a "been-there" mom of six offers encouragement
to wives, young mothers, and those not so young,
and simple common-sense approaches to
the "ings" of life:
child-rearing (hints and helps), homemaking (all areas),
cooking (simple, cheap, and do-it-yourself)
making (toys and gifts), preparing (for the unexpected),
maintaining (sanity and peace in this increasingly crazy world) and more---
all aspects of making the most of making do on little---
and having fun in the process.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Eggs are $2 a Dozen! Making Treats w/o Them---Priceless!

I was in the mood for baking a treat when I went to Wal-Mart today to buy eggs. Instead I went into shock when I saw the eggs were $2 a dozen.

Less is More--Creative! Cheap! Priceless!

I left the store without the eggs but with a plan. As soon as this plan is posted, this cheapskate is simply going to make a treat that is more chocolate-y with less calories*, less expense* and with less energy expended (time and fuel).

* there are 90 calories in each 17 cent egg!

No Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 T. margarine
3 T. cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
3 cups uncooked, quick-cooking oatmeal

Combine sugar, milk, margarine and cocoa in large pan. Bring to hard boil and boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter, salt and vanilla. Add oats and mix well. Working quickly, drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let harden. Makes lots!!

Mint "Scout" Cookies (without the order form or sales pitch)
Chocolate "almond bark" or coating
Peppermint oil (do not use extract)
Ritz-type crackers

Carefully melt coating and stir in  peppermint oil to taste (tiny drop by tiny drop because it is very potent)
Dip crackers, one at a time, into the melted chocolate. Let excess drip off and place on waxed-paper covered surface to harden.

Mildred's Peanut Butter Pinwheels
Combine one cube melted margarine with about 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar. Place between two pieces of waxed-paper. Roll with rolling pin until you have a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Remove top paper and spread surface with creamy peanut butter. Starting with long side, gently roll up jelly-roll fashion. Cut into small slices. Chill.

And if you are willing to turn on the oven . . .

Quick Cake   (an old family stand-by)
Into a greased 9x13 pan add:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 T. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
Top with:
10 T. salad oil
2 T. vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups cold water
Stir until combined and nearly smooth. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 can cherry pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
3/4 cup crushed nuts, if desired
1 stick margarine, sliced
Butter 9x13 pan. Dump in pineapple with its juice. Top with pie filling (spread over pineapple---don't stir). Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over filling. Sprinkle with nuts, if used.. Place margarine slices randomly over top. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Serve with whipped topping or ice cream if desired.

'til we eat again,
Simply, Gail

P.S. Tomorrow I plan on covering  EGG SUBSTITUTES +






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