Blog Archives

Memorial Day Lemon Iced Tea

5/29/2017

Here's a last minute treat to add to your buffet today before the guests arrive. Quick, thrifty, and easy this one can be put together in a snap.

3 quarts water
9 individual tea bags
3/4 to 1-1/4 cups sugar
1 can (12 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
Lemon slices, optional

In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Remove from the heat; add tea bags. Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar and lemonade concentrate. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Serve over ice. If desired, garnish with lemon slices.

0 Comments

Memorial Day Bacon Cheeseburgers

5/28/2017

0 Comments

Yum! Memorial Day is just around the corner, and what a wonderful excuse to create a better burger. This one is sure to win raves when you serve'em.

I know bacon can be a bit out of the ballpark when you are on a limited budget, but at my local deep discount store it can be scored for only $1.59 a pack. If you haven't found an "odd" store that serves overstocked items, you need to keep your eyes peeled. They are popping up everywhere.

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon steak sauce
1/4 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 pound ground beef
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
8 cooked bacon strips
Optional toppings: lettuce leaves and tomato, onion and pickle slices

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties.

Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 3 in. from the heat for 4-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160° and juices run clear. Top with cheese. Grill 1 minute longer or until cheese is melted. Serve on buns with bacon and toppings of your choice.

0 Comments

Bread Machine Moist and Chewy Cinnamon Rolls

5/21/2017

0 Comments

This is an amazing recipe stocked with an amazing and unlikely ingredient. I make these on Sunday morning for a special breakfast before jetting off to church. In fact, if I place everything in my bread maker when I rise, it will be ready in less than an hour and a half. I can roll these out quickly, cut, and pop them in the oven. The fresh baked smell makes everyone wake with a smile.

Not a big expense here either, you can freeze leftovers for the busy week mornings ahead. You can get that instant pudding mix at Aldi for only 59 cents.

Dough

1 pkg. yeast
1 tab. sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cup milk
1/3 cup instant pudding mix
1 egg
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 tsp. salt
3 to 3 1/2 cups flour
****touch bread dough in machine to make sure it is just a tad sticky before closing the lid

Filling
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted

Frosting
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. water

Place all dough ingredients in bread maker. Set on dough setting. Allow to rotate checking stickiness of dough. I begin by placing 3 cups of flour and then gradually add more as the blades whirl ensuring the dough has a bit of a sticky, exterior.

Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Divide dough in 1/2. Roll each out into a 18 x 10 inch rectangle. Spread with 1/2 butter then 1/2 the filling mixture.

Place on a greased 13 x 9" pan. Cover with a towel and let rise about 45 mins. until doubled.

Place in a 350 degree oven and bake 20 - 25 minutes or until slightly golden. Take out rolls.

Mix frosting ingredients in bowl. Spread over warm rolls. Wow, these are precious!

0 Comments

Arroz Con Polo

5/20/2017

0 Comments

With hours that dwindle away leaving little time to prepare a nutritious meal for your family, finding one dish meals can be ideal in this economy. Here is a version of a popular Spanish dish that will definitely tantalize taste buds young and old. It uses just a few ingredients and can produce a mound full allowing a good container of leftovers to be ravaged the following day.

By the way, turmeric can be found in your local health food store in bulk for only a few pennies. If spices seem a bit out of your reach, do visit your local health food stores that sells spices in bulk. You can purchase just an ounce for under a dollar.

1 tab. oil
1 small onion chopped
2 cups white rice
1 tsp. turmeric
4 chicken bouillon cubes
4 cups of water
1 garlic clove chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup peas
4 chicken legs with thighs

Place bouillon in water and microwave on high until dissolved. Set aside. In a fry pan sauté onion in garlic in oil till translucent. Fry chicken until just browned, set aside. Add white rice and sauté briefly with onion, salt, pepper and garlic. Toss with turmeric. In a 13 x 9 inch baking pan place rice mixture and add bouillon. Stir gently. Top with chicken and peas. Bake at 375 for 55 min. and cover with aluminum foil. Take foil off the last 15 min. to allow browning.

0 Comments

Stir'em and Forget'em Canned Baked Beans

5/13/2017

0 Comments

Let me tell you; what a delicious way to incorporate all those canned baked beans that are piling up in your pantry. And, to make matters a bit better, no one will suspect these are those hideous cheap canned beans most patrons ignore. This is an easy recipe that can be put together in a flash and then forgotten about as you continue your daily routine preparing for the afternoon festivities.

I usually visit my discount store for a pound of bacon. I can purchase two packs for $3.00. Place bacon in a large cookie sheet separating each strip. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until done. Pour off drippings and save for later use as fried potatoes.

In an oven casserole dish:
4 cans baked beans (15 oz.)
2 tab. pancake syrup
1 tab. mustard
2 heaping tab. brown sugar
1 heaping tab. molasses
Cooked Bacon

Spray dish with canned oil spray to prevent sticking. Add ingredients and stir. Top with cooked strips of bacon. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. Yes, one and a half hours so the excess juice of those canned beans begins to evaporate. Then, take it out of oven and let cool a bit before serving. Or set aside and reheat before serving.

Save up to 40% on all new Organifi Complete Protein

0 Comments

Canned Baked Beans Dip

5/13/2017

1 Comment

Are you inundated with multiple cans of baked beans? Do you hate to let them go knowing that they are packed full of nutrients and fiber? Most canned beans received from food banks contain only 4 - 7 mg of sugar! They are a healthy snack alternative! Try this delicious recipe below:

14 oz. can baked beans
2 tab. lemon juice
1-2 tab. chili powder

Gently drain off extra fluid from baked beans. You want a tad of liquid still in the can to keep consistency. Set the stove top temperature on med./low. Put beans into a fry pan (preferably black iron if you have it), and begin smashing beans with the back of a spoon. They will quickly become the consistency of refried beans in minutes. Add 2 tab. of lemon juice and stir. Keep stirring until beans begin to resemble refried beans and lose some moisture content. This is the beauty of it! You can make your bean dip thin or thick depending on personal preference. Add chili powder, adjusting for taste. Enjoy with vegetables or corn chips.

1 Comment

Memorial Day Lemon Iced Tea

Memorial Day Bacon Cheeseburgers

Bread Machine Moist and Chewy Cinnamon Rolls

Arroz Con Polo

Stir'em and Forget'em Canned Baked Beans

Canned Baked Beans Dip

Food Facts

Author

Archives

Recipes