Egg TortillasMaking your own egg tortillas is easy and they make a pleasant change from wheat or corn. They are also useful if you are on a diet.
Crispy Rice Peanut Butter CookiesThis is a good recipe for using up leftover rice cereal, such as Special K or Rice Krispies. I've been making it since the late 60s.
Using Leftovers for BreakfastLast night, we enjoyed Thai takeout and we had some leftovers. Although we could have used it for lunch, there wasn't very much left. I decided to make a hearty breakfast instead. I heated the leftovers up in a pan and then scrambled eggs in the mixture. The resulting dish was the perfect start to the day and was enjoyed by the whole family.
Cook Lentils with Brown RiceOrganic brown rice has been a staple for my family all my adult life. In the last few years, I have been enjoying small brown Spanish lentils for soup and stew. Recently I tried adding these lentils to my long grain brown rice before cooking.
I found that using 1 part lentils to 4 parts rice was perfect. Not only do they cook in the same pot, it tastes great, and helps complete the protein of my meal.
Converting Family Recipes for 1 - 2 peopleIf you are like me, you have a lot of recipes for larger families. Then people move out, get divorced or even die and you are left with only one or two people in the home. Or you may be just starting out on your own or with a new spouse and you find very few recipes for one or two people but hundreds for larger families.
Making Perfect Poached EggsI find poached eggs to be such a lovely treat. So soft and delicate, yet perfectly cooked. No hard bits, no over-fried edges. Just a pillow of love.
BBQ Sauce as MarinadeIf you didn't already know, BBQ sauce can be used as a marinade too! Super easy and effortless and turns out just as delicious.
Organizing Recipes This Coming FallThis is more a bit of information, a reality check if you will, rather than a tip. But then, should this post prompt you to buy the gadget of which it speaks, it could, loosely, be called a tip.
Underline Unique Recipe IngredientsWhen I save my recipes in my files, I like to underline ingredients I commonly don't keep in my cupboard. It saves me time if I can quickly see what I will need to buy. I won't start a recipe just to discover I can't complete it due to an important missing ingredient.
Cold Brewed CoffeeThis coffee is mellower and less acid than hot brewed. You don't need a special machine to make it. Mix 1 ounce (a little less than 3 tsp.) coarsely ground coffee beans with 8 ounces cold water in an airtight container like a mason jar. Refrigerate 12 to 24 hours. Strain through a filter and drink hot or iced. Compost the filter and grinds.
Tasty Protein MashI need to avoid potatoes due to my diabetes and my blood-type diet. So I've been searching for an alternative. I thought about this the other day when craving some comfort food. I didn't have a lot of food in but I did have some cans of pinto beans. Here's how I made this tasty mash.
Look for SNAP or WIC RecipesIf you Google "SNAP recipes" or "WIC recipes" you will get many sources of delicious recipes with high nutritional value, and all of them are inexpensive. Both are government programs that have guidelines on what foods are acceptable to be eligible. Some items are whole grain breads, peanut butter, milk, eggs and chicken. You will not see soda pop or chips on the list of allowed foods!
Making Thin Sugar CookiesThis is a quick and easy way to make thin, crispy, sugar cookies. Instead of rolling them out and cutting them, I use a fork dipped in powdered sugar. I pat them down on a warm cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Butter Pam.
Ice Cream Sandwiches with Blackberry SauceI recently made a bunch of blackberry sauce for using on ice cream and waffles. My son decided to put some on his ice cream sandwich and it was amazing! He also added a few fresh raspberries. Give it a try. :)
Marinating and Freezing MeatOn shopping day before you freeze all your meat, you can marinate it using heavy duty freezer bags.
Easter Chocolate Dipped PeepsI took Marshmallow Peeps, melted a bag of chocolate chip in a double boiler then dipped the lower half of each Peep in the chocolate and arranged them on a tray! My grandchildren will love them. Now this was easy and fun.
Quick and Easy Poached EggsFill a pot half way with water and bring to a boil. Spray the inside of a baggie with cooking spray and break one or more eggs into the baggie. Squeeze out most of the air while zipping the baggie closed. Drop the baggie into the pot of water reducing heat to medium/low and cover. I cooked two eggs for 5 minutes but increase/decrease time according to number of eggs being poached. The baggie allows for a good visual check during cooking. When the eggs are done, remove the baggie from the water using tongs. Open baggie carefully - contents will be hot - and simply pour the eggs out. No more stringy whites clinging to the inside of the pot!
Tadpoles in the HoleIf a family member adores pepperoni, why not make them a customised version of Toad in the Hole? Oil a baking dish, line with rows of pepperoni slices, then pour on your usual batter and bake. Turn batter portions upside down to serve.
Prevent Bitter TeaTea is better if it's made by the sun, bringing water to a boil on the stove creates 'bitter' tea. And sun tea does not necessarily mean that it has to sit in the sun. Tea bags will make tea sitting on the counter or in the fridge, it just takes time.
Add Fruit to Ice CubesI drink a lot of plain water but instead of adding ice, I freeze cubed watermelon or other fruits. Add to drinks for a festive, flavorful and colorful drink. Great way to help kids drink healthier too!
Homemade Iced Coffee CubesI refuse to pay for ice coffees that are filled with ice and you are only getting 1/4 of coffee in your cup. Call me "frugal". Yes, I am frugal! :)
Making 'Brute Fresh' CoffeeMost perfumes are a blend of scents. One of these scents is perceived by the brain before the others. This one scent is called 'the top note'. Coffee has a top note, as well. It is delicate and lasts for only a few minutes. Most of it is destroyed during the boiling stage of brewing.
Reuse Paprika Container for Black...I have found that getting black pepper out of a paprika container is much easier than using the pepper shaker I keep on the stove top. Instead of going shake - shake - shake - shake - shake - shake, I just go sprinkle - sprinkle, and I'm done.
Baked "Hardboiled" EggsI'll never boil eggs again! I found a recipe online for baked eggs and it's just too simple to ever bother with watching a pot again.
Candy Trees with NestsUsing chow mein noodles, chocolate and some jelly beans you can make really cute and yummy place settings or centerpiece for your Easter or springtime table.
Thickening Soups Without Gluten or DairyI have discovered that fat free coffee creamer is gluten and lactose free. I use coffee creamer as a substitute for cream or milk in my chowders and any soups calling for dairy. Cook a little extra potato, puree them in the blender and add the puree with the creamer to thicken your soup. No flour needed.
Creamy Cook and Serve PuddingWhen I make chocolate pudding, I always get the kind you must cook on the stove. The small box calls for two cups milk, but I use 1 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 cup of half and half. This makes it extremely creamy and delicious.
Pumpkin Icing with Flavored CreamerThis would be great to ice a pumpkin bread, muffins, cakes etc. When making your icing;
Recycling Aging Veggies or SaladsKnow how we chop off ends of veggies or ditch salads or refrigerator veggies that are less than fresh looking but still good? Well, if you don't freeze them for future soup, consider juicing them now in your food processor or blender.
Grandma's Pie InventionMy grandkids are the pickiest eaters imaginable and getting them to eat breakfast is a frustrating chore. I came up with a breakfast meal that's nutritious, tasty and fun to prepare. They call it Grandma's Pie Invention and now they ask for it when they come to visit.
Autumn PotatoesAutumn warming potatoes. Pep up a plain spud with a little fire!
Mix Up Common Spice BlendsI always have garlic powder, onion powder and lemon pepper on my fried potatoes. It occurred to me today to mix them up in equal parts and put them in their own shaker. This is pretty much what I do with cinnamon and nutmeg for my Chai tea, so why not!
Use a Can for Baking Extra BatterIf you have some extra batter when making things like banana or zucchini breads, wash out a used soup or vegetable can. Spray with nonstick spray and fill 2/3 full with batter.
Hot Thighs Better than Hot WingsBuy a family pack of chicken thighs. Slice a 1/2 inch filet from each side of thigh, leaving the bone-in piece. This yields three finger-dipping size of meaty pieces.
Brown Paper Bags for Healthy Microwave PopcornStore bought microwave popcorn unfortunately is not "health food", mainly because of the artificial butter flavoring. If you are concerned about that, you will want to make your own healthy microwave popcorn at a fraction of the price!
Cherry Crisp in a JarHere is another pie in a jar I made. I love how cute the pie looks in the jar. They are the perfect serving size and they can be stored in the freezer before baking.
Homemade Garlic SaltSo easy! Combine three parts salt to one part garlic powder to create garlic salt. Store it in a jar. I use small canning jars.
Homemade Chili SeasoningI make my own chili seasoning and keep it in a Parmesan cheese container. The container has an easy opening to put your spoon in and it also has a holes for shaking in a little more, if needed.
Making Slider PattiesHere is an easy way to form mini patties for making sliders.
Frozen Banana Ice CreamFrozen fruit that is blended makes an excellent ice cream. If you like, you can add a dollop of pure maple syrup on top. The ice cream tastes just as good without it.
Bachelor SpaghettiThey who can't cook, open cans. For this recipe, I open a can of 'Chili W/Beans'. I think one brand would be just as good as another.
Add Cinnamon for Delicious Baked BeansFor your favorite baked bean recipe add cinnamon. Usually 2 teaspoons is enough. Everyone has their own preference. Make sure your bean recipe also uses brown sugar. Oh my, will you be pleasantly surprised. So good.
Mini Doughnut SnowmenThese cute little snowmen are super quick to make and would be a great treat for a party.
Refreshing Spearmint WaterSeveral years ago, I was at a spa. Upon arrival, I was served an ice-cold glass of water. The water tasted different and I asked the attendant what was in it.
Easiest Gingerbread Man Reindeer CookiesGet more bang out of your gingerbread buck by simply turning the men upside down and decorating as a reindeer! Use other common holiday candies as decoration.
Whole Blueberry Water Pops for the FreezerWe have been eating those yummy jello cups you can buy at the grocery store that come in multi-packs. I have been reusing the little cups to make ice pops
Cutting in Butter or Shortening for BiscuitsIt took me about 50 years to discover the "secret" to nice flaky biscuits. When the recipe tells you to cut the butter into the flour, I have "my way" which makes the recipe almost a never fail.
Mini-Sub SandwichesPlain sandwiches can get boring: Bring a mini sub instead! I like to get the packages of mini bolo loaves (or you can use dinner rolls) in the bakery section of the grocery store. I slice them in half like hamburger buns.
Easy Salad DressingsAll you need to make French dressing, put ketchup in the mayo or salad dressing and mix for the taste you like. Or use mayo or salad dressing, add mustard, and ketchup for Thousand Island dressing. For this one, you can put sweet pickle relish or any other herb or onions or hard boiled eggs, if you like. Sometimes, I just use plain salad dressing or mayo on the salad. I put it on just before serving the salad. You can also mix oil and vinegar, with herbs and garlic, if you want to make a nice Italian dressing.
Better Boxed Yellow CakeMy grandson only likes yellow cake, so I buy a 9 oz. box of yellow Jiffy cake mix. I follow the instructions, plus I add 1 Tbsp. of butter and 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract.
Ice Cream ToppingsAny dish that uses caramel in it can be made extra wonderful by the use of caramel corn sprinkled on top of a dollop of Cool Whip whipped topping.
Reducing Sugar and Salt in Instant OatmealFor extra convenience, I often have instant oatmeal. However I don't care for the added salt and sugar so I just take a sieve and sift it out. It still tastes great and I get the nutrition without the additives.
Nutribullet ShakesWe have "cheated" a bit in my household. We add some low carb ice cream and skim milk to make absolutely delicious shakes, as well as our blasts. Our son needs a little more bulk, so we load him up.
Flavorful Mashed PotatoesTo make your mashed potatoes taste really good, and different, try adding a couple of tablespoons of vegetable or chip dip to them along with some butter and milk, and whipping them with your electric mixer.
Healthy Tuna SandwichTo make a healthy tuna salad sandwich add 1 can of tuna, salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp of light cream cheese instead of mayo. Then put it on your favorite low fat or wheat bread.
Add Ramen Noodles to Canned SoupWe love canned chicken noodle soup but always seem to have more broth than noodles. My husband got the idea to add ramen noodles to the soup and it satisfies the desire for more noodles and makes a nice lunch.
Bacon Broccoli RamenRamen noodles can be the start of many delicious quick meals.
Cook Eggs in a Ring of Green PepperYou cut green pepper into rings, and then put in a buttered skillet. Crack the egg into the pepper ring and cook it this way.
Homemade Liquid SmokeMake your own liquid smoke. Build a smoldering fire. Wait until the starter fuel used is ALL burned away, then add a Bundt cake pan to the top of the chiminea.
Add Veggies To RamenMy husband and I make "must-go" ramen frequently. Little bits of this and that get tossed into the water to cook and once everything is tender, we stir in the noodles and flavor packet.
1-1-1 Dump CakeIngredients
Hot Chicken Salad CasseroleThis is a great casserole! I love the water chestnuts, egg, and the potato chips topping it. Very, very good!
Low Fat Grilled Cheese SandwichesInstead of using fat, such as butter or margarine, I use non stick cooking spray. Take 2 pieces of wheat bread and spray both sides with a non stick cooking spray. Place them in a skillet.
Frozen Jello Fruit PopsI saw a photograph of this in an online search. I think this is a wonderful way to get children eating more fruit and I can make these with sugar-free Jelly granules as I am a diabetic.
Six Minute JelloPut one small box of any flavored gelatin into a blender. Add 1 cup of boiling water and blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Add 1-1/2 cup crushed ice and blend on high speed for 30 seconds. Pour into a small bowl and set in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. This dessert treat tastes like sherbet.
Cooking with Low or No SaltWe try to watch all labels on each item. It takes getting used to, but it's so much better for you and you feel so much better! Trying not to eat out as much is the first thing, but if you do, try to go to places that have printed information.
Ham CasseroleGreat recipe to use up some of the leftover Easter ham!
Classic Baked HamI wanted to share my mom's classic baked ham recipe. We used to have this every Easter when I was growing up. I have never tasted better!
How to Pour a Black and TanThe black and tan is a perfect drink to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day, but it's also a refreshing treat any time of year.
Making Fruit KabobsI made these fruit kabobs for my daughter's birthday party. They were so easy to make and were a big hit at the party.
Grilled Provolone Instead Of Bacon In BLTCraving a BLT and no bacon in the fridge? Doctor says, "cut the bacon from you diet?" Gone vegetarian? Tummy can't handle the additives in bacon?
Quick and Healthy SoupFor a quick soup, pour V8 Seasoned Vegetable Juice (low sodium) into bowl. Place in microwave and heat on High for 2 1/2 minutes. Serve with wholegrain crackers or buns.
No Carb Flax BreadWhen you are craving carbs, this bread satisfies it! (without taking in carbs!)
Coloured Sugar CubesI saw a good idea to make coloured pink heart sugar cubes. I am having a baby shower for my son and decided to make blue sugar cubes, since they're having a boy. It's a good idea for Valentine's day or parties in general.
Cheesy BreadFast, and simple. Great as a snack for kids and adults alike. Try adding it as a side to soup or spaghetti dinners.
Last Minute Christmas CookiesHere it is almost Christmas, and you don't have those dreaded cut-out cookies done yet? Easy. Go to The Dollar Store, and buy some packages of plain sugar cookies. Shake off the sugar and frost them. Now you have instant cut-outs and who is to know the difference?
No More Grainy FudgeI make fudge for a living. What I do is melt cooking chocolate first, then take it off the stove and pour in the can of condensed milk. Don't panic if it starts to thicken too much, just put it back over the heat and beat it as fast as you can with a wooden spoon.
Mackerel or Salmon PattiesMy mom used to make these regularly when I was growing up. Love these! Very simple and not expensive to make.
Make Non-Dairy Pudding with ProbioticsFor a yogurt alternative, try making a non-dairy pudding (Look it up online. The recipe should only take about 5 minutes). Cool it in fridge, then add a powdered probiotic, blend in about a 1/2 to 1 tsp per cooled pudding batch.
Thanksgiving Leftover BowlWondering what to do with all the leftovers from your Thanksgiving feast? This is a real family favorite, kind of a home version of KFC's mashed potato bowls.
Season Ham with BeerI buy any sort of ham that my butcher will slice and tie for us, returning it in the original packing. If necessary, I beg. This is a must to make the whole process as simple as possible.
Fannie Farmer CookbooksI have a lot of cookbooks and, even though I don't often use a cookbook anymore, I always keep my copies of "The Fannie Farmer Cookbook" and "The Fannie Farmer Baking Book" on hand.
Peanut Butter Banana SushiMake your kids a fun and healthy sushi snack. They can even join in on the fun while making it!
Homemade Tartar SauceMix 2 Tbsp. of mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. of dill relish and 1 - 1/4 tsp. of mustard together.
Homemade Potato ChipsBefore you slice the potatoes into thin slices, scrub them well, but don't peel them. The peel gives them a different taste and texture than the store bought chips. They are so much tastier!
Granola Yogurt ParfaitThis wonderful granola recipe is great in a yogurt parfait. It has been tweaked to yummy perfection! Serve over vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit.
Creative Jam IdeasToday I did not have enough crab apple juice to make the jelly I wanted, so I took blackberries, squeezed them with my hands to get the juice and combined the two to get the proper amount required.
Toasting Coconut in the MicrowaveThere many recipes that call for toasted coconut. It is easy to toast your own coconut at home in the microwave. Just follow these simple instructions:
Easy And Fast ApplesauceI lived for years near a northern California apple cider and apple juice bottler. My mom would always make apple butter and applesauce when the apples were brought in from harvesting.
Fig DumplingsI had trimmed the crust to fit the pie tray, and had quite a lot of pastry left.
Easy Caramel Apple DipThis will make caramel for dipping apples. It is simple and safe. Take a 15 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk and put it on a rack or a towel in your crock pot.
Sweet Pickles from DillsVery easy recipe!
Syrup Fudge BrowniesSo good and chocolatey!
Use Short Grained "Pudding" Rice For RisottoArborio or carnaroli rice, the kinds that cookbooks recommend for making risotto, are extremely expensive. I always use ordinary short-grained white rice which is much, much cheaper, the kind called "pudding rice" in Britain as that's what it's generally used for.
Summer Energy Saving TipsMy most effective energy saver is using the foil like car windshield visors. I cut them to fit my windows (foil side out), and taped up. The cost out of pocket is about 6 bucks.
Turning Water into WineYou will need one pound of sugar, one gallon of water, and a 1/4th packet of regular yeast. Heat water in a pot till boiling and add sugar to melt, then pour in a gallon jug, such as clean milk container or other kind of jar.
7-Up Fruit SaladOne of my favorite salads.
Fourth Of July Apple PieOn the 4th, a friend brought over this Apple Pie, hot from the oven. How special for us. We had no plans for the 4th holiday as everyone was here for Memorial Day.
Low Calorie LemonadeSuper refreshing!
Cooking Corn on the CobIf you are boiling your corn on the cob, be sure you add the corn after the water has come to full rolling boil, to which you have NOT added any salt. Instead of adding salt, add a teaspoon of sugar to the water.
Italian-Style Spaghetti SquashRemove seeds from squash. Place squash, cut side down, in microwave safe dish. Add water. Cover and microwave on 100% power for 10-14 minutes or until pulp can just be pierced with a fork.
Bacon Cheese FriesCook French fries according to package directions. Place fries on a broiler-proof dish or platter. Sprinkle with cheese, onions and bacon. Broil for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.
