Better-Than- Almost-Anything Cake

I love recipes from Betty Crockers kitchen and this is one my family really enjoys.

Better-Than- Almost-Anything Cake

1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ German chocolate cake mix
  Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 jar (16 to 17 oz) caramel, butterscotch or fudge topping
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 bag (8 oz) toffee chips or bits

1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Make
  and bake cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Cool
  15 minutes.

2 Poke top of warm cake every 1/2 inch with handle end of
  wooden spoon. Drizzle condensed milk evenly over top
  of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake.

3 Drizzle with caramel topping. Run knife around sides of
  pan to loosen cake. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or
  until chilled.
  Spread whipped topping over top of cake. Sprinkle with
  toffee bits. Store covered in refrigerator.


PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 3 hours 3 minutes
MAKES: 15 servings

Maryjane Angelo

Beef Jerky

Beef Jerky

1/2 cup dark soy sauce

2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp monosodium glutamate (optional)

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp powdered ginger

2 Tbls. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp Tabasco

1/2 tsp liquid smoke seasoning

2 lbs lean beef brisket, eye-of-round or flank steak,

trimmed completely of fat and cut across grain into

slices 1/4 inch thick

To aid in slicing meat thinly, freeze the meat slightly

until ice crystals are formed.

Blend all ingredients except meat in small bowl. Dip each piece

of meat into marinade, coating well. Place in shallow dish.

Pour remaining marinade over top, cover and refrigerate

overnight.

Oven method: Preheat oven to lowest setting (about 130F).

Place several layers of paper towels on baking sheets. Arrange

meat in single layer on prepared sheets and cover with

additional toweling. Flatten meat with rolling pin. Discard

towels and set meat directly on oven racks, with foil below

to catch any drips.

Let dry 8 to 12 hours (depending on temperature of oven).

Dehydrator method: Arrange meat on trays in single layer and

dehydrate 10 to 12 hours, depending on thickness.

Store jerky in plastic bags or in tightly covered containers in

cool, dry area.

MaryJane Angelo 

Potato Pierogi

Pierogis are a great kid recipe to make. It teaches them a lot of skills and it's something they enjoy eating.

Plus it's way better to make your own pierogis than to buy them from the store - a huge money savings right here. I made these Pierogis a few days ago and with a side salad we really enjoyed our dinner that day.

Maryjane

Pierogi dough 
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup cake flour

* 1 teaspoon salt 
* 2 large eggs 
* 1/3 cup water

Filling
* 3 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (about 4 cups) 
* 2 tablespoons butter 
* 1 cup finely chopped onion 
* 1/4 cup sour cream 
* 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese 
* 3 to 5 tablespoons milk 
* Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the flours and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and water.
Using a fork or whisk, mix just the liquids.
Now with a spoon stir the flour into the liquid from the sides of the bowl.

When you have made a dough, knead it for 7-8 minutes on lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands.
Put the dough aside in a bowl covered with plastic wrap while you prepare the filling.

Put the potatoes in a pan with just enough water to cover them.
Heat to a boil. Cook 10 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.

Meanwhile melt butter in a sautée pan and add the onion, stirring until it's a light golden brown.

Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. 
Add the onion, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, 3 tbsp milk and about ¼ tsp salt.
Mash adding salt and pepper to taste. If mixture is a little dry, add more milk.

Roll dough out very thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut with 3-inch circle cookie cutter.
Place 1 tablespoon of potato filling in center of dough cut-outs.
Moisten half the edges with a finger dipped in water and fold the moistened end over onto the dry end to seal.
Press the edges firmly together.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and place pierogis into the boiling water.
Let them boil for 7 minutes. Serve with sour cream.

 Maryjane Angelo

Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie

Hi Everyone,

Here is a special recipe for Pumpkin Pie that I make any time during the year,it is such a delicacy and a treat to the palate
enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 Maryjane 

                                 

                                

Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie

Crust

1
box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Filling

2
eggs, beaten
1/2
cup granulated sugar
1
can (16 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1
can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1
teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2
teaspoon salt
1/2
teaspoon ground ginger
1/8
teaspoon ground cloves

Topping
1/2
cup quick-cooking oats
1/2
cup packed brown sugar
1/4
cup butter or margarine, softened

Directions
1
Heat oven to 425°F. Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.

2
In large bowl, beat all filling ingredients with hand beater or wire whisk until blended. Pour filling into pie crust-lined pie plate.

3
Bake 15 minutes. Remove pie from oven; reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Cover crust edge with 2- to 3-inch-wide strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Bake 35 minutes. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix topping ingredients until crumbly with fork; set aside.

4
Sprinkle topping over pie. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 4 hours or until chilled before serving. Store pie covered in refrigerator.

Do you have a special pie recipe?

Maryjane Angelo

This Holiday Season Send Thanks To Our
US Soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan. 

Cook a Whole Meal for Less Than $10

Making meals that are inexpensive is something many families are striving for. Having them taste good or maybe even restaurant quality while still not eating a huge hole in your budget can really be a challenge, though. But, it can be done. Here are five tasty meals that can be made for less than $10 each and will feed your whole family.

1. Roast Chicken

Because you can get a whole chicken for very cheap this is a perfect meal that seems expensive, but isn't. Just include some potatoes and carrots in the roasting pan with the chicken and you have a whole meal in one pan that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Simply take your roast chicken and season with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Place it in a roasting pan with rack. Surround the chicken with quartered potatoes and some cut up carrots with half a cup of water and place in a preheated 350 degree oven. Allow to cook half an hour per pound of chicken.

About half an hour before the chicken is done cooking, pour some chicken broth over it. Once done cooking, remove the vegetables from the pan. Mash the potatoes if you'd like and season with a little salt and pepper. Remove chicken to a cutting board and let stand a few minutes before carving. Meanwhile use the drippings from the pan to make gravy if desired. And there you have it - a full meal for under $10.

2. Meatloaf

This is an American classic that's inexpensive to boot. Pair this with some green beans and egg noodles for a meal that's less than $10. 

* 1 lb ground beef
* 1 egg
* 1/3 cup ketchup
* 1/4 cup water 
* ½ cup bread crumbs
* 1 envelope onion soup mix

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Place in a loaf pan. Put in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and serve over egg noodles.

3. Slow Cooker Chicken Stew

A nice hearty meal to really fill you up. And it's easy because you can set it to cook all day in the crockpot.

* 6 pieces boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into strips
* 2 tbsp vegetable oil
* 6 red potatoes, quartered
* 4 cups chicken broth
* Carrots and peas

Brown chicken on both sides in oil. Season with a little salt and pepper. Remove to slow cooker. Add vegetables and chicken broth to slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours (high for 4 hours).

4. Chili

Here's another hearty meal that won't break the bank, but will fill you right up.

* 1 onion
* 1 head of garlic
* Bell pepper
* 15 ounce can of black beans
* 14 ounce chicken broth
* 14 ounce stewed tomatoes
* ½ pound ground turkey

In a large saucepan heat onion, garlic, pepper, and ground turkey. Cook until turkey is done, about 6 minutes. Drain the canned beans. Add to turkey with stewed tomatoes and half of the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for half an hour.

5. Vegetarian Tacos

This is really very simple and basic. To make it more filling, use beans instead of meat. Just heat a can of beans in a pan with some chipotle pepper. Add your taco shells, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese and you have a quick and cheap taco dinner for the whole family.

So those are just five recipes you can make that won't break the bank. What other meals do you like to make that cost less than $10?

Maryjane Angelo

This Holiday Season Remember Our Soldiers

Fun Recipes to Cook with the Kids to Save Time and Money

Cooking with the kids has many benefits. Shocker of shockers - you can even save time and money when you let the kids get involved in cooking. Here are some fun recipes you can cook with the kids that will save you time and money.

Homemade Pizza

You really can't go wrong with kids when it comes to pizza. Let them put their own toppings on it and they will be more likely to eat it. But why not let them make the whole thing, dough and all? Here's a super easy recipe.

Dough
* 2 ½ cups flour
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 cup warm water 
* 1 tbsp yeast
* 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
* 1 tbsp oil

Toppings
* Pizza sauce
* Mozzarella cheese
* Pepperoni
* Ham
* Meatballs
* Sausage
* Pineapple
* Pepper
* Mushrooms
* Olives

Dissolve yeast in warm water and add a dash of sugar. In a mixing bowl add salt, flour, Italian seasoning, and oil. When yeast is bubbly, pour into flour mixture to make dough. Form into a ball and place in lightly greased bowl. Allow to rise 30-60 minutes.

Roll out dough on a floured surface and stretch into pizza pan. With multiple children you can make individual pizzas so they can add the toppings they desire. Spread sauce, cheese, and any other toppings over crust and bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until cheese bubbles.

The gift that keeps giving and giving and will provide lasting positive memories for your children, grandchildren or any child in your life 

(For More Information)

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Potato Pierogi
Pierogis are a great kid recipe to make. It teaches them a lot of skills and it's something they enjoy eating. Plus it's way better to make your own pierogis than to buy them from the store - a huge money savings right here.

Pierogi dough 
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
* 1/2 cup cake flour 
* 1 teaspoon salt 
* 2 large eggs 
* 1/3 cup water

Filling
* 3 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (about 4 cups) 
* 2 tablespoons butter 
* 1 cup finely chopped onion 
* 1/4 cup sour cream 
* 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese 
* 3 to 5 tablespoons milk 
* Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the flours and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and water. Using a fork or whisk, mix just the liquids. Now with a spoon stir the flour into the liquid from the sides of the bowl.

When you have made a dough, knead it for 7-8 minutes on lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands. Put the dough aside in a bowl covered with a plastic wrap while you prepare the filling.

Put the potatoes in a pan with just enough water to cover them. Heat to a boil. Cook 10 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.

Meanwhile melt butter in a sautée pan and add the onion, stirring until it's a light golden brown.

Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. Add the onion, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, 3 tbsp milk and about ¼ tsp salt. Mash adding salt and pepper to taste. If mixture is a little dry, add more milk.

Roll dough out very thinly on a lightly floured surface. Cut with 3-inch circle cookie cutter. Place 1 tablespoon of potato filling in center of dough cut-outs. Moisten half the edges with a finger dipped in water and fold the moistened end over onto the dry end to seal. Press the edges firmly together.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and place pierogis into the boiling water. Let them boil for 7 minutes. Serve with sour cream.


Chicken Cutlets and Fries

Kids love chicken, but you might not be so crazy about having them fry chicken fingers. All that grease spraying everywhere. But baking them like in this recipe is not only healthier, but also not as dangerous for the kids.

* 2 large baking potatoes
* ¼ cup zesty Italian dressing
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
* 1 lb boneless chicken breast, pounded and cut into strips
* ½ cup bread crumbs

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut potatoes into ½-inch strips and place in a bowl. Toss with dressing and ¼ cup cheese until coated. Spread evenly into a lightly greased baking dish. Bake 12 minutes.

Meanwhile mix bread crumbs and the rest of the cheese together. Wet chicken and dip in breading mixture.

Add the chicken to the baking dish with potatoes. Turn the potatoes. Bake 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is done. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

These recipes are all great to get kids cooking with you and to save money. It's all stuff they'll love so they will not be throwing any food away, especially since they helped make it.

What are your favorite recipes to cook with kids?

Maryjane Angelo

Saving Money on Groceries with the Internet

We use the internet for everything these days. And now with smartphones keeping the internet with us at all times, there are plenty of ways we can use the internet to save on our grocery shopping. Here are the top five apps for saving money on groceries.

1. ZipList

We need a list to go grocery shopping, correct? Well, we should have one. That right there is a huge money saver. Getting only what you do need and nothing you don't, but keeping up with the list or remembering to bring the list with you is always my downfall. I do always have my phone, though. And with ZipList, all of my list making troubles are over.

Not only is this great at keeping your recipes all in one place, but it can help you create a shopping list with the items you need. It can even organize your list based on the layout of your store. What better way to keep those impulse buys at bay?

2. Weekly Ads & Sales

This app is great for more than just your grocery shopping. Really, it's no wonder that newspapers are struggling so mightily in this information age. This takes away the need for your weekly Sunday paper. You can get all of your local stores weekly sales and deals right there on your phone. This way you can decide where the best place to shop for what you need is right at the touch of your finger.

3. Grocery iQ

This is another grocery list which allows you to check off things as you go. You can completely customize and sort your list. You can even use your phone to scan the barcode to add things to your list. But on top of that you can also find coupons for the items on your list. No more forgetting your coupons when you go shopping.

4. SavingStar

This is more ways to get coupons. SavingStar will take all of your stores loyalty cards and store them and give you exclusive savings on the items you purchase. You can get ecoupons to use. No more coupon clipping with this app at the ready. Beyond that, you get savings when you shop online at places like Groupon, Travelocity, LandsEnd.com, and ProFlowers.

5. Cellfire

This might be the perfect app for everyone. There's really nothing for you to do. It will alert you to special savings as soon as you walk into a store and automatically loads coupon savings onto your loyalty card so you no longer have to worry about those coupons. It's just that easy to save money on the things you buy. This will even work at restaurants, department stores, and entertainment as well.

Grocery shopping has really gotten much easier with all of these great coupon apps you can add to your phone. And you'll never forget your list again. With your lists stored into these apps, it will make it that much easier to remember all of the ingredients you need to make your favorite recipes.

Saving money using the internet has become so much easier. Aside from using your phone and apps, don't forget that a Google search will often reveal helpful coupons and where the best sales are. So make the internet a part of your weekly grocery shopping. It will not only save you time, but it will also save you money.

Maryjane Angelo