to perfection.
Reviving Hot FudgeI used to work at a sundae shop. We used to "revive" the hot fudge sauce that had set up, with hot coffee.
Accidently Frozen ApplesDon't throw away apples accidentally frozen with their skins on. I just recently had a bag of apples freeze when the fridge decided it needed a change. lol. I was determined not to waste them. I let them warm up just a little.
Wilted CarrotsIf you have carrots that have wilted and you want to make them fresh again, all you have to do is cut off the root ends and stick them in a tall glass of cold water overnight.
By Robin
Just wanted to say "thank you"I just want to say thank you so much for all of the quick and simple recipes that everyone submits. I care for my uncle 24/7 that lives with me. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's last year, and, depending on the kind of day he is having, I don't always have time to cook up a large meal. The recipes submitted here are quick, easy and nutritious. You guys don't know how much I appreciate you and your recipes.
Jenny in KY
More Fresh Grapes Than You Can Eat?Store some in wine in a jar and refrigerate. Then add to fresh fruit salads ... just not too many!
By Syd
Sweeten Oatmeal With JamInstead of buying flavored oatmeal, cook regular oatmeal and sweeten with jam.
By Lynn
Make Hard Cookies Soft and FreshPlace a slice of bread or the heel slice of bread on the bottom of your cookie jar to turn crunchy homemade cookies into soft fresh cookies.
Removing Excess Fat From SoupTo remove excess fat from home made vegetable beef soup (or other fatty soups) quickly dip, then remove, an ice cube or two into the soup (keep the ice cube at the surface, and do this quickly). Fat will stick to the ice cube.
Stale Danish PastryLeftover, stale danish pastry makes a great breakfast casserole. Slice and lay in a pan (can overlap if necessary). Pour over a batter of eggs, milk,vanilla and cinnamon, a french toast batter.
Crumbly BrowniesIf your cookies or brownies crumble and fall apart, don't despair! Just use them to make yummy ice cream sundaes -- put the crumbled baked goods in the bottom of a dish, top with ice cream, chocolate or caramel syrup, whipped cream, nuts -- let your imagination run wild!
By Becki in Indiana
Eating Moldy CheeseMoldy cheese is still safe to eat. Just cut away the mold.
