Recipes

Thrifty Thursday: Making Meals and Mixes!

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Anisa

One Pot Meals and Making Your Own Spice Mixes, that is!

Mmmmm…. food!  I love food!  I like to cook food (well, at least when I’m NOT pregnant), and I love to eat food!   But I don’t love the extra salt, MSG or the high prices that are often attached to convenience/pre-packaged foods.  So this week, it’s how to make your own spice mixes, and how to cook some economical, healthy alternatives to make it through a busy week. 

I’ve already raved on and on about my favorite cookbook, Glorius One Pot Meals by Elizabeth Yarnell.  I am mentioning it again, because, well, I love it and use it all the time!  She did just come out with a revised edition of the book, and she has a good website as well:  http://www.gloriouspotmeal.com/

The GOPM recipes are easy to double or triple and make great leftovers and lunches.  I find this to be an economical (both in time and money) way of cooking.  They take less than an hour and are all cooked in one pot (a dutch oven).  The book is also a great way to ease yourself into using more whole, healthy foods if you’re not used to cooking that way yet.  It does not use condensed soup or soup mixes or any prepackaged items.  And it’s less than $13!

We have two other “one pots” in our kitchen: the soup pot (which I talked about last week), and the crock pot.  I don’t use my crock pot nearly as often, since I quit working outside the home, but it is such a great time and money saving tool.  My only caution (and this is the hippie in me) is to avoid the temping recipes calling for those salt-laden condensed soups, etc. 

My favorite thing to make in the crock pot is chili.  Red chili.  I make it on the stove top as well, but it’s awesome to throw it into the crock pot first thing in the morning, and have it hot and ready after a day of snowshoeing (or whatever) out in the cold.   Which brings me to the first homemade spice mix:

Chili powder. Instead of spending money on the chili powder in the spice aisle, just make it yourself (minus the MSG) from spices you probably already have and can certainly use in other dishes separately.  Here’s the recipe I use:

  • 1 TBS paprika
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1-2 tsp crushed red pepper (I like more… mmmm, spicy!)
  • 3/4 tsp ground coriander

Add that, some minced garlic along with a bay leaf and some parsley to your pot and, voila! Better than any chili powder you can buy.

Here’s one I’ve wondered about for a long time:  Baking Powder.  I’ve known baking powder was made from baking soda, but only recently did I find out what else went into it (thank you Better Homes & Gardens!):

  • 1/4 cup cream of tartar (I use this in my biscuits all the time)
  • 2 TBS baking soda
  • Sift the ingredients together 3 or 4 times until well blended.  Store in an air tight container.

You can find some other mix recipes (for example, taco seasoning), along with some other handy, money saving kitchen tips at FlyLady.net

Bon appetit!  

Find more ways to save this week with Genny, Katie Jean & Tracy.

***I had to edit this post today when I noticed a trend starting on Tracy’s blog: her Marathon Cooking Sessions!  Check out what she does (with a friend, the Smartie!) to save money on those last minute meals;  Here and Here!  Way to go.  I wish I could say I was doing this…. I will have to get this kind of thing scheduled!  Perhaps Genny will be up for marathon cooking together??  Tracy – I hope you don’t mind that I shared!!***

Categories: Food, Recipes, Thrift | 3 Comments

Giving Thanks and Growing Too

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Anisa

Oh the holidays are upon us!  The Schell family had a great Thanksgiving.  I was inspired by my best buddy, Jenny, to start a new tradition… homemade cinnamon rolls.  I’m not much of a baker, but the night before Turkey Day, I made the dough, let it rise, did the kneading, rolled them out and filled them.  It was so neat to wake up on Thursday morning and have them ready to pop in the oven after their quick 30 minutes at room temperature.  And they were pretty tasty, though I may make a few modifications in the future.

So, while the cinnamon rolls were baking, we sat down to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.  I’ve missed this the last couple of years, so I was really excited to see all the balloons and floats, and envy the Rockette’s perfect legs.  🙂

As the parade finished up, and after the rolls were thoroughly enjoyed, I started to work on the side dishes I was bringing to Rick’s mom’s house for the big dinner.  I made a traditional green bean cassarole (the one with the condensed soup & french-fried onions), and this awesome Brussels sprout recipe that I got from Better Homes & Gardens:

Creamy Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

  • 4  slices peppered bacon
  • 2  lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved through stem end
  • 3/4  cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2  tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4  tsp. black pepper
  • 3/4  cup whipping cream
  • Cracked Black Pepper

Directions

1. In 12-inch skillet cook bacon over medium heat until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet.

2. In skillet add Brussels sprouts to drippings; cook and stir over medium heat 4 minutes. Add broth, salt, and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Uncover; cook 2 to 4 minutes or until liquid is nearly evaporated. Add cream. Cook 4 minutes more or until thickened.

3. Transfer sprouts to serving dish. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and cracked pepper. Serves 8.

The sprouts were a hit.  All the normally-non-sprout-eaters, seemed to like them, I received lots of complements.  And Rick insisted that I make them a part of our regular meals.  So I’d say they were a success.  Everything really is better with bacon, I guess.  🙂

We ate ourselves silly at Kris’ house, and her turkey turned out very well… very moist.  One of the best turkey’s I’ve ever had actually.  But when it was time for dessert, I began to wish I had rice pudding.  Kris’ homemade cheesecake is delicious, but there’s nothing like my mom’s rice pudding. 

So we went down to my mom’s on the way home.  I had a couple of cold, but perfectly rare pieces of the left over prime rib she made, and, of course, finished off what little rice pudding she had left. 

Rick and I also took the opportunity to tell both of our families the big news:  we are going to add another little Schell to the family!  That’s right.  I’m about 9 weeks pregnant, and yes, sadly, I’m just as sick as I was last time.  But, it’s worth it, as they say, so in July, Henry will be a big brother. 

That about sums up our Thanksgiving festivities.  We are excited for Christmas this year, and have already got some pretty fun things on the docket for the month!  Will share and post pictures as I can! 

Categories: Food, Recipes | 2 Comments

Popcorn Strings, Paper Chains and Eggnog

Posted on December 20, 2007 by Anisa

be-merry-1207.jpg

Precious pic and layout…. Thanks Rach!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhh!  The Cookie Exchange!

Two years ago, some friends and I from Sports Authority started an annual tradition.  A cookie exchange, where we could gather just us girls, eat, drink & be merry… and go home with dozens of cookies for all the parties to come.  In the past we’ve had Mandelbrots (I *think* that’s how it’s spelled), Buckeyes (to die for), chocolate chip (my sis’ specialty), red and white twisted candy-cane sugar cookies, ginger cookies coated in superfine sugar (yum!) and I always make pitzelles.

This year, the tradition continued, though not one of us works at TSA anymore.  The ranks were smaller… we had a sickie and two people out of town unexpectedly.  But Jenn & Rach, the faithful, came bearing the most delicious goodies.  Jenn made scrumptious snickerdoodles… yum!  And Rach made the most addicting Biscochitos (a traditional Mexican cookie).  Her recipe is on the page… and good thing too.. I’ve been craving them ever since!  Genny (the sickie) dropped off her Cowboy Cookies early, and they were de-lish!

This year, I decided to have an impromptu craft… popcorn & cranberry strings, and paper chains.  I made homemade eggnog that we downed with delight, and we spent the evening chatting away while making patterns we learned in elementary school.  Rach did a FAB blog about this (as usual), and we all had a great time.  My favorite is the paper chain… we each worked on it, and I plan to put it on the tree every year as long as it lasts.  A little friendship chain to commemorate the night.  View the close up pic on Rach’s blog!

I promised to share the eggnog recipe, so here it is… ironically from the Southern Living holiday cook book Jenn gave me at the first cookie exchange.  I guess the chain of friendship comes full circle sometimes!

Holiday Eggnog

2 cups sugar
4 cups half-and-half
1 1/4 cups milk
6 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups bourbon, divided
2 cups whipping cream, whipped

Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan; cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 160 degrees.  Stir in 3/4 cup bourbon.  Cool; cover and chill.

Combine chilled mixture and remaining 1/2 cup of bourbon in a punch bowl.  Gently stir in whipped cream; sprinkle with nutmeg if desired.  Serve immediately.  Yield: 14 cups

Categories: Community, Food, Recipes | 4 Comments

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