Monday, May 31, 2010

Fake Crunch Bar

This is an easy candy that can be made for any occasion. In my family, we do not need an occasion. Use saltine crackers as a base for the toffee and chocolate. I make this recipe in a 1/2 cookie sheet. You can double it for a regular size cookie sheet.

Ingredients:
2 oz. saltine crackers (make sure they are fresh and not stale)
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. chocolate chips
1 and 1/3 c. chopped walnuts

Directions:
Line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spray the foil generously with nonstick spray. Arrange crackers in a single layer on foil. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Boil the sugar and butter for 3 minutes. Pour evenly over the crackers. Use caution as this is very hot and sticky. Bake for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot mixture. Wait a few minutes for the chips to melt, then spread with a spatula or back of a spoon. Sprinkle with nuts. Allow to cool completely and then break up to desired sized pieces.

Baked Beans

This is an easy dish that is a big hit with my family. You can make a large casserole dish for around $4.00 or less, depending on what you get on sale and what you already have on hand. This size serving feeds my family of 5 for two meals.

Ingredients:
4 cans of pork and beans
1/4 - 1/2 lb of bacon
1/2 diced onion
1/4 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c ketchup
3 tbls mustard
5 tbls Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
Cut the bacon into small pieces and fry until brown. While cooking bacon, open the cans of beans and place them in the dish. You can also dice the onion at this time. You can go ahead and place all of the other ingredients, except for the bacon and onion, in the dish with the beans. Once the bacon is done, drain, and place in the dish. In the pan of bacon grease, fry your onions until tender. Drain and place in dish. Mix well, and place in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours. No need to preheat oven and waste the electricity.

Easy No-Fail Barbeque Ribs

This recipe is so easy that anyone can do it, and no grill is needed. You can use any type of ribs, but my favorite are country style ribs. You can buy these for less than $1.50 per pound when they are on sale. This is a cheap and easy meal. I made it tonight, and for around $11.00, I feed a family of 5, and even had a little left over.

Directions:
Ribs
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Cayenne Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, or any other spice you like
1/8 - 1/4 cup water
1 - 2 bottles of favorite sauce

Place ribs in pan. You can use a casserole dish or a cake pan. Sprinkle the ribs with the garlic and onion powders. Use as much as you like for your taste. Add any additional spices. Pour water into the pan. Use the smaller amount for one package of ribs and use the larger amount for two packages of ribs. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Place in a 325 degree oven. No need to preheat the oven and waste the energy. Check ribs in one hour. If it is close to fork tender, then top with your preferred bottled barbeque sauce. Cover again with foil and bake 30 additional minutes. If the ribs are not fork tender, recover and check in 30 - 45 minutes. Once fork tender, add the sauce and finish.