Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe

We used to buy Cream of Chicken Soup all the time, even though it was at a ridiculous price.  It seems to be a staple for just about any kind of casserole made.  Having this made up ahead of time makes meal preparation at dinner time so much quicker.  I freeze mine in freezer bags into 2 cup portions, yielding 2 bags.  I love using the cornstarch mixed with the cold milk, making it virtually lump free=less time cooking it.  The recipe is adapted from Frugal Upstate.

Ingredients:
2 tbs butter/margarine
3 cups water
1 large chicken bullion cube or 2 tbs of Knorr chicken bullion powder
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cornstarch

Melt butter in pan with 3 cups water and chicken bullion cube; bring to boil, dissolving the bullion cube.  Measure the cold milk and stir in the cornstarch, mix until creamy.  Pour milk into broth, stirring constantly, bring to boil.  Remove from heat.  If need to be thicker, add a little bit more milk with more cornstarch, measuring accordingly to desired thickness.

Equivalent to about 2 cans diluted with milk.   Able to use in place of any recipe calling for Cream of Chicken Soup.

Note:  If you'd like to make cream of chicken/mushroom soup, just add 1/4 cup diced mushrooms to the sauce when cooking.  Or, if you'd like to just have cream of mushroom soup, omit the chicken bullion cube.

Easy Make Your Own Popcorn

We used to do a lot of microwave popcorn, but it got to be too expensive, when I was cutting down costs in my food budget.  It's a great snack for school lunches, but needed to find a better way!  Back in the day when I was growing up, we didn't have microwaves, and neither did my grandparents when they made popcorn!  So, how did they do it?

Measure 1/4 cup of oil into a Dutch oven pot, put a few kernels into the oil, cover & let your cold pot heat up.  Once you hear a "pop," your oil is ready.  Pour 1 cup of kernels in, cover, and let cook until all popped on medium heat, shaking the pot occasionally.  Be careful not to burn the popcorn.  The popcorn should fill up the whole pot.

At Sunflower Farmers Market, I just found it for $.79/lb, on sale.  I plan to buy some extra.

Toss into a large bowl & season with salt, or your other favorite seasoning.  Enjoy!

Homemade Cleaning Recipes

There are a lot of different ways to cut down your expenses in your budget, if you made your own cleaners vs paying the marked-up ones @ the store.  Here are just a few from a fellow blogger friend of mine, Everyday Frugal Mama.

In my cleaning, I have recycled an empty spray bottle with 50:50 vinegar:water.  I use this in cleaning my counter tops, toilets, grill before grilling, floors,....everything!  I also have another one with a spray/foam trigger.  It has water plus a squirt of liquid dish soap in it; I use it in the same manner-just not for the grill.

43 Pounds!

So, here's my new project to blanch, cut, portion, & freeze.  The good thing is, I won't have to do all of it at once.  The onions can wait a little bit.  The poblano peppers probably need to be first on my list.  I buy fresh green chilies & portion them in place of a can of green chilies.  So much cheaper than buying a can.  I buy poblano peppers by the pound.  I think I paid $.69/lb for these peppers.

I love to use fresh tomatoes in my cooking.  I make simmered salsa (like Pace picante) & spaghetti sauce.  Last year, I paid $.39/lb.  This year, it looks like $.49/lb is the going rate.  I will dice, cook, & portion into freezer bags.

(I'm gonna need to get more freezer bags!  I don't think 40-45 is going to be enough....)

The onions, I got them for $.25/lb.  I got 12 lbs.  I plan to make some "Durkee" french fried onions for green bean casserole later, & have some diced up in the freezer.

I'm loving the fresh green beans & broccoli.  I just did a nice stash in my freezer, but evidently not enough.  Got the broccoli @ $.59/lb & green beans $.85/lb.  

I love shopping @ my Mexican grocery store.  It would be even better if all this came from my garden!  But, we started off the growing season a little late this year.  In May, it was still cold!   Last night, I counted 15 tomatoes on my 2 plants & 2 bell peppers.  With the heat we are having today, my bell peppers are lovin' it & are growing quite a bit in my container!  Hope your garden is going good!

Liquid Laundry Soap

I've been making my own laundry soap for some time now, like way before we were getting out of debt.  But, even though we are debt free from doing the Dave Ramsey plan, I'm still making my own.

There are so many different recipes out there, powder vs liquid.  But, my favorite is the liquid, as I don't have to make it as often for powder & costs less.

Recipe:
1 cup Washing Soda
2 cups Borax (whitener & water softener)
1 bar Ivory soap shredded
1 cup Dawn liquid soap (optional)

I stir the grated Ivory soap in a large saucepan with about 1/4 full of water, until it melts.  Carefully, add the Borax & Washing Soda, stirring until dissolved over low heat; careful to not let it bubble-over (just from experience).  You can add the Dawn liquid soap at this time, as well.  Remove from heat.  I take 3 1-gallon size pitchers, filling them about 3/4 full in each with water.  Then, I portion the soap mixture amongst the three pitchers.

You do not have to wait until the soap gels up; it can be used immediately.  I use 1/2 cup/load for my xlarge tub basin in my washing machine.  For my whites, I use 1 cup with warm/hot water.  If you'd like, just stir it first, if there is any settling, for every load.

*I have always made this with Ivory soap for reasons that's what the recipe called for or was free after coupon.  I just made some tonight using an "Irish Spring" scent that was labeled mild.  I think my clothes come out smelling better than before using the Ivory.  The smell is not overpowering.