Ask Miserly Moms

QI'm a frugal mom who tries to save money AND invest in the environment. So, I bought a High Efficiency Washing Machine. The only problem is that it requires it's own special detergent that is expensive. Any ideas on how to save on the detergent?

A Congratulations on your purchase. Even though a High Efficiency Washing Machine is an energy saver, it does cost more for the right detergent. The reason you need a different detergent is that the HE machines use less water so they need less soap, and they do not have space for the extra suds. Some people have just used the same regular detergent but significantly less (like 1 teaspoon per load). Others beleive the right detergent is important to use. For a very extensive review of the various detergents made for HE machines, please visit the Pinstrips and Polka Dots website: http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/hedetergentchoices.htm

You can also make a laundry detergent. A recipe can be found at Crystal's Country Store . It is a low-suds detergent and works great!

Q I'm a M.M. who takes "snack" to church to have with "coffee" for about 100 people at least 40 are children under 10 yrs. I'm looking for receipts that are cost effective, relatively good for you not to mention good tasting. Would be great if could be made on Tuesday or Wednesday and still be good on Sunday. Any input would really be appreciated. Thank you

A Here is a muffin recipe that seems simple and can feed 100. I think you could make it ahead and store in an airtight container.

Good luck!
Miserly Moms

Best Ever Muffins

Start with this basic recipe, and add one of several different ingredients for a variety of different muffins. Add apple chunks, berries, cinnamon, cheddar cheese, etc.

INGREDIENTS:

    * 16-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
    * 1/2 cup and 1 teaspoon baking powder
    * 1 tablespoon and 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
    * 6-1/4 cups white sugar
    * 8-1/4 egg
    * 8-1/3 cups milk
    * 2 cups and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:

   1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
   2. Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. In a small bowl or 2 cup measuring cup, beat egg with a fork. Stir in milk and oil. Pour all at once into the well in the flour mixture. Mix quickly and lightly with a fork until moistened, but do not beat. The batter will be lumpy. Pour the batter into paper lined muffin pan cups.
   3. Variations: Blueberry Muffins: Add 1 cup fresh blueberries. Raisin Muffins: Add 1 cup finely chopped raisins. Date Muffins: Add 1 cup finely chopped dates. Cheese Muffins: Fold in 1 cup grated sharp yellow cheese. Bacon Muffins: Fold 1/4 cup crisp cooked bacon, broken into bits.
   4. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden.

Q I am looking for a recipe for homemade ketchup. I haven't been able to find one. Can you help?
Thanks, Kathy

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until smooth. When mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and slimmer for 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove pan from heat and cover until cool.

A Great question! Since many of the pesticides are sprayed on with waxy substances, removing them is tough. You may not get it all off, but you can reduce it with one of the following ideas:

SCRUB: Dampen the produce. Shake baking soda on it and rub all surfaces with your hands. Rinse well.

SOAK: Mix a 50/50 solution of water and white distilled vinegar. Let the produce soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse well. (Never soak mushrooms since they absorb water).

SPRAY: Mix 1 T. lemon juice, 1 cup water and 2 T. baking soda in a spray bottle. Shake well, spray on produce and let sit a few minutes. Rinse well.

WASH: Consumer Reports suggests scrubbing the produce with a drop of Palmolive Dish Detergent and then rinsing well.

Q My dad is a diabetic. I cannot afford to pay the outrageous prices that they have in the "sugarless" shops, and not only that, some of the foods contain more salt or sugar than he is allowed. I really don't trust anything that says "sugar-free." I would love to learn how to make him cakes, foods and simple snacks for him to enjoy without the worry of too much of salt and/or sugar.

A Cooking from scratch is going to be the best answer for your situation. If you can't afford the convenience of pre-made food, and you don't trust the ingredients, then you need to make your own. To get you started, I would look into some sugar-free cookbooks. Some use natural sugars which won't help you, but some use NutraSweet, Splenda, or stevia (an herb).

I personally think NutraSweet is not good for us, so I would explore the other sweeteners. But many people have gotten used to the taste or prefer working with it. For cooking ideas that use NutraSweet, visit their website at www.equal.com

Next, let's look at Splenda. It is actually sucralose and is made from sugar, but has no calories, and only a trace of carbohydrates. It is approved for diabetics. It has no after taste, nor does it get bitter when you heat it, as NutraSweet does. It is used to Sweeten Diet Rite soda, and some other products now. Some people have claimed they had health related problems from it. For recipe ideas using Splenda, visit their website at www.splenda.com.

And last, but never least, let's look at stevia. It is a very sweet herb but has no effect on blood sugar or tooth decay. It comes in herb flakes, powdered as well as liquid form. One manufacturer has trademarked their product of stevia as Stevita. It is 100% natural . Stevia can be purchased at most health food stores. Some people claim they taste an aftertaste with it.

There are cookbooks for stevia use as well. Here are some that offered lots of good advice:

You can also contact the American Diabetic Association for a list of cookbooks that meet their criteria.

Q Thanks for your response! I am really excited about your website and all the wealth of information! I have one final question. Is it cost effective to buy a bread maker? I found some on sale right now-just wondering if you think it would save in the end. Thanks!

A Bread machines are more of a luxury than a frugal tool. They use a lot of electricity for one loaf, and we tend to make inexpensive bread that we could buy for $0.79. But if it’s a great deal, it’s fun to have. I bought mine at the thrift shop for $15 so I enjoy warm bread now and again

Q I have children who drink both soy milk and rice milk due to food allergies. I read that you can freeze cow milk, but I am wondering if you can freeze soy and rice? If so for how long? It would be so helpful because we could stock up when it goes on sale. Thanks!

A Great question! Yes you can freeze both of those. But you might have to transfer them to another container that allows room for the liquid to expand when it freezes. The cartons that the milk comes in will not expand enough and may break.

A Great question! Pretty much any floor cleaner recipe you would use with a mop will work. Mix some vinegar and water, or some Pine Sol, or some Murphy's Oil and water for hardwood floors.

A Many of the nutritional drinks are just a base drink (milkshake, fruit shake, etc.) mixed with protein powder. So there are a few ways to tackle this replacement more frugally than those bottled drinks.

If milk is tolerable, you could purchase any instant protein drink mix sold in bulk that has instant milk in it. This might include Carnation Instant Breakfast powder, HerbaLife Protein Drink Mix, Slim Fast mix, or many of the mixes sold in health food stores. Those, added to milk, would make a good replacement.

But there is an even more frugal way to go. You can make these drinks yourself with ice cream, milk, fruit (or chocolate mix) and protein powder sold in bulk at health food stores. If milk is not tolerable, you can use soy-based protein drink mixes, also sold at health food stores, and make drinks yourself using soy milk instead of cow’s milk.

I recommend adding some supplements to the drink since he is not getting any nutrients from plants or grains. I would add Omega-3 oil for brain and nerve function (very important for him), wheat germ, and vitamin powder at minimum. There are other supplements that are important as well. If he continues on this for much longer, please see a nutritionist for other supplements that he is missing and needs such as vitamin E, C and B’s.

You might also ask you doctor for a prescription so you are paying less, or even ask for free samples that he receives from the drug manufacturers.

NOTE: the frozen fruit gives the shake its thickness. Ice can be added if using fresh fruit, but it will dilute the drink.

Q I have been trying to transition from white flour, white sugar into more of a whole food approach to cooking. I am finding that this is very expensive. I cook with tofu and TVP instead of ground beef. It seems that the carb meals are cheaper and easier. How can I incorporate these desires for real whole foods into my lifestyle?

Incorporating healthy cooking into our budget can cost us more, but there are ways around it.

When I first embarked on my frugal lifestyle, I heard critics say that they would never want to live frugally since it meant having to eat “frugal food.” Many people believe they cannot serve healthy food to their family while on a tight budget. I am here to prove that “frugal” and “healthy” can be one and the same.

At the beginning of our frugal adventure, we lived on $40 per week for groceries. Since we were living on half of our usual income, we had to cut the grocery bill down this low to pay other bills. Despite this tight budget, we ate plenty of produce, adequate protein, and were even able to cook around my son’s restrictive food allergies.

The first key to cooking healthy frugal meals is to look at how you shop and cook. Cooking healthy has the same guidelines as any other type of shopping that I describe in detail in my book, Miserly Moms: plan menus around sales, don’t shop at just one store, buy in bulk, and cook in bulk. If you expect to be able to buy ready-made health food, then you will overspend. Furthermore, if you don’t shop sales and pay premium prices for your supplies, then meals won’t be frugal. So the key isn’t what you are cooking but how you are shopping for it, and who prepared it.

The other way to save grocery money is to modify the menu. After all, how can we save money if we have steak several times per week? We need new recipes that call for simple ingredients, but still provide an appealing and healthy meal to the family. That’s why I decided to write my cookbook, Miserly Meals. Each recipe in my book costs less than 75 cents per serving, has a nutritional breakdown to show that it is healthy, and is easy to prepare.

I hope that this helps, and that your frugal and healthy cooking will be an enhancement to your family’s budget, not a frustration.

Q Do you have a recipe for homemade marshmallows? And, I am wondering if it is cheaper to make then rather than buy them?

Thanks!

~ Kelly, Memphis, TN

A Funny you should ask. That’s an object lesson I use in my workshops. It is important not to waste our time on things of little financial return. If it's close to the cost of making versus buying, go ahead and buy it. Your time is worth something.

I made marshmallows once and it took 4 hours -- and they weren’t as fluffy as store-bought. And store-bought are usually $1. It’s not worth our time! These you should buy and not make.

Q How good of an antibacterial cleaner is vinegar? More specifically what germs does it kill?

Melissa, MI

A This inexpensive ingredient kills bacteria and mold and can be used as a disinfectant, but without the risk associated with ammonia. Use the distilled type for a less offensive odor and it leaves no stains. This also can be used to remove soap scum, or wash windows, and added to dishwater to make glass sparkle. It can be used as a stain remover. It has many first aid uses such as bee stings, hives, sunburn, gargle for sore throats, and upset stomachs. The chemical name for vinegar is acetic acid.

According to Care2.com, Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar—such as you can buy in the supermarket—kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can't claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, it seems to be common knowledge in the industry that vinegar is powerfully antibacterial. Even the CBS news show 48 Hours had a special last December with Heloise reporting on tests from The Good Housekeeping Institute that showed this.

Just like antibiotics, common disinfectants found in sponges and household sprays may contribute to drug resistant bacteria, according to researchers of drug resistance at Tufts New England Medical Center . Furthermore, research at the Government Accounting Office shows that many commercial disinfectants are ineffective to begin with, just like antibiotics.

Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board, and in your bathroom, and use them for cleaning. You can spray the vinegar on your cutting board before going to bed at night, and don't even rinse, but let it set overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.

Q My dear 8 year old daughter received an Easy Bake Oven for
Christmas this year. I know that the mixes go for about $5 for
a box of four mixes. Is there a cheaper substitute for these little
mixes or could I use regular cake and cookies mixes?

Thanks so much.

Tina

A My daughter loves using her Easy Bake Oven but I agree with
you...there has to be a cheaper way to make cakes and cookies than buy
their mixes. So we have a collection of recipes for doing it ourselves.
Below are a few to get you started. Happy baking!

WHITE FROSTING MIX
2 cups powdered sugar -- sifted
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk powder. Stir with
a wire whisk to blend. With a pastry blender cut in shortening. Spoon
about 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 8 small bags. Seal tightly. Makes
8 packages. For chocolate frosting, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.

To use: Combine 1 package of the above mix plus 3/4 teaspoon water
in a small bowl. Stir well with a spoon until smooth and creamy. Makes
about 1/4 cup frosting. A drop or two of vanilla may be added if
desired.

QUICK CAKE
2 tablespoons commercial cake mix -- such as Jiffy
1 tablespoon water

Mix cake mix and water. Place in greased toy cake. Bake for 10 minutes.
Makes 1 serving.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING MIX
2 cups icing sugar
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk powder
and cocoa. Stir with a wire whisk to blend. With a
pastry blender cut in shortening. Spoon about 1/3 cup
of mixture into each of 8 small bags. Seal tightly.

Makes 8 packages.

To use: Combine 1 package of the above mix plus 3/4
teaspoon water in a small bowl. Stir well with a spoon
until smooth and creamy. Makes about 1/4 cup frosting.
A drop or two of vanilla may be added if desired.

SPARKLING FROSTING
4 teaspoons vegetable shortening
2/3 cup icing sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons milk
Colored sugar crystals for decoration

In a small bowl, mix together shortening, powdered
sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth and creamy.
Spread 2 tsp. of frosting on top of 1st layer. Add 2nd
layer and continue frosting. Sprinkle with colored
crystal sugars. Frosts a 2 layer cake.

To Use: Mix 1 teaspoon warm water and a little vanilla; add
icing sugar to desired consistency.

BROWNIES
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon oil
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 teaspoon chocolate syrup
2 1/2 tablespoons flour

Stir together sugar, oil, vanilla, chocolate and flour
until the batter is smooth. Pour batter into greased
and floured pan. Bake 15 minutes.

QUICK BROWNIE #2
1/3 cup graham wafer crumbs
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons chopped nuts

Blend thoroughly. Spread in well-greased pan. Bake in
oven about 10 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, cocoa powder, flour,
baking soda, and salt. Stir with a wire whisk until
blended. With a pastry blender, cut in shortening
until evenly distributed and mixture resembles corn
meal. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the mixture into each of
11 small containers with tight fitting lids or zip
lock bags. Seal containers. Label with date and
contents. Store in a cool dry place. Use within 12
weeks.

Makes 11 packages Children's Chocolate Cake Mix for
Easy Bake style oven.

To use: To one container of mix add 4 teaspoons water.
Stir with a fork or spoon until blended and smooth.
Pour mixture into greased and floured 4 inch round
miniature baking pan. Follow directions for child's
oven or bake in mom's preheated 375 degree oven for 12
to 13 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pan on a
rack for 5 minutes. Invert onto a small plate and
remove pan. When cool frost with Chocolate Frosting.
if desired.
Serves 2 children.

CRAZY CAKE
4 1/2 teaspoons flour
3 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cocoa
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Dash salt
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder
and salt. Add vanilla, vinegar and vegetable oil.
Place in a greased toy cake pan. Pour 1 tablespoon of
water over batter. Mix lightly with a fork but do not
beat. Bake 10 minutes.
Makes 1 serving.

WHITE CAKE MIX
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
Water

To make the cake mix: In a medium bowl combine sugar,
flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a wire whisk
until blended. With a pastry blender, cut in
shortening until evenly distributed & mixture
resembles cornmeal. Spoon about 1/3 cup in each of 10
Zip-Lock bags. Label with date & contents. Store in a
cool, dry place. Use within 12 weeks.

To bake: Preheat play oven following manufacturer's
directions. Grease & flour miniature cake pan. In a
small bowl, combine one container cake mix with 4
teaspoons water. Stir with a fork or spoon until
blended & smooth. Pour mixture in a prepared pan. Bake
as directed. Remove from oven, cool on a rack 5
minutes. Invert the cake on a small plate. When cool,
frost, if desired.

Variations: Add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened flavored drink powder:
Lemon, Orange, or Cherry

SCRUMPTIOUS ORANGE NUT CAKE
6 tablespoons of yellow cake mix
1 teaspoon orange zest
6 teaspoons water
1/2 tablespoon chopped pecans
1/2 tablespoon coconut

Orange Glaze:
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Preheat oven for fifteen minutes. Grease and flour two
round cake pans. Combine ingredients for orange
glaze and set aside.
Mix 3 tablespoons of yellow cake mix with 1/2 teaspoon
of the orange zest and 3 teaspoons of water. Pour
into one prepared cake pan and bake for fourteen
minutes.
Mix the remaining yellow cake mix with remaining 1/2
teaspoon orange zest and 3 teaspoons water. Pour into
remaining cake pan.
While the first layer is still warm and the second
layer is baking, drizzle 1 1/2 teaspoons of the orange
glaze over the top of the warm layer. Pierce the
layer several times with a toothpick to help the cake absorb the glaze.
When the second layer is finished baking, place it on
top of the first layer and drizzle it with the
remaining orange glaze. Sprinkle finished cake with nuts and
coconut.

TOFFEE TRIFLE CAKE
6 tablespoons of yellow cake mix
2 tablespoons of milk
1 small box of vanilla instant pudding mix
11/2 cups of cold milk
1 small Cool Whip softened
2 Skor or Heath candy bars (crushed)

Mix yellow cake mix with 2 tablespoons of milk until
smooth. Bake in round cake pans for about 15 minutes
each. Let cool. Cut into small squares.
Mix milk and pudding mix. Fold pudding and cool whip
together.
In a trifle dish or glass bowl, arrange the pieces
from one cake in the bottom, then cover with some of
the pudding mixture, then sprinkle 1/2 of the candy.
Repeat layers. Chill till served. Enjoy licking and
eating the leftover pudding.

COOL ICE CREAM CAKE
4 packages of chocolate cake mix
2 packages of white icing
vanilla ice cream
colored gel

Follow cake mix instructions. Bake 2 cakes.
Place ice cream into cake tin and place in
freezer for 30 minutes. Take ice cream out of tin and put in the
middle of the cakes. Decorate the cake with white icing and
gels.

RASPBERRY ORANGE CAKE
Vegetable shortening
Flour
sliced almonds
6 tablespoons of yellow cake mix
6 teaspoons orange juice
1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
3 teaspoons raspberry jam

Preheat Easy Bake Oven for 15 minutes, or ask an adult
to preheat kitchen oven to 375 degrees. Generously
grease bottom and sides of 2 round baking pans. Flour
only bottoms of pans. Press almonds onto sides only of
greased surface. Set aside.
Stir together yellow cake mix, orange juice and grated
orange peel in mixing bowl until smooth. Pour batter
into two prepared pans.
Bake each pan in Easy Bake Oven for 12 minutes or in
your kitchen oven for 12 minutes. Remove pan from
Easy Bake Oven.
Immediately invert onto small plate.
Spread 3 teaspoons raspberry jam over top of one
cake. Lay second cake on top. Arrange six almond
slices in center of top cake to resemble blossom.

PEACH UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
1/4 cup yellow cake mix -- * see note
3 teaspoons peach juice
2 slices peaches -- drained
brown sugar

* Note - or 1 package Easy Bake yellow cake mix.

Grease pan lightly with butter. Cover bottom of pan
lightly with brown sugar. Arrange thin slices of drained
peaches over brown sugar. Mash lightly with spoon.

Mix cake mix and peach juice until smooth. Pour cake
batter over peaches. Bake about 20 minutes. Let cool. Put cake on plate
with peaches up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBIE CAKE
4 teaspoons All-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Cocoa
1 tablespoon Sugar
1/8 teaspoons Baking powder
1 dash Salt
1/8 teaspoons Vanilla extract
4 teaspoons Water
2 teaspoons Vegetable oil
Frosting of your choice

Stir together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder,
salt, vanilla, water and oil. Stir until the batter is
smooth and chocolate colored. Pour the batter into
greased and floured cake pan. Bake 13 to 15 mins. or
until you see the sides of the cake separate from the
pan. Remove cake and cool. Makes 1 layer cake.

BARBIE PRETTY PINK CAKE (2 layers)
5 tablespoon Cake flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking powder
1/8 teaspoon Salt
5 teaspoons Red sugar crystals
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract
4 teaspoons Vegetable oil
8 teaspoons Milk

Stir together cake flour, baking powder, salt, red
sugar, vanilla, oil and milk until the batter is
smooth and pink. Pour 3 TBS. of batter into greased
and floured cake pan. Bake 15 mins. Repeat for second
layer. Makes 2 layers.

JEWELED TEA CAKES (4)
1/4 cup All-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking powder
1/8 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Sugar
2 teaspoons Margarine
4 teaspoons Milk
1 teaspoon multi-colored cookie decorations

Mash together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and
margarine until dough looks like medium-sized crumbs.
Slowly mix in the milk. Form dough into a loose ball
and divide it into 4 pieces with a spoon. Place a few
dough pieces on greased sheet or pan. Sprinkle with
cookie decorations over the top of the dough and push
them in with your fingers. Bake 20 minutes. Makes 4
tea cakes.

THUMB PRINT COOKIES (12)
1 tablespoon Powdered sugar
2 tablespoons Margarine
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Water
1/4 cup All-purpose flour
Your favorite jelly

Stir together powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla,
water and flour until the flour disappears. Roll the
dough between your fingers and make 12 small balls,
1/2 inch each. Place a few balls at a time on an
ungreased sheet or pan with space between them. Press
your thumb into the middle of each ball to make a
thumb print. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, then remove.
Repeat until all the cookies are baked. When
the cookies are cool, fill each thumb print with
jelly. Makes 12 cookies.

SECRET CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (12)
1 tablespoon Sugar
1 tablespoon Firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons Margarine
1/8 teaspoon Baking powder
1/8 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Water
3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
4 teaspoons Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Stir together the sugars and margarine. Add the baking
soda, vanilla, water and flour, stirring until flour
disappears. Mix in the chocolate chips. Roll the dough
between your fingers and make 12 small balls, 1/2 in.
each. Place a few balls on a greased and floured sheet
or pan with space between them. Bake 10 to 12 mins.
Repeat until all the cookies are baked. Makes 12
cookies.

BUTTERSCOTCH CANDY (6)
1/4 cup Butterscotch morsels or chips
2 teaspoons Margarine

Put margarine and morsels into the melting pan and
place the pan on the Warm/Melt area top of the oven.
Heat for 15 mins. Stir gently every 5 minutes. Using a
spoon, fill the candy molds with melted butterscotch.
Place the molds in the refrigerator for 30 mins. or
until firm. Remove from molds. Makes approx. 6
candies--depending on
the mold size.

DEEP DISH PIZZA (1)
2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon Baking powder
1 dash Salt
1 teaspoon Margarine
2 1/4 teaspoons Milk
1 tablespoon Pizza sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon Shredded mozzarella cheese

Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and margarine
until dough looks like medium-sized crumbs. Slowly add
milk while stirring. Shape dough into a ball and place
into a greased pan. Use your fingers to pat the dough
evenly over the bottom of the pan, then up the sides.
Pour the sauce evenly over the dough, then sprinkle
with the cheese. Bake 20 mins. Remove. Makes 1 pizza.

OATMEAL FRUIT BARS
1 tablespoon shortening -- or soft butter
6 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons milk
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons quick-cooking rolled oats
dash salt
2 teaspoons applesauce -- or marmalade

Mix shortening, sugar and salt. Add flour, baking
soda, oats, and milk. Mix well. Place 1/2 of mixture
in greased pan. Press down in pan with fingertips or
back of spoon. Spread with 2 teaspoons applesauce or
marmalade. Bake about 21 minutes. Let cool and cut into slices.
Use other half for second batch of cookies.

ANGEL COOKIES
6 teaspoons butter
3 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Cream together butter, sugars and salt. Add flour,
cream of tartar, and baking soda. Bake 5 minutes.
Makes one dozen one-inch cookies.

EASY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE
1/4 cup commercial cookie mix
3 tablespoons water.

Mix water and cookie mix together. Yield 6 cookies (2
pans).

COOKIE MIX
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar -- packed
1/2 cup vegetable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda and
brown sugar. Stir to Blend. Cut in shortening with a
pastry blender until mixture resembles corn meal.
Spoon about 1/2 cup mixture into each of 8 small
containers or ziplock bags. Seal bags tightly. Label
with date and contents. Store in a cool dry place. Use
within 12 weeks. Makes 8 packages Children's Cookie
Mix. Each package makes 9 cookies.

RAISIN CHIP COOKIES
1 package Children's cookie mix
2 teaspoons water
1 tablespoon raisins
1 tablespoon mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels
sugar

In a small bowl, combine Children's Cookie Mix, water,
raisins, and chocolate morsels. Stir with a spoon
until mixture holds together in one big ball. Shape
one teaspoon of dough at a time into a ball. Arrange
on ungreased cookie sheet. Butter bottom of a small
drinking glass. Dip buttered glass bottom in sugar.
Flatten each ball by pressing with sugar coated glass.
Bake as directed in child's play oven. Remove from
oven. Cool on a rack.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
3 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons shortening
6 teaspoons flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoons vanilla
4 teaspoons milk
12 to 15 chocolate bits

Cream together sugar and shortening. Blend in flour,
baking powder, and vanilla. Stir in milk. Stir in
chocolate chips. Drop dough by half teaspoonfuls on
well greased pan, allowing room to spread. Bake 5
minutes. Makes 12 to 15 cookies.

SNOW MOUNDS
6 teaspoons shortening or soft butter
3 teaspoons confectioners sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup flour
dash of salt
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
confectioners sugar for rolling

Cream together butter and 3 teaspoons confectioners
sugar. Blend in vanilla, flour and salt. Add walnuts
and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place 3 balls
onto well greased Easy Bake pan. Flatten slightly.
Bake 5 minutes. When cool, roll in confectioners
sugar. Makes 10 to 12 cookies.

OATMEAL COOKIES
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup softened margarine
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup quick oats

Cream sugar and butter together in a bowl. Mix in
flour and soda. Stir in quick oats. Form dough into
1/2-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking pan, and
press down slightly on each to flatten out a bit.
Bake. Makes about 2 dozen.

WACKY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
1 tablespoon chopped nuts

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Drop by 1/2
teaspoon onto ungreased baking pan. Bake until batter
starts to become firm and is lightly browning. Makes 1
dozen. (There really isn't any flour in these
cookies....that is what makes them wacky)

CINNAMON CRISPS
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons shortening
1 tablespoon ice water
cinnamon and sugar

Combine flour and salt. Cut shortening in with fork
until it resembles peas. Sprinkle with water and stir
gently until dough forms a ball. Roll dough out on
lightly floured surface until about 1/8 inch thick.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Cut into desired
shapes. Place on ungreased baking pan, and bake until
lightly browned.

SHORTCAKE
1/4 cup biscuit mix
5 teaspoons milk

Combine 1/4 cup biscuit mix and 5 teaspoons milk using
a fork. Divide into two portions. Roll one at a time
on a floured surface to fit pan. Place each in greased
pan. Bake about 10 minutes.

BISCUITS
1/4 cup commercial biscuit mix
4 teaspoons milk

Combine biscuit mix and milk with a fork. Drop by
half-teaspoonfuls onto a well greased pan. Bake 10
minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

EASY DANISH
1/4 cup commercial biscuit mix
1 1/2 teaspoon margarine
3/4 teaspoon sugar
4 teaspoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite jam

Combine baking mix, margarine, and sugar; mix until
crumbly. Stir in milk until dough forms, and then beat
15 strokes. Drop by 1/2 teaspoons onto lightly greased
baking pan. Press middle with thumb to make indent.
Fill indent with some jam. Bake until golden brown.
Drizzle a little frosting over the top when done
baking. To make frosting: Use 1 teaspoon water and a
little vanilla. Add powdered sugar, mixing until
smooth and to desired consistency.

CINNAMON RAISIN POCKETS
1-8 ounce can refrigerator crescent rolls (will use
1/2 of can)
1 teaspoon melted butter
1 tablespoon raisins
cinnamon and sugar
frosting (recipe follows)

Divide 1/2 can of dough into 2 rectangles. Press
perforations to seal. Brush one of the rectangles with
the butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Top with
sprinkling of raisins. Place other rectangle of dough
on top. Cut into 4 squares. Pinch sides of squares to
seal. Place on ungreased cooking pan, and bake until
golden. Will make 4 pockets. Drizzle a little frosting
over the top, if desired, when done baking.
To make frosting: Use 1 teaspoon water and a little
vanilla. Add powdered sugar, mixing until smooth and
to desired consistency.

BAKED APPLE
1 large apple
butter
cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Wash large apple. Slice across apples to make slices
(rings) 1/2" thick. Use center slices. Remove center core.
Grease pan with butter. Place apple slice in pan.
Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, then with 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
Dot top with 1/4 teaspoon butter. Bake about 20 minutes.

CARAMEL CORN
2 teaspoons Caramel Topping
1/2 cup unsalted popcorn

Preheat oven for 15 minutes. Place caramel topping on
in warming cup. Put on warming tray and cover. Warm
for 9 minutes. Drizzle the warm mixture over popcorn
and stir.

PEANUT BUTTER CAKE
5 teaspoons of peanut butter
1 teaspoon of water
2 teaspoons of chocolate chips
splash of red and green sprinkles

Mix peanut butter and water. It will be a little bit
rough. Spread butter all over the Easy Bake(r) oven pan then
spread the peanut butter in the pan - not thick, not
thin, just right. Add chocolate chips to the peanut butter in the pan
then splash on the red and the green sprinkles.
Follow Easy Bake (r) instructions to bake.

RICE CRISPY TREATS
1 teaspoon Margarine
2 teaspoon Marshmallow Cream
Rice Crispies

Preheat oven for 15 minutes.
Place margarine and marshmallow cream in the warming
cup. Put on the warming tray and cover. Warm for nine
minutes stirring occasionally. Half fill the other
warming cup with puffed rice cereal. Thoroughly mix
the puffed rice cereal with the warmed mixture of
margarine and marshmallow cream in a bowl.
Take a small amount from the bowl and form a cookie
shape. Place the shapes on a plate. Refrigerate for
about 1/2 hour or until firm.

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE
1 cup icing sugar
5 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 teaspoons cocoa
6 teaspoons peanut butter

Mix sugar, milk, butter, vanilla, and cocoa until
smooth. Grease two baking pans with butter. Spoon mix into
pans about 1/4" deep. Spread 3 teaspoons peanut butter over
mix. Spoon another layer 1/4" thick over peanut butter.
Bake each pan about 5 minutes. Let cool. for quicker
cooling, place in refrigerator 5 minutes.

BASIC PIE RECIPE
1/3 cup pie crust mix
4 teaspoons water
6 teaspoons pie filling -- *see note

* Note - Fill pie with pre-sweetened cherry, apple, or
peach canned pie filling, mincemeat, jams, preserves or
marmalade.

Combine 1/3 cup of pie crust mix and 4 teaspoons water
with fork to form a ball. Divide and form two smaller
balls. On a floured board roll out one ball slightly
larger than the
pan. Fit into greased pan. Fill with 6 teaspoons
desired pie
filling. Roll out other ball of dough. Cut into 6
strips
each 1/4" wide. Place on pie filling for lattice top.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

S'MORES
Mini Chocolate Chips
2 teaspoons Marshmallow Cream
2 Graham Crackers

Preheat oven for 15 minutes.
Half fill one warming cup with mini chocolate chips.
In the other, put marshmallow cream. Put on warming
tray and cover. Warm for 6 - 9 minutes, stirring
occasionally.
Pour chocolate onto one graham cracker and the
marshmallow onto another. Sandwich them together and
enjoy.

PEANUT BUTTER TREATS
Peanut Butter
Graham Crackers
Mini Chocolate Chips

Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on a graham
cracker and top with mini-chocolate chips. Bake 5
minutes. Remove and spread the softened chocolate.
Cool slightly before eating.

NACHOS #1
4 teaspoons soft processed cheese spread
1 teaspoon water
Nacho chips

Preheat easy bake oven for 15 minutes.
Mix cheese and water in the warming cup. Place on the
warming oven and cover. Remove cover occasionally to
stir mixture. Warm until softened (about 9 minutes).
Pour on Nacho's or use as a dip.

NACHOS #2
Large tortilla chips
Bean dip (optional)
Grated cheese
Take a tortilla chip and put about 1/2 teaspoon of
bean dip on it. Top with 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of grated
cheese. Place on ungreased baking pan. Bake until
cheese is melted. Will make as many as you want.

MINI-PIZZAS
Refrigerated Pizza Dough
Tomato Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Spread a small amount of refrigerated pizza dough in
an Easy Bake pan and bake 7 minutes. Top with tomato
sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Return to oven
for 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

EASY PIZZA
1 slice of bread or 1 English muffin
1 tablespoon pizza sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon grated cheese
Take slice of bread or English muffin and spread the
pizza sauce on it. Sprinkle on other ingredients as
desired, and top with cheese. Bake until hot and
cheese has melted.

QUESADILLAS
Small flour tortillas
Shredded cheddar cheese

Cut a small flour tortilla into wedges small enough to
fit the pan. Sandwich shredded cheese between two
wedges and bake until cheese melts.

SNACK-ER-DOOS
8 Ritz type crackers
2 squares of American cheese (each square cut into 4
squares)
8 slices of hot dog

Take cracker and place 1 square of cheese on it. Top
with 1 slice of hot dog. Place on ungreased baking
pan. Bake until cheese melts. Will make 8 snacks.

CHEESE TWISTS
1-8 oz can refrigerator crescent rolls (will use 1/2
of can)
1 teaspoon melted butter
1/4 cup grated cheese
garlic salt

Divide 1/2 can of dough into 2 rectangles. Press
perforations to seal. Brush one of the rectangles with
the butter. Sprinkle with cheese and a little garlic
salt. Place the other rectangle of dough on top of
this. Cut into 10-1/2 inch strips. Twist each strip 5
times. Squeeze ends of twists to seal. Place on
ungreased cooking pan, and bake until golden. Will
make 10.

BREAD PUDDING
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons sugar
4 slices white bread
1 teaspoon raisins -- optional

Break bread into small pieces. Mix all ingredients
together in a bowl. Grease pans lightly with butter. Fill pans
1/2 full and press down. Add 1 teaspoon milk and 1/4
teaspoon
butter on top of each pudding.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 3 puddings.

PARFAITS
2 unfrosted cakes or some cookies (that you made)
1 small box of instant pudding (follow directions on
box to make)
1 banana
chopped nuts (peanuts are good)
In a glass bowl, make a layer of broken pieces of cake
or cookies. Top this with 1/2 of the banana, sliced.
Sprinkle with some nuts. Put 1/2 of the pudding over
this. Then, repeat the layers, ending with the pudding
on top. Sprinkle some nuts over the top. Put into
refrigerator until served. When ready to serve, you
can top with a spoonful of whipped topping if desired.

Q I'm a single mom with an ex-husband pressuring me to go to work so he can lower his child support payments, and I want to prove to him once and for all that it costs more for me to work than to continue to be a stay-at-home mom, totally available to my children and the ministry of raising them.
Can you help me? Thank you very sincerely,
Anne

A I am very sorry that you are being pressured about this. There are many facets to this struggle, including the childrens' welfare. However, he appears to less concerned with that and more concerned with his wallet. So, let's focus on that aspect.

We need to calculate your cost of working, or, in other words, what working will cost you/him. To do this you first need to add up the individual costs that you would acquire if you started working.

First, look at the difference between the taxes you are currently paying and what you would pay if you worked. Take this off of your IRS forms that you are filing this year. More than likely, it would put you (and your husband if you file jointly) into the next highest tax bracket. That would mean that you each would take home less than you are now. Take the difference between these two tax due amounts and divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Do the same for your state and local taxes.

Now look at any childcare costs you would have, and add in the monthly cost. This added expense might become 100% the responsibility of your ex-husband's, depending on the divorce agreement you have. So your returning to work might actually cost him more!

Factor in extra doctor's appointments due to increases in illnesses from being in daycare. These medical costs may also become the responsibility of your ex-husband's, depending on the divorce agreement you have.

Then add in any transportation costs you would have each month...parking, bus fee, bridge tolls, the mileage costs to and from work each day (use 31 cents per mile for the wear on your car).

Your monthly clothing costs will increase since new clothes for work will be necessary, as well as dry cleaning costs.

What about having your hair done? I always had it done every 6 weeks.

Your car insurance will increase if you classify your car as a commuter car instead of a leisure car. Ask your agent what the new monthly rate would be.

And now for a big one...your groceries. When we both worked, we relied on convenience foods for meals, such as instant mixes, frozen dinners, etc., and our food bill was 4 times higher than it is now. So figure on a large increase in these expenses as well.

Add in the number of times during a month's time that you may eat out, or order pizza in because you will be late coming home or because you'll be too tired to cook.

Then there are those lunches out with co-workers. If someone eats out for $4 each work day, that adds up to $80 per month just for lunch! Figure what you might spend in a month.

Are there office gifts that you are required to participate in? Count those in the total as well.

Take all of these numbers and add them together. This is your monthly cost of working.

Now take a guess at what your gross earnings might be per month. Subtract your monthly cost of working from your gross earning. That is your true take home pay per month. Some people may even have a negative number! That means you are paying to work! Divide this number by the number of hours you work in a month. That is your true hourly wage.

Show this to your ex-husband and see if he still feels that working is worth it.

~Jonni

Reader's comments:

I am a single mom also whose priority is to spend as much time with my daughter. I work 30 hrs. a week, I put my daughter on the bus in the morning and I'm there when she gets off the bus in the afternoon. I totally support your decision, and I know it's hard when not many people do. Especially ex-husbands. His child-support may actually go up if he has to pay for child care. Child care can cost anywhere from $400 to $600 per child per month where I live. If you can, convince him that when the kids are all of school-age you will get a part-time job while they are in school. For example, if I were to work 40 hrs. a week, the amount I would pay in after school care would be $200 a month. I would only make an extra $400 a month. That $200 a month is worth it to me to be home with my daughter. (Although I would work part-time no matter what to be with her). So, if your ex is all about money as mine is, tell him you are willing to work at-home or doing odd jobs (like cleaning houses like I did) for an extra $200 a month and you will pay the difference. You can tell him the exact difference in cost by taking the child-support worksheet in your divorce document and working the numbers as if you were working full-time, that's what I did. Good Luck! ~Anna

In NY where I live, the income of the mother has no effect on the father's child support obligation. It is based on his income only (a percentage depending on how many children). Whether the mother works or not shouldn't have any effect on the amount he pays her. Anne may want to find out if this is the case in her state, as well. ~Kris

Q What are your ideas for inexpensive holiday decorations, either for
Thanksgiving or Christmas?

A Holidays can be festive without being expensive. There are some simple things that can be done to liven up a room or table. Consider these
suggestions:
* make table candles by filling white lunch sacks with sand then placing a
votive candle in the center (don't do this if young children are going to be
at the table)
* fill a basket with dried gourds or miniature pumpkins, Indian corn, some
pine cones or acorns, apples and oranges and a dried flower or two
* find old baskets at thrift stores and spray paint gold
* lay cut evergreen sprigs around the table in between decorations
* make an ornament that looks good, sells good and can be given away to each guest when they leave: poke cloves into the skin of a whole orange, covering it completely (maybe leave 1/2 inch between each clove). Punch a ribbon into the orange with a few of the cloves for hanging the orange. Lay around table in between evergreen or in the baskets
* make miniature scarecrows by stuffing infant clothes (jean overalls and
flannel shirts are cute) with straw. Use a stuffed cloth or foam ball for
the head, and more straw for hair (or glue on yarn), covered with a hat.
Have two of them (a boy and girl is cute) leaning on a medium sized pumpkin in the center of the table
* spray paint medium clay pots with silver or gold paint. Find thin branches
and cut off all leaves; spray paint them gold. Place a foam insert and poke
branches in to foam. Cover with plastic grass or Spanish moss. Hang
ornaments or tinsel from branches
* slice an aspen or birch log into 1-inch slices, hot glue a candle on the
wood disc and glue on Spanish moss around the candle
* display your Christmas greeting cards on a gold or silver ribbon on a wall
* tie gold ribbon or evergreen around your banister
* use gold ribbon or red velvet for curtain tie-backs
* get seasonal Christmas colored throws (red, green, white, gold or silver)
and place them over chairs or sofas

Q How do you remove those non-skid bathtub appliqués without damaging the tub surface? We've tried all sorts of cleaners, Goo-Gone and turpentine, and they still hang on. Any thoughts?

A We have had great luck with a natural product called Citra-Solv. It is made with concentrated citrus rinds. We have found it at hardware stores and sometimes even at the grocery store. If you cannot locate it at a store, it
is available on the Internet (for example,
http://www.biconet.com/home/citraSolv.html). Don't accept the imitation
brands of citrus cleaners: Citra-Solv is the only one that has worked for
us.

Q I want to be able to landscape my yard, but flowers and shrubs are
so expensive. I've tried to plant some perennials so they'll continue to
bloom every year, but our yard still needs lots of work. Any suggestions on
finding inexpensive plants, shrubs, and/or trees? I'm tempted to go to the
woods and look for things to steal every spring! And we all know that's not
right. Please help if you can. -- Catherine

A Gardening is the No. 1 hobby in America. But it doesn't have to
cost you a fortune. I know friends who purchase ready-to-plant flowers and
shrubs every spring. This costs them $200-300 per year. It is convenient to
have an instant garden, but it can be done for less.

Growing your own plants from seeds can save you a tremendous amount of
money. A packet of seeds that costs $1 can yield up to 50 plants. That's 2
cents per plant, as compared to $2-$5 per plant for full grown.

I plant my seedlings indoors several months before planting season. If you
live in a warmer climate, you can start the seeds directly outdoors when the
danger of frost is over. If you need to start indoors, place the seedlings
in a sunny area. I use inexpensive pots or seed starter trays. Another
option is to use egg cartons. Place one half of an empty egg shell in the
bottom of each egg holder for added fertilizer. I place the pots on an old
cookie sheet to catch any water spills.

I try to make my gardening investment provide some sort of "return."
Therefore, I plant more vegetables than flowers. It helps cut back on my
grocery expenses. Some plants are more costly to maintain than others. Many require lots of water, special fertilizer and costly pesticides. Roses are a good example of a high maintenance plant. Make sure that you know what your plants will require before deciding what to plant.

Fertilizing and mulching a garden can run up quite a bill, so here are some
cost saving tips:

Manure can be gotten for free from horse stables and chicken farms. Often
manure comes with weeds or seed, but composting it before use will heat up the seeds and kill them.

Mulch is free in some cities if they have a recycling program or a local
public farm. Also ask tree services what they do with the mulch they create
after trimming trees.

Making your own compost pile will save you from buying expensive soil for
your garden. There are books at the library that tell you how to start one
cheaply and easily.

Seeds go on sale in March and again mid-summer for as low as 5 cents per
packet. You can also save the seeds from your own plants and store them for next season (don't let them get too hot or cold). I purchase my seeds from seed catalogs. It has proven to be cheaper and the seeds are a better quality.

Join a garden club in your area. Members will invite you over to look at
their gardens, and they will probably send you home with tons of plants. If there is no garden club near you, just stop by and ring the door bell
where lovely flowers are blooming. They take it as a compliment.

I get free stones and rocks to line my beds and mulched areas from a local
cemetery. They have an enormous pile from when they dig up graves and most are free for the taking (ask first, please).

Happy gardening!

Q
Health insurance is eating us alive. My husband is a contract worker so he
receives no insurance benefits from work. I stopped working last year just
prior to the birth of my daughter and we are currently covered on a COBRA plan. They have just raised the costs to $775 a month - and I thought $535 was outrageous. I'm very seriously considering trying to cover the whole family under a major medical plan only and saving the money not spent on premiums for routine office visits, medication and emergencies. Is this a good choice for us? ~Thanks, Jackie

:
A Health insurance is so costly. But, since we all differ in the needs we
have, I cannot recommend just one company. There are so many providers of insurance that could meet all your needs at a better price than what you are paying.
The best place to do some comparison shopping is on the Internet. There are several websites that offer price comparisons between providers. Here are just a few to get you started. Please look for others as well:

http://www.quoteserv.com
http://www.4-insurance-rates.com/best_insurance/medical_insurance_rates.asp
http://www.allquotesinsurance
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com
http://www.quotessmith.com/
http://www.guru.com/services/insurance/health.jhtml
http://www.best-health-insurance-rates.com

Do some research on the company's reputation before buying. See what others have said about them (try www.epinion.com) and check into their insurance rating (www.insure.com/ratings/ )
Good luck!
Jonni

My Dad recently told me about a preacher friend who told this to his daughter as she was beginning to plan her wedding "I've got $XX (a certain dollar amount) to spend on your wedding. You can either have every penny spent on the wedding, or you can be frugal on the wedding and have the rest as cash to start out your marriage". Guess which one she chose? I thought it was a great idea for getting young girls out of the romanticism of the wedding and into the practicality of the marriage

Okay...this isn't a question but a comment. One of the questions in your
column was on cheap weddings. Mine was bargain basement. This is because my
family and my husband's rallied the troops. Grandmothers, aunts and the like
made sandwiches, salads, deserts and punches. They also decorated the
reception hall. The DJ was a friend and his small fee was a paid as a gift to
us by a family member. The hall was hired by another member as a gift as
well. My actual wedding was a 15 minute JP affair so I can't offer advice
there but the reception was a blast because it was a purely family event. No
one person did all the organizing and/or legwork required. The food was
especially easy with each designated bringing just one plate of food. Cost to
us? Maybe $500 for the JP, suit and dress and hotel room for the night.

Don't forget: the Audubon society has nature sanctuaries that they have
been known to rent out for weddings. My brother once worked in a beautiful
building with a spectacular garden and conference spaces where very
beautiful weddings were occasionally put on. All you have to do is ask!

~J. M. Lowry

I have a suggestion for the woman looking for an inexpensive wedding:
My wedding was in November during a blizzard and was just wonderful. My
mother and I prepared lasagna ahead of time from ingredients we had
purchased in bulk at Sam's. We put them in the church ovens a couple
hours before the wedding and served buffet style with tossed salad and
garlic bread. The church ladies were glad to serve the food and we gave
them/the church money for that. The candlelight and delicious lasagna
provided an intimate cozy feeling for the reception and was appreciated
by all. It was a good thing!
~ Sandy

An inexpensive wedding reception can be catered by you. It takes a bit
of planing and coordination.   A few years ago some friends got married
at a local church then had the reception at a nearby firehouse. In our
old church we had small parties and wedding receptions in the basement.
To coordinate the event and still leave a bit of time for visiting you
must do several things. 1. Prepare all the food a day or so ahead of the
big event. Then store it in your refrigerator or if possible at the
reception site. 2. Ask family or friends to help set up and take down
the tables. You need at least 5 to 20 people to help depending on how
many guest and how much work they will do.   3. Rent the tables and
chairs from the reception site or local firehouse and ask some friends
with trucks or vans to get them to the site. Or if you really have no
extra money borrow folding chairs and tables from your friends and
family. 4. Buy white paper or what color you want and some tape to
cover the tables from the local party shop. Clear newsprint end rolls
might also fit the tables. Some newspaper companies might give you the
ends.   5. Rent or buy some inexpensive vases or go yard sailing for
them ( I have gotten a bunch for 10 to 25 cents.)   6. Go to the local
floral shop and ask for any flowers that they are going to pitch. Take
them home and dry them upside down. Use the ones you get the most of for
your decorations and bouquet. ( One lady had everyone in town giving
her their flowers for about a year. She decorated everything.) 7. If
you can't get enough flowers then use pine cones, balloons, tree
branches or what ever to decorate the hall. Pussy willows might work as
well or even a few baskets of annual flowers that are in bloom or
baskets filled with anything neat. Crepe paper is cheap and pretty to
hang down from the ceiling and around the tables as well. Use your
imagination for inexpensive decorations.
As for the food pickles, potato salad. egg salad,vegetable platter.
lunch meat platter, rolls or bread would be great. Buy the bread or
rolls and freeze them until the big day then thaw in the sealed bag to
keep it fresh.   Go to the butcher and buy the lunch meat and freeze.
Then thaw and put on your platters. No platter? Just get some pieces
of heavy card board from a local store and cover with aluminum foil. If
that is too expensive then go to the local pizza shops and ask for a few
large boxes, cover with newsprint or white paper or glue/tape pictures
that you mimeographed/copied of something memorable on the tops and put
the food in them. Go to all of the pizza shops. Just open and serve.
My friends put the food on a counter and had everyone come through and
serve themselves. All they did was refill the containers as they
emptied and put away the food when everyone was done. They also had bake
beans that they kept warm in several crock pots. They borrowed them
from friends.
To save money on the cake bake it yourself or barter the service. Maybe
offer to sew or clean their house for the cake. Some people might do it
for free if you advertise the baker somehow at wedding. (Be careful it
doesn't appear tacky).
One other way to save money would be to have the reception in your back
yard or ask a family member who has a big yard if they would host the
event. Put up some rented or borrowed tents or covers, add chairs and
tables then maybe you could hire someone to cater the event. If not then
serving sandwiches, a vegetable platter, bake beans the cake, whatever
else you want and drinks would work. You must have something but it
need not be fancy as long as it isn't dinner/supper time. Just be
careful it doesn't appear to be too cheap.

To figure out how much food to serve call the local grocery store and
ask them how much food/type they put on a platter and how many people
that should serve. For that matter you could get several platters from
them and serve that as your food. One other suggestion I have is to do a web search on frugal weddings.
They should have a lot of useful ideas.I am trying to write a book on my frugal ways and experiences. So I
hope these ideas from my life make a pleasant inexpensive wedding for
your family.
~ C.R.C.

When I got married, we got married at my church. And we had a reception in the church dining hall afterwards. I had friends sing, play the organ, and close friends served and cleaned up. We made as much of the food as possible ahead of time. But we served seasonal fruit, deli ham, chicken, rolls for sandwiches, bars, nuts and salads. A friend made the wedding cake too (but I don't know
very many people with this skill). I bought my dress from the J.C. Penney outlet for around a hundred dollars. And we made the bridesmaid dresses and a veil. We had friends take pictures at the reception and at the wedding ceremony. And we only had the photographer take formal pictures after the wedding. I handmade thank you gifts, which cut the cost. And we made silk flower bouquets. My sister did many of the same things. A wedding doesn't have to be expensive. It just
takes creativity.