Better Homes and Gardens, June 2007
Ingredients
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 medium cucumbers, sliced
4 4-oz. tilapia fillets, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick
1 6-oz. carton plain yogurt
3 tablespoons snipped fresh mint
Preparation
1. Preheat broiler. In medium bowl stir together vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until sugar is dissolved, remove 1/4 cup. Add cucumber to remaining vinegar mixture, toss.
2. Spray unheated broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange fish on rack; brush with reserved vinegar mixture. Broil 4 inches from heat 4 to 6 minutes until fish flakes easily.
3. In bowl combine yogurt and mint. With slotted spoon, add cucumbers to plates. Top with fish, yogurt, lemon peel and coarsely ground black pepper. Serves 4
Each serving: 210 calories.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Shrimp and Asparagus Salad
This recipe comes from Better Homes and Gardens, June 2007
Ingredients
12 oz. thin asparagus spears, trimmed
6 cups watercress, tough stems removed
1 16-oz package frozen peeled cooked shrimp with tails, thawed
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup bottled raspberry vinaigrette
Sea salt, cracked black pepper
Cracker bread (optional)
Preparation
In a large skillet cook asparagus in small amount of lightly salted boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain in colander. Run under cold water to cool.
Divide asparagus among 4 dinner plates; layer with watercress, shrimp and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Serves 4
Each serving: 257 calories, 8 grams fat, 227 mg cholesterol, 360 mg sodium, 14 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 33 grams protein.
Ingredients
12 oz. thin asparagus spears, trimmed
6 cups watercress, tough stems removed
1 16-oz package frozen peeled cooked shrimp with tails, thawed
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup bottled raspberry vinaigrette
Sea salt, cracked black pepper
Cracker bread (optional)
Preparation
In a large skillet cook asparagus in small amount of lightly salted boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain in colander. Run under cold water to cool.
Divide asparagus among 4 dinner plates; layer with watercress, shrimp and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Serves 4
Each serving: 257 calories, 8 grams fat, 227 mg cholesterol, 360 mg sodium, 14 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 33 grams protein.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Egg Sausage Casserole
This recipe comes from my sister-in-law, Janet.
Ingredients:
1 pound pork sausage
2 1/4 cups milk
10 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoon yellow prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded cheese
3 slices bread (cubed)
Heat the oven to 350 degrees/ In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat. Drain well and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, mustard and salt. Beat for 1 minute on medium. Stir in cheese, bread and sausage. Pour into an ungreased 13 x 9 inch pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until knife comes out clean.
Ingredients:
1 pound pork sausage
2 1/4 cups milk
10 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoon yellow prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded cheese
3 slices bread (cubed)
Heat the oven to 350 degrees/ In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat. Drain well and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, mustard and salt. Beat for 1 minute on medium. Stir in cheese, bread and sausage. Pour into an ungreased 13 x 9 inch pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until knife comes out clean.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Homemade Lemonade
This recipe yields 8 cups of lemonade.
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/2 gallon pitcher
Water
Mix lemon juice and sugar in pitcher. Fill the pitcher with water and you are done!
Alternately you can put the sugar and about a cup of water in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes to make sure all the sugar is dissolved, pour in the pitcher and add ice and water.
This recipe can have the sugar adjusted to your taste, you can use alternative sweeteners (Splenda etc) or even Honey.
for 4 cups:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups water
for 2 cups:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups water
for 1 cup:
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 cup water
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/2 gallon pitcher
Water
Mix lemon juice and sugar in pitcher. Fill the pitcher with water and you are done!
Alternately you can put the sugar and about a cup of water in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes to make sure all the sugar is dissolved, pour in the pitcher and add ice and water.
This recipe can have the sugar adjusted to your taste, you can use alternative sweeteners (Splenda etc) or even Honey.
for 4 cups:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
4 cups water
for 2 cups:
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups water
for 1 cup:
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 cup water
Tomato, Lemon, Green Olive & Onion Salad
4 servings 10 min prep
4 ripe tomatoes,cored and sliced
1 onion, very thinly sliced (red is good)
1 pinch sugar
salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 lemon
12 mediterranean-type full-flavored green olives
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Layer the sliced tomatoes with the onions, sprinkling with sugar, salt and cayenne pepper as you do.
Grate the lemon zest (or use a lemon zester) and scatter over the tomatoes and onions, then squeeze the juice over the top.
Garnish with the olives and drizzle with the olive oil.
Chill until ready to serve.
4 ripe tomatoes,cored and sliced
1 onion, very thinly sliced (red is good)
1 pinch sugar
salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 lemon
12 mediterranean-type full-flavored green olives
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Layer the sliced tomatoes with the onions, sprinkling with sugar, salt and cayenne pepper as you do.
Grate the lemon zest (or use a lemon zester) and scatter over the tomatoes and onions, then squeeze the juice over the top.
Garnish with the olives and drizzle with the olive oil.
Chill until ready to serve.
Curried Green Tomato Casserole
This is a quick easy casserole and quite tasty.
4-6 servings
50 min 10 min prep
8 medium green tomatoes, chopped
3 large onions, chopped
2 teaspoons curry powder (more if you wish)
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream (use lite if you wish)
1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
In a large skillet cook the tomatoes and onions until very soft (if there is a lot of fluid you may want to drain some off before adding the sour cream).
Stir in the curry powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
Let the mixture cool and stir in the sour cream.
Pour into lightly buttered casserole dish.
Sprinkle top with crumbs and parmesan.
Bake in 350F degrees oven until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is well browned (about 30- 45 minutes).
You can prepare ahead and put it in the oven 45 minutes before dinner.
4-6 servings
50 min 10 min prep
8 medium green tomatoes, chopped
3 large onions, chopped
2 teaspoons curry powder (more if you wish)
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream (use lite if you wish)
1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
In a large skillet cook the tomatoes and onions until very soft (if there is a lot of fluid you may want to drain some off before adding the sour cream).
Stir in the curry powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
Let the mixture cool and stir in the sour cream.
Pour into lightly buttered casserole dish.
Sprinkle top with crumbs and parmesan.
Bake in 350F degrees oven until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is well browned (about 30- 45 minutes).
You can prepare ahead and put it in the oven 45 minutes before dinner.
Homemade Instant Oatmeal
From http://frugalupstate.blogspot.com/search/label/Recipes
(Makes 8 Packets)
Ingredients:
3 Cups Quick Cooking Oatmeal
1 teaspoon salt
Put 1 cup oatmeal in the blender or food processor and blend to a powder
(you may want to do this 1/2 C at a time).
In each of 8 zipper style baggies 1/4 cup un-powdered oats, 2 tablespoons powdered oats, and 1/8 teaspoons salt.
To use: Empty packet into a bowl. Add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal, use less water – for thinner oatmeal, use more water.
You can adapt this recipe to many different flavors. For brown sugar oatmeal add 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar to each. You can also add raisins, splenda, chopped dried apples, or even make a fruit and cream version by adding 1 tablespoon powdered creamer and 2 tablespoon dried fruit.
(Makes 8 Packets)
Ingredients:
3 Cups Quick Cooking Oatmeal
1 teaspoon salt
Put 1 cup oatmeal in the blender or food processor and blend to a powder
(you may want to do this 1/2 C at a time).
In each of 8 zipper style baggies 1/4 cup un-powdered oats, 2 tablespoons powdered oats, and 1/8 teaspoons salt.
To use: Empty packet into a bowl. Add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal, use less water – for thinner oatmeal, use more water.
You can adapt this recipe to many different flavors. For brown sugar oatmeal add 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar to each. You can also add raisins, splenda, chopped dried apples, or even make a fruit and cream version by adding 1 tablespoon powdered creamer and 2 tablespoon dried fruit.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Cornbread Mix
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons baking powder
1 cup shortening
4 cups yellow cornmeal
Blend all ingredients together and store in Ziploc bags or airtight container.
To Make Cornbread or Muffins:
Combine 2 ½ cups of cornbread mix with 1 lightly beaten egg and 1 ¼ cups milk. Mix until just blended (don’t over-mix). Pour into greased 8-inch square pan or muffin pan and bake at 425F for about 25 minutes (less for muffins).
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons baking powder
1 cup shortening
4 cups yellow cornmeal
Blend all ingredients together and store in Ziploc bags or airtight container.
To Make Cornbread or Muffins:
Combine 2 ½ cups of cornbread mix with 1 lightly beaten egg and 1 ¼ cups milk. Mix until just blended (don’t over-mix). Pour into greased 8-inch square pan or muffin pan and bake at 425F for about 25 minutes (less for muffins).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Do-It-Yourself Cleaners--updated 2/3/2008
This information was found in Better Homes and Gardens, page 90, August 2007 in an artice by Linda Mason Hunter with recipes from Green Clean, by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin.
There are 3 basic natural producs for cleaning: baking soda, vinegar and soap.
Baking soda works best on proteins, grease, and animal messes. Because it's slightly abrasive, it can be used for scouring--and of course, it's a natural deodorizer.
Distilled White Vinegar is a mild acid that works on alkaline substances, dissolving scale, inhibiting mild, and cutting soap scum. It's terrific for stains such as coffee, rust, and tea.
Simple Soap: Try castile soap, made with olive oil, or a vegetable based soap. Both attach to soil at the molecular level, so you can rinse dirt away with water.
The Recipes:
1. Soft Scrub: Add enough soap to 1/8 cup basing soda to make a creamy mixture. Apply with a sponge to clean, rinse the surface well. Use and discard.
2. Appliance Cleaner: Dry baking soda shines up small appliances and even removes bread wrappers burned onto teh toaster. Try rubbing a teaspoon onto you grubby blender or food processor with a clean flannel cloth.
3. Toilet Cleaner/Deoderizer: Sprinkle toilet bowl with 1/4 cup baking soda. Drizzle with 1/4 cup vinegar, then scour with a toilet brush.
4. Oven Cleaner: Sprinkle oven with 1/2 cup baking soda (more if needed) and spray with water. Let sit for several hours or overnight before scraping up stains and spills. Rinse thoroughly with water.
5. Hardwood Floor Cleaner: In a pail or bucket, mix 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar in one gallon warm water. Mop wood or linoleum floors, then rinse with water, making sure not to leave large pools to dry.
From Everday Cheapskate, the following cleaning recipes:
HEAVY-DUTY WINDOW CLEANER: Mix ½ cup household ammonia, 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 teaspoon liquid Dawn (the original blue variety). Mix ammonia, alcohol and detergent in 1-gallon jug. Fill with warm water. Shake before each use. This solution is great for cleaning really dirty windows and taking tape marks off windows; it's also great for removing soap film from shower doors.
DISINFECTING CLEANER: Mix household ammonia and rubbing alcohol together in equal proportions in a spray bottle. Label and keep out of reach of children. This is a very strong cleaner, so make sure you have ample ventilation when using. Wear gloves.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER ½ cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, 4 drops liquid dishwashing soap and ¼ cup baking soda into 1 gallon of warm water. Mix well and dispense with a spray bottle.
TUB-AND-TILE CLEANER a terrific homemade version of Soft Scrub. In a small bowl, mix together 1-2/3 cups baking soda with 1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid (like Joy). Dilute with ½ cup water, and add 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Stir with a fork until smooth and all the lumps are gone. Pour into a 16-ounce squeeze container with a squirt flip-top cap (like a ketchup bottle or similar). Shake well before each use. Keep capped tightly between uses. Hint: Rinse the flip-top cap after each use so it won't get clogged.
CLEANER FOR PAINTED CABINETS: Mix ¼ cup baking soda, 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon warm water. Pour into a spray bottle. Wash cabinets with a sponge and this solution. Rinse with a clean sponge and water. Wipe cabinets dry completely.
Another site which has cleaning recipes is Being Frugal. This is a copy and paste from her site. There is definitely some overlap in recipes, but for me, I like to have options. What if I don't have ammonia for one recipe but I have what it takes for another recipe?
One of the ways I save money is by not buying too many cleaning products. It’s not only less expensive, but often it’s better for the environment to avoid harsh chemicals. And with the right mix of ingredients, homemade cleaning solutions often work just as well, and sometimes better, than their store bought counterparts.
The three ingredients I always have on hand for cleaning are baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn dishwashing detergent. You can clean almost anything with these three items.
To clean windows, mix 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn in a spray bottle. It cleans windows beautifully!
For floors, add 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water and mop away!
My favorite bathroom cleaner is a spray bottle filled with 1/2 cup Dawn and as much vinegar as the bottle holds. It works better than any commercial tub cleaner I’ve ever tried!
For cleaning toilets, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Dawn, and 1/4 cup water. Let sit on the toilet bowl for a couple of hours, swish with a toilet brush, and flush.
Plain baking soda works just like scouring powder. It’s also great for deodorizing carpet. Just sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for a while, and vacuum up!
There are 3 basic natural producs for cleaning: baking soda, vinegar and soap.
Baking soda works best on proteins, grease, and animal messes. Because it's slightly abrasive, it can be used for scouring--and of course, it's a natural deodorizer.
Distilled White Vinegar is a mild acid that works on alkaline substances, dissolving scale, inhibiting mild, and cutting soap scum. It's terrific for stains such as coffee, rust, and tea.
Simple Soap: Try castile soap, made with olive oil, or a vegetable based soap. Both attach to soil at the molecular level, so you can rinse dirt away with water.
The Recipes:
1. Soft Scrub: Add enough soap to 1/8 cup basing soda to make a creamy mixture. Apply with a sponge to clean, rinse the surface well. Use and discard.
2. Appliance Cleaner: Dry baking soda shines up small appliances and even removes bread wrappers burned onto teh toaster. Try rubbing a teaspoon onto you grubby blender or food processor with a clean flannel cloth.
3. Toilet Cleaner/Deoderizer: Sprinkle toilet bowl with 1/4 cup baking soda. Drizzle with 1/4 cup vinegar, then scour with a toilet brush.
4. Oven Cleaner: Sprinkle oven with 1/2 cup baking soda (more if needed) and spray with water. Let sit for several hours or overnight before scraping up stains and spills. Rinse thoroughly with water.
5. Hardwood Floor Cleaner: In a pail or bucket, mix 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar in one gallon warm water. Mop wood or linoleum floors, then rinse with water, making sure not to leave large pools to dry.
From Everday Cheapskate, the following cleaning recipes:
HEAVY-DUTY WINDOW CLEANER: Mix ½ cup household ammonia, 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 teaspoon liquid Dawn (the original blue variety). Mix ammonia, alcohol and detergent in 1-gallon jug. Fill with warm water. Shake before each use. This solution is great for cleaning really dirty windows and taking tape marks off windows; it's also great for removing soap film from shower doors.
DISINFECTING CLEANER: Mix household ammonia and rubbing alcohol together in equal proportions in a spray bottle. Label and keep out of reach of children. This is a very strong cleaner, so make sure you have ample ventilation when using. Wear gloves.
ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER ½ cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, 4 drops liquid dishwashing soap and ¼ cup baking soda into 1 gallon of warm water. Mix well and dispense with a spray bottle.
TUB-AND-TILE CLEANER a terrific homemade version of Soft Scrub. In a small bowl, mix together 1-2/3 cups baking soda with 1/2 cup of dishwashing liquid (like Joy). Dilute with ½ cup water, and add 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Stir with a fork until smooth and all the lumps are gone. Pour into a 16-ounce squeeze container with a squirt flip-top cap (like a ketchup bottle or similar). Shake well before each use. Keep capped tightly between uses. Hint: Rinse the flip-top cap after each use so it won't get clogged.
CLEANER FOR PAINTED CABINETS: Mix ¼ cup baking soda, 1 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon warm water. Pour into a spray bottle. Wash cabinets with a sponge and this solution. Rinse with a clean sponge and water. Wipe cabinets dry completely.
Another site which has cleaning recipes is Being Frugal. This is a copy and paste from her site. There is definitely some overlap in recipes, but for me, I like to have options. What if I don't have ammonia for one recipe but I have what it takes for another recipe?
One of the ways I save money is by not buying too many cleaning products. It’s not only less expensive, but often it’s better for the environment to avoid harsh chemicals. And with the right mix of ingredients, homemade cleaning solutions often work just as well, and sometimes better, than their store bought counterparts.
The three ingredients I always have on hand for cleaning are baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn dishwashing detergent. You can clean almost anything with these three items.
To clean windows, mix 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn in a spray bottle. It cleans windows beautifully!
For floors, add 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water and mop away!
My favorite bathroom cleaner is a spray bottle filled with 1/2 cup Dawn and as much vinegar as the bottle holds. It works better than any commercial tub cleaner I’ve ever tried!
For cleaning toilets, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Dawn, and 1/4 cup water. Let sit on the toilet bowl for a couple of hours, swish with a toilet brush, and flush.
Plain baking soda works just like scouring powder. It’s also great for deodorizing carpet. Just sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for a while, and vacuum up!
Homemade Crème Fraîche
This recipe comes from the book "Breakfast in Bed," by Jesse Ziff Cool.
According to Jesse, crème fraîche is traditionally made with buttermilk, but Julia Child discovered years ago that blending sour cream with heavy cream produces the same results.
Martha Stewart and others use crème fraîche frequently. I seldom see it in the dairy case in the grocery stores. The history of crème fraîche can be found here.
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
Stir the heavy cream and sour cream together in a saucepan. Heat it over medium heat just until it's slightly warm to the touch (about 90 degrees), about 3 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a clean ceramic bowl, cover it with a cloth, and put it in a warm spot--a place where you would put bread dough to rise--for about 8 hours. Refrigerate it overnight. The thickening will continue as it cools, and the creme will be ready to eat in the morning. It will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
Use crème fraîche in place of whipped cream for fresh fruits. It can be used as a topping for some soups and in some casseroles.
Another recipe for creme fraiche here.
Homemade Crème Fraîche
Crème fraîche is very easy to make at home. Below is a recipe and whilst it takes a while to make, it’s certainly worth giving it a try.
Preparation time: 8-14 hours
Ingredients
240ml/8fl.oz. Double/Whipping Cream
2 tbsp Buttermilk
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a glass bowl, mix well, cover, and leave to stand at room temperature (about 70 degrees F.) for 8 to 24 hours, or until thickened. Stir well, cover with clingfilm, refrigerate and use within 10 days.
According to Jesse, crème fraîche is traditionally made with buttermilk, but Julia Child discovered years ago that blending sour cream with heavy cream produces the same results.
Martha Stewart and others use crème fraîche frequently. I seldom see it in the dairy case in the grocery stores. The history of crème fraîche can be found here.
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
Stir the heavy cream and sour cream together in a saucepan. Heat it over medium heat just until it's slightly warm to the touch (about 90 degrees), about 3 minutes.
Pour the mixture into a clean ceramic bowl, cover it with a cloth, and put it in a warm spot--a place where you would put bread dough to rise--for about 8 hours. Refrigerate it overnight. The thickening will continue as it cools, and the creme will be ready to eat in the morning. It will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.
Use crème fraîche in place of whipped cream for fresh fruits. It can be used as a topping for some soups and in some casseroles.
Another recipe for creme fraiche here.
Homemade Crème Fraîche
Crème fraîche is very easy to make at home. Below is a recipe and whilst it takes a while to make, it’s certainly worth giving it a try.
Preparation time: 8-14 hours
Ingredients
240ml/8fl.oz. Double/Whipping Cream
2 tbsp Buttermilk
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a glass bowl, mix well, cover, and leave to stand at room temperature (about 70 degrees F.) for 8 to 24 hours, or until thickened. Stir well, cover with clingfilm, refrigerate and use within 10 days.
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