Piggy Bank News» Cooking, Food & Wine

Yes You Can Make Your Own Tomato Juice Without A Machine

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:20:02 +0000

I used to avoid making recipes that sound good because it called for tomato juice. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on one ingredient, and tomato juice is expensive. When I discovered that you can make Tomato Juice from ordinary tomato paste, a whole new world of recipes opened up to me. Not only soups, casseroles, and sauces, but beverages, as well. Homemade tomato juice is also excellent for people who want to watch their salt intake. You control the ingredients so you control the flavor, too.

We host Sunday brunch in our house about once a month on a rotating basis with family and friends. It’s a nice chance to get together, catch up on what’s happening, and try out new recipes. When digging through my pile of cheap beverage recipes, I stumbled upon an idea. Why not use my homemade tomato juice to make the Bloody Mary’s and Virgin Mary’s for the folks? The simple recipe is perfect because it has a fresh tomato flavor, but is a blank slate for all the spicy and savory seasonings. No complaints and a lot of requests for the recipe!

Jars Open Easily with the Deluxe Jar Opener

admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:17:55 +0000

My mom has arthritic hands that have plagued her for quite some time. She actually copes with it pretty well, but there are many things that just aren’t as easy for her to do as they used to be. She has trouble lifting heavier items and maneuvering different things. For instance, zippers and buttons have become a bit difficult for her to open and close and she can’t enjoy some of her favorite hobbies like sewing and knitting. She also loves to cook so I’m always on the lookout for tools that will make her cooking jobs go smoother. When I came across this great Lids Off Deluxe Jar Opener I just knew it was something my mom would love.

She really struggles with opening jars and tries running them under warm water and then tapping the edge to loosen the jar, with unreliable results. I know she is going to get such a kick out of this kitchen gift – and not only is it functional but it’s pretty cool looking too. This is one handy electric jar opener that I know my mom will use time and time again.

Waldorf Salad Makes for a Delicious Holiday Side Dish

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:58:38 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly asked to bring a side dish for various holiday parties these days and I’m getting tired of the same few dishes (like green bean casserole for example). So I’ve done some digging through recipes and came across this simple Waldorf salad recipe. It is deceptively simple, but very delicious and so far it’s been a big hit every time I brought it. It is sweet enough to be eaten as a dessert, but also makes a great side dish along with a main meat course like turkey or ham.

I came across this recipe on HillbillyHousewife.com and have been browsing the rest of her holiday recipesever since. There’s some great ideas on there that I can’t wait to try this Christmas. Unlike a lot of other recipe sites, hers aren’t over the top and most importantly buying the ingredients won’t break the bank. When you have a large family like I do, that’s an important consideration. Plus I find that we like simpler foods better anyway.

Homemade Pizza in a Deep Dish Pizza Pan

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:48:34 +0000

Like many people, I’m a big fan of pizza. Honestly, it’s rare that I would turn down a slice of warm, cheesy pizza. When we were growing up we a place called Chicago Pizza Pub in the next town that made the most delicious deep-dish pizza. Actually, I hadn’t even heard of deep-dish pizza until we ate at the pizza pub – the pie was so tasty and unique, I became hooked. It’s been years since I had a good deep-dish pizza and I started having a craving for one. Then I came across this deep-dish pizza pan and I decided to buy it and trying making my own pies.

Well it turns out making pizza at home is easier than I thought. Making the dough might be the hardest part, but since I happen to own a bread maker, I can make the dough in that in a snap. Then all I have to do is add the sauce, cheese, some of my favorite toppings, put it in the oven and I’m done. The results are fantastic. And the pan quality is tremendous – it’s springform style so getting the pie out is easy, and because it has a cut resistant coating, I can just slice the pie right in the pan. I’m so happy that I found a way to make my own deep-dish pizza at home in this great pizza pan.