Taco / Chili Powder

from Tightwad Gazzette - Taco / chili powder.

6 T. chili powder

4 1/2 teaspoon cumin ( I find this cheaper at dollar stores usually)

5 t. paprika

3t. onion powder

1/8 - 1/4 t. ground red pepper

We use several T. per mix per pound of meat.

Seasoned Salt

From Tightwad Gazzette - Seasoned Salt

8 Tablespoons salt

3 T. pepper

2 T. paprika

1/2 T. onion powder

1/2 T. garlic powder

Cheaper and no MSG!

Pan - A Cakes-A

Pancakes

1 cup whole grain flour

1 T. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 beaten egg or 1 HEAPING T. soy flour

1 cup water plus 5 T. dry milk powder

2 T. cooking oil

Add water if not cake batter consistency. Cook on hot greased griddle until bubbly and turn. Cook until browned.

My Healthier Pancake Recipe

My Healthier Pancakes #FatLessDiet version

2 cups whole grain flour NOT WHITE

2 T. honey or 2 T. raw sugar

2 tsp baking powder

sprinke of sea salt ( I ALWAYS use half what recipes call for on salt.)

1 T. soy flour

2 1/4 T. golden milled flax seed ( dark is ok but shoes up more)

5 T. dry milk flour OR 2 cups milk and omit water

2 1/4 cups water - or more for correct consistency

1 T. oat bran

1 T. raw wheat germ

Cook on a hot, greased griddle about 1/3 cup batter per pancake until bubbly then turn and cook until done to your likeness.

It's a Giant Cookie Charles Brown!

Hershey's Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie with my #FatLessDiet (see Facebook) changes

5 T applesauce with 1 T. olive oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

vanilla extract is not needed in most recipes - omit - I haven't used it in over 2 years and it's a source of alcohol in the house - also the imitation vanillin isn't safe IMHO.

1 egg

1 cup flour - we use whole white wheat or graham

1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix and add half bag special dark chocolate chips.. it's legal since special dark is healthier.. LOL

Grease pizza pan or spray oil lightly. Lightly press batter onto pan leaving several inches from the edge. Cookie will grow! Cook 20-25 minutes at 350 F.

If you don't tell anyone it's got whole wheat (grain) flour in it they will NEVER know - Chocolate chip cookies are darker in coloring anyway.

My "cousin" who is rather large and a spinster found out what I was making the cookies from and went and 'tattled' on me to everyone at a huge family gathering.

The adults didn't want them but the kids didn't care - they said " They're great and we will eat them all then..." out of the mouth of babes....

No Aluminum For Me Pleasel

NON-aluminum baking powder

1 part baking soda or 1/4 tsp.

2 parts cream of tartar or 1/2 tsp.

I have read where some studies have shown that using aluminum cookware, drinking from aluminum containers can contribute to aluminum deposits in the brain - which is also found in Alzheimer's patients. Interesting.

Look for bulk cream of tartar on online shopping websites or at your local co-op.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chewies Lowfat Cookie

My #FATLESSDIET version of Betty Crocker's Chocolate-Oatmeal Chewies

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup applesauce (replaces fat)

1/4 cup skim milk

1 heaping Tablespoon soy flour (replaces egg)

3 cups quick or old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 cups whole grain flour (add a bit more if too wet though it will be sticky wet)

1/2 CUP baking cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 sea salt

Oven 350 F

Drop onto un-greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Cook approx. 15-20 minutes or until kinda firm.

THEIR recipe with margarine/butter, egg amd milk have these stats:

1 cookie =

100 calories

5 g fat (3 sat)

15 mg cholesterol

sodium 75 mg

13 g carb (1 fiber)

2 g protein

exchanges = 1 starch,1/2 fat

I don't know all this about my version but I know it has NO FAT unless minimal from whole grain flour (look st your packages label). It has more sugar but from apples. It has more protein because of the soy. I used half the salt called for in the original recipe.

Play- Dough, Clay-Dough Doesn't have to Cost you Dough.

Play Clay

1 cup white flour

1 cup water

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp salt

food color of choice

Cook in saucepan ( not your favorite one).

Stir with wooden spoon until dough wads up onto spoon.

Cool, Play, refrigerate.

This will MOLD if you don't refrigerate....

Recipes to Save By... Biscuits

These are real recipes that my family uses every week.

We use whole grain flour, not white (it's been bleached and stripped of the healthiest parts).

I started out by replacing one cup of white for the whole grain then worked my way away from refined white flour forever. It's not good for your colon.

If you have a gluten allergy you shouldn't be using "white" flour because it's wheat - use oat flour instead and adjust liquids as needed.

Biscuits........

2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup applesauce... yes applesauce

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

3/4 cup water

5 tablespoons dry instant milk

Cook at 425 F for approx 15 minutes.

We use margarine, jelly, or BULK mix gravy ( a bit healthier than scratch gravy) to go with the biscuits.

If you want to make it even healthier, add some milled flax seed. The gold isn't as easily noticed as the brown - if you're hiding it from the family. :) Flax has omega 3 which I was told by my Doctor is good to fight high cholesterol.

Mamma Mia! Homemade Pizzeria !

We just made a homemade pizza.

It's healthier because I used whole grain flour to make the crust and veggies and it's cheaper than the local pizzeria. I also used Fat Free cheese.

Maybe it's not a lot cheaper for this one, but I still have flour, sauce, organic spinach and cheese enough to make several more AND it's healthier. That's worth a lot....

from Tghtwad Gazzette books (with my changes) - Thick and Chewy Pizza Dough

1/4 cup warm water about 110F

1 package of dry yeast (HUGE expense)...I buy by bulk at warehouse store and use 1 Tablespoon per packet called for.

1 t. sugar

set aside for about 5 minutes or until bubbly and frothy...

1/4-1/2 cup water

2 cups whole grain flour

1 T. oil

1/2 t. salt

Mix and spread onto pizza baking sheet. Add sauce, and veggies, meat etc..

Cook at 425 F, 15-20 minutes.

Recipes to Save by... Cowboy Stew

Cowboy Stew ... successfully cooked on woodstove start to finish with all metal pan.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil .... in pot first

1 pound Italian flavored ground turkey ( or whatever you have).. cook until browned

1 can pre-cooked beans - your choice.. I change what I use each time.

If you use Ranch Style omit tomato sauce.

1 can corn

1 can carrot slices

1 can green beans

1 can green peas... or mixed veggies for a nice change

I can stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce

Bring to boil about 5 minutes and serve.

KNIT yarn

Old T-shirts, sweat shirts, knit tops can be made into a bulky yarn! Cut from side to side in about 1 inch strips. Cut and slit each end with very small hole. Lace next strip through one end and pull through to make one continuous strand of knit yarn to up-cycle into whatever you can crochet or knit with bulky yarn.

The legs of small sweat pants, knit pants, sleeves from the tops and socks can be cut into loops for the TOY weaving looms. You can make a bigger loom for the larger loops with a piece of cardboard and push top thumb tacks. Make a rug !!

Thinking about cutting T-shirts spiral for yarn next time..???

FREE Crochet Knitting Patterns

FREE patterns for crochet and knit on these websites....

http://www.readheart.com

http://www.lionbrandyarn.com

http://www.berroco.com/pattern_library.html

http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php

http://www.crochettoday.com/patterns

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php

http://www.hassdesign.com/.../IP/FreePatterns/

http://www.dailycrocheter.com

http://www.dailyknitter.com/patternsdetail.php?type=MS

http://www.knittingdaily.com/

http://www.knitscene.com/webprojects.asp

http://www.garnstudio.com/index_lang.php

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/kategori_oversikt.php

http://www.vogueknitting.com/free_patterns.aspx#stitchnation

http://www.knitty.com/librarycovers.php

You can also borrow pattern books from the library. There are some really cool updated new patterns in the newer books!

Always check the goodwill or thrift stores, used book stores before you decide to buy new.

Push Pops UpCYCLED

Orange sherbet push popsicle tubes (plastic ones) and holders can be reused. Wash and use them for cake pops (as seen in the cake decorating isle) and/or use the plastic push holder as a 'base with handle' to hold and twist while making decorator icing roses...

Cherry Picking!

"Cherry Picking" for sale items!

You can save a lot of money when you 'cherry pick' at stores when they have sales in the newspaper ads. The idea of 'cherry picking' is to get ONLY the sale items you NEED. NOTHING ELSE. Stores use those GREAT DEALS to lure you into the stores hoping you will buy something else. DON'T DO IT!!

Go to the stores that have the sales or even better, use the Wal-Mart Ad-match to save money with out clipping coupons! They have rules so call and ask them or look it up online.!

You buy the exact same item and get it for the ADVERTISED price that's in the ad from the other stores.

Great advice on not wasting time on making sweater that wont fit.. and how to make sure it will before you pick a pattern.