Search Results for: blog how to make homemade butter

Frugal Food: Make Your Own Chewy Granola Bars

My kids are crazy for those chewy granola bars. They love to take them with their school lunches or to the park when they might need a snack. They are very convenient to have. Unfortunately, the price of chewy granola bars has been rising, all while the amount you get in a package has been shrinking. Combine that cost with the unsavory ingredients in some of them (“natural” versions are even more expensive), it only makes sense to create my own homemade version. I experimented with a number of recipes but wound up settling on one that uses honey as … Continue reading →

Homemade Hostess Cupcakes

Who could resist Hostess Cupcakes with their curly swirls of bitable icing over rich chocolate frosting that covers the deep chocolate cake that hides the gooey creamy filling? Don’t you want to just take a bite out of them right now? Sigh. Let’s take away both the guilt (well, a little of the guilt) and the expensive prices on eBay and make some homemade Hostess Cupcakes. You’ll eliminate the preservatives and be known as the best baker on the block. I have to tell you that this post required a lot of hard research. I had to make sure that … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Homemade Candy

If you need a last minute gift that will be well received, think about making some inexpensive homemade candies. Homemade candy can be a bit more festive than the usual Christmas cookies but just as inexpensive. Stick with recipes that are simple but delicious in order to spend the least amount of time and money to create your gifts. Plus, since candy can be very rich, you don’t have to make too much of it to still have a significant gift. You will need something to use to hold and present your homemade candy gifts, so start there. Many pretty … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Own Facepaint!

Forget the expensive and possibly toxic store bought face paint. You can make a rainbow of colors with homemade face paint for a fraction of the cost. Customize the facepaint for just your own trick or treaters, or create enough face paint for a party or a Halloween event. Ingredients: 1 tsp. cornstarch, 
1/2 tsp. water, 
1/2 tsp. cold cream, 
2 drops food coloring Repeat ingredients for each color of the homemade face paint that you need. The face paint goes a long way, but for multiple children, increase the recipe to make sure you have enough to go around. … Continue reading →

Homemade Coleslaw

Having a bevy of recipes for the backyard barbecue can come in handy, whether you are hosting your own party or need a dish to bring to someone else’s party. Make sure you have enough recipes that produce food that is both delicious and quick to prepare. This way, you can get back to enjoying summer. Here is a summer barbecue recipe that I hope will fit the bill. Sweet and tangy coleslaw, made fresh, will pair with any traditional summer food. In fact, it is a summer food in itself. Here is one tried and true recipe that can … Continue reading →

Homemade Chinese New Year’s Fun

With less than 48 hours until the official debut of the Year of the Dragon, many communities are getting a jump-start this weekend by hosting parades, festivals and firework displays. Chinese New Year is a festive holiday that celebrates family, friends and new beginnings. If you don’t live near a city that is commemorating the event with special activities, then host your own party. Gather the kids, hang up some red streamers and gold balloons, and then get busy in the kitchen whipping up some simple Chinese dishes, including: HOMEMADE FORTUNE COOKIES Ingredients: 1 egg white Dash of vanilla extract … Continue reading →

Easy and Popular Christmas Gifts You Can Make

This year, why not cut your holiday gift budget in half or even more by making some wonderful homemade gifts. Forget the crocheted potholders and the macaroni art, the following popular gifts will be appreciated and used. In fact, they are so popular, you might even find a couple of them among the gifts that you get! Baked Gifts From cookie platters to quick breads, baked goods can certainly hit the spot during the holidays. Pick up some inexpensive dishes, loaf pans and other containers at your local thrift store. Pretty containers that your gift recipient can keep are much … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Homemade Halloween Treats

I dread going to Target on Sundays. However, I dread the place even more on Saturdays, which is why I was there today. Procrastinators were out in full force today scooping up half-price Halloween candy like it was the November 1st. Frankly, I was surprised Target slashed prices on some of its trick-or-treat candy. I thought that’s what post-Halloween sales were for. Regardless, there is some cheap candy to be hand out there. Still, I didn’t cave. By this time tomorrow my kid will have hauled in her weight in cheap treats and she’ll want something with a little more … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Chocolate Cups

Making this gourmet treat is easier than you might think. You can make a real impression with these delicate little chocolate cups that are well worth the very little bit of effort they require. They will look really lovely on your table or given as gifts. A small white paper cup that accommodates four to six filled chocolate cups makes a very elegant present. The cups look expensive but actually cost very little to make. Once you have your chocolate cups, you can add all sorts of fillings to them, from fruit or whipped creme. Or, turn them into yummy … Continue reading →

Butter Biscuits

These yummy biscuits even taste great either warm from the oven or at room temperature the next day. They work well for dinner or breakfast. Since these biscuits hold their shape well instead of becoming crumbly, they can even be used as “rolls” for small sandwiches. Make several batches of biscuits to feed a crowd or freeze for a quick addition to dinner. For best results, cut the biscuits and freeze the dough before baking, but you can also bake them first and reheat in the microwave. Makes 12-14 large biscuits Ingredients: 4 1/3 cup all purpose flour (I used … Continue reading →