Valentine's Day Recipes and Tips

Hi everyone!

In today's newsletter, Jill shares some Valentine's Day thoughts and some delicious recipes for you to share with the ones you love!

Don't forget to check out the sale on Kathy Wilson's Learn To Make Money on the Internet e-book. An Internet business is a great way to make money in challenging economic times and Kathy's advice can get you moving in the right direction. It's available to our readers for a special reduced price along with free e-coaching and other great bonuses! It would have been so much easier if I had this information when we started 10 years ago. Grab it this week while it's on sale!

I want to clarify that at Diapers.com you can also get $25 off $50 with free shipping. Some people thought that you could only buy Luvs Diapers and they don't use Luvs. If you need diapers, this is still an excellent deal! Check it out here!

Also, if you want to use cloth diapers you can read about it on our website here. I used cloth diapers with our first two children and they really aren't hard to use.

Attention Kim Currier and Mary Engstli: Will you please contact us. Terry Rigg contacted us about your Budget and Bill Organizer order and needs your e-mail address to send it to you.

Have a great weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!

-Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

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Valentine's Day Recipes

I haven't even finished off all my candy and goodies from Christmas and here it is time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. Not that I mind. I have a few passions in life and one at the very top of my list is chocolate or any candy for that matter.

My husband knew of my passion of course. He had a passion too, (now, now this is a G rated article). His was pipe organ music :-). Even though I had taken music appreciation in high school and college I could not quite get into pipe organ music, but since I loved my husband I would allow him to drag me along to many concerts.

He, being the wise man that he was, knew the way to a woman's heart. He would fill his suit pockets full of my favorite candy and then sneak me piece after piece under the table throughout the whole concert. I got to where I could hardly wait until concert season would roll around each year. My mouth waters now every time I hear a pipe organ.

Anyway I digress... Now where was I? Oh yes Valentine's recipes. I will try and give you some tips and recipes today that will not only win your sweetie's heart on Valentine's Day but all year round. These recipes and tips can be used for holidays like St. Patty's Day, Easter, the 4th of July and so on.

Today's Tips:

• If you are planning on spending the evening in front of a warm crackling fire snuggling with your true love, (Yeah, right what planet am I from? Did I forget about the 3 kids, 1 dog and 2 cats in the middle?) try spicing up the romance with a couple of handfuls of dried orange or lemon peel thrown into the fireplace.
  
  
• Bake your favorite pan of brownies and cut them into squares. Take a small cookie cutter, cut out the center and fill with frosting. Use a cookie cutter for each different holiday; a heart for Valentine's Day, a four leaf clover for St. Patrick's Day or an egg or a rabbit for Easter. You can also use the appropriate color of frosting for that holiday.
  
  
• Make Rice Krispy treats. Using food coloring, color them red, green or pastel -- once again, the colors for that holiday. When they are done, use a cookie cutter to cut them out into hearts, clovers, eggs, rabbits etc.
  
  
• If you aren't an artist but would like to decorate a theme cake, try using your cookie cutters as a pattern. Lightly press the cookie cutter on to the frosting of the cake. You can then pipe frosting around the outline or fill in your pattern.
  


• Make up some lemonade and stir into a little cool aid to color it - red (raspberry, strawberry, cherry flavor) for Valentine's Day, green (lime) for St. Patty's Day or blue for the 4th of July.
  
  

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Today's Recipes:

Mini Cherry Cobblers

1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
1 can refrigerator biscuits, separated into 5 biscuits
2 Tbsp. margarine, melted
2 tsp. white sugar
2 tsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Save out 5 cherries and a little of the pie filling for garnish. Divide the rest of the filling between 5 greased 6 oz. custard cups or ramekins. Top each one with a biscuit either rolling the biscuit in the margarine or brush it with it. Mix the sugars and cinnamon and sprinkle on top. Bake at 375° for 14 -17 minutes (until the biscuits are brown). Garnish with reserved cherries and filling.

Cherry Chocolate Sheet Cake

1 pkg. Pillsbury fudge cake mix (This brand seems to work best)
21 oz. can cherry pie filling
1 tsp. almond extract (optional)
2 eggs, beaten

Combine all ingredients by hand, mixing well. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. When cool frost with:

Frosting

1 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup milk
6 oz. chocolate chips

Place everything but the chips into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in chips. Pour over cake and smooth out.

I'm not sure why the word meringue strikes terror in the hearts of so many, but it really is one of the easiest things to make. I love this recipe for meringue that I got from an elderly neighbor of mine. She said it is totally weep proof and so far I have never had it weep on me, even in the Kansas humidity.

I have never seen this recipe anyplace else. I hope it works as well for you! One quick tip on meringue -- Always make sure your bowl and beaters are grease free. Also begin with your eggs at room temperature.

Holiday Meringue Cookies

1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 Tbsp. cold water
1/2 cup boiling water
3 egg whites
6 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Food coloring

Line 2 large baking sheets with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan, mix cornstarch with water. Add boiling water and cook until thick on medium heat. Set aside to cool.

Beat egg whites to soft peaks. Add cornstarch mixture and beat until stiff. Add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until all is incorporated and then add vanilla and food coloring. Drop onto baking sheets by heaping teaspoonfuls and bake at 225° for 45 minutes.

Once again, you can divide the meringue and use different shades of pastel food colors (the neon colors are great) for Easter, red for Valentine's Day, red and blue for the 4th of July, etc. You could also stir in some mini chocolate chips before baking too.

Note: This meringue can be used for a pie too. To cut a meringue pie cleanly, butter both sides of the knife.

If you missed the Valentine's Day tips from the last two newsletters, here they are again:

• The $6 Gourmet Valentine's Dinner for Two
  
  
• Valentine's Day On A Dime
  
  

Slow Cooked Cranberry Roast - July 23, 2009

Hello Everyone!

In today's newsletter, you'll find an unusual but delicious variation on slow cooked roast! You'll also find a tasty Italian garden salad recipe that is a great way to use garden veggies and a great dessert to round it out!

Have a great weekend!

-Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

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Today's Tips:

• If you have a problem with your macaroni salads or potato salads being dry, either serve immediately after you put the dressing on or add only 1/2-2/3 of the dressing when you make it and chill. Then add the rest right before serving.
  


• Zucchini is a standing joke with gardeners. It multiplies faster than rabbits and can quickly overwhelm you. If you can't use it all right away, shred it and then steam for 1-2 minutes, until it is translucent. Drain and put in freezer containers. Be sure to put it in measured portions in the containers. Then, this winter, your can just pop out exactly the amount you need for your zucchini bread or muffins.
  

You may have to be brave and step out of the box to try today's main course. Every once in a while, you'll find a recipe where the ingredients just aren't what you'd expect and this is one of them, but try it. It truly is good! Yes it does call for a chuck roast, which makes this recipe special, but you could try it with a pork roast which is more typical if you prefer.

Today's Menu:

Slow Cooked Cranberry Roast*
Egg Noodles
Italian Garden Salad*
Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert*

Today's Recipes:

Slow Cooked Cranberry Roast*

1 (1 oz.) package dry onion soup mix
1 (3 lb.) chuck roast
1 (16 oz.) can jellied cranberry sauce

Pour onion soup mix into crock pot. Add roast and then put cranberry sauce on top of that. Cover and cook 8 hours on low. To thicken gravy, make a thin paste of 1 Tbsp. of cornstarch and water. Whisk into juices, turn on high and bring to a boil.

If you want, you can add some baby carrots and quartered potatoes during the last 4 hours of cooking.

*Italian Garden Salad

2 med. cucumbers, peeled and sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup sliced red onion
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing

Combine everything. Cover and chill until serving.

*Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert

This recipe says to put in an 8x8 pan with a crust. You could make it even easier by leaving out the crust and placing in individual glass serving dishes. You could also crush a few chocolate cookies and sprinkle on top for a garnish.

Crust:

12 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Mix and press into an 8x8 pan.

Topping:

1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups milk
2 small boxes (4 serving size) chocolate instant pudding
2 cups whipped topping
Hot fudge or chocolate sauce

By hand or with a mixer, slowly beat peanut butter and milk together. Add pudding and beat for 2 more minutes. It will be thick. Fold in 1 cup of whipped topping. Then spread the mixture on the crust. Top with the rest of the whipped topping. Just before serving, drizzle with hot fudge or chocolate sauce.

Spring Cleaning and Delicious Chicken Meal - April 23, 2009

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers for a safe pregnancy. We found out that I need insulin and have high blood pressure along with the fact that I have been having lots of contractions. If you have an order problem and we don't respond to your e-mail right away, I might be in the hospital so please be patient with us. If so, Mike and Mom will respond to you as soon as possible. Thanks!

In today's newsletter, we've included some tips to make your spring cleaning easier and also a delicious menu that's sure to please!

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

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Today's Tips:

Spring is here and for many of us that means spring cleaning! Today's tips are meant to help you make cleaning easier.

• If you have old linens that have yellowed, turned brown or are dingy, soak them in buttermilk or sour milk to brighten them and remove some of the stains. This works especially well for items like quilts or old doilies that you don't want to use anything harsh on.
  


• Soak colored cottons overnight in salt water to reduce fading of the colors.
  


• If you get a build up of spray starch or fusible web on the sole plate of your iron, just run it over a dryer sheet to clean it off.
  


• Keep a toothbrush by your kitchen sink to clean things like graters, choppers, mixer beaters and openers. You will be surprised how often you grab it to use on hard to clean places.
  


• Clean your coffee pot once in a while. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar into it and run it through as if you were making coffee. Repeat a couple of times using the same vinegar.
  
  Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down your drain. Then pour the used vinegar from the coffee maker down the drain. Let it sit for a minute or so.
  
  Next, pour 1-2 pots of water through the coffee maker to wash out the vinegar. When each pot of rinse water from the coffee maker is done, pour it into the drain. You now have a clean coffee pot and a clean drain.
  


• Take care of all your small appliances. It really does help them last longer.
  
  
  • There is a little door on the bottom of your toaster that catches the crumbs. Open and clean out the crumbs once in a while. (UNPLUG THE TOASTER FIRST!)
    
  
  
  • Wipe down your hand mixer after each use.
    
  
  
  • Run your iron over a dryer sheet to remove anything gummy, including fusible web
    
  
  
  • Blow the dirt off of your fans, computers, or air purifiers. (You can buy cans of air for use with computers at office supply stores. These can be used to blow dirt off of other hard to clean items. I used to use an air compressor to blow the dirt off of house fans and grates.)
    

Today's Menu:

Sonja's Chicken*
Mashed Potatoes
Fried Okra
Pear Fruit Compote*
Seven Layer Cookies*

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Today's Recipes:

I have tasted so many chicken recipes that use cream of chicken soup. This recipe tastes like homemade cream of chicken soup and there is nothing else like it. This is probably the best chicken I have ever eaten. It is like manna from heaven! The flavor is so much richer than any similar recipe I have tasted.

*Sonja's Chicken

1 chicken, cut into pieces
2 cups water
1 tsp. chicken bouillon
Bay leaf
1 tsp. onion salt
1/2 -3/4 cup mushrooms
1/4 tsp. thyme
3/4 cup heavy cream

Place chicken in a plastic bag with some flour and shake to coat chicken in flour. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Mix water, bouillon, bay leaf, onion salt and mushrooms and pour over chicken. Cover and bake for 2 hours at 350°. In the last 15 minutes, add the thyme and heavy cream and continue baking. Leave foil off for that last 15 minutes.

*Seven Layer Cookies

1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1-2 cups flake coconut
1 pkg. (6 oz.) chocolate chips
1 pkg. (6 oz.) butterscotch chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup nuts, chopped

Melt margarine in a 9x13 pan. Add the rest of the ingredients in layers. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cut into bars when cool.

*Pear Fruit Compote

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup concentrated orange juice
2 Tbsp. margarine
1 can (20 oz.) pineapple chunks, drained
1 can (15 1/4 oz.) pear halves, drained
1 can (15 oz.) Mandarin oranges, drained

Topping:

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. concentrated orange juice

In a large sauce pan, combine the first 5 ingredients in order. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes until thickened. Add fruit, turn down heat and just heat through. In a small bowl, beat topping ingredients until smooth. Serve fruit with a dollop of topping.