Homemade Food Gifts: Herbed Vinegars

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Herbed vinegars are not difficult to make, and they add flavor to salads, other recipes such as meat marinades. These are best made during the herb harvesting seasons during the summer and autumn months, when the herbs can be used fresh.

NOTE: These vinegars will last up to a year if stored in a cool, dark place.

You will need jars or bottles to pour the vinegars and other ingredients into. These can be washed and saved throughout the year, and should be sterilized just before using.

The basic preparations work like this:

1. Place three 2-inch sprigs of herbs/leaves into each, per each cup of vinegar that the jar will hold.
2. Put one garlic, shallot or other ingredient into the necessary jars as well, per cup of vinegar that each jar will hold.
3. Heat vinegar; do not boil.
4. Pour vinegar into jars, over the other items.
5. Let cool.
6. Cover each jar.
7. Tie a tag around each bottle, with raffia or twine, with its’ ingredient list and ‘From (Your Names’) Kitchen.’ Also note how long the vinegar will last (once given as gift). Mention how each vinegar may be used.

Variations:

• Rosemary, orange peel, garlic and white vinegar.
• 1 tablespoon honey, mint, cardamom seed and white vinegar.
• Blossom from chives, savory and cider vinegar.

Tips:

• Keep marinade and other sauce type jars from purchased foods to save money. Or have friends and family save them for you.
• Other cheaply purchased glass jars will work as well, including canning jars.
• Purchase white and other vinegars in large bottles, on sale.
• Purchase vinegars that don’t come in large bottles as cheaply as possible.
• Purchase store or generic brands, if possible.
• Experiment with your own variations.

What vinegar variations have you tried? Please share the results with us in the comments below.

Shannon

Reference:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (1987, Rodale Press)

Homemade Food Gifts: Dried Herbs

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Throughout the summer and autumn months, you have harvested and dried organic herbs to use in your culinary ventures throughout the winter. As is usually the case, you have far more of these dried herbs than you will be able to use before the next harvest season. Why not share your bounty with family and friends?

Hopefully, throughout the year, you have been cleaning and saving the jars from your food purchases. Perhaps you have purchased canning jars, lids and rings frugally at yard sales and thrift shops. You may also have fabric, twine or raffia from the projects that you have been working on throughout the year. If so, you have the makings for great holiday gifts.

 

Single Herb Examples

Basil

Bay leaves

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

 

Herb Mix Examples

Basil, oregano and thyme

Basil, thyme and parsley

Dill, mint and parsley

Lemon balm and mint

Parsley and rosemary

 

1. Sterilize all of the jars, lids and rings. Dry completely. It is important that no moisture is evident when packing the dried herbs.
2. Fill the jars with single herbs, or herb mixes.
3. Tie squares or rounds of fabric onto the cover of each jar with twine or raffia.
4. Add a tag or sticker to the jar with the name of the herb, and with ‘From (Your Names’) Garden.’

How do you package your dried herbs for gift giving? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Shannon

Reference:

Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (1987, Rodale Press)

Serve Up a Healthier Yule or Christmas Meal on a Budget

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The traditional Yule or Christmas meal served in many homes is not always the healthiest. For those who are looking for healthier choices this holiday season, these recipes will provide you with just that.

The healthiest foods are not processed. When processed foods are used, they should be served with fresh or preserved foods, preferably organic and from your own garden. This is not always feasible, but do the best you can with what you have. 100% whole wheat and multi-grain products are healthier than white processed foods. Homemade is often healthier than store-bought. There are healthier dessert option than the sweet cream pies, and healthier bread options than the sweet quick breads. There are also better options than butter. What you choose to serve will depend on your families’ likes and any special nutritional needs.

NOTE: Honey is an expensive commodity, but one that I prefer to use over sugar. My solution is to purchase a large bottle of honey for about $6.00, rather than a small bottle for $3.00 or $4.00. The larger container will keep in the cupboard for a long time. It will not go bad. They honey can be used for many purposes.

NOTE: To save the ultimate amount of money, grow your own produce. Use foods preserved from your own garden when cooking the meal, and cook other items from scratch. If you are having a hard time gathering enough food for the holidays due to lack of funds, contact all of the food cupboards in your area.

Slowcooker Vegetable Lasagna

1 can or jar of diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 cup shredded carrot

1 box lasagna noodles (We prefer whole wheat.) (Or make homemade)

3 tomatoes

1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh spinach (Possibly grown indoor at this time of the year.)

8 to 12 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 small tub cottage cheese

1 small tub Ricotta cheese

1. Create your own sauce using diced tomatoes and their liquid. Add some shredded zucchini and shredded carrot.
2. Mix the cottage and Ricotta cheeses, and half the shredded cheese, together in a bowl.
3. Some people cook the pasta until almost done, others do not cook the pasta at all before adding to the slowcooker. It is up to you. Experiment to see what works best for you.
4. Pour 1/2 cup sauce into slowcooker, add a layer of pasta, more sauce and some of the mixed cheese. Keep layering like this until the slowcooker is about 2/3 full, ending with the sauce rather than the cheese.
5. Pour any remaining sauce over the lasagna, then sprinkle some of the shredded cheese over the sauce.
6. Cook on low all day, or high for half a day.

Fruit Salad Parfait

Cheap fruit choices from the store, such as bananas, kiwi and utility apples.

Vanilla yogurt

Mini chocolate chips or M&M’s

1. Peel and dice or chop fruit.
2. Layer the fruit and the yogurt in a decorative sundae or other cup.
3. The top layer will be of yogurt.
4. Sprinkle a few candies on top.

Vegetable Salad

Cheap vegetables, such as carrot, Romaine lettuce, spinach, cucumber and tomatoes

Parsley

Chives

1. Wash and chop the vegetables, placing them in a large bowl.
2. Wash and chop the herbs and add them to the bowl of vegetables.
3. Mix.

Zucchini Bread or Muffins

2 c. flour (whole wheat is fine)

2 Tbsp. baking powder

1/3 c. sugar

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. margarine/butter

1 egg

3/4 to 1 c. milk

1 c. grated zucchini

1/2 c. chocolate chips (optional)

1. Mix everything together.
2. Pour into greased muffin tin or bread pan and sprinkle tops with sugar, or a sugar cinnamon mixture.
3. Bake at 350*

Makes: 12 muffins or one loaf.

Cranberry Juice Mixers

Cranberry juice

Apple Juice or grape juice, or both

1. Mix the juices together.
2. Add ice cubes.

Related Articles

• Lasagna Roll-Ups (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• Stuffed Shells (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Frugal Recipes Happenings for 11/27/2010

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It snowed yesterday. The roads were slick, so I stayed home to get some after Thanksgiving cleaning and such done. I closed up the windows, and took down what autumn decorations were still up. Zowie helped me to put the rest of the outdoor furniture into the shed. This weekend we are patching some of the banking around the trailer to make sure that the pipes do not freeze.

The autumn tree decorations had been taken down Thanksgiving evening, the garlands and lights on the tree were straightened and Zowie hung the candy canes on the tree. Yesterday I began putting the Yule decorations on it. The house will smell like mulled cider for a couple more days while we warm it all weekend in the slowcooker, only turning it off at bedtime.

Many things happen during the next month, at least at our home. We have two celebrations that are very important to us: Yule and Christmas. Homemade food and other gifts are made, decorations go up and my nieces come to make things with us. This year they will be spending a night. Skye and Jonas will be trying to come down for a night for the Yule celebration, and family will be here for a Christmas celebration. And… we make homemade candles from candle scraps for our loved ones.

Thus far, on the Frugal Recipes blog, I have added a few posts dealing with both Yule and Christmas. One such post deals with planning for Christmas leftovers, which can also be helpful for the Yule feast. By planning, you can make sure that you have plenty of easy to prepare foods for the days following these events. Perhaps you would rather have a buffet to make life easier.

Consider serving two butters during the festivities: Cinnamon and honey butters are both excellent choices the to spread on the warm rolls that you will serve. Hot mulled cider will make the perfect beverage for the celebration, especially if it is very cold outside. It will also scent your home nicely the entire day. Cheesecake makes a delectable dessert this time of year.

Some handmade Yule napkin rings will spruce up any tables, and the mantle should not be forgotten when decorating. If you are into decorating with apples at this time of the year, then why not make some apple themed candle holders, napkins and place mats.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I will continue posting to the blog, and a new Frugal Recipes Happenings will post in two weeks.

Warmest Wishes,

Shannon

 

A Frugal Christmas or Yule Pot Luck

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A pot luck is a meal in which each person attending a gathering brings a different dish. This can be an organized food bringing, or not. A holiday pot luck should include a dish or beverage from each person or family attending.

For your celebration, you provide the main course. A lasagna is a good choice, as is any pasta dish. A casserole of some sort would also be a good option. Each additional family, or individual, attending the get-together would bring a different dish or beverage to add variety to the meal. They do not have to know what they will bring when they agree, because surprises are always welcome. However, you should have a list to check off the item categories you will need. Everyone should be told that cooking or baking from scratch is encouraged for optimal money savings.

Main dish – You

Fruit

Vegetable

Grain

Dessert

Beverage

Each family just has to know how many people you expect to be in attendance for the gathering.

You can go a step further by also asking each family or individual to one of the following:

Paper cups

Plastic silverware

Napkins

Ice – For beverages, if called for.

-OR-

Everyday plates, silverware, glasses and napkins may be brought by them if you prefer not to be wasteful but do not have enough of your own for everyone.

Shannon

 

Plums, Blueberries and Tomatoes: Harvestable in July

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By Shannon L. Buck

Fruits and vegetables mature in the garden at different rates, depending on where you are and when it is planted. Some types of produce can be harvested earlier than others, to be eaten fresh or preserved.

Plums

Some of the plum varieties ripen in July. The Japanese varieties that mature during this month include Burbank and the Santa Rosa. The Burbank is needs a pollinator,  while the Santa Rosa is self-fertile.

Blueberries

It is usually necessary to grow two types of blueberries for cross-pollination. Polaris blueberries are ready for consumption by the beginning of July, and a mid-July maturing variety is the Northblue. They will work together for pollination.

Tomatoes

Early maturing varieties of tomatoes should be planted early in the spring for July maturity, allowing you to harvest the fruits during mid-summer. The Early Girl tomato provides the gardener with red, medium-size fruits. The Jetsetter also matures in July, and is red-orange in color.

 

Resources and References:

Pacific Groves: Fruit Tree Varieties

Heath Glen Organic Farm: Blueberry Plants: FAQs

Early-Tomato: Early Girl vs. Jetsetter

Wisebread: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by the Month

Related Articles

• A Few Tomato Descriptions and Their Estimated Harvest Days (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Planning for Christmas Leftovers

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I am a firm believer in planning for leftovers when making holiday meals. I simply cook extra of everything, to be used over the few days after the holiday. By using this tactic, I am able to free up time for putting away holiday items and, well, relaxing. Anything that won’t be used within that few day period, is promptly frozen for later use.

What you plan for leftovers will depend on what you want to make for the big day. These ideas will help you to plan to have quick, easy foods to prepare. The supply should last two to three days. Your first step is in determining how much each person will realistically be able to eat on Christmas, then you will have to figure out what you will need thereafter. Usually, people will consume more on Christmas day than they will each day after.

Breakfast Ideas:

• Fruit pie slices with coffee, tea or milk.
• Bread slices (Homemade quick breads, etc.) with juice or tea.
• French toast using the quick breads, a piece of fruit and a glass of milk.

Lunch Ideas:

• Homemade white or wheat bread sandwiches with leftover meat as their base, with iced tea or milk.
• Fruit salad, quick bread and flavored butter, and milk or tea.
• Tortilla topped with shredded cheese and leftover meat and vegetables, and a glass of milk or iced tea.

Dinner Ideas:

• Stew made from leftover fruits and vegetables, with a glass of milk.
• A casserole with the leftover vegetables and meat. Top with leftover mashed potato and a little shredded cheese. Serve with leftover bread and flavored butter, as well as a glass of iced tea.
• Create a one pan meal using meat and vegetable leftovers. Serve with a side salad and a glass of milk.

If you have any ideas for Christmas leftovers, post the recipes and tips in the comments.

Enjoy the holidays!

Shannon

A Frugal Christmas or Yule Buffet

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There are going to be years when the holiday season will seem ‘poor.’ Where you simply won’t have enough money to do what you want for everyone. When you can’t spend any of your hard-earned dollars on gifts and activities, you can still provide an opportunity for friends and family to gather and enjoy each others’ company. A holiday buffet is a good way to accomplish this.

The following are tips that will help you to save money, and to provide everyone with a memorable experience:

• Create a budget and stick to it. Make a list of all ingredients and other items that will be needed. Record next to each item what you are prepared to pay for each, as well as how many will be needed.
• Cook and bake everything you can from scratch. This is much more affordable than convenience foods.
• Cook and bake as a family. This provides you with quality time before the big event, which is important. Getting your entire household involved will help the task seem less overwhelming.
• Use store or generic brands to save money.
• If you are unable to find certain items in a cheaper brand, try to purchase them on sale. For ultimate savings, combine sales with coupons.
• Use the Dollar store in your area for items such as herbs and spices, if necessary. Other items can be purchased there as well, but I suggest that you have already tried them before using them for a holiday meal. You want to be sure they are of good quality.
• Be sure that you have everything on hand before you begin.
• For a healthier meal, be sure that you are using healthier alternatives to white, processed items like flour. Fresh produce is also better, unless you thought to preserve the items from your garden.

 

The foods that you make for your holiday buffet will be the stars of the holiday celebration. You want each food to taste and look their best so that everyone will enjoy them and to go back for seconds.

Here are some ideas for a wonderful holiday buffet:

• Choose a protein source that you can prepare easily, and will work when served cold. A beef roast would accomplish this, as would  poultry. For simplicity, you could serve 1) a platter of crackers with peanut butter or cheese, or 2) pepperoni sandwiches. (Cream cheese between two slices of pepperoni.)
• Make homemade breads such as apple, pumpkin and zucchini.
• Make homemade pies for the gathering. Apple, cherry, pumpkin, chocolate cream and banana cream are all good choices at this time of the year.
• Fresh fruits are always good to serve. Look for anything that is affordable, like apples, bananas, kiwi and oranges.
• Create vegetable platters with whatever is cheap. Try carrots, celery and pickles. To make pickle purchases cheap, buy the huge gallon size jars for $5.00 to $6.00. You will have plenty leftover, and they last a long time after opening. Make a dipping sauce by combining plain yogurt and peanut butter to taste.
• Make homemade brownies.
• Make homemade cutout sugar cookies, and sprinkle them with colored sugars. You may also choose to ice some of them.

Presentation is important, especially when there is not much for food. You want things to look attractive to make up for the fact that you might not have much food to serve.

Here are some ideas:

• Arrange the fruit in a basket lined with red, white, green or blue fabric, or that has a holiday print.
• Place your protein source on a platter wrapped in aluminum foil.
• The dipping sauce for vegetables will look nice in a gravy boat, even if it is an old one.
• The breads can be placed on small plates amongst everything else.
• The brownies and cookies will look lovely on tiered platters.
• Pies can stay in the pie plates, though they should be sectioned to make them easy to remove. Place the pie plates on paper or lace doily’s.
• The vegetables should be cut into sticks or chunks and placed on a round pizza pan. Place the dipping sauce in the middle or to the side.

What tips do you have to share?

Shannon

Related Articles

• Hot Mulled Cider (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• Pepperoni Sandwiches (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• Frugal Recipes Happenings for 11/13/ 2010 (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Yule Napkin Rings

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Part of kitchen wizardry is decorating the table, especially at holidays and sabbats. Napkin rings allow you to add a little extra flair to the table. Different types of greenery and spices make decorating for Yule a simple, fragrant task. You can make these with real greenery to use once, or make them to last with fake greenery. For a non-wasteful sabbat, use fake greenery and store the napkin rings carefully after the sabbat is over. If you celebrate Christmas as well, as we do in out home, you can use these twice each year.

You will need:

(Materials for each napkin ring.)

2 cinnamon sticks

holly with berries

glue sticks

glue gun

1. Glue the holly leaves into a ring with a diameter between 1 and 1 1/2 inches. Be sure there are some berries on each.
2. Glue 2 cinnamon sticks together under the greenery, so that they form two straight sticks together or and X.
3. OR place them over the greenery and glue the red berries to the center.

Tips

• Try different types of greenery.
• Tie a ribbon around the cinnamon sticks.
• Let older children, who can handle a glue gun, help with this project.

Shannon

 

Related Articles

• Apple Napkins (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• Hot Mulled Cider (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Mantle Decorations

Image by Samantha Decker via Flickr

Decorating the mantle at Yule is a big thing. It is at Christmas as well. Food and greenery can be used for this. I like to use reusable items as much as possible for sabbat and holiday decorating, but I also enjoy the scent of fruits, and spices like cinnamon. It is possible to combine fake and real items when decorating, and the combination will make a beautiful mantle area. Try using fake greenery and fresh (dried) food items.

The Garland

Garland in the length you need (can be real or fake, but greenery is the proper choice) (Tipping is illegal in some areas.)

Hot glue gun

Glue sticks

String of holiday lights, white or colored

Cinnamon sticks tied into bunches

Red berries

1 or 2 lemons

1 or 2 limes

1 or 2 oranges

1 or 2 apples

Sharp knife

Thread or thin string

Sewing needle

1. Before putting together the garland, you will have to dry the fruits. The drying process may take a few days. Begin by slicing the fruits. String these with a needle and string of choice, and hang from the ceiling or along a wall to dry. Spread them out so that the fruits are not touching each other. I would string them from their centers. Be careful not to let the string cut through the slices of fruit.
2. Wrap the lights around the greenery so that the plug is close to an outlet. Put this in place at the back of the mantle, or swagged along the front.
3. Glue the fruit, in bunches of 1 slice of each type, here and there along the garland, without getting glue on the lights or cord. Gluing these on after the garland is in place will help with proper placement. Do not pile the fruit slices, but overlap them some in groups.
4. Glue cinnamon sticks to the garland.
5. Glue red berries to the garland.

 

Candles

Greenery, thinner than that used for the garland, to use as a wreath to go around the bottom of the candle sticks.

Glue gun

Glue sticks

Red berries

Candle sticks

Taper candles

1. Place the candle sticks on the mantle to the center of the mantle.
2. Make a wreath that will wrap around the bottom of the candle stick, using the greenery and berries.
3. Place taper candles in the candle sticks.

 

Fruit Baskets or Bowls

2 matching baskets with handles that will fit on the space available on the mantle

An assortment of fresh citrus fruits

Fabric wide enough to hang over the sides of the baskets some, to use as a liner

Thin greenery strips

Red berries

Glue gun

Glue sticks

Cinnamon sticks

1. Glue the greenery strips around the handle of each basket.
2. Glue berries here and there along the greenery.
3. Glue cinnamon sticks where the handles meet the baskets.
4. Place the fabric liners in the baskets, so that the edges hang out over the baskets.
5. Put the fruits in the baskets, and place one basket at either end of the mantle.

 

Potpourri

2 decorative plates or bowls, small to medium in size depending on how much space you have between the candles and the fruit baskets on the mantle.

Cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces

Whole cloves

Whole allspice

Dried lemon peel

Dried lime peel

Dried orange peel

1. Place the bowls on the mantle, centered between the fruit baskets and the candle sticks on either side.
2. Place the potpourri ingredients in the bowls.

 

How do you decorate your mantle using food items? Let us know in the comments for this post.

Shannon