Oct. 7, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Maple Syrup and Waffles
I love it when I can find a cheaper way of doing something and find that my family LOVES it! 
Maple Syrup:
3 c. granulated sugar
1-1/2 c. water
3 T. molasses
1 t. maple extract
Place all ingredients in a pan and stir until it boils and the sugar is dissolved. Cool, then pour into container.
For a small bottle of maple syrup at the store, it runs around $5.00. To make it yourself, it is less than $1.50 for a medium sized bottle, and it tastes so much better!
Sugar Free Syrup:
1 c. frozen apple juice concentrate (UNSWEETENED!)
1 T. maple extract
2 packets artificial sweetener (Though I haven't tried it, Stevia would probably work just as well.)
1/2 c. water with 1 t. cornstarch, dissolved
1 T. margarine (optional)
Boil all ingredients. Cool. Transfer to bottle.
To buy this at the store, it is VERY costly. As best as I could figure, I think it runs less than $1.00 to make it yourself, and it tastes MUCH better!
Waffles
1-1/3 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. milk
2 eggs
4 T. olive oil
2 T. sugar (or sugar substitute)
2 t. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
Mix well. Pour onto waffle maker and cook. *You can also make a double or triple batch and freeze it.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Sep. 30, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Soup Night and recipes
Institute a soup night! It is really cheap!
Here are some of my favorite soup recipes:
Chili (crock pot)
1-1/2 # ground beef, browned and drained
2 cans pinto beans, drained
chopped onion
1/4 t. garlic powder
15 oz. stewed tomatoes
6 oz. tomato paste
1/2 c. water
2-3 T. chili powder
salt/pepper to taste
1 t. oregano
1 t. cumin
Put meat in the crock pot. Mix other ingredients and stir. Add to crock pot and stir again. Cook on low 7-8 hours.
Chicken Noodle Soup (crock pot)
5 c. hot water
2 T. chicken bouillon granules OR 2 cubes
46 oz. chicken broth
salt to taste
4 c. noodles, uncooked
1/3 c. diced celery, slightly cooked in microwave
1/3 c. shredded carrots
Dissolve bouillon in water. Pour into cooker. Add other ingredients. Mix. Cook on low 4-6 hours.
Comfy Chicken Soup
2 qts. water
8 chicken bouillon cubes
6 c. uncooked wide egg noodles
2 cans cream of chicken soup
3 c. cubed or shredded chicken, cooked
1 c. sour cream
parsley flakes
Bring water to a boil. Add noodles and cook 10 minutes. Add soup and chicken. Heat. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. (This recipe is especially delicious!)
Carrot Bisque Soup
2 T. oil
1 small onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
5 c. carrot rounds
4 c. chicken broth
1 T. Spike (in the spice aisle)
1/2 t. cilantro
1/2 t. basil
more Spike to taste, if needed
Saute onion and celery until soft. Add carrots until coated. Add broth and bring to a boil. Cook 15 minutes until carrots are tender. Remove 1-1/2 c. and puree in blender. Pour back into soup. Add more seasonings to your taste. (I use quite a bit of Spike, but I don't measure it.)
Sante Fe Soup (crock pot)
1# velveeta, cubed
1 # ground beef, browned and drained
1 can corn, undrained
1 can kidney beans, undrained
14 oz. diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can stewed tomatoes
2 T. taco mix
Corn chips, taco chips, or soft tortillas
Combine all ingredients except for the chips or tortillas. Cook on high 3 hours. Pour over chips or on tortillas.
Potato Soup (crock pot)
6 potatoes, diced
1 small onion, chopped
4 chicken bouillon cubes
13 oz. evaporated milk
2 c. water
2 c. milk
2 T. marg.
4 pieces crumbled bacon (or bacon bits)
Boil potatoes for 20 minutes. To make rivels, boil 2 c. water. Drop flour, egg, salt mixture in boiling water until firm. Combine all ingredients and pour into crock pot. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
Potato Cheese Soup
6 potatoes, peeled and sliced
16 oz. American or Velveeta cheese, diced
6 slices bacon
diced onion
sliced carrot
1 t. basil
1 t. salt/pepper
1 t. parsley
1 t. thyme
Cook potatoes for 20 minutes. Cut up carrots and add to potatoes. Cook bacon. Saute onion in bacon grease. When potatoes and water begin to thicken and veggies are soft, add herbs and spices. Crumble bacon and add along with onion. Just before serving, add cheese and stir until melted.
Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup
4 c. water
4 potatoes
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped celery
Boil 10-15 minutes. Add 10 oz. package chopped broccoli (or use fresh broccoli). Add one can cream of chicken soup and 1 # Velveeta cheese, cubed. Turn heat down and cook. Add mushrooms if desired. (I have had this recipe for 22 years, so you know it's a keeper!)
Most of these recipes can be used in our family of three for an evening meal, then as leftovers for one more evening meal, plus a lunch or two. In other words, a very cheap (but yummy), way to eat!
~~ Stacy ~~
I usually make the month of October a bit of a Sabbatical regarding my computer usage time. My favorite board to visit has several forums. For the month of October, I will only visit the homeschool section (in order to encourage and help others who may need it), and I will also visit the prayer forum. The rest of the forums are off limits for me during my Sabbatical.
Here is my "no procrastination" part: In order to make my Sabbatical even more practical, I have typed up my blog entries for Mondays and Tuesdays through the first week of November. I will likely only post one Friday during November, only because I have that particular entry typed up already. 
This will allow me extra time to devote to prayer, reading the Word, reorganizing my priorities, focusing on my attitude, my home, and my family. If anyone else feels compelled to join me on this journey, I would love to hear the end results once the month is over. 
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Sep. 23, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Instant Potatoes
If you want to make your instant potatoes taste like the real thing, add a spoonful of sour cream to them and mix it in really well. (Sorry, but I don't measure mine. I use a serving spoon, and one spoonful works well when I make 4 servings.)
I have a few things on Ebay. A couple of items are from Geography Matters. They have some really neat resources for teaching geography!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Sep. 16, 2008 - Pillow Shams
I have discovered that most bedding sets include pillow shams. However, it is extremely hard to get those pillows shoved into them! My trick is to just lay the sham across the pillows. You can't tell they are just laid out across the top of the pillow unless you go in and pick it up. It not only saves the wear and tear on your pillows and the shams, but it will also save you time every morning when you make the bed! 
Free calendar:
~~ Stacy ~~
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Sep. 9, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - B&K Hot Dog Sauce Recipe
DD and I went shopping last week at Walmart. We rarely check the pj section of the store because they are always so expensive. It's usually cheaper to turn old, worn clothes into pjs. However, this time, we were pleasantly surprised! DD got 4 pair of pj pants, 6 pj tops, and one shirt. Original price: $103.88. Our price: $34.00. 
Monday we went to Goodwill. DD found 4 pair of jeans and 8 shirts for less than $50.00! We are doing the happy dance again!
At Vania's request, I am posting my recipe for B&K Hot Dog Sauce.
B & K Hot Dog Sauce Recipe
3 # ground beef, fried and drained
1 large onion, chopped
1 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. garlic salt
2 small bottles catsup
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c. brown sugar
Brown ground beef and onions. Drain well. Combine all other ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Keep water on sauce if it starts to dry out while simmering. Once it cools, I put it in meal-sized portions in freezer bags.
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Sep. 2, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Homeschool T-shirts!
Please read about the contest that announces my new Monday Meme on homeschooling!
We recently bought some homeschool t-shirts that were 1/2 price. What a deal!
Go all the way to the bottom for an additional TT tip.
I bought:
and this one:
DD got this one:
She also got this same design put on a tote bag.
We both got one with this design:
I also ordered these for me:
Since I am wearing t-shirts that are older than my 12 yo dd, I decided it was time to replace some of them.
Here's another tip: For those t-shirts that are old, faded, and worn, don't donate them or throw them away. Use them for cleaning rags! I use old t-shirts to dust my furniture with lemon oil. They don't absorb the oil as much as some rags would, therefore, I am able to dust without using as much oil. And that makes me very 
.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Aug. 26, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - A Shiny Sink
After using my normal cleaner in the kitchen sink, I would occasionally wax it with car wax. That was not only time-consuming, it was also very hard on my back, as well as my wrists, due to all of the scrubbing. I found a new way to make my sinks shine!
Here is a BEFORE shot where you can see all of the water spots, etc:
Here is the AFTER shot:
My secret is to clean the sink with my normal cleaners, then dry it. Follow that with applying a little Pledge Orange Oil or some lemon oil. (Apply it to the faucet too.) Rub it in really well and that sink will SHINE! After this, when I finish washing dishes, I use an old towel (not one of the frequently-used kitchen towels), to dry it down again. It will continue to look nice for several days.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Aug. 19, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Cheap bubble bath and shampoo
Instead of buying a bottle of bubble bath, I buy the largest bottle of dish soap I can find at the dollar store. Next, I pour about 1/2 of it into an empty bottle, followed by adding water to both bottles. Now I have two bottles of "bubble bath" for the price of one.
My homemade shampoo recipe calls for a bit of shampoo, so I buy the largest bottle of shampoo I can find at the dollar store. Also, I had been letting dd use the Pantene clarifying shampoo since she has the pre-teen greasy-hair issue. However, when I had her switch to the homemade stuff, she was able to stop washing her hair every day.
And that made her 
If you don't want to spend money on special clarifying shampoos, here are a couple of cheap tricks to do the job. Wet your hair and scrub your head with baking soda, then wash as usual. Another cheap way to clarify it is by pouring vinegar on your hair. It will make your hair squeaky clean.
Gals, I'm sorry, but I cannot seem to post comments to your blogs today, IF I'm even able to load your page! 
In case you didn't see it in my Monday post, dd was tested yesterday for juvenile diabetes. I am hoping to hear the results later today.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Aug. 12, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - The homemade NETTY pot
You have probably heard of the netty pot. I have a MUCH cheaper way to do this and it works wonders!
I learned this tip from my doctor.
1. Get a couple of tissues and set those aside.
2. Get a dixie cup and add some warm water.
3. Add 1/4 t. EACH of salt and baking soda to the water.
4. Stir.
5. Cup your hand and pour some of the water mixture into it.
6. "Snort" the mixture. 
It will flow right back out. You won't drown. Really -- you won't! Now, blow your nose. You won't believe the difference in how you can breathe! I did it 4-5 times a day after getting a sinus infection. It made an immediate, and huge, difference! 
See my Friday post for some homeschool FREEBIES!
Come see my Ebay stuff! Auralog Spanish, Wordly Wise, Vocabulary from Classical Roots, lots of A Beka, BJU, Apologia, Beth Moore, Baby-Sitters Little Sister books, Sequential Spelling, and so much more!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Aug. 5, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Homemade Maxi Pads
I bought some homemade maxi pads. I absolutely LOVE them! They feel SO MUCH BETTER than store-bought ones. Clean-up is very easy too! They cost more up-front, but once you buy enough, then you are done!
For cleaning them, I also bought a plastic shoe box that has a lid. I keep it in the bathroom closet. When I am done with one of the pads, I pour some peroxide on it, rinse it out, then put it in the shoe box, along with some water and vinegar. That way it is not grossing everyone out because it is out in the open.
For those of you who are not "sewing machine-challenged," you can make them more economical by making them yourself.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 30, 2008 - Wordless Wednesday - CHEAP organizing and de-cluttering
I have been very busy organizing things around here since we are officially starting school on Monday. This post is kind of a Tightwad Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday post in one. My "Tightwad" tip is that I used cardboard boxes to make my space more organized, thus I organized, but in frugal fashion!
We'll start in the kitchen:
I had dd decorate these folders for me. Now I will be able to easily find what I'm looking for when I need it. Here is the drawer where I am keeping those:
Not only do I have my folders, but the blank paper in the front is all scrap paper. To the right of that is index cards with Home Ec items I need to have dd do this year. Under that are all of the recipe books that came with my GT Xpress. Behind that are some items we will need for our Apologia science experiments this year, along with a few card games. I may try to come up with a better way to organize the science items but don't want to tackle that one right now.
The above photo is the drawer with all of my baggies, along with some misc. items. Those misc. items tend to roll around in the drawer, making it very difficult to find, so I added a box in the front to hold the tape, glue sticks, recipe cards that I still need to file away, etc. Over to the right, you will see a jar with a lid. That is a baby food jar we use to hold all of dd's erasers so that they can be easily found. We have had this for a couple of years, and it has been wonderful to know EXACTLY where they are when she needs them.
The next photo is our "homeschool" drawer:
I have added three boxes to this drawer because there are so many little items that keep getting lost among the larger things. In the front is a box with nothing but pencils. The box behind that is all pens. The box to the right has things like glue rings, recipe cards for dd's home ec project, sticky tabs for notebooks, etc. I have her compass and protractor where they are very easy to find. My planner is the blue book on top where it is easily accessible. Under that is the YMCA schedule, which we use frequently. I took all of the paper clips and put them in a baggy in the back of the drawer since the plastic container they came in would not stay closed. Much nicer and much more functional. DD was VERY happy to see it so organized.
Here is our bread drawer, making use of boxes:
This drawer often has things (like candy, gum, etc.), just thrown into it. I got tired of the mess and added the boxes, as well as a plastic container to keep those things more organized. When they are thrown in there, they tend to get lost under the bread, then they go bad. I have found that poptart boxes work really well in this drawer.
Next photo the bathroom drawer BEFORE added boxes:
And now the AFTER photo:
I added 2 boxes to the drawer to help keep things in their place. I also added a baggie to hold all of dd's dental supplies.
Next is a BEFORE shot of my "Ebay" closet:
And now the AFTER shot:
Now when I stock up on paper supplies, I have a place to store them.
Next is the BEFORE shot of the shelf in this same closet:
And now the AFTER shot:
I didn't do a whole lot to it, other than straightening it a bit and making some room for books that had been on the closet floor. Just an FYI -- I will likely be having a contest in the future and giving away some of the books in this closet.
One last photo:
This is the bottom drawer of my nightstand. I was brainstorming a couple of weeks ago and took all of the smaller items out of here and put them in my large jewelry box drawers. I decided to put all of the 2-pocket folders + all notebooks in here. This way, they are ALL in the SAME location instead of scattered in several different places. Now we all know where to go when we need a notebook.
On top of cleaning out the drawers, I also completed this list:
Went to the library, bank, book store,
2 days worth of LA and math with dd,
Washed towels,
Installed science cd-rom to get it ready for school next week,
Marked science book where we need to use the cd-rom,
Wrote out a tentative schedule for doing history,
Cleaned the clutter drawer in my bedroom,
Straightened up the bathroom closet,
Organized my hs books, and pulled some more from a closet so they are ready to go for next week,
Searched online (and bought) a hb dictionary with bigger letters (mainly for my menopausal eyes), 
Made 2 batches of window cleaner that is also a great disinfectant cleaner,
Straightened up the computer table and organized it,
Saved dh's files to a cd-rom,
Sharpened a huge amount of pencils,
Bleached our kitchen glasses to get the tea stains out,
Cleaned the fridge,
Baked a peach pie,
Dusted the furniture,
Did devotions,
Made some phone calls,
Did some blogging,
and I am sure there are some things I missed. When I went to bed that night, I felt very refreshed because I tried my hardest to keep my thoughts focused on the Lord while I worked. It was a very productive day indeed!
I hope you have enjoyed looking at what I have done, but more than that, I hope it has inspired you with some fresh ideas for organizing your own home so that it will function more smoothly!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 29, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Freebies and WFMW
For an update on my dd, please see my Monday Meanderings post.
I found a blog that is filled with some incredible tips!
FREE CURRICULUM:
Free, award winning K-12, patriotic social studies/history lesson plans, easy to use, no teacher training required:
AMERICA'S HERITAGE - An Adventure In Liberty are lesson plans whose content covers the successful 232 year old formula of FREEDOM, UNITY, PROGRESS and RESPONSIBILITY connected to our founding documents.
PLEASE STOP BY ON WEDNESDAY TO SEE SOME GREAT WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR HOME WITHOUT SPENDING ANY MONEY!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 22, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Salad Dressing recipes
Here is a website that will help you compare the cost of using central air as compared to electric fans.
For those of you who are interested in making your own laundry soap, but are a bit intimidated by the process, here is a video of somebody making it.
Since it's been so hot and humid, we've been eating LOTS of salads. I thought I would share with you the recipes I use for our salad dressings:
Italian Salad Dressing
1-1/3 c. oil
½ c. vinegar
¼ c. grated parmesan cheese
2 t. salt
1 t. onion salt
½ t. pepper
½ t. dry mustard
¼ t. paprika
1 t. minced garlic
Mix and pour into a glass jar. Refrigerate for several hours and shake well before using.
Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing
1 c. mayonnaise
1 t. lemon juice (or juice of 2 lemons
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
¾ c. grated parmesan cheese
¼ c. water
¼ t. garlic powder
Combine all ingredients and store in fridge.
Thousand Island Dressing
1-1/2 c. mayonnaise
3 T. catsup
1-1/2 t. relish
1 minced onion
½ t. pepper
2 T. lemon juice
½ t. salt
2-1/2 c. plain yogurt
Stir ingredients, adding the yogurt last. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
Honey French Dressing
½ c. oil
½ c. lemon juice or cider vinegar
1 large onion, grated
¼ c. water
1/3 c. catsup
2-4 T. honey
¼ t. salt
½ t. celery salt
½ t. prepared mustard
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. onion powder
1 t. paprika
Mix all ingredients, place in covered jar, and shake well. Store in refrigerator.
As for how long they will keep -- I have had the Caesar dressing in the fridge for several weeks with no problem. I haven't had the others in there for very long, but I'm guessing they will also be fine for quite some time.
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 15, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Gatorade
Gatorade
1 pack unsweetened Kool Aid (any flavor)
2 quarts cold water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 cup orange juice
Mix together. This equals the electrolyte replacement found
in many popular drinks on the market. Great for a hot summer!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 8, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday -- tips for the fair
Our 4-H fair is this week so I decided to share a couple of my tips for visiting the fair.
Since fair food is EXTREMELY expensive, not to mention very unhealthy, we take a cooler and leave it in the car. When we get hungry, we make a trip to the car to rest and eat. I usually take sub sandwiches for our lunch, then peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for later in the afternoon. Since we normally don't buy chips, I will buy some of the cheaper ones from Save-A-Lot for fair week, making it a special treat. I also take lawn chairs so we can sit down and rest for a bit while eating, yet do so without dropping crumbs all over the interior of the car.
We take a lot of water with us because drinking sodas not only dehydrates us, but with riding the rides, it could also cause an upset stomach. Also, we often freeze the water bottles so they will stay cold much longer. Once it starts turning to liquid, there is usually a large piece of ice that remains in the bottle for several hours. I will make several trips to the restroom to refill the bottle. With the ice in the bottle, it makes it easy to have ice water for several hours. On those days at the fair when it is near 90, this has been a huge blessing!
Another treat we will take is some chocolate chip cookies from the freezer. They will thaw out while we are riding the rides. When we want a treat later, they will be warm, just like they came out of the oven. (We will also have wet rags in the car so we can wash off the melted chocolate.)
They have pre-sale vouchers where you can buy your "pay one price and ride all the rides" ticket. I do not buy these because if it rains, and we don't make it, then I am out $16-$18. Instead, we just wait to see if the weather is clear, then purchase the "bracelets" at full price. It is only $2-$4 more to wait until the specified date to buy it. To me, it is worth the extra money, just knowing that I can wait and spend it IF I am sure the weather will hold out. Buying it early is a gamble I am not willing to take.
My last tip is to make sure that you wear tennis shoes. If you wear sandals, it is too easy for someone to step on the heel of your shoe, and possibly cause you to ruin the straps on your sandals. Play it safe -- wear those tennis shoes!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jul. 1, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Kroger
My tip this week will be a little different than normal. One of our local Kroger stores closed. DD and I went to see what kind of bargains we could get last week. I spent $44.34, but got over $170 worth of stuff!
When a business is closing and they have 50-75% off everything, it is so easy to go crazy with buying everything. My tip this week is to ask yourself, "Is this purchase doing my husband good, and not harm?" based off of Proverbs 31.
Over our kitchen counters, we have indoor flood lights. They normally run well over $6 per bulb. Since they are so bright, and are in the room we use the most, we go through them very quickly. Finding them for $1.64 was a no-brainer! Stock up! We bought 6 of them.
A few more no-brainer purchases were:
Spike seasoning, which we use a lot - 75% off.
Glycerin -- Since I use LOTS of it with all of my homemade recipes, I couldn't pass it up since it was 75% off.
I found an 8-pack of white bar soap that was only $2.09. Even if it turns out to be too harsh for sensitive body parts, I can use it to make my homemade Bath & Body hand soaps.
Cover Girl Smoothers for only $2.00 each.
Multi-vitamins - 75% off.
A few other purchases included things like green tea, organic marinades that were only $1 each, organic waffles, and hair color. DD even found some colored, flavored, wax to use on her braces that was 75%. She was pretty excited about that!
So, my dear sisters, as you do your shopping this week, ask yourself, "Will this purchase do my husband good?" You might be surprised how much you end up saving!
~~ Stacy ~~
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Jun. 2, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday - Brownie Base Mix and recipes
This brownie mix will make six to eight batches of brownies for less than the cost of ONE boxed brownie mix at the store! I use this recipe many times for church dinners, mom's night out, funeral dinners, etc. It is VERY economical. Several of dd's friends have said they are the best brownies ever!
Basic Brownie Mix
6 c. flour
4 t. baking powder
4 t. salt
8 c. sugar
8 oz. can unsweetened cocoa powder
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well, then transfer to a large plastic container with a lid. Label and date the contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 3 months. Makes 15 c. brownie mix.
Yummy Brownies
¼ c. water
½ c. oil
¼ c. margarine, melted
2 eggs, beaten
2-1/4 c. brownie mix (above)
½ c. chopped nuts, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour and 8” square baking pan. Combine wet ingredients and mix well. Add brownie mix and mix well. Stir in nuts. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes. *
*Chocolate Topper
Sprinkle 6 oz. package of chocolate chips over warm brownies. Warm in oven until melted. Spread evenly.
Coconut-Pecan Topping
Combine 1/3 c. sugar, 1/3 c. evaporated milk, 1 beaten egg yolk, and 3 T. margarine. Stirring constantly, cook for 5 minutes until it comes to a boil. Remove and stir in ¼ t. vanilla, 2/3 c. coconut, and ½ c. chopped pecans. Cool 10 minutes. Spread on cooled brownies.
Texas Sheet Cake
4 c. brownie mix (from above)
½ c. margarine
1 c. water
½ c. sour cream
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 t. baking soda
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 15 x 10” baking pan. Put brownie mix in bowl. In a small saucepan, bring margarine and water to a boil. Add to brownie mix. Add sour cream, eggs, and baking soda. Blend well. Pour into baking pan. Bake 20 – 25 minutes. Frost the cake while it is still hot. (See recipe below for icing.)
Cocoa Icing:
½ c. evaporated milk
½ c. margarine
3 T. cocoa powder
3 c. powdered sugar
1 c. chopped nuts
1 t. vanilla
In a small pan, bring evaporated milk, margarine, and coca to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Place powdered sugar in a bowl, add cocoa mixture. Beat. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
~~ Stacy ~~
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May. 26, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday -- Slice & Bake cookies for the freezer
My tip for this week is slice & bake cookies you can store in your freezer. These are nice because when you need to make a batch of cookies in a hurry, all you have to do is thaw, slice, and bake. I also like these because I can mix up the cookie dough, baking only a dozen cookies from the mix -- just enough for the three of us. I freeze the rest, and we can enjoy this same recipe 3 or 4 more times! (Thus cheaper on the budget!)
Slice & Bake Chocolate-Chip Cookies
2 c. margarine
1-1/2 c. sugar
1-2/3 c. brown sugar, packed
1 T. vanilla
4 eggs
5-1/2 c. flour
2 t. salt
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts, optional
Cut four 12” x 14” pieces of waxed paper. In a bowl, cream margarine and both sugars. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Combine dry ingredients in another bowl. Mix, then add to wet ingredients. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Stir well.
Divide dough into 4 pieces. Shape each piece into an 8 to 10” roll. Wrap in waxed paper, followed with wrapping in foil. Label and date with contents. Can keep in freezer for up to 6 months. Makes 4 rolls, or about 12 dozen cookies.
To bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut dough into ¼ inch slices. Arrange pieces on an ungreased baking sheet, 1-1/2 inches apart. Bake 10 minutes. Remove and cool. Makes 30-36 cookies.
Slice & Bake Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies
2 c. margarine
2 c. brown sugar, packed
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
4 c. flour
5 c. oats
1 t. salt
2 t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder
¾ c. chopped nuts
1 to 2 c. raisins
Cut four 12” x 14” pieces of waxed paper. In a bowl, cream margarine and both sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients, stir well, then add to wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in raisins and nuts.
Divide dough into 4 pieces. Shape each piece into an 8 to 10” roll. Wrap in waxed paper, followed with wrapping in foil. Label and date with contents. Can keep in freezer for up to 6 months. Makes 4 rolls, or about 12 dozen cookies.
To bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets. Cut dough into ¼ inch slices. Place slices 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes until the edges are light brown and centers are slightly set. Cool about 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove. Makes about 36 cookies.
Slice & Bake Peanut-Butter Cookies
2 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
2 c. brown sugar, packed
2 c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
2 t. vanilla
4 eggs
5 c. flour
4 t. baking soda
Cut four 12” x 14” pieces of waxed paper. In a bowl, cream shortening, both sugars, and peanut butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, combine dry ingredients, stir well, then add to wet ingredients and mix well.
