Ok, so I know this isn't a recipe, but I thought I would write about it anyways. I found a new site where you can watch videos and complete offers to earn gift cards and other items. This site is called Prize Rebel. You have a quick and easy sign up processes and you do not even need to provide address or phone number to do so or to redeem gift card prizes.
Each point you earn is worth 1 cent, if you looks and see that 500 points will get you a $5 gift card. So far, I have been a member for 12 days and have earned 7 dollars just by watching the videos and completing the free offers that do not use credit card or email address to complete.
This site has a lot of the same features as Swagbucks, and some offers can only be completed on one website. The upside of Prize Rebel is that there seems to be no limit to the gift card redemption as with Swagbucks. With Swagbucks you can only redeem 5 $5 Amazon cards in one month, but I can redeem as many as I want with Prize Rebel. I earn my 5 on Swagbucks and then do everything else with Prize Rebel.
To join Prize Rebel, click HERE!! Like I said, it is quick and easy!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Who doesn't like peanut butter and chocolate? (Ok, so I know a few people who do not enjoy this delectable combination, but this recipe is not written for them!) I made these cupcakes for the Craft Fair that they are holding at my local church in the morning. I always make something for them to sell when they have such events. I wanted to make something different than my usual lemon blueberry bread or pumpkin bread, so I decided to try these cupcakes. I had almost all the ingredients on hand, so I thought this would be perfect. The recipe for the peanut butter cake came from the Betty Crocker website. I used the recipe exactly, except I did not use a Betty Crocker cake mix. The chocolate icing came from allrecipes.com.
Peanut Butter Cake
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients together with a mixer. (I used low speed for 2 minutes, until all the peanut butter had incorporated into the mix).
3. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. (Honestly forgot to time them, but I'm sure the last batch cooked in less than 15 minutes).
Note:
Makes 2 dozen cupcakes
Chocolate Icing
Ingredients
1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Notes
If it seems too runny, add a little more powdered sugar until you have the consistency you need. I ended up adding about 1/4 cup more to get it stiff enough to pipe on the cup cakes. If it seems too thick, add a little milk. Just remember that a little bit can go a long way!
I garnished the top of my cupcakes with a mini Reese's cup and some mini Reese's Pieces.
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How much did this recipe cost?
Peanut Butter Cake
1 box yellow cake mix = $1.00
1/2 cup peanut butter = $.50
1/3 cup vegetable oil = $.15
3 eggs = $.42
I know that some cake mixes costs more than a dollar, but I only buy them when they are on sale for that price. Today I only paid $.79 for the box of cake mix I used. In total the cake itself costs $2.07.
Chocolate icing
1/2 cup melted butter = $.50
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder = $.88
3 cup powdered sugar = $.81
1/3 cup milk = $.08
1 teaspoon vanilla $.38
In total, the icing cost $2.65 to make.
The whole recipe, minus the garnish, cost me around $4.79. Each cupcake costs ~$.20.
Peanut Butter Cake
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients together with a mixer. (I used low speed for 2 minutes, until all the peanut butter had incorporated into the mix).
3. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean. (Honestly forgot to time them, but I'm sure the last batch cooked in less than 15 minutes).
Note:
Makes 2 dozen cupcakes
 |
| Peanut Butter Cupcakes before icing. |
Chocolate Icing
Ingredients
1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Notes
If it seems too runny, add a little more powdered sugar until you have the consistency you need. I ended up adding about 1/4 cup more to get it stiff enough to pipe on the cup cakes. If it seems too thick, add a little milk. Just remember that a little bit can go a long way!
I garnished the top of my cupcakes with a mini Reese's cup and some mini Reese's Pieces.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much did this recipe cost?
Peanut Butter Cake
1 box yellow cake mix = $1.00
1/2 cup peanut butter = $.50
1/3 cup vegetable oil = $.15
3 eggs = $.42
I know that some cake mixes costs more than a dollar, but I only buy them when they are on sale for that price. Today I only paid $.79 for the box of cake mix I used. In total the cake itself costs $2.07.
Chocolate icing
1/2 cup melted butter = $.50
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder = $.88
3 cup powdered sugar = $.81
1/3 cup milk = $.08
1 teaspoon vanilla $.38
In total, the icing cost $2.65 to make.
The whole recipe, minus the garnish, cost me around $4.79. Each cupcake costs ~$.20.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Cornbread
I love a good hot piece of cornbread, but not sweet. I do not like sweet cornbread. To me, cornbread should not taste like cake. This recipe is the one my grandmother passed down through the family. I remember the first time I tried to make cornbread. It stuck in the pan and fell all apart. My husband tried to encourage me and said it still tasted great, which it did.
Ingredients
2 cups cornmeal
2 egg
1/2 cup sweet milk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 stick butter
water
Directions
1. Mix cornmeal, milk, eggs and sugar.
2. Melt butter in an iron skillet.
3. Pour butter into other ingredients but make sure to keep the iron skillet hot.
4. Add water until the batter is fairly thin.
5. Pour the mixture into the hot iron skillet.
6. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Notes
Makes a 10 inch cake of cornbread.
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Is homemade worth it?
2 cups cornmeal= $.38
2 egg = $.28
1/2 cup sweet milk = $.12
1 teaspoon sugar = $.02
1 stick butter = $.50
One recipe of cornbread costs $1.30 to make.
I will need to visit the store to see how much a box of cornbread mix costs. I know Jiffy is pretty popular and cheap. I've never made it before so I do know what you add to make it. I'll have to do a little research next week at the store!
Ingredients
2 cups cornmeal
2 egg
1/2 cup sweet milk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 stick butter
water
Directions
1. Mix cornmeal, milk, eggs and sugar.
2. Melt butter in an iron skillet.
3. Pour butter into other ingredients but make sure to keep the iron skillet hot.
4. Add water until the batter is fairly thin.
5. Pour the mixture into the hot iron skillet.
6. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
Notes
Makes a 10 inch cake of cornbread.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
2 cups cornmeal= $.38
2 egg = $.28
1/2 cup sweet milk = $.12
1 teaspoon sugar = $.02
1 stick butter = $.50
One recipe of cornbread costs $1.30 to make.
I will need to visit the store to see how much a box of cornbread mix costs. I know Jiffy is pretty popular and cheap. I've never made it before so I do know what you add to make it. I'll have to do a little research next week at the store!
Strawberry Lemonade
So, one day I made a cake for a church auction. I have left over frozen strawberries and left over lemons from a previous baking occasion. I am not a big fan of strawberries myself, but do love a good cold strawberry lemonade. I got out a pitcher, squeezed the juice from the two lemons I had left and pureed the strawberries I had and slowly added sugar and water until I had a yummy drink.
Ingredients
juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup pureed strawberries
water
sugar to taste
Directions
1. Place lemon juice and pureed strawberries into a 1/2 gallon pitcher.
2. Fill pitcher with water.
3. Add sugar until desired sweetness is obtained. I used about 1 cup.
4. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Notes
I made this with the left overs I had and do not know if it would have tasted better with more or less lemon juice or strawberries. If anyone else tries other measurements for these items and it taste better than what the directions say, please let me know!
Ingredients
juice of 2 lemons
3/4 cup pureed strawberries
water
sugar to taste
Directions
1. Place lemon juice and pureed strawberries into a 1/2 gallon pitcher.
2. Fill pitcher with water.
3. Add sugar until desired sweetness is obtained. I used about 1 cup.
4. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Notes
I made this with the left overs I had and do not know if it would have tasted better with more or less lemon juice or strawberries. If anyone else tries other measurements for these items and it taste better than what the directions say, please let me know!
Fudge Filled Cookie Cups
So, one day I had a craving for fudge. Not just any fudge, but my grandmother's fudge icing. I also needed to make something for a pot-luck meal, and thought why not create something with this fudge icing I've been craving so much. Well, what I came up with is pictured below!
Ingredients:
Favorite cookie dough
1/2 recipe chocolate fudge icing
Directions
1. Take your cookie dough and form the dough into 1 inch balls.
2. Place the dough into a lined mini muffin tin.
3. Bake cookies (as directed) until just done, but not too done. Once out of the oven, depression will form in the center of the cookies, creating a cup like shape.
4. Fill the depression with fudge icing, about 1/2 tablespoon, depending on the size of the depression.
5. Let fudge firm up before serving.
Notes
Servings per recipe depends on the amount of dough you use. I used 1/2 a recipe form the back of a chocolate chip bag and had a lot of fudge icing left over. I made 24 cookie cups. Using 1/2 recipe of fudge, you could use a whole cookie dough recipe and still have enough icing.
Ingredients:
Favorite cookie dough
1/2 recipe chocolate fudge icing
Directions
1. Take your cookie dough and form the dough into 1 inch balls.
2. Place the dough into a lined mini muffin tin.
3. Bake cookies (as directed) until just done, but not too done. Once out of the oven, depression will form in the center of the cookies, creating a cup like shape.
4. Fill the depression with fudge icing, about 1/2 tablespoon, depending on the size of the depression.
5. Let fudge firm up before serving.
Notes
Servings per recipe depends on the amount of dough you use. I used 1/2 a recipe form the back of a chocolate chip bag and had a lot of fudge icing left over. I made 24 cookie cups. Using 1/2 recipe of fudge, you could use a whole cookie dough recipe and still have enough icing.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Chocolate Fudge Icing
This has got to be my favorite icing. I love to lick the pot when it is done and will even eat the icing plan, without any cake. It is THAT good.
Every year for my birthday when I was little, my grandmother would make me a chocolate pound cake with this icing on top. She would also fill the hole inside the pound cake with this icing. I would always scoop out some from the middle every time I got a piece of cake.
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
5 oz evaporated milk
10 large marshmallows
1 stick butter
6 oz chocolate chips
Directions
Notes
One large marshmallow = 13 mini marshmallows, so if you only have mini marshmallows you will need 130.
This recipe can also make fudge! Just place aluminum foil in a 9x9 pan. Pour the icing in the pan and set in the fridge until hardened. Cut into squares while it is cold. I would recommend storing the fudge in the fridge so that you can actually pick it up to eat. It is okay to leave it out. You will just have to eat it with a spoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does this cost?
2 cups sugar = $.50
5 oz evaporated milk = $.45
10 large marshmallows = $.45
1 stick butter = $.50
6 oz chocolate chips = $1.25
It costs $3.15 to make this recipe.
Every year for my birthday when I was little, my grandmother would make me a chocolate pound cake with this icing on top. She would also fill the hole inside the pound cake with this icing. I would always scoop out some from the middle every time I got a piece of cake.
 |
| This picture shows the icing how I like to eat it... without a cake :) |
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
5 oz evaporated milk
10 large marshmallows
1 stick butter
6 oz chocolate chips
Directions
- Bring sugar, milk and marshmallows to a boil, cook for 6 minutes. (stir constantly)
- Take off heat and add the butter and the chocolate chips.
- Let icing cool for a little while, a 2-3 minutes.
- Then, beat the icing until it looses part of its glossiness.
- Spread on your favorite cake!
Notes
One large marshmallow = 13 mini marshmallows, so if you only have mini marshmallows you will need 130.
This recipe can also make fudge! Just place aluminum foil in a 9x9 pan. Pour the icing in the pan and set in the fridge until hardened. Cut into squares while it is cold. I would recommend storing the fudge in the fridge so that you can actually pick it up to eat. It is okay to leave it out. You will just have to eat it with a spoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does this cost?
2 cups sugar = $.50
5 oz evaporated milk = $.45
10 large marshmallows = $.45
1 stick butter = $.50
6 oz chocolate chips = $1.25
It costs $3.15 to make this recipe.
Recipes that use Chocolate Fudge Icing
 |
| Fudge Filled Cookie Cups |
Fruit Loop Learning for Pre-K
So, I had this idea to also incorporate food with learning. Being a preschool teacher before I had my daughter, I incorporated food into lessons quite often. This is the first post of this kind on this blog, and I hope to add more as time goes on.
First, give each child some Fruit Loops
The following pictures will show some activities to do with the Fruit Loops.
These are just some of the activities that use Fruit Loops. When you are finished with what ever project you are working on, the kids get to enjoy a tasty snack!
Other Fruit Loop Activities:
1. Using Fruit Loops to "color" in a picture.
2. Make necklaces or bracelets
3. Use Fruit Loops to create letters
Know another activity? Please let me know and I will add it to this list!
First, give each child some Fruit Loops
The following pictures will show some activities to do with the Fruit Loops.
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| Sorting by color |
 |
| Patterns |
 |
| Counting |
 |
| Graphing |
 |
| Make your own picture |
These are just some of the activities that use Fruit Loops. When you are finished with what ever project you are working on, the kids get to enjoy a tasty snack!
Other Fruit Loop Activities:
1. Using Fruit Loops to "color" in a picture.
2. Make necklaces or bracelets
3. Use Fruit Loops to create letters
Know another activity? Please let me know and I will add it to this list!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Chicken and Rice
Chicken and Rice
Ingredients
1 cup rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chicken, shredded
1 cup veggies
Directions
- Cook rice and veggies in the chicken broth and butter until tender.
- Add chicken and stir.
- Eat hot!
One recipe feeds about 3 people.
For the chicken broth recipe, click HERE
One cup of chicken is about the amount you get off a chicken leg. I normally use dark meat for this recipe.
Make too much? Chicken and rice can be saved and heated the next day for a quick meal.
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How much does this meal cost?
1 cup rice = $.50
2 cups chicken broth = $.75
1 tablespoon butter = $.07
1 cup chicken = $.44
1 cup veggies = $.50
One recipe costs $2.26. That is less than one dollar per person if you cook this for 3 people.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Pizza Rolls
I needed an appetizer to take to take to a get together, and since I had all the ingredients to make these pizza rolls, I decided they would be best. I had never made them before, and only had seen pictures, so I was guessing on how to actually make these tasty rolls.
Pizza Rolls
Ingredients
1 recipe pizza dough
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings of choice
garlic butter
Parmesan cheese
Directions
- Take a two inch ball of dough and flatten it out to about 4 inches in diameter. Make sure all the dough is pretty even. A then area of dough will result in an exploded roll when it is cooked.
- Cover the middle of the roll with sauce, leaving an inch all the way around.
- Pile the cheese and toppings onto the sauce, but make sure the total amount of toppings is no more than a Tablespoon or two.
- Bring the edges together over the toppings and pinch them together. You may need to twist the dough to get it to seal.
- Place the roll seam side down on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 400 degrees until dough is done.
- Brush the tops with garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. You can add some more mozzarella as well.
Notes
One recipe of pizza rolls makes 15 rolls.
For the pizza dough recipe, click HERE.
For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE.
For the tomato sauce recipe, click HERE.
You can also fill these rolls with variations, like ham and cheese, Philly cheese steak, and just about any hot sandwich type idea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1 recipe pizza dough = $.94
1 cup tomato sauce = $.83
1 cup mozzarella cheese = $1.00
garlic butter = $.55
One recipe costs $3.32. Keep in mind the cost of pizza toppings. It will increase the price depending on the toppings you use. The use of the Parmesan will increase the cost some as well, but the amount you will use is so small, unless you really like Parmesan, that the cost would only amount to a few pennies. You will also not need a whole recipe of garlic butter.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Granola Bars
I love granola bars, but they are always so expensive in the store. I received this recipe in a mailer from Kroger about 2 years ago when they were doing their "Kid Approved Snacks" campaign. I saw this and tried it and fell in love with this recipe! This particular picture shows some I made for St. Patrick's Day. I used orange and green m&ms and used dark chocolate chips.
Granola Bars
Ingredients
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup of peanut butter
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Directions
Make 16 rectangular bars.
You can make just about any kind of granola bar that you want. Just substitute the 3/4 cup of chocolate chips for anything you like. Just make sure whatever it is, it is only 3/4 a cup.
Peanut Allergy? Just substitute the 1/2 cup of peanut butter for 1/2 cup softened butter. The taste will be slightly different but the bars will still turn out great!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
2 cups quick-cooking oats = $.92
1/2 cup brown sugar = $.215
1/2 cup honey = $1.50
1/2 cup of peanut butter = $.278
3/4 cup chocolate chips = $.937
One recipe costs $3.85, so one granola bar = $.24.
Normally when I buy granola bars, I buy Nature Valley. They costs $3 for 6 bars. That is $.50 per bar, which is more than double the price of making them homemade.
The price of the Quaker Oats granola bars are very comparable to these. At around $2 a box for 8 bars, you would pay $.25 per bar. The size of the Quaker Oats granola bars is significantly smaller than the homemade ones.
Summery
Nature Valley Granola Bars = $.50
Quaker Oats Granola Bars = $.25
Homemade Granola Bars = $.24
Keep in mind the cost of making these will change if you substitute something different for the chocolate chips, or if you purchase any ingredients on sale.
Dried Fruit/Nuts
Marshmallows
Marshmallows and chocolate chips
Sunflower seeds
M&Ms
Reeses Pieces
I will add pictures as I make each variety. I have liked every kind I have tried!
Granola Bars
Ingredients
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup of peanut butter
3/4 cup chocolate chips
Directions
- Line a 9x13 in pan with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Mix all ingredients together and press into the pan
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before cutting.
- Store in air-tight container.
Make 16 rectangular bars.
You can make just about any kind of granola bar that you want. Just substitute the 3/4 cup of chocolate chips for anything you like. Just make sure whatever it is, it is only 3/4 a cup.
Peanut Allergy? Just substitute the 1/2 cup of peanut butter for 1/2 cup softened butter. The taste will be slightly different but the bars will still turn out great!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
2 cups quick-cooking oats = $.92
1/2 cup brown sugar = $.215
1/2 cup honey = $1.50
1/2 cup of peanut butter = $.278
3/4 cup chocolate chips = $.937
One recipe costs $3.85, so one granola bar = $.24.
Normally when I buy granola bars, I buy Nature Valley. They costs $3 for 6 bars. That is $.50 per bar, which is more than double the price of making them homemade.
The price of the Quaker Oats granola bars are very comparable to these. At around $2 a box for 8 bars, you would pay $.25 per bar. The size of the Quaker Oats granola bars is significantly smaller than the homemade ones.
Summery
Nature Valley Granola Bars = $.50
Quaker Oats Granola Bars = $.25
Homemade Granola Bars = $.24
Keep in mind the cost of making these will change if you substitute something different for the chocolate chips, or if you purchase any ingredients on sale.
Granola Bar Ideas
Peanut butter and chocolate chipsDried Fruit/Nuts
Marshmallows
Marshmallows and chocolate chips
Sunflower seeds
M&Ms
Reeses Pieces
I will add pictures as I make each variety. I have liked every kind I have tried!
Pork Rub
In my home, we eat pork at least once a week. Mostly fried pork chops. I love those things! It is one of the few meats my daughter will eat, with chicken being the other one.
This pork rub recipe is one my husband found, but I have no idea where. We first put it on a pork roast that we turned into bar-b-que and, let me tell you, it was the best pulled pork we have every had! To me, it did not even need sauce! Since then, I have seasoned all of my pork chops with this rub.
Pork Rub
Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup salt
3 Tablespoons paprika
1 Tablespoon garlic
1 teaspoon thyme
Directions
One recipe is enough to coat generously a 4 pound pork roast with a little left over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1/3 cup sugar = $.08
1/3 cup salt = $.12
3 Tablespoons paprika = $.13
1 Tablespoon garlic = $.09
1 teaspoon thyme = $.39
One recipe of pork rub costs $.81. This is much cheaper than buying a rub at the store!
This pork rub recipe is one my husband found, but I have no idea where. We first put it on a pork roast that we turned into bar-b-que and, let me tell you, it was the best pulled pork we have every had! To me, it did not even need sauce! Since then, I have seasoned all of my pork chops with this rub.
Pork Rub
Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup salt
3 Tablespoons paprika
1 Tablespoon garlic
1 teaspoon thyme
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Store in an air tight container.
One recipe is enough to coat generously a 4 pound pork roast with a little left over.
How much does it cost?
1/3 cup sugar = $.08
1/3 cup salt = $.12
3 Tablespoons paprika = $.13
1 Tablespoon garlic = $.09
1 teaspoon thyme = $.39
One recipe of pork rub costs $.81. This is much cheaper than buying a rub at the store!
Recipes that use pork rub
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| Fried Pork Chop Bites |
Friday, March 21, 2014
Strawberry Cake
This strawberry cake recipe is one I got from my grandmother and has been a family favorite ever since I was little. If you like strawberries, then this is the cake for you!
Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
¾ cup oil
3 oz pkg strawberry Jello
4 eggs
8 oz frozen strawberries
½ cup water
Directions
You can use any icing you want. This time I used my grandmother's strawberry butter cream icing recipe. You can also use a strawberry cream cheese icing or even a chocolate icing.
Save the other 1/2 of the strawberries for the icing if you are making a strawberry flavored icing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1 box white cake mix = $1.50
¾ cup oil = $.33
3 oz pkg strawberry Jello = $.79
4 eggs = $.56
½ large pkg frozen strawberries = $2.50
This cake costs $5.69 to make.
Strawberry Cake
Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
¾ cup oil
3 oz pkg strawberry Jello
4 eggs
8 oz frozen strawberries
½ cup water
Directions
- Beat Jello, cake mix, oil and water in a mixer until smooth.
- Add eggs and mix well.
- Mash strawberries (have the strawberries at room temperature) and fold them into the batter.
- Grease and flour 3 round cake pans and evenly divide the batter.
- Bake at 350 degrees for10-15 minutes or until cake just pulls from the side of the pan.
You can use any icing you want. This time I used my grandmother's strawberry butter cream icing recipe. You can also use a strawberry cream cheese icing or even a chocolate icing.
Save the other 1/2 of the strawberries for the icing if you are making a strawberry flavored icing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1 box white cake mix = $1.50
¾ cup oil = $.33
3 oz pkg strawberry Jello = $.79
4 eggs = $.56
½ large pkg frozen strawberries = $2.50
This cake costs $5.69 to make.
Strawberry Butter Cream Icing
Originally created to top a strawberry cake, it can work just as well on a vanilla cake or a chocolate cake.
Strawberry Butter Cream Icing
Ingredients
8 oz frozen strawberries
1 stick room temperature butter
1 lb powdered sugar
Directions
If your icing gets too runny, just add some more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more juice.
Makes enough to ice a 3 layer cake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
8 oz frozen strawberries = $2.50
1 stick room temperature butter $.50
1 lb powdered sugar = $1.00
One recipe costs $4.00.
Strawberry Butter Cream Icing
Ingredients
8 oz frozen strawberries
1 stick room temperature butter
1 lb powdered sugar
Directions
- Warm strawberries, or have them at room temperature. Drain the juice but save it!
- Beat butter, powdered sugar and strawberries together.
- Slowly add the strawberry juice until you get the right consistancy.
If your icing gets too runny, just add some more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more juice.
Makes enough to ice a 3 layer cake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
8 oz frozen strawberries = $2.50
1 stick room temperature butter $.50
1 lb powdered sugar = $1.00
One recipe costs $4.00.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite foods. I do not get to cook it very often as I have a husband and daughter who wont eat it. (The husband doesn't like cheddar cheese and the daughter won't because she is very picky about the kinds of noodles she will eat. I think it is a visual thing for her! -- She will eat the boxed kind all day long, but wont even touch a freshly baked homemade macaroni and cheese.
The above recipe is one that has been handed down threw my family. My grandmother makes it and so does my dad, using basically the same recipe. There is a story behind this recipe that my grandmother likes to tell. My grandfather did not eat macaroni and cheese when he and my grandmother married. She cooked it and he ate it, but he didn't really care for it. When my grandmother had her kids, she had a young lady that would come help her out. She would not eat the macaroni and cheese either. My grandfather looked at the young lady on day as they sat down to dinner and told her, "You better eat it. She'll keep putting it in front of you until you do!"
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
2 cups noodles
1/2 pound cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
10 plain crackers
1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
You can make this ahead of time and set in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. You may need to add more milk as the noodles will soak some of it up.
You can use any kind of cheese you like. The one above was mostly sharp cheddar with a little bit of Mexican blend cheese that I had left from a taco night.
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Is homemade worth it?
2 cups noodles = $.50
1/2 pound cheese = $2.99
2 eggs = $.28
1/2 cup milk = $.13
10 plain crackers = $.25
1/2 stick butter = $.25
salt and pepper = $.01
In total, this mac-n-cheese costs $4.41. I feed 5 people with the above mac-n-cheese and had enough left over for 3 more servings. My father ate two servings. So, in total, this made 9 servings. So, one serving costs $.49.
You can buy a box of Kraft mac-n-cheese for $1.25. You have to add milk and butter to this to make it. So you will add $.10 for the milk and $.06 for the butter. I can feed 2-3 people off of this as a side. So, one serving costs $.45 if you assume 3 people are eating.
Summery
Homemade mac-n-cheese = $.49
Kraft mac-n-cheese = $.45
So it is still cheaper to eat out of the blue box... but homemade is SO much better! And, if you are like me and get a box of noodles for $.19 with coupons and the cheese on sale for $1 off, then homemade would be cheaper!
The above recipe is one that has been handed down threw my family. My grandmother makes it and so does my dad, using basically the same recipe. There is a story behind this recipe that my grandmother likes to tell. My grandfather did not eat macaroni and cheese when he and my grandmother married. She cooked it and he ate it, but he didn't really care for it. When my grandmother had her kids, she had a young lady that would come help her out. She would not eat the macaroni and cheese either. My grandfather looked at the young lady on day as they sat down to dinner and told her, "You better eat it. She'll keep putting it in front of you until you do!"
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
2 cups noodles
1/2 pound cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
10 plain crackers
1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Boil noodles until just done. Drain.
- While noodles cook, mix eggs, milk and crackers together.
- Add butter and melt it into the noodles.
- Slowly add egg mixture.
- Add cheese, leave a little aside to sprinkle over the top, and stir to melt cheese slightly.
- Pour all into a greased pan and add a little cheese onto the top.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
You can make this ahead of time and set in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. You may need to add more milk as the noodles will soak some of it up.
You can use any kind of cheese you like. The one above was mostly sharp cheddar with a little bit of Mexican blend cheese that I had left from a taco night.
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Is homemade worth it?
2 cups noodles = $.50
1/2 pound cheese = $2.99
2 eggs = $.28
1/2 cup milk = $.13
10 plain crackers = $.25
1/2 stick butter = $.25
salt and pepper = $.01
In total, this mac-n-cheese costs $4.41. I feed 5 people with the above mac-n-cheese and had enough left over for 3 more servings. My father ate two servings. So, in total, this made 9 servings. So, one serving costs $.49.
You can buy a box of Kraft mac-n-cheese for $1.25. You have to add milk and butter to this to make it. So you will add $.10 for the milk and $.06 for the butter. I can feed 2-3 people off of this as a side. So, one serving costs $.45 if you assume 3 people are eating.
Summery
Homemade mac-n-cheese = $.49
Kraft mac-n-cheese = $.45
So it is still cheaper to eat out of the blue box... but homemade is SO much better! And, if you are like me and get a box of noodles for $.19 with coupons and the cheese on sale for $1 off, then homemade would be cheaper!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Chicken and Rice Casserole
This is another dish I never ate growing up. My father did not eat it, so my mother did not cook it. This casserole is one of my husband's favorites. I do not cook it often as it takes a lot of time. I usually only make it when I have left over rice and chicken already cooked.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
2 chicken breast cooked and chopped
2 cups cooked rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ small onion chopped fine
½ Tablespoon butter
Crushed potato chips
Directions
For added flavor to the dish, cook the rice in the chicken broth made by cooking the chicken breast.
One recipe will feed 6 people easily.
You can make this ahead of time and refrigerate. Allow for 45 minutes to an hour cook time if you do so.
The chips will get soggy if left covered after cooked. To make them crispy again, stick back in a heated oven for a few minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
2 chicken breast cooked and chopped = $1.00
2 cups cooked rice = $1.00
1 can cream of mushroom soup = $1.00
½ small onion chopped fine = $.30
½ Tablespoon butter = $.03
Crushed potato chips = $1.00
One recipe costs $4.33. This makes this meal cost less than $1 per person!
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
2 chicken breast cooked and chopped
2 cups cooked rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ small onion chopped fine
½ Tablespoon butter
Crushed potato chips
Directions
- Saute the onion in a small amount of butter.
- Mix chicken, rice, soup and onion and pour in a greased casserole dish.
- Put chips on top.
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
For added flavor to the dish, cook the rice in the chicken broth made by cooking the chicken breast.
One recipe will feed 6 people easily.
You can make this ahead of time and refrigerate. Allow for 45 minutes to an hour cook time if you do so.
The chips will get soggy if left covered after cooked. To make them crispy again, stick back in a heated oven for a few minutes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
2 chicken breast cooked and chopped = $1.00
2 cups cooked rice = $1.00
1 can cream of mushroom soup = $1.00
½ small onion chopped fine = $.30
½ Tablespoon butter = $.03
Crushed potato chips = $1.00
One recipe costs $4.33. This makes this meal cost less than $1 per person!
Pizza Hot Pockets
This recipe can be used with a variety of fillings to make your very own homemade hot pockets.
Hot Pockets
Ingredients
1 recipe pizza dough
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
favorite pizza toppings
garlic butter
Directions
Make sure any meat toppings are fully cooked before you wrap them in the dough. They will not be in the oven long enough to cook thoroughly if they are left raw.
For the pizza dough recipe, click HERE.
For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE.
For the tomato sauce recipe, click HERE.
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Is homemade worth it?
1 recipe pizza dough = $.94
1 cup tomato sauce = $.83
1 cup mozzarella cheese = $1.00
garlic butter = $.55
One recipe costs $3.32. Keep in mind the cost of pizza toppings. It will increase the price depending on the toppings you use. You will also not need a whole recipe of garlic butter.
One hot pocket costs $.55 plus what ever toppings you put inside.
A box of 2 hot pockets in the store cost $2.99 so one hot pocket costs $1.50.
Ham and Cheese - Place a slice of cheese and top it with 3-4 thin slices of ham. Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed above. Use plain melted butter instead of garlic butter
.
Philly Cheese Steak - Cook ground beef (you can also use thin steak strips, but using the ground beef keeps it tender), onion, peppers and mushrooms if desired. Place a slice of Swiss cheese on the dough and top with 2-3 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture. Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed.
Have any variation ideas? Let me know and I will add them here!
Hot Pockets
Ingredients
1 recipe pizza dough
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese
favorite pizza toppings
garlic butter
Directions
- Divide dough into six even pieces.
- Stretch dough into a 5-6 inch circles about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on each circle, leaving 1/2 inch all away around the edge.
- Sprinkle cheese and toppings on top of the sauce.
- Fold like a burrito and seal all the sides by pinching the dough together.
- Place on baking sheet seam side down and brush with garlic butter.
- Let dough rise 30 minutes to one hour.
- Bake at 450 degrees for10 minutes or until the tops become golden brown.
- Let cool 5 minutes before moving.
Make sure any meat toppings are fully cooked before you wrap them in the dough. They will not be in the oven long enough to cook thoroughly if they are left raw.
For the pizza dough recipe, click HERE.
For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE.
For the tomato sauce recipe, click HERE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
1 recipe pizza dough = $.94
1 cup tomato sauce = $.83
1 cup mozzarella cheese = $1.00
garlic butter = $.55
One recipe costs $3.32. Keep in mind the cost of pizza toppings. It will increase the price depending on the toppings you use. You will also not need a whole recipe of garlic butter.
One hot pocket costs $.55 plus what ever toppings you put inside.
A box of 2 hot pockets in the store cost $2.99 so one hot pocket costs $1.50.
Hot Pocket Variation Ideas
(pictures to come as I make them!)
Ham and Cheese - Place a slice of cheese and top it with 3-4 thin slices of ham. Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed above. Use plain melted butter instead of garlic butter
.
Philly Cheese Steak - Cook ground beef (you can also use thin steak strips, but using the ground beef keeps it tender), onion, peppers and mushrooms if desired. Place a slice of Swiss cheese on the dough and top with 2-3 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture. Wrap like a burrito and bake as directed.
Have any variation ideas? Let me know and I will add them here!
Bread Sticks
So, I had a little bit of extra pizza dough and decided to try making bread sticks out of it. The below picture is a result. If anyone has an easier way to make out the dough to look like bread sticks besides rolling it in my hands like a play-doh snake, please let me know!
Bread Sticks
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons canola oil
3 cups all purpose flour
garlic butter
Directions
You can also roll or dust with Parmesan cheese after the garlic butter for a different flavor.
The recipe above is the same recipe used to make pizza dough.
For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1 pkg active dry yeast = $.38
1 Tablespoon honey = $.20
2 teaspoon salt = $.01
2 Tablespoons canola oil = $.05
3 cups all purpose flour = $.30
garlic butter = $.55
So this recipe cost $1.49.
I included the cost for a full recipe of garlic butter, but you should not need it all unless you really want garlicky bread sticks!
Bread Sticks
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons canola oil
3 cups all purpose flour
garlic butter
Directions
- Combine water, yeast and honey in a mixing bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes or until yeast is frothy.
- Add 1 cup of flour, salt and oil to the mixture and stir until smooth.
- Add the rest of the flour slowly, stirring well after each addition. You may not need all the flour.
- Once the dough can be touched without sticking to your hands, then begin kneading. If using a stand mixer, knead or 6 minutes. If by hand, knead for 10.
- Oil bowl and top of dough.
- Let rise until double, 1-2 hours.
- Divide dough into 16 dough balls and shape each into a snake like shape about 4-5 inches long.
- Place on baking sheet and let rise for 30 minutes to one hour.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn brown.
- Brush with melted garlic butter.
You can also roll or dust with Parmesan cheese after the garlic butter for a different flavor.
The recipe above is the same recipe used to make pizza dough.
For the garlic butter recipe, click HERE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much does it cost?
1 pkg active dry yeast = $.38
1 Tablespoon honey = $.20
2 teaspoon salt = $.01
2 Tablespoons canola oil = $.05
3 cups all purpose flour = $.30
garlic butter = $.55
So this recipe cost $1.49.
I included the cost for a full recipe of garlic butter, but you should not need it all unless you really want garlicky bread sticks!
Monday, March 10, 2014
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup is just one of those foods that I never liked out of a can. The texture of the noodles, carrots and chicken was never appealing. I never really ate it until I started making it myself. I created this recipe myself, using my experiments with chicken broth and knowing the basic concept of what chicken noodle soup was. The only thing I omit from this soup that is traditionally found in chicken noodle soup is celery chunks. I do not care to bite into them, but I like the flavor they add, so I put celery salt in the broth to make up for it. You most certainly can add celery if you so wish, but just omit the celery salt from the broth when you make it.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup chicken, shredded
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
2 cups egg noodles
Directions
Notes
This recipe makes enough for 4 people.
To find the chicken broth recipe, click HERE
I do not normally measure my noodles. I just put 2-3 handfuls in. It is roughly 2 cups of noodles. I have small hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
2 cups chicken broth = $.75
1/2 cup carrots = $.25
2 cups egg noodles = $.45
I have omitted the cost of the shredded chicken since the cost of the chicken is calculated in the cost of the broth.
This recipe costs $1.45 to make. Keep in mind it makes 4 servings, so 1 serving costs $.36.
You will pay $1.00 or more for one serving of canned chicken noodle soup at the store, so homemade is definitely cheaper!
Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup chicken, shredded
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
2 cups egg noodles
Directions
- Combine broth and water in a pot on the stove and put on medium heat.
- Add the chicken and carrots and let them sit in the water until it begins to bubble lightly.
- Add the noodles and allow them to cook until done. This time will vary depending on how large your noodles are.
- Once noodles are done, it is ready to serve!
Notes
This recipe makes enough for 4 people.
To find the chicken broth recipe, click HERE
I do not normally measure my noodles. I just put 2-3 handfuls in. It is roughly 2 cups of noodles. I have small hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
2 cups chicken broth = $.75
1/2 cup carrots = $.25
2 cups egg noodles = $.45
I have omitted the cost of the shredded chicken since the cost of the chicken is calculated in the cost of the broth.
This recipe costs $1.45 to make. Keep in mind it makes 4 servings, so 1 serving costs $.36.
You will pay $1.00 or more for one serving of canned chicken noodle soup at the store, so homemade is definitely cheaper!
Meat Balls
Meat Balls
Ingredients
1 lb group beef
1 egg
1/2 onion chopped
¼ cup milk
3 slices loaf bread crumbled
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together well. Form into small balls, about 1 inch round.
- Brown the balls very quickly in a small amount of oil.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup and 1 soup can full of water.
- Cover and cook for 45 minutes on a slow simmer.
One recipe makes 24-30 meatballs depending on how big you make them.
Meatballs go great over rice, mashed potatoes and noodles!
Have ground venison? It works just as well as beef in this recipe. Just swap one pound of beef for one pound of ground venison and continue as directed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is homemade worth it?
1 lb group beef = $3.99
1 egg = $.14
1/2 onion chopped = $.40
¼ cup milk = $.06
3 slices loaf bread crumbled = $.19
1 can cream of mushroom soup = $1.00
One recipe costs $5.78.
I have never bought frozen meatballs before so I have no idea how much a package costs or how many are in a package, so I will have to look next time we go to the store.
Congo Bars
I always describe this recipe as a giant chocolate chip cookie. It is one of my favorite recipes that my grandmother makes when we come to visit. She brought a large container full of these delightful desserts when she came a few weeks ago.
Congo Bars
Ingredients
2/3 cup butter
1 lb light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 2/3 cup self rising flour
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
This recipe makes 36 squares.
They are best fresh. If they start to get hard, just stick a bar in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it soft again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much do these cost?
2/3 cup butter $.66
1 lb light brown sugar = $1.00
3 eggs = $.42
2 2/3 cup self rising flour = $.27
1 cup chopped pecans = $1.33
1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips = $1.25
Pecans are about $6 a pound, so one pound = 16 ounces and 1 cup is 3.5 ounces so there are approx 4.5 cups in each pound. So, one cup = $1.33.
This recipe costs $4.93 to make.
Congo Bars
Ingredients
2/3 cup butter
1 lb light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 2/3 cup self rising flour
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat over to 350 degrees.
- In a large sauce pan melt butter.
- Mix the brown sugar with the margarine, cool slightly.
- Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
- Add flour, mix well.
- Add chocolate chip and nuts, mix well.
- Grease and flour a 10X15X2 pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
This recipe makes 36 squares.
They are best fresh. If they start to get hard, just stick a bar in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it soft again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How much do these cost?
2/3 cup butter $.66
1 lb light brown sugar = $1.00
3 eggs = $.42
2 2/3 cup self rising flour = $.27
1 cup chopped pecans = $1.33
1 pkg (6oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips = $1.25
Pecans are about $6 a pound, so one pound = 16 ounces and 1 cup is 3.5 ounces so there are approx 4.5 cups in each pound. So, one cup = $1.33.
This recipe costs $4.93 to make.
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