We ate these homemade granola bars in no time!
My husband and I eat a fair number of Nature Valley granola bars, which run us about $3 for 12 pre-wrapped bars, or about $.25 a bar. Could I make these myself? Here’s my version of a recipe I found in my favorite cookbook, The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.
I have not calculated exactly how much this recipe costs to make, but it yields three times as many bars as one box from the store and tastes a lot better!
What do you make instead of buy to save money?
Can't wait to make a Buche de Noel! Telephone Melts / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Tis the time to haul out the bakeware! I love baking, especially in the cold weather months, as it warms up our home. It’s been really cold in L.A. lately! Below are a few dessert recipes I’m planing to make for our different Christmas celebrations.
Gingersnap Pear Cheesecake – In my post about non-traditional Thanksgiving desserts, I said how much I love cheesecake because of it’s versatility. For Christmas, try one with pears and a gingersnap crust. The flavors complement each other wonderfully. Best thing is that if you know how to make a basic cheesecake, you can have this done in no time. Another thing I like is that it travels well to parties and it can be made ahead of time.
Sifu Renka / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I love Thanksgiving and can eat leftovers for days. This year, I tried a new recipe that used leftover turkey. Not only did this save money and time, but it created a new tradition! Below I share the recipe to this yummy Turkey Pot Pie.
The best part of this recipe is that you can substitute chicken if your turkey is all gone. Need other ideas for leftover? Check out my post on what to do with leftovers and learn other money saving tips! This recipe was adapted from Carla Hall’s recipe for The Chew on ABC.
lordog / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Don’t get me wrong, I love apple and pumpkin pie — served warm with a scoop (or two) of vanilla bean ice cream. These pies complete a Thanksgiving meal. But if you’re in charge of dessert this year, change it up a bit and try your hand at making one of these six non-traditional turkey day sweets. (If you’re in charge of the bird, here’s how to cook a perfect turkey.)
Flan
If you’ve never tried flan, you’re missing out! This is a custard topped with caramel that’s similar to creme brulee. I’ve taught several friends how to make this decadent dessert using my family’s recipe. I like that it’s so easy to make and it keeps well in the fridge so you can make it ahead. The Food Network’s Ellie Krieger has a pumpkin flan recipe similar to mine. You can either use ramekins for individual portions or make one to share. If you’re traveling, don’t flip it till you arrive or you’ll end up covered in caramel.
StarMama / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
With Thanksgiving fast approaching it’s time to decide what will be on your menu. To get you started, I share my five favorite sources of free recipes below.
Thanksgiving on a budget is possible as long as you start preparing early! Although, I tend to roast my turkey the same way every year, I’m already browsing the five sites below to decide on the sides and desserts I’m making this year.
JillOW / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A while back I shared a pumpkin bread recipe that till now had been my favorite to bake when the crisp autumn air rolled in. I recently discovered a new favorite. Here is the recipe. If you are looking for pumpkin carving ideas, we got dozens.
This pumpkin seed bread stays moist because of the applesauce that I use instead of oil. The pumpkin seeds also give it a surprising crunch. The best part about this recipe is (more…)
Chocolate sorbet. Credit: jules:stonesoup/Flickr
This recipe for easy chocolate sorbet in the Sunday New York Times Magazine Food Issue caught my eye. So simple! Such promise! So cheap! Sunday’s issue included recipes for 11 other desserts, plus starters, drinks, and main courses. Note, I have NOT tried this recipe but hope to this weekend. Maybe I’ll make this today if I can get out of work early (doubtful). It is a lot cheaper than buying ice cream because I already have all the ingredients on hand.
Ingredients
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c boiling water
1 tsp vanilla extract
Ice cream maker or large container
Directions
Mix sugar and cocoa powder, then stir in boiling hot water with a whisk until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Add vanilla. Pour into your ice cream maker and stir as per the directions on your maker. Or, pour into a large container and stir every half hour to make granita. I’m new to granita, but Wikipedia says it is a semi-frozen dessert that has a coarser, more “crystalline texture” than its cousins, sorbet and Italian ice. Sounds fine to me!
Fruit leathers reader Stephanie made!
Reader Stephanie makes her own fruit leather, beef jerky, and more using a food dehydrator. She initially left a comment on Bobbi’s post about 10 alternative cooking methods and I was so curious I asked for more. My only experience with a dehydrator is the one my grandmother gave us (that promptly went into storage under my Mom’s house). Stephanie’s enthusiasm and her two easy recipes has me re-thinking these small kitchen appliances:
Using the dehydrator to make fruit leathers is so ridiculously easy (and healthy!) it should be illegal.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
EBKauai/flickr
After writing an article on cooking food in your dishwasher, I started to think about other unusual ways to cook. Of course there are your stove, toaster oven, and microwave, but beyond them? Here is my top 10 list.
- Make soup in a super high powered mixer (video). These machines are so powerful that you can make soup in the blender.
- Make a grilled cheese sandwich by covering in foil and then placing a hot iron on top of it. Make sure the sandwich is fully enclosed in the foil or you will have a mess.
- Cook on your car’s
ImipolexG / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The start of fall brings hectic school schedules, but you don’t have to give up family dinner time. Here are two delicious meals for easy baked fish and beef stir fry that you can put together in minutes.
My sister makes the best pie from key limes, which are not in season! Credit: little blue hen/Flickr
Here’s the list of what veggies and fruits will be cheap at your grocery store or farmers market in coming weeks through November. In season produce is almost always cheaper than out of season, which is often imported. My favorites from the list include grapes, mushrooms, pears, and sweet potatoes. If you opt not to make a cheat sheet, shop by price in the store. Clicking on the links below take you to recipes for that particular item.
Acorn Squash
Asian Pear
Barbados Cherries
© vera_photo - Fotolia.com
This recipe for watermelon sherbert comes from the August 2011 issue of Better Homes & Gardens. It has four ingredients and costs just $.27 per serving!
Ingredients
5 c cubed, seeded watermelon
1/2 c sugar
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (not something I have on hand 
)
1/3 c cranberry juice (would other juices work?)
Directions
1. Process watermelon in blender or food processor until smooth. It should end up making about 3 cups of pureed watermelon. Add sugar.
2. Combine gelatin and cranberry juice in a
Pinapple pops. Credit: jamieanne/Flickr
These recipes come from a PR lady working with Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk, which, no surprise, is an ingredient in both these recipes. I’m such a big fan of DIY-ing and ice cream, however, that I couldn’t help sharing. I’m even considering making ice cream for a July 4th party this weekend!
Pineapple and Chipotle Ice Pops
1 – 20 oz. can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
1 – 14 oz. can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1. Puree pineapple in food processor. Combine with sweetened condensed milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and chili powder in large bowl and mix well.
2. Spoon
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
A picture of one of my salads with sliced baby squash.
I love a good salad. I’ve been told by many that I make FABULOUS salads. I tell people that it is easy. Just open the fridge, chop up whatever is in there and, ta-da, you have a salad. Let me be more specific.
Grab a large container. Get out your cutting board and your best knife for cutting veggies into small pieces. I like my salad pieces to be smallish so I can combine different flavors for the perfect bite.
Here are the ingredients I used for the last awesome salad I made.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
My new double boiler
I make hundreds of chocolate-dipped pretzels and candies each year as presents, saving me many hundreds of dollars. Because I make handmade candies, I can be very generous in my gift giving and participate in food swaps. A new tool has made my gift-giving process significantly quicker (and time is money).
I have always used my microwave to melt chocolate. In fact, melting chocolate was one of the few reasons I owned a microwave. But melting large quantities of chocolates in a microwave is not very efficient and it lessens the flavor of the chocolate. I was on the lookout for a used double boiler because I certainly didn’t want to pay retail.
