Cooking Tips

I wanted to share with you some great cooking tips that I read from Tawra and Jill over at Living on a Dime.  They have great tips, ideas, and books.  I know that we could all use some new ideas to help save money.  Some of my favorites are the odds and ends Chex mix and the mixed up bread pudding.  I hope you enjoy!

Cooking Tips To Save You Money!
by Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

Need a quick cooking tip? Here are a bunch of little things you can do to save a lot of money in the kitchen!

• Put flour in an old spice bottle to use when flouring cake pans.
  
• Unsure what a Dutch oven is? It's just a 6-8 quart saucepan or large pot.
  
• Having leftovers again? Serve them by candlelight with tablecloths or place mats. A tablecloth and candles make even plain meals look special.
  
• This is an unexpected canape and a handy little finger food. Take your favorite cream cheese dip and roll about 1 teaspoon full into a ball. Press it between two walnut halves. Lay on a platter to serve.
  
• Save dry cereal odds and ends to add to your Chex mix when you make it.
  
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the fridge. It will keep much longer.
  
• When you have one hot dog, hamburger, sausage patty, or slice of ham left over, put it in a container in the freezer. Use these leftovers to make a meat lover's pizza or to add a little more zip to a regular frozen pizza.
  
• Add a few of your favorite spices to a frozen pizza or add extra cheese and toppings.
  

Mix and match any of these:

• Bread and honey butter. This is an old fashioned easy stand by. Place some soft, fresh bread on a plate and honey butter in a bowl for something that is good and couldn't be easier. (Make honey butter by mixing a little bit of honey into regular butter.)
• Sliced fruit of any kind. Cantaloupe, watermelon, strawberries, kiwi and others work well.
• Sliced veggies of any kind. Try tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots or celery.
• Sandwiches of every kind. You aren't committing a sin by serving your family easy sandwiches on a hot summer day. Combine them with fresh fruits or veggies and you've got a meal.
• Salads - Jello, fruit, veggie, pasta or potato salads make great summer fare.
• Desserts - Ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. Make it into floats, banana splits, brownie sundaes or regular sundaes, milk shakes, ice cream pie or ice cream sandwiches.
• If you have leftover brownies or cake, add a few pieces to the bottom of a dish and then top with pudding and whipped cream.
• Keep a bag or container in your freezer to store that 1 or 2 pieces of coffee cake, donuts or other baked goods that are sometimes left over (which doesn't happen often in my house ;-). Then when you get enough for your favorite bread pudding recipe (hopefully one that is in the Dining On A Dime Cookbook, use them instead of bread.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com


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