Nine Quick, Easy + Budget-Friendly Non-Chocolate Goodies for . . .

Serving, Giving and Eating !!! 

Did you notice my last two posts --- yummy chocolate overkill !!!

Today I am going to share my favorite other-than-chocolate treats ---also yummy + quick and budget friendly !!!  Including a couple that are also mail-friendly!

Mexican Wedding Cakes made from  Bisquick

OOPS, sorry about the formatting. I don't know how I did it and I can't find a way to undo it!

• 1 cup powdered sugar + additional for covering
• 1 cup softened margarine
• 4 cups Bisquick baking mix*
• 1 cup very finely chopped walnuts or other nuts
• 2 teaspoons almond extract (or vanilla)
• 4 Tablespoons water

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• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar and margarine. Mix in Bisquick. Add nuts, extract and water. (if not moist enough, add a tiny bit more water. ) Shape into balls.  Place on ungreased baking sheet  and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• When slightly cool, roll in confectioners' sugar, then roll again. Makes approximately 6 dozen.

* I often use my home made bisquick-type baking mix---find in my cookbook section along the right side of the blog under Master Mixes. 

Meringue Kisses

These meringue kisses were always in demand. Our children and all of the

many brides who asked for them for their receptions referred to them as

Grandma Jennie's white cookies.

3 egg whites

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 heaping cup "filling" of your choice -- crushed peppermint sticks, chopped nuts, chips, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover large cookie sheet with foil and set aside. With electric mixer on high spead, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Add sugar 1/4 cup at a time beating after each addition until sugar dissolves (mixture will feel smooth). Continue beating until high peaks form. Fold in vanilla and chosen ingredients. Drop by teaspoon full onto foil. TURN OFF OVEN. Place cookie sheet in oven and let set until oven is completely cool, about 45 minutes.  They should be dry to the touch. Let cool. Peel off paper.
Food coloring can be added if desired.
Note: They will stay sticky (but still good) if made during times of high humidity.

Dipped Peanut Butter-filled Ritz-type Crackers

Simply  spread peanut butter between two Ritz-type crackers or mini-cracker sandwich style. . Dip each sandwich into melted white almond bark or other candy coating. Place on foil or waxed-paper covered try.
Dip a second time if more coating is desired.

Quick Easy-Peasy Peanut Butter Pinwheels

Combine one stick melted margarine with about 2-3 cups powdered sugar. Place between two squares of waxed-paper. Roll with rolling pin until you have a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Remove top paper and spread surfce with creamy peanut butter. Starting at long side, gently roll up jelly roll fashion, Cut into slices. Chill.

Glasss Candy

Very Pretty and Very Yummy

3-3/4 cups granulated white sugar
1-1/2 cups light corn syrup
1 cup water
1 teaspoon oil flavoring*  (cannot use regular cooking flavors)
food coloring to compliment flavoring
powdered sugar

Cover large cookie sheeet with heavy alumunum foil. Lightly dust with powdered sugar. Set aside.

In  large, heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil, with out stirring until temperature reaches 300 to 310 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in oil and coloring. Pour evenly over prepared foil. Let cool. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container.

Cooking this makes your home smell wonderful!

This makes a great gift which stores and ships well.

*Oil flavorings are available in small bottles (that makes a lot) where craft and cake and candy making/decorating supplies are sold. Lorain is the most common brand.  It comes in zillions of flavors!!

You may also want to check out
Peppermint Bark and More under Candy in my cookbook column on the right. 




Mailing treats didn't use to be a bank-breaking experience. But alas, now it is. If  you have a loved one that is away from home and craving homemade goodies, here are a couple that travel well and relatively cheaply.

Popcorn Cake

One 6-ounce can of  cocktail peanuts

One 12-15 ounce package plain M&M's or other small candy pieces

One 16-ounce package miniature marshmallows 

1 stick margarine

Approximately 1 cup unpopped corn (enough to fill a bundt pan or an angel food-type tube pan when popped)

Melt margarine and marshmallows over low heat. Mix peanuts and M&M's into marshmallow mixture. Pour over popped corn and mix well. Butter hands generously and press mixture into well-buttered pan. Let cool in freezer to make it easier to remove from pan. Wrap tightly in clear plastic wrap. Pack in additional plain popped corn to mail.

• This also makes great popcorn balls!
• You can form the popcorn balls around peppermint candy sticks to make popcorn pops.
• Or, unwrap lollipops or suckers and form small popcorn balls around the lollipop, letting the stick handle protrude.

This recipe, or the forever popular crispy rice cereal with marshmallows treat recipe, can be formed into many shapes to fit special occasions. We've made a "plaster" cast with protruding toes. Years ago, our daughter Heidi made a giant tooth and a surprise visit to the dental college on her husband's birthday. Both the plaster for the cast and the tooth enamel were made with melted white almond bark. We tinted the almond bark pink to cover the toes. 

White Chocolate Popcorn   

The simplest way is to buy a large bag of already buttered popcorn. Melt white almond bark over very low heat or in microwave, stirring until smooth. Pour over popcorn, stirring well as you go. Spread out on waxed paper to dry. Can add peanuts if desired.

Some of our grand kids call this next one "Sugar Shrimp" and others call it "Pirates Booty"  I call it by its description: Sweet & Salty Corn Pop Stuff!

We ALL call it great!                                               

This type of corn pops,
not the cereal type.

1 entire stick  plus 1/3 of a second stick of butter or margarine
2/3 cups white sugar
2 Tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring 
1 very large package of Barrel O' Fun Corn Pops (about 15 ounces)

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Melt butter in large sauce pan. Bring to a fast boil for 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over corn pops, stirring as you go. Spread on cookie sheets or in a large roaster-type pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and pour onto flat surface to cool. Break up as needed. 

Handy Hint: Cut open the empty Barrel 'O Fun bag and spread it flat on a counter or table. Pour the finished snack onto the bag to cool.  (Our dog loves it when a few overshoot the area and fall on the floor!)

Cheapskate Hint:  Watch the weight of the mailing boxes themselves!!! When mailing unbreakable items, I often mail in large cereal boxes or soda cracker boxes or similar. 

'til we eat again,

I am Simply, Gail

Candy Gifts to Copy Cat for Less - - - - Much Less!

Over the years, I have experimented with copy-catting all kinds    of commercial candies. When you have six kids and a limited budget, that is what you do!!!

It has been challenging and usually,  successful. 

Ju

When we lived in the mid-west in the 80's amd 90's I taught some homemaking classes, was published in some local newspapers and even self-published a 135+ recipe booklet sub-titled "copy-cat candies and other treats for everyday enjoyment and all occasions."

The time seems right to bring them front and center again!

And since there is no sense in "reinventing the wheel" (a saying as old as the old candy prices!) you can find them by . . . 

scrolling down the right side of the blog to find my cookbook section. Scroll down to Candy and you fill find several posts, many with variations!

I really, really like chocolate as you can see. If chocolate is not your favorite morsel I will give you a few without chocolate in my next post.

The first in the candy series covers candy bars: "Almondy Joy" "Coconut Moundling"  and "Krunch" and a sweetened condensed milk recipe  used in making some of them.  It also gives interesting now and then (1990's) prices for comparison.

Next comes  Peanut Clusters, Marshmallow-Peanut Clusters and Marshmallow Cups (one of my favorite candy bars growing up in California was "Cup-O-Gold.")

Then comes fudge---in six varieties

Followed by more posts on Peanut Clusters

Peppermint and other barks

Finally, Rounding out the category with toffee, turtles, and pecan pralines

Most also give the 1990 prices!

Further down the cookbook is simply eggnog pie and flavored popcorns.


This seems like a fitting place for the next item----it's not but it could be me!

I went to the doctor for my yearly physical. The nurse starts with certain basics.

How much do you weigh? she asks. "195," I say.  The nurse puts me on the scale. It turns out my weight is 250.

The nurse asks, "Your height?" "5 foot 11", I say. The nurse checks and sees that I only measure 5 foot 8.

She then takes my blood pressure and tells me it is very high.

"Of course it's high !" I scream. "When I came in here I was tall and slender! Now I'm short and fat !"



'til we eat again,
  I am,  Simply, Gail

"Lettuce" Quickly Prepare Romaine . . .

an entire week's worth at a time !!!

The perfect do-ahead for busy people!

     First, an apology

It's been a few weeks since I have posted and in that time I have forgotten how to transfer the photos Dave takes for me without going through a complicated process (which we also cannot remember!) of getting them from his computer to mine. Until our brain(s) kick into gear I have to make do with google image photos and some explanations.

Background

I recently purchased my third Foodsaver (the first two were garage sale finds) and it came with an accessory attachment I thought sealed canning jars. Online I had found info making a week's worth of salads in a jar using this attachment. I hurried and sent for the special required lids because they had free shipping. I can't make them work with my attachment and  am about to call the company to see what I am doing wrong.. In the mean time, while searching the net for help I ran across articles for making the same salads in canning jars without using the suction attachment. They claimed they also kept salads-in-jars fresh for six days.

Fast Forward

Nine days ago I made my first salads in a jar, using romaine lettuce (which all sites recommend), tomatoes, cucumbers, and sliced green onions.  I even cut the lettuce with a metal knife which I have always thought/been told will turn the lettuce brown---which, with traditional salads, it has!

Today, day ten, I made tostadas. The lettuce is still as crisp and crunchy and without blemish as day one!  The below photo is another google image. My lettuce looks even better.

Now .... How!

The above photo shows cutting the romaine cross-ways. Before you do that slash it from root end to top 4 or 5 times. Then cut it across. I couldn't believe how fast it went and how great the resulting small pieces were. In the past I have always torn it. This way is so much better.

You can use any size jar that fits your needs and has a tight-fitting lid. For us the pint one are idea, especially the ones that have wide mouths. (Simply for ease in packing.)

You begin by putting your chopped "wet items" like the tomatoes, in first. (Some even put the dressing in first.) Continue adding whatever additions you want and then tightly stuff the chopped lettuce or whatever greens you want, filling the jar to the top. 

Cap it with the canning lid and ring or other tight-fitting lid 

and refrigerate.

     

With the holidays approaching, wouldn't this be a fun gift for busy friends! single friends! elderly friends! friends who take their lunch to work!

For more information just type in salads in a jar or simply type the same in google images for oodles of ideas.

    

Until next time,
I am Simply, Gail, and so simple I can't figure out how I messed up the formatting so badly. I am sure it is a simple fix but . . .

Find Answers and Peace in These Chaotic Times

Our vacation was even better than we had hoped.

The cabin on the lake was great. The quaking aspen trees, amid all the pines, turned from green to gold and orange right before our eyes over the ten days we were there. The stars were amazing We were even fortunate enough to have short display of lightening, thunder and rain. It seemed we were there through seasons rather than over days.



We saw buffalo, elk, moose, deer, a coyote in the lane crossing our drive way  and even bear scat only 50 yards from our cabin!




Usually you’d think: what more could anyone want?

We also had: Total peace! Total quiet! Very few people! For the most part, just Dave and I, and Milo the dog, among the awesome beauty and wonder and variety of our Heavenly Father’s creations.




For ten days we didn’t turn on the radio or television or read a newspaper!  We played soft music on our I-pad. 

The only “touristy” thing we did was visit an outdoor non-profit facility that housed rescued grizzly bears, wolves, and birds of prey.

It was heaven.

Then, unfortunately, we came back to civilization and the chaotic world.

What a mess we have made of the beautiful world we were given!  What has happened to love one another and do unto others?

We believe that Gospel truths were taken from the earth for a period of time as the peoples of the world became more and more wicked. Truth and glory could no longer abide with them.

We believe the Gospel has been restored in these latter days. 

Recently I posted The 13 Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you haven't already, please read that post.  

We have a living Prophet today with living Apostles, all patterned after Christ’s first Church.

In the LDS Church there is constancy. 
And constancy brings peace.  

Our Church does not alter the commandments, nor change nor falter between the myriad ways of the world.

The LDS Church has the fullness of the Gospel, directed by God and His Son Jesus Christ, led by a living Prophet and 12 Apostles today, just as it was in Biblical times.

The general population seems to think that such a restoration is nether possible nor necessary.  Why?

We need it more now than ever. Why would a loving Father in Heaven cut Himself off from us?

Why would Jesus Christ suffer so horribly for all the sins of the world, all of our sins, only to then go away and leave us comfortless?

This week-end is the 185th semi-annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It consists of five televised sessions, spaced over Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4. . Each session is offered in all media formats and will be broadcast in many languages all over the world.  Because of this availability to everyone I will not attempt to give you specific directions. I promise it will be an easy search.

I invite you to watch and learn the truths that are taught, the encouragement that is given, the direction on how to live, the importance of husbands and wives and of families. And, how God’s plan is for families to be together forever, throughout the eternities.

There is no hellfire and brimstone, no pounding the pulpit. There are no mysteries.

There will be no " pomp and circumstance." What there will be, is men in business suits (and some women) talking reverently and simply about the truths of the Gospel and the way God and His Son want us              to live our lives.

There will be peace and love and comfort and guidance.

What I found, 53 years ago when I first watched, was I had questions answered that I hadn’t even realized I had.

If you will take the time to sincerely watch and listen, I know you will have the spirit of understanding, peace, love, comfort and guidance with you. You will feel warmth surround you. This will be the Holy Spirit ---- the Comforter.

I attended many churches, many good churches full of many good and sincere people and then I was fortunate enough to find the one that had all the good all the others had to offer plus the fullness of the  Gospel ---all that our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ continue to offer.

This promise is from one of our living Apostles

Please, in the privacy of your own home, spend a little time with these chosen men of God this weekend.

You can also go to lds.org any time and find rebroadcasts of all these sessions and many more uplifting and informative videos and information. 

What do you have to lose?


I am Simply, Gail, and the answers to life's hardest questions are actually very simple.

Creative Ways to Container Garden . . .Cheaply !

Not our actual neighborhood but a general idea of our local terrain

When you live near inactive cinder cones your home is built on  lava rock! With very few inches of topsoil.

Gardening requires creative thinking. And it is best when the ideas are simple and inexpensive.

 We've tried various things over the years and have posted some of them.

These fun heavy plastic tubs were a thrift store find. This year they are
holding herbs.  The tub with flowers to the right is a bargain store dishpan.

http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/search?q=gardening

Reusable, non-woven fabric grocery bags, folded down to height we wanted,
with few holes punched in the bottom,
filled with lettuces and spinach which lasted the entire season

http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/2011/08/gardening-in-bag-or-bags.html

These plastic dollar store pots are planted with equally bright
insect-deterring marigolds. Tomatoes are in the tires.

 The tires are tire store rejects (they gladly give you as many as you want), painted white to reflect the heat.
We didn't want to fill the entire planting area with soil (because of how much it would take), nor did we want to have the planting soil come in contact with the inside tires because of possible leaching so . . .

We have used three different methods of making  planting "cylinders" that fit inside the tires:

1. We formed cylinders from heavy plastic, taping it to hold it together.
2.  Dog food bags! Just cut the top zipper part and the bottom off  --- ready made cylinders!
3. And, when we needed more potting soil for more tires we carefully cut a large bag of potting soil in half
and inserted each half into it's tire home.

Three different ways to create the same thing.  And, they all worked well.

The tire containers also cut down on watering (especially if you   run a drip line), the need to weed is almost nil,  and you don't   
have to bend! 

You can make them taller by simply adding tires.  For our potatoes we planted them in two stacked tires and added tires as the plants grew above the previous ones. When it is time to harvest them, you remove one tire at a time.

But, like most good things, there is a  but  . . .


There is one problem with tire gardening.

If you ever want to get rid of them, it is not simple and it is expensive. You can't just put them out with the trash! And the dump charges more than regular trash or building materials, etc. to  take them off your hands!

Our solution?

We camouflaged them!

The tires, covered with stacked rocks from our local area, are planted with daffodils and day lilies.

Disclosure: The daffodils are artificial ones "planted" with each real plant providing a little color before the
day lilies were ready to bloom.

The really fun part is, not one person  realized  they weren't real.

Isn't nature's landscape wonderful --- no matter whether it's stark lava beds or fertile vegetable and flower beds.

I am Simply, Gail.

Please have a great and grateful day.