Food Storage We'll Eat: Cocoa mix that's good for you and good tasting

These recipes avoid using dairy creamer which is loaded with hydrogenated fat. Many home recipes use that, as do many commercial mixes. But it makes great use of your milk.

Hot Cocoa from Alton Brown foodnetwork.com
2 C powdered sugar
1 C cocoa (Dutch process preferred)
1 1/2 C powdered milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste (This is optional, but you should try it!)
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4-6 C water. Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in the water. Stir to combine. Seal the res in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

OR>>>>>>

The following are from Sunset Magazine, Dec. 2004. They are designed with the layering instructions so each batch can be given as gifts in clear quart containers. Include these directions on a tag "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/2 C mix in a mug and stir in 1 C boiling water." But if you are gifting these to yourself, just mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Classic Cocoa
1 C granulated sugar
1 C unsweetened cocoa powder
! C powdered milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C miniature chocolate chips
1/2 C miniature marshmallows
Prep: Layer sugar, cocoa poswder, posdered milk, salt, chocolate chips, and marchmallows.

If you'd like recipes for Mexican Cocoa or Peppermint Stick Cocoa, let me know and I'll post those recipes too.

Food Storage We'll Eat: dry milk smoothies

These are the recipes we made at Enrichment:

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies by Julie from Food Storage Made Easy (a blog)
Prep time 5 min. (If you make a bunch of baggies ahead of time*) Serving size: 2 large glasses
Ingredients:
3/4 C froz strawberries
1/2 C frozen blueberries
1/2 C frozen peaches or raspberries
1 C of powdered milk, prepared
5 ice cubes of fat-free strawberry yogurt (or any kind you like)
1/4 C sugar if you think it needs it (Use Splenda if you want.)
Directions: Pour milk into blender. Add fruit, bend. Add sugar, Blend. Eat with a spoon or drink with a straw.
*Get 8- 10 Zi loc baggies
Buy bags of your favorite frozen fruits. Divide up your fruit into baggies. Divide a large container of yogurt into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, place 5 yogurt cubes into each baggies. Place bags into the freezer and all you'll need to add is the milk and sugar.

Magic Milkshakes from hilbillyhousewife.com
Magic Milkshakes
1 and 1/2 to 2 C ice water
1 and 1/2 C nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 C sugar
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
16-20 ice cubes
2TBS corn oil
One 5 second squirt of non-stick spray. (This emulsifies it. Don't skip this step!)
Place all the ingredients into the blender including the oil and no-stick spray (I say add ice last,TAL). Use less water for thicker shakes and more water for shakes that are easy on your blender motor. The blender should be about 3/4's full. Place the lid on. PROCESS FOR A FULL 2 MINUTES. Pour into cups and serve. Makes four 12 oz. servings
Variations:
Add 1 very ripe banana. (I used frozen)
Add a big spoonful of peanut butter
Add a few broken rea and white cand mints
To make a Vanilla shake, omit cocoa powder, reduce sugar to 1/2 C and ad 1 TABLESPOON of vanilla

Creamy Fruit Smoothie from verybestbaking.com/recipes
Day milk add texture and protein without fat and a lot of calories. Try this easy concoction with you favorite fruit: strawberries, blackberries, banana, kiwi, peaches or cherries, for example. For a tropical sensation , use a mixture of mango, papaya and pineapple.
Ingredients:
3 C fruit, fresh, frozen, unsweetend OR canned (drained
1 1/3 C Nestle Carnation Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
1/2 C water
1/2 C ice cubes (I'd use more, TAL)
2 TAB granulated sugar
!tsp vanilla extract (I'd use less, TAL)
Place ingredients in blender; cover. Blend until smooth
Makes 4 servings.

Really Good Smoothie
1 apple sliced, insections, peeled if you want
1/2 C pitted cherries
1 C pitted and sliced peaches
! C ice cubes
! medium banana
!/2 cup dry milk, prepared
1/4 C orange juice
Blend the banba ice and milk, then add the other ingredients and blend. (I used frozen fruit, except for apple)

Jamba Copycat Recipe and Black Bean Brownies

From Recipelink.com
(I suggest blending all ingredients except ice until smooth and then adding ice until you get the consistency you like!)

Caribbean Passion-

Passion-mango fruit juice to taste
Fresh strawberries to taste
Fresh peaches peeled and pitted to taste
Orange sherbet to taste
1 cup ice, crushed

Stawberries Wild-

2 Scoops frozen jamba yogurt
2 Scoops strawberries
1 Scoop bananas
12 Oz apple juice
1 Scoop crushed ice
Blend all ingredients until smooth

Orange-A-Peel -

12 Oz fresh squeezed orange juice
8 Strawberries
3/4 Sliced banana
2 Scoops nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt(Frozen
keeps smooth consistency while/after blending)
2 or 3 Ice cubes
Blend ingredients until smooth.

Wild Strawberry Smoothie-

10 Oz orange juice
1 Small scoop crushed ice
4 or 5 Medium frozen strawberries
3/4 Medium frozen banana(sliced)
2 Scoops nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
Blend ingredients until smooth

Mighty Cherry Charger-

18 Whole, pitted cherries
5 Strawberries
6 Oz cherry juice
6 Oz soy milk
2 Scoops nonfat vanilla frozwn yogurt
1 Scoop soy-based protein(8g protein)
2-3 Ice cubes
Blend ingredients until smooth

Cranberry Craze-

12 oz cranberry juice
1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 large scoop raspberry sherbet
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/2 cup crushed ice

Razzma Tazz-

1 Cup raspberry juice
1 Cup sliced strawberries
1/2 Sliced banana
2 Cups raspberry sherbet
1 1/2 cup ice
Blend ingredients until smooth

Citrus Squeeze-
1 1/2 Cups FRESH orange juice
2/3 Cup frozen whole strawberries
1 Sliced Banana
2 Scoops nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
1 cup ice
Blend ingredients until ice is crushed and drink is smooth

Banana Berry-

3/4 Cup apple juice
3/4 Cup strawberry juice
2/3 Cup frozen blueberries
1 Sliced banana
1 Scoop rasberry sherbet
1 Scoop nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
1 Cup crushed ice
Blend ingredients until smooth.

Black Bean Brownies, from??? I'll update the source.
1 Box 19 oz. Brownie mix, 1 can black beans

Rinse and drain the black beans. Then spoon the beans back into their can and fill the can with fresh water. Pour beans and water into a blender and puree until smooth. Add puree to the brownie mix and stir. Pour into a prayed cake pan and follow the directions for baking as printed on the back of the brownie mix box.

Remember that whole wheat flour you put in the fridge in Feb?

Just thought I'd give you a heads up that if you stored your opened can of whole wheat flour in the refrigerator after our  February Enrichment meeting, that you might want to get on the stick and and finish using it up.  Tightly stored whole wheat flour lasts from 6-8 months in the fridge.  But check it before you plan to use it.  I'm told you'll know if it is rancid. It'll be yucky in texture and smell.

Make some bread or rolls while this rainy weather lasts!:)

  

http://www.homesweethomeutah.org/salt-lake.htm

Indebted to the Cheap Chic  at the Trib  for this link.

Many in our ward have young adult children looking to buy their first home.  This is a really great site which tells all about the MANY PROGRAMS to buy homes in the state of Utah.  Alot of nearly free money, low interest loans etc.  Check it out!  These deals will not last forever and they are really good.

So I've found a really delightful food storage blog www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net/
They are young but seem to know what they are doing and the site aligns with LDS Church provident living guidelines.
You can get free checklists via email, that are really helpful, easy and not overwhelming. Check it out.
Teresa

More Free/almost free stuff

In the Salt Lake Tribune, today, the One Cheap Chic column is full of good stuff.  This is all from Lesley Mitchell's column of May 17, '09

Try:

menot.com

currentcodes.com

www.dealighted.com

www.couponwinner.com

couponmountain.com

for discount codes that can be entered at checkout when shopping online.

Sometimes you can use more than one code such as offering free shipping as well as another offer.

TheFreebieBlogger.com

CouponCravings.com

These post fee offers, free samples.  Also both sites show you how to match up coupons with major sales

For really free Stuff:

www.freecycle.org

Cheaper gas:

www.utahgasprices.com

www.saltlakegasprices.com

Utah saves.org is a site packed with advice from nonprofts re family finances

Bargain Divas rule in 15th Ward

About 20 of us met on April 21 and shared info about our favorite ways to save, as a Small Group Enrichment Activity  focused on Provident Living.

Rochelle White gave us great tips for retail and travel savings.  Jennifer Deliskave described the coupon program she uses to save lots of money on groceries.  Karalee Roylance shared tips on buying gifts off season and reducing stress at holiday time.  Ann Kocherhans showed us how you can eat out cheaper at almost any type of restaurant.  Lola Bird is a member of the Community Food Co-Op of Utah, described to us how it worked, and was enthusiastic about her family's participation.  Teresa Love directed us to The Salt lake Tribune's Lesley Mitchell's blog "One Cheap Chick," which has a whole variety of deals, freebies and financial advice; also provided an article at time.com about "Recession Shopping:10 things to Buy Now."  

The following are my notes from the evening.  Feel free to comment  on the posts to include things I've inadvertently omitted, or to share your own ideas.  Also, nobody is officially endorsing anything, just passing on their personal experiences.  So, buyer (and web surfer), beware!

The Community Food Co-op of Utah:  Crossroads Urban Center 

http://www.crossroads-u-c.org

Jennifer's program:  You should call Jen to get the details, but here is info to get you started:   www.weeklyshoppingguide.blogspot.com

  One Cheap Chic  (Also a Money reporter for the Trib) http://blogs.sltrib.com/cheap/

Rochelle:  Retail and Travel

• Use the web (GOOGLE) to get to know your retail prices
  
• Use your phone, and call  early in the day before the store gets busy.  They will be able to locate other store that have what you need.  But if they are too busy,  don't hesitate to call several locations to find the product.  Often they will ship it to your local store free of charge.  If you have to return it you can just return it to the local store. 
• Price match.  Walmart and Nordstom are especially good at this.  Rochelle just takes her ads to the checkout at Walmart and if it's lower, the cashier just gives the lower price.
• Use coupon codes for web purchases.  Research before you "checkout."
• currentcodes. com    retailmenot.com  couponcodes4u.com   discountcodes.com  dealtaker.com    naughtycodes.com    keycode.com     couponsaver.com 
• Does it have to be brand new?  check out E-bay, KSL Classifieds, Savers, Deseret Industries, etc.
• Re Travel:  Use all your sources.  Price compare.  See what is offed on the net and call the hotel directly to see if they will match that price.  This way you'll skip fee that the website sticks in and it is easy if you need to cancel.  Deal directly whenever possible.
• Do they offer AAA, AARP, government discounts
• Priceline.com (great site but be aware of the conditions of use)
• Use Trip Advisor for advice on what to do, where to eat, best deals, etc...
• Hotel vs. Condo vs. House:  homeaway.com  or vacationrentals.com
• Other Deal websites:  bensbargains.com   dealsofamerica.com  mybargainbuddy.com  slickdeals.com  fatwallet.com
• To price compare:  shopzilla.com  pricegrabber.com   mysimon.com  shopping.com

Karalee: Shop in Jan and Feb (sales) for Christmas next year.  Extended family draws names, so you already know who you will be giving to.  Does the same for birthdays, so Karalee keeps a birthday closet.  It is essential to keep your list current and label the items (wrapped or not.)  You think you will remember, but you won't!  This advanced planning saves so much stress, not to mention money, as you are able to take advantage of sales.

Using only what comes in the mail, or newspaper, just to show us how nearly effortless it can be,  Ann showed us all many two for one deals, free entree with purchase of an entree, etc. at restaurants ranging form fast food to mid- price sit down chains.  Frankly, there is no reason to eat out at most places of these without a coupon deal.  

Other odds and ends: 

• Tuesday Morning didn't close.  It moved to about 7000 S and Redwood rd..  Lots of closeout deals
  
• 1650 S  1750 W  Market Square for fresh produce deals
  
• Airfarewatchdog.com  for air fare info
  
• broken bags of potting soil etc., go for much less at Lowes etc.
  
• Check the states' lists of unclaimed money.  Look under all your relative's names, etc.
  
• The LDS cannery dry pack staples are much less in price than retail food storage outlets.  Limited items, but if you need what they have, it's a real deal
  
• JCPenny has been having a deal a day promotion online
• The Ross at 123rd So.  is especially good
  
• And the TJ Max at the Brickyard (?) is good too.  Nice home goods.
  
• Save your furniture warranties!  Judy McArthur did and got a brand new couch!

Hey!  I something for my first post.  Since the Smith's on 53rd is in remodel mode, they have some close- out merchandise.  I got Wilton cookie sheets and cake pans, normally $9.00-15 each for $2 each.  But hurry.  Not many left.

Starting up the Sharing Savings Blog

Hey Everyone!  Let's put our heads together to live a rich life, better.