This is not really Amaretto. Real Amaretto is an Italian liquor made with apricot or almond pits seeped in alcohol with herbs & sweetener added. This homemade flavored vodka tastes pretty similar at a fraction of the price. This version can be sipped, made into drinks like Amaretto Sours, added into your after dinner coffee,… Keep Reading
Recipe: Homemade Soft Pretzels (BreadMachine)
Whenever we go to Walmart and my kids see that Auntie Annies Pretzel shop they start begging. “Mama, can we have a pretzel?” Occasionally I cave and buy that $3 pretzel, but mostly I promise to make this homemade version that is just as tasty yet much less expensive. Since I let the kids form… Keep Reading
Recipe: Pumpkin Bread
Something about the onset of fall just cries out for pumpkins. Paper pumpkins start adorning shop windows and classroom walls. Real pumpkins decorate porches, nestle up against mailbox posts and wait to be carved for Halloween. And then, of course, you can eat them! Canned pumpkin is very frugal, adding moisture, flavor and nutrition to… Keep Reading
Recipe: Baked Oatmeal
I have always loved oatmeal. Warm, filling, nutty. . . it is a breakfast that can put a smile on my face. Probably a result of growing up in the bitter climes of Maine~anything steaming hot for breakfast on a cold winter day was good. I know that there are very varied feelings out there… Keep Reading
Quick Dinner: 5 Easy Ideas to Use Meatballs
Ahh, day two in my 3 day quest to help us all avoid the take out trap by having premade dinner components in the freezer ready to go! Yesterday I posted 12 Easy Ideas for Ground Beef. Today I’ll be tackling meatballs! There are lots of variations on the way folks make meatballs. Some use… Keep Reading
Recipe: Green Chile Chicken Lasagna
The weather is starting to cool down, school is starting soon & fall is almost upon us. With fall comes some of my favorite comfort style foods-soups and casseroles. I like this Green Chili Chicken Lasagna because it is different from your run of the mill casserole. It’s quasi Mexican but uses chicken instead of… Keep Reading
Old Fashioned Salmon Loaf
This is a classic and frugal recipe. Canned salmon may be more expensive than tuna fish, but it is still a relatively inexpensive source of protein. And with all the buzz in the health community about omega 3‘s being good for you, salmon is an even better choice. Leave the bones in* and you’ve added… Keep Reading
Recipe: Peanut Butter Honey “Candy”
Talking about after school snacks reminded me of this classic recipe for healthy peanut butter “candy” Peanut Butter “Candy” 1 C Powdered Milk 1/2 C Honey 1/2 C Peanut Butter Mix all ingredients together and roll into balls. Store in refrigerator. Variations: Add into the mix, or roll completed balls in up to 1/2 C… Keep Reading
Recipe: Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip
Sometimes when you are having folks over you want something a little classier than chips and onion dip. It is a copycat of the appetizer dip sold at TGI Friday’s. I love making this dip when I’m having a crowd over~everything except the baking can be done ahead of time then refridgerated. . .then just… Keep Reading
Recipe: Spiedies (Kabob)
Spiedies are a local specialty where I live. They are similar to a Kabob (shishkebab? shishkabob? Whatever) but have a very specific type of marinade. They are so well loved here that there is actually a special festival dedicated to them~The Spiedie Fest. Spiedies Approx 1 LB of meat* 1/4 C Lemon Juice 1/3 C… Keep Reading
