Food Storage Frosty

The Wendy's Frosty is a family favorite around here.

They remind us of when we were poor students and considered going out for a $1 frosty a date.


So when I saw Safely Gathered In posting about how to create some out of stuff in my food storage...

I had to blog about it.
If for no other reason than to keep the recipe handy for trying soon.

Here is their post about it.

Food Storage Friday: Magic Milk Shakes

I don't know about you, but I like ice cream. A lot. But when I want it and I don't have it in the house, I use this great recipe for make a chocolate shake akin to a Frosty.

Magic Milk Shakes

1 1/2 to 2 c. ice water
1 1/2 c. nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 t. vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 trays of ice cubes, as much as you can spare
2 T. oil plus 5-second squirt of non-stick spray for emulsification


I realize I don't have a photograph here. That's because I am currently on a no-dessert policy and I don't think I could stomach the thought of making four delicious, thick chocolate shakes and not sampling one. Or two. So here's what you'll have to imagine.

I also realize that ice and ice water aren't technically "pantry shelf items." However, if you're in the middle of a snow storm and you have electricity to boot, why not make a magic milk shake from the ice outside? It's also a fun way to use up almost-expiring powdered milk.

To make the milkshakes, place all of the ingredients into the blender, including the oil and non-stick spray. Use less water for thicker milk shakes and vice versa. The blender should be about 3/4s full. If your blender is a weakling like mine, you might have to add more water. Place the lid on. Process for a full two minutes. This is important as the continued blending breaks up the ice crystals and makes a creamy consistency. Pour into cups and serve.

Makes 4 12 oz. shakes.

For variations:
Add a ripe banana
Add a big spoonful of peanut butter
Add a few broken peppermints
Omit cocoa powder and reduce sugar to 1/2 c and 1 T. to make a vanilla shake


Nothing like being able to have a favorite treat when money is tight or supplies are low.

Thanks for the idea Safely Gathered In.

6 cans and a Crockpot.

A girl friend who had invited us over for dinner last week said
" how come when we come to your house for dinner you already have it ready, but when your family comes here I am scrambling to get things done"
I was happy to share my secret.

I make dinner almost every day at 10:00 am.
Reason 1: I don't like cooking
Reason 2: I really don't like cooking on a stove
Reason 3: Half my kids are napping at 10:00 am- if I get anything done during the day, this is when that happens.
Reason 4: By 5:00 pm I am worn out and sometimes grumpy from what has usually been 12 hours of caring for toddlers without a break. At five all I want to do is lay down, not something I don't like doing- cooking on a stove.
Reason 5: My best meals are created in a crock pot, I cook 3 or more meals a week in a crock pot, because it allows me to make dinner at 10:00 am. And no we don't just eat soups, though that is what I am posting today. We make everything- including Chinese and Thai food and dessert in the crock pot.

It is these above reasons that have taught me my next secret.
6 cans of almost any variety in a crock pot turn out delicious.

Today's mixture included
1. stewed tomatoes
2. chicken broth
3. black beans
4. white beans
5. kidney beans
6. corn
- and some left over breakfast sausage
served with corn bread.

This is a go to meal of mine whenever I have nothing planned and especially if I have a very small amount of leftover meat from a previous meal.

Go searching your pantry of canned goods. See if you can come up with 6 different cans.
I would recommend one of them being some kind of canned tomatoes.
Throw them in a crock pot.
You don't need a recipe.
Just a pantry stocked with canned goods and some common sense.

Sweet Cheap Holiday Gift

Got some of this? I had several boxes ready to expire in the next few months. We don't use powdered milk ever really, and surely not enough to use up what we had in the next two or three months.
Turns out it is the main ingredient in homemade hot cocoa mix.

Hot Cocoa Recipe
10 cups of non-fat powdered milk
4 3/4 cup confectioner sugar
1 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cup non diary creamer
1/2 -1 bag mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

Directions-
It doesn't get easier than this- just mix everything together in one big bowl.... one really big bowl.

To mix for drinking add 1/3 cup of the mix to 3/4 cup boiling water.

I had been saving empty cans of formula for a to be determined use. Conveniently I had saved the scoops as well. Then I cut and mod podged Christmas scrap paper to the cans and lids, attached some cut out tags with ribbon, included the mixing directions on the tags, and had enough for almost five cans. It would look just as lovely in personal cellophane bags tied together with a candy cane stick. What a great/easy/use what I've got gift.

Your welcome neighbors and casual friends.

Freezer Jam

Cost: $2.99-$5.99
Time: 25 minutes

Oh Freezer Jam.
That delicious treat usually only found in my mother-in-laws freezer. It reminds me of visiting them and eating it over homemade biscuits in the morning. You can have some for your own freezer. It is cheap and even easier than you would expect. 25 minutes. REALLY. Even if you have never canned, made jam, etc. It is a baby step. You'll feel like a pro after completing this project. A well feed Pro.
My fruit of choice today. Strawberries. On Sale for $1.50 a carton today. One carton will make almost 30oz. Strawberry is my families favorite too so bonus.
Use some fruit from your garden, orchard, or neighbor, and you are getting almost 30 oz of fresh jam for $2.99. Boy would I like to try some blackberries next. Anybody got a crop?

Needed:
2 16 oz containers- plastic of glass will do
1 1.75 oz package dry pectin
4 cups of sugar
2 cups crushed strawberries
3/4 cup water


Directions:
Wash, and de-stem your strawberries. I cut into quarters as well.
Crush them- I use my blender and just pulse it a few times.
Add 4 cups of sugar
Let stand for 10 minutes
Bring water and pectin to boil in small saucepan for one minute.
Stir into strawberry/ sugar mix
Let stand 3 minutes.
Pour into containers.
Leave for 24 hours.
Label
Place in Freezer.
Enjoy

Jam will last about three weeks in fridge or 1 year in the freezer. This may be just one more reason I need a freezer in the garage. A freezer where I could line rows and rows of colorful jams made on various produce I grow or am given, and never buy store bought jam again. Of course in all matching uniform jars with pretty labels as well.