Apples Anyone?

Our field trip last week resulted in ALOT of apples. I'm in search of some simple applesauce, apple pie filling or apple butter recipes that you may have that could be stored in the freezer. Do you have any?

Rasberry Pretzel Salad

This is a dessert with a perfect blend of salty and sweet. It's a welcomed change from the super sweet and rich desserts. Usually we make this with strawberries, but the raspberries we picked were substituted here. This year it served as Sean's birthday cake.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 16-20
Cost: Approx. $4.25

2 cups pretzels ($.25)
1/2 cup melted butter ($.50)
1 block lite cream cheese ($1.00)
1/2 cup sugar
1 small container whipped cream ($1.00)
2 small packages raspberry jello ($1.00)
2 cups frozen raspberries ($.50)

Crush pretzel and mix with 2 Tsp. sugar and melted butter. Press into bottom of 9x13 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Blend cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Fold in whipped cream and chill.

Mix 2 cups hot water with jello. Add 1 cup cold water and frozen fruit. Place in refrigerator until jello begins to set. This may take up to 1/2 hour.

When ready place cream cheese mixture over pretzel crust. Top with jello and fruit. Chill until ready to serve.

Sean's Favorite Salad

In honor of his birthday the girls made daddy's favorite salad.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Serves: 8
Cost: Approx. $4.25

1 head lettuce ($1.00)
1 head cauliflower ($2.00)
4 slices bacon cooked ($.50)
1 cup lite mayo ($.50)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese ($.25)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4-1/2 cup cold water

Layer cut lettuce, chopped cauliflower and cut bacon. Mix together mayo, cheese and sugar well. Add water to desired consistency. Pour over salad and toss.

Instant Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Oatmeal

Oatmeal is served for breakfast on a regular basis in our home. I'm normally awake enough to make it the old fashioned way, but I do love instant oatmeal and the convenience it provides for those waking early or late. A packet from Aldi is $.18. Our homemade version tastes better and costs $.06 per pack. Buying the oatmeal from the bulk bin at Meijer really brought the price down. I know it's just pennies. Over the course of time those pennies add up to a lot of convenience and money saved from not buying cereal. I can feed our family of nine breakfast for around $1.25 a day. Better yet, I wrote down the measurements and the kids completely did the work.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute in the microwave
Servings: 56
Cost: Approx. $3.50

This is what our large batch looked like:

2 2/3 pounds quick oats (2.00)
1 lb brown sugar ($.60)
salt
cinnamon ($.75)

To make a small batch (serves 8):
3 cups quick oats
brown sugar
salt
cinnamon

Grind 1/2 cup of oats in blender to a powder. To each bag add 3 tsp of powered oats, 1/3 cup quick oats, 1/8 tsp salt and 3 tsp brown sugar. To serve add 1/2-3/4 cup hot water and stir well.

Banana Bran Muffins

I'm trying to come up with a morning snack to keep the kid's brains functioning before lunch. Somehow productivity slows at about 10:30. It needs to be filling, healthy and of little cost. I bought 48 granola bars for about $9.00. I thought that was a good deal, but I've think I've found something better. Here's what we are trying this week.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes
Yield: 54 muffins
Cost: Approx. $4.00


1 16 oz box bran flakes ($2.00)
2 cups sugar ($.50)
5 cups flour ($.50)
2 tsp salt
5 tsp baking soda
5 tsp cinnamon
4 cups skim milk
4 eggs ($.50)
1/4 cup butter melted ($.25)
2 ripe bananas ($.25)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in wet ingredients. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.