Delicious Fourth of July Recipes for Frugal Moms

June 30, 2009 · Filed Under Being Frugal, Cheap Holiday Ideas · Comments Off on Delicious Fourth of July Recipes for Frugal Moms 

Looking for some delicious, inexpensive recipes to make your Fourth of July (or any day!) special? Try these on for taste.

Texas BBQ Sauce

1 c. tomato juice
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. catsup
1/4 c. vinegar
2 T. worchestshire sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. paprika
1 t. dry mustard
1 t. salt
1/4 t. chili powder
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1 small onion, chopped fine

Mix all ingredients together in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until slightly thickened. Makes about 2 cups.

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Coconut Lemon Squares

Crust
1 c. Bisquick
2 T. powdered sugar
2 T. butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 350º. Mix together Bisquick and powdered sugar with a fork. Using a pastry blender, cut in margarine until it’s in fine chunks. Press into ungreased 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan. Bake about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Filling
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. coconut
1 T. Bisquick
2 eggs
2 T. lemon juice
2 t. grated lemon peel

Mix together all ingredients until well blended. Pour over crust. Bake about 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Loosen edges from the pan while warm.

Glaze
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 T. lemon juice

Mix together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Pour over warm bars. Cool completely. Cut into squares.

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Deviled Eggs

6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dry mustard
1/4 t. pepper
3 T. mayonnaise
Dash of paprika

Cut eggs in half, lengthwise. Remove yolks. Combine egg yolks, salt, mustard, pepper and mayonnaise. Mix well. Fill egg white halves with mixutre. Sprinkle lightly with paprika. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

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Old Fashioned Potato Salad

6 medium potatoes
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped fine
1/3 c. onion, chopped fine
3 T. mustard
1 t. salt
2 T. dill relish
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 t. celery salt
1/4 c. mayonnaise
Dash of paprika

Peel potatoes. Cut in chunks and boil until tender. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add remaining ingredients except paprika. Mix well. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

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Corn Bread Layered Salad

1 pkg. Jiffy cornbread mix, prepared as directed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 medium green pepper, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1-1/2 c. ranch dressing
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Cool baked cornbread completely. Crubmle into chunks in a large bowl or serving dish. Layer pinto beans, corn, green pepper and green onions on top of cornbread. Cover with ranch dressing. Sprinkle with bacon, tomato and cheese. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serviing. Makes about 8 servings.

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Sweet Southern Iced Tea

8 regular-sized tea bags
1 c. sugar
water

Pour about 2 quarts water in a large sauce pan. Add sugar and mix well. Bring to boil, stirring often so sugar will dissolve completely. Reduce heat slightly and add tea bags. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let set about 15 minutes then pour into 2-quart pitcher. Fill pitcher with ice and cold water. Stir well. Cool. Serve over ice.

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Super Simple Cream Cheese Ball

1 c. tuna, drained well
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 med. onion, chopped fine
Dash of lemon juice
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Mix all ingredients well. Form into ball. Roll in pecans. Chill for at least one hour. Serve with Ritz crackers.

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Dreamsicle Fudge

3 c. sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine
1 small jar marshmallow cream
3 T. orange flavoring
12 drops yellow food coloring
9 drops red food coloring

Combine suager, milk and butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil, stirring often. Boil 5 minutes or until cand thermometer shows “soft ball” stage. Stir in marshmallow cream. Mix until smooth. Remove one cup of mixture and set aside. Pour remaining mixture into a buttered 9″ x 12″ pan. To the one cup mixture, add the orange flavoring and food coloring. Mix well. Spoon orange mixture into white. Swirl with knife to partially blend. Refrigerate one hour or until set. No extra refrigeration needed after it sets up.

Organizing for the Holidays- Save time and money

October 30, 2008 · Filed Under Cheap Holiday Ideas · Comments Off on Organizing for the Holidays- Save time and money 

The holiday season can be a stressful and chaotic time for any family.  There are so many additional obligations and tasks to complete with no extra hours added to the day.

If we allow ourselves to be caught without a plan from October to January, we will face a new year deeper in debt, exhausted and wondering where the last quarter of the year went.

But, there is hope!  Creating a plan for your family to navigate the holiday season will free you to enjoy the festivities and activities available this time of the year.

Here are a few tips to decrease holiday stress while helping your family be organized and prepared.

  • Start early. This is so important! Do you ever see an item in March and think “oh, that would be a great gift for so and so”?  That is when you should buy it!  Set aside an area in your home (I use a shelf in my laundry room) to stash such gifts away until the holiday.  This saves so much time and last minute impulse buying as the holidays approach!  Also, you can take advantage of back to school and out of season sales to purchase gifts for people, thus stretching your budget further.  Carry your Christmas list with you at all times from October 1st on.  That way when you find items on sale while you are running errands, you can check your list to see if it would make a good gift for anyone left on your gift list.
  • Make Holiday To-Do lists. These lists can include gift lists, holiday card lists, a budget, etc.  Having all the information you need in one place is crucial to staying organized, especially during a hectic time.  When you do go out shopping make a list of people you are buying for, their likes/dislikes, their sizes (if applicable) and even their favorite color.  Anything that will keep you from getting stuck not having any idea what to buy for someone.  Isn’t that how we all end up with slipper socks under the tree?
  • Simplify. Wherever you can, choose the easy route!  Wrap as you buy, ship as you buy.  Shopping on the internet or via catalog can streamline the process by saving you time and energy that can be spent on other things.  Resist the temptation to throw elaborate parties.  Instead, host a cookie or ornament swap.  Ask yourself: is this going to make my life easier or add another task/item to my list?

At the holidays there are too many things that will automatically get added to your list- parties, family gatherings and other events- you don’t want to add anything extra to your stress level on purpose.

The holidays should be a time of creating memories and enjoying family traditions.  Focus on what is important- faith, family, friends and tradition by staying organized, having a plan and starting your shopping early!

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