BUDGET COOKING (Marie)

It's the perfect season for bean salads. They're easy on the budget, a snap to prepare and they happen to be good for you. What could be better? If you cook your own dried beans (it's much easier than you think), you'll spend roughly a third of what canned beans cost. As for that nutritional profile, beans score high marks in everything from protein and fiber to carbohydrates, B vitamins and iron- all with very little fat.
To Prepare Dried Beans
Put them into a colander, pick out any small pebbles and rinse well under cold running water. Except for lentils and split peas, dried beans need to be soaked before cooking.
So... Soak beans overnight, refrigerated, in water to cover them by 3".
Or.... Cover beans with water by 3". Bring to a boil, turn off heat and let stand 1 hour.
Either way, be sure to drain off the soaking water and rinse the beans before you cook them. (This step really helps to reduce intestinal gas.)

To Cook Dried Beans
Add 3 c. Water to each cup of soaked beans in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently 1 & 1/2 hr- 2 & 1/2 hrs until tender but not mushy. If desired, add 1/4 tsp. Salt for each cup of beans about 30 min. Before end of cooking time. Drain and cool or freeze.

**********
Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing
2 C. Vegetable oil
1 & 1/2 c. Cider vinegar
3 T. Dijon Mustard
2 t. Salt
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp. Sugar
Puut ingredients into a 1-qt. Jar with a tight-fittling lid. Cover & shake until well blended. Makes 3 & 3/4 C. About 65 calories per tablespoon. This dressing will keep well up to 1 mo. In the refrigerator.

************
Tuscan Bean & Bread
2c. Each red kidney beans and chickpeas
4c. Cubed Italian bread
4c. Chopped tomatoes
1c. Chopped red onion
1/2 c. Muustard Vinaigrette
1 & 1/2 tsp. Dried basil
Serves 4 as a main dish.

***********************
Pike's Bean
3 c. Small red beans
2 c. Cooked corn kernels
1 & 1/2 c. Chopped bell pepper
3/4 c chopped onion
1/3 c Mustard Vinaigrette
1 & 1/2 tsp. Bottled barbecue sauce
Serves 4 as a main dish.
(This is also great served with hot dogs & buns.)

Rhubarb Chutney (Marie)

8 cups sliced Rhubarb
7 cups diced onion
2 1/2 cups golden seedless raisins
7 cups of light brown sugar ( I only put 4 cups )
1 cup cider vinegar
2 T. salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cayenne---I didn't put that in mine

1. Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook slowly until desired consistency, about 30 minutes.

2. Pack into Hot, sterile jars, seal Process 5 min. makes 3 pints....I guess I didn't cook mine down as much I got 6 pints! I didn't process mine in a cooker either, just did it like I do for jam or chili sauce. Recipe from Amy Wheelis Stoudsburg Ward PA

Fresh Peach Salsa Recipes (Marie)

From great salsa.com

Ingredients
• 2 cups chopped, peeled fresh peaches
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
• 3 Tablespoon lime juice
• 2 to 3 Tablespoon finely chopped, seeded fresh jalapeno pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
In a medium mixing bowl stir together peaches, onion, lime juice, peppers, garlic, cilantro, and sugar. Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
Makes 2 cups.

Homemade Danish Dessert (Joycelyn)

1 pkg. Kool-Aid (any flavor)
1 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch of salt
Add:
1 3/4 cup water if you want to put on top of a cake
2 cup water if you want to use for pudding (or pie filling)
2 1/2 cup water if you want to use for a sauce

Mix all ingredients together in a pan and bring to a boil.

Use as desired.
If making for a pie filling let it cool slightly before adding fruit.

I use this for Strawberry pie. Yummmmmy

Freezing Tomatoes (Joycelyn)

Check out this video on how to freeze tomatoes
I don't have enough tomatoes to can yet but I have to many to eat. I plan to use these for recipes that call for a can of tomato sauce.
Hope this will be helpful to you.

Cafe Rio Copy Cat Recipes (Joycelyn)

I have had so many people asking where I got my recipes for Cafe Rio dishes that I am going to start this blog with a link to Family Recipes This is where to find the best Copy Cat recipes for Cafe Rio. Thanks Erica for sharing your recipes and your picture of this family favorite.
The Creamy Cilantro Dressing is to die for!!