DIY Cookie platter

My cookie platter made by yours truly.
I had all the items on hand which were purchased a few years back at Dollar Tree.
it took me 5 minutes to do but at least overnight for the glue to dry up.

3 plates ( mine are glass)
2 candle sticks
and I am pretty sure you get the idea of how to place them. you can either do a triple like I did or just a plain double!
I am pretty sure that I am going to make one for almost every holiday!

If you ain't got bun's hun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living "frugal" is just a way of life for me as I am sure for many, it's a challenge for me, like what else can I make at home that I don't have to bother buying?
Well, as a one car family and my husband having the car on his day, I needed ...buns....
I was stuck, he comes home at 5:30 which is dinner time I can't have him go to the store....so I got to thinking........ My bread recipe I can just make that, and instead of dividing into loaves I will make them round into buns...................IT WAS A SUCCESS, truly the husband loved them....'
I. LOVE. TO. SHARE... SO I WILL SHARE MY RECIPE WITH YOU ALL !
I did everything as the recipe said, only thing different, was I made round balls instead of loaves, I was able to get 15 buns and I even made a bread bowl for soup ............which became my husbands lunch.

Here is what you will need to make Easy Bread:

3 Cups Warm Water (almost hot)

1 package Yeast (or 2 1/2 tsps)

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup sugar

5-6 cups flour (I have used many kinds of flour with this bread, so experiment and see what you like best)

First of all, combine your water, yeast, sugar and salt and let them sit for 5 minutes. Slowly start adding in your flour, and by the 4th or 5th cup of flour, I am usually using my hands. Add in flour as you need it (I usually use the full 6 cups) Continue kneading with your hands until dough is in a ball and is somewhat elastic. Spray a bowl with cooking spray and leave the dough ball in there for rise (covered) for about an hour. Now separate the dough into two parts (with floured hands) and knead each ball a little and then shape into a loaf and set each into a sprayed bread loaf pan. I then cover them with sprayed plastic wrap (to prevent sticking) and then cover that with a towel and put them up again for another hour to rise. Now you are ready to bake them for 20-25 minutes in a 350 oven.

This recipe really is SO easy… and while the total time is over 2 hours (almost 3), it only takes a quick minute to do each step, which is why I can fit this into my day so easily.

Frugal Living....How to make your house smell good...better then good..GREAT

This is my favorite time of year the way the house looks all dected out in CHRISTmas decor and the smells ...oh the smells. well here is one of my favorite smells for the holiday season or just to make on any given day......

12/5/13
We always have oranges here……. and I can’t stand to throw the peels out; I usually keep them all in a bowl and toss into water on the stove with cinnamon sticks and a capful of vanilla extract.

It’s an easy way to make your house smell really really good – without having to buy canned air freshener or burn a candle. I keep it simmering on the stove for a few days, and add water as needed.

Roasted Asparagus....by Sara Bigler

Roasted asparagus..
My family eats this Like crazy.
I usually use 3 bunches and trim them where then end snap at I put in bundle of 3 wrap with bacon and roast at 350 on a baking pan drizzle evoo over add some minced garlic about 30 mins later they are done sprinkle with parm cheese. Waah laah

Chocolate Almond Ice Cream...By Donnete Long Black

Chocolate Almond Ice Cream
1 lg and 1 sm. pkg chocolate instant pudding
2 1/2 to 3 cups sugar
3 eggs
4 quarts half and half
... 1 (8 oz.) whipping cream
1 large Hershey's bar, grated
2 packages slivered almonds, roasted in oven
Mix all ingredients together, put into ice cream mixer and mix till firm.

Orange Dreamcycle Cakes....by Carol Barney

Carol Barney

Orange Dreamsicle Cake (makes you dream of summer!)

Ingredients:
1 Pkg Yellow Cake Mix
2 Pks Orange Jello
... 1 Pk Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 Cup 2% Milk
2 large eggs
2 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tub Cool Whip

Directions:
Bake the cake as directed in a 9x13" pan. Let cake cool completely. Poke holes in cooled cake. Mix 1 package orange gelatin dessert with 1 c. boiling water and 1 c. cold water. Pour over cake. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Mix pudding mix with cold milk the other package of orange gelatin dessert and vanilla. Beat by hand with a whisk until thickened. Fold in the whipped topping. Frost the cake with the pudding mixture.

Cranberry sauce recipe

cranberry sauce I use 1 pkg of fresh cranberry 1 naval orange peelings and all 2 honey crispy apples centers removed and 2 c sugar. Throw it all in the processor and.chop till your desired texture we eat it with ham or turkey or even.roasted pork loin

Printing Money

 Let me tell you ...having my printer back with ink is the best feeling ever, i love that I can feel like I get printed money right from my printer.

FInd my Couponing, Shopping and Living page on Facebook where I post all the deals and coupon matchups that I find in ourlocal small town.

The best FREE photo shoot ever!!!

This was one of the funnest, family picture sessions we have ever done, and guess how much it cost me??? ZERO ziltch....nada!! why? Because we did it oursleves, myself and my sister and my husband were the photographers behind these awesome pictures!

See, even being frugal in my picture taking and to me I think they all turned out great!!!

bacon Stuffing........submitted by Tricia Stone

1 pound bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
6 medium yellow or Spanish onions, sliced thin (about 7 cups)
1 teaspoon salt
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped fine
3 tablespoons fresh sage leaves, cut into thin strips
12 cups dried white bread cubes
1 cup chicken broth
3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Cook bacon in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp and browned, about 12 minutes. Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 tablespoons rendered bacon fat.
Increase heat to medium-high and add onions and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook onions until golden in color, making sure to stir occasionally and scrape sides and bottom of pan, about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring more often to prevent burning, until onions are deep golden brown, another 5 minutes. Add apples and continue to cook another 5 minutes. Transfer contents of pan to large bowl.
Add remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, parsley, and sage to bowl and mix to combine. Add bread cubes.
Whisk stock and eggs together in small bowl. Pour mixture over bread cubes. Gently toss to evenly distribute ingredients.
Use as a stuffing or spoon into a greased baking dish. (If baking in a dish and moister stuffing is desired, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more stock or broth to stuffing before spooning stuffing into dish.)
Bake at 350°F (175°C) until the top has formed a crust and the stuffing is heated through, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

How to......make frugal buttermilk

I know with ALL the baking that will soon be going on sometomes we find that one thing that we need and dont want to run to the store and buy it...besides why buy when we can make thats my motto. So here I will share with you in case you find yourself in a rut and need butter milk...

Ingredients:
•Milk (just under one cup)
•1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
...

Preparation:


1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.

2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.

3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

Have heavy cream in the fridge? If so, you have everything you need to make real buttermilk:

Yummy Potatoes.....By Verlene Anderson

Yummy Potatoes - from Gail Marcie Curtis

6 medium potatoes
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
...

1/4 cup melted butter
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed cornflakes
1/4 cup butter

Boil potatoes in their jackets until firm; cool; peel and grate into a greasted 13x9 pan. Sprinkle salt over potatoes. Mix next ingredients and spread over potatoes. Mix cornflakes and butter and sprinkle over mixture. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. 450 per serving.

You can substitute frozen hash browns. This is good made the day before.

Pineapple Frosting...... by Lesley Talley

PINEAPPLE FROSTING
1/2 Cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
...

1/4 cup pureed pineapple (pureed mine in my bullet blender)
1/2 tea. vanilla extract
Beat butter and powdered sugar until well combined. Mix in pineapple and vanilla, continue to beat until creamy

Easy Pecan Pie.....By Shirlene John

Easy Pecan Pie

3 eggs
1/2 c pecans
1/2 c sugar
...

1 c Karo syrup( can use pancake syrup)
1 tsp vanilla
Whisk eggs(don't beat if you do it won't bake right) add all other ingredients. Bake for 10-15 min on 450 then reduce to 350 for abt 45 min or unroll knife comes out clean.

Pecans pies seem to have a science to them not everyone can make them, I know people who have used this same recipe and the pie won't set up, however I make these every year with no problem just got to try and see!!

Pumpkin Ring cake...... By Shirlene John

Pumpkin Ring Cake

3 c. Bisquick or Jiffy mix
1 c. Sugar
1 c. Packed Brown Sugar
...

1/4 c. Margarine( I use butter)
4 eggs
1 can 16oz pumpkin( I use my bottled pumpkin)
2 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 c. Milk

Beat all ingredients on low speed, scraping bowl constantly the increase to medium for 3 min. Spear in greased( I use the baking spray) bundt pan. Bake on 350 for 50 min or until toothpick comes out clean!! Cool and drizzle with glaze!! Can also glaze while warm.
GLAZE:
1 c. Pwd sugar
1/4 c. Cream cheese
1 TBSP milk ( add more if needed)
1 tsp vanilla

See More

— at Home Sweet Home

Cranberry, Apple, Sweet potatoe Bake.....by April Macario

Cranberry, Apple, Sweet Potato Bake

2 large sweet potatos, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 3 cups)
1 large apple, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup cranberries, chopped in half (fresh or frozen)
...

1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup ocean spray cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup pecans, coarsley chopped and toasted
1 package sweet potato casserole mix

Preheat oven to 375. Spray an 11" x 17" casserole dish with non stick cooking spray; set aside.

In large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, apples, cranberries, butter, cranberry juice, and sweet potato spice pack, mix well. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 35 to 45 min, stirring occasionally or until sweet potatoes are soft when pricked with a fork.

Remove from oven, stir in pecans. sprinkle top of sweet potatos with marshmallows. Return to oven for 5 min until marshmallows are softened and light brown.

Pumpkin Cheesecake......By Shirlene John

Pumpkin Cheesecake

3 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese(room temp)
...

1 can pumpkin puree(15 oz) I use my bottle pumpkin just drain any liquid
3 eggs and 1 egg yolk
1/4 c sour cream
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp grd cloves
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla

Crust:
1 3/4 c graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 stick butter melted

Beat cream cheese till smooth add pumpkin eggs and yolk and all other ingredients mix till well combined!! Pour into crust bake on 350 for 60min remove let cool 15 min then chill 3 hrs In fridge before cutting!

For crust combined first 3 ingredients then add melted butter press in a 9 in springform pan

Carrot Cake coins.......By Krystal Dodson

Candy Carrot Coins
1 pound carrots
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoonwater
...

Insructions
1 Peel the carrots, then slice each one into rounds. Place the carrot coins in a microwave-safe bowl, cover them with water, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Microwave for 6 to 7 mins or until the carrots are tender but not mushy. Drain the water and set the carrots aside.

2. In a small frying pan, melt the butter, stir in the brown sugar and water, ook for 1min. Add the carrot coins and toss to coat with the brown sugar mixture. Cook on low for 3 to 4 mins. or until the carrots are thoroughly glazed.

Cheesy Porkchop and Rice Casserole......By Krystal Dodson

Cheesy Pork Chop & Rice Casserole
1 can Cream Mushroom soup
1 1/3 cup water
3/4 cup uncooked rice
...

1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. Black pepper
1 1/4lbs of Pork Chops
1/2cup shredded cheese

Instructions:
1. preheat oven to 375
2. Stir soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper, in a 11*8 baking dish
3top the rice with pork chops , cover the baking dish
4 Bake for 50 mins. or until the Pork Chop is cooked through and the rice is tender. Top with Cheese, let the casserole stand for 10 mins
Stir the rice befor servin

My small simple (frugal) life.

I love my simple little life..I do... its hectic,its loud there is always sibling fighting, there are times the husband and Ihave to sneek off to just get a word into one of us to hear. But I Love it. As I openly admit I am a control freak and I hold the title well. I have to be in control of everything which normally makes me bossy but hey, the jobs get done!! Sure the nerves of my husband and kids are pushed to the limit...but like I said the jobs get done!!

In starting my fugal page I have taught others many things with couponing and frugal homemade ways but I also too have learned other things I would have never ever tried. One of my Best friends Sara has taught me the handy dandy way of canning. and I LOVE IT... one week I went on a craze and nearly canned everything uncluding the kids! I also even break out the sewing machine once in a while and give a crack at it with something I envision ( and it never comes out that way)..baby steps....small small baby steps.

I by far, have some of the most awesome, dedicated frugal mamas of all time. I love and appreciate everyone of you girls who have been there from the beginning and who still every Thursday faithfully post them recipes. I have never had so many recipe cards filled in my life...and to this very day I still LOVE the Homemade alfrado sauce. NEVER ever will I buy from the store again!

So this isn't a fancy post but its more of a Thank You post to ALL near and far who bother to come across my blog or my facebook page and want to learn the value of a dollarand who want to share or use some of the recipes or Ideas or ticks that we all as frugal mamas want to enjoy together!!!