Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[joha]

I've used this recipe for homemade pancake syrup. Our family likes it. Right after cooking it's the thinnest, but it does seem thicker after it has been refrigerated, though it's not as thick as I remember Mrs. Butterworth's. DS6 said it's the best he's ever had.

Homemade Pancake Syrup
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring
Combine the first three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, maple, and butter flavorings. Covering the saucepan is while the syrup cools will result in less crystallizing of the syrup.

I have other recipes for similar syrups that call for molasses. But we didn't care for them as much. Some syrup recipes omit the butter flavoring or list it as optional, but I have it in my pantry, and we like it. I also make fruit syrups (blueberry, strawberry) for pancakes. YUM! Another great pancake topping is apple butter.

Thanks for this recipe! I been wanting to make my own syrup.
Where do you find maple flavoring?
Would you minf posting the fruit syrup recipes?

Thanks!

 

[semo233]

mama4: I also tried the tip about mixing black beans with the ground beef for tacos tonight. Sorry OP of this tip- can't find your post but it was a great idea!! Made enough meat + a little bit of leftovers for our tacos with only a lb of meat!

Although there are only 3 in my family, they prefer if i make a thick chili for their tacos. There are so many beans in it, it makes enough for a family of 5 or 6!!

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can pinto beans, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed
1 envelope taco seasoning (or make own with recipe found in this thread)
1 or 2 small can tomatoe paste
1/2 - 1 cup water

You could even add veggies, rice, etc. Only add enough water to make it the consistency you want and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Add more water if you need to. It is much healthier than all the beef too!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks for this recipe! I been wanting to make my own syrup.
Where do you find maple flavoring?
Would you minf posting the fruit syrup recipes?

Thanks!

I have purchased Maple flavoring right by vanilla extract at the grocery store. Forgive me if I sound stupid but what is butter flavoring?

 

[momma2minnie]

Really great ideas!

We ended our home phone service using our cells instead. We realized that anyone we wanted to talk to called the cell any way. Only soliciters (sp?) called the "land line".

Also downgraded our DTV package because we were not watching the movie channels much.

I dry towels and bed linens outside (love that fresh smell!)

Think I'll check to see if my washer has the soak cycle and use it. Now that's pretty bad Idon't even know if it has one. I do use only the shortest cycle, but find I sometimes have to rewash items.

(Note to self ... stopped at post 195)

 

[MELSMICE]

Now that's pretty bad Idon't even know if it has one. I do use only the shortest cycle, but find I sometimes have to rewash items.

Hmmm..........I don't seem to have any problems with the shortest cycle. Mine is 6 minutes.

 

[SherylWrites]

I don't buy cleaners anymore. I use vinegar or bleach. They both work well and are super cheap.
When I do buy paper towels, I buy the ones that have different sizes to rip off. We use less that way.
We compost and recycle. This saves on garbage bags, probably two or three a week!
I use less sugar in Kool Aid.
I use applesauce instead of vegetable oil when baking. It's cheaper AND healthier for you.
We make our own chocolate milk (milk is expensive here, chocolate milk is about $8 a bag!).
I use half the laundry detergent they suggest. And I only run the washer for half the time unless the clothes are super dirty.
I hang dry most of my stuff when weather permits. This saves a lot of electricity.
Hand me downs!! We have a circle of friends who share clothes for our children. This saves a lot of money.
Walk everywhere we can and I take public transit to work.

 

[happycampers]

Thanks for this recipe! I been wanting to make my own syrup.
Where do you find maple flavoring?
Would you minf posting the fruit syrup recipes?

Thanks!

I have purchased Maple flavoring right by vanilla extract at the grocery store. Forgive me if I sound stupid but what is butter flavoring?

Yes, I find maple flavoring with the other extracts and vanilla at the grocery store. I've seen butter flavoring there as well. However, I bought my big pint bottle at a bakery and candy supply store.

Fruit Syrups

Strawberry Syrup
16 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon water
Simmer strawberries, sugar, and water about 5 minutes. While mixture cooks, crush berries with spoon. Cool slightly before serving.

Blueberry Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1/3 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Gradually stir in water. Add blueberries; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Raspberry Syrup
2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon orange extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Simmer together, stirring frequently to crush berries until syrup is thickened. Cool slightly before serving.

 

[mama4]

mama4: I also tried the tip about mixing black beans with the ground beef for tacos tonight. Sorry OP of this tip- can't find your post but it was a great idea!! Made enough meat + a little bit of leftovers for our tacos with only a lb of meat!

Although there are only 3 in my family, they prefer if i make a thick chili for their tacos. There are so many beans in it, it makes enough for a family of 5 or 6!!

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can pinto beans, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed
1 envelope taco seasoning (or make own with recipe found in this thread)
1 or 2 small can tomatoe paste
1/2 - 1 cup water

You could even add veggies, rice, etc. Only add enough water to make it the consistency you want and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Add more water if you need to. It is much healthier than all the beef too!

Ooh I like the idea of adding veggies..especially if I can sneak them in (only way I can get my 4 yo to eat them anymore) Also like the idea of less grnd beef for cost and health issues. Tacos are at the very least a bi-weekly meal in our house so these tips will help me a lot!

 

[mama4]

Yes, I find maple flavoring with the other extracts and vanilla at the grocery store. I've seen butter flavoring there as well. However, I bought my big pint bottle at a bakery and candy supply store.

Fruit Syrups

Strawberry Syrup
16 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon water
Simmer strawberries, sugar, and water about 5 minutes. While mixture cooks, crush berries with spoon. Cool slightly before serving.

Blueberry Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1/3 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
Combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Gradually stir in water. Add blueberries; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Raspberry Syrup
2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon orange extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Simmer together, stirring frequently to crush berries until syrup is thickened. Cool slightly before serving.

I'll be trying these as well. I hate to give up my beloved maple syrup but it has gotten to dang expensive. Thanks for these recipes!
One question though..do you find that they keep well in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks?

 

[happycampers]

I'll be trying these as well. I hate to give up my beloved maple syrup but it has gotten to dang expensive. Thanks for these recipes!
One question though..do you find that they keep well in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks?

They've lasted well for me, at least a few weeks.

 

[Chicklogic]

mama4: I also tried the tip about mixing black beans with the ground beef for tacos tonight. Sorry OP of this tip- can't find your post but it was a great idea!! Made enough meat + a little bit of leftovers for our tacos with only a lb of meat!

Although there are only 3 in my family, they prefer if i make a thick chili for their tacos. There are so many beans in it, it makes enough for a family of 5 or 6!!

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can pinto beans, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed
1 envelope taco seasoning (or make own with recipe found in this thread)
1 or 2 small can tomatoe paste
1/2 - 1 cup water

You could even add veggies, rice, etc. Only add enough water to make it the consistency you want and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Add more water if you need to. It is much healthier than all the beef too!

I have been doing this for years and my family prefers it that way. Sometimes I take it further and cut the ground beef with TVP. I can feed my family of 4 and that includes two HUNGRY teens with about a quarter pound of ground meat!

 

[semo233]

I have been doing this for years and my family prefers it that way. Sometimes I take it further and cut the ground beef with TVP. I can feed my family of 4 and that includes two HUNGRY teens with about a quarter pound of ground meat!

My husband is a meat lover and he has not said anything about the shrinking beef in this recipe...I started with one pound! My daughter loves beans, so she prefers it this way too!

 

[momma2minnie]

I have just read the last post...I started at the begining!
I can't wait to try some of the suggestions.
I think I'll try the powdered milk idea in my iced coffee.
I brew about 2c. coffee (kinda strong)
"season" it .. Iuse sweet-low flavor with flavored syrups in coffee isle
hazlenut is my latest fave. and fill coffee pot the rest of the way with milk. Refrigerate overnight and pour over ice the next morning for the trip to work. Quite refreshing on a muggy South Louisiana morning.

Hey maybe someone has a recipe for hazelnut flavored syrup...that stuff's kinda pricey!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

I have been doing this for years and my family prefers it that way. Sometimes I take it further and cut the ground beef with TVP. I can feed my family of 4 and that includes two HUNGRY teens with about a quarter pound of ground meat!

My husband is a meat lover and he has not said anything about the shrinking beef in this recipe...I started with one pound! My daughter loves beans, so she prefers it this way too!

OK, so I was just scanning the page, and "meat" definitely registered as "great."

 

[Chicklogic]

I have been doing this for years and my family prefers it that way. Sometimes I take it further and cut the ground beef with TVP. I can feed my family of 4 and that includes two HUNGRY teens with about a quarter pound of ground meat!

My husband is a meat lover and he has not said anything about the shrinking beef in this recipe...I started with one pound! My daughter loves beans, so she prefers it this way too!

GOTTA LOVE IT WHEN NOBODY NOTICES THE SHRINKAGE!

 

[semo233]

chicklogic: look at your last post....where's the tag fairy when you need her?

 

[Chicklogic]

chicklogic: look at your last post....where's the tag fairy when you need her?

I guess the tag fairy doesn't need the budget board~ she probably hangs out on the cruise board!

 

[MELSMICE]

chicklogic: look at your last post....where's the tag fairy when you need her?

OMG - I was thinking the same thing.

The home made syrup..............you need to refrigerate it?

 

[Chicklogic]

OMG - I was thinking the same thing.

Seinfeld fan from waaayyy back.......

 

[happycampers]

OMG - I was thinking the same thing.

The home made syrup..............you need to refrigerate it?

You guys are right, that would be a good tag! Too funny!

I definately refrigerate the fruit syrups. I do it with the maple flavor syrup too, but I don't know if you'd have to. I put the leftover syrups in Mason jars in the fridge. Being in a glass jar, it can reheat in the microwave easily (without the metal lid, of course).