Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The holidays are upon us! Make pies ahead of time! Pie crust and Unapple pie recipe...

Last night I made the pie crust and today I'll be baking my Unapple Pie, cooling it completely, and freezing it. It'll save time and stress on Thanksgiving Day. Come Thanksgiving I'll only have to worry about making the Pumpkin Pie-and that one is easy-peasy to make. Unapple and Apple pies are perfect for freezing, but I don't recommend it for Pumpkin Pie.

Simple Pie Crust

Ingredients:

2c flour
1t salt
1c Crisco Butter Flavored Shortening
½ cup ice cold water

In a large bowl mix flour & salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water. Form a ball with mixture (do not overwork.) Divide dough in half, shape into two balls, wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Place wax paper on counter. Place dough on top. Cover with another piece of wax paper and roll out. Remove wax paper from top, flip crust into pie pan. Use as directed in pie recipe.


Unapple Pie: Zucchini Pie

Ingredients:
4-5 zucchini: peeled, seeded & sliced ¼” thick
1c sugar
1/4c brown sugar
2T flour
1 1/2t cinnamon
1T Cream of Tartar
1/8t salt
¼t ground nutmeg
1T butter, diced
1 recipe pastry for a double pie crust

Boil zucchini two minutes. Drain and cool. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together sugar and spices. Mix well with zucchini (after you’ve peeled, sliced, and seeded it). Place into pie crust and dot with butter. Place top of pie crust onto pie. Seal sides with fork tines. Poke a few times to vent and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350 degrees for 30-50 minutes, until pie crust is browned. Cool completely. This may be made ahead of time. Cool completely and freeze. To cook from frozen, put frozen homemade pie into UNpreheated oven at 350 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes. 

Some tips from my kitchen to yours….

Invest in small Tupperware containers to store and freeze leftovers. These are perfect for making little meals for the week. I find them at the Dollar Tree all the time.

I also save butter, yogurt, deli-meat containers-anything with a tight fitting lid. These are great for leftovers as well. Also, if you have a family gathering and want to send leftovers home, these are perfect and don’t need to be returned.

I will put what I paid for my items, but prices will vary from city to city, state to state.

I keep a slew of spices in my pantry-all purchased from dollar stores. When I mention using garlic or onion, it’s usually in dry spice form because I’m lazy and hate mincing garlic or chopping onion.

Always take advantage of sales at your local grocery store. Friday I bought a 2.65lb. Pork tenderloin for $7.92 (regular price $15.87) and a $10 Beef  Roast for $5.92. Weeks ago I purchased the same Pork Tenderloins for $5 apiece. I still regret not buying more.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Week Two Meal Ideas

Monday-Taco Soup
Tuesday-Cheese Raviolis & Salad
Wednesday-Pot Pie Night
Thursday-Easy Chili
Friday-Fun Meal Night-Nachos

Items needed from the store:

*2lb. ground beef ($5.98)
*1/4-1/2 cup diced onions (.99)
*4 15oz cans pinto beans ($3.96)
1 15oz can hominy (.99)
*3 15oz cans diced tomatoes ($1.98)
*1 15oz can kidney beans (.99)
*1 packet dry taco seasoning (.59)
(optional) 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix ($1.99)
*1 13oz bag tortilla chips ($1.99)
1 9oz package frozen Raviolis ($2.99)
*1 26oz can spaghetti sauce (.99)
1 bagged salad (.99)
*fat free ranch dressing ($2.99)
*Croutons (.99)
1 cucumber (.99)
French Bread ($1.49)
Frozen pot pies (.99-$1.50 each)
*Corn Bread Mix (.33)
*1 8oz bag shredded cheese ($2.99)
1 can sliced olives ($1.29)
*1 15oz can refried beans (.99)
1 can beer ($2)
*Spices (.99 each): chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion salt, ground cumin, garlic, salt and pepper to taste
*Condiments: (.99 each): Worcestershire, tabasco, vinegar
Optional: diced green onions (.99), sour cream (.99), salsa (.99), green chiles (.99)

Monday-Taco Soup

Brown one pound ground beef and ¼ cup onions (I use dried onions.) After browning, drain. Add 2 cans pinto beans (undrained), 1 can hominy, 2 undrained cans of diced tomatoes, one taco seasoning packet, one ranch packet (this is optional)and mix well. Simmer 30 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and tortilla chips. You can also garnish with salsa, sour cream, black olives, etc.

On the go method: Brown onion and beef the night before. Drain and refrigerate. Toss all of the ingredients (except tortilla chips, cheese and garnishes) into your crock pot and set on low all day. When you get home from work, top with cheese, tortillas and desired garnishes.

Tuesday-Cheese Ravioli and Salad

Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce & simmer until heated through. Meanwhile, rinse bagged salad, slice the cucumber and assemble your salads, adding croutons and dressing. Serve with buttered French bread.

Wednesday-Pot Pie Night

Sometimes the week is too hectic and you just want an easy meal. Sounds like a night for Banquet Pot Pies or the frozen pot pies of your choice. Follow package instructions for a quick dinner in 35 minutes. Serve with French bread.

Thursday-Easy Chili

Brown one pound ground beef and ¼ cup onions in a large skillet. Drain. Add 1T chili powder, 2T Worcestershire, 1T paprika, 1t garlic powder, 2 15oz cans undrained pinto beans, 1 15oz can undrained kidney beans, 1t onion salt, 2t ground cumin, 2t vinegar, 1 15oz can undrained diced tomatoes, 5-10 drops Tabasco, 12 garlic cloves and one can of beer.  Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer. Check every 30 minutes until desired consistency. Salt & pepper to taste. Top with shredded cheese. Serve with Jiffy Cornbread Muffins.

On the go method-brown beef and onions the night before. Add all ingredients to your crockpot and set on low setting. Let it simmer all day.

Friday-Fun Meal Night-Nachos!

Why not use your leftover tortilla chips from Taco Soup night and your garnishes to create some yummy nachos! Heat your refried beans in a small pan over medium heat. Spread the tortilla chips over a plate. Add beans, sliced olives, shredded cheese, salsa, etc. microwave on high until cheese is nice and melty. Top with sour cream and green onions.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

A football weekend appetizer sure to please! Potato Skins!

*-ingredients I always keep on hand

Potato Skins
Ingredients needed from the store:
6 medium potatoes-scrubbed and pierced-$0.99
*butter-$3.99 a tub
*season salt-$1
*1 cup shredded cheese-$2.99/8oz. bag
Toppings
6 strips of cooked bacon-$2.99
reserved bacon grease

Preheat oven broiler. Scrub potatoes and pierce with fork. Microwave on high for about 6-10 minutes, until potatoes are soft. 

Meanwhile, cook bacon, reserving bacon grease. Cut lengthwise and scoop out potato pulp. Brush both sides of skins with butter and bacon grease.

Sprinkle inside of skin with season salt and broil skin side up for 3 minutes. Turn skin side down. Top with bacon and cheese and broil an additional 2 minutes. Yum-my!

Take your time method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. After scrubbing & piercing potatoes, rub with butter and bake 60 minutes. Follow all other steps for amazing home-made potato skins.