Pineapple Bread Pudding with Frangelico

I got part of this recipe from this website and I altered it to my own tastes.   The author describes not being about to get the thought of pineapple bread pudding out of her mind.  I too had that same problem.   The original recipe was pineapple and coconut bread pudding which sound good.  However, when I read the original recipe, the first thought in my mind is that needs some Frangelico!   

Not familiar with Frangelico?  It is this lovely hazelnut liquor that is scrumptious in so many deserts.  The first time I had Frangelico it was cooked in a sauce that topped a cheesecake.  YUM.

So,  here is my recipe:


Pineapple Bread Pudding with Frangelico:

1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar 
2 T. vanilla 
20 oz. can of crushed pineapple with juice  (reserve a 2 T. of juice for topping)
Dash of salt
6 eggs
4 c. (packed) white bread, cubed
a dash of Cinnamon (I used Ceylon Cinnamon)
2-3 T. Frangelico
 

Cube bread and place in the bottom of the pan. Mix together the milk, pineapple juice, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, Frangelico and eggs. Whip together until smooth. Add the pineapple and pour mixture over the bread pieces. Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until golden brown on top.

Topping:
 
1 stick butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 T. pineapple juice 
a dash of cinnamon  
1 T. Frangelico

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar is dissolved and bubbly.  Remove from the heat and add the cinnamon, pineapple juice, and the Frangelico.  Pour over the cooked bread pudding. 

Refrigerate overnight. The dish is fantastic the best day!  Serve Warm.

Oh and yes, this is a good recipe to use on some stale bread or bread from the freezer!!!

Pineapple Coconut Bread Pudding
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 T. coconut milk
1/2 c. pineapple juice (reserved from can)
1 1/2 c. pineapple tidbits (the amount of pineapple in a 20 oz. can)
Dash of salt
1 T. fresh lemon juice
6 eggs
1/2 c. shredded coconut
4 c. (packed) white bread, cubed

Spray 9x13 pan. Cube bread and place in the bottom of the pan. Mix together the milk, pineapple juice, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, eggs, and lemon juice. Whip together until smooth. Add the pineapple and coconut. Pour mixture over the bread pieces. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Caramel Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. pineapple juice
3 T. coconut milk
1 t. fresh lemon juice

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar begins to dissolve. Turn heat to medium high and add the pineapple juice and boil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Once the sauce has begun to thicken, add the coconut milk and lemon juice. Remove from heat and set aside until pudding is done.
- See more at: http://dealstomeals.blogspot.com/2011/08/pineapple-coconut-bread-pudding.html#sthash.dlPzfQ5F.dpuf

Pineapple Coconut Bread Pudding
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 T. coconut milk
1/2 c. pineapple juice (reserved from can)
1 1/2 c. pineapple tidbits (the amount of pineapple in a 20 oz. can)
Dash of salt
1 T. fresh lemon juice
6 eggs
1/2 c. shredded coconut
4 c. (packed) white bread, cubed

Spray 9x13 pan. Cube bread and place in the bottom of the pan. Mix together the milk, pineapple juice, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, eggs, and lemon juice. Whip together until smooth. Add the pineapple and coconut. Pour mixture over the bread pieces. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Caramel Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. pineapple juice
3 T. coconut milk
1 t. fresh lemon juice

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar begins to dissolve. Turn heat to medium high and add the pineapple juice and boil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Once the sauce has begun to thicken, add the coconut milk and lemon juice. Remove from heat and set aside until pudding is done.
- See more at: http://dealstomeals.blogspot.com/2011/08/pineapple-coconut-bread-pudding.html#sthash.dlPzfQ5F.dpuf

Pineapple Coconut Bread Pudding
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
2 T. coconut milk
1/2 c. pineapple juice (reserved from can)
1 1/2 c. pineapple tidbits (the amount of pineapple in a 20 oz. can)
Dash of salt
1 T. fresh lemon juice
6 eggs
1/2 c. shredded coconut
4 c. (packed) white bread, cubed

Spray 9x13 pan. Cube bread and place in the bottom of the pan. Mix together the milk, pineapple juice, coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, eggs, and lemon juice. Whip together until smooth. Add the pineapple and coconut. Pour mixture over the bread pieces. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Caramel Sauce:
1 stick butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. pineapple juice
3 T. coconut milk
1 t. fresh lemon juice

In a sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar until the sugar begins to dissolve. Turn heat to medium high and add the pineapple juice and boil for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Once the sauce has begun to thicken, add the coconut milk and lemon juice. Remove from heat and set aside until pudding is done.
- See more at: http://dealstomeals.blogspot.com/2011/08/pineapple-coconut-bread-pudding.html#sthash.dlPzfQ5F.dpuf

Homemade Croutons

Someone asked me about making croutons so I thought that I would share.

It is really silly to spend money on croutons. They are cheap, easy to make, and can be better than store bought croutons!

First, take some bread.  Personally, I like to use leftover hot dog or hamburger buns- you know, the enriched kind...  Yes, it is not nutritious but I am not here to discuss nutrition with you.

Crumbled the bread into bite size pieces and put it in a big skillet.
Then lightly drizzle some good olive oil on it.
Then, I like to add garlic powder, pepper and a little salt.
Then, just stir and toast. 

You will get something that looks like this:

Top to your salad and enjoy!

The Wrought Iron Nightmare

The little man is on his way to crawling VERY soon.  A little too soon in my mind but there is no slowing him down!  He is getting up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth.  He then plops on his belly and rolls or scoots backwards.  Every now and then, I see a scoot forwards.

Yesterday, I noticed that he moved his hands in a forward direction while on his hands and knees.  It is really interesting to see it all take place.

So, our dilema in this house for quite awhile is how to block the stairway from the baby.  It is one of my biggest fears that he is going to get to it when I turn my back for just a second.  My nightmares are are the worst!  See that brick wall of the fireplace at the bottom of the stairs and the ceramic tile?  What a landing that would be!   For anybody...
 

Stairway with Wrought Iron Railing in Main Hall

The problem is two fold:

1.The gate has to attach to the wall on one side and the vintage wrought iron post on the other.

2.  The railing ALL THE WAY AROUND is not "code".  He could easily army crawl under it OR slide through the railing.

So there are a few products our there that we are going to use for a temporary solution.  My husband wants to design something later to look better and match the decor.  However, right now, something just needs to be there for his safety.

Stairs and Nursery View

Here are the products that we are using:

1.  Banister Guard (Found at http://cardinalgates.com/ks15.html  )

The Banister guard is a sheet of plastic that is attached by zip ties.  Cutting it to fit has been a pain and I am not sure that it is going to work because of the gap at the bottom of the railing.   I have a feeling that this is not going to be in place long.

2.   Kidco Safeway Gate (Found at http://www.kidco.com/products-page/hardware-mount-gates/g2001/)

I like this gate for one reason- it attaches to the wall and the post.  I do not trust those compression type of gates for the stairs especially for this type of railing.  A piece of wood will most likely have to be attached to the wrought iron post.  Because of the dimensions, the post will have to be taller than the iron railing which will look strange.  However, as long as it works, I don't care at this time.  It will put my mind at ease so much if the gate was up. 

I will keep you posted on the progress of the gate/guard and Mr. Man's mobility!

Let's Talk Coupons

I am no coupon queen and I have lots to learn.
However, let me share with you a few things that I know.

1.  Internet Shopping:

If you are going to purchase things online, take 2 minutes and look for a company coupon code.

There are great deals out there online and you can easily find coupons for free shipping, 5-20% off your order.  These deals are usually not on the company's website.  The fastest way to find a coupon code?  Google it.  Then during the checkout procedure, apply the code.  It is so easy and it can really save you some bucks!

2.  Buying coupons on Ebay:

I am pretty new to this little gem but it has save me some dough lately.

For instance, I wanted to print off some pictures of the little man on Shutterfly.  However, my bill was coming to over $50.  I looked for coupons online and didn't find any that worked for what I was purchasing.  I searched Ebay and found 2 good coupons ($20 off my order and also 200 prints free).  My bill ended up being 49 cents plus shipping!  I looked for a free shipping code but couldn't find one.  :(   I wasn't certain at the time if Shutterfly would take both coupons but it was worth a try and it worked!  I paid $2 for each coupon on Ebay.

More great coupons to get on Ebay are formula coupons and checks.  This has REALLY saved me some money.  I signed up on Enfamil.com and they sent me Enfamil checks to use when I buy formula until the baby was about 4 months old and then they stopped.  Every now and then, I get a coupon but no checks.  What is the difference you ask?  You can use both a coupon and a check at the time of purchase.  The coupon is a regular coupon but the check is used just like a personal check you write.  Yeah, it takes a little bit longer at the checkout but if I can knock $10 off my formula purchase, it is worth it to me. 

3.  Newspaper Coupons

Of course, the newspaper is a great place to get coupons.  However, I am never at the store on Sunday morning and I rarely remember to buy a newspaper.  Some may go dumpster diving for discarded newspapers and its coupons.  However, I am into easy.  If it is an easy process and I can save a few bucks, I am in.  I don't want it to become a hassle. 

4.  Matching Ads

My mom matches ads a lot because the grocery stores are limited in her area and this helps to save money.  A few dollars can really add up over time!  However, I must tell you a secret, I don't even look at ads.  It is a hassle to me nowadays.  I barely have time to myself and during that time, I don't want to be looking at ads.  It is hard enough to make a shopping list!

5.  Printable Coupons

I admit that I like this option.  Nowadays, stores will take printable coupons and I rarely have any troubles using them.  For instance, if I need cream cheese, I may get on the Kraft website to look for a coupon.  A lot of coupons out there you can find on the company's website and then just print it off.  Usually, the printable limit is 2 coupons.  Also good places to look for coupons are the following websites:

www.coupons.com
www.couponmom.com
www.printablecouponsanddeals.com

so many, many more...

6.  Sign up!

Sign up on a website if you use the product a lot and usually the company will email you (or mail) coupons to you.

For instance, we drink a lot of eight o'clock bean coffee in our house.  I sign up on the website and they periodically send out coupons by email.  They used to have a rewards program too and I wish they would bring that back...

What Inspires You to Create?

What inspires you to create?

Is it making what you want from an idea that has stewed in your mind for a long time?

Maybe it is something you saw online or in a store and you want to save some money?

Most of the time, I see something and I build upon that idea or maybe the product that I see maybe alright but not exactly what I had in mind...

Case in point: I wanted a chandelier for the nursery and the theme is rubber duckies. I searched and searched for a rubber ducky chandelier. The closest thing I could find was this item: Here

My problem with this chandelier is two-fold. First and most importantly, these "ducks" look like baby chicks to me! I have found a lot of the "rubber ducky" items are like that. No, No, No! I want the good ol' rubber squeaky looking ducky! The other issue I have with this chandelier is that it is close to $300!!! WOW! It is cute and all, but not $300 cute. I guess that is the cheap girl talking.

I brought this up to my husband and we got to talking about actually doing a chandelier ourselves with a rubber ducky. So, I got to searching for wooden rubber duckies or anything rubber ducky to fulfill our vision. Finally, we bumped ourselves on the forehead and thought, why not just use rubber duckies? My first thought: The rubber duckies are going to get hot and melt but the Hubs said he thought that it wouldn't be an issue.

We started the project by first going to the ReStore to get a very plain chandelier. A few choices were available and we went with the most plain one that we could find. The cost was $10.



So then, I started to search and search for the right rubber ducky. I know everyone can imagine it: a 3-4 inch tall rubber ducky, yellow, orange beak, black eyes... However, finding the right ducky was difficult. They were either, too big, too small, the wrong color, some sort of silly themed ducky, etc etc. I felt like I was in the story of the "The Three Little Bears". Plus, trying to find 5 of the same! GEEZ! After shopping at a dozen stores, I resorted to online rubber duckies. After the third order, we had success! A true Rubber Ducky found on ebay for $3 each. We purchased a few extra in case we messed up or a cat needed to be entertained.




The Hubs replaced the candelabras, purchased new candelabra sleeves and spray painted the chandelier white. Cost for parts: $40

The rubber duckies had a hole cut in the backs to slip on the candelabra (sorry ducky)

Here you can see it taking shape. We decided to use some old chandelier shades that we had picked up and recover them but decided in the end to spend the money to buy white shades. Cost for 5 chandelier shades: $30 for 5



Then, Hubs added a small chain and a small ceiling mount that was purchased from the ReStore since our chandelier was missing that part. Cost < $1



Daddy gets all the credit for making this happen. This chandelier is the most special feature of the nursery in my opinion and Daddy made it. It adds awesome light to the ceiling and the baby loves to look stare at.



In addition, it fulfilled our vision for a chandelier for the nursery at a 1/3 of the cost. However, later speaking about the time thinking, searching, and effort involved, we both agreed we would have bought this for $300 if it was out there!

On a funny note, as baby gifts we received lots of squeaky rubber duckies! Plus, I see them at Walmart now. GRRRRRRR

PROJECT COST:

Chandelier: $10
Shades: $30
Rubber Duckies: $18
Parts $41
Additional Ducks $10

Total $109

A New Take on Leftovers

Leftovers can be so boring. With just the two of us in the house, leftovers can last awhile. So, I think that it is important to use up the leftovers to save money, make an easy meal, and not waste food. I used to HATE leftovers. However, I made it into a game. What can I do with this leftover turkey, chicken or pork? Here is one idea...

The idea came to me when I was visiting my parents a few years ago and we had chicken pot pie. It was homemade with gooey biscuits on top. We used up some leftovers in the fridge and it was so yummy and comforting.

Later at home, I had A LOT of leftovers from a thanksgiving meal. Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and veggie tray. This recipe can be totally changed and still get awesome results so just try it! My husband calls it the biscuit delivery system.







Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:
Leftover Cooked Turkey, Diced into small 1/4 " pieces (or chicken or pork)
Mashed Potatoes (1-2 cups)
gravy (< 1 cup)
Cooked green beans
Raw vegetables (diced into bite size pieces)
garlic
1 can cream of mushroom soup
milk
1 can of uncooked biscuits (cut up into small pieces)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Saute' the garlic and onion together until translucent (~3 minutes) over medium heat. Then add the rest of the vegetables (carrots, celery, potatoes, cauliflower, squash etc.) Cook 5-10 minutes. Add meat, leftover mashed potatoes, gravy, and cream of mushroom soup. Stir well. Add milk until it is like a thick chowder. Add salt and pepper. Pour contents into a casserole dish.

Bake in oven (uncovered) at 350 F for 45 minutes until vegetables are close to being done and casserole is thick and bubbly. Add biscuit pieces on top of casserole and bake until biscuits are cooked and slightly browned (approximately 10 minutes).

This recipe can be changed. You don't have to use mashed potatoes, gravy, or raw vegetables. You can use frozen vegetable items if you like. The point of this recipe is to use up leftovers in the fridge and it gets the job done.

Hidden MSG

So recently I have been exploring making my own spice mixes. My last post was about making my own fajita mix. I mentioned that I learned that MSG was hidden in chicken bouillon. After that, I had a friend inform me that she learned that MSG was hidden in Ranch dressing and Easy mac. So, that is two more items out there that I had no idea that contained MSG. This information got me interested in other items that could contain MSG.

First off- MSG is monosodium glutamate- the sodium salt of glutamic acid.
It is used as a cheap flavor enhancer.

After doing some reading, I learned the the FDA will allow MSG that is in other ingredients not have to be listed. In other words, if a company uses chicken bouillon that contains MSG, all they have to mention is that chicken bouillon is in the ingredients.

Also, I learned that MSG could also be labeled as Processed Free Glutamic Acid. That seems like a no brainer but for a quick label reader like myself, I skim the label looking for MSG or monosodium glutamate!

MSG is considered natural and generally safe by the FDA. However, when people are sensitive and allergic to such items, wouldn't it warrant a label? I mean, don't companies tell us on their labels when they process peanut products in their facilities as well? Even when the item doesn't contain peanuts, they are warning us that there might be some in the product.

Also, this website explains that it is unlikely that people are sensitive MSG. I don't believe this after I have seen my husband break out into hives from MSG loaded foods. However, they also mention that MSG has not been banned from some foods like baby foods but it was decided to just take it out.

This is a interesting article about MSG being covered up and it contains a link to a 60 Minutes segment.

Here is a list taken from a website of foods and ingredients that commonly have MSG:


* Food Additives that ALWAYS contain MSG *

Monosodium Glutamate
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Plant Protein Extract
Sodium Caseinate
Calcium Caseinate
Yeast Extract
Textured Protein (Including TVP)
Autolyzed Yeast
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Corn Oil

* Food Additives That FREQUENTLY Contain MSG *

Malt Extract
Malt Flavoring
Bouillon
Broth
Stock
Flavoring
Natural Flavors/Flavoring
Natural Beef Or Chicken Flavoring
Seasoning
Spices


Okay, so I will now get off my soapbox and get back to saving money!
So back to my main topic, if you have any great spice mix recipes out there that you love, share them with me!