Make Your Own Mushroom Powder
To Sue, thank you for figuring out the price of making your own mushroom powder. But she does state that we should do this when the mushrooms are cheap. I find them quite often for 59 cents a package at Aldi. This reduces the cost dramatically. From my calculations...
Filipino Lumpia Wrappers
Thank you! This recipe will come in very handy. Home made egg rolls are the very best!
Homemade Citrus Sports Drink
Kudos! One of my anatomy and physiology professors in college told us that spending money on those sports drinks is a big waste, you can get the same benefit from orange juice. It is a lot cheaper, and doesnt have all that added sugar. I think most people drink...
Make Your Own Flour Tortillas
Homemade flour tortillas are so good! They are worth the trouble. If you make them, you wont want store bought again. Homemade taste better, the texture is better, they fold better - they are just a lot better!
Strawberry-Vanilla Shortcakes
Oh, this sounds like heaven! I had to vote for this recipe - thank you for sharing!
Kentucky Cornbread Salad
When I read the name of this recipe, I wondered what it could be like. Well, it sounds really good! I can almost taste all those flavors in combination - gotta try it! Thank you for sharing it.
Cucumbers and Cream
This is a very intriguing recipe - I am just going to have to try it. Its different than the cucumbers in sour cream recipes Ive seen, sounds a lot better.
Add Dehydrated Powdered Vegetables to Recipes
Great idea! Thank you very much for posting it. I currently buy a dehydrated veggie mix with many veggies in it, all finely chopped. It even has parsnips and greens in it, along with the usuals, like onions. I add it to all sorts of things, since I get it real...
Add Dehydrated Powdered Vegetables to Recipes
Great idea! Thank you very much for posting it. I currently buy a dehydrated veggie mix with many veggies in it, all finely chopped. It even has parsnips and greens in it, along with the usuals, like onions. I add it to all sorts of things, since I get it real...
Vi's Vegetable Beef Soup
This sounds a lot like what I make, so I know it is great! I am happy to be the first to vote for this yummy stew.
Crunchy Veggie Sandwiches
These sandwiches sound really good, so healthy and crunchy too. You come up with the best recipes, and such a nice variety too!
Amish Oatmeal Cake
Julia, this is a winner! With the raisins and dark brown sugar (I just add some molasses with the sugar) it sounds so delicious! And yarnlady, the bananas sound real good too. This cake could be very versatile, spices could be added, or chopped peaches, coconut...
Amish Oatmeal Cake
I just had to say a little more. I am glad you didnt frost it, since this sounds just right all on its own. I would love it for breakfast. And I am thinking of it with fresh fruit over the top for breakfast, what a fine meal!
Homemade Soup Noodles
This is my kind of recipe! I have old recipes calling for a piece of butter the size of an egg and things like that. They are more like formulas than recipes, but they sure do work. I am going to try your recipe, which is just a little different than my mothers...
Hawaiian Black Bean & Rice
Wow, thank you for sharing this recipe - it sounds wonderful. I will be making this soon!
Hawaiian Black Bean & Rice
This sounds delicious! I love beans and rice. I make it in several ways, but none like this! What a great flavor combination!
Goulash Soup
Oh, I looked at the other goulash recipes on here, and this one sounds best. I am going to try it tomorrow with the addition of sour cream, and serve it over noodles. Thank you for posting it!
Goulash Soup
Hi, Robin. I tried this recipe for Goulash today, and we just loved it! I really enjoyed your use of spices. I have not cooked much with caraway, and the combination of caraway, paprika, and marjoram, with a touch of crushed red pepper, was really good. I made...
Chinese Food Tips
Soy sauce and 5 spice powder are essentials also. You can make a wonderful meal using ginger, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce and 5 spice. Mmm.
Keeping Cross-Stitching Hoop Tight
Can you describe how you do this? Do you put the rubber band on before you put the top ring on, or after?
Making Your Own Butter
If you make enough butter to keep, its important to wash the butter. When it is in a clump, but it in a bowl of ice water and, using quick, light motions, massage the butter. It will taste better and last longer.
Dandelion Greens?
Dandelion greens are very nutritious, and so good, you can buy seeds to grow special varieties. They are very good. Pick them before they blossom, and wash very well in several changes of water. Break them up, and put them in salads, or cook them like you would...
Cleaning Steam Iron of Calcium Deposits?
My mother would set it in a thin layer of white vinegar and let it soak overnight. This always worked for her.
Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots
My mother would just cut the green onions about a half inch above the ground. The onions would grow back very easily.
Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots
Yes, you can do the same with broccoli. You wont get a full head, but you will get a lot of side shoots, and they can easily add up to a full meal. If your season is long enough, you might get enough for a meal a few times. Just remember that broccoli is a...
My Frugal Life: ThriftyFun Family
My family was toxic also, so I had to move past them. Now I dont know why I let them hurt me for so long. I am 55, and just now starting to really admit how much they hurt me. And I am determined to let it all go. I like to have good people in my life. So add...
Recipes Using Fresh Tarragon?
One of my favorite ways is very simple. I use it as a filling for an omelet, as a topping on steaks, or just chow down on a bowl of sauteed mushrooms (very low-cal). Use your favorite mushroom - I like portobello, or just plain buttons. Saute a little onion...
Looking for Pear Honey or Jam Recipes?
My favorite jam of all is Vanilla Pear Jam. Its amazing, and tastes like summer. Make sure you have fully ripe, sweet, flavorful pears. 4 c. peeled, finely chopped pears 1/4 c plus 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 teaspoons pure vanilla 1 (1 3/4 ou...
Make A Draining And Drying Frame
This is a great idea. Itll make the job a lot quicker and easier. I bet you could use it to dehydrate things in the sun, too. It would go faster because the air circulation would be so good. Thank you for posting!
How to Tell When Oil is Ready for Frying
This is a great idea. I will have to pass it along to my daughter. You have my vote!
Are There Tomatoes That are Green When Ripe?
There are several varieties of green tomatoes, and some of them are, as you found out, delicious. I grew an adopted tomato this year, so I dont know the variety, but it was lime green with faint spots of deeper green, and had notes of apple flavor. But there...
Canning Homemade Barbecue Sauce?
Hi. Do you have any experience with canning? If you do, ignore my response, since Im assuming you dont. Its really important to know exactly what you are doing. This is for safety, but its also thrifty, since, if you do things wrong, you can lose a whole batch...
Use Hand Sanitizer to Clean Glasses
I have plain lenses with no coatings on them. I have been cleaning the lenses with pretty much anything that is convenient for over 2 years now. There are no scratches. Maybe paper towels can scratch the coatings on glasses, but I dont see how they could scratch...
Sante Fe Burritos
Yum! These sound really good, and easy too. Your recipe is making my mouth water! Thank you for posting it.
Easy, Inexpensive and Quick Recipes?
Hi, and welcome to America. I think it is so brave to move to another country! The first meal I thought of was cabbage and noodles. Its hard to describe the taste. I think its delicious. The meat is savory (I like to use breakfast sausage, and I like Bob Evans...
Storing or Canning Homemade Hot Sauce?
It is easiest to use a recipe from a reliable source on cannng. Carrots have to be pressure canned unless they are pickled with the right amount of vinegar or citrus juice. Fresh limes might not have the proper level of acid. Its safest to use bottled lime...
Bourbon Pecan Tart with Chocolate Drizzle
Wow, I was thinking that this pie sounded awfully good and then I read about the chocolate! Oh boy! Pecan pie with bourbon and chocolate this is on my Christmas menu! You have my vote!
Recipe for Frozen Donut Horn Cookies?
Thank you for the recipes. They sound good. My Mom wasnt Hungarian. She was Scotch-Irish. The dough definitely used a cake of yeast. She kept it refrigerated, taking out enough for about a dozen cookies at a time. She would roll it out fairly thin, fill them...
Training Fruit Trees to Form Hedges?
I have seen this in Mother Earth magazine, and I believe they have good instructions on their website, possibly in the archives. Its a wonderful technique Id love to try myself, once I own my own land. It is attractive, and can really save a lot of space. If...
Selecting a Tomato for Canning?
I like Roma, and Amish paste. My neighbor grows a paste tomato that is just as good as these, but has much superior flavor. But she saves her seeds and grows her own plants, and all she can remember about these is that they are Polish. Im thinking of trying...
Reviews of Stove Top Waffle Irons?
I will have to look and see if this one is cast iron. What Im hoping is that they make the waffles nice and crispy on the outside, and light and tender on the inside. Id like to use it for camping also. Thank you for your advice.
Homemade Shake and Bake for Pork?
There are some good recipes in the Thrifty Fun index. Here is mine: 1 1/4 cup flour 1 3/4 cup bread, cornflake, or cracker crumbs 2 tablespoons brown sugar, do not pack 2 tablespoons herbs of choice (I like a nice mix of herbs. Paprika, garlic and onion powder...
Can You Fix Sweaters That Have Shrunk?
I dont think you can stretch it back out, unless it shrank just a tiny bit. Hot water felts wool. About all you can do is give it to someone smaller. you could felt it down more by putting it in a hot wash load with a few other things. Then you have a thick...
Asparagus with Essence of Hollandaise
Wow, how could anyone vote thumbs down on this one? It sounds so good, its easy, and it saves a lot of calories!
Uses for Leftover Bread?
My mother would butter it, cube it, and put it in stewed tomatoes, with a touch of sugar. She would stir it in lightly when the tomatoes were hot and bubbly. It was actually real good. You can do this with fried apples, too. For stuffing mix, put the dried...
Will a Systemic Weedkiller Harm Other Garden Plants?
Im not sure about flowers, but it will kill vegetable plants. If it doesnt kill them, it is still taken up into the plant when it rains. I wouldnt eat any veggies grown anywhere near this, even if you plant them months/years later. But even if you dont have...
Orange-Pecan-Raisin Cake
Oh, this cake just sounds so good!! I voted for it, and I am going to have to make it. Mmmm, orange cake with pecans and raisins, and a lovely syrup - I know Ill love it, and my family will too. Thank you for posting it.
My Frugal Life: Find Out How Great You Are
Thank you everyone for your wonderful responses. I just hate seeing so many women and girls who put themselves down constantly! Or they feel that their only worth is in their looks. Wow, how many girls put all their efforts into clothes, hair, make-up, and...
Shortening Tomato Plants
Good tip for small spaces. But be careful not to do this until the plant is as tall as you want, because this will stop its growth. If you have a tomato plant in a pot, try putting some tall bamboo from the garden section, or even thin, long, fairly straight...
Homemade Yogurt, Greek Yogurt, and Yo-Cheese
Hi; You had a question about the kind of milk to use. I recommended non-homogenized milk. This milk is safe because it is pasteurized. Pasteurization heats the milk so hot it kills all the bacteria, and makes it safe. Homogenizing the milk is where they alter...
Adult Child in a Toxic Relationship is Very Demanding of Time?
Thank you for all the advice. So much of it is really good. The problem is, Ive tried pretty much all of it at one time or another. I know I cant influence her to leave him, Ive given up on that. I guess my real problem is that I feel guilty for not wanting...
Craft: Tulip Afghan
This is really beautiful. You do really good work, and you chose wonderful colors! Where did you get the pattern? Did you block it? This is something that will be passed down the generations. Kudos.
Whole Wheat Pancake Mix in a Jar
These are the best of two worlds - yummy and healthy! Thank you for posting this, Kerly87. You have my vote.
Don't Pour Grease Down The Drain
Youre right, this is an environmental issue. Grease gets poured down the drain and enters the sewer system, where is solidifies and catches on protrusions. It then catches other debris in the sewers, and can even plug sewers up. Then it ends up in the water...
Crochet Hook Holder
Thank you for the suggestions, Julia! I hadnt thought of using pin backs for the flowers, but Ill be heading to Michaels to get some. I hadnt thought about selling the holders, either, but I do have a lot of fabric remnants...hmm. You have so many good ideas...
Birdseed from Dollar General?
Hi. Have you tried asking the manager of that store where they bought the seed? They should have records and, if the manager is smart, they might even be willing to start getting the good stuff again. Good Luck. I know it can be really hard to find bird seed...
Crispy Crunchy Corn Chips
Hi, Elaine; I have never refrigerated it, but I bet it would be a good way to make the dough easily manageable. Ill have to give it a try. Suziq9, I think the ranch mix would be delicious. I already shake it onto popcorn instead of salt and butter. As always...
Thawing Frozen Bread
Well, a really good hint, since all my bread is from the Entemanns Outlet store! This will be really useful for me. I also like Keepers hint to double bag the bread. Thank you, ladies!
Jumpsuit From Old T-Shirt
I wish that I could sew! This is the epitome of thriftiness. You repurposed the shirt, you made something very useful and it looks great! You are very talented. You have my vote!
Keeping Milk Fresh
Thank you for another good suggestion. I wish we could still get real milk like you talk about, the unhomogenized, unpasteurized, real thing.
Kiddie Pool As Cooler
Great idea, Julia! Itll cut down on trips in/out of the house, and make the food safer too. And Sandie, I just bought a pool for our dog Moby. Hes gotten older, and the heat is starting to bother him. This got my vote!
All-American Style Potato Salad
Sounds really good, and the sauce sounds yummy! I love potato salad, and like trying different versions. I like the addition of the fresh parsley for flavor and nutrients. I also like the use of red onion for the color and taste. Thank you for posting this...
Controlling Insects on Corn?
Check out http://www.motherearthnews.com/ and check their archives. If you are talking about the worms that tend to get in at the top and eat the tip of the ear, many people swear by putting a little mineral oil on the silks when they start showing.
Homemade Vegetable Trellises?
A good resource for ideas is http://www.motherearthnews.com/ . Look in their archives for trellises and other kinds of plant supports. They will give you instructions plus photos for many different kinds, from plain to fancy.
Tinkerbell (Calico Cat)
Thank you for posting this! Its a really good story, the kind that gives the rest of us hope for good things. What a wonderful cat, with a wonderful owner.
Tinkerbell (Calico Cat)
Thank you for posting this! Its a really good story, the kind that gives the rest of us hope for good things. What a wonderful cat, with a wonderful owner. It got my vote.
Keep Dishes Cold Outside
Wow, I would never have thought of this! What a good idea, you keep the bowl chilled for a long while, and use the ice you froze in the bowl for other things. I like it!
Getting Help for a Contested Divorce?
I wish so much that I could help you in some way, but I dont know of any place that helps women. I will pray for you, and I know that many people on TF will. Maybe there will be a lawyer on TF who can at least give you some advice. Where do you live? The local...
Mockingbird
We have known for a long time that crows are very intelligent birds. Researchers are proving that they are smarter than we ever dreamed, with intelligence approaching that of dolphins. In a controlled experiment, they exposed crows to scary stimuli (a man in...
Feta Avocado Spread
Oh, that sandwich sounds really great! Roast beef, avocados, sprouts, and all the rest. I want your sandwich and Julia from Boca Ratons veggie soup for dinner this week!
Feta Avocado Spread
Oh, that sandwich sounds really great! Roast beef, avocados, sprouts, and all the rest - I want your sandwich and Julia from Boca Ratons veggie soup for dinner this week!
Beef Teriyaki
I love teriyaki too. This is a really good recipe on a few different levels, yummy, easy, colorful, and frugal, too. Add some rice or noodles, and you have a great meal. Thank you for posting it!
Julia's Macaroni Salad
This is a great mix of taste, texture, and color. I, too, love the olives in it. This isnt the usual limp veggies, pasta, and Italian dressing. This would really go well with sandwiches, make them into a special meal.
Fresh Summer Vegetable Soup with Pasta
Mmmm! this sounds hearty and so healthy! I can just taste it with dumplings or corn bread, or just a rustic, crusty bread. Thank you, Julia.
Fourth of July Coffee Cake
Oh, this does sound yummy! I love that it is a coconut cake with a tunnel nuts and spices in the middle! I have everything but the nuts, so I might just try it with extra spice filling to replace them. I just have to find my bundt cake pan! Everyone will love...
Herby's Angel Biscuits
I used to make Angel Biscuits from a very similar recipe, they might even be identical. I lost the recipe, and never found one quite as good, so thank you! These are just the best biscuits, kind of like the ones you buy in the refrigerator section at the grocery...
Herby's Angel Biscuits
I used to make Angel Biscuits from a very similar recipe, they might even be identical. I lost the recipe, and never found one quite as good, so thank you! These are just the best biscuits, kind of like the ones you buy in the refrigerator section at the grocery...
Storing/Freezing Mass Quantities of Carrots?
You can also dehydrate carrots. I do this, and they are great to add to soups and stews. I have a dehydrator, but I am sure you can dry them in the oven, too. There are a lot of sites on line that will tell you about drying them, and there may even be info...
Fried Green Tomatoes
I love the idea of using bacon drippings. They will add so much good flavor. I have always used bread crumbs, but a mixture of cornmeal and flour sounds really good.
Marsha's Pepper Steak
I love Asian food, and make it a lot, but Ive never made pepper steak. I will use this recipe and give it a try. Thank you!
Sweet Pepper Garlic and Cayenne Sauce with Linguini
Oh, this sounds so good, Deeli! It sounds easy and so delicious. I voted for this even though I have recipes in the contest, lol!
Hush Puppies
Yup, another winner! I like them onion and some chili powder. Ive never heard of them made with tomato juice either, sounds good to me.
Arizona Mountain Soup
This recipe got my vote too! It sounds so good, a real complete meal. I agree with Pookarina, a nice salad, some crusty bread, and you have a seriously good meal. There are a lot of good recipes this time! Thank you for this one.
Mother's Chicken Salad
This sounds so delicious, and just perfect for me. Keeper, I like your suggestion about adding grapes. I just love grapes in a salad. There are a lot of good recipes on here today - a lot of good meals. I am voting for this, even though I have a recipe in contention...
Best Time for Watering Plants and Trees?
A lot of people have a lot of theories about this. I cant help but think that it doesnt really matter, so long as they get enough water and not too much. Mother Nature waters them any time of the day or night.
Remedies for Sinus Pain?
The upset stomach combined with a severe headache could possibly indicate a migraine headache. When I get a migraine, the pain is very bad, I am sensitive to light and sound, and I get very nauseated. I dont see an aura or any other visual disturbance - a lot...
Thrifty Water Bottle Cozy
Now this is true frugality, and truly green. You use your own water bottle, keeping a lot of the disposable ones out of landfills. You use your own water, which saves quite a bit, especially over time. Its better than that impulsive purchase out of the store...
Salmon Patties
Hi, Anne, sorry I omitted the size of the can. I use the 14.7 or 14.5 oz cans, not either or, I just cant remember how many fractions of an ounce! Barb
Citrus Peels Keeping Kitties Out of Your Garden Area
Thank you for this tip. Our neighbor feeds 14 feral cats. (She is responsible and had them all fixed this year). While I love seeing these beautiful animals, I dont love it when they dig in my garden. This gives me an easy and eco-friendly option for this problem...
Caring For Newborn Kittens
Oh dear, it makes me want a kitten or a puppy so that I can take care of it! This is wonderful, Julia, and I am sure it will save many a little, furry life. Thank you.
Wrap Grapefruit In Newspaper
Another good hint, Julia! I will be sure to use this the next time I find good grapefruit. Hmm, maybe I should grab a few today.
Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Mmm, this sounds, and looks, delicious! Quinoa is so nutritious, and so good. It makes an excellent substitute for cous cous when making tabbouli. I think I could eat your salad for breakfast, lunch, and dinner too!
Homemade Birdseed Wreath
Thank you for this craft! I love watching the birds at our feeders, and I know they will love this. It should attract a lot of woodpeckers, which is always a treat. You got my vote!
Vegie Piklets
Oh, these sound so good! What a wonderful way to make veggies delicious for children - and adults. You have my vote, even though I intend to enter the contest. But this is just too good, I cant help voting for it. Thank you so much. I am making these this week...
Freezing Onions?
You can freeze just about anything that will be cooked when you thaw it. Like Binkylou says, they are great to have on hand. The best way is to chop them the way you want them, then spread them out on a baking sheet and freeze them like that. When they are...
Soft, Silky Hair
This is really good information. You have just saved a lot of us a lot of money! You got my vote - thank you.
Canning Blackberry Salsa?
Well, Ive made salsas with pineapple, raspberry, mango, and strawberry, and water bath canned them all. They have all turned out real well. I cant recall seeing a recipe for blackberry salsa. Try looking on Food.com, or in the Ball book. I would see how long...
Dallas (Pomeranian)
The little sweetie is already starting to be more playful! I think he is getting used to it here, and realizing that this is his forever home, and that its pretty sweet here. His Mommy loved him a lot, but with two little children in the house, didnt have the...
Pork Chops in Onion and Beer Sauce
To tjgreene; the chops turn out tender like in a stew. The flour on them holds the flavor in, and thickens the gravy a bit as well. If you make them, I hope you like them as much as I do.
