More Than Bargains

Homemade Slushie Recipe-from Family Corner July 16, 2008

In my inbox this morning was my weekly newsletter from http://www.familycorner.com.  In the newsletter there are always crafts, things to do, parent info, and recipes.  One article caught my eye immediately, HOMEMADE SLUSHIES.  Every week my kids say “Can we go get a Slurpee” my response is “No, sorry too expensive”.  The main reason I don’ t do this is because the closest 7-11 is 25 miles away and it would take me at least 45-60 minutes to get there. Traffic and the cost of gas just sucks!

I know this will help on those HOT days we have been getting lately.  Plus it’s very easy too make.

Slushies

1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix, any flavor
2 cups of water
1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar
4 cups ice

In a blender, combine Kool-Aid, water and sugar. Blend. Add all the ice and blend. Done!

Variations: For Coca Cola, simply add one can of Coke and enough ice to cover and blend. Or add a scoop of ice cream before pouring in the slushie, yum!

NOTE: It is best to use a blender with an “ice crushing” feature on it.

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/2.shtml

Have fun and have a slushie good time this summer, lol!

Kids Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Sticks July 1, 2008

YUMMY!!!!

From Every Day with Rachael Ray
April 2007

1/2 cup peanut butter
  8 slices sandwich bread
  1/2 cup jelly (any flavor)
  5 large eggs
  1/3 cup milk
  2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  4 tablespoons butter
  1/2 cup maple syrup

1. Spread the peanut butter on 4 bread slices and the jelly on the other 4 slices, and combine to make 4 sammies.
2. In a wide, medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla.
3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. When the butter is almost melted, dunk two of the sammies into the french toast batter and let the excess drip off. Place in the pan and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes for each side. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 2 sammies. Let cool slightly and cut into sticks; serve with the warm maple syrup.

I’m going to try this recipe this weekend. The kids love PB&J and french toast so what a great combo. To avoid the sugar rush I might omit the syrup.

Hubby’s Fav BBQ Dish~ June 24, 2008

Block Party Barbecued Baked Beans
Prep Time:15 min
Total Time:30 min
Makes:12 servings, 1/2 cup each
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 can (16 oz.) pork and beans
1 can (15-1/2 oz.) mild chili beans
1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard

PREHEAT grill to medium heat. Meanwhile, brown meat in nonstick skillet on medium heat; drain. Add onions; cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining ingredients.

SPOON into 13×9-inch disposable foil pan; cover tightly with foil. Place pan directly on grill.

GRILL 10 to 15 min. or until bean mixture is heated through and bubbly.

How to Use Your Slow Cooker: Brown meat in skillet; drain. Add onions; cook as directed. Spoon into slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 4 hours.

I’ve used the slow cooker way and it was YUMMY!!!!!!! Perfect dish to bring to a BBQ.

Win a healthy recipes cookbook! June 16, 2008

Play the Heart Smarts Challenge.  Which is very simple because they ask common sense questions.  I got 5 out of 6 questions right and won my recipe book, woohoo!  All you need is 250 points to get the free recipe book.

 Go play now~http://www.goredwithmerck.com/go_red/goredwithmerck/consumer/index.jsp

This site is to learn more about heart-healthy living, about the risk factors associated with heart disease, get healthy recipes, and read personal stories.

Very nice site with some awesome information that we all need!  

Crab Dogs June 13, 2008

From Every Day with Rachael Ray
August 2007

MAKES EIGHT SANDWICHES
Prep Time: 10 min

Ingredients:
  1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  2 tablespoons lime juice
  1 teaspoon grated lime peel
  1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  4 cups packaged coleslaw mix (about 12 ounces)
  1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  12 ounces fresh or canned lump crabmeat, picked over
  Salt and pepper
  8 hot dog buns
  1/3 cup chopped fresh dill, for garnish

1. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, lime peel and cumin. Add the coleslaw mix, cilantro and crab. Toss to coat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Fill each hot dog bun with about 1/2 cup crab mixture and top with the chopped dill.

Sounds yummy!  I want to invite my girlfriends over and have Crab Dogs.  I don’t like coleslaw but I’m sure I can find something else to put in the recipe.  Very simple recipe, love that! 

Grilled New Potato Packet Recipe June 8, 2008

Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time:25 min
Makes:4 servings
3/4 cup each 1/2 lb. each: red and white baby new potatoes
2 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. oil
3 Tbsp. KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
2 Tbsp. KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

PREHEAT grill to medium heat. Place potatoes in center of 18-inch-long piece of heavy-duty foil. (Or, use a double layer of regular foil.) Drizzle with water and oil. Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

GRILL 18 to 20 min. or until potatoes are tender.

CUT slits in foil to release steam. Open packet. Drizzle potatoes with dressing; sprinkle with cheese and parsley.

Kraft Kitchens Tips:
Jazz It Up~Add 2 cloves garlic, minced and 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper to packet with the water and oil.
Substitute~ Prepare as directed using KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/grilled-new-potato-packet-106265.aspx

I saw this recipe on my kraftfoods.com widget today.  Sounds so yummy but also very easy to make.  We love potatoes in our house. 

Steakhouse Cheeseburgers May 26, 2008

Prep Time:15 min
Total Time:25 min
Makes:4 servings
1 Tbsp. MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing
1/4 cup A.1. Thick & Hearty Steak Sauce, divided
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 French bread baguette, 16 to 20-inches long (about 10 oz.)
4 KRAFT 2% Milk American Singles

PREHEAT grill to medium-high heat. Mix dressing and 1/2 tsp. of the steak sauce. Stir in tomatoes; set aside.

MIX meat, remaining steak sauce and onions. Shape into four (1/2-inch thick) oval patties. Cut baguette crosswise into 4 pieces. Cut each piece lengthwise in half.

GRILL patties 4 min. on each side or until cooked through (160°F.) Top each patty with 2% Milk Singles. Add baguettes, cut-sides down, to grill. Continue grilling 1 min. or until baguettes are lightly toasted and 2% Milk Singles are melted. Fill baguettes with cheeseburgers; top with dressing mixture.

YUMMY!!!!  Get more BBQ recipes at http://www.kraftfoods.com

Grilled Pound Cake with Berries and Ice Cream May 19, 2008

Now this is an EASY dessert dish!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
 Pound cake
 Ice cream of your choice
 Berries of your choice

1. Heat slices of pound cake on the hot (clean) grill grates for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until you have visible grill marks.

2. Top each slice with ice cream and 1/2 cup of fresh berries.

I bet I can use this on our indoor grill too.  We rarely have dessert in our house because my kids just don’t need that extra sugar at night.  If we do a dessert then it’s a bowl of fruit.  This recipe would be perfect.  My hips like dessert too so I will try it with only fruit, no ice cream for mom.

Recipe from: http://familyfun.go.com/

Cowboy Hamburger May 13, 2008

Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:30 min
Makes:8 servings, one cheeseburger each
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 onions, thinly sliced, separated into rings
8 hamburger patties (1/4 lb. each)
3 Tbsp. A.1. Original Steak Sauce
2 tomatoes, sliced
8 hamburger buns, partially split
8 KRAFT Singles PREHEAT grill to medium heat.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions; cook 5 min., stirring frequently. Cover with lid. Simmer 20 min. or until onions are golden brown, stirring frequently.

MEANWHILE, grill patties 5 min. on each side or until medium doneness (160ºF). Stir steak sauce into onion mixture.

PLACE 1 tomato slice and burger on bottom half of each bun; cover with 1 Singles, 3 Tbsp. of the onion mixture and top of bun.

Tips~ Use BBQ sauce, wheat buns, or maybe even bacon.

I know a lot of us know how to BBQ a hamburger but there are people that still need help (hint to hubby, lol). My husband thinks if its burnt to a crisp then that’s a BBQ hamburger. I love putting A-1 in the hamburger because it ads such a KICK to it!   I don’t complain too much because he is cooking a dinner and that alone is a blessing.  I’m gathering BBQ recipes for him because he is looking forward to using his grill he bought on sale of course!

Mini Brownie Treats May 5, 2008

Quick and Easy! They will go FAST.

1 package of fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)

48 striped chocolate kisses

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for FUDGE-LIKE brownies. 

Fill paper-lined miniature muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 18-21 minutes (use the toothpick trick to test if done).

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Makes 4 dozen

Yummy Breakfast Recipe April 5, 2008

Prep Time:10 min Total Time:10 min
Makes:1 serving

1 frozen waffle, lightly toasted
1/2 cup BREAKSTONE’S or KNUDSEN Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup POST HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS with Almonds Cereal
3 peeled fresh or drained canned peach slices in juice
1/4 cup raspberries TOP waffle with cottage cheese, cereal and fruit.

Serve immediately.

I made this yesterday for my kids and it was a HIT. I did substitute yogart for the cottage cheese and strawberries for the raspberries. YUMMY and healthy.

This is my favorite site to get recipes: http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/home.htm

Easy Strawberry Mouse March 26, 2008

Prep Time:15
Total Time:1 hr 15
Makes:10 servings

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Fat Free Cream Cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Sugar Free Low Calorie Gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping,
divided 2 cups sliced strawberries

BEAT cream cheese and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until well blended; set aside.

STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in small bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add cold water; stir until slightly thickened. Gradually add to cream cheese mixture, beating after each addition until well blended. Gently stir in 1-1/2 cups of the whipped topping and the strawberries.

SPOON evenly into 10 small dessert dishes. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Top each with a dollop of the remaining whipped topping just before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

recipe from: http://www.kraftfoods.com

 My kids love this treat!  We love strawberries so this recipe goes over very well in my house.

Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who March 20, 2008

We have spring break next week so I thought I would take the kids to see this movie.  A friend went already and said she laughed thru out the whole movie probably more than her kids did.   

Go to http://www.hortonmovie.com/splash.html to get movie tickets, downloads, games, and even watch a trailer. 

Our house loves Dr. Seuss we even have the Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook! 

Our favorite drink is the Pink Yink Ink Drink because its fun to make:

1/2 pint fresh or 1/2 cup frozen blackberries (thawed)

1 cup milk

6 fresh strawberries, green tops removed of course (lol) or 1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1 teaspoon of honey

• Put the blackberries in a blender and puree them
• Pour into a large glass
• Put in milk, strawberries, and honey in the blender and mix.
• Strain the mixture (optional-we don’t)
• Pour the strawberry mixture carefully on top of the blackberries

You can get the cookbook at the library, bookstores and on Amazon for $ 11.53.

Best-Ever Fried Chicken

1 cut-up broiler-fryer chicken (about 3 1/2 lb)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp each~ pepper and dried thyme3 cups oil for frying

•  Put chicken and buttermilk in a large ziptop bag, seal and refrigerate 2 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally.
• Drain chick in a colander; discard buttermilk.  Don’t pat chicken dry.
• In a clean plastic bag, combine flour, salt, pepper and thyme.  Add several pieces of chicken, seal bag and shake to coat well.  Remove chicken to a plate.  Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Heat oil in 1 large or 2 medium-size heavy skillets over meduim heat until hot but not smoking.  Add chicken, cover and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, 20 minutes, reducing heat slightly if chicken begins to brown.  Uncover, increase heat to medium-high and cook, turning often, 10 minutes or until chicken is golden and cooked through.  Drain on paper towels.

Now I didn’t say it was the healthiest but is sure is GOOD!

Kid Recipe~ Pastrami Pita Pockets March 10, 2008

Pastrami Pita Pockets

Let the kids cook for St. Patrick’s Day! These simple sandwiches can be assembled with little or no help from Mom and Dad. A simple yet delicious dish with Irish flare.

8 slices Pastrami deli meat
4 slices Swiss cheese
1 C. canned sauerkraut
Thousand Island Dressing (optional)
Pita Pocket bread

Makes 4 whole pita sandwiches.

If pitas are whole, cut each piece in half, making 2 pockets. Stuff each pocket with 2 slices of Pastrami, 1/2 slice Swiss cheese and 1/8 cup sauerkraut. Warm in microwave for 30-second intervals until cheese is melted. Spoon on 1 TBSP Thousand Island dressing, if desired.

Thank you: http://www.momsmenu.com

Make this for dinner with the kids on St. Patty’s Day!