$avings Helper

Flour-less Pumpkin Pie Tartlets

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:14:00 +0000

Ingredients:
15 ounces pumpkin purée
12 ounces evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1 tlbs corn starch
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
In a small bowl combine the sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, & salt.
In another bowl beat the egg whites, & add the sugar mixture. Whisk them together & mix in the pumpkin purée. Pour in the evaporated milk in while mixing it in. Pour 1/4 cup to each baking cup (sprayed with PAM) in a muffin tray. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let them cool, & refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!

Mary Kay Eye Shadow!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:32:00 +0000

Visit MaryKay.com/Kwind to see all the colors available!

Meyer Lemon Madeleine Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:28:00 +0000

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 Tbls Meyer lemon zest

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 large eggs

2 sticks of butter (melted, & cooled)

2 Tbls Meyer lemon juice

1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease Madeleine cookie sheet.
In a bowl mix the dry ingredients -flour, baking powder, & baking soda.

In another bowl combine the sugar, lemon zest, & vanilla extract.
Add the eggs, one at a time, & whisk together thoroughly. Mix in the melted butter. Then mix well the yogurt/sour cream, & lemon juice.

In two batches, fold in the flour mixture without over mixing. Allow the batter to sit for 8 minutes.

Spoon the batter into the Madeleine pan cavities, & bake for 12 minutes. Flip over unto baking rack, & allow to cool. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Lemon & Vanilla Meringue Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:36:00 +0000

Ingredients:

4 egg whites (save the egg yolks to make lemon curd)
pinch of salt
pinch of cream of tartar (optional)
3/4 Cup fine sugar
zest of one lemon & 1 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla Directions:

Place egg whites & pinch of salt & cream of tartar in a bowl. Beat in medium speed until foamy.
Increase speed & slowly sprinkle in the sugar (1 Tbls at a time)
Beat until stiff peaks -glossy & thick. (melted marshmallow consistency)
Beat in lemon zest & juice & vanilla extract. Dollop Tbls worth of mixture unto baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat & bake for approx 2 hrs or until no longer sticky in the middle.

Homemade Chicken Broth!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Want to make delicious soups like these? The key is in the broth.
Making your own chicken broth is easy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Noodle & Veggies

You'll need the following ingredients to make it:

1 whole chicken
2 carrots
4 stalks of celery
1 yellow onion
3 garlic cloves

Simply place everything in a pot & bring to a rolling boil.
Continue simmering until the chicken meat comes off the bone easily. (approximately an hour)
Remove the vegetables & toss (they're just for flavoring). Shred the chicken & store.
The broth can be measured out & stored in the freezer for convenient access for later.

Pumpkin (shaped) Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Isn't this pumpkin shaped cake great? Simply bake two separate bundt cakes & stack them on each other to make the pumpkin figure.

Use butterscotch caramel to secure the cakes together

& add that gorgeous pumpkin color!

Top off with chopped walnuts for an amazing finish!

The pumpkin (shaped) cake was a hit at my daughter's birthday party, since it's during Halloween time. Thanks to my friend who made it, it was awesome!

Grow your Own Romaine Lettuce

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Next time you buy Romaine lettuce don't throw out the end part.
Simply cut the stump, place it in water, or plant it in a pot.
A new one will regrow from it!

The Best Strawberry Lemonade!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 02:52:00 +0000

This is the best lemonade I've ever had! To make it you will need:

1 Lemon

2 Strawberries

1/2 cup of Sugar

4 cups of water

The key to making this refreshing drink is to use a blender!

Peel the lemon, & add it whole into the blender.

Blend all the ingredients together for a minute. Strain, & Enjoy!

Cans.. Repurposed Organizers!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Repurposed Organizers! Use cans you would normally toss in the recycling.
Get more of these clever ideas at homemadesimple.com

Apple Chips Make a Nutritious Snack!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:21:00 +0000

To make these delicious apple chips you will need apples & cinnamon. That's it! No need for sugar, the apples are naturally sweet.
(I used 2 honey crisp apples)

Remove the core of the apples.

I used a knife & a peeler to do the job. Cut from the top & bottom & push out.

Next, slice the apples thinly. Place on a baking sheet, using parchment paper or a baking mat.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Meanwhile, sprinkle the ground cinnamon.

Bake for approximately 2 hours or until they crisp up

Enjoy the delicious, healthy snack, & the wonderful aroma your house will be filled with!

Refried Beans..without the fried part. Healthy & Delicious!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Ingredients:

1lb Central American Red Beans
4 garlic cloves
1/2 small onion
1.5 tsp salt

Directions:

Put the beans in a large bowl, pick out the dirt & unwanted ones, add approximately 6 cups of water, & soak overnight. In the morning, drain & rinse well.

Transfer the drained beans to a pot, & add 4 cups of water, 4 garlic cloves, & half a small onion. Cover with a lid & bring to a rolling boil. Add 2 more cups of water & simmer.

Cook on medium for 2 hours covered with a lid. -make sure they don't dry out (add 2 cups of water at a time, & stir occasionally). Cook another 30-45 minutes until tender. Add the salt & stir.

Blend everything together (garlic & onion will cook down, so no need to take anything out)

At first it will look a bit runny, but it will thicken up as you reheat it.

Serve with Salvadoran crema & cheese

Both my kids love it. The picky toddler & the growing baby. It makes great baby food as well!

Strawberry Orange Marmalade

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 16:57:00 +0000

Ingredients: For each pound of strawberries have 2 oranges, 2 lemons, 4 cups of sugar & pectin.

Instructions: Start out by zesting the oranges, and the lemons (set aside)

Wash the strawberries, & cut them into cubes. Add the orange & lemon to the strawberries by cutting the sections out (avoid the white membranes)
*Section out the citrus right on top of the strawberries to contain the juices.

Begin the cooking process by simmering the zest of the citrus with 1/4 cup water for a few minutes. Then, incorporate the strawberries, citrus, sugar, & 1/2 cup water. Simmer for 45 minutes or until the desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Add the amount of pectin (liquid or powder) following the box instructions.

Keep Berries Fresh Longer!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:20:00 +0000

To keep berries, and other produce fresh longer, simply use this washing method. Combine one part vinegar, and ten parts water. Let the fruit soak in the cleaning solution for ten minutes. Drain, pat dry, and store in the refrigerator. The vinegar will kill any mold spores, other bacteria, and will keep them fresh for a week or two!

Overnight Oats

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:26:00 +0000

Ingredients
1/2 cup oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 cup greek yogurt
2/3 cup milk
1 tbls chia seeds

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a lid. allow the mixture to sit overnight in the refrigerator.

In the morning, stir in your favorite fruit & sweetener to create the ultimate flavor. Overnight oats are easy & nutritious, full of fiber & protein. The best part is you can customize them to your liking. The possibilities are endless, Enjoy!

Rag Rug Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Found this incredible Fun, Easy to do, Rag Rug. Find the complete tutorial at: craftaholicsanonymous.net

DIY: Baby Car Seat Cover!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Check this free sewing pattern to make your own baby car seat cover at cluckclucksew.com

I'm definitely making this for myself! It makes a great gift, too!

Make Your Own Piñata

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Visit homemadesimple.com for the step by step directions to make this lovely, & vibrant piñata. Fun to stuff with candy or just hang up as party decor!

DIY: Bench & Storage in One!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Lay two tall bookshelves on their side & top of with a cushion to make this modern, fun bench with storage. Very creative & practical. Here is the how to step by step: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com

DIY: Ladder Laundry Rack

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:52:00 +0000

I love the idea of reusing or repurposing things. I think it’s smart to use items that are in good condition & bring them to life, instead of buying & spending money in new stuff. It gives you the feeling of accomplishment & you’ll value it more because of the time & effort you put into it. Read up on how to do this rack yourself using an ordinary ladder at littlelucylu.com

How to Grow Garlic

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:26:00 +0000

Here is JJ helping me plant a garlic clove that started to sprout in the fridge.

I later on placed it in a little bowl with water & it kept growing!

Plant it in a hole 4-6 inches deep with the pointy green side up.

It's amazing each clove can grow into a garlic bulb of about 20 cloves!

Homemade Apple Butter!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Ingredients

17 apples & 3 plums
3 cups sugar (I used 2 c. white sugar & 1 c. brown)
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
3 cinnamon sticks
Juice & zest of 1 lemon

Peel, core, & cut apples & plums into chunks.
Combine all the ingredients into a crock pot.
Cook until tender. (remove cinnamon sticks)
Blend everything together & cook longer until you've reached the desired consistency.

This recipe makes approximately 6 pints. Serve on pancakes (I added some in the batter as well), biscuits, or toast!

Growing Celery from Celery!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Cut the base of the celery stalk you buy from the grocery store & place it in a dish filled with water.

Once you have a new stalk sprouting out, transfer it into a pot or into your garden!

I've placed mine in a pot on our window sill & plan to use it on an “as needed” basis.

Wish I knew this sooner!

BBQ Chicken & Sweet Coleslaw Slider

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Ingredients

1/2 Shredded Cabbage

1/4 Shredded Red Cabbage (optional)

1-2 Shredded Carrots (optional)

1 Packet of Oriental Ramen Noodles

1 Cup Crushed Almonds

1/4 Olive Oil

4 Tbs White Vinegar

4 Tbs Sugar

Directions

Crush Ramen noodles before opening the packet. Set the seasoning aside. Toast the noodles & almonds in the oven.
Whisk seasoning packet, sugar, vinegar, & olive oil together to make the dressing.
In a bowl, mix in the cabbages, carrots, noodles & almonds. Drizzle & toss the dressing in right before serving (to avoid sogginess)
Serve over hard rolls & bbq chicken for a great meal!

Mosaic Jello Treat!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:28:00 +0000

I found this recipe at Kraftbrands.com/jello & thought it was a neat dessert!

If you decide to give it a try, Do Not forget to spray the containers with cooking spray. It makes it so easy to take the gelatin out with out making a mess. Use any flavor gelatin you prefer.

Lemon Poppy Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Windley) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest & juice of 1 large lemon
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk or vanilla yogurt or sour cream
2 Tbsp poppy seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° Makes 8 Muffins

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, poppy seeds & salt in a bowl.
In another bowl, cream the oil & sugar. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract, zest & lemon juice, & milk.
Briefly mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Pour into greased muffin pan, filling each one to the top. Bake for about 20 minutes, until browned on top.