Freeze the squash/pumpkin halves and take them out for a meal anytime throughout the winter. They won't go bad on your kitchen floor before you get around to cooking them. I had 3 of mine do this already, I hadn't even had them very long. Usually I can keep them a couple of months and then if they're still around I'll cook them up and freeze them.
Directions:
half squash, take out the seeds and stringy bits
place cut side down on a greased pan.
Cook at 350-375F until tender.
Take them out, let cool.
Put 2 halves in each container or plastic bag and freeze.
To Reheat:
Place halves in a greased casserole dish.
Place in 375F oven until heated through.
Sprinkle each half with brown sugar and a pat of butter.
Serve. Season with salt and pepper.
You can even make Roasted Pumpkin seeds.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
raw pumpkin seeds
vegetable oil
salt
Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)
Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet, drizzle with vegetable oil, stir to coat.
Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after every 10 minutes.
These are best eaten warm.
2009-11-19
More Frugal Food Ideas
- The more packaging something has, the more expensive. Instead of buying packages, by the base ingredients and make it yourself. Don't buy salad bags, buy lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and whatever else you put in a salad. Don't buy dressings, learn to make your own. Being able to cook instead of buying pre-packaged saves you money.
- Buy fruits and vegetables in season. Look up online if you're not sure what's in season when, or ask your local grocer. Go to a Farmers' Market.
- Keep a store of dried beans, legumes and chick peas. Cook in your crockpot and freeze in small containers for later use.
- Look for bulk food stores that sell dry foods in bins, so you can pick exactly how much you want, and not have to pay for lots of packaging.
- Learn to love water, and drink it more than other drinks, if you drink tea than re-use the tea bag.
- Take time out of a day or two in the week to cook something big, and then store it in the fridge/freezer to have throughout the week. I used to do this for work food, I'd make something big on Sunday, put it in the freezer, and have it in portions for lunches at work.
-If you have a freezer then make the most of it. Rice can be made into a large batches so you can separate it into smaller servings for freezing (pretty much all grains can be done this way). It reheats beautifully and quickly. Frozen veggies are quick, nutritious, cheap and don't need a lot of space to store. Dried beans can also be made up and broken down into smaller batches for freezing. When I'm too pressed to cook, I know I can heat up a bit of beans, a bit of rice, toss in some veg and I've got quick nutrition ready to go. It's fast food that's healthier than fast food.
-Rice and Peas. Try getting a good Caribbean recipe. VERY cheap to make, and delicious! Eat with baked plantains, which are also pretty cheap!
-Soups are great money savers, because they go a long way. Make sure your soups have lots of protein through use of beans and lentils, and rice or small pasta shapes. Learn to cook with spices. You can use the same ingredients and get totally different meals based on what spices you use.
-Buy when things are on sale. Canned beans cannot be matched for convenience - wait for a sale and stock up! Learn how much vegetables cost - wander down the produce isles even when you don't need to get something. Only buy when the prices are low (be sure to check quality on fruit, though - sometimes they drop the price when they need to clear it before it spoils.)
-Don't buy food if you aren't going to eat it before it spoils. Throwing away food is throwing away money.
-Make meals that can be frozen and re-heated, so you can make a lot and save both time and money. It makes convenient dinners or lunches later on, and when you have a convenient meal on hand, you are less likely to splurge and buy that overpriced veggie sandwich for lunch at work.
-Big things you can make are pots of soups/stews, trays of lasagne, batches of burritos. You can freeze all that stuff in single serving dishwasher-safe containers (for easy clean-up). It's easy to eat cheap and healthy, just takes some practice.
- Buy fruits and vegetables in season. Look up online if you're not sure what's in season when, or ask your local grocer. Go to a Farmers' Market.
- Keep a store of dried beans, legumes and chick peas. Cook in your crockpot and freeze in small containers for later use.
- Look for bulk food stores that sell dry foods in bins, so you can pick exactly how much you want, and not have to pay for lots of packaging.
- Learn to love water, and drink it more than other drinks, if you drink tea than re-use the tea bag.
- Take time out of a day or two in the week to cook something big, and then store it in the fridge/freezer to have throughout the week. I used to do this for work food, I'd make something big on Sunday, put it in the freezer, and have it in portions for lunches at work.
-If you have a freezer then make the most of it. Rice can be made into a large batches so you can separate it into smaller servings for freezing (pretty much all grains can be done this way). It reheats beautifully and quickly. Frozen veggies are quick, nutritious, cheap and don't need a lot of space to store. Dried beans can also be made up and broken down into smaller batches for freezing. When I'm too pressed to cook, I know I can heat up a bit of beans, a bit of rice, toss in some veg and I've got quick nutrition ready to go. It's fast food that's healthier than fast food.
-Rice and Peas. Try getting a good Caribbean recipe. VERY cheap to make, and delicious! Eat with baked plantains, which are also pretty cheap!
-Soups are great money savers, because they go a long way. Make sure your soups have lots of protein through use of beans and lentils, and rice or small pasta shapes. Learn to cook with spices. You can use the same ingredients and get totally different meals based on what spices you use.
-Buy when things are on sale. Canned beans cannot be matched for convenience - wait for a sale and stock up! Learn how much vegetables cost - wander down the produce isles even when you don't need to get something. Only buy when the prices are low (be sure to check quality on fruit, though - sometimes they drop the price when they need to clear it before it spoils.)
-Don't buy food if you aren't going to eat it before it spoils. Throwing away food is throwing away money.
-Make meals that can be frozen and re-heated, so you can make a lot and save both time and money. It makes convenient dinners or lunches later on, and when you have a convenient meal on hand, you are less likely to splurge and buy that overpriced veggie sandwich for lunch at work.
-Big things you can make are pots of soups/stews, trays of lasagne, batches of burritos. You can freeze all that stuff in single serving dishwasher-safe containers (for easy clean-up). It's easy to eat cheap and healthy, just takes some practice.
2009-02-21
Bring Your Own Plastic Container
Bring Your Own Plastic Container
The greenest takeout packaging
"I usually bring my lunch to work in recycled yogurt containers. It bothers me to see my co-workers, who eat out, discarding so much trash: plastic clamshells from Caesar salads, Styrofoam pho containers, and cardboard sandwich boxes. Many are conscientious about recycling, but not all containers can be recycled. In any case, as we all know by now, reuse is always better.
Ecoconscious Chowhounds are bringing their own containers to restaurants to hold their takeout food or leftovers. So recently I found myself wondering: Do health and safety codes allow this? And is there a specific type of container restaurants prefer that you bring? I decided to investigate."
Read the rest here.
Also, remember to bring along a reusable bag too, to put it all in.
The greenest takeout packaging
"I usually bring my lunch to work in recycled yogurt containers. It bothers me to see my co-workers, who eat out, discarding so much trash: plastic clamshells from Caesar salads, Styrofoam pho containers, and cardboard sandwich boxes. Many are conscientious about recycling, but not all containers can be recycled. In any case, as we all know by now, reuse is always better.
Ecoconscious Chowhounds are bringing their own containers to restaurants to hold their takeout food or leftovers. So recently I found myself wondering: Do health and safety codes allow this? And is there a specific type of container restaurants prefer that you bring? I decided to investigate."
Read the rest here.
Also, remember to bring along a reusable bag too, to put it all in.
2009-01-27
Frugal Chili
I made this Chili tonight for dinner, the recipe is mostly made up but it turned out wonderfully. A great meal for a cold winter's night, the flour will thicken the chili as it cooks.
Chili
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp oregano
2-3 tbsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 can black beans
1 can romano beans
1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup granulated TVP & 1 cup water
1 veg. beef boullion cube
salt & pepper, to taste
1/2 cup water mixed with 1 cup flour
Add extra water as needed
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender.
Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook 1/2 an hour or longer. Stir often and keep on a low simmer.
Add extra spices to taste.
Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions over each serving.
Chili
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp oregano
2-3 tbsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 can black beans
1 can romano beans
1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup granulated TVP & 1 cup water
1 veg. beef boullion cube
salt & pepper, to taste
1/2 cup water mixed with 1 cup flour
Add extra water as needed
Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender.
Add the rest of the ingredients. Cook 1/2 an hour or longer. Stir often and keep on a low simmer.
Add extra spices to taste.
Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions over each serving.
2008-12-20
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough
This pizza dough is great if you're in a rush and forgot (as I always do) to make some dough ahead of time. The mix of yeast and baking powder makes it possible to have a yeasty pizza dough in an amazingly short time.
Quick and Easy Pizza
2 1/2 cups flour (1/2 whole wheat)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry active yeast
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
First prepare the crust. In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and yeast. Stir it up to distribute the salt and yeast evenly. Add the water and oil. Mix the dough until it forms a big ball in the middle of the bowl. It will be a little stiffer than biscuit dough.
Knead the dough about 10 or 12 times and then form it into a ball. Let sit 10-15 minutes; covered with a clean kitchen towel.
Place the ball in the center of 16-inch pizza pan, or a 9 by 13-inch rectangular pan. Use your hands and a rolling pin, to press the dough into the pan.
After spreading the sauce onto the pizza dough, top it with about 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and a good sprinkling of Parmesan Cheese. If desired, add other toppings of your choice.
Bake the prepared pizza at 400° for about 15 to 20 minutes. Eat and enjoy.
This would be a great pizza dough to use for Calzones or Chili Bombs.
2008-12-07
Make your own coffee drinks!
How to make your own coffee drinks. Check out this post for some tips.
Save a zillion dollars on coffee drinks!
Basically, you get a few bottles together, pour in some coffee to about half the bottle, add a bit of flavoured creamer (in this case Coffee-Mate), then top with milk.
Pop them in the fridge, and you just saved several dollars.
Experiment with different creamer flavours or try adding your own. Substitue vegan creamer and soymilk for a vegan/lactose-free version.
Chocolate-Mint would make a great Christmas-y drink for the holidays and nice addition to Santa's cookie tray.
These Hot Cocoa recipes from whattodrink.com
also look great for the holiday season.
Caribbean Hot Chocolate
Serves: 1
1 1/2 ounces dark rum
1/2 ounce Crème de Cacao
4 ounces hot cocoa
1 ounce whipped cream
Pour all ingredients into an Irish coffee glass. Stir well. Float the whipped cream on top of the drink. Dust with cocoa powder.
HOT BUTTERSCOTCH COCOA
Serves: 1
¾ ounce butterscotch schnapps
¾ ounce coffee liqueur
5 ounces hot cocoa
Mix ingredients in coffee mug, top with whipped cream.
Save a zillion dollars on coffee drinks!
Basically, you get a few bottles together, pour in some coffee to about half the bottle, add a bit of flavoured creamer (in this case Coffee-Mate), then top with milk.
Pop them in the fridge, and you just saved several dollars.
Experiment with different creamer flavours or try adding your own. Substitue vegan creamer and soymilk for a vegan/lactose-free version.
Chocolate-Mint would make a great Christmas-y drink for the holidays and nice addition to Santa's cookie tray.
These Hot Cocoa recipes from whattodrink.com
also look great for the holiday season.
Caribbean Hot Chocolate
Serves: 1
1 1/2 ounces dark rum
1/2 ounce Crème de Cacao
4 ounces hot cocoa
1 ounce whipped cream
Pour all ingredients into an Irish coffee glass. Stir well. Float the whipped cream on top of the drink. Dust with cocoa powder.
HOT BUTTERSCOTCH COCOA
Serves: 1
¾ ounce butterscotch schnapps
¾ ounce coffee liqueur
5 ounces hot cocoa
Mix ingredients in coffee mug, top with whipped cream.
A Frugal fruitcake recipe.
I'm not a fan of regular fruitcake so this looked a little better to me, plus this looks so easy to make. You could add some maraschino cherries if you like for more of a 'normal' Christmas fruitcake but still keeping on a budget.
Poor Man’s Fruitcake
This was popular during World War II. Butter was rationed, and we could get lard with fewer ration coupons. Notice the absence of eggs.
1 1/2 cups raisins and/or currants*
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup lard (shortening, butter or margarine)
1 cup water (or leftover coffee)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease and flour one loaf pan.
Heat raisins, currants, sugar, shortening, and water till sugar dissolves, and shortening melts. Cool
Whisk together, or sift the dry ingredients. Add dry to wet, stir well.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Wrap and store in a cool place for several days before cutting.
*Soak the dried fruit in brandy or rum ahead if you like.
Notes: I poured a bit of Goslings dark rum on the wax paper that I wrapped the fruitcake in to more evenly distribute the rum. Leave in the fridge for a few days to allow the rum to soak in. Repeat, if you like. This makes a huge difference in the flavour of this cake.
Poor Man’s Fruitcake
This was popular during World War II. Butter was rationed, and we could get lard with fewer ration coupons. Notice the absence of eggs.
1 1/2 cups raisins and/or currants*
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup lard (shortening, butter or margarine)
1 cup water (or leftover coffee)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Preheat oven to 350 F
Grease and flour one loaf pan.
Heat raisins, currants, sugar, shortening, and water till sugar dissolves, and shortening melts. Cool
Whisk together, or sift the dry ingredients. Add dry to wet, stir well.
Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Wrap and store in a cool place for several days before cutting.
*Soak the dried fruit in brandy or rum ahead if you like.
Notes: I poured a bit of Goslings dark rum on the wax paper that I wrapped the fruitcake in to more evenly distribute the rum. Leave in the fridge for a few days to allow the rum to soak in. Repeat, if you like. This makes a huge difference in the flavour of this cake.
2008-11-26
Have a Thrifty Holiday
How to Have the Thriftiest Holiday Ever!
The Oprah Show
It's Oprah's favorite things…but there's a twist! They cost next to nothing. Then, Cristina Ferrare with step-by-step recipes. Plus, our free holiday gift to you!
Holiday Hits 2008
This year, we've teamed up with some of the biggest names in the music business to create a one-of-a-kind holiday mix. It's our gift to you!
These eight songs can be downloaded free for the next 48 hours. (Starts today!)
Treasure Boxes
"With three of her four kids in college, Connie has had to tighten her belt last holiday season. Instead of purchasing new gifts for her children, she found what money can't buy—years and years of childhood keepsakes. Connie saved everything from a scrap of carpet from her daughter's first bedroom to the letters she wrote home from summer camp. "I just kept throwing it in boxes and filing cabinets," she says. "It was all over the house."
To turn her scattered collection into beautiful mementos for her children, Connie purchased treasure boxes to hold each child's memories. "I wanted it to be a piece of furniture that they'll put on a shelf and keep forever," she says. It took months to put together, but Connie's children were touched when they received their mother's gift. "I'll always remember where I came from and what I am and who I am because of you," her son Jay says."
Hot Chocolate Cones
Garden Gift Baskets
"Tamara plucks her homemade holiday gifts right from her own backyard! "I make salsa, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, spicy green beans and crunchy dill pickles," she says. "So at Christmastime, I make gift baskets for all my family and loved ones.""
12 Dates of Christmas
The Oprah Show
It's Oprah's favorite things…but there's a twist! They cost next to nothing. Then, Cristina Ferrare with step-by-step recipes. Plus, our free holiday gift to you!
Holiday Hits 2008
This year, we've teamed up with some of the biggest names in the music business to create a one-of-a-kind holiday mix. It's our gift to you!
These eight songs can be downloaded free for the next 48 hours. (Starts today!)
Treasure Boxes
"With three of her four kids in college, Connie has had to tighten her belt last holiday season. Instead of purchasing new gifts for her children, she found what money can't buy—years and years of childhood keepsakes. Connie saved everything from a scrap of carpet from her daughter's first bedroom to the letters she wrote home from summer camp. "I just kept throwing it in boxes and filing cabinets," she says. "It was all over the house."
To turn her scattered collection into beautiful mementos for her children, Connie purchased treasure boxes to hold each child's memories. "I wanted it to be a piece of furniture that they'll put on a shelf and keep forever," she says. It took months to put together, but Connie's children were touched when they received their mother's gift. "I'll always remember where I came from and what I am and who I am because of you," her son Jay says."
Hot Chocolate Cones
Garden Gift Baskets
"Tamara plucks her homemade holiday gifts right from her own backyard! "I make salsa, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, spicy green beans and crunchy dill pickles," she says. "So at Christmastime, I make gift baskets for all my family and loved ones.""
12 Dates of Christmas
Make Your Own Cloth Rags
Cloth Rags can be made out of many old worn out clothing items such as old flannel sheets, t-shirts, and cloth diapers. Finish the edges on your sewing machine if you like but it often isn't necessary. Pick up some cheap wash cloths or find some at thrift stores.
Just cut them up and use them for many clean-up jobs. Never use paper towels again.
(My mom was still using some of the old cloth diapers as cleaning rags for many years after we were out of diapers.)
Cloth Rag Uses:
-Dusting and cleaning jobs
-Cleaning up spills
-Cloth napkins
-Puppy accidents
-Kid's pee (great when potty training)
-Use them as toilet paper or kleenex tissues
-Keep some around for a quick baby wipe during a diaper changing.
-Camping
-Washing dishes
-Paint cloths
-Lint-free ones are great for glass or mirrors.
-Make a rag quilt
-Washing the car
-Come up with your own.
Another idea is to Turn your Rags into Bags.
Another frugal tip:
Save your old toothbrushes for scrubbing hard to reach places!
Just cut them up and use them for many clean-up jobs. Never use paper towels again.
(My mom was still using some of the old cloth diapers as cleaning rags for many years after we were out of diapers.)
Cloth Rag Uses:
-Dusting and cleaning jobs
-Cleaning up spills
-Cloth napkins
-Puppy accidents
-Kid's pee (great when potty training)
-Use them as toilet paper or kleenex tissues
-Keep some around for a quick baby wipe during a diaper changing.
-Camping
-Washing dishes
-Paint cloths
-Lint-free ones are great for glass or mirrors.
-Make a rag quilt
-Washing the car
-Come up with your own.
Another idea is to Turn your Rags into Bags.
Another frugal tip:
Save your old toothbrushes for scrubbing hard to reach places!
2008-11-19
Crockpot Tasty Lentil Tacos
With the cold winter weather moving in again I'm starting to use my crockpot more often.
Crockpot Tasty Lentil Tacos
So easy to make in the crockpot and lower in fat too.
1 onion, finely chopped
1 vegetarian chicken boullion cube
1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed and sorted
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
Garnishes
shredded lettuce
chopped tomato
shredded Cheddar cheese
sour cream
salsa
Crockpot High 3.5 hours or Low 6-8 hours.
(I used a 2.5 quart crockpot.)
Spoon lentil mixture into each taco shell or tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa and sour cream.
This is a nice change from the ground beef alternates I usually use in tacos.
Crockpot Red Lentil Dahl
Crockpot Red Lentil Pottage
Vegetarian dishes
Crockpot Tasty Lentil Tacos
So easy to make in the crockpot and lower in fat too.
1 onion, finely chopped
1 vegetarian chicken boullion cube
1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed and sorted
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
Garnishes
shredded lettuce
chopped tomato
shredded Cheddar cheese
sour cream
salsa
Crockpot High 3.5 hours or Low 6-8 hours.
(I used a 2.5 quart crockpot.)
Spoon lentil mixture into each taco shell or tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa and sour cream.
This is a nice change from the ground beef alternates I usually use in tacos.
Crockpot Red Lentil Dahl
Crockpot Red Lentil Pottage
Vegetarian dishes
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