Welcome to my money saving Blog where I share many of your favorite recipes and stories with everyone who visits here. Feel free to comment – feel free to ask questions! All are welcome! I also hope you pay a visit to my blogs – history files for more money saving hints and tips for everyday life.I believe that making your own food saves more money than any other part of our lives. My email is grannyj40@yahoo.com you are welcome to write to me anytime.
There seems to be an echo in here.
Recipes for the 4 th & 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used
Grilled Vidalia Onions
It can be prepared in the oven or on the grill.
50 min | 10 min prep
SERVES 4 , 4 onions
4 medium vidalia onions
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1 Tbs pieces
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
salt
pepper
Cut top and root end from onions. Peel and rinse. Make two cuts into each onion without going all the way through, making quarters that stay together. Core the middle of the onion.
Place each onion in the middle of a foil square large enough to securely wrap the onion. Put 1/4 tsp of beef boullion granules into the middle of each onion. Crush about a 1/4 tsp of rosemary on to the top of each onion. Top with 1 Tbs of butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Securely wrap each onion. I double wrap so juices don’t leak out. Place on medium grill for 30-40 minutes until soft when squeezed.
Serve as side dish. You can serve in the foil packet.
Dilled Cucumber Spears
A fresh, cool and light veggie to serve as a side in the summer when cucumbers are at their peak. Goes well with grilled meats and chicken.
5 min | 5 min prep
SERVES 4 , 16 spears
2 cucumbers, chilled
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
garlic salt
dried dill
Slice ends from cucumbers and peel. Cut in half and quarter each half to total 16 spears.
Brush spears with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic salt and dried dill.
Serve immediately!
Buttermilk Dressing- Rachel Ray Recipe
I saw this recipe on the Rachel Ray show and made with iceberg wedges .This is the best “ranch” dressing I have ever had.
3 min | 3 min prep
SERVES 6
1 scallion
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Blend scallion and garlic in food processor. Add buttermilk and mayo. Process, add salt and pepper to taste, and process again.
Coffee Smoothie
Strong brewed coffee, milk, sugar, and…vanilla pudding (to sweeten and give a little thickness). Ice…and a blender! Awesome….get creative and add other flavors if you wish
5 min | 5 min prep
SERVES 4 , 4 smoothies
1 cup strongly brewed coffee, cooled
1 cup milk, cold (whole, 2%, or skim, whatever you prefer)
2 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding
1-3 teaspoon sugar, depending on how sweet you like your coffee
2 cups ice cubes (add more if you want a thicker smoothie)
Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend until no ice chunks remain. Done!
Parmesan Ranch Green Beans
Super easy,no cook side dish that even your kids will enjoy. If you cannot find a parmesan ranch, then just add a few shakes of grated parmesaan to the dressing.
10 min | 5 min prep
SERVES 4
15 ounces green beans, french cut style
2 tablespoons parmesan ranch dressing, preffer Cardini’s
bacon bit
Open can of green beans, drain and place in a bowl. Add dressing, toss and top with bacon bits. Serve cold.
Chicken Wings
1¼ hours | 10 min prep
SERVES 5 -6
4-5 lbs chicken wings
5 ounces regular soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
Rinse chicken wings and cut off tips.
Pat dry with paper towel.
Pre-heat oven 350 degrees.
Mix soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar and white sugar together. Mix well to disolve sugars.
Marinate chicken wings in marinade for at least 2 hours. (large zip lock freezer bag works well).
Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade.
Cook chicken at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until done.
Bean Salad
An excellent party dish.
35 min | 15 min prep
SERVES 8 -10
1 lb green beans, cooked (approximately)
1 lb wax bean, cooked (approximately)
116 ounces beans (mixed, kidney, chick peas)
2 medium onions
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
Dressing
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup salad oil
Shake dressing ingrediengts very well and pour over vegetables. Store in refrigerator and stir occasionally.
Shish’d Tofu (Grilled Marinated Tofu – Vegan)
30 min | 15 min prep
SERVES 4
2 (350 g) packages firm tofu
2 teaspoons curry powder (indian curry powder)
1 shallot
1 lime, juice of
2 tablespoons brown sugar (I use evap cane juice or organic sugar)
1 1/2 tablespoons Braggs liquid aminos (or sub soy)
1 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon dried mint
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or any light oil such as canola)
fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder (to taste) (optional)
1.Drain the tofu and cut it into large cubes Press out some of the excess water by patting it dry or squeezing out by placing a plate on top of the tofu with something heavy on top. I use a clean tea towel and lightly press down.
2.Mix everything else together in a mini blender or food processor. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
3.Marinate the tofu in the mixture for at least a few hours, overnight is best.
4.If you’re using bamboo skewers soak them for 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill. Thread the tofu onto skewers.
5.Grill on medium heat, getting some nice grill marks on each side — brushing with the excess 4marinade as you go. 3-4 minutes per side is usually enough.
20 Things You Should Never Buy Used
By USNews.com
We all love scoring great deals on Craigslist and Ebay, but many second-hand purchases are actually terrible deals. Stay clear of these 20 used items that will end up costing you money — or even endanger your health.
1. Cribs and children’s furniture: If there’s any chance that you’ll put your children at risk by buying used, just buy new. Used children’s furniture, especially cribs, can be a safety hazard because you can’t be certain of a potential recall or if the crib was installed correctly. (See also 7 Baby Items You Don’t Need to Buy.)
2. Car seats: Even if a used car seat looks OK, damaged car seats aren’t uncommon. Considering that safety technology improves every year — and the fact that car seats can go for as little as $50 — buying new is usually the better option.
3. Bicycle helmets: Usually, a crash would only crush the foam inside the helmet casing, so the damage to the helmet may not be visible. However, since helmets are meant to protect against one accident only, buying new would be a safer bet.
4. Tires: Sometimes it’s hard to tell if used tires were once part of a totaled wreck. If they have been in an accident, they’re bound to be unstable and unreliable. Putting your safety at risk for the sake of saving a few bucks just doesn’t add up.
5. Laptops: Because of their portability, laptops are prone to all sorts of abuse and problems. When you buy a used laptop, unless it’s refurbished, you have no idea what it’s been through or when important parts will die on you. You also don’t get the warranties and tech support that come with buying new.
6. Software: Most software comes with a serial number that you register with the company when you activate the software on your computer. If the serial number on your use software has already been registered, you can’t use it again.
7. Plasma and HDTVs: The cost for fixing or replacing the parts on plasma or HDTVs is high. Sometimes, it costs as much as buying a new TV. Considering the repair costs, you’d want to get an extended warranty, but that isn’t an option if you buy your TV used.
8. DVD players: While it’s smart to buy used DVDs, this doesn’t apply to DVD players. DVD players have lasers that will eventually wear out. The cost to repair or replace may cost more than the player is worth.
9. Digital and video cameras: Like laptops, used digital and video cameras are likely to have been dropped and banged around. It may not be obvious, but once the damage kicks in, it’ll be expensive to repair. If you know what to look for in a digital camera, you can get a great new camera without breaking the bank.
10. Speakers and microphones: Speakers and microphones are sensitive audio equipment that don’t stand up well to blasting and mishandling. Like laptops and cameras, the damage may not be obvious, but their performance would be severely compromised.
11. Camera lenses: An SLR camera lens is the most expensive part of a camera. It also directly affects the quality of your images. Any damage to the lens, however slight, will show up in your photos.
12. Photo light bulbs: Not the ordinary light bulbs you use at home. We’re talking about the light bulbs used with photography equipment. They’re relatively expensive, but their life span is short enough that you likely won’t get much use out of them if you buy second-hand.
13. Mattresses and bedding: Just think: You may be sleeping with other people’s mold, mites, bacteria, and bodily fluids. Besides, even the really good mattresses are only supposed to last eight to 10 years, and it’s hard know for sure how old a used mattress may be.
14. Swimsuits and undergarments: This is probably a no-brainer, but it needs to be said: Do not, do not, do not buy used swimsuits or undergarments. They’re worn too close to the body — someone else’s body — to consider buying used.
15. Wet suits: Wet suits lose the ability to keep you warm over time. If you’re a scuba diver, or the last owner was one, the constant change in water pressure will eventually wear out the wet suit and make it more likely to tear.
16. Shoes: If you get used footwear, it’s likely they’re already molded to the last owner’s feet. Poor-fitting shoes are not only uncomfortable but can cause all sorts of health problems, as well.
17. Hats: Hats are likely not cleaned before they’re resold or donated. If you buy a used hat, you don’t know if you’re also getting skin infections, old sweat stains, hair products, and other cringe-worthy remnants. Now that’s a deal you don’t want.
18. Makeup: A good thing to remember about used makeup is that it’s a breeding ground for bacteria and a number of contagious diseases. The great deal you found may come with pink eye and cold sores. Instead of buying used, consider making your own beauty products (it’s easier than you think) or skip makeup altogether.
19. Pet supplies: Old stains and odors continue to ferment even if used pet supplies are sitting around in storage. If cleanliness is ever an issue, just say no.
20. Vacuum cleaners: Vacuums are among the heavy-duty household appliances that tend to get a lot of use and abuse. They can also cost more to fix than if you bought them new right from the start.
Amy Lu writes at Wise Bread, a blog dedicated to helping readers live large on a small budget. Wise Bread’s book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, debuted as the #1 Money Management book on Amazon.com.
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