Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[Kycha]

found this on another site----

Butter Stretcher

During World War II when rationing was in order and certain foods were scarce or ration stamps were all used, various means to stretch these foods was needed, this was a method to extend one pound of butter or margarine to two pounds of either spread.
1 lb. butter or margerine
1 envelope of Knox gelatin
2 C skim milk
Soften the package of gelatin in 1/2 cup of skim milk, when softened stir over low heat till disolved, add to remaining milk and whip or beat into the butter or margairine that has been softened to room temperature. Use rotary beater, or electric mixer at a medium speed. When thoroughly mixed put in covered containers and refrigerate that which is not being used immediately. This tastes very much like freshly churned, when using butter as the main ingredient.
Now, when the food dollar means so much, large families might find this ideally suited to ease their budgets and use of skim milk cuts the calories for dieters.

Have you tried this? I would be really interested to know if it really has a "freshly churned" taste. I have to get some butter/margarine on my next grocery trip. Maybe I'll try this out.

 

[Leader of the Club]

found this on another site----

Butter Stretcher

During World War II when rationing was in order and certain foods were scarce or ration stamps were all used, various means to stretch these foods was needed, this was a method to extend one pound of butter or margarine to two pounds of either spread.
1 lb. butter or margerine
1 envelope of Knox gelatin
2 C skim milk
Soften the package of gelatin in 1/2 cup of skim milk, when softened stir over low heat till disolved, add to remaining milk and whip or beat into the butter or margairine that has been softened to room temperature. Use rotary beater, or electric mixer at a medium speed. When thoroughly mixed put in covered containers and refrigerate that which is not being used immediately. This tastes very much like freshly churned, when using butter as the main ingredient.
Now, when the food dollar means so much, large families might find this ideally suited to ease their budgets and use of skim milk cuts the calories for dieters.

Depending on how much the gelatin is, I will give this a try. I think I will quarter the recipe first and see how it goes so I don't waste butter and milk.

 

[Chicklogic]

found this on another site----

Butter Stretcher

During World War II when rationing was in order and certain foods were scarce or ration stamps were all used, various means to stretch these foods was needed, this was a method to extend one pound of butter or margarine to two pounds of either spread.
1 lb. butter or margerine
1 envelope of Knox gelatin
2 C skim milk
Soften the package of gelatin in 1/2 cup of skim milk, when softened stir over low heat till disolved, add to remaining milk and whip or beat into the butter or margairine that has been softened to room temperature. Use rotary beater, or electric mixer at a medium speed. When thoroughly mixed put in covered containers and refrigerate that which is not being used immediately. This tastes very much like freshly churned, when using butter as the main ingredient.
Now, when the food dollar means so much, large families might find this ideally suited to ease their budgets and use of skim milk cuts the calories for dieters.

All you really have to do is take a stick of real butter and beat it with a hand mixer! Restaurants do this ALL THE TIME! You get the quantity of 2 sticks of butter from 1!

Anyone notice the whipped cream cheese at bagle places? Same trick

 

[cjackearl]

Thanks for all the great money saving tips! My computer desk is now covered with sticky notes to remind me about barkeeper towels, cheaper taco filling, animal cracker bulk containers, Walmart white washcloths, etc. At my house, we do a lot of video rentals. We live in a semi-small town, so while we frequent the library, we can't always find the flicks we want. Our video store sells gift cards that give you added value, the larger the card, the larger the added value. For example, when we have extra in our entertainment budget, I'll buy a $30 gift card for $25. We also include our kids in a once monthly "week of no spending". We have the kids come up with a few entertainment choices that require no money, like watching a double feature of the Princess Diaries movies (already owned), painting toenails and popping popcorn. Going for bike rides, playing tennis, making dinner in our fire pit (with food we already have) are all ideas they've had. I usually pull out craft or science kits that have been forgotten about. I don't hear much whining about what they can't have. They really get into the whole challenge mindset.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Nobody has mentioned this tip,as far as I have seen. At least in THIS thread.

Milk here in Florida is almost $4 a gallon! Albertson's is even selling the TG Lee brand (in yellow jug)for over $5 a gallon!! We, as a rule, drink 1% or 2% milk but I go ahead and buy whole milk. When I get home I pour half of the gallon into a freshly washed but previously used milk jug and fill both to top with ice cold water!

NO ONE NOTICED! I was adding powdered milk to round it out a bit (as another website suggests) but ran out and decided to fudge it.......

Our Son is 18 years old and 6'6 ~ that boy can drink a gallon of milk in a DAY!

I only need to buy 3 gallons a week now!

I was wondering if this worked, I love it when no one notices!

I used to catch my My 6ft 3" son drinking from the jug! I know what you mean, they can be big milk monsters!

 

[semo233]

bump

 

[happycampers]

I'm curious to read about that butter idea if anyone has tried it. I'd love to know how well it worked. I've whipped real butter before, and have even added olive oil to it which was supposed to help the spreadability. I just can't seem to get a nice spreadable butter that doesn't rip up the bread.

 

[Chicklogic]

I'm curious to read about that butter idea if anyone has tried it. I'd love to know how well it worked. I've whipped real butter before, and have even added olive oil to it which was supposed to help the spreadability. I just can't seem to get a nice spreadable butter that doesn't rip up the bread.

If you whip it you are adding air to the butter and increasing its volume. At that point, if it is room temp it shouldn't rip your bread

BUT......if it DOES rip your bread.......you can use it (the bread) to pick up broken bits of glass off from the floor (or whatever surface they are on) without cutting yourself! Just had the opportunity to use this tip last week works a charm!

 

[happycampers]

If you whip it you are adding air to the butter and increasing its volume. At that point, if it is room temp it shouldn't rip your bread

I've tried the whipping thing, but maybe I'm doing something wrong or expecting too much.
How long do you need to whip it? (momentary Devo flash back )
Any special attatchment needed (dough hook, egg beater)?
Do you have to whip it every time you use it, or can I put it in the refrigerator and expect to be able to use it again?

 

[Chicklogic]

I've tried the whipping thing, but maybe I'm doing something wrong or expecting too much.
How long do you need to whip it? (momentary Devo flash back )
Any special attatchment needed (dough hook, egg beater)?
Do you have to whip it every time you use it, or can I put it in the refrigerator and expect to be able to use it again?

I have had great luck with just whipping the butter itself in a bowl but the suggestion of adding knox gelatine may work better for you

 

[Chicklogic]

I know it's an oldie and a "no brainer" but do you cut open your tubes of toothpaste and aquaphore type creams? I get AT LEAST another weeks worth of product "stuck" to the sides of the tubes!

 

[Tinka_Belle]

The CFL bulbs do not last substantially longer and are not budget friendly. I don't like them, but DH swears he's not changing bulbs as often. Sorry, I think he's convinced himself that they're worth it, they're not.

We put these bulbs in all of the sockets when we moved into our current apartment and haven't had to change the lightbulbs once in the last year. We also have a relatively low electric bill the entire time that we have lived in this apartment.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

We put these bulbs in all of the sockets when we moved into our current apartment and haven't had to change the lightbulbs once in the last year. We also have a relatively low electric bill the entire time that we have lived in this apartment.

Yep, they're doin' the job. We got our first few for free (bring in two standard bulbs in exchange for one of those), and we were converts! We've had the one in the kitchen for over a year. The only problem I have is that I have a dimmer on my ceiling fan, and those bulbs won't dim. I just use to old ones in my room, but we've made the switch every where else.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I thought I read someone's homemade wrinkle releaser recipe but now I cannot find it. Could someone be so kind and post it again?
Thank you

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

This sounds tasty, I'll have to try it. I make omelets with our leftovers. Last night DH had a leftover steak and potato omelet ( about 2 bites of steak and 1/4 of a baked potato), DD and DS had leftover taco omelets ( about 1T of taco meat, onions, salsa, and cheese), and I had a leftover veggie omelet ( 1 asparagus spear, 3-4 baby carrots, and some mushrooms)

I do something very similar but easier (at least for me) than omlets. I have always made egg casseroles using eggs, bread and cheese. Well I have started making one huge on in a 9x13 and adding whatever meat and leftover veggie that we have (as long as they go together). I made it with leftover steak and veggies. Taco meat and all the leftover fixings.

 

[Kycha]

I thought I read someone's homemade wrinkle releaser recipe but now I cannot find it. Could someone be so kind and post it again?
Thank you

Not sure if this is the same recipe that was posted. But, this is one that I have been using...

1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka
1/4 cup fabric softener

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Not sure if this is the same recipe that was posted. But, this is one that I have been using...

1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol or cheap vodka
1/4 cup fabric softener

Thanks so much. I am going to make that today.

 

[bookgirl]

Yep, they're doin' the job. We got our first few for free (bring in two standard bulbs in exchange for one of those), and we were converts! We've had the one in the kitchen for over a year. The only problem I have is that I have a dimmer on my ceiling fan, and those bulbs won't dim. I just use to old ones in my room, but we've made the switch every where else.

They do sell dimmables but honestly they don't work as well. The ONLY CFL I've changed in the past 18 months is the non dimmer that I put in a dimmer chandiler, it did not like it at all. I now have dimmers but they won't dim when they first come on..it's like they have to warm up. LOL

Other than that I love my CFL's I haven't had to climb up and change any tall lights since fall of 2006

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I do something very similar but easier (at least for me) than omlets. I have always made egg casseroles using eggs, bread and cheese. Well I have started making one huge on in a 9x13 and adding whatever meat and leftover veggie that we have (as long as they go together). I made it with leftover steak and veggies. Taco meat and all the leftover fixings.

My mom makes something similar. She puts biscuits on the bottom, then mixes up the eggs (scrambled), meat, veggies, etc. Melt some cheese on top of that... I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow and am now wishing I'd asked her to make it for my "last meal" tonight. Hehe!!

 

[Tinka_Belle]

Yep, they're doin' the job. We got our first few for free (bring in two standard bulbs in exchange for one of those), and we were converts! We've had the one in the kitchen for over a year. The only problem I have is that I have a dimmer on my ceiling fan, and those bulbs won't dim. I just use to old ones in my room, but we've made the switch every where else.

I will have to remember this for my grandpa builds our new house later this year.