some easy 'n cheap recipes/ideas

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
some easy 'n cheap recipes/ideas
8
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 6:46am

someone asked last week about what we eat when the kids are away... i have worked FT out of the house for most of my adult life, and struggle financially, so i have put together a repertoire of easy and inexpensive meal ideas

first - i want to suggest that it is usually worthwhile to invest a little bit in some electrical appliances that can produce meals that are fun --- these appliances pay themselves back in no time at all. for example, electric grill (if you don't have a place to BBQ), waffle makers, toaster (in Israel they sell these sandwhich toasters that you can use to make grilled cheese toast), coffee makers, etc. I also suggest going to a site like budget101.com to get ideas for homemade convenience foods.

and now - some recipes:

brownies: http://cookie.allrecipes.com/az/bsltlyBstBrwnis.asp
I use oil instead of butter, i use much less sugar, and i add pecans and chopped dark chocolate. underbake them by about 1 minute and store in the freezer.

granola bars: http://cookie.allrecipes.com/az/GranolaBarsIII.asp
(i just made a batch today!!). i cut down on the sugar but not on the honey - the honey is what holds it together. i usually use date honey instaed of honey, you can also use molassas. as for the additions - i usually add dark choc and cranberries instead of nuts and raisins.

chocolate cake: hersheys perfectly chocolate cake
http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184&page=1&per=10&category_id=13&topten=1
this is easy and good.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Sun, 04-02-2006 - 3:08pm

Oooohhh....you are KILLING ME! Those recipes look SO good. I love granola bars, so I am definitelty going to try that recipe out. I eat them all the time, so making them on my own would be a good money saver.


And the chocolate cake and brownies? I'm just going to pretend I didn't see those, since I am a serious chocoholic ;)




What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:05am

Yum! (And they all have chocolate in them!)


Actually, DD *just* told me that she has to take a recipe to her "gifted and talented" class on Tuesday.... "and we have to take a sample of the recipe, too."


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:07pm

Thanks for the links!

Hugs~ Lexi

"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars" ~ Les Brown


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:09pm
Hope you're feeling better!

Hugs~ Lexi

"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars" ~ Les Brown


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:16pm

Thank you.... I just want to crawl under the covers.... dark.... quiet.


I just keep chanting "this too shall pass"..... so far, it's not working :-(


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 12:47pm
didn't you hear that chocolate is good for you? your heart? or something like that? endorphins etc etc etc
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 2:59pm

I did!


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 9:20pm
It has to be dark chocolate to have the good effects on your heart. However, remember when you are having yoru dark chocolate fix to have a glass of red wine to do your heart good, too! :)

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