Fall is Sofrito season! This tasty and (this time of the year) cheap sauce can be used in dozens of recipes for yummy cheap food.
5 pounds Red Bell Peppers(Pulled out of the discount bin--$2.49
1 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned--99c)
2 large onions(also in season--1 pound .49c
1/2 bunch of celery(not in season but usually cheap--$1.00)
5 cloves of garlic, crushed(5c)
* Chop everything down to 1/4 inch cubes.
* Saute the celery and onions in 3 Tablespoons of Olive oil (15c) for a few minutes until the onions are starting to turn brown.
* Turn down the heat and add the chopped peppers and garlic and cover the pan so that the peppers will sweat out quickly
* Continue to cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours (or place in the oven on 300 degrees for 2 hours.) Most of the liquid should be cooked down to syrup.
* Stir 2 tablespoons of corn starch or flour(10c) into 1/2 cup of water or vegetable broth(10c) until all the lumps are gone. Dump into the sofrito and stir well.
* Ladle the sauce into 2 quart jars, cover and allow to cool to room temp, then refrigerate for up to 1 week. (2 quarts of Safrito for $5.37--which is about 1/3 the price of buying it premade.)
* There should be sauce left in the pot. SPANISH BEANS: Add 2-3 cups of cooked beans and 1/2 cup of water. Cook until heated through. Salt & Pepper to taste and serve with crusty bread.
Showing posts with label cheap food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap food. Show all posts
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cheap Eats: My Favorite Cream Pies
Cream Pies are easy, though time consuming, to make. Basically, all cream pies are cooked pudding, poured into a crust and topped with whipped cream.
Cooked pudding:
3 cups of milk or other liquid(more about that later)
2 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Combine milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the vanilla extract and pour into individual sized cups or bowls & refrigerate until firm. This beats Jello Instant Pudding by a MILE and 6 servings cost about $1.50 to make.
The transition from pudding to pie simply involves dumping the cooked pudding into a pie crust instead of serving cups and topping with whipped cream. Voila! Vanilla Cream Pie.
Once those steps are mastered, things can get interesting! Use a combo of Coconut Milk and Evaporated milk, add some flaked coconut and you have Coconut Cream Pie:
Coconut Cream Pie ala Vickie
1 13.5 ounce can Coconut Milk
1 12 ounce can Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
1. Combine coconut milk, condensed milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in 1/4 cup of the coconut and the vanilla extract. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
2. Top with whipped topping, and with remaining 1/4 cup of toasted coconut.
3. Note: To toast coconut, spread it in an ungreased pan and bake in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Banana Cream Pie
Peel and chop 3 ripe bananas. Saute the bananas on low heat in1 teaspoon of butter with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for 3-5 minutes until sugar is completely melted. Pour half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pie crust.
Make the pudding recipe:
1 1/2 cup milk
1 12 ounce can Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Reserved cooked bananas
1/2 Teaspoon banana flavoring(if desired)
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
1. Combine the milk, condensed milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the reserved cooked bananas and the banana & vanilla extracts. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
2. Top with whipped topping.
Ocean Shores Pie
AKA The Original Sex on the Beach
Chocolate Pudding
3 cups of milk
2 eggs
1 cup Instant Chocolate Milk Mix
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine milk, eggs, chocolate milk mix, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside.
2 Cups Whole Small Ripe Strawberries
1/4 cup Caramels, melted
1/4 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, melted
1 tablespoon butter
Graham Cracker Crust
1/4 cup Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Directions:
1. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir in the butter. Dump into graham cracker crust and spread evenly.
2. Melt caramels, dump on top of chocolate and spread evenly.
3. Remove the stems from the strawberries and stand them in the caramel upside down until the floor of the pie is filled.
4. Carefully fill up the pie with chocolate pudding. (There will be some left over...eat that while waiting for the pie to chill.)
5. Chill the pie at least 3 hours. Then top with whipped topping and drizzle Hershey's Chocolate Syrup over the top.
Whipped Cream Topping
Use this simple sweetened whipped cream topping on cream pies, gingerbread, cobbler, and other desserts.
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks. Spread over top of cooled pie or use as a dessert or shortcake topping.
Cooler Whip Recipe
1 c instant nonfat dry milk
1 c ice water
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 c sugar
Directions
1. Chill bowl and beaters.
2. Whip dry milk with water until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.
3. Add lemon juice and beat until stiff, about 4 minutes.
4. Fold in sugar.
Tofu Whipped Topping
10 1/2 ounces package extra-firm or Firm tofu, reg. or low fat
4 tablespoons sweetener of your choice
2 tablespoons Lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Almond extract
Soymilk as needed
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until very smooth. Add more soymilk a teaspoon at a time if the mixture is too thick; blend well. Place in a covered container; refrigerate until chilled.
Cooked pudding:
3 cups of milk or other liquid(more about that later)
2 eggs
3/4 cup of sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Combine milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the vanilla extract and pour into individual sized cups or bowls & refrigerate until firm. This beats Jello Instant Pudding by a MILE and 6 servings cost about $1.50 to make.
The transition from pudding to pie simply involves dumping the cooked pudding into a pie crust instead of serving cups and topping with whipped cream. Voila! Vanilla Cream Pie.
Once those steps are mastered, things can get interesting! Use a combo of Coconut Milk and Evaporated milk, add some flaked coconut and you have Coconut Cream Pie:
Coconut Cream Pie ala Vickie
1 13.5 ounce can Coconut Milk
1 12 ounce can Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
1. Combine coconut milk, condensed milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in 1/4 cup of the coconut and the vanilla extract. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
2. Top with whipped topping, and with remaining 1/4 cup of toasted coconut.
3. Note: To toast coconut, spread it in an ungreased pan and bake in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Banana Cream Pie
Peel and chop 3 ripe bananas. Saute the bananas on low heat in1 teaspoon of butter with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for 3-5 minutes until sugar is completely melted. Pour half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pie crust.
Make the pudding recipe:
1 1/2 cup milk
1 12 ounce can Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Reserved cooked bananas
1/2 Teaspoon banana flavoring(if desired)
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
1. Combine the milk, condensed milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the reserved cooked bananas and the banana & vanilla extracts. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
2. Top with whipped topping.
Ocean Shores Pie
AKA The Original Sex on the Beach
Chocolate Pudding
3 cups of milk
2 eggs
1 cup Instant Chocolate Milk Mix
1/3 cup corn starch or 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine milk, eggs, chocolate milk mix, flour and salt. Heat in microwave on high, 2 minutes at a time until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the vanilla extract and set aside.
2 Cups Whole Small Ripe Strawberries
1/4 cup Caramels, melted
1/4 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, melted
1 tablespoon butter
Graham Cracker Crust
1/4 cup Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Directions:
1. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir in the butter. Dump into graham cracker crust and spread evenly.
2. Melt caramels, dump on top of chocolate and spread evenly.
3. Remove the stems from the strawberries and stand them in the caramel upside down until the floor of the pie is filled.
4. Carefully fill up the pie with chocolate pudding. (There will be some left over...eat that while waiting for the pie to chill.)
5. Chill the pie at least 3 hours. Then top with whipped topping and drizzle Hershey's Chocolate Syrup over the top.
Whipped Cream Topping
Use this simple sweetened whipped cream topping on cream pies, gingerbread, cobbler, and other desserts.
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks. Spread over top of cooled pie or use as a dessert or shortcake topping.
Cooler Whip Recipe
1 c instant nonfat dry milk
1 c ice water
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 c sugar
Directions
1. Chill bowl and beaters.
2. Whip dry milk with water until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes.
3. Add lemon juice and beat until stiff, about 4 minutes.
4. Fold in sugar.
Tofu Whipped Topping
10 1/2 ounces package extra-firm or Firm tofu, reg. or low fat
4 tablespoons sweetener of your choice
2 tablespoons Lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Almond extract
Soymilk as needed
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until very smooth. Add more soymilk a teaspoon at a time if the mixture is too thick; blend well. Place in a covered container; refrigerate until chilled.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)