WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

(THE ONLY TIP THAT I HAVE IS TO NOT USE A PAN UNDERNEATH YOUR RACK.)

THESE ARE SO FUN AND EASY!

DH SAID THEY WERE BETTER THAN STORE-BOUGHT!

THEY ARE NICE AND LIGHT-AND DELICIOUS!

ANOTHER GREAT RECIPE FROM TAMMY'S!http://tammysrecipes.com/whole_wheat_pita_pockets

FOCACCIA-bread

1 CUP WARM WATER

1 1/2 CUPS PLAIN FLOUR

1 1/2 WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

2T MILK POWDER

3 1/2 T SUGAR

1 t SALT

3 T BUTTER

1 1/2 t YEAST

TOP:

OLIVE OIL

PARMESAN CHEESE

ROSEMARY

OREGANO

GARLIC POWDER

DIRECTIONS:

You can use your dough cycle on your bread machine for this one or mix and knead by hand or stand mixer. Make soft dough and place in greased bowl and cover until doubled.

Punch down and roll out into a large rectangle and place in a lightly (olive) oiled 15x10 jelly roll pan. ( I used a round pan too and sliced like pizza.) Press out in the pan and cover and allow to rise for 20 to 30 minutes.

Brush on olive oil, sprinkle on Parmesan, rosemary, oregano, and garlic powder. Bake at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes, and nicely browned. Serve warm.

(This is a slightly modified recipe from a bread machine book.)

HEFTY BAGELS!

BAGELS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AROUND HERE---especially when I'm making them, hee hee hee! I USE MY HOMEMADE WHOLE WHEAT BREAD RECIPE, FOUND AT THIS LINK: http://momsfrugal.blogspot.com/2008/01/homemade-whole-wheat-bread.html

(ALL WHEAT FLOUR)

AND I USE TAMMY'S EASY BAGEL INSTRUCTIONS FOUND AT THIS LINK:

http://tammysrecipes.com/homemade_bagels

(IF YOU USE MY RECIPE, YOU WILL ONLY NEED HALF THE DOUGH TO MAKE THE NUMBER OF BAGELS IN TAMMY'S RECIPE AND YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH DOUGH LEFT TO BAKE A LOAF OF BREAD!----OR YOU CAN DO WHAT I DID HERE AND MAKE DIFFERENT KINDS OF BAGELS.)

BEAN WITH TURKEY BACON SOUP

1 16 OZ BAG OF WHITE BEANS (RINSED, SORTED, SOAKED, AND COOKED FOR 1 1/2 HOURS)

1 PACKAGE OF TURKEY BACON CUT INTO SMALL PIECES, COOKED

1 MEDIUM ONION CHOPPED

1/4 CUP GREEN PEPPERS, CHOPPED

4 STALKS OF CELERY, CHOPPED FINELY

4 CARROTS, CHOPPED FINE OR SHREDDED

2 TEASPOONS GARLIC

1 CAN OF TOMATO PASTE

SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

LIGHT, TASTY, AND MAKES ENOUGH FOR SEVERAL MEALS!

TOTAL COST PER POT: UNDER $4!

MAKES APPROX 20 BOWLS OF SOUP.

SERVED HERE WITH COUNTRY CORNBREAD!

YUMMY MEATLOAF

1 pound ground beef

1 pound of ground turkey

1 can tomato soup

2 3/4 cup oats

1/4 cup ground flax (opt)

1/2 cup leftover refired beans (opt)

3 T Worcestershire sauce

2 eggs, beaten well

1 medium chopped onion

1/2 t basil

2 t garlic

salt and pepper

Baked at 400 for 1 hour and 15 minutes in a 9 3/4 x 9 3/4 baking dish.

I'm not usually a big meat eater but I couldn't resist this one.

The last 15 minutes, I spread ketchup across and sprinkle with garlic powder.

*Served here with cabbage, oven potatoes, and seasoned green beans.

DONUT-wannabes

These are basically a biscuit with a few adjustments. They are a little like a cake donut in taste but in texture, more dry like a biscuit. (I used part wheat flour too.)

They use butter in the place of shortening and have 1/2 cup of sugar and cinnamon and nutmeg.

They also use a little extra baking powder.

The glaze is 2 cups of powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and a couple of table spoons of water; just enough to whip up into a thick glaze.

You bake like a biscuit and glaze like a donut! Light and easy- not 'great' but the kiddos enjoyed them, even asking for for more. They liked them with a nice hot cup of tea.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES on the light side!

This is another idea for prepackaged food.

I used a regular chocolate cake mix with only egg whites, applesauce, and water for the liquids. I also added 1/3 cup ground flax and a tablespoon or two more water. The egg whites and flax really make these light and spongy!

The icing is 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of black cocoa, 1 1/2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and just enough water to make it creamy,

The icing must be used quickly as it will set up quickly!

No oil- no butter-great treat!

MOM'S LITTLE KITCHEN HELPER

Here's my one and only girl helping me in the kitchen, scrubbing up the squash.

Most of the time she helps quite willingly, depends on what all of her brothers are doing!

I let her know how much that I need her help and how much that I appreciate her help and explain how important it is for girls to learn their way around the kitchen. She pretty much accepts this as her special spot and has taken occasion to almost get offended when I had her brothers do things that she knows how to do such as make homemade frozen pops. Yikes!

The other night she wanted me to help her do something and it was very late and she should have been sleeping but her final -winning- plea came out: "Mom if you will, I will help you in the kitchen tomorrow for forty hours!"

Needless to say, I could not pass that deal up! ;-)

BTW, my little sweet pea is wearing a homemade dress made from free fabric from my bartering friend and she also has a homemade headband on!

FRIENDSHIP BREAD

SO YUMMY!

I've enjoyed playing with this bread very much.

I have used oats in the place of some of the flour, I have used all wheat sometimes, added nuts, discovered that you can add veggies like zucchini and pumpkin, used applesauce instead of oil, discovered you can use nuts and fruits, even used oat bran and wheat bran, .......like I said, I have had all sorts of fun! I just wanted to thank some of you for helping me along with ideas and to encourage others of you to be creative with your batter! It's almost impossible to mess it up!

HOMEMADE DISHWASHER DETERGENT

PLEASE SEE THE FOLLWING LINK IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING YOUR OWN DISHWASHER POWDER.

FRIENDS FROM MY OWN AREA, LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND THE WASHING SODA SOMEWHERE LOCALLY! OTHERWISE I THINK I WILL ORDER IT FROM AMAZON.COM SINCE YOU CAN MAKE THIS AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT OUT OF IT FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST OF STORE BOUGHT!

HERE'S THE LINK TO MINIMALIST MOMMY: http://minimalistmommy.blogspot.com/2008/03/homemade-scrubbing-bubbles.html

THANKS MIN-MOM FOR A GREAT FRUGAL IDEA!

MUSTARD POTATOES

Scrub potatoes, and cube as many as you need for your family.

In large bag, mix:

1/3 cup olive oil, 

1/2 cup mustard, 

dash of cayenne, 

1t all-purpose seasoning like Essence or Lawry's, etc, 

2 teaspoons of basil and/or parsley, 

and any other seasonings that you might like.

Mix all well in the corner of the bag and toss in your potatoes and shake.

Pour into sprayed 9x13, or the size that you need. Bake at 425 for 40 minutes or until golden.

***********************

For more In Season Potato Recipes, visit Tammy's Recipes!

leftover ROAST makes great BEEF STEW

Cook a cup of pearled barley for about 30 minutes in 2 cups of water.

Toss in:

4sliced carrots,

3diced potatoes,

1chopped onion,

2 T garlic,

1 turnip diced,

1 cup of peas or so (leftover),

and shred your leftover roast and add your drippings, removing fat.

Top pot with water, and toss in any extra seasonings such as;

rosemary,

bay leaves,

Worcestershire sauce,

pepper- red or black,

etc.

Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

Tip:

I do this after the roast meal, while cleaning up the kitchen so it will be ready for the next day!

SAUTEED SQUASH-quick and easy

You will often see squash in my pictures of main dishes so I thought I would tell you how I fix it!

Also, squash is usually cheap in these parts and it keeps really well in the fridge.

I simply wash and slice it, right into my cast iron skillet; you see yellow crookneck squash here and zucchini. I also slice in onions and peppers, here you see green peppers and purple onions.

I drizzle some olive oil over these beauties and toss until they reach desired doneness. Salt and pepper.

Sometimes for more of a Southern touch, I will sprinkle coarse yellow cornmeal over them and it's almost like the deep-fried kind.

And it only takes about 10-12 minutes from start to finish!

THRIFTY ADVENTURES

DH found this treasure for $8 at a Thrift/Consignment Store this week! You can't help but stare at it and be reminded to be thankful for daily bread!

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE THRIFTY TALES!

http://minimalistmommy.blogspot.com/

WHEAT BERRY SOUP and AMISH WHITE BREAD

THIS SOUP WAS SO GOOD! IT IS ANOTHER ONE OF TAMMY'S --AND THE RECIPE CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://tammysrecipes.com/wheat_berry_soup

THE BREAD IS LIKEWISE ONE OF HER'S AND CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://tammysrecipes.com/amish_white_bread

MY FAMILY GOBBLED UP THIS BREAD IN MINUTES!

A BIG THANKS TO TAMMY FOR THE RECIPES!

SHERRIED TURKEY

3 TO 4 CUPS LEFTOVER CHOPPED TURKEY

1 16OZ PACKAGE OF FROZEN BROCOLLI

1/4 CUP BUTTER

1/3 CUP SHERRY COOKING WINE

1 T WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1 CUP BROTH

1/2 CUP MILK

1/4 CUP FLOUR

1/3 CUP PARMESAN CHEESE

SALT AND PEPPER

COOK BROCCOLI UNTIL TENDER. TOSS TURKEY IN WITH BROCCOLI IN CASSEROLE DISH.

WITH BUTTER, FLOUR, MILK, SHERRY, WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE, AND BROTH; MAKE A CREAM SAUCE. SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE. POUR OVER TURKEY AND BROCCOLI.

TOP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE AND BAKE AT 425 FOR 30 MINUTES.

TIP:SERVE OVER RICE IF YOU LIKE! CAN REPLACE SHERRY WITH BROTH IF YOU LIKE AS WELL.

CELEBRATE SPRING-- LADYBUG CAKE

THIS CAKE IS SO CUTE AND QUICK AND SURE TO BE A HIT WITH KIDS!

ALL YOU NEED IS THE FOLLOWING:

CAKE MIX

RED COLORED SUGAR

LICORICE (just one or two pieces)

CHOCOLATE CHIPS (1/3 cup approx.)

WHITE ICING (you choice)

You can use any cake mix, I used a French Vanilla flavored cake mix. I baked it in a Pyrex bowl. (2.5L) I baked it at 325 for 55 minutes.
(I also made the cake almost fat-free.)

The icing is a simple butter frosting. You can use whatever you have on hand but if you would like to try this one, here it is:

1/3 cup butter

3 cups powdered sugar

2t vanilla

2T or so of milk

Cream butter, add sugar, vanilla, and milk and blend until creamy, adding more milk if necessary.

The decorations are simple; and you can use whatever you have on hand.
I used licorice for the lines around the wings. Red colored sugar is what you see glittering.
The dots were chocolate chips (always some of those around here). The antennae, mouth, and eyebrows are all licorice as well. Simply pull the strings apart or if you have my misfortune and it has all melted together, then you can cut it apart into strings.

After baking, decorating took me only about 10 to 15 minutes! Easy!!!

HOMEMADE HAMBURGER BUNS

REMEMBER THOSE BUNS I POSTED WITH THE SALMON PATTIES?

WELL, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT THEY DO HOLD UP WELL WITH HAMBURGERS!IN FACT, THEY ARE OUTSTANDING! DH IS THE KING OF CHEESEBURGERS AND HE LOVED THEM!

IF I HAVE YOUR INTEREST PEAKED, THE FOLLOWING WILL TAKE YOU TO THE POST WITH THE RECIPE FOR THESE WONDERFUL BUNS: http://momsfrugal.blogspot.com/2008/03/homemade-buttermilk-buns.html

The recipe makes 8!

(These were so filling that no one could eat as much as they normally do!)

SPROUTED WHEAT

This was a nice project for the kids and added fun for me in the kitchen!

I used them on salads. That went over pretty good.

I used some in a loaf of bread-- that didn't go over as well so I then made Bread Pudding with the loaf and that went over a little better.

I've read that you can put them in soups and stir frys; I hope to try those soon.

Anyone else tried anything different with these?

I would love to hear how it turned out!

YOGURT RYE BREAD

1/4 cup warm water
1 T yeast
2 cups plain yogurt (I used homemade.)
1/3 cup honey
2 1/2 cups rye flour
2 1/2 t caraway seeds
2 t salt
2 T canola oil
3 cups unbleached flour
beaten egg white for wash
sesame seeds (optional)

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.


Warm yogurt in pot or microwave, just until chill is gone.


Add yogurt, honey, salt, oil, to yeast and blend.


Mix in rye flour and mix well.


Add unbleached flour half cup at a time, mixing well.


Dough will remain somewhat sticky, but should form a nice lump.


Mix or need in the caraway seeds.


Allow to sit for 30 minutes and knead, or mix.


Place in oiled bowl and allow to rise until doubled. Punch down and place on wax paper.


Using flour, divide into two equal loaves and knead. (Football shape used here.)


Shape into loaves and place on baking pan.


Score the loaves, if you like with knife or cooking scissors.


Allow to rise, brush with wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds, optional.


When doubled, bake in 375 oven for 45 minutes until loaves sound hollow when tapped.


*Tip: this test for doneness is really of great value, once you master the sound. If the loaves are not done, when you thump it with your finger it will make a dead, flat, thud sound as there will be much moisture still remaining in the center. But when done, you will notice the loaf feels lighter than when you placed it in the oven and thumping it will produce a hollow sound, different from the flat, thud. Good luck! Rye lovers-- a yummy loaf!

A GREAT SANDWICH BREAD TOO!

DH puts mayo, mustard, oil, vinegar, and the works on this and it holds up great!

EASY BBQ CHICKEN QUARTERS

I used to think BBQ chicken was some major task. Well, it isn't, just in case you were thinking like I used to!

You can use bottled BBQ sauce or you can make your own. The cooking process is the same.

Sometimes, I like to toss the chicken into a crockpot and cover with BBQ sauce, cooking until just done. Then take it out, transfer to a deep baking pan and baste with more BBQ sauce and bake until the BBQ sauce is baked on.

In the oven, I rinse, skin, place in the pan, coat with sauce, and bake them for 1 to 1 and 15 minutes, at 400.

Chicken quarters are often on sale here at 10lbs for $5.90; either way- too sweet of a deal to pass up!

EASY FRUGAL HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE

1/2 CUP CHOPPED ONIONS

1/2 CUP KETCHUP

1/3 CUP HONEY

1 TB OF WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
(opt. dash or two of fish sauce)

SALT AND PEPPER

CAULIFLOWER QUICHE

1 9-inch pie shell (deep)
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
4 cups cauliflower cuts (1 head)
2 T butter
1 large chopped onion
2 t minced garlic
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
parsley

Preheat oven to 375.

Bake the pie shell for 10 minutes and remove from oven to cool.

Cook cauliflower in salted water for 4 minutes, using 1 teaspoon of the salt. Drain and allow to cool.

Melt butter in a skillet, add onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, beat the egg, yolk, milk, and remaining salt. Stir in about 1/2 of the parmesan cheese.

Assemble the quiche:
Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese in the pie shell.
Spread the onions and garlic over the cheese.
Arrange cauliflower over the onions.
Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the cauliflower.
Pour the egg mixture over all.
Sprinkle with parsley.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until set and golden.

(Tip: place quiche on foil-lined pan, just in case it spills.)

Kitchen Tip--baking--baking pans

My tip is too help you prolong the life of your baking pans.

Tammy has helped us all to realize that cooking spray damages them. And that's been a real important tip that I've kept to with my latest pans. ($3 jelly roll pans)
********************************************************************************

My tip is #1 DON'T WASH YOUR METAL PANS IN THE DISHWASHER and

#2 WHEN YOU GET THEM WASHED, TUCK THEM BACK IN THE OVEN WHILE IT IS STILL WARM SO THEY WILL GET GOOD AND DRY----LESSENS LIKELIHOOD OF RUST!

For more kitchen tips, visit: http://tammysrecipes.com/

Browse Tammy's wonderful recipes too!

QUESTION FOR TAMMY'S KITCHEN TIPS TUESDAYS

I HAVE 2 LADIES:

1) HOW CAN I BETTER ENSURE THAT MY ANGEL FOOD CAKES WILL COME OUT OF MY BUNDT PAN? (They always seem to stick a little bit.)

2)ARE FRIENDSHIP BATTERS HEALTHY? IS THERE SOMETHING 'GOOD FOR YOU' IN THE PROCESS OF KEEPING AND FEEDING,ETC?

FOR MORE KITCHEN TIPS PLEASE VISIT: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/

TAMMY: Honey is a natural preservative that could help some of your dressings too! Have you tried evaporated milk in place of regular milk? I wondered if it would last longer. Buttermilk dressings last longer than milk dressings too. :-)

BUTTERY SUGAR COOKIES

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These are my favorite homemade butter-sugar cookies. They are a firm cookie that will hold up for days and will transport easily. My kids loved them too! The recipe was attached to the cookie cutter that was used to make these. It was bought years ago but we've never grown tired of these cookies. I think you will find them irresistible!

HOMEMADE SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup margarine (I use 1/2 marg and 1/2 butter.)

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine flour and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix margarine, 1 cup of sugar and vanilla. Add remaining sugar and eggs, and beat. Continue to beat on low while slowly pouring in flour mixture. Chill thoroughly. Roll dough 1/8 to 1/4 thickness on a greased cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes in preheated 400 oven. (The cookies don't really 'brown'.) Let cookies cool before decorating.

BUTTERY COOKIE ICING

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup butter (softened)

1 T milk

1 1/2 t vanilla

Blend butter and powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla, mixing until smooth. Add food coloring as desired. After decorating, allow icing to set before stacking cookies.

GRAB BAG CASSEROLE

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1 can tomato soup
1 1/2 C water
1 box of spaghetti noodles
1 can corn (blended for a few seconds in blender)
1 small can sliced ripe olives
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper



Boil noodles while browning meat with onions and peppers, drain.
Drain noodles and mix all ingredients and pour into 9x13. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.


(DH said he would never be able to eat plain ole spaghetti again.:-)

COUNTRY BAKED BEEF PIE

(click on pictures to enlarge)

1 pound of ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
2 carrots, grated
2 medium potatoes, grated
1 tomato, chopped
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 T steak sauce
1/2 t garlic powder
salt and pepper
1/2 cup water

(*Cornbread batter for top.)

Brown meat, drain. Add water and vegetables, saute for 5 minutes. Add sauces and seasonings.
Bake in 9x13, covered with a thin layer of cornbread batter, for 30 to 40 minutes at 400.

(I served this dish with sauteed squash.)

CORN CHOWDER with Turkey Ham

1 medium chopped onion

1T butter or margarine

2 cups potatoes, diced and peeled

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup water

2 cans of cream style corn *

2 cups of milk

1 cup diced turkey ham

In saucepan, saute onion and pepper in butter for 5 minutes.

Add potatoes and 1/2 cup water. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add corn, milk, and ham. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with a salad!

(*If I don't have cream style corn, I use 2 cans of whole corn and cream it! Drain both cans, reserving 3/4 of liquid. Dump kernel corn into saucepan add 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar. Blend reserve liquid with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and add to corn. Begin to heat corn. Scoop out 3/4 cup of the mix and blend well in a blender and add back to saucepan and continue heating, until thickened. Salt and pepper to taste.)

HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK BUNS

(click on the picture to see enlarged!)
The kids followed my lead and sliced their buns and placed their salmon patties inside, and ate them like a burger! ...DH says he wants to make hamburgers one night and use these yummy buns.Update: They're perfect for hamburgers!

Dissolve 1 T yeast in;

1/2 cup warm water

1 cup buttermilk, warmed

1 T honey

3 cups wheat flour

2 t salt

1 egg, room temp

1 T butter, softened

1 1/2 cups (or more) plain white or unbleached flour

wash= one egg white beaten with 1 T milk

sesame seeds (optional)

Blend buttermilk with yeast mixture. Add honey and salt.

Add half of the wheat flour and allow to sponge for 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir down and add egg, butter, and remaining wheat flour.

Gradually add in (knead in or mix in stand mixer) the white flour until dough reaches an elastic texture.

NOTE: it will remain a little sticky.

Allow to rise until doubled. Punch down and knead for several minutes, using a minimum of plain flour if necessary. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.

Pat into 3-inch circles and place, slightly apart, on lightly greased baking sheet.

Allow to rise until nearly doubled. Preheat oven to 400.

Very gently, brush with wash and top with sesame seeds (if desired).

Bake for 20 minutes until tops and bottoms are browned.

(Watch bottoms towards the end of baking time and if they begin to get too brown, place a piece of foil underneath pan on lower rack.)

*Served here with salmon patties, mashed potatoes, and green peas.
This post is linked to the Bread Recipe Swap on Life As Mom!

TURKEY HAM AND CHEESE QUESADILLA

These are a quick alternative to a sandwich and served with a salad, they make for a pretty well-rounded meal.

Simply dice turkey ham and heat in a small fry pan. (Amount is according to how many servings that you need.)

Chop green onions.

Shred cheese of choice, if necessary.

Use margarine or butter to cook quesadillas in.

Place one tortilla in the pan and top with ham, green onions, and cheese; top with another tortilla, lightly coated in margarine or butter. Flip when the bottom tortilla is lightly browned and cook other side.

Place on plate and slice in wedges with a pizza cutter and serve.

BON BON anyone?

2 cups powdered sugar

3 cups flaked coconut

4 T evaporated milk

2 T butter, softened

1 t vanilla

1 (12oz) pkg chocolate chips

2 T shortening

almonds (optional)

2 cubes of white chocolate

Place waxed paper on baking sheet.

Combine powdered sugar, coconut, milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir until well blended. Shape into 1-inch balls and place on waxed paper. Place in refrigerator until firm.

Combine chocolate chips and shortening in small bowl and microwave for 2 minutes; stirring at 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Dip coconut bonbons in chocolate using a toothpick. Return to waxed paper. Refrigerate until set up.

Place one cube (white chocolate) at a time in small sandwich bag and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping every 20 seconds to mash the bag, until white chocolate is melted. Snip the very tip of the corner and drizzle across bonbons and return to refrigerator until set.

DH said he really liked this one; compared it to an Almond Joy.

He also like them better at room temp even though they get a little soft.

If you notice changes to this recipe, I am still tweaking it to perfection! :-)

BLACK BEAN AND BEEF HASH

1 pound of ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper

1/4 t rosemary

1/4 t sage

1/8 t crushed bay leaves

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup hot water with dissolved beef bouillon cube OR 1 small can of tomato sauce (according to preference)

Brown ground beef with onions and peppers, drain. Add seasonings, rice, beans, and liquid. Heat thoroughly.

**This dish is simple, easy, and quick. The taste could be changed to Mexican or Italian by changing the spices. It could also be made without beef.

**Served here with corn, turnip greens, sweet-sweet potatoes, and buttered whole wheat bread.

FROM ONE BREAD RECIPE...

YIPPEE!!! I got my wheat in yesterday, so I've been as busy as a bee in the kitchen.

Above you will see a short Rye Bread, a loaf of Wheat Bread, a plate of Sticky Buns, and a dish of Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting.

The Rye Bread is NOT included in the following, but the other 3 items were all made from one batch of my Basic Bread Recipe:

http://momsfrugal.blogspot.com/2008/01/homemade-whole-wheat-bread.html.

The recipe will make either; 2 nice loaves of bread, the above, or one loaf of bread and one 9x13 pan of cinnamon rolls or sticky buns. I have used this for rolls and bread-sticks too. This one recipe can take care of several days of baking!

A great recipe for a busy mom!

STICKY BUNS- with raisins

To make these sticky- glazed rolls, I use part of my dough from my bread recipe:

BASIC WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Soften 1/2 tbsp yeast in 1/2 cup warm water

(Let stand ten minutes.)

ADD:

2 cups of warm water (potato water if available)

1/4 cup honey (natural preservative!)

1/3 cup canola oil

2 tsp.-1Tbsp. salt

2 t. gluten if desired

7 cups of whole wheat flour

Mix in 1/2 the flour and let sit for 20 minutes or so, then stir in rest of flour.

Turn out onto floured board and kneed about 10 minutes, until elastic. Dough should be firm. Cover and let rise until doubled. Punch down. Let rise until doubled again. Shape into 2 loaves and place in oil sprayed pans. Let rise until double. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or 400 for 10 mins. and 375 for 20 mins. 

 

Roll out about half of it into a rectangle, spread melted butter on with pastry brush; sprinkle on brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and this time I also used raisins. 

Most of the time I use pecans instead of raisins.

The nice glaze comes from spreading melted butter around in a pie plate and sprinkling with honey and brown sugar before placing rolls in; then when rolls are done, flip into a plate.

(This isn't the prettiest batch that I've made, I usually make them twice as thick. But out of the bread recipe from above I made this pan of sticky buns, a pan of cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting, and a nice loaf of bread. This takes care of baking for several days!)

Quick Cupcake Topping

A nice topping for cupcakes in a pinch or just for fun.

Place chocolate chips or butterscotch chips on top as soon as you remove the cakes from the oven. Allow to melt, then spread. I loved the butterscotch on these buttery cakes!

HOMEMADE BISCUIT TIPS

A TIP FOR BISCUITS:

Instead of cutting your dough on the counter, lay the entire batch of dough on a baking sheet, and cut with a biscuit cutter and bake as is.

No need to knead again!

No tough (over-kneaded) dough either and even the scraps can be crumbled up for gravy!

*Another tip: extra shortening will make for a nice and fluffier biscuit.
********************************************************************
FOR MORE GREAT KITCHEN TIPS, VISIT: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/

BROWNIES-what if some like nuts and others don't?

Here's my solution to the nutty-loving half of my crew! :-)

For more kitchen tips, visit: www.tammysrecipes.com

SIMPLE COLE SLAW

1 head of cabbage
2 carrots, trimmed and scraped
Mayonnaise
plain yogurt
salt and pepper
1 to 2t  vinegar
1 to 2 t dill
1 T sugar

Chop cabbage in food processor, empty into a large bowl. Then process carrots.

***If you process both together the carrots will often color the cabbage orange.

Mix approx. 3/4 cup of mayo, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 to 2 t vinegar, sugar, dill, salt and pepper to taste.
***********************************************************************
The mayo and yogurt amounts depend on how much vegetables you end up with so an exact amount is not possible. You can do all mayo.
Use your choice of vinegars. I have come to love Bragg's.
You may also add red cabbage, celery, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, other spices, even caraway seeds if you like. This recipe is just a simple and basic cole slaw.