frugal recipe exchange - bonnylake

[bonnylake]

Most of these recipes come from pantry staples and the veggie bins!

Pumpkin Bars Oven 350 / Bake 35 - 40 min

9x13” cake pan
Lightly coat the bottom and sides with oil or Spray Pam
& sprinkle with a little cinnamon/sugar

1 2/3 - cups white sugar
1 – cup vegetable oil
1 – 16oz can pie pumpkin - or - 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
3 eggs

Combine and mix together until they are smooth.

2 - cups of flour
2 - teaspoons baking powder
1 – teaspoon baking soda
½ - teaspoon salt
2 – teaspoons cinnamon
1 - cup raisins (if you want to)

Add to the bowl and mix into the batter on low speed, then turn to medium and mix for about 2 minutes.
Test after 30 minutes – insert knife or toothpick in the center, if it comes out clean they are done. Or touch center and if it springs back they are done

[bonnylake]

Hamburger Potato Casserole Oven 350 / 60-75 min

9 x 13' baking dish - lightly spray or greased
My "go-to" scalloped spuds & meat dish
This is actually better the second day (like all casseroles)

4 cups - sliced potatoes with skins on
1/2 cup- thinly sliced sweet onion (give or take)
1lb ground meat - browned and drained
1 cup - (+/-) shredded cheddar cheese (or whatever)

1 10oz can cream of mushroom soup (or whatever)
1 can milk
salt & pepper to taste

Mix the soup, milk and S&P with a whisk - set aside.
Spread the meat in the bottom of the pan - Layer potatoes over meat , followed by layer of onions. Pour the soup mix over all.
Cover with tin foil - Bake 45 minutes, sprinkle with the cheese. Leave off foil once the cheese has been added. Bake until fork tender.

[bonnylake]

Oven Baked Potato Wedges (game day munchies) 425 / 30 min

Cover a large cookie sheet or broiler pan with tin foil and spray or grease. This recipe feeds 2 people comfortably - I have never made this with only 2 spuds - always at least 6 and multiply the spices. You can HEAP these in the broiler pan and just stir them up more often.

Serve with my Garlic Dip Recipe or Ranch and various dips

2 potatoes - cut into 8 wedges
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese or any grated hard cheese
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

put spices into a large bag - add potatoes and shake till everything is coated - pour out onto the cookie sheet and bake until fork tender - turning occasionally.

**options**
sprinkle over the coated potatoes - thin sliced onions, bell peppers, etc (anything veggie - make sure the sizes will cook in the allowed time.)

other spices - chili powder / taco seasoning (my recipe) / etc.
Might want to spray a little extra oil over everything at the half way point but they come out crispy and awesome!!



Garlic Dip
Put everything into a food processor and mix until creamy - let sit a few hours for better flavor.

1 cup cottage cheese
1 8oz package Philly cream cheese
2 Tbl mayonnaise
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

[bonnylake]

Taco Seasoning

I have all of these ingredients in my pantry so I mix up a big batch at one time, I use this on anything where I want a taste of Mexican flavor; refried beans, chopped leftover meat for taco salad, etc.

Equivalent to 1 package (store-bought)

1 Tbl chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder - or 1/2 tsp dried garlic
1/4 tsp onion powder - or use 1 tsp dried onion flakes
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt (I use sea salt)
1/4 tsp black pepper

grind in spice or coffee grinder

[bonnylake]

Home Made Rice-a-roni

Quantities = 1 package of store variety

3/4 cup rice
**1/2 cup broken spaghetti
2 Tbl butter/margarine
2 2/3 cup hot liquid
*spice packet to taste

Basic directions = saute rice and pasta pieces in butter / add hot liquid and spice packet / turn to low and simmer 20-25 minutes.

**For the broken spaghetti I use regular or angel hair pasta, put into a ziploc bag and beat with my meat tenderizer until the pieces are about 1" in size. Or in the food processor for big batches. Those small pieces in the bottom of the containers are great!

*The spice packet = 2 cubes of bouillon or equivalent powder + 2-3 Tbl of dried veggies ~ onions, garlic, carrots, celery, cabbage, etc. (whatever you have around or put together yourself). A few spices - sage, parsley flakes, etc.

[bonnylake]

Green Beans & Potatoes ~ My Irish Roots ~

Use a large skillet on medium high heat.
This side dish is meant to be a little brothy -
Serve in a side-bowl or thicken at the end.

3 cups thinly sliced potatoes with skins
2 cups green beans (cooked, canned, frozen, raw)
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbl olive oil (+/-)
1 cup vegetable broth (or whatever)

Pour oil in pan, sauté potatoes and beans so they have a little crisp on them - add everything else and simmer until fork tender. If you like thicker sauce then add cornstarch & water. I also change-up the spices and add rosemary, savory & parsley.
Drizzle with EVOO just before serving for tangier taste.

[bonnylake]

Red Beans
Pork & beans without the pork

1-pint pre-cooked small white beans

½ tsp. prepared mustard
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup ketchup
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/3 cup water
1 tsp. molasses

Combine all ingredients into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer at least 1 hour to thicken sauce. Adjust ingredients to individual tastes.

[bonnylake]

Vegetarian Baked beans

Oven 350 / 3 hours
Use a 2-quart heavy casserole dish,
Preferably round with a tight fitting lid

32oz precooked small white beans
½ cup chopped onion
¼ cup brown sugar
¾ cup molasses
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard powder
Pepper to taste
a few drops of liquid smoke or
1 whole chipolte chili
2 cups water – extra as needed

Mix all ingredients in the pan. Cook covered at least 2 hours – then stir. Cook another hour – stir and add water if necessary. Remove lid and continue cooking until desired texture and consistency. Remove chili pepper.

** These can be baked on a lower heat for a longer period of time for maximum flavor, but I have not made this recipe in a slow-cooker.

[bonnylake]

Glazed fresh carrots

Small sauté or frying pan
Use high heat

1 ½ lbs. fresh carrots – cut into ¼” diagonal slices
1 Tbl vegetable oil
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup water

1/3 cups brown sugar
2 Tbl butter

Prepare carrots – heat oil in pan, add carrots, and sprinkle with salt. Sauté until they start to get crispy, about 5 minutes – pour in water – cover with a lid and allow to steam for about 5 minutes. Test for doneness to your preference. Take off of heat. Add butter and brown sugar and stir until melted. If necessary return to cooling burner to reheat.

[bonnylake]

Scalloped Corn

350 / 45 minutes
9" casserole dish
Spray or lightly grease pan

1 14-16oz can creamed corn
2 eggs slightly beaten
½ cup finely crushed cracker crumbs
½ cup milk or cream
2 Tbl melted butter
Salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients lightly together and pour into prepared pan. Bake uncovered until firm in the middle.

[bonnylake]

Sweet Potato Quick Bread

Oven 350 / 45 minutes
Makes 2 loaves 8x4" pans
Spray or grease loaves – sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar mix

1 2/3 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 Tbl mayonnaise
2 cups mashes sweet potatoes
With electric mixer, beat until smooth

Combine dry ingredients and set aside.

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. cloves

1 cup raisins, nuts, cranberries, etc.

Add dry ingredients slowly while mixing on low speed.
Dredge raisins or nuts in a small amount of flour – fold into the batter. Pour into prepared pans.

[bonnylake]

French Traditional Style - Yeast Bread Recipe

1 TBL dry yeast
1 tsp. white sugar or honey
1/2 cup hot water

*Mix together and let sit in a neutral-warm spot for 10 minutes or until it gets frothy. I do this when using bulk yeast to make sure it is alive.

2 1/2 cups white all-purpose flour - have an additional 1/2-cup to the side
1 1/2 tsp. salt (I use sea salt)
2 TBL white sugar
2 TBL vegetable oil

*In the meantime, in a large bowl - lightly mix the dry ingredients together and then drizzle the oil over the top.

3/4 to 1 cup hot water

When the yeast is frothy, pour into the bowl of flour, then add 3/4 cup of hot water, start mixing and either add a little flour or water until the dough is workable. Knead for about 5 minutes or just until the dough looks like orange peel texture. Put the ball of dough back into the bowl which has been "ever so lightly" greased with vegetable shortening or oil, also dab a little oil on top of the dough.

Cover and let rise 1 hour in a warm place - punch it down lightly and raise again for 30 minutes. Roll it out into a rectangle, cut into 3 long strips and braid them together, flipping it over once or twice as you do, this gives it the unique texture.
Put the loaf on a tin foil covered cookie sheet - cover and raise another 30 minutes.

Just before baking - use 1 egg white whipped to a foam with a fork and brush it all over the top and sides of the loaf - this gives you the chewy French bread crust.
*- sprinkle the cookie sheet with a little cornmeal and lay the loaf on that.

Bake @ 375 for 20-25 minutes - it's done when lightly golden brown but there will still be some light areas where the braid intertwines. Take it off the cookie sheet using the foil as handles and cool on a rack.

[capecmom]

I'm going to try a bunch of these-they sound really yummy!

[bonnylake]

Triple Threat -Hot Chocolate - Chip Cookies

Oven 350 -
Makes approx. 3 dozen medium size cookies

1/4 - cup shortening
1/4 - cup margarine or butter
1/3 - cup brown sugar
1/2 - cup white sugar

Combine these 4 ingredients and mix together with an electric mixer until they are light and fluffy.

1 egg
½ - tsp vanilla extract

Add to the bowl and mix into the batter.

1 & 1/2 - cups of flour
3/4 - teaspoon baking soda
¼ - teaspoon salt

2 - 1oz packages of instant hot-chocolate mix
1/2 - cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 - cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Add to the creamed mixture slowly while beating on low speed.

Cover a cookie sheet with tinfoil or parchment paper -
Roll into walnut size balls - bake for about 10 minutes. When done baking - allow to rest on cookie sheet for five minutes, these cookies will not spread, they will be puffy.

[☼ ЯÏĊk ☺]

B, you are one busy lady! I'll have to write some stuff down that i created. I just go for it and, we....I weigh 270 , nuff said.
Your recipes look really good, I cant wait to try em. Wish this iphone had a printer..... ;-)