Countrified Hicks: frugal recipe

Showing posts with label frugal recipe. Show all posts

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Mexican Bean Soup Mix in a Jar

This mix makes a really delicious and hearty soup that is perfect any time of the year. It is bursting with flavor and is easy on your pocketbook. It is also great to take on camping trips and it freezes well too.

3/4 c dried pinto beans
3/4 c. navy beans
3/4 c. kidney beans
3/4 c. black beans
1 c. small cut pasta
1/2 c. rice
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 T. dehydrated onion
2 T. parsley flakes
1 T. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. oregano

Layer the beans into a quart jar. Place the pasta in a small baggie. Place the rice into another small baggie. Put the rest of the ingredients into a 3rd small baggie. Place baggies into jar with the beans.

To make the soup:

Rinse the beans and place them into a heavy bottomed soup pot with 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Once they start to boil, turn off the stove and remove the pot from heat Put a lid on the pot and let it sit for an hour.

Once the hour has elapsed, drain the beans and put them back into the pot. Add in 8 cups of water and the contents of the 3rd baggie (spices, etc.). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour with a lid on the pot. The beans should be tender at this point. If not, allow them to simmer a bit longer.

Once the beans are tender, stir in the rice and cover and simmer about 15 minutes. Now stir in the pasta and 1/2 cup of water. Uncover the pot Cook for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

If you give this recipe a try, please take a picture of it and tag me on Instagram @countrifiedhicks and use the hashtag #countrifiedhicks so I don't miss seeing your post!

Be sure to check out some of my other soup mix in a jar recipes: Rainbow Soup Mix in a Jar, Chicken and Rice Soup Mix in a Jar, Potato Soup Mix in a Jar, and Barley & Lentil Soup Mix in a Jar!

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Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Homemade French Dressing recipe

This is a really simple recipe that will allow you to make homemade French dressing that will far surpass anything you can buy at the store. You can make your French dressing to be traditional or make it creamy. I’ll tell you how to make it your preferred way.

I prefer to make my own dressings because when you make them from scratch, you know exactly what goes into it. Dressings from the store have a lot of unnecessary and unwanted things in them. They also charge too much for them. Make them on your own for a fraction of the cost.

¾ c. oil (I use canola oil or vegetable oil)
½ c. sugar
½ c. ketchup
¼ c. vinegar (white or apple cider, I prefer it with white)
¾ tsp. minced onion (or ¼ tsp. onion powder)
½ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. celery seed
½ tsp. salt

Place all of the ingredients into a food process or blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes, or until the dressing looks smooth. Place the dressing into a mason jar or other container and store in your refrigerator until ready to use. Be sure to shake well before pouring. You can store it safely in your refrigerator for 10-14 days. This recipe does freeze well too.

If you prefer a creamier French dressing, just add in ¼ cup of half-and-half or heavy whipping cream and mix it as stated above. Either way you like your French dressing, this recipe works and both are so good.

Other delicious salad dressings I make include: Catalina Dressing, an Oil and Vinaigrette, Homemade Thousand Island Salad Dressing, and Italian Dressing.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Homemade Ketchup with Fresh Tomatoes

I am always looking to save money all-the-while wanting to feed my family homemade meals. Today I am teaching you how to make a homemade condiment...ketchup! This recipe is really easy and turns out great!

Homemade Ketchup

3 medium tomatoes

6 oz. jar tomato paste

1/4 c. sugar

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. salt

Wash and chop up your tomatoes. Place the chopped tomatoes into a saucepan and heat them up on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Then use a potato masher to mash up the tomatoes. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and then allow the mixture to cook for 1-1 1/2 minutes or until it just starts to bubble.

Remove from heat and carefully pour the mixture into your blender. Blend until smooth. At this point you can strain out the seeds, if you desire.

Pour your homemade ketchup into a Mason jar or other container and store in the refrigerator for 10-14 days. Goes perfect with some french fries and a hamburger or use it on some delicious meatloaf!

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Homemade Catalina Dressing Recipe

This homemade Catalina dressing recipe is so easy and so tasty that you will want to make it over and over again because you will love it more than store-bought. Use it to brighten up any fresh garden salad or use it for another simple dish that needs a great tangy sauce, such as over your favorite casserole for extra zip!

Even though this recipe is simple, it turns out so divine and tasty. It tastes so fresh and is thrown together with items found in about any home pantry. I truly love it and love it on all of my salads. Making things from scratch makes me feel better about what I am feeding my family. I know exactly what goes into the food and I can omit things that I don't want to add.

Homemade Catalina Dressing

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. ketchup

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Put all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Pulse until it is all mixed up together and looks smooth. Store in a Mason jar in your refrigerator until ready to use. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.

If you like this recipe, try my Homemade Ranch Dressing, my Homemade Italian Dressing, Homemade Thousand Island Salad Dressing, my Homemade French Dressing or my Homemade Oil and Vinegar Dressing.

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Homemade Marshmallows

My husband loves marshmallows. If he opens a bag of mini-marshmallows, you can be sure the bag will be empty before he stops. He just can't help himself so when I found out you could make marshmallows at home, I just had to try it.

Homemade Marshmallows

2 c. sugar

2/3 c. light corn syrup

1/2 c. cold water

1/4 c. water

3 envelopes of Knox gelatine

1 T. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

powdered sugar

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In a large mixing bowl, add the cold water and then sprinkle the 3 envelopes of gelatin in. Let rest for 8 minutes. While it is at rest, place the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 c. of water in a small pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat.

Once it has come to a boil, pour it into the mixing bowl and mix it all together at high speed.

Add in the salt and now beat for 12 1/2 minutes. Stir in the vanilla gently.

Next, butter a regular sized cake pan and then pour the marshmallow mixture into it.

Spread it out nice and pretty and place into the refrigerator or set it on the counter top overnight.

Once it is set, cut into squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

These come out so succulent and delicious. You won't believe the taste!

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Friday, January 11, 2013

How to save money

Recently, I received an email from a follower who needed some money saving ideas. Many of them I have posted before but came up with some more and decided to post here for everyone. If you have an idea that is not here, please leave a comment. Let's help each other save some money.

Try to limit your driving. Your hubby driving to work is a necessity but if you need to drop off mail, go to the library, pay a bill, or go to the grocery store, have him do these things on the way to work or on the way home to limit your gas usage.
Also, NEVER buy from a convenience store. Plan ahead so you don't have to buy overpriced items there.
If you or your hubby buy fountain drinks, coffee, etc. stop. Pack a thermos. Buy a 2 liter of soda and fill up a cup with ice and pop from home. If you can, cut soda out of your diet. Drink iced tea, coffee, etc. A lot cheaper.
For snacks, instead of microwave popcorn, buy a bag of unpopped popcorn and cook it on the stove. A bag is a dollar and can make TONS of popcorn with it.
Try to go to the grocery store once a month or every 2 weeks. The more you go to the grocery store, the more you end up buying. Make a list and stick to the list. Don't splurge shop. Eat before you go and look only for items on your list.
Instead of buying cookies, buy some chocolate chips or peanut butter and make your own.
If you really are struggling, cut off the cable and cell phones. Get a straighttalk phone and plan from wal-mart. $30 for 1000 minutes or $45 a month for unlimited.
To lower your water bills, drink from the same glass all day long and wash it only at night (instead of using a different one all day). Some families only flush after a bowel movement and close the lid at all times.
Wash clothes only when they are truly dirty. If they are a bit musty, throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet for 15 minutes to freshen them. Or in the warmer months, wash your laundry outside and hang on the line to dry like we do here.
Check your dryer often. Don't overdry the clothes and waste electricity.
If you use a dishwasher, turn it off before the end heat cycle and let the dishes dry naturally to save electricity.
Make your own dishwasher soap, fabric softener and laundry soap. This saves a LOT of money.
Instead of buying boxed mac and cheese, rice-a-roni, etc. Buy rice or pasta and make it yourself. You get a lot more for your money and it tastes better too.
Make your own bread and pizza's instead of ordering out or buying frozen. Tastes so much better!
Use freecyle. If you need a dresser, clothes, or whatever, post to freecycle what you need and see if you can get it free first. You'd be surprised.
If you have stuff to sale, take it to a consignment store or even better, post it online on Facebook at your local "garage sale" page. For example, for my area "Talihina yard sale page, or Leflore Country yard sale page". You can sell about anything. Your jeans that don't fit anymore and you get more than you would at a consignment shop or garage sale generally.
Buy generic. Check labels and if it is the same, buy it cheaper. Check wal-mart's 88 cent aisle for cheap meds. They have alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, cold meds, etc. for 88 cents. Ask pharmacy people to direct you to them.
Instead of your hubby buying lunch, send him a lunch to work. It doesn't have to be just a sandwich. Get creative. Most employers have a refrigerator and microwave so you can send just about anything. Add a little love note in with it to really brighten his day!
Buy bagged potatoes and use for side dishes instead of box items. Make french fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, etc. It is more work but you get a lot more for your money. Also, if potatoes or onions are on sale, put them in panty hose and put them in your closet. They can save like that for up to 9 months.

That is how you do the onions and potatoes. Tie a knot between each one and cut off one when you need it. I tie 3-4 potatoes together though instead of individually. Also, if you buy a green pepper or onion and you don't use it all, dice it up and freeze it in a baggie for next time so you have no waste.
Cutting down on sodas and eating out will save you the most. Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you really need it or if you have to eat out, do you need a $8 meal or can you buy a $1 burger from McD's to hold you over until you get home. Or hey, your kids want a bag of Doritos. They cost $4.00. Is it worth $4 or say "hey, let's buy a bag potatoes (for french fries) and a pound of hamburger meat and we can have hamburgers and french fries for the same cost". When I am out and think about buying a fountain soda, I always ask myself, what else could I use that $2 for? Makes you really reconsider purchases.
As far as clothes, shoes, etc. buy used when you can or get it free from freecycle. Shop 2nd hand stores, etc.